Chapter 11: Mystic

I was five-years-old, I think, when my father first took me to the Moonflow. Well, the one and only time actually. He'd mentioned back then how it'd been a special place for him and my mother. When I got older, I assumed it'd been where they'd shared their first kiss, or something else of significance. But what I remembered most from that day was seeing the moonlilies for the first time. I'd been completely captivated by them and their majestic beauty.

Having been a curious child, I ran over to the riverbank and plucked one of those unique flowers out of the ground, clutching it tightly in my hands as I gazed upon its soft, white petals in wonderment.

My father had given a light-hearted chuckle at my sudden fascination and crouched down in front of me, his eyes warm and affectionate.

"Did you know that all living things have a soul, Yuna?"

"Really!? Even this flower?"

"Yes, even that flower. And sometimes, if you listen carefully, you may even hear its whispers."

At that point, I'd eagerly held the moonlily up to my ear, expecting to hear it speak as my father had suggested.

"But I… I don't hear anything."

"Maybe in time you will. Everything in nature has a voice. Don't ever forget that, Yuna."

Everything in nature has a voice…. I brushed off that whole conversation when I'd gotten older, believing it to be some sort of sentimental analogy. But now, I had to wonder if there was more to it than that.

Ever since I returned to Dream Zanarkand, I'd been hearing an eerie humming, which seemed to switch into what sounded like a high-pitched frequency at times. When my hand slipped inside that vortex in the Farplane—something happened to me then. Spira's life-force—it changed me in a way. And I was trying to figure it all out somehow.

Standing dressed on the houseboat deck, in the mid-afternoon sun, with my gaze fixed on the glistening waters of the ocean, I struggled to acclimate myself to the near-constant ringing in my ears. Somehow I knew that my father had the answers pertaining to this…noise. And there was no possible way to ask him about it—not now, not ever.

Just then, the door to the houseboat flew open, startling me to where I gasped and whirled around. Tidus charged out onto the deck and over to me, clad in his boxer shorts with his hair sticking up at every angle, looking quite disturbed.

"What the hell were you thinking, coming out here alone!? And while I'm sleeping—really!?" He stopped just short of me and chopped the air with his arm. "What if something happened to you? Auron's not here to help like last time!" Tidus then heaved an exasperated sigh, raking a hand through his disheveled hair. "Dammit Yuna!"

Normally, I'd be furious with him for scolding me as though I were some clueless child. But I knew Tidus reacted emotionally to almost everything. And I knew where all of this was stemming from. He was afraid—afraid of losing me.

Earlier, in the wee hours of that morning, his deepest fears had nearly become a reality. Neither of us could fall asleep right away because of it either. So, we ended up doing what we always did to relieve tension—we made love. And from how aggressive and possessive he'd been during our encounter, I figured fear had been the driving force. I'd seen it flash in his eyes when he pinned me down onto the bed, felt it in his touch as he ravaged my body, and tasted it in the fierceness of his kisses.

When Tidus could no longer bury his fears into that dark pit inside, the beast would emerge, and that aggression would take over. It'd worked well for him on the pilgrimage, transforming him into a skilled swordsman in combat. I'd never seen, or heard of anyone, wielding a blade in one hand with such skill and precision. He was quick, fierce and unrelenting.

But fiends were scarce in Zanarkand. And Auron wasn't there at the moment to spar with either. So, I suppose that steam had to be released in some form.

Rather than perpetuate the situation, I drew in a quick breath to calm myself then responded to his dramatic reaction on the exhale, "I'm sorry for…making you worry so much."

"You weren't there when I woke up. And when I couldn't find you anywhere inside…" his voice caught with emotion. "I thought something bad happened to you, y'know?" Then, his gaze dropped for a moment, and his tone grew quiet and somber. "Or that…you were finally transported back."

And I really needed that to happen in lieu of everything that'd transpired last night. But Tidus… He wasn't ready to let go of me—not yet.

"C'mon…" Latching onto my arm, Tidus tugged me over to the door and began to rant in the process, "All we need is for one of the neighbours to snap a shot of us out on deck. Jade and the rest of 'em would find out that ya never left. Then we'd have to deal with Zanarkand's finest coming to our doorstep. What would we do then!? There's no way I'd just let them take you away. We'd have to fight the cops! Then what? Didya not think about any of this!?"

I shut the door behind when we entered and released a long, aggravated breath. All of Tidus' points had been valid. And I couldn't really argue them. I just desperately needed some air—some room to breathe after all that'd happened. But he couldn't understand that right now. Fear had consumed him.

"Are you finished scolding me now?" Folding my arms, I cocked my head to the side, and added in a sardonic tone, "Or will I be receiving a form of punishment as well?"

His cross expression suddenly slumped into one of regret, finally realizing how much of a jerk he'd been. "Aww man…" Raking a hand down his guilt-ridden face, Tidus released a troubled sigh then issued an apologetic smile. "Yuna, I… I'm sorry for being such an ass. I'm just trying to protect you. And I guess I just…took things a little too far. I dunno what's gotten into me lately."

