Chapter 5: Before the Storm

That morning Goku woke up after a full night's sleep, having made good use of the bed provided for him in the temple. It had been a boring night for the spies keeping watch on the specially designed room, shaped to allow them to hear every sound made in there, but they heard nothing of use throughout the night. What they didn't know was that Goku could sense them behind the walls, but he didn't understand why they were there, and he paid them no mind. He simply cleaned himself up, put on his clothes, and walked out of the bedroom.

Later in the morning, after a good breakfast, Goku was wandering around the temple. He had nothing in particular to do, just exploring the place with little regard for the particulars. There were areas under guard that he didn't have permission to enter, where guards politely asked Goku not to trespass, and he respected the restrictions for the sake of good courtesy. He wasn't here to pry after all, and it wasn't worth getting on anyone's bad side. Goku was just about to leave the temple and explore Bevelle, but then he spotted Kelk at the front doors.

Kelk looked relieved to find him, and he made the Yevon bow. "Goku, you have good timing."

That was a first for Goku to hear, though he would never admit it out loud. "Good morning."

"We have a busy day ahead of us," Kelk said. He made a smile as big a smile as his furry face would allow. "I hope you will enjoy it."

Whatever Goku expected from that, it wasn't what he experienced.

Apparently Kelk had arranged for a parade through Bevelle, part of the festivities to celebrate the Calm. Dozens of parade floats were waiting at one end of the city, constructed in anticipation of Operation Mi'ihen's success. Instead they would be used for Goku's victory, and he would have the best spot on the largest parade float. He got to stand in front of a giant foam statue of a man in armor, wielding a large spear and shield, representing the man that had created the Crusaders, Lord Mi'ihen. There Goku could see the crowds lined up on the sides of the streets, all of them eager to see Goku up close.

Loud festive music played as the parade got underway, the volume somewhat painful for those with sensitive ears. Goku dealt with it as best he could, managing to hide discomfort while putting on a show for the public. He smiled and waved for the crowds watching him, seeing the joy that shone from every face out there. It was worth seeing so many people so happy, the kind of joy that was so very rare on this world. Knowing that the reason for all of this was a lie did not matter, Goku couldn't help but smile just as much as his adoring public.

Just behind him, and virtually forgotten because of it, Kelk was smiling as well. "I haven't seen people this happy in ten years. You've done a great thing to bring back this kind of joy."

"Got to say, I'm not really used to this sort of thing," Goku admitted. "Sure I've saved the world several times, but I usually don't stick around for the fan worship."

"Modest, good, people like that sort of thing," Kelk said, putting aside the question of him saving the world before for a later time. "But, surely some part of you enjoys all of the attention?"

"A little, not much," Goku said. "I'd rather go home and train for the next bad guy. This parade, entertaining an adoring public, it isn't doing anything for my skills."

"I see," Kelk said. "You would rather be training right now, is that right?"

"Of course," Goku said. "But for now, I think I can stomach this."

Goku continued to smile and wave as the parade went on, heading through most of Bevelle. The crowds only got bigger the further the parade went, word of Goku's presence traveling far faster than the parade floats. Everyone wanted to see him, parents brought their children with them, and they scrambled to get the best view possible. The cheering crowds became so loud they were nearly deafening, and Goku was tempted to simply fly away to get out of the noise. But he stuck through it, for seeing the smiles on all the children was worth it.

It took a few hours for the parade to reach its end, which was not very far from the temple. There the crowds were so huge they completely filled the streets, requiring city police to clear a path to the temple doors. Goku and Kelk came down from their parade float to walk the rest of the way, and as Goku walked down that path people got to see him even closer. The joy was so infectious that Goku started feeling happier in spite of everything, even if he knew that the cause for celebration was a hollow one.

But of all the ways to waste time, this wasn't a bad one.

Far to the south everything was peaceful in the underground city of Guadosalam, its people enjoying the Calm in their own tranquil way. A festival had been started and would go on for over a week, complete with every form of entertainment the guado enjoyed. Even their neighbors got in on the festivities, from the Macalania Woods to the Moonflow and everywhere in between. Music and games were everywhere in the underground city, and the people here felt like they had all the time in the world to celebrate the Calm.

A black light appeared in the southern sky, shooting through the air toward Guadosalam. It passed through the entrance to the city and went underground, and it turned upward as soon as there was room in the expansive cavern. All the guado going about their lives were startled by its presence, and they fled into their homes as quickly as they could. The black light had come and gone in the blink of an eye, now heading down a tunnel adjacent to the city, leaving Guadosalam unscathed and its people unharmed.

At the end of the tunnel was the entrance to the Farplane, where the colorful veil separated the realms of the living and the dead. It was under the care of the guado that lived here, tasked with the responsibility by virtue of it being in their territory. The black light punctured the barrier and entered the realm of the dead, ignoring all the pyreflies on its way toward a distant part of this realm. A few guado visiting the Farplane watched the black pyrefly vanish in the distance, all but certain that it would return.

As the last of the Crusaders left the Mushroom Rock Road, the road was reopened to civilian traffic.

