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They made their way back to Mushroom Rock Road and took the other fork towards Moonflow.
Ann~It's starting to get dark...
Auron~Well, that's good
Ann~Why?
Auron~Because we're at Moonflow. There's an area we can rest at for the night, or we can stay off the beaten path. Either way, we can start fresh in the morning.
Ann thought a moment, then cringed a little
Ann~I think the tree line might be more comfortable. I think that reporter's interview is still a buzz
Auron chuckled~Of course, dear. It also makes it easier for you to cuddle
Ann blushed~Don't say it like that. You're making it weird
He chuckled some more before leading her off the path that went to the wharf. They leaned against a tree together, right by the riverbank and hidden from the main road.
Auron~Better?
He wrapped his arm around her.
Ann~Yeah. Just don't be weird.
Auron~Don't take it weird. I told you about the pyreflies, right?
Ann~Yeah. Fiends and unsents are made of them. They also hold memories.
Auron~That's right. The river is full of pyreflies, and they get very active in the evening. It's almost like a light show.
Ann~Is it gonna be pretty?
Auron~You'll see, but I don't think it's as pretty as you
Ann~Dad…
She nudged him
Auron chuckled~You don't give yourself enough credit, sweety.
He kissed the top of her head.
Auron~Once we ride the shoopuff, you'll see why there're pyreflies

They sat in comfortable silence as the sun continued to set. The pyreflies floated through the water and river flowers into the air, almost as if in a dance. Ann pushed into Auron's shoulder and sighed as she relaxed, the pyreflies giving a sort of calm as she watched them. She couldn't help but nod off. Auron felt her lean heavily against him and immediately knew she had fallen asleep. He rolled his eye. She could have waited until after they ate something.

The following morning Auron shook Ann awake
Auron~Did you enjoy the pyreflies last night?
Ann~Heheh yeah...It was really pretty
She yawned and stretched. They got up from the ground and stretched some more, their backs and shoulders cracking
Ann~Is this how being old feels?
Auron~Worse
Ann~Gross
Auron~Let's get going. We can get something to eat at the wharf.
He let her move towards the path first, making sure they had everything before following her.

Ann wandered around the wharf's seating area, taking in the sights and inspecting the shoopuff from afar while Auron found a food vendor to get breakfast. When he got back, Ann was nowhere in sight. He sighed
Auron~Ann, didn't I tell you to stop climbing things?
She hopped down from the wharf's covering
Ann~I don't think so. Mmm that smells good
He handed a paper tray to her.
Ann~When do we gotta head out?
Auron~After we eat. Take your time.
She smiled and went to sit at one of the benches nearby. Auron rolled his eye and sat with her, smiling at her childish antics.
Ann~What?
Auron still smiling~Nothing, honey. Eat up.
She gave him a look, suspicious of whatever that glint was in his eye. The last time she saw that look, he committed social injustice against her.
Auron~Eat.
He passed her a fork and pushed her tray up.
Ann~Okay…I’m keeping my eye on you…
Auron~You’ve only got one eye. You might walk into something again if you do that
He chuckled, and she hit him. He knows Ann isn’t at all sentimental, so he’d only get her flustered if he said anything sappy.

After they ate and tossed their trash, Auron led her to the lift.
Hypello~Wood yoo like to ride sheh shoopuff?
Auron~Yes, please
Ann watched the crank spin down to their level. Auron motioned for her to come onto the platform, and she did. It lifted back up, and they got onto the carriage and found a spot to sit at.
Ann~This thing is a shoopuff?
Auron~Yeah. Yuna fell over once. The shoopuff carried her back up before she jumped in a few more times just for fun
Ann~Hehehe sounds fun. I bet she looked really cute doing that
Auron~I can only guess. I was already dead when that happened...
Ann~Oh…Sorry…What about before that? On your first pilgrimage as a guardian?
Auron~Well...Jecht got drunk and attacked the shoopuff...We had to give the hypello all our things and money for the injury
Ann~That stupid idiot...I–
She growled
Auron~I know...But he did quit after. He said all he'd ever drink was shoopuff milk
She scoffed as she looked over the side as they moved along.
Ann~Remind me to hit him the next time we see him
Auron hummed in agreement. Ann made a noise when she saw the sunken city beneath the water's surface.
Ann~What happened to that place?
Auron~Too much machina. It was said that the people relied on it so much that they were punished for it. Really, it's just because of Sin from over a thousand years ago. It targeted cities that used machina, which led to the teachings of Yevon banning it. The Al Bhed weren’t very liked because of their use of machina despite the teachings.
Ann~That’s–whoa!
The carriage lurched, and Ann fell out. Auron sighed and looked over the edge to find Ann just resurfacing
Ann~The water is a lot deeper than I expected...I wonder how I'll get up without chakra?...
Before she could wonder what to do next, the shoopuff's trunk wrapped around her and pulled her back up
Auron~Fun huh?
Ann~Hehehe yeah.
She climbed back into the carriage and stood in a corner not to get anything wet
Auron~I half expected you to jump back in. *Smirks* I also have a point of reference on how Yuna might’ve looked
Ann giggled~No, maybe when there aren’t other passengers to stall
Auron~That's fair. We can change your clothes when we get to the wharf. Guadosalam is still a ways walk if you wanted to change at an inn.
Ann~I'll change when we get to the wharf. I'd rather be comfortable.