Well, I did. Cupping his face, I peered into those dreamy blue depths, and simply stated, "You're afraid."

"Me!?" He screwed up his face in protest. "Nah…"

"Tidus… I didn't just meet you. I've known you for a long time, remember? I know you're afraid. It's okay though. You don't have to pretend to be made of steel with me. I'm not some girl you need to impress. We're family."

Those gorgeous eyes began to gloss over. But he'd managed to fight those tears from falling, pulling me into his arms for a tight embrace.

"I can't imagine being without you, Yuna," his voice was hoarse and thick with emotion. "I love you so much. So much it hurts at times." He then kissed the top of my head and mumbled into my hair, "I dunno if I can live without you, or if I'd even want to anymore."

And that's what terrified me the most.

"Stop it!" I drew back and looked him square in the eye in a stern manner. "Don't talk like that. This isn't you—and you know it!"

I was hoping all of this was just some teenage angst that'd blow over. Then again, I seemed to recall my fiancé telling me how he'd almost given up in Palamecia when he discovered Valefor had been pretending to be me.

Now I was really worried, because it'd finally occurred to me that I was Tidus' weakness, just how he'd always been mine.

"Y'know what—you're right!" He perked up. "I know in my gut things are gonna turn out okay—better than okay! I just need to have patience during all the crappy parts leading up to it, I guess."

If only I could be as confident as him.

A sudden knock came at the door just then, startling us to where we flinched and broke apart.

The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and my mind began to race a mile a minute. Maybe I shouldn't have gone out on deck after all. Maybe someone had already spotted me before Tidus had even come out.

"Are you…expecting anyone?"

Sensing my concern, Tidus reached out and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "No, but if it were someone from the Zanarkand force, they'd be barking orders for me to answer by now." He then peered through the door's round, one-sided window—a wide grin sweeping across his face at whoever stood on the other side. "About time he showed up."

A sense of relief washed over me, confident it was my guardian who'd returned. "Is it Auron!?"

"Yeah, who else?" Unlocking the door, Tidus swung it open, greeting the legendary guardian with arms folded and a hardened expression. "Took you long enough."

"Hmph…" Auron, clearly familiar with Tidus' form of teasing, responded in kind. "I thought I'd give you two some time to get…reacquainted."

From the rare blush lighting up my beloved's tanned cheeks, he obviously wasn't prepared for Auron's brazen response. And honestly, neither was I. This new side to him was still taking some time to get used to.

Stepping aside so the legendary guardian could enter, Tidus shut the door behind and cleared his throat in an effort to penetrate the awkward silence. "I, uh… I'm gonna shower and get dressed." He then rubbed the back of his neck and threw me an uneasy glance. "Maybe you guys can order us all a pizza or something."

"Okay."

"Unless you're up for some deep fried calamari?" he quipped to Auron with a teasing grin.

"Hmph… I'll pass."

Banter and teasing was clearly a form of endearment between those two. It's strange how I hadn't noticed it before.

"I… I hope that fiend didn't give you too much trouble."

"It was a minor nuisance, nothing more," Auron assured me.

"Okay, I'm gonna hit the showers then. Try not to miss me too much." Tidus threw me a flirtatious wink then hurried down the steps into the living area, whistling a happy tune as he ambled over to the stairs and disappeared down to the lower level.

Lifting a curious brow, Auron looked my way, and asked in a semi-serious tone, "What have you done to that boy?"

"Nothing good I'm afraid."

"Hmph…" He then gestured over to the sofa-set with a jerk of his chin. "Come… We have much to discuss."

Wandering down the steps into the living room, Auron took a seat on the sofa and peered over at me as I sat on the one across from him.

"I'll admit—I was worried whether or not you made it through the rift before it'd faded. After cutting through that squid, I dove into the water, searching for you, hoping you had made it out in time."

I drew back, surprised by his claim. "You can swim!?"

"Tidus would argue otherwise. I'm nowhere near his level of skill, but I do know the basics. Had the houseboat been locked the other night, I would've gone after you instead. Tidus, however, can navigate the most turbulent waters with ease. I knew he was better suited to go after you that night, which is why I dragged him out of bed to do so."

"I see…"

"Yuna…" My guardian's serious gaze peered over those famous shades in question. "What happened in the Farplane?"

Hesitant to reveal my encounters, I shifted uncomfortably on the cushions and began fidgeting with my half-skirt. "I, um… I ran into someone…unexpected."

Auron arched a brow. "Care to elaborate?"

So, I told my guardian all about Materia and the deal I'd struck with her, conveniently leaving out how his memory would also be wiped. Once I'd managed to clear that hurdle, I went on to explain about the other unexpected meeting I had—the one with the fayth, and all about their dire warning.

"I see… That is…a lot to digest."

"I understand."

"I meant for you—not me."

"Oh…" I blinked in surprise. "You're not troubled by any of this?"

"I wouldn't say that. My life ended years ago, Yuna. So, I already know my fate. But I am concerned about Tidus' well-being and yours. This deal you struck with that goddess—can it not be reversed?"

