A/N: No clever commentary right now. Too busy playing Brawl. And if you even have to ask which character is my main, I will laugh at you, it is THAT obvious.

A long way down to Zanarkand:

As we started to climb up to Gagazet, Rikku moaned, and changed into her warrior dressphere (her warmest dressphere, despite the fact that it shows some skin at the hips). "I hate being cold!"

I looked over at Yuna, who had already spherechanged for the weather, and Paine, who… well, had somehow produced heavy black clothes to slip on top of her lighter outfit. Yuna had Arsnakra out, she was walking alongside us, and I'd left Balrog and Suicune out as well. Suicune liked the chill, and the two canine pokemon produced a lot of heat, so they could easily withstand the chill. "Rikku, go stand near one of the fire types, you'll warm up some."

She shrugged, and walked next to Balrog. I was the only one who hadn't really needed to change, I was warm enough to go all the way to the peak. I'd done it before, Yuna and Rikku knew very well I could do this and pay the chill no mind.

We rounded a corner, and encountered a hassled looking Kimahri, his pokemon standing beside him.

I looked at it, smiling internally. A Manyula, the evolved form of a Sneasel. Unlike those winter imps, Mayula were rather like… Medicham. Meditative, quiet, but also fiercely protective when they had to be. I'd given it to him because Manyula were perfect pokemon for cold mountains - and cold mountain rescue operations, they could move quickly, and use their claws to slash through ice, if needed. As we came closer, he said, "Yuna look well. Kimahri glad."

Rikku asked him, "How you been, Kimahri? What's it like being an elder?"

Kimahri shook his head tiredly. "Elder's job difficult. Kimahri troubled."

Another ronso appeared, jumping from a ledge. He walked straight up to Kimahri, and said, "Elder. Lian and Ayde not here! Children have left mountain. Gone to

search for elder's horn!"

Yuna asked, "What's going on?" I said at the same time, "Huh? I don't think that'll help…"

Kimahri responded to Yuna, rather than my confused statement. "Lian and Ayde still pups, but bear Ronso future. Say they search for way to fix Kimahri's broken horn."

I looked away for a moment, wondering. The other Ronso remained silent, then said darkly, "If Kimahri act like true elder, these things not happen."

Kimahri's Manyula hissed, but Kimahri calmed it down with a gaze. "Maybe so."

I narrowed my eyes, and quickly stated, "And maybe not."

The Ronso turned to me, and seemed to be amused by the fact that I was shorter than him. He snorted loudly, a faint smug grin appearing on his face, until Balrog shot a flame that nearly burned him. Then he lost the smugness. Wordlessly, he stalked off. I followed his progress with an angry gaze, until he disappeared from sight.

Yuna asked Kimahri, "Who was that?"

Kimahri said tiredly, "Garik Ronso."

Yuna remained silent, and then told Kimahri, "We'll take care of Lian and Ayde."

Kimahri responded with a slight smile on his features, "Kimahri thank Yuna."

Yuna smiled faintly at him. "It's no trouble, Kimahri."

&

Rikku moaned as we reached the summit, "Aw… it's so cold…"

I looked at the ruins of Zanarkand, and then looked to Rikku. She was practically buried in Arsnakra's fur, the Arcanine having an amused expression on her face. Fairly understandable, she was raised in a hot desert location, her body just isn't adjusted to cold like mine is.

I yawned, still clad in my vest, t-shirt, and pants. "Yeah, sure. I guess."

Paine gave me a wondering look. "Aren't you cold?"

I shook my head. "Na."

Rikku said, muffled in Arsnakra's fur, "He did this last time too." She removed her face from the fur, saying, "He could probably go swimming in Macalania lake and not get cold…"

I grinned helplessly. It took a lot for me to get cold, thanks to Suicune. Speaking of her… she was staring at the peak of the mountain, then turned to me.

I nodded, looking away. She must be remembering Mt. Silver. "Well, let's go. On to Zanarkand… the city of the dead."

Yuna nodded, as did Rikku.

A short walk later, and I had to stop, looking at the sight.

A crowd was literally looking around like tourists. "No way."

Paine said incredulously, "A tourist attraction." Some people stopped, and turned to stare at Yuna for a few moments, before looking back at Zanarkand.

Rikku said in disgust, "Urgh, who's idea was that?"

Yuna sighed, then gazed at one figure near the small rising that Tidus had stood on. I followed her gaze, as she said softly, "Is that Isaaru?"

I peered at him as Rikku said, "Well, that would explain why he's dropped out of sight."

