Zanarkand swarmed with spirits and it took a lot of magic from Kurgum to get where Kurgum wanted to because the guy was obsessed. Even after they settled, Tidus beat some possessed things, including some nutso monkeys. No wonder the guys at the palace wanted to clear this place.

"Are you done yet?" Tidus asked after forever.

"Almost."

"That's what you've been saying."

"I mean it this time."

"I never should have taken you with me."

"That's not how—fine." Kurgum shoved his bag of dirt into his other bag and started the end of his ritual.

Tidus drew Yevon script and used what he remembered to spell out part of Jecht's name. A little runt of a monkey approached him and pawed at the hem of his shorts. "We came here to look for clues, not shovel this stuff back to Bevelle."

"I said I wanted ceremonial dust—"

"Hey, pops!" Tidus yelled. "Are you gonna come out and meet me or what?"

Kurgum deflated and scrutinized his sashes. Tidus stood and jabbed his sword toward the arena. "Get out here, you cowardly old man!"

"Beg your pardon." A dude in robes like Yuna's dad's materialized. He didn't spare the curious monkeys any mind. "I didn't realize we kept you waiting."

"Not you," Tidus said. "Jecht. I have questions for him."

"And I can relay them for you. Or perhaps you'd rather communicate through Auron?"

"Oi! It's not some spook's job to decide who I talk to."

"Tidus…"

"Shut up, Kurgum. This guy isn't the boss of me."

"Tidus, that's the High Summoner Braska."

"I know."

"Then why—?"

"I know what corrupt old men do when they're famous." Tidus faced Braska. "People celebrate you after you're gone like you've turned into some saint. He's a real person like us, isn't he?"

Braska raised an eyebrow. "I admit I expected a welcome."

"Being a real person isn't an insult."

"Yet you act to insult."

"Bad memories is all. That and getting shut out like this. Why won't my old man take responsibility, huh?"

"He is otherwise occupied. Kurgum." Braska redirected his attention. "Perhaps you'll interface instead."

"Fine, fine!" Tidus reached for him only to phase through Braska's image. "What's your goal here?"

Braska smiled at him, looking almost smug, and said, "To speak with you and Kurgum, of course."

"Not only that." Auron appeared. "Our time is limited."

"The Farplane's corrupted. We've caught scent of frozen streams and burned strings, which indicates that Bhunivelze's already made his entrance into this world. We must make immediate arrangements and stall him as long as possible."

"Wait," Auron said. "Someone's entered the Farplane to travel. We should get them out."

"One moment, please." Braska disappeared with Auron. The runt monkey startled and ran away.

Tidus looked at Kurgum for answers, but the dude shook his head and returned to collecting dirt. When Auron and Braska appeared again, they brought a simply dressed chick with torn hair and skin.

"Who's that?" Tidus asked.

Braska removed his hand from her arm. "A traveler."

The lady didn't seem to notice his absence. "Where am I?"

"Spira," Tidus said at the same time that Kurgum said, "Zanarkand."

She stared at them and broke a grin. "I'm Selphie, from Gaia VIII! Wow, I didn't think that would work! I've never jumped into a dead road like that before! … Wow, it hurts more than I expected."

"Last I checked," Tidus said, "we didn't send for any world runners."

"You guys didn't, but Baralai did. He really missed you all from what the sand sibs say, though he won't say it."

"Baralai?" Kurgum asked. "Where—when—how is he?"

"Don't expect the picture of health. Anyway, I came looking for a friend of mine, and you look like someone that might know. Have you heard of an 'Irvine?'"

"Nope." Tidus turned to Braska and Auron. "But there's some spirits haunting this place that might know."

"Spirits? Oh, that's even better!"

"Great, so you can just—"

"Wait!" Selphie jabbed a finger at him. "You travel?"

"Not across worlds."

"But you know."

Tidus drew up short at her tone and at the tears in her eyes. "Know what?"

"What it's like. Please, you know where someone like Irvine might go. Where can I find my friend? Where can I—?" She gripped him by the sleeves. "Tell me you know!"

"… I don't, but maybe I can help? I don't—" Tidus steadied her by the arms and turned to look behind him. "Where's Yuna when you need her? Hey Kurgum, help me out here?"

Kurgum took over and guided her away while Tidus turned his attention back to their other guests. He couldn't let Braska or Auron leave yet.


"I don't see how I'm needed here," Gippal said when Kurgum pulled him up on sphere. "If you've got a traveler, what is there that I can do?"

"She knows Baralai."

"She what now?"

Selphie said, "Well. Kind of. I didn't stay at his guild for long, but—"

"He's built a guild?"

"Yes."

Gippal whistled. "Shoot me now and string me up for a warning. He's gone and settled somewhere else? Does he talk about me?"