"No," I replied with a slow sweep of my head. "I had to decide right then and there."

"Does Tidus know?"

"He only knows about my meeting with the fayth. I… I don't think this is something he'd take very well."

"Then we need to find a way to get that module working again. The sample you acquired—where is it now?"

"It's safe inside that pouch of mine." I gestured toward the stairs leading to the lower level then continued to elaborate, "On the nightstand in the bedroom."

"We should arrange a meeting as soon as possible with that alchemist over in A-East. I have a feeling he may be the only one who can help us with such a delicate task."

"Why only him?" I asked with a curious tilt of my head.

"I have my suspicions from everything Tidus has told me. Let's just say, he's not like the rest of the denizens here."

And that worried me. How many more surprises were we going to stumble upon before something went horribly wrong?

"Do you suppose the fayth were right—that Yevon may have wanted me to obtain a sample of Spira's life-force?"

"If anything, I believe Yevon tried to close that rift on you in order to trap you there. Thankfully, he didn't succeed. Remember, your existence threatens his… and his precious dream."

Rubbing a finger over my bottom lip, I blew out a tired sigh and leaned back on the cushions, mulling over my guardian's words. "I suppose you're right."

"We'd better order that pizza," Auron advised, leaning forward to sift through all the magazines on the coffee table in search of something. "I'm sure you know how irritating that boy can get when he's hungry."

"Heeeyy!" Just then, Tidus emerged from the bowels of the houseboat, wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, brow creased in mild offense. "At least I'mnot irritating all the time like some people I know."

"That's debatable." Auron finally found the small, black device referred to as the starcom, set it into his ear, then glanced up at Tidus who stood, arms folded, pitching him a playful glower. "Double anchovies, you say?"

"Ha, ha, very funny," Tidus groused, scrunching his face in disgust. "I'm sure Yuna doesn't want to eat a pizza with little fish staring up at her."

"Actually, I've eaten plenty of fish 'staring up at me' as you say," I chimed in to Tidus' dismay. "I lived on a small island for most of my life, and restaurants were only available in Spira's largest cities back then. But this explains why you were reluctant to have the fish we caught on my pilgrimage."

"Aww man, I forgot about that." His shoulders slumped in disappointment. "I guess we would be kinda roughing it in the wilds, huh?"

"Hmph… I can already hear the whining." I swore I caught Auron snicker from under the deep collar of his coat. And judging from my beloved's deepening frown, he'd seemed to finally grow tired of all the teasing.

"Yeah well, at least I wouldn't be the one singeing all the food," Tidus muttered in a childish rebuttal that went completely ignored by the legendary guardian.

"Starcom, call Go-Go Papa Moe's."

While Auron was busy placing the order, Tidus joined me on the sofa, throwing an arm around my shoulders as I cuddled into him.

"So what were you guys talking about while I was in the shower?"

My body tensed at his question, knowing how I'd kept quite a bit of what'd happened hidden from him, for obvious reasons.

"I told him what happened in the Farplane. We didn't have much time to discuss things once I made it out."

"Does he know what the fayth said to you?"

"Mhm…" I needed to change the subject fast. "He thinks we should meet with that alchemist you're friends with over in A-East."

Tidus furrowed his brow. "I wouldn't exactly call us friends—I mean we're not enemies or anything like that! We get along great! It's just…up until yesterday I hadn't been over there in months."

"Oh… How come?"

"Uh… Just some awkwardness from something that'd happened. Turns out, I'd been worried about nothing. He wasn't holding anything against me like I thought."

"I suppose we're lucky he gave us the vial then."

"Well, it wasn't free. But considering what I'd asked to have crafted in record time—it was definitely a steal. You see, I helped him out with something pretty important a while back. Said if I ever needed anything, he'd do whatever he can for me."

"Hmm… He must be very grateful to you for whatever you'd done."

Poking the inside of his bottom lip with his tongue, Tidus exhaled heavily, seeming conflicted about something all of a sudden. "Look, you're gonna find out anyway if we go there so… About a year ago, I was over in A-East, dropping off some stuff for Jade. I was on my way home when I noticed this old man and a girl around my age being heckled and harassed by a few people on the street. So, I got off my bike to see what the commotion was all about.

"They were all accusing them of being mages, and shouting that they were a huge threat to society. It didn't take a genius to know what that eventually would lead to. And I could never stomach people like that, anyway. So, I said it was all lies—that I knew them for years, putting my reputation on the line in order to come to their defense."

"You…really did that?"

"Yeah..." he confirmed with a nod. "After the crowd dispersed, they invited me back to their home. That's where Zeltic revealed to me that he was an alchemist. I guess he trusted me enough from what I'd done, and how I didn't believe in any taboos, to tell me his and his daughter's big secret then as well—that they were actually mages."

"Oh wow… You saved their lives by vouching for them. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I guess." Tidus shrugged then thinned his lips, clearly hesitant to continue. "Maybe that's why Brie and I…kinda had a thing for a bit after."

A knot of jealousy formed in my stomach. "You mean a fling," I corrected.