The first to pass through were people that had been stopped prior to Operation Mi'ihen, including a summoner and guardian that had not-so-patiently waited for the barricades to come down. An hour later people that lived along the Mi'ihen Highroad came through, having heard all the commotion from the last few days and wanting to find out exactly what happened in their next door neighborhood. From the opposite end were travelers from Djose Temple, also wanting to see the battleground and document the entire affair.

At noon came the onrush of civilians from Luca, free to travel and with a willingness to explore the wider world. Aside from the battlefield at the Mushroom Rock, the nearest destination was the Djose Temple, but the place everyone really wanted to see was the Moonflow. Stories of that place had been told across the face of Spira, tales of a river that glowed like the stars during the night, normally only seen by travelers that risked their lives on dangerous roads. Without Sin to keep the Crusaders busy, they were able to keep the roads clear of fiends, allowing people to explore to their hearts' content.

Well aware that the roads would be crowded by the afternoon, Yuna wanted to leave early in the morning. "Alright, let's get moving."

"About time," Wakka said. He stretched his arms and started walking. "Looks like a good day for it."

Tidus kept a few feet behind him. "Lead the way."

The group finally left the beach and returned to the road above it, and from here the road followed the shoreline as it curved north. They got to see the first of the travelers from Luca, smiling and waving as the summoner passed them by. Everyone was in good spirits, enjoying the peaceful day with beautiful weather, enjoying the sights and sounds along this seaside road. They made good time this morning, well ahead of most other travelers, though the road steadily became more crowded as the hours went by.

Eventually they came across a split in the road, which had Rikku turning her head to each in turn. "Which way do we go?"

Lulu pointed to the left road. "That leads to Guadosalam, and beyond that the Thunder Plains, Macalania, and then Bevelle."

"And the other path?" Tidus asked.

"That leads to Djose Temple," Wakka answered. "We'll head down there, take care of business, and then double back to head the other way."

"Do we really need to go to the temple now?" Rikku asked. "It is the Calm, Yunie doesn't need to continue her pilgrimage until it's over."

Standing ahead of the group, about to head down the right road, Yuna turned around. "We're already here, and I'd rather not waste time coming back this way again. Once we're done here we'll head straight for the Moonflow and enjoy ourselves there."

Of course, that was on the way to the next temple, which had Rikku uneasy. "Yeah, sure, if you insist."

"Eh, you'll enjoy this temple," Wakka said. "It's a sight worth seeing even when off pilgrimage. You are going to love it."

"I can't wait," Tidus said. "Let's get this over and done with."

Eventually, the good feelings from the parade came to an end.

That was when Goku and Kelk entered the temple, where the common folk were barred from entering today. Sure the priests inside were just as happy as the people outside, but they kept their joy in check and went about their business. Today that business was welcoming the return of a very important person, the greatest among their membership. The Grand Maester himself was scheduled to return today, on his way back from his visit to Luca for the opening of blitzball season, his travel hastened by the unexpected Calm.

The Grand Maester was an old man with long white air, his skin shriveled with age and barely concealed by his robes. Goku had seen him before, but didn't care to remember Grand Maester Mika. Yet he seemed very lively for his advanced age, despite the effort of making haste back to Bevelle before he had originally planned. Now Mika was in the main floor of the temple, approaching Goku and Kelk with great curiosity. He stopped in front of Goku and studied him closely, now that he had a much better view than he did back in Luca.

"Goku, I presume," Mika said. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Yes, I'm Goku, killer of Sin and whatnot." He got a good look at the old man, and gave a puzzled look. "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

"We were both in Luca, if I am not mistaken," Mika said. He put one hand on his chin and made a weak laugh. "Yes, I remember the show you made at the Blitzball arena, when all the fiends appeared."

"That would be right," Goku said.

"To think, in the time it took for me to return, you've accomplished so much," Mika said. "I only wish I could have seen it with my own eyes."

"Perhaps a demonstration is in order," Kelk suggested, turning to Goku.

"I suppose a minor one wouldn't be too bad," Goku said. "I'm not going to go full power here, in the middle of a city. That is just asking for chaos and mayhem."

"Whatever you believe is safe to show us," Mika said. "Even a small fraction of you power would be a sight to behold, I am sure."

Goku looked at Mika a bit longer. "You might want to step back. I don't want to knock you off your feet and into a wall."

"As you wish," Mika said, backing away from Goku. "Will this suffice?"

"Yeah, sure," Goku said. He clenched both fists. "Brace yourselves."

In a flash of light Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan, his golden glow filling the entire temple with light. A powerful gale accompanied the light, and within the confines of the temple the wind swirled like a storm. Several priests were knocked off their feet, and Kelk helped prevent Mika from being blown away. Both of them stared at the power before them, impressed by even this small display of Goku's raw power. After a minute Goku reverted to his normal form, allowing the wind to settle and return the temple to its serene atmosphere.

"There you go," Goku said. "Remember, that was just a sample. If I went full power in here I'd certainly bring down the house, literally."

"Yes, we can't have that," Mika said. He was more than satisfied with what he witnessed. "I appreciate your concern for our safety."

Kelk was a little shaken, for experience was very different from the reports. "Perhaps it is a good thing we will not be able to see you in action."

"Well you might still get the chance," Goku said. "I'm told that Sin will come back."

