Bevelle. Heart of Yevon. Bevelle held bad memories for both Yuna and me, but I knew we would have to visit here during this journey. Might as well do so now. As we approached the temple, everyone bowed. We got to the door of the temple and were told to wait there for the Prator. That is when Yuna got fidgety. When I pressed her on the issue, she told me about the marriage proposal. Ah, I thought, that explained her behavior. It didn't take long for the Prator to appear. I had wondered what he would look like, and I was not disappointed. He introduced himself as Baralai. After explaining that he was not the one that Yuna was asked to marry, Yuna visibly relaxed. We all talked and Baralai asked us to join New Yevon, before taking his leave. I followed him and asked him if I could visit again. After a nod, he handed me a box. A gift, he said. And with that, he was gone. I made my way back to Yuna and everyone, and I moved back to Macalania Woods.
Before heading into the Calm Lands, I took a detour to the spring where Yuna and Tidus had...talked. There stood Tromell, former butler to the Guado Leaders. When he saw me, he tried to walk away. But I stopped him. I asked him how he was, and he told me about how he and the Guado had fallen. And how they were ready to give up and fade away. After we had talked for fifteen minutes, he asked what I was doing there.
"I am a sphere hunter now," I told him. "So find any random spheres in the woods?" He chuckled and pulled out a sphere. He also informed me that he had found a most peculiar object. When he handed it to me, I knew what it was. It was a Garment Grid, but this one was only two nodes. Unerring Path. This one was good for the special dresspheres we would find. I thanked him, and he thanked me for giving him the time of day. He bowed to Yuna and me as he left, and I told them that before we go any further we should go to Bikanel Island to hand our permission to dig in. Yuna and the others agreed. Zaon was thrilled, mostly because he liked the hot weather. Such a strange child, I thought to myself.
We boarded the airship and I handed the sphere to Shinra who checked it out. If I was right, it contained Paine's special dressphere. And I was. By this time we were over Bikanel Island and that is when I made a comment that before we go into the desert, we should find the camp. Yuna looked at me and I told her that deserts have sandstorms that people would naturally want to get away from. Rikku nodded and we scanned the area where Gippal said it would be. When we didn't find it, we started searching around. That is when we found diggers. We were dropped off with them and said we were new diggers and couldn't find camp. The operator said that we could hitch a ride back with them. And we did.
Let me tell you, we would have never found it. But soon enough, we were stuck in camp because of a sandstorm. We waited around half an hour talking to everyone before Nhadala showed up. After talking to her for a few minutes, she gave us permission to dig. So we did. She sent us out as a group, thankfully. Sora kinda just joined us for the ride while Zaon dug happily. He is actually the one who found the part we were looking for! When we returned, Nhadala was thrilled.
We also could board the airship again, since the sandstorm had passed. Before we left, Nhadala said to return anytime. Zaon was a little upset to leave but he was told that we would return. Our next stop was the Calm Lands. Yuna hadn't been there since the defeat of Sin, so I had to explain the games there. And about who ran them. Argent, Inc and Open Air were the two companies that held games in the Calm Lands, and I had joined neither. As much as the boys protested, I wouldn't let them join either. As soon as we dropped off in there, the boys ran for the shack where we once had made home.
"Where are they going?" Yuna asked me, and I told her that they were going to our home. That she wanted to see. So we followed the boys and soon saw the place I called home for two years. We had locked up tight to keep fiends from entering, so the boys had to wait for me to unlock the door. And as soon as I did, the boys ducked inside. We followed them only to see them disappear into their room. I gathered up some cups and set about making drinks. Auron, of course, started to help. And the fact that he served Rikku first didn't escape my notice. I asked if anyone was hungry and after a resounding yes. I started preparing a meal.
As soon as the boys smelled the stew I was working on, they bolted out of their room and started setting the table. That was always their job when it came to dinner. Yuna wanted to help but I told her to sit down. As I finished the food, Yuna asked why she couldn't help.
"It is a mother's job to cook for her kids. You may be older, but you are still my kid. And I want to cook for you." I told her. That is when she said something that made my heart skip a beat.
"I know you are not my real mom, but you treat me as one of your own. I couldn't ask for anyone better than you...mom." Her words pierced my heart and I almost cried. Braska would have been overjoyed to hear her say that. I wiped my eyes, and started serving everyone. I ate last like always and by the way everyone ate, I had made a good meal. I had made enough to even give some to Brother, Buddy, and Shinra.