"Yeah…" Tidus winced, catching the venom in my voice. "We agreed to call it off after a couple months but… She still lives there, Yuna. I just don't wantcha to get blindsided by all of this."

"No, I… I understand." I was the one with the ring on my finger and the baby growing inside, after all. And I was also deep up to my eyeballs in secrets, half-truths, and peril that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

"Pizza will arrive within thirty minutes," Auron announced, plucking the starcom out of his ear and dropping it onto the coffee-table. "We have much to discuss before then though." Leaning back on the cushions, Auron shifted his gaze over to Tidus, who still seemed rather uneasy about what he'd revealed to me moments ago. "Yuna and I were wondering when we could meet with that alchemist over in A-East. We need to find a way to infuse that Farplane energy into the module she has."

"Yeah, she mentioned something about that."

"Can we trust your source?"

"Zeltic? Yeah we can trust him…and his daughter." Tidus dared a glance at me then proceeded to address Auron. "I already told Yuna the story about how we met and…what happened between me and Brie."

"I see…"

"I can arrange for us to go there tonight. But Yuna…" he paused to give me a look of warning. "You're gonna have to go in a disguise. We can't risk someone seeing you."

"Will we not be renting a car to get there?" Auron inquired.

Tidus huffed then shifted his gaze back to the legendary guardian. "Yeah, but she still needs to get in and out of it. I'm not taking any risks with her anymore. That ended early this morning when that rift faded and I almost lost her." Turning to look at me with a tinge of regret, Tidus spoke in a soft, apologetic tone, "I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to wear a set of my clothes for this, unless you gotta better idea?"

"No, I… I don't mind, really."

"Then I'll call Zeltic after we eat," he confirmed. "I'm sure he'll be eager to help."

But my biggest concern was if he could help. I needed that module to work again. I needed to get back home.

Evening came, bringing brisk winds and significantly lower temperatures to where I was almost grateful to be wearing Tidus' track pants along with a gray, oversized hoodie.

My beloved instructed me to keep the hood up and to wear the pair of sunglasses he gave me at all times when outside the vehicle. The precautions were necessary—I understood that. But Tidus was fretting a lot more than normal and taking things a bit too far in some cases.

"Hey—cut it out!" Tapping a button on the driver's-side door, Tidus rolled up the window Auron had put down part-way. "There's a reason I rented a car with tinted windows, y'know."

"It's stuffy in here," Auron lamented, sitting upfront on the passenger side. "I'm sure Yuna could use some air as well."

The leather upholstery squeaked as I shifted to get comfortable in the backseat. "Yes, some air would be nice."

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Tidus pressed a button above his head, resulting in part of the roof sliding back to reveal a window that opened up only a crack. "There! Everyone happy now?"

Auron peered up at the window, glanced back at me, then returned to stare out the windshield at the buildings passing by. "How generous of you."

"I'm not opening it all the way! I don't wanna take any chances."

"Are you expecting someone to fall in through the sunroof?" Auron retorted.

Another heavy sigh escaped the man I loved. But this time he remained silent.

"There's being cautious and then there's—"

"Being completely paranoid!" I spat, cutting Auron off, and surprising myself at how short my fuse had gotten all of a sudden. "This is a bit much, Tidus—really!"

"Fine. Whatever." My beloved all but slapped the button above, finally opening up the sunroof all the way.

Childish, I thought. But that's how Tidus was at times, especially when he didn't get his way.

Thankfully, traffic hadn't been too bad, and we arrived in A-East within half an hour.

I was more than a little stunned at just how different that part of town was from the rest of Zanarkand—at least the areas I'd been to since arriving there.

The buildings were decrepit, and the houses nestled between them were rundown in a lot of cases as well. Streetlamps flickered ominously above, along with some of the holographic signs as though that section of the city had only a limited source of power.

There were dogs barking, a cat hissing—one outright screeching, garbage littering the ground, and the people on the street…some looked sad while others looked not very friendly at all. A-East certainly lived up to its reputation of being the slums.

"Why is this place so…unfortunate compared to the rest of Zanarkand?"

"Maroon and his cronies," Tidus answered with disdain, using the rear-view mirror to cast a glance at me. "They took over this part of the city way before I was even born. Tapped into all its resources to fuel Maroon Manor—that huge house on the hill near the border of C-North—and whatever shady projects they got going on in that bunker of theirs underneath. In doing so, they effectively turned all of A-East into a cesspool of crime and poverty."

That was the first I'd heard about any of this. Granted, Tidus never spent much time in A-East from what I could recall. Come to think of it, he never mentioned it much in the future either. Now, my curiosity was piqued.

"Why didn't anyone stop them? Or do something after they took over?"

"Because Maroon and his family of thugs own the entire Zanarkand force," Auron calmly explained. "Who will stop them?"

"They…own them?"

"In more ways than one, I'm afraid—all due to the actions of a few constables. Next to gil, blackmail is the most used currency in Zanarkand."

Something occurred to me just then. "Is that why magic is forbidden?"