"Alas that is true," Mika said. He turned towards the back of the temple. "Come, we should discuss this in private."

Underneath a sky covered in perpetual yellow clouds, the relatively peaceful part of Hell was having just another day. Souls of the damned were going about their usual business, these ones getting to choose which of the torments they would be subjected to today. Oni guards were watching over them, two in particular getting a lucky break and stationed next to the blood fountain. Goz and Mez were relaxing next to the shore, which for them was working out to their hearts' content. They were having a very good day, the best one they had since that one guy tricked them into revealing the way out of Hell.

But then Goz looked up, and saw something appear on the horizon. "Mez, look over there."

Mez stood up and looked where Goz was pointing. "What in Hell is that?"

A black light was on the horizon, moving closer with astonishing speed. It shot by overhead and was gone just as quickly, with Goz and Mez both looking to find out where it went. It came down just beyond the opposite horizon, with a flash of black light where it struck, followed by a rumble in the ground for miles around. A massive shadow appeared above the horizon, taking the shape of a massive monster, and bellowed with a mighty roar that shook the clouds above. But it did not take physical form, not yet anyway.

It rose back up into the air, and shot back across the sky as a black light far more massive than before. Goz watched it leave, having no idea what he had seen. "Should we tell King Yemma?"

By now the larger black light had gone beyond the horizon it came from, and Mez looked at Goz before nodding in agreement. "We should tell King Yemma."

It was midafternoon when Yuna and her guardians arrived at Djose Temple.

They weren't the only ones to make this place their first destination. It had been a natural stopping point for Crusaders that left the Mushroom Rock last night, and now those soldiers were taking their leave for Bevelle. It was also safe haven for those traveling in the opposite direction, offering rest and refreshment before the long road to Luca. The people here made way for the summoner and guardians, letting Yuna pass without unnecessary fanfare. The priests that tended to the temple were welcoming to them, eager to serve in any way they could.

The temple itself was built inside of a cliff, with only a simple entrance visible from the outside. Wakka stopped at the threshold, where he put his arm out to stop Tidus. "Hey, want to see something cool?"

Tidus was curious as to what he meant. "Sure."

"Wait out here while Yuna prays to the Fayth," Wakka suggested. "You are not going to believe it."

Behind them both was Rikku, and she was intrigued by this. "What's going to happen?"

"You'll see," Wakka promised. "Just give us enough time to complete the trials and you'll get to see it."

"If you insist," Tidus said.

While the summoner and all the other guardians went into the temple, Tidus and Rikku remained outside to wait for whatever show Wakka had promised. They walked over to a small lodge nearby, where people could rest without bothering anyone, and then kept their eyes on the temple. The wait ended up being about an hour, and Rikku wondered how complex the Cloister of Trials could be. Then the ground started to shake, instantly having everyone's attention, and all eyes were drawn to the temple.

The rock of the cliff broke apart into several large pieces, but they didn't come crashing down. Instead they floated in the air, with electricity jumping from rock to rock, and between the rocks and the temple. An ornate structure was revealed, allowing a view of the temple proper, the source of the electricity and the magic holding the rocks aloft. It didn't appear to be dangerous, for priests of the temple still entered and exited as needed. But it was a sight to behold, and all the visitors here marveled at the display.

"What do you think causes that?" Rikku wondered.

"Must be some hidden technology," Tidus assumed.

A nearby priest was quick to correct him. "It is the power of the Fayth in communion with a summoner. Together they call upon the aeon of lightning."

"Sure, that's how it works…" Tidus muttered, keeping his doubts to himself. "How long do you think she'll be in there?"

"I have no idea," Rikku admitted. "Not too long I hope."

The electrical show lasted for about an hour, and when it ended all of the rocks returned to their original positions, melding back into the side of the cliff and covering most of the temple. It meant that Yuna had completed another step of her journey, now having three aeons that would answer to her call. Yuna and the other guardians soon emerged from the temple, and by then it was the middle of the afternoon. She looked exhausted from the effort of acquiring the aeon, but she did her best to power through it.

Rikku walked over to the group first. "Well Wakka, you weren't kidding."

"Told you," Wakka said, having a big smile.

Tidus approached Yuna instead, more concerned about her than anything else. "Are you okay? You look tired."

"I'm alright," Yuna said. She stopped to take a deep breath and let it out. "It's getting better. I didn't trip this time coming out."

"Still, you should get some rest," Tidus said.

"I agree," Auron said. "Yuna, you don't need to push yourself so hard."

"You should be relaxing," Lulu said. She waved a hand at the small lodge nearby. "We can stay here for the night."

Yuna knew she could accept a room offered by the priests here, but there was one place she really wanted to see. "It's just… I really want to see the Moonflow. I've heard so much about it."

Tidus was standing nearby. "I haven't. Is it someplace special?"

"It certainly is," Yuna answered. She turned back to Lulu. "And I really want to see it."

"We could head there in the morning," Rikku suggested.

"The Moonflow is supposed to be beautiful at night," Yuna said. "If we go tomorrow we'll have to wait all day to see the river glow like the stars."

"Are you sure you're ready to make the trip now?" Lulu asked.