Yuna walked up to him, and we trailed her. She asked to his back, "Isaaru?"

Isaaru turned, and nodded in greetings. "Yuna? You've changed so much, I hardly recognize you."

Rikku grinned, in appreciation of her 'fiddling' with Yuna's look. "Well, that was the idea…"

Yuna asked him, "Why are you here?"

Isaaru smiled, as if he'd been complimented by Yuna wondering what he was up to now (bleargh), "Ah, yes. I've been helping Cid with his work."

I turned to Rikku, an eyebrow arched. She looked at us (I caught a hurt expression on Yuna's face), and she stammered, "Don't look at me…"

Isaaru waited until Yuna returned her attention back to him, then continued, "I guide people through Zanarkand, once the most sacred of places. People come from all over Spira. Sphere hunters, too." He said the last few words with a slight twist to his mouth, like he was repressing a smile.

Yuna sighed, and said weakly, "Oh."

Rikku looked to me, then asked the sky, "Ugh! What the heck is Pop thinking?"

I gently grabbed her arm, and she shrugged. "Just wait until I find that no-good…" Suicune, who was behind me, radiated the same feeling (she'd somehow learned how to do that). Great. Now Cid'll have to deal with Rikku, and then being frozen into a popsicle. Ah well, the idiot deserves it for turning this place into a tourist spot.

Isaaru seemed confused by our actions. Slowly, he said, "I can see this is upsetting you. But this is a place of great historical importance for all of Spira."

I glared at him. "So? Is this honoring the dead here, by holding guided tours through what is their grave?" We had a few 'great historically important' locations at home, too. The burned tower, for one. If a trainer wanted to get a tour, too bad. You got a guidebook about it, and walked about alone, or with your friends who were with you. No tour guides, just a respect for the events that had occurred… and the lives that had been lost in that senseless attack.

I glanced back at Suicune, and her eyes had hardened. She'd died in that attack, and now she was relating this place to the burned tower in her mind. She glared at the tourists, made a face, then growled. I turned back, in time to see Isaaru looking violently ill, as if he'd never thought of that. So did Rikku, for the matter. After a few moments, Isaaru managed to weakly say, "I never thought of it like that. Excuse me…" He walked off, looking disturbed.

Paine said to me, "That really threw him off. Is there something like this at… your home?"

I nodded absently. "The burned tower. Like Zanarkand, except not a city."

Yuna remained still, looking out towards the ruins, before turning to us. "Well, let's get moving, before the other sphere hunters get it." She said it rather mechanically.

Rikku and I exchanged a glance. This was her first time back here… and I bet neither of us liked her first 'return visit'.

&

After we finished traveling to the dome, we were greeted by a rather interesting surprise. Three kids (one familiar) were talking to each other, ignorant of the four of us (plus Suicune, who wasn't probably going to return to her pokeball anytime soon)

Pacce, Isaaru's younger brother, said to his two friends, "Taro, Hana, you ready?"

The other boy (he had to be Taro), said, "Um... What was the clue again?"

Hana (the girl, though with her hat, it was hard to say), said, "Come on! It's "key"!"

Pacce said, acting like a leader, "All right, let's head out!"

The two said, "Yes, sir!", then started 'marching' after their leader. Rikku said, "Aww…"

Yuna smiled.

&

"Welcome to our fabulous dome. Would you like to stock up before you continue onwards?"

I made a face, and said, "What a fabulously HORRIBLE idea." The woman frowned for a moment, then walked away. I turned to Rikku, and asked, "oui got something in mind to deal with him?"

Rikku paused, then smirked. "Yunie?"

Yuna turned to the two of us, and asked, "Yes, Rikku?"

Rikku asked lightly, "Would you chew out pops for me?"

Yuna's eyes widened, and she remained quiet. "Uhm…"

Paine said, "Let's just keep moving." She walked past us, and into the dome.

&

Taro asked the two, "Which way?", despite the fact that there really was one obvious path. Pacce raced over to the correct path, and beckoned the two of them. "This way!"

Hana the girl in the helmet said, "Yes!", then ran after him, the final kid chasing her.

I looked at the others, and shook my head wordlessly as they started to fight a few fiends. Rikku asked, "Should we help them?"

I shook my head, a hand on Psymachine's pokeball. "If they need rescuing, Psy can do it from a distance, and they'll think it was just luck. Don't injure kid's pride, they tend to resent that."