"I thought about that too, y'know," Tidus jumped in to answer. "It makes sense. They wouldn't wanna go up against an army of mages. They'd get their asses handed to them. Better to outright ban magic than for the people to rise up and use it against them."

"What's stopping them from taking over all of Zanarkand then?"

"Hmph… They obviously don't have that kind of power or…lack the will to do so."

Of course… How could I forget? This was only the fayth's dream after all—a mere shadow of what Zanarkand had been. Perhaps if Zanarkand hadn't been destroyed in the Machina War, Maroon would've grown more ambitious. Somehow I doubt Yevon would've allowed that. And I was willing to bet Maroon and his gang had been Yevon's thugs in the real Zanarkand.

It was strange though… How summoners didn't exist in Dream Zanarkand, but they'd played a pivotal role in the real one that'd been destroyed. Either the fayth or Yevon must've wanted to eliminate that memory. Perhaps it was a grim reminder of why the dream was occurring in the first place.

"I… I suppose I never expected Zanarkand—this Zanarkand to be so corrupt."

"It's no different than Spira in that regard. I'm sure you know why that is."

"Because of that Yevon dude?" Tidus guessed before adding, "And those fayth things, right?"

My muscles tensed. The last thing I needed was for my beloved to launch an interrogation on this matter. "Y-yes, that's correct. Are we almost to Zilart's place?"

"Zeltic's," Tidus corrected, tossing me a suspicious glance in the rear-view mirror. "It's just up ahead."

The wheels were turning in that head of his, I could tell. And at that moment, so was my stomach.

Shutting my eyes, I rested the side of my head against the coolness of the window and groaned.

"Pull over!" Auron demanded.

"What—why!? We're coming up to Zeltic's, right now."

"Yuna's going to be sick."

"What!?"

The vehicle finally came to a stop, allowing me to unbuckle my seat-belt in a hurry, open the door, and hurl on the cracked pavement of what appeared to be a small driveway.

Metal doors clicked open then slammed immediately after; indicating both Tidus and Auron had exited the car.

"Ah shit…you okay?"

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I glanced up to find both men staring at me with genuine concern.

"I'll be fine," I insisted, pulling the hoodie over my head and slipping the pair of sunglasses on.

"C'mon, let's getcha inside." Tidus leaned down and helped me out of the vehicle then carefully guided me over the globs of vomit. "Not sure why they call it morning sickness when it can happen at any time of day. How are ya supposed to keep anything down?"

"Hmph… Maybe if you weren't weaving in and out of traffic with such aggression…"

"Wha—seriously!? Now you're gonna criticize my driving? You're starting to sound like my old man!"

"He's just trying to help. You're frustrated, and it's showing."

Instead of arguing, my beloved chose to remain silent and, with a protective hand at the small of my back, ushered me over to the doorstep of a rickety, old townhouse with steel bars guarding the windows.

"Is this… Is this a prison?"

"The bars," Auron began to explain, "are used to deter vandals and prevent thieves from breaking in."

"Oh…" What a horrible neighbourhood, I thought to myself. It must've been difficult taking up residence there and living in fear almost daily.

Tidus pressed and held a button at the side of the door, resulting in a faint buzzing sound emanating from inside.

After a few moments, the door swung open, and we were greeted by an older man with long greying hair, a matching goatee, and wearing a haori similar to Auron's but in a deep shade of blue.

Those kind hazel eyes brightened at the sight of my beloved and were followed by a vibrant smile. "Ah, come in, come in." He quickly stepped aside, gesturing wildly for us to enter.

Inside were modest, yet tidy, accommodations—a living area with a coffee-table and a small sofa-set, hardwood floors, a wooden staircase built off to the side, leading up to the top level, and a darkened hallway lined with closed doors that led to a lit room at the end, which I assumed was the kitchen. Unfortunately, the lighting was quite dim, making everything dark and a bit gloomy like the area outside. Then again, that could be due to the sunglasses I'd been all but forced to wear.

"The young lady that needs help—is she with you?"

Taking that as my cue, I peeled back my hood and removed the sunglasses, pocketing them into the front pouch of my hoodie. The room wasn't much brighter to be honest. But the expression on Zeltic's face lit up even more.

"Ah, what a lovely young lady." He then shut his eyes, held out his hands as if he were praying to the fayth, and sucked in a deep breath. "You're a mage," he indicated with a faint smile, finally opening his eyes and dropping his arms. "A powerful one at that."

"H-how can you…tell?"

"The energy radiating off you. It's strong—potent actually."

"I see…"

"Howdy, stranger!" A girl, who appeared to be in her late teens, stood at the top of the stairs, her heart-shaped face beaming at the sight of my beloved. "I heard you came by the other day while I was out."

This must've been Brie—big, green eyes and wavy, blonde tresses that were swept up into a high-ponytail, complete with a set of baby-bangs. She sort of looked like a voluptuous version of Rikku with all that cleavage spilling out of her cropped tank-top—not to mention those tight jeans hugging her perfectly-shaped hips. My stomach dropped. Why was I suddenly feeling so…insecure?

