Notes: I was strangely inspired to actually write today. So here's a quick update. I hope you like it. Thanks for the reviews and feedback, they really help me out!

"I'm hungry." She grumbled.

"You'll have to wait." He replied quietly.

A frown wrinkled her brow and she stopped dead in her tracks. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head in a pouting way, eyes shut, nose in the air; the whole nine yards. He too, stopped upon the child's halt.

"Move." He ordered.

"No." She replied. "I'm hungry, and I want to eat now."

He turned to face her and raised an eyebrow in shock at her outright demand. Blood had rushed to her cheeks but he wasn't sure if it was out of fear or stubborn anger. His eyes glanced about them without budging from where he stood.

Without warning, he advanced on her and seized her tiny wrist.

"You eat when I say you eat." He eyed her. "And you sleep when I say you sleep. Do you understand?"

Liya didn't say anything for several long, drawn out seconds. Not until she inched her face towards his and stood firm, drawing in a breath. "I'm not moving until I get to eat. And I haven't eaten in two days."

"That," he replied, "is not my problem."

"Well what in the hell am I supposed to do? I'm six years old, it's not exactly like I have some culinary degree that I can just pull out of my..."

He put a hand up to silence her.

"Well?" She pressed.

"You can eat once we reach Bevelle." He replied dryly

"Bevelle?" Liya turned to face him and dropped her hands to her sides. "Where are you taking me!?" She turned around and began to pace. "We've already been through Macalania. You nabbed me from Besaid, then the Thunder Plains. We're traveling in circles!" She threw her hands in the air. "You said we were going to Zanarkand! WE COULDA BEEN THERE THREE DAYS AGO!"

He stood shocked and glued in place. Both brows were raised high on his forehead, eyes were wide, arms limp at his side, and a questioning look was painted across his face. Never in his life had he ever encountered such a person. Such a small person with so much life. Split up, she had enough to fuel at least three whole people.

"Fine." He replied. He raised his arm before him and set his hand against on invisible solid object and focused. The air grew chilly and it appeared that it began to twist and turn, morphing the fabric of reality. He raised his chin and blew out a gray cloud of smoke that smeared into the tear until her surroundings melted away.

She found them dead in the heart of the Calm Lands. Just up ahead was The Central. A small smile crept to her lips as a gurgle rolled over in her tummy. She glanced slightly over her shoulder then skipped forward towards the Calm Lands Central station.

He sighed, then moved after her.

"There's been no sightings or any news here, Wakka." Lulu's voice rose from the SphereComm he held out before him.

"Kimhari said the Bevelle party is missin'." He told her. "I've tried to reach Paine or Baralai, but no one will answer."

Lulu glanced over her shoulder as a groan rose from the small bed on which she sat. She brushed his red hair from his face and sighed. The boy opened his eyes and sat up, looking into the sphere, then rubbing his eyes.

"How ya doin' champ?" Wakka asked his son.

"Okay, Pop." The boy replied. "Where's Liya?"

Wakka sighed. "We don't know yet. But we're headed towards Zanarkand."

"That's good." Vidina said sleepily.

Voices rose outside in the village and Vidina jumped to his feet to find out why.

"What's going on, Lu?" Wakka pressed urgently.

"I'm," she hesitated, "I'm not sure."

"There's been an explosion in Zanarkand!" A voice cried out.

"Oh no." Lulu murmured as she rose up and moved out of the tent, bringing the sphere with her. She ducked out the doorway and moved towards the young boy that now rested on his knees.

"There's...there's been an accident in Zanarkarnd." The boy struggled for breath.

Noting the necklace around his neck bearing the crest of Bevelle, Lulu quickly rushed to the boy's side and steadied him. She raised her hand above his head, casting a spell to ease his distress.

"Everyone...everyone's dead."

The sphere shattered on the Village Square and everything went dark.

"Lulu!" Wakka yelled. "Lu! Answer me!" He shook the SphereComm, but to no avail.

"What's up, Wakka?" Datto asked as he approached

Wakka switched off the Comm and turned to face his approaching team. He took a breath and tried to organize his thoughts as he began to pace. He ran a hand through his short red hair before he looked up to face his teammates.

Soon, Kimhari and three other Ronso joined the small group and Wakka hesitated.

"There's been an accident in Zanarkand." He said and shook his head. "No survivors."

"Tidus?" Botta pressed. "Yuna!"

"What about Rikku and Gippal?"

"The other Al Bhed?"

"Liya!?" Keepa asked.

Wakka couldn't respond. He tried to form words, yet in truth, he didn't have any answers that could quell their questions.

Kimhari crossed his arms. "Liya. Not yet in Zanarkand. Kimhari knows."

Silence lingered amongst the party. No one knew what to say, or how to react. No one was sure of what to do. Emotions surged and ran rampant through each body. Who was all right? Who was dead? What had happened?

So many questions remained unanswered and the Aurochs were losing spirit. At every turn, something was wrong. Something was laughing in their faces because they weren't quick enough to respond. They weren't in time to fight. But still, they retained hope. Even in its smallest form, it lingered within each beat of their hearts.

"We head for Zanarkand." Wakka finally cut through the silence. "No side trips. No stops. No more searching the skirts of Spira. Our mark is the City of the Dead."

"What lies beneath our feet?" Tidus asked. "What poses such a threat?" He fought the urge to yell, and tried desperately to keep his temper in check. "What happened here?"

"Within the heart of the city, sleeps a power that could destroy all of Spira if it is wakened." The Fayth replied. "A power that has no rival." He shifted. "We stand above the Soul of Zanarkand." He paused. "We stand upon the Soul of Spira. And only a living Fayth may enter the Heart."