The three kids managed to defeat the fiends (two Ice elementals, and a lizard-like fiend), and fell to their knees. Taro panted, "Are you sure we can handle this, Pacce?"

Pacce was about to reply, when Yuna walked up to him. Instead of replying, he asked, "Lady Yuna?"

Yuna offered him a hand up, and he took it, unsteadily standing. She said lightly, "Hello, Pacce."

Pacce smiled tiredly, then looked to his two friends, who were still on their knees, exhausted. He pointed to the helmeted girl, and said, "That's Hana over there, and Taro's right next to me."

Taro slowly got to his feet, and panted, "Nice to meet you… Lady Yuna."

Yuna asked them, "Are you alright?"

Hana rose, and said confidently, "We're fine. Those fiends? Ha!"

Pacce seemed to regain his vigor (oh, for being so young and naïve), and said, "That's right! We're sphere hunters."

Rikku crossed her arms thoughtfully, and asked, "The Kinderguardians, right?"

Pacce nodded, and then seemed to realize I was there. "Oh, hiya Icewind."

I nodded back to him, then looked off into the distance. "You sure you can handle this place on your own, you three?"

Pacce nodded confidently, while Taro looked worried. I shrugged, looked around for any fiends that might attack, then sort of zoned out. I had a headache for some reason… I rubbed my temples, off to the side.

Rikku asked, "You here on some kind of treasure hunt?"

At Pacce's nod, Yuna mused, "So 'key' must be a clue for finding the treasure…"

The young ex-guardian nodded, smiling broadly. "Uh-huh. That's right."

Hana shushed him, and said something sharply to him. He scratched the back of his head, and as Hana ran ahead, he said "Kinderguardians, move out."

Taro ran to keep up with the other two. I finally managed to get rid of the blasted headache, and said "Ok, I think Cid's going a little too far with this…"

Yuna looked at me tiredly, and nodded. "He's getting a piece of my mind as soon as I find him."
I started to move on, moving past Rikku and Paine. Rikku grabbed my arm, and then said, "Aww… we never hold hands anymore."

I laughed slightly, then interlaced my right hand with her left.

&

Yuna whispered to us, as we silently moved closer to the Leblanc goon, "How did we miss that green outfit?"

Paine said softly, "It blends with the rubble."

Rikku cracked, "Because it's so ugly!" She didn't say it loudly, just with a grin on her face. Paine tiredly shook her head, as we heard him say, "Come in. Come in. Do you read me?" There was a static buzz, then a mumbled response. He replied, "Oh, hey. I wanted to double-check that clue. It's "mon," right?" Another buzz, then he replied with a bit of humor in his tone, "Nah, it's just that I heard some kids saying it was "key."" Another buzz of a voice, then he laughed. "Yeah, I figured it was "mon." Over and out."

I motioned for the girls to remain there, and I released Balrog silently, then the two of us snuck up behind him, and I tapped him on the shoulder. He spun, and I said, "Hiya!"

Balrog spat fire at him, and he backed up, and off the edge, landing on the roadway about ten feet below, and collapsed when he hit (he must of hit his head on the way down). I looked down, and winced. "That'll hurt in the morning. Ah well, easier then fighting 'em."

Paine walked up to the edge, looked down, and wondered aloud, "The clues are key and mon?"

Yuna asked, "Keymon?"

I made a face, and Rikku said excitedly, "Monkey!"

We (Yuna, Paine, and myself) followed Rikku's gaze, to a small monkey that the fiends seemed to ignore, which was dancing on the Leblanc goon's chest, then picked his pockets.

Yuna laughed softly, then asked, "You think it's too obvious?"

Rikku and I exchanged a glance. We exchanged a subtle nod, and said at the same time. "Na, knowing pops" (I said Cid, actually), "he thinks he's being clever."

Paine rolled her eyes at our act, then said, "I don't want to know how you two do that anymore." She walked further into the dome, Yuna following with a slight smile on her face. She always got a kick out of our act.

I exchanged a quick grin with Rikku, then followed Paine

&

"I'd never dream of picking on kids…" "But, oh how I've dreamed of picking on you!"

I rolled my eyes, and said in return, "I think they're trying to be clever."

One of the female mages hurled a thunder spell, which Paine took with only a quiet grunt. When it was over, she said, "Seems like it. Luin, would you just clear them out?"

I shrugged, and tossed Balrog's pokeball out. He growled, then smirked in the directions of the goons. I called softly, "Faint Attack, then Flamethower."