The young woman hopped onto the banister, slid down its smooth, wooden surface and flung herself into Tidus' arms with a giggle. "I'm glad you finally decided to stop by."

"Uhh…" Casting a worried glance my way, Tidus released a nervous chuckle then drew back from the young woman's embrace. "Sorry, this isn't a…social call."

"I know." Brie gave a nod of understanding. "Father told me the nature of your visit." She then turned and offered me a warm smile. "You must be the one who needs our help."

"Oh, um…"

"Zeltic. Brie," Tidus broke in, gesturing to me in a formal introduction. "This is Yuna. She's…my fiancée and…" He paused to expel a nervous chuckle before continuing. "And the mother of my unborn child."

Both Zeltic and his daughter blinked several times in surprise, clearly stunned by the news.

"And this here," Tidus now casually gestured over to the legendary guardian, who stood next to me, thumb caressing the hilt of his katana as though he were on high-alert, "is Auron—the guy I told you about that became my guardian after my mom died. He's kinda like my surrogate father."

"It's a pleasure to meet you two," Zeltic expressed with a curt bow, very reminiscent of the traditional Spiran custom. "And congratulations to you, young man," he paused to grin at Tidus then flickered his gaze over to me with a warm smile, "and to you, young lady, on your wonderful news!"

"Yes, congratulations!" An uneasy giggle bubbled out of the voluptuous blonde. "Never thought I'd see you settle down so young. You two must be very much in love."

"I'd do anything for Yuna—for us and our family, which is why we need your help, Zeltic."

"Of course, I'll do my best. Does this have anything to do with what you needed that special vial for?"

"It has everything to do with what's inside that vial now," Auron broke in. "But the circumstances surrounding it are sensitive to say the least. And I've yet to be convinced that you're someone we can trust."

Tidus shot the legendary guardian a disapproving glare. "Hey—I told ya we can trust them."

"Enough that you're willing to risk Yuna's life—and that of your unborn child?"

Suddenly Tidus didn't look so sure anymore. "I, uh…"

"Hmph… I didn't think so." Leaving my side, Auron strode into the living room and stood by the armchair, distancing himself from all of us for some odd reason. "Trust me. There's a method to my madness." He then tossed me a grave look. "Do the dance, Yuna."

"What!?" My eyes grew wide, shocked by what he was suggesting.

"What's the meaning of this!?" Zeltic roared, holding his arms out to shield his daughter. Then, his gaze settled onto my beloved and turned fierce. "I thought we could trust you… You tricked us!"

"I-I… I dunno what you're talking about!" The panic marring Tidus' face mirrored that of Brie's expression and how I felt inside at that moment. "I came here looking for help, not to trick you into anything—I swear!" He then looked to me for answers. "Yuna…?"

The sickening feeling in my stomach intensified. "Is it true?" I asked, gaze shifting over to Zeltic and his daughter. "Are you both…unsent?"

"P-please…" Brie begged in a quivering voice. "Please don't send us."

"Wait…" The shock on my beloved's face crumpled into a horrified expression. "You two are dead!?"

"That's not nearly as disturbing as there being a summoner here," Zeltic retorted. "In this Zanarkand."

"Enough!" Auron hollered, slowly making his way back over to us. "We didn't come here to send you. I, too, am an unsent. And I suspected you two were as well from what all Tidus had mentioned of you two in the past. I just needed confirmation on the matter. And I highly doubt you two would've confessed had we outright asked."

Zeltic's brow dipped low at first then lifted as he began stroking his goatee in a thoughtful manner. "Let me see if I understand this correctly. We're in the presence of another unsent, along with a real summoner, who's carrying the child of a dr—"

"Denizen of Zanarkand—correct," Auron quickly interjected, his undamaged eye wide and pleading.

"Hmm… This is most intriguing. So, tell us—what does this summoner need our help with? She's obviously far from home and a rather…unique specimen in order to be standing among us here."

"You'll know once you've answered a few questions to my satisfaction."

"What would you like to know?" Brie asked, continuing to peer over her father's shoulder with caution.

"How long have you two been unsent and…why take up residence here of all places?"

"We were killed in the Machina War," Zeltic answered, face pinched in despair at what must've been a painful memory. "My wife and son…they were able to move on and rest. But Brie…" He glanced over his shoulder at her with an empathetic smile. "Well, my daughter wanted to experience true love. She was only seventeen when her life had been snuffed out. So, she never had the chance to find it, and because of that she wasn't willing to rest until she did. And neither could I. So, here I am, by her side, patiently waiting for her wish to be fulfilled."

I drew back and blinked several times, stunned by what that implied. "You haven't found true love in over a thousand years!?"

The young woman dipped her head, cheeks flushing a soft pink. "I'd come close a few times. At least I thought I did. Evidently, true love is not easy to find, especially here in…Zanarkand."

"Then why continue to take up residence here?" Auron persisted with his interrogation.

"Because it's familiar," Zeltic revealed. "And there's no threat of being sent here—not normally, anyway."

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news then. Zanarkand's time has just about run out."

"What do you mean?"