"I am," Yuna said. She looked at the western sky, checking how high the sun was. "Let's get moving."

"If you insist," Wakka said. "We'd better hurry if you want to get there before nightfall."

In a secure area of the temple, Mika kept a private room for special meetings. It was usually just himself and the other maesters that met here, and for matters of an informal nature. As such it had simple furnishings, a table with chairs and a few portraits on the walls, nothing too extravagant. Some servants had prepared tea for the meeting, placing the pot and cups on the table as the three people arrived. The servants bowed to Mika and Kelk as they entered, and they left the room with grace without saying a word.

Mika took a seat at the head of the table, being the Grand Maester and having the highest authority. Kelk sat on Mika's right-hand side, being the next highest ranking maester present. Mika offered the seat across from him to Goku, where they guest of honor was meant to sit. When he sat down Goku rested his arm on the table, and despite both of them sitting he still had to look down to make eye contact with Mika. It was a little uncomfortable for Mika, looking at a man so big, though the power beneath the large frame was far more intimidating.

Fortunately for Mika, the tea helped to calm the nerves, and he took a long drink before looking Goku in the eye. "Tell me, Goku, what do you know about Sin?"

"Not a whole lot," Goku answered. He took a cup of tea and sipped it, and put the cup down when he didn't care for the taste. "There's something inside the monster, and it's what brings Sin back from the dead. All I want to know is how it comes back, and how to stop that from happening."

"That is something we all want to know," Mika said. He paused to drink more of his tea, letting the silence drag on a bit before continuing. "I'm afraid I do not have the answers you seek."

"But surely you know who does?" Goku asked. "I mean, you're the big boss around here. If there's someone that can figure this out, you know who it would be."

"There is one such person," Mika answered, though he didn't like talking about her. "In Zanarkand, where all summoners end their pilgrimage, there is a woman, Yunalesca. She is the one who grants the Final Aeon. She is the one that has the greatest understanding of Sin."

"Yunalesca, Zanarkand, got it," Goku said. He got up to leave, turned away to head for the door, but stopped and turned back toward Mika. "Which is where, exactly?"

"North, beyond the mountain Gagazet," Kelk answered. "Zanarkand remains at the top of the world."

"Thanks, I will head up there right now," Goku said.

That was when Goku's eyes widened, as if realizing something was very wrong. He turned to the south, seemingly looking beyond the wall of the room, toward something far outside the temple. Goku sensed something far away from here, an enormous power that was growing stronger by the minute. It was almost familiar, but corrupted so much that he couldn't place it. Mika didn't understand what he was seeing, but the serious look on Goku told him not to interfere. Kelk wanted to ask what was going on, but he didn't want to distract Goku.

"Spoke too soon," Goku said, putting two fingers to his forehead. "Zanarkand will have to wait."

Instantly Goku disappeared, leaving Mika and Kelk alone in the room. Mika was plenty confused by the sight. "Did you know he could do that?"

Darkness flowed out of the Farplane like a river.

It flooded the underground settlement of Guadosalam, its people retreating into their homes for safety. The darkness filled the cavernous space, and it spilled out through every exit from Guadosalam. From the forest to the south and the storm ravaged land to the north, the darkness rose upward into the sky, coming back together directly above the settlement. There the darkness began to take physical form, growing enormous with each passing second, until all of the darkness had emerged and all of the power brought to the surface.

Approaching his home from the south with his entourage, Seymour saw the darkness take shape on the horizon. "Oh dear… that is something I never thought I would see."

Goku reappeared high above Bevelle, hovering over the city and facing the southern horizon, where he sensed the large energy coming from. Something was already there and heading north at astonishing speed, rolling over the landscape and crushing everything in its way. Goku flew on an intercept course, reaching what he saw just to the south of Bevelle. There Goku stopped and faced the monstrosity that he had sensed, and it too stopped and stood before Goku, facing him like an old adversary back for revenge.

For it was Sin, yet different from before.

The form of a giant whale was gone, replaced by an entirely new body. This one more resembled a hedgehog, its quills sharp as swords and numbering in the thousands. It was slightly smaller than Sin was before, though not by enough to matter in the slightest. Long fangs were bared in its massive mouth, each ready to impale a person. This new form of Sin glared at Goku, remembering the demise of its previous incarnation. Goku in turn glared back at the monster, surprised that he could sense immense power from it now, wondering why he couldn't sense it before and why he could do so now.

There was a flash of light as Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan, and Sin responded with a swipe of its enormous claws. Goku flew through the gap in between two individual claws, and then flew straight for Sin's face and punched it in the jaw. The blow had Sin stumbling back, its feet compressing the ground of the open fields it stood on. Then the other set of claws swung upward, and Goku just barely avoided the sharp edges, and was hit by the massive paw and knocked out of the sky. Halfway toward the ground Goku stopped his fall, and looked up at Sin towering over him.

Sin swept its claws again and Goku dodged again, heading up again to punch Sin again. But this time Sin widened its mouth to the limit, and dark energy spewed out in a massive beam. It missed when Goku dodged, and burned a deep hole in the ground instead. Goku then punched the side of Sin's head, jerking it to the side, and the still firing beam burned a long trench across the landscape. Sin then turned its head upward, and the beam went up with it, striking Goku with a glancing blow that left him tumbling through the air.