"I've never heard your name, but he doesn't talk much about himself. Vaan and Penelo would know better."

"You know them, too. Well. It looks like we've found ourselves an asset. Yuna, if you won't use her, I will."

"Wait," Kurgum said, "no one's using anybody."

Selphie said, "It's okay, I'm used to it. Kinda my job, you know?"

"How is that—? Fine. It isn't my business. Wait, do you have special powers from another planet, though? I mean, it probably doesn't work that way, but…"

"I can make bombs. Does that count?"

"Yes," Gippal said. "I know bombs and I call them magic."

"Good enough," Kurgum said. "We'll have you work with Gippal and in exchange, we'll use what resources we can to look into this world-traveling problem of yours. If you're okay with sticking around a little longer that is. Do you have a way off-world if you need it?"

Selphie nodded.

"Good. Because you might not want to stay here long."

"Why not?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you on the way back to the palace. Thanks, Gippal. I'll see you in a few days."

"Keep in touch. And Selphie, you'd better tell me about that guild of yours."


Yuna walked toward the garden for a quick meeting with Gippal and took a moment to appreciate the falling twilight that engulfed the palace in soft shadows. Lights kept back the worst of the dark, but it wasn't enough. Tonight, she would battle fear of tomorrow and a lengthy battle with the typical grouchy aldermen and inflexible politicians.

When she arrived at the colorful entrance to the palace gardens, she breathed in the scent of a myriad flowers greeting her with their lush petals and enticing scents. It was quiet, safe, and private in addition to being all too pleasant.

Gippal waited near the wall of moonbursts that glowed in iridescent patterns with the falling light and reflected off the wall. "Yuna," he said.

"Yes."

He stayed quiet for a long moment. "I am not who you think."

"You've told me." Yuna took a seat by the draping lilies. "Many times. Now, as to the participants of the yearly budget finalization, I think we should consider inviting Farlow for his involvement with the machina project."

"That's not what I mean. There's not enough pyreflies here to give me form. But at least this guy's a sweet ride if you know what I'm saying."

"Which is it this time?"

He leaned forward and gave her a cheeky grin. "Jecht, at your service."

"Is it wise to visit your world like this?"

"It's necessary, sweetheart. We got news you better hear sooner than later. Aw, look how you've grown. Damn, I can see why Tidus didn't stick around. I mean, when I saw you in Bevelle, you were a cute kid, but… damn. Your father did a good job, just so you know."

"Thanks for the compliment, but I don't see how this is relevant."

"Oh, it's not. I just came to say that Bhunivelze's arrived on Spira."

"And it seems I'm in the habit of being used in opportunities rather than seen as an important player in this game."

Gippal groaned and rolled his head. "Does everyone have to give us the same resistance? Sheesh, how is it so hard to understand that dramatic measures—"

"To understand that I'm just that?" Yuna asked. "A dramatic measure? You don't want to keep me in the loop, but you'll pull me out in an emergency? If I'm not worth an explanation—"

"This isn't about us. It's about everyone."

"I've had two of my closest friends leave me without a word, and the previous chancellor might yet be dead with them. I'll have no clue until years down the road. This toll on my planet carries on too long and I've taken charge in a world not my own in the aftermath. I've earned words, sir."

"… Fine."

"Does this at least have to do with the spirits in the Moonflow?"

"The Farplane is unstable, yes. But we're not too late. We need to mobilize the Farplane."

"Mobilize the—what are you saying?"

"We have access to those spirits. They're causing trouble, anyway, aren't they? How about we give them a common goal? You know, make tea out of the leaves and all that. Well, I guess the pyreflies aren't real spirits. But they do allow for easy reintegration of real spirits. Hence problems like Maechen. And… we'll shut it off."

Yuna drew up short. "What? How? But—"

"It's Bhunivelze's backdoor entrance to our world. We can't allow him a single quarter or he'll take us out instead."

"But you said you'd mobilize the spirits—"

"To bar themselves in."

"And if he gets in anyway? What then?"

"Then this place is lost, and it sucks to be you. You'll need armies. Or just a lot of people so you can track down all the entrances to the Farplane and seal them off."

"What if I broke a hole there in Zanarkand?"

"Then you're screwed. Unless you have an exceptionally powerful black mage—"

"Lulu."

"Who's Lulu?"

"A friend."

"Cool. See if you can get her here. In the meantime, I haven't seen this place since the statue incident. I'm gonna take a looksie."

Yuna's heart hammered in her chest. "What can I do if the world falls?"

"Not much. But we're looking into that and will let you know whenever we find something."

"Who's 'we?'"

"So many. Don't get me started, sweetie."

A small girl in ill-arranged robes and a large ribbon in her tied-back hair skidded to a halt near Yuna and pointed a finger. "Lady!"

