Disclaimer I don't own anything.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Moonflow)

Spira's landscape really hasn't changed much since then. If anything's changed, people seem to smile more often now... It's as if they finally have time to notice the beauty around them.

It was times like these, in places like this, that I truly saw just how much we've done for the people of Spira. No longer do they cower and fear every shadow, thinking Sin is coming, but now they can finally relax. Like I told them two years ago, Spira was theirs, and a lot of people seemed to be taking the most of their new found peace, enjoying this place, and others like it across Spira.

Taking Blake's hand, I held back a little, making him drop behind the others with me. He gave me a confused look, which I returned with a warm smile as I stopped by the edge of the river, looking out over the still waters littered with moonlilies.

Together, we stood by the bank of the river, clasping hands and looking out over the water. It was nice, enjoying the quiet and the faint laughter of the people around us as we took in the natural beauty.

"What'cha guys doing?"

Turning around, we noticed Dustin and Cassie behind us with warm looks on their faces and I smiled at them as I walked over. "It's nice here." I stated as I looked around, seeing the young mother with her child, smiling at the sight, a young man stood nearby, looking out over the water. A little ways away, a small, black bird-like creature was running back and forth. Well, more like wobbling. There were a couple of hypello with him and they seemed to be talking.

"What?" Dustin asked, not getting my meaning.

Shaking my head with my smile fixed firmly in place, I giggled slightly. "People are enjoying nature, it's very peaceful."

Looking around, Dustin nodded with his own smile forming. "Sure is. A lot of people are travelling these days, trying to learn more about Spira."

"Thanks to you, Tori." Cassie agreed, a small look of peace settling over her for a moment.

Blinking in surprise, I turned back to her and tilted my head. Me? "I had nothing to do with it."

Laughing, Dustin ran over and pat my shoulder slightly. "Go on, give yourself a pat on the back!" he insisted firmly.

I felt my face heat up, and in some small way, knew he was right, but I didn't want to take credit for it. It wasn't just me who travelled two years ago, and it wasn't just me who defeated Sin once and for all. If my Guardians weren't going to get some credit, which they really weren't, then I didn't want it either. People saw me as the savior of Spira, like I went up against Sin all by myself and beat it with no help what-so-ever, but that wasn't true at all.

Even the Aeons weren't getting any credit, and in the end, it was them who allowed us to be rid of Sin forever, by giving up their lives.

I felt, if there was any credit to be given, that it belonged to my Guardians and the Aeons. But mostly, to Blake. He gave me the courage to go on, strength to keep going when I was afraid. His love for me inspired me to want to find another way, to want to live.

As far as I was concerned, he'd given me the best gift of all, and I'd be eternally thankful. I truly was lucky to have him.

We walked along the path until we neared the bird-like creature which ran over once he saw us.

"On this spot, I'll be directing an extrordinary show! Do, do come! Oh, and I'm Tobli. Yup, yup! It'll be plendid indeed! Mark my words! People here and there, and merriment everywhere!" he chirped excitedly.

Dustin bounced around with a smile. "Hey, that sounds like fun! Ok, well, we'll see you then!" he agreed just as excitedly.

We turned to leave when he hurriedly called us back.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! I have a favor to ask of you!"

Cassie sighed nd crossed her arms. "Let's go." she stated impatiently.

"Um, ok? We are sphere hunters after all." I agreed hesitantly, though I really wanted to help him out.

Dustin nodded. "Right-o!" he put in.

Hesitating a moment, I sighed and turned around, giving in. "Oh, let's hear him out."

Cassie groaned and rolled her eyes and Dustin chuckled quietly.

"Oh, here's the thing, you see. My able assistant hasn't come back yet. From Luca of course, where else? He went to fetch some supplies, whic are vitally, crucially important! For the show, you see."

Dustin nodded. "'Go get him." right?"

"Oh, quite, quite!"

Shaking her head, Cassie rolled her eyes again. "Why ask us?"

"Because you are sphere hunters, and sphere hunters hunt spheres." he answered, lifting an arm to show a sphere in his grasp.