Now high above Sin, Goku got himself facing down with his back to the sky. He saw Sin curl up its limbs to make a ball of its body, its thousands of quills sticking out in nearly every direction. The quills glowed with dark energy, straightened out to point at the sky, and fired from Sin's flesh like missiles. Goku dodged the quills with ease, despite the sheer number of them. But then the quills fractured and the pieces reconfigured, transforming into insect-shape Sinspawn with sharp edges all over. These Sinspawn flew back down, rushing Goku as a massive swarm.

It became a chase when Goku flew downward, keeping ahead of the swarm right behind him. Goku changed direction several times, yet the Sinspawn swarm still followed relentlessly. When he was near the ground Goku turned around, facing the swarm about to reach him. Goku fired a barrage of energy blasts at the swarm, blowing up the insect Sinspawn as they converged on him. The explosions and resulting debris created a thick cloud of black smoke, concealing Goku from view and shrouding his view of Sin.

Goku sensed a buildup of power, again getting the feeling of familiarity, and braced himself for a larger attack. When the smoke cleared Goku saw Sin standing upright, its left arm held high and palm facing up. Dark energy coalesced in that open palm, which then aimed at Goku, and fired an enormous dark energy beam at astonishing speed. Goku crossed his arms and blocked, taking the hit head on and refusing to budge. When the attack ceased Goku was still in the air, though with his aura dimmed and breathing slightly heavier.

"He's tougher than before," Goku muttered. He clenched his fists again and powered up, restoring his aura to its full golden glow. "Let's see just how much tougher."

Sin charged at Goku and swung its claws down, but the only struck ground after Goku flew forward. Goku got underneath Sin and flew upward, punching the monster in the exposed underbelly. The blow lifted Sin off the ground, and Goku got out of the way before Sin came crashing down. The impact triggered an earthquake felt in Bevelle, and left a Sin-shaped imprint in the ground. Goku aimed both palms and unleashed another energy barrage, blowing up the quills sticking out of Sin's back. When finished there was a large bare spot, and Goku flew in to throw a powerful punch.

The blow cracked something within the monstrous back, and Sin let out a roar of pain that shook the ground for miles around. Goku punched that same spot again, and again, and again, until thick skin broke and black blood oozed out. With both hands Goku fired a large energy beam into the wound, building up energy inside until it exploded, tearing open an even bigger wound in Sin's back. After that Goku fired another energy barrage, blasting apart more of Sin's flesh and digging the wound even deeper.

But then Sin spun its body and swung its arm around, the back of its hand slamming into Goku and knocking him out of the air. Sin got upright and punched downward, hitting Goku and then the ground, pinning him there in a shallow crater. But then the fist was slowly lifted upward, Goku's strength overcoming that of Sin. With one strong push Goku threw the fist off him, resulting in Sin stumbling back a few steps. Sin recovered and held its left hand up high again, charging up energy to use the same attack it did earlier.

"Here we go!" Goku yelled. He cupped his hands at his side, charging up his own attack in the few seconds he had. "Ka… Me… Ha… Me… HA!"

Sin aimed its left hand at Goku and fired a large black beam, while Goku thrust his hands forward and fire the blue Kamehameha. The two beams collided in the middle and clashed against each other, neither giving ground at the start of the struggle. Goku's beam was narrower than Sin's, and started to pierce through it and advance towards the target. The Kamehameha reached the end and struck Sin's hand, annihilating the appendage before disintegrating its way up the arm. Sin moved to its right to get out of the way, but by then everything below the left shoulder had been destroyed.

Screaming in agony, clutching the stump of a left arm, Sin fell onto its right knee. Goku flew forward and went underneath the right arm, ramming Sin in the exposed underbelly and knocking the monster over. Goku heard something break during the collision, and then he sensed a massive drop in the corrupted energy Sin wielded. He watched Sin struggle to get back up, barely managing it with only one good arm. Aiming both palms forward Goku fired a large yellow beam, hitting the same spot he had just struck before, penetrating Sin's flesh all the way through to the other side.

This time Sin's roar had a very nasty gurgle to it, an immense volume of blood getting in its throat. Some of that blood was spat out and dribbled from Sin's mouth, almost like the monster was trying to curse Goku's name. Sin fell forward and crashed into the ground, and it lay there in a growing pool of black blood. Again Sin roared and spat out more blood, but now the roar was weaker and the blood splattering further. Then Sin stopped roaring altogether, and the flow of blood soon dried up completely.

Goku sensed the last of Sin's power disappear, and he saw that the monster was dead. Its remains soon disintegrated into a cloud of pyreflies, all rising upward before dispersing in the sky. The air shimmered in the light and an image formed, creating a person nearly as large as Sin had been. He was a muscular man wearing brown armor, chest plate covering his torso while pads protected his shoulders and legs. He had hair so long it reached past his knees, a feature that Goku recognized from someone well over a decade ago.

"Raditz?" Goku blurted out, remembering the long lost brother that got him killed the first time.