"It'll be destroyed in a matter of weeks. So, you might want to consider relocating to somewhere in Spira, or finally decide to join the rest of your family in the Farplane."

"No…" Brie cried in an anguished whisper.

The alchemist's eyes grew wide. "And there's nothing we can do to prevent this from occurring?"

"I'm afraid not," Auron confirmed. "Nothing can stop what's coming. It is the will of the fayth."

"Mmm… I dunno." With a nervous scratch to the back of his head, Tidus boldly suggested, "Why don't we just put an end to the fayth then?"

My gut wrenched. "Tidus… You don't know what you're saying."

"Sure I do! That way Zanarkand isn't destroyed. Then we can stay here—together! And we can raise our kid. Y'know, have a normal life!"

The level of desperation on my beloved's face had me aching inside. It was as though someone had shot me in the chest, making it hard to breathe. Clearly he was still struggling with the idea of being separated from me. And I didn't know how to reassure him, or if I even could anymore. If we failed to get that module working, then that separation would be permanent from that day at Djose.

"Tidus… We can't stay here. You know what we have to do."

"Yuna's right," Auron interjected. "Eliminating the fayth would not only ensure Zanarkand's destruction but Spira's as well. It's not a viable option."

"And it can't be done without destroying Yu Yevon first," I added, not that I would ever entertain such an idea. "There's so much you still don't understand."

"Yeah… And I got a feeling I'm the only one in the room who doesn't."

Lips kinked to the side from the awkward tension, Zeltic folded his arms and released a troubled breath. "Since our time is limited now, how about you tell us what the summoner needs our help with."

"It's kind of a long story," I jumped in with an icy tone, slightly miffed at how Zeltic continued to consult Auron on the matter instead of me.

"Then let's all have a seat and hear it, shall we?"

The alchemist led us over into the living area, where we all perched ourselves on a sofa or a chair, and got as comfortable as we could considering the circumstances.

Once we'd revealed the truth about my unique predicament, both Zeltic and Brie seemed more at ease, and agreed to help us in any way they could. They were a little disappointed when we refused to disclose what the future held, though, and what role we'd all play in it. But they ultimately understood the sensitivity surrounding it all, agreeing to keep our meeting there a secret in the years that would follow as long as we agreed to do the same for them in the future.

Shortly after, we all convened in Zeltic's lab located in the basement of his home. And it was quite a sight to be honest.

A great number of strange-looking devices were scattered around the dimly-lit space that resembled some of the hi-tech machina the Machine Faction had been working on under Gippal's supervision. I had no idea what any of them did or how they worked, but they all looked fascinating.

There were several metal tables wrapped around the circumference of the room's stone walls, containing more mysterious devices on top, along with a supply of portable gas-burners, flasks and beakers that had been collected over a long period of time.

But what intrigued me most was the table set-up in the middle of the room, where several beakers and flasks were suspended above the flames of multiple gas-burners with colorful liquid bubbling inside each one.

Auron leaned down to have a closer look at one of the beakers, carefully inspecting the bubbling liquid inside. "Black-market potions, I assume?"

"Not all," Zeltic confessed, easing himself onto the stool in front of his workstation. "Most are legal."

"And the ones that aren't?" Auron stood straight and arched a brow at him in question, earning him a disgusted scoff.

"They're performance enhancers. Primarily ones used for sport, sexual health, and spells. I don't deal in psychotropic potions or anything that intentionally harms someone. That's more Maroon's area of expertise."

"Understood."

"Yuna…" The alchemist swivelled his seat to address me with a reassuring smile. "May I have a look at the module and the vial please?"

"Oh, of course." Lifting up the hem of my hoodie, I unzipped the pouch securely fastened around my waist, retrieved the items from inside, and handed them over to him.

Zeltic carefully set the module onto the table then secured the vial in a steel holder, before staring in amazement at the glowing, aqua-colored substance swirling inside. "How remarkable…"

Just then, the ambient hum I'd been experiencing all day, immediately switched to that high-pitched frequency. I instantly cringed and slapped my hands over my ears with a loud grunt.

Thankfully, the episode had only lasted a brief moment and dissipated as quickly as it came. All eyes were on me afterward though, demanding an explanation.

"Are you, okay?" Tidus fret, gathering me into his arms. "What happened?"

Something told me that I wouldn't get away with a generic explanation this time. And trying to brush it off as a sudden migraine wouldn't be an option either. Both Auron and Tidus knew me too well at this point.

"I… I'm okay."

"What happened?" Auron pressed.

It was time to fess up, I suppose. "Ever since I returned from the Farplane, I've been experiencing this strange ringing in my ears. It can get so loud that it's almost piercing. When I was there, my hand… Well, it slipped into the vortex when I was collecting the sample. Something happened to me then. And I haven't been the same since."

"Great Aeons!" Zeltic cried, almost falling off his stool. "You touched Spira's life-force and are still alive!?"

"Wait…" Eyes widening in alarm, Tidus shifted his gaze over to the alchemist and chopped the air with his arm. "Touching this stuff can kill you!?"