Dustin's eyes widened and he turned to us. "Well, that settles it." he stated.

"Right, right! It's yours if you return my assistant to me, safely of course. I'm thinking he must be over by the viscinity of Djose of course, and he's a hypello."

We rushed back in the direction of Djose, looking for a hypello and soon found him pulled off to the side of the path with a chocobo drawn wagon behind him. He saw us approaching and threw his hands up as he swayed back and forth in a panic.

"Oh, I am in trubbable!"

Giggling a little, I walked up to him and watched as he warily lowered his hands. "Are you Tobli's asisstant?"

He nodded slowly, the fear fading from his blue face. "Yesh. Are yoo friends of the chief?"

"We sure are." Dustin answered seriously. "You just sit back and let us Gullwings escort you back to Tobli."

"Oh, thank yoo!" he cheered as he gathered the reins for the chocobo.

Leading him back was a lot more eventful than we'd planned. Apparently, bandits were after his supplies, and more than once, we had to stop and fight them off. A couple of times, we almost lost some of the cargo as we chased after them, but luckily, there were four of us, so we could split up into two group. When two groups of bandits would attack, Blake and I would chase after one, and Dustin and Cassie would chase after the other.

Eventually, we made it back to Tobli with all the supplies and his hypello in one piece. To say he was pleased would've been an understatement. It was weird, I thought Dustin was the only one who could get that excited that easily, but apparently not.

"Oh, ho ho! You returned!" Tobli cried as he ran over, inspecting his asisstant and the supplies.

The hypello nodded. "Thanks to the Gullwings."

"Yup, yup! Of course, you've been most helpful! With this, the show is just a step away from being a smashing success! Here. as promised!"

Handing over the sphere, I easily recognized it as the Gun Mage Dressphere. It acted like Gunner, only allowed you to copy certain fiends' attacks, as well as scanning them for weaknesses. I quickly stuck it in an empty node on my garment grid, allowing us all to use it, and bowed in thanks to Tobli.

"It's such a good, fuzzy feeling to meet such reliable people persons such as yourselves. Yessiree."

Feeling my face heat up, I bowed even deeper. "You're very welcome!"

"Just remember, it was the Gullwings who helped you out!" Dustin cheered as he punched a fist into the air.

(Guadosalam)

After the moonflow, we came straight here. To be honest, I never imagined ever coming back to this place, as it was the start of so many problems. But...two years have passed, and Lothor was long gone, in both our worlds. I felt a little better knowing that.

Guadosalam, home of the Guado. You remember, right? But, the Guado are no longer here. Some people think that they deserved all that happened for what they did to Spira. They have a point, but...it just seems like such a sad way to look at things.

We didn't bother to stay long, but just took the path directly to the next area, the Thunder Plains.

(Thunder Plains)

It took me a while to remember how Dustin could be so calm, and watching Blake's confused look as he watched our Al Bhed friend, I had to bite back a giggle. I knew what he was thinking. He was probably wondering how it was, Dustin wasn't jumping around or clinging to his leg in fear.

Guess what! Dustin finally over came his fear of thunder! Know how? He told me, he once camped out here, for a week!

Remembering our journey two years ago, I bit my lip even harder as we crossed the plains, to keep from giggling out loud. I remember feeling such turmoil over Lothor's proposal and the sphere of Jyscal. But, one look at Blake's helpless face as Dustin clung to his leg, holding him practically immobile in the middle of the endless downpour, and I forgot all my problems.

He just looked so innocent standing there, obviously wanting to pry Dustin off, but not wanting to be rude or hurt him.

As I looked up from the ground and noticed the approaching Macalania woods, I felt apprehension biting at my heels. I felt my face heat up at the memory of that scorching kiss, and also knew that...the woods weren't and never would be, the same. Blake didn't know, but I had a feeling it would hurt him when he found out.

It had hurt me the first time I heard about it, a year ago, and still hurt to this day.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hmmm...another chapter up.

Hope you like it.

R+R please.

Thank you.

Tenshi