The ghost of Raditz did not last, quickly fading away into nothing as the pyreflies dispersed. Just as it did before the black pyrefly appeared, the core of Sin revealed after the destruction of its armor. But this time the black pyrefly did not try to possess Goku, instead fleeing back to the south faster than the eye could see. And once again it vanished from Goku's senses, and he could not track the black pyrefly, wherever it went. He could only look at the last of the pyreflies fading away, among them the soul of a brother that should have stayed forgotten.

When the skies were clear Goku reverted to his normal state, no longer needing Super Saiyan might. But the sight of Radtiz remained on his mind, creating more questions than he had before. "What is that thing doing?"

Meanwhile, people all across Spira wondered what had been going on half a world away. Bevelle had seen the spectacular light show, while tremors had been felt as far away as Luca, and the booms akin to thunder were heard worldwide. It brought the celebrations of the Calm to a standstill, and many wondered if their rejoicing had been premature. Rumors and speculations quickly spread, a myriad of possibilities coming to mind. Yet for the most part people didn't know what was going on, having no experiences to compare the event to.

The exception to this was the survivors of Operation Mi'ihen, those that had seen the previous battle between Goku and Sin two nights ago. From the Mushroom Rock and the surrounding lands they had seen dim flashes from beyond the horizon, heard the booms of powerful blows, and felt the ground tremble beneath their feet. They all knew what it meant, even if they could not bring themselves to admit it. Many of them were in denial about what they witnessed, praying that it was just a series of earthquakes instead of the nightmare's return.

Halfway down the road from Djose Temple to the Moonflow, the summoner and guardians had halted their journey, staring in disbelief at the northwestern horizon. Wakka and Lulu didn't want to believe it, but they couldn't outright deny it. Rikku felt a deep pit growing in her stomach, realizing that the worst had come to pass. Kimahri didn't say a word, same as always, but one could tell he was not happy. Tidus's eyes narrowed as he looked at the horizon, wishing he could have gotten a closer look to know exactly what was going on.

While everyone else didn't want to say it, Auron could admit the reality. "Sin has returned."

"Already?" Wakka questioned, hardly able to believe it. "The Calm just started. It should take months to end. It can't be over this quickly."

"It shouldn't be over," Auron agreed. "But then, Sin should be defeated by a summoner. It wasn't."

"We don't know for certain," Lulu said.

Meanwhile Yuna had restored her resolve, considering herself fortunate to have been heading toward the next temple anyway. "If Sin really is back early, I need to return to my pilgrimage."

"And that's the end of it," Auron said. "We head out now."

As they resumed their journey, Rikku hung back from the rest of the group. "And the pilgrimage continues. It shouldn't have to be this way."

Tidus hung back as well, in agreement with Rikku. "There has to be something we can do to stop this."

After defeating Sin for a second time, and certain that it would come back again, Goku was in no mood for celebrations. He had even more questions now than he did the first time around, and he wasn't sure if anyone in this world would be able to answer them. Sin had returned far soon than he had been led to believe, and Sin had been more powerful than the first time. And then there was the person that appeared during Sin's destruction, not a stranger from a strange land, but the long lost brother that had been dead for a decade.

Those were questions that Goku doubted he would find in Spira, or anywhere else for that matter. Still, it wasn't going to stop him from looking, even if he had few leads to go on. But for now he had to deal with the aftermath of the battle, and Goku landed in the middle of it. The lands to the south of Bevelle had been torn apart, virtually unrecognizable from how it had been before. Fortunately it had all been unsettled wilderness, no one around for many miles besides unfortunate travelers that had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Goku stood there and focused his senses, feeling for the energies of anyone that might have been here and survived. He didn't sense anyone living in the immediate area, just himself in the middle of all the destruction. But he did sense a massive amount of people coming from the north, and Goku turned in that direction to face them. The battle had caught the attention of Bevelle's citizens, and they were coming to see the results for themselves. The first of them stopped at the threshold of the battlefield, seeing Goku standing in the middle of it.

"Don't worry," Goku said, facing the people staring at him. "Sin is gone, for now."

However, the fact that Sin had returned remained more prevalent. Even the people here that witnessed Sin's return were in disbelief, still coming to terms with what had happened here. The Calm was supposed to last for months, and it had ended in days. The fear that had gripped the people all their lives had returned, and it now seemed more dire than ever before. Granted, the man that had destroyed Sin had done so again, but it mattered little when it appeared that Sin would return stronger than before.

Goku did not stick around to enjoy the gratitude, or what little there was to be had here. He took flight and headed north, back to Bevelle faster than word of mouth could travel. When he arrived he discovered that all celebrations had ceased, as the people were in no mood to celebrate Sin's destruction this time. Now they feared that Sin could return again just as quickly, and so they returned to the way their lives had been before the Calm began. Goku couldn't blame them for that, suspecting that what they feared would soon come to pass.

Still, word travelled fast from the people that investigated the battle's aftermath, and it would not be long before the tales spread fast amongst the populace. But for now the people in the city were still unaware of the details, and Goku wanted to get in and out before that would change. The people here were still grateful from the first time, even if the mood was soured by the second battle. Goku landed in front of the temple of Yevon, and he ignored questions from the priests and Yevon worshipers that saw him arrive.

