Ormi and Logos passed by the Youth League and headed towards the headquarters. But it was really the Den of Woe they were really heading towards. Yuna and the others wanted to follow them, so we did. And boy did we scare them. They were so scared that they left a sphere behind, so we grabbed it before turning to find Maroda.
"They say a certain kind of sphere will open the door. But this place is forbidden until we have conducted an investigation. So I will have to ask you to leave." He told us after we exchanged pleasantries. I ushered the other away. When we were far enough away I told them that we would surely find the spheres to unlock the door, but now right now. Yuna and Rikku understood, but Paine looked skeptical.
"Somehow Rose is always right. She has always had a reason for not explaining everything when we ask, but we have learned to not question her." Rikku explained to Paine. When we finally battled our way thru the fiends and made it to the Youth League headquarters, Nooj was in a meeting. But on the plus side, we met with Lucil and talked to Maechen. The boys didn't even fidget the whole time he was talking! That surprised me and Auron. We both knew that the boys could barely sit still on a normal basis, so this was new. After about ten minutes, Maechen was done talking and asked to shake Yuna's hand. After he left, I said that Brother was waiting for us. Rikku sighed and Yuna looked at the boys. Zaon was the first to yawn, followed by Sora. I told them that if we stayed any longer, we would have to carry them. That spurred everyone into action.
When we had boarded the airship, I sent Zaon and Sora to bed. Auron, as their godfather, followed them with the promise to return after he made sure they were asleep. As soon as they had left, Buddy asked us if we had a nice walk. I was just glad that the walk had tired out my sons, and I told him so. Yuna smiled and said it was nice to journey again, even though she missed Wakka and the others. Rikku was just glad to be away from Brother. That sparked an argument between Rikku and Brother, and that was when Auron walked back in.
"If your family quarrel wakes either of those boys, I swear to Yevon I will show you how a warrior monk is trained. And trust me, it is brutal." Auron smiled an evil smile that made even me shudder. But it worked. Rikku and Yuna remembered Auron teaching Drew how to use a katana, and didn't want to see it first-hand. So no matter how Brother tried to fight with Rikku, she just glared at him without saying a word. Eventually, even Brother, who could go on forever, gave up. After a while, I asked Buddy to let me off at Djose Temple. Everyone looked at me. I smiled sadly and said that I wanted to see what had happened to the temple since the departure from Yevon. Auron knew what I was thinking because he said that he was going with me, and I didn't argue.
Djose Temple held a special place in my heart, for two reasons. One, that is where Zaon was born. And two, it was Braska's favorite temple next to Besaid. Yuna asked if she could come as well, and I said that it was up to her. As soon as we were dropped off, tears filled my eyes. Braska was everywhere in Spira, and the memories assaulted me like a jackhammer. Yuna walked ahead and signed up to dig in the sands of Bikanel Island. Seeing machina littered around the grounds tore me apart. I asked Auron if he could ask Yuna if Braska's statue was okay in there, and he nodded. I would have the head of anyone that messed with his statues. Besides the boys, that was all I had left of him. A few minutes after Auron returned to my side, Yuna appeared with Gippal.
"I hear you wanted to know how the statues were fairing. Can I ask why?" He asked me. Yuna looked confused as well.
"I am the wife of High Summoner Braska, and the statues are the only way I can see his face. Plus he loved this temple, and I feel closer to him here." The tears started falling down my face. And I guess he understood because he asked if I wanted to see the statue for myself. I nodded, not trusting my voice. He led me into the temple, and I saw that his statue was untouched. I walked over to it and rested my head against the cold stone. For a moment, I felt like he was right there next to me. Gippal gave me the space and time that I needed. After a couple of minutes, I straightened up and looked at Gippal.
"Thank you. Braska would have liked you, you know. He hated that the temples never let anyone decide and learn about machina, so even though it was his favorite temple I think he would have loved to see it devoted to the research and teaching of machina." I told him. He smiled and asked if I had a couple of minutes to talk. I checked in with Buddy to make sure the troublemakers were still sleeping and when they were, I nodded.
"I wanted to ask you about your husband, actually. We all know that his first marriage was to one of us. But what I was wondering is what happened after." He asked. I took a deep breath, then sighed.
"Braska...after he married an Al Bhed, was considered a fallen and disgraced man. And after Yuna was born he feared that she would be considered a half breed. When his first wife died, he started on the path of a summoner, and Yuna was brought up mostly by the temples. Braska always regretted leaving her mostly at the temple of Bevelle, but he did feel that she was safer there at that time. That is until the temples tried to engage her with a man three times her age. Luckily, he refused and became disgraced as well. That is when he made a deal with Maester Mika. He would defeat Sin if they let Yuna choose her husband. And he agreed, on one condition. Braska was to take the disgraced man, a mad man from Zanarkand, and a woman who was found wearing strange clothes on the ground outside the temple with him. So to protect his daughter, he did what was asked. And trust me, the journey was not the greatest at first. But we did it. We brought a Calm for the people. Little did he know that his daughter would bring the Eternal Calm." I told him, only pausing to breath.