Balrog disappeared in a burst of black energy, and suddenly the goons were bathed in flames, setting their cloth uniforms aflame. Balrog snickered as he finished shooting fire, then reappeared at my side.

Rikku spherechanged to Black Mage, and doused them with water. The goons looked at each other, then ran off. They had their undergarments, but nothing else. Rikku shook her head, then glared at Balrog. "Overkill, much?"

I rubbed his neck, as he gave me a smirk, then laughed softly, a series of low barks. Smiling slightly, I returned him into his pokeball, then looked onward. "Let's keep moving."

Yuna nodded, then led the way inside.

&

Yuna took a step back in shock. "No…"

I sighed sadly. The hallway had easily twenty people within it, all of them chattering happily with a companion.

Rikku had a dark expression on her face. "Oh… pops is really ticking me off."

Paine crossed her arms, but mostly remained silent. I quietly shook my head, and walked ahead of them, motioning for the girls to keep up. "Come on, the longer we stand around, the more people that will try to swarm you Yuna."

Yuna nodded tiredly, and passed by the various groups, remaining silent. The few people that did recognize her walking among us called out in shock, but she didn't even react, she must have been deep in her own memories again.

&

We reached the elevator, and rode down on it. One of the oblivious 'tour guides' was there, and said, "This is the camber of the Final Summoning… Lady Yuna?"

Yuna remained silent, her eyes slightly glazed over. Rikku said quickly, "She isn't in a good mood right now, bad memories and all that. We'll take care of ourselves, bye!" She grabbed Yuna's hand, and pulled her into the chamber. Paine and myself followed silently.

Inside, Cid was talking to an Al Bhed man. Yuna shook her head, and seemed to realize where she was. She looked questioningly at Rikku as she marched over to Cid, and tapped him on the shoulder, turning him around.

Cid must have noticed Yuna first, because he exclaimed gladly, "Well, I'll be! If it isn't Yuna!"

Yuna nodded silently in response, and Cid asked, "Come to buy a clue from your uncle Cid?"

Rikku scowled, and slapped him on the cheek. He recoiled from her gesture, and stared at his daughter. She nearly shouted, "Fryd yna oui drehgehk!" (What are you thinking!)

Cid rubbed his cheek, and said in confusion, "Huh?"

Rikku growled at him, and said, "Turning this place into a gift shop? Hello!"

Cid crossed his arms, and asked, "What, you got a bone to pick?"

Yuna said in a mildly calm manner (surprised me, I thought she was going to slap Cid too), "You bet I do!"

Cid asked, "So, what's eatin' ya?"

Yuna said hesitantly, "It's… just not right." She looked over at me and Rikku, and we exchanged glances before she shrugged. She wasn't going to slap him again, and I'd deal with Cid.

Cid seemed confused. "Huh?"

I smiled darkly, and crossed my arms. "How about I go and turn the ruins of Home into a theme park, and invite tourists?"

Cid looked at me like he believed what I'd said, before he seemed to think it over, and realized what I was getting at. "Oh… I see your point." He looked down, and suddenly looked ill, as if he'd never realized. Silently, he looked up at Yuna, and said softly, "I'm sorry", before walking away, his shoulder slumped, his posture suggesting defeat.

Rikku shook her head, and jerked her head towards the solid-looking wall that was actually just a portal. "Let's keep moving."

Paine looked confused, but followed Yuna as she walked inside, to Yunalesca's chamber.

As we came out the other side, Paine said wonderingly, "That was weird."

I grabbed Rikku's hand, and said lightly, "You'd never had known, if you didn't travel here when the Fayth were still around."

Yuna looked at the chamber, then silently started to walk ahead of us. I called out to her, "Yuna?"

She looked back, a questioning look on her face, before she seemed to come to her senses, and said, "I'll be fine."

She walked up to the doorway to the place where we had fought Yunalesca, and pushed the doors open.

&

Yuna said to us, "This is the place where we cast off our beliefs. Our false hopes."

I nodded softly, looking at one spot where two heavy 'feet' had left an impression on the stone. "We left more than a single mark here."

Yuna followed my gaze, and then slowly looked upward. There was an ethereal Lugia 'standing' there, it's wings waving slightly. Paine looked over at me, and said, "That was you, wasn't it?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I had the power of shapeshifting for awhile, until the Fayth disappeared."

Yuna walked over to the hole in the floor, where Yunalesca had met her end. A sudden voice shouted, "Muahahaha!"

We all looked around, and the voice continued, "You have done well to make it this far, sphere hunters. But you will not have the treasure you seek so easily."