Barging through the doors as he entered the temple, Goku startled all the priests inside with his sudden intrusion. He sensed the presence of Kelk and Mika exactly where he had left them, and Goku walked through temple to find them in the same private meeting room. It seemed that Goku had arrived before any messengers could get to them, for the two maesters seemed more surprised than frightened over what had happened. At first they were relieved to see Goku, until he slammed a fist on the table hard enough to shake the entire room.

"We need to talk," Goku said sternly. "Now."

Mika was shocked by the change in tone. "We were wondering why you disappeared like that, and surprised that you are back so soon."

"Tell that to Sin," Goku said. He saw the startled looks from both men, and knew they believed him. "It came back, stronger than before, sooner than I'm told it should."

"Where is it?" Kelk asked.

"I destroyed it, again," Goku answered. "I thought you should know, before Sin comes back again."

"Thank you, for the warning," Mika said. "I must admit, I thought you were not coming back. I had assumed you were going to go straight to Zanarkand."

"That was before Sin returned again," Goku said. "I'll ask you again, what do you know about how Sin returns to Spira."

"I'm afraid there is little that we know at all," Mika said.

"That's not good enough," Goku said. "You know more than you're letting on, even I can see that."

Mika's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps there is another that can help, before you journey to Zanarkand."

Kelk seemed to know what Mika had in mind. "Are you sure about this? He is not a summoner."

"I think we can suspend the rules in this case," Mika said. He turned toward Kelk and nodded to him. "Bring him to the Fayth."

"As you wish," Kelk said. He headed for the door and gestured for Goku to follow him out of the room. "Right this way."

Kelk led Goku out of the room and into another part of the temple, going past guards that blocked access beyond a door. There were several staircases leading further down, taking them to a place that looked older than the rest of the temple. Goku didn't sense anyone in these deeper levels of the temple, but then that was to be expected, if what he suspected was true. Kelk was treating this place with holy reverence, keeping his steps light and precise, until they arrived at a vast chamber deep beneath the main temple.

This vast chamber was like an open pit with transparent hallways spanning the abyss, constructed of hard light with symbols constantly in motion. Stone platforms were placed around the abyss, connected by the hard light hallways, though their positioning made little sense at first glance. There was some sort of puzzle involved with the light and the symbols, which would determine where a visitor would got and if they reach the other side. Kelk scowled when they arrived, then reached into his robes and took out a small blue sphere.

"I think we can skip the trials today," Kelk said. He walked to a nearby wall, placed the blue sphere in a slot, and a hidden door opened to reveal a side passage. "We're not here on pilgrimage anyway."

The side passage took them around all the light hallways, bypassing the puzzle entirely and saving a lot of time. Goku figured this was meant for staff to access the other side for maintenance purposes, likely to reset the puzzle after someone completed the trials. A short walk brought them to the end of the passage, where Kelk used another blue sphere to open another hidden door. On the other side was a smaller chamber, with oval shaped doors on both ends that could slide up into the walls, one leading back to the trials.

Kelk walked up to the other door and placed his hand on it, muttering an incantation to activate it. The door slid up and out of the way, granting passage into another chamber beyond. As the door opened the silence in this chamber was dispelled, replaced by a strange sound that came from the next chamber. It was a song accompanied by a melody, the lyrics sung with the voice of a young child, though the words were not in any language Goku could understand. It was calm and soothing to listen to, even if he didn't have the ear for good music.

"Excuse me," Goku said. "What am I hearing in there?"

"It is the Hymn of the Fayth," Kelk answered. He stopped in front of the doorway and looked back at Goku. "Beyond this door is the Chamber of the Fayth. It is the most sacred place in Bevelle. It is meant for summoners, and very few others receive this privilege. All I ask is that you be respectful and do not touch anything."

"Okay, I promise," Goku said. He saw Kelk step out aside, and Goku walked into the doorway. He was halfway through when he realized Kelk wasn't coming with. "Aren't you going in too?"

"It is not my place," Kelk answered, firm in his faith and knowing his place in such matters. "This meeting with the Fayth is for you and you alone."

Goku nodded to him. "Okay."

Leaving the maester behind, Goku entered the Chamber of the Fayth alone. This place was a focal point for the religion of Yevon, rarely seen those outside the clergy. The chamber was small and had a simple dome shape, only enough room for a dozen people at most, though the walls were decorated with a variety of murals and symbols that were revered in this religion. Most of the floor space inside was occupied by a statue underneath a thick sheet of glass, a statue that resembled a dragon that was lying on one side.

In here the Hymn of the Fayth was even louder, the lyrics clearly heard yet not understood by Goku. The hymn was almost entrancing here, and it was tempting to simply stand there and listen. It appeared to be coming from the dragon statue in the floor, which seemed to have a mystical quality. Goku stood next to the edge of the glass, looking at the statue and reminded of dragons he had seen before, though this statue was different from Shenron or Porunga. The legs were much longer and thicker, the tail much shorter, and wings nearly as big as the rest of it combined.

"Neat," Goku muttered. He looked around the chamber, wondering what else was in here. "Is something supposed to happen? What did they want me to see?"

"Me."

