After talking a bit with Isaru, he said he had to get to work. Yuna looked at me and asked me who would turn Zanarkand into a tourist attraction, and I told her that she would soon find out. But first, we had to get to the dome. I knew it was there, but Rikku said it was the most logical place for a sphere. And Paine made a comment that we would know the area better.
So we took the broken road to the Dome. The boys took the road slow after Yuna almost tripped, and started watching her every move. They were being protective of her and that made my heart happy. It made it seem like a little bit of Braska was still watching out for her. When we finally made it to the Dome, Yuna made sure she held her head high. I guessed being here made her remember who she was. The high summoner that defeated Sin for good. The fiends here were sparse mostly because there were so many people around. Soon I heard Pacce's voice.
"The password is Mon! We need to remember it!" I giggled and he turned around. He jumped when he saw us and asked if we remembered him.
"Hi, Pacce!" I replied with a wave. He looked so happy that we remembered him! We talked to him for a couple of minutes about sphere hunting, and then he and his group ran off. We followed at a more leisurely pace, at least until we saw LeBlanc's goons. We were able to walk right up behind one as they were talking about the password. After being assured that their password was "key", Rikku put the keys together.
"Monkey!" She told us excitedly. The goon turned around and started a fight. Yuna fought with all her might, and soon we were sneaking past the rest of the goons. We both knew the way, so it didn't take us by surprise to head under the dome. Paine followed us, her eyes taking in everything. Her eyes were on the great stone fayth that was once Yunalesca's Zaon. Yuna only saw Cid, her uncle. While Rikku and Yuna yelled at Cid, I turned to Paine.
"When the first final summoning was performed, this stone held Lord Zaon. Lady Yunalesca stayed here as an unsent to change a guardian of every summoner into a fayth to become the next sacrifice for the final summoning until two years ago. Yuna refused to sacrifice anyone, and we fought Yunalesca. We defeated her and found out how to defeat Sin once and for all. She must be just as strong to face what will come. Do not coddle her." I told her, and she nodded. Then she asked if I could see the future. And I told her that I just knew that Yuna's final trial to her happy ending was coming and that we were only there to support her. Paine seemed to understand since she nodded. Yuna and Rikku had just finished up with Cid, and I grabbed my boys and walked into what two years ago we thought would be the end.
The red carpet was still there, just more frayed. And someone had placed chests here. I grabbed what they offered, and walked up the stairs that led to where we fought Yunalesca. After opening the doors and walking thru, we saw the hole left by the dying Yunalesca. I had forgotten how eerie this place was. That is when Issaru's muffled voice spoke about not getting what we seek so easily. Paine offered to fight, but we were asked for the password. Rikku answered with the password, then we were asked the meaning of life. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Issaru! We know it is you. Come out here, and let us pass." I called out, and only a minute later he appeared. He apologized and handed Yuna a stone thing he had found. After saying his goofy line about Zanarkand, I started to the stair he had come from. Yuna followed right behind me, as did everyone else. I followed the path until we saw the sphere. I got out my staff, and everyone got ready for a fight. The guardian beast was just as it was two years ago, and we were ready this time. Zaon and Auron were hitting it from behind, while Sora and the girls hit it face on. I kept healing everyone and by the time it was over, I was exhausted.
Yuna and Auron had to practically carry me out of the dome to get the airship. Once on there, Auron and Paine took over to get me to a cabin to sleep. I slept like the dead for a couple of hours before the boys came to ask me what to do. The Awesome sphere had been found in Kilika, and we were en route. I dragged myself out of bed and told them that they would stay with Auron on the airship. They protested until I told them that we had to be a small group until we got close to the temple. If they could figure out how they could get the airship to the landing before Kilika Temple before the battle for the sphere, they could join in. That started the wheels turning in their minds. They ran to talk to Buddy about how to get there before us. I got off when the girls did. When we made it into the forest, I led the girls down the barely visible path that wasn't blocked. Then I moved to the shrubs where we were able to overhear the passwords.
When we had heard the passwords, we moved on. We approached the stairs and were asked the password. We gave them the password and were let thru. This happened a couple more times before we were asked the password two times back to back. When we answered correctly, we were given a stone piece that I pocketed and walked onto the landing. Just then, Yuna cried out, and I looked to see Zaon protecting Sora, who was on the ground hurt. The mother in me wanted to rip them to shreds for hurting him. I settled for healing him and as soon as he no longer felt any pain, sent out a heavy lightning spell on the guard that his brother was fighting. I cast a lightning spell as well at a guard that was trying to sneak up behind my boys. That got Sora to look around, only to see me.