"And you know this how?" Auron scrutinized with a glare.

"From the legend we were told over a thousand years ago," Brie answered out of turn, joining her father over at his workstation. "One we'd almost forgotten after all this time."

Narrowing his eyes into a suspicious slit, Tidus questioned the young woman in a low, skeptical tone, "What legend?"

"The one regarding those born with a direct connection to the planet. No one can physically touch Spira's life-force with their bare hands and live to tell the tale—no one except…a Mystic."

My pulse quickened. "Wh-what's a...Mystic?"

"Someone attuned with nature, gifted in healing magic, and one who can both hear and speak to all living things—essentially, someone who is one with the planet."

Suddenly, I heard my father's voice pop into my head.

Did you know that all living things have a soul, Yuna?

…And sometimes, if you listen carefully, you may even hear their whispers.

Everything in nature has a voice. Don't ever forget that...

My father's words were echoing inside the dark corners of my mind, penetrating deep into my troubled soul. Had he known about the legend? My father…had he been one of these fabled Mystics? And if so, had he been trying to tell me back then that I might…be…one…too?

"Hmph…" Auron waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing more than a silly fairy-tale. We're losing focus here."

"What if it's not a silly fairy-tale?" I challenged, casting a sharp glance over at my guardian. "My father… My father told me that everything in nature has a voice. And that if I listened carefully, I too, may hear their whispers one day."

"You serious!?" Tidus drew back in surprise.

"Braska never spoke of such nonsense."

"It's not nonsense!" I snapped. "You're not his daughter! There'd be no reason for him to confide in you about this."

A tinge of regret settled upon my guardian's face. Then, in a rare emotional display, he conceded with a dip of his head. "Sorry, I…overstepped."

"Well, my dear," Zeltic began with a slow sweep of his head, "if you really are a Mystic then I hope for your sake, no one ever finds out."

This was beginning to sound even more ominous. "Why…?"

"Because you'll be what's on the table in a lab being experimented on."

"Like hell she will!" Tidus hollered, tightening his arms around me.

"But…why? I… I don't understand…"

"It's rumored that a Mystic can ultimately control the planet's life-force by sheer will. There's a reason why they were considered nothing but mere legends. A great many had been killed in a laboratory by those who sought for a way to extract their power for themselves.

"Those who were lucky to escape, or had managed to evade being captured, had mostly likely gone into hiding—their ancestral line all but fading from existence. Your father probably didn't even know he'd been one. He could hear the planet's whispers, but had no idea what that meant."

Something disturbing had finally occurred to me just then. Something I truly hoped I was wrong about.

"Would a Mystic be able to…absorb the life-force of a planet?"

The sheer look of horror on everyone's face had my stomach knotting with dread.

"I sincerely hope not…" Zeltic answered in a shocked whisper. "That would be a final death for us all."

"Yuna…" Auron called, garnering my attention. "Are you suggesting Yunalesca might be one of these…Mystics?"

"I don't know. Maybe… Maybe that's why Yevon had been able to accomplish what he had for so long." Rubbing a finger over my bottom lip, I began to ponder a few things then turned my attention back to the alchemist and his daughter. "Have you ever heard of any Mystic's doing…horrible things? Is it even in their nature?"

"I certainly haven't heard of that," Brie chimed in with an adamant shake of her head. "But that doesn't mean it's impossible, especially if you're talking about the same Yunalesca we know of."

"Indeed," Zeltic agreed, casting a grave look my way. "If an unsent—a vile one at that—ever discovered or knew they were a Mystic… Well, there's no telling what they'd be capable of."

"Then we need to get Yuna home as quickly as possible," Auron advised. "She may be the only one who can prevent such a calamity from occurring."

"I sincerely hope so." Swivelling in his stool to face his workstation, Zeltic carefully picked up the module and briefly inspected it, before casting an ominous glance at the aqua-colored substance swirling inside the vial. "I had my heart set on eventually joining my family in the Farplane for all eternity, not being absorbed by a deranged Mystic."

Tidus and I shared an uneasy glance. There was a level of torment festering in his glazed over eyes that I'd never seen before. And I was certain it had everything to do with the inevitable. Soon, he would have to let me go. But whether or not that would be for only a short while or a permanent arrangement remained to be seen.

Oddly enough, through a pair of unsents, I'd discovered what the fayth had been hinting at in the Farplane. I was no longer just a summoner as they'd mentioned. I was what the people of Spira had once called a Mystic. But I may not be the only one. If Lady Yunalesca was indeed a Mystic as well—one who knew of her origins and had better control of her powers—then stopping her may not be possible, even if I were to return to the future.

And just like that—things had gone from bad to worse.

A/N: If this is all starting to sound very FFVII-ish, you'd be correct. There's a very good reason for that if you haven't figured it out yet. Some of you have already. I'm very sorry for the slow updates. I've gone from updating every couple of weeks to every couple of months. My intent is to wrap this story up in the next 5 chapters or so. Hopefully, I can speed up my updates. To those who continue to stick with this-thank you for your patience and understanding.