The voice of a young boy surprised Goku, right before the boy himself appeared above the statue in a flash of light. The child wore blue clothes with a hood over his head, shrouding most of the dark features on his face. Not only did the child simply float just above the surface of the glass, he was also transparent enough for Goku to see the surfaces behind him. This ghostly child watched Goku looking back, his gaze never moving away from Goku's eyes. It almost seemed like the child was looking into his very soul.

"You are the one who defeated Sin, and lived to tell about it."

"If by living you mean escaping what it normally does," Goku answered. He noticed that he could not sense this boy's presence, just like he couldn't sense Tidus or Sin. "Who are you?"

"I am the Fayth of this temple." He noticed a lack of reaction from his words, unlike so many other visitors. "Summoners come to me for an aeon. But you are not a summoner. That much is obvious. So I wonder. Why are you here?"

"Mika insisted on it," Goku answered, though now he wasn't sure why. "He said it would be enlightening."

"Or maybe, he doesn't want you to leave." The Fayth looked at the ceiling, as if to find the Grand Maester somewhere up there, scheming to some end or another. "I'm sure he needs time to find a way to exploit your achievement."

"Look, I don't care about him and his politics," Goku said. "I just want to know how to stop Sin from coming back. If you can tell me anything about that, I would appreciate it."

The Fayth closed his eyes, thought for a long moment, and opened his eyes again. "Yu Yevon, he is the key."

"Yu Yevon," Goku repeated. Though he didn't know that name, the meaning of it seemed strangely familiar. "That thing inside of Sin, that's Yu Yevon, isn't it?"

"Yes," the Fayth answered. He closed his eyes, as if focusing on something within, and then looked at Goku again. "Strange, he has departed the material plane. I cannot feel his presence, both in Spira or in the dream."

Goku blinked twice. "The dream?"

"The eternal dream," the Fayth repeated. "It is a memory of a time gone by, a relic from the world of a thousand years ago, kept in this world through an eternal summoning. But Yu Yevon is not there."

"Then where is he?" Goku asked.

"I do not know." The Fayth paused, clearly disturbed by the lack of knowledge. "Yu Yevon will return. That much is certain. It is only a matter of time."

"I know that," Goku said, speaking from experience. "I think I have a day, maybe two before that happens."

"Then you should be somewhere else tomorrow." The Fayth crossed his arms. "Sin will come for you. If you are not here, the people here will not be in danger."

"I was going to head out today," Goku said. "I'm told that I can find someone called Yunalesca in a place called Zanarkand. Would that be a good place to fight Sin?"

"Zanarkand has been in ruins for a thousand years." The Fayth smiled. "There is no one left to be harmed by a battle there."

"Except for Yunalesca," Goku pointed out.

"Sin is no threat to her." The Fayth seemed unsure, wondering whether or not to reveal a secret few in Spira were privy to. "She did vanquish Sin, once, and paid the price."

Goku had a pretty good idea what that price was. "She's dead, but still here."

The Fayth nodded. "Just like you."

On that note, the Fayth faded away, leaving Goku alone in the chamber with no one to talk to. The Hymn of the Fayth was still being sun in here, though it seemed a little more subdued than earlier. The door to the chamber opened by itself, all but telling Goku that it was time to leave. He took one more look at the dragon statue, and then he turned to leave. Goku exited the chamber and found Kelk still waiting outside, being very patient the entire time. Kelk did not ask about what happened inside, and Goku did not say anything about what he experienced.

Together they left his place and returned to the main part of the temple, heading back through the side passage that bypassed the trials. Neither of them said a word throughout the walk upstairs, Kelk letting Goku think about what the Fayth had told them. When they arrived at the main part of the temple they parted ways, Kelk returning to Mika while Goku walked elsewhere. Goku had almost left when he felt a need to yawn, and the exhaustion from the fight earlier today finally caught up with him. So he turned around, and headed back to a room given to him during his stay.

"It's been a long day," Goku muttered.

It took the rest of daylight to get to the Moonflow, and it was worth the brisk pace.

When he saw it for himself, Tidus stared at the sight. "Wow!"

The Moonflow was a colossal river, stretching to the horizon east and west to cut a continent in two, its banks so far apart it was difficult to see the far side. Forests clung to the banks of the river, save for places carved out by human and nonhuman hands. Colorful lilies filled the river's shallow spots, painting the water with all the colors of the rainbow. The rest of the river was painted orange by the light of the setting sun, slowly giving way to the darkness of night. But the end of the day was just the beginning, when the real beauty of the Moonflow manifested.

When the last rays of sunlight ceased to shine, new light appeared along the banks of the Moonflow. Countless pyreflies drifted onto the water, illuminating the river with a myriad of colors. Soon the pyreflies covered the river from shore to shore, and from afar their lights looked like a sea of stars. There was nothing else like it in Spira, and tales of the Moonflow's beauty were told in every village and town. Crowds gathered to look at the colorful river, marveling at the wonder they had come here to see.

Yuna was grateful to see it, smiling like the little girl she had been when her father told her about the Moonflow. "It's even better than I heard."

Standing beside her, looking at the river, Lulu smiled. "Now, is it worth setting up camp in the dark?"

"Yes," Yuna said. "This is definitely worth it."