"Yes?"

"Are you the chancellor?"

"Yes, but—"

"We need Sending lessons!"

"You what?"

"Where can we learn how to Send? Just tell me where to go!"

"I don't recognize you… where are you from?"

"I'm from… the temple?"

"The temple."

The girl hesitated and fear betrayed her. "Why? Is that weird?"

"When we said many," Jecht said. "We meant… many."

"I'll not have you lying, little one. Do you have parents?"

"I don't need parents!"

"Who are they?"

"They—!" The girl huffed and folded her arms, fear replaced with indignation. "They've been looking around the rest of the city. Can we learn how to Send or not?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"Are you committed to spending years practicing under the guidance of masters?"

"We don't have years!"

"Then you can't."

The girl growled and spun on her heel before running back the way she came. Jecht gave her a pointed smirk before he left, too.

"There's countless others like her," Jecht says. "So unless you want them all banging down your door, I suggest you get started."

Yuna listened to the small, disappearing footsteps. "Only if you stay and give me any other information I need."

"Yeah, sure. Lady Summoner."

"Good." Yuna stood and Jecht reluctantly followed her to find the council members for another impromptu meeting.


Sazh, Dajh, and Lightning sat on the edge of Bevelle's wall, watching the sun set. Sazh never thought he'd miss the humid air of the coast like this, but feeling it now made him wonder where it was all his life. Made him wonder how he lived without that salty taste in his mouth and the wind beating his back. Without the soothing vocals of angelic choirs to sing him to sleep. Too bad the temple here didn't host choirs.

"Why do I need to go to Gaia V?" Dajh asked.

Sazh shut his eyes as if he could dispel the thought. "Because you've got a special power, son."

"Not much different from the rest of us," Lightning said.

"But I'm still new. I haven't used it much."

"You will," Sazh said.

"He shouldn't go alone," Lightning said. "Given his track record."

"I know that. But I also can't follow him everywhere. We can't die anymore, right? But… apparently we can still get ripped out of our heads and made to do stupid stuff."

"So, send Serah."

Lightning showed no humor. "Send Serah?" Sazh asked. "Isn't that ironic?"

"They'll keep each other safe. You've worked with her before, so you should know that."

"It was a brief job at the end of all things. You trust her that much?"

"I don't see why I shouldn't."

"Guess you're right." Sazh looked back to the sunset. "Okay, kid, you'll go to V after Serah comes and picks you up, got it?"

"Yes, Daddy. Do you think I'll see Krile again there?"

Sazh felt a sinking in his stomach. "You said she disappeared, right?"

"Maybe it was someone I don't know."

"Hopefully. Keep an out, though."

"Yes, Daddy."

"How's Seven?" Sazh asked Lightning. "You both looked upset earlier."

"She left to talk to Deuce. Don't know why."

"Can't imagine it's anything worse than what we've been dealing with. Bhunivelze could take this planet from under our feet and there's nothing we could do."

"We'll find something anyway."

"Gotta stop talking about that thing. He hasn't earned a place in our conversations."

"Hasn't he."

Sazh weighed his response to that one before saying, "I've half a mind to beat some sense into you."

"I don't feel like sparring tonight."

"We don't let that bastard win, you hear me? We don't even joke about it. We're fighting tooth and claw for every inch and we'll make him regret ever setting his eyes on our territory."

"It's his. We've been trying to take power from the source and that's where we've gone wrong."

"And just what do you propose we do instead, soldier? Roll over and give up?"

"Maybe giving up isn't so bad."

"Listen to yourself! That's not the Lightning I know and if you're smart, you'll realize that and not pull this apathetic BS."

"He's on Ivalice," came Serah's voice.

Sazh started. "'He' as in…?"

"Hope. Noel tracked him to Ivalice."

"Where?"

"Once you reach the Historia Crux, I'll guide you. Just get going because Noel says he's got a weak signal and—"

"What about Dajh?" Sazh asked.

"Yeah!" Dajh said. "What about me?"

"Take him with."

"Or…" Sazh called for Jack, "… we can hire a babysitter."

"Daddy! I'm not young enough for a babysitter!"

"You're not even ten yet."

"But I'm like a thousand years old!"

"Only five hundred. But you spent most of the time dead, so I won't count it. You've gained maybe a year in all the time we spent adventuring, kid."

"But—!"

"No buts. You're staying with Jack and that's final. I'm practicing my trust of you, kid, so don't disappoint me."

"… Fine."

Jack pulled himself over the ledge. "I'm here."

"Also," Sazh said, "if you let anything happen to him, you're mincemeat."

"Yes, sir!"

Lightning stepped off the wall and Sazh jumped after her. The air roared one last time before it went silent, but he tried not to notice. The fading taste of salt was harder to ignore. The distant choirs more so.