Paine said like she was getting a present, "So we fight."

The voice taunted, "If you want the treasure, you must speak the password!"

Paine crossed her arms, her sword resting at her side. "Password?" She looked around incredulously, like she couldn't believe the voice's nonsense.

Rikku said cheerfully, "The password is "monkey"!"

The voice remained silent, then said in a less mocking tone (more like a 'oh, shit, they got it right' tone), "Uh...yes, good. Uh, okay! So now tell me: What is the meaning of life?"

Yuna looked confused, and I laid a hand on her shoulder. I held up Psy's ball, then tossed it up, releasing Psymachine. He glanced around, then I got a mental snicker in my mind. Hello, Isaaru. I resisted to add an answer of '42' to his comment, no one would get it besides me.

Rikku looked faintly amused, as did Yuna. Yuna pouted, "I was gonna say that!"

I said back, "Feeling better?" At Yuna's grin, I grinned back.

The voice said, "Uhm… I'm not…"

Don't try to fool me, Isaaru. I can READ YOUR MIND.

Rikku called, "Yeah! Show yourself Isaaru!"

Isaaru walked up from the stairway that was beyond us, a slightly guilty expression on his face.

Yuna asked, "Um… what are you doing? Scaring people for no reason?"

Isaaru shook his head. "My job. I bring excitement to people who come to the this sacred place. I too once traveled with the hope of seeing this place someday… working here somehow fulfills that wish."

At my disgusted look, he shrugged. "It was Cid's idea for the quiz, but I must apologize for my actions." He pulled out a garment grid, and offered it to Yuna. She took it, and looked curiously at it.

Isaaru turned to the exit, and paused, saying, "Thanks for coming. And remember…" He stopped, looking at the four of us. Three of us had already been here before, and Paine was completely unreadable. Silently shaking his head, he walked away. I held up my pokeball, and returned Psymachine.

Paine said wryly, "Ex-summoners come in all flavors."

Yuna giggled, "Apparently so."

I feigned shock as I looked at her, then counted on my fingers. "One's in the youth league, one's guiding tours in Zanarkand…"
Rikku added, "Don't forget Yunie!"

I smiled, and added, "And one's in a sphere hunter group, named the Gullwings…"

Yuna laughed lightly, and Rikku smiled as well. "I guess we still got a sphere to find, right?"

Paine nodded, and looked around. "I think we have a minute to look around, though."

I said quietly, "We never did just look at the view, Yuna. We were too busy…"

Yuna looked around, then took a seat. "We're the only ones, besides Isaaru, who know about that passageway anyway." She tilted her head, and looked upwards at the stars that the bizarre place had in abundance. Paine crossed her arms, but was looking at the stars herself.

Rikku shrugged, and sat down, craning her head skyward. "Wow… we never did look."

Yuna asked us (well, me and Rikku) "You never came back here?"

Rikku shook her head. "Nuh-uh. We were too busy with one thing or another."

Sitting beside her, I nodded.

After what felt like no time at all had passed, Yuna got up, and said, "Come on, let's get that sphere!"

Collectively, we followed her.

Mostly, the pathway was clear, all the way to the sphere.

Rikku called gladly, "Aha! Found you!"

The chamber shook, and a massive dragon-like thing appeared. Dammed if I know from where, actually. It had four wing-like portions on its body, but rather than actual wings, they were more like tentacles. It had fairly large claws on its front legs, and it was a rather bulky thing.

I said lightly, "Ugly little critter…"

Rikku moaned, "Think it'll take a password?"

Paine muttered, "How about kick…its…ass."

Yuna laughed, and started shooting at it. It retaliated by striking her with a claw-strike, though she managed to roll out of the way. I said softly, "I think we'll have some fun with this one…" I jumped up, concentrating on a different dressphere. I landed, stepped out of the smoke that seemed to come nowhere, then looked myself over, and whistled softly.

&

Luin stepped out from the smoke, then looked himself over for a second. He whistled softly as he realized what he was dressed in. He had a red jacket on, which was open, revealing underneath a red muscle shirt, and a black pair of pants which didn't seem very loose at all. They looked to be made of jean material. He also had a pair of green-shaded sunglasses as well, that were small enough to just cover his eyes when he pushed them all the way up.

He looked over at the Guardian Beast, and smiled faintly. He held out his hand, and a microphone appeared in his hand. He gave Rikku a warning look (one that shouted "Hurry up!", and began.

A/N: Yes, that 42 is referencing exactly what you think it was.