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The following morning, Ann and Auron made their way down the mountain. Ann took her time to follow the path and followed Auron’s lead to stay safe until they made it to the base of the mountain.
Ann~Dad?
He hummed as they continued walking.
Ann~What was that place before we got to the cave? There were people in the walls…It’s been bothering me since last night…
Auron~Were you trying to see if you could figure it out yourself?
Ann~Yeah…They look like statues, but…there was something about it that makes me think they’re actual people.
Auron~Those statues WERE actual people. They were turned into what are called the Fayth, and they were used to summon a whole city with every person who lived in it. Including Tidus and Jecht.
Ann~Those men on ship from the Mist? But we saw both of them. They’re not dreams.
Auron~I know. I’m still trying to figure that out.
Ann~It can’t be related to our kekkei genkai, right?
Auron~No. At least, I don’t think it is. There’s…No. I can’t tell her about the cost of bringing back Zabuza and Haku…It’s still being figured out too. It might not even reduce her life expectancy…
Ann~What is it?
Auron~When you’re older, dear…
Ann~Why can’t I know? Please, tell me…
Auron~There’s still more I need to learn about it. I don’t want to give you incomplete details and make it seem like it’s one thing when it isn’t.
Ann~Oh…Okay…
Auron~I know. I’m sorry there has to be more secrets…
Ann~My whole life is a secret…I should be used to this.
Auron~You shouldn’t have to. I know it isn’t fair. I just don’t want you to be exploited for our resurrection powers, and I don’t want Spira knowing my daughter can level Bevelle with a cup of coffee.
Ann giggled~Do you really think I’m that powerful?
Auron~If left unchecked, absolutely. You are your mother’s daughter after all.

They continued their descent, and eventually made it to the outskirts of the ruins. There were dozens of people milling about and moving in and out of the city. Auron avoided everyone as he moved past them, so Ann followed suit.
Ann~I thought this was supposed to be in ruins...
Auron~It is. But looks like someone has turned it into a tourist attraction, like the girls said. Well, come on. After this, you’ll have seen the main places of Spira
Ann~There's still more to Spira?
Auron~There's still the Omega Dungeon...but even now you're still not ready to go in there
Ann~Why not?!
Auron~Tonberries. Those things are…really tough little bastards.
Ann~How so?
Auron~They have a kitchen knife that can and will kill you in one hit if you’re not careful.
Ann~A kitchen knife? Really?
Auron~They're stronger than cactuars
Ann~What the hell...
Auron~Yeah...Come on. The temple is this way
Ann~There's still a temple?
Auron~Well of course. This is where summoners should get the Final Aeon
Ann~What do you mean should?
Auron~Yuna refused to sacrifice one of her guardians. By doing so, they would become the Final Aeon but also reborn as the next Sin
Ann~So then when you guys finally fought Sin, somehow, someway, you guys defeated it, bringing the Eternal Calm, which right now is two years in?
Auron~That’s right.
Ann~How?
Auron~From the inside
Ann~Eeeewww...
Auron chuckled~It wasn’t too bad. The inside looked like it had machina
Ann sighed. Auron chuckled again and ruffled her hair
Ann~So, how long until we get there?
Auron~Well...We still have to go through the ruins...then the trials. After that, we'll take a lift down to the fayth's chamber
Ann~I know it’s only three things, but that sounds...complicated...
Auron~It’s very simple. Execution of the steps is the hard part.
Ann sighed and followed him into the ruins.

As they traveled through the city, the fiends were also joined by unsent soldiers. Ann was hesitant at first, but after Auron's explanation that they'd eventually turn into fiends, she was able to take them down.
Ann~Dad, would that happen to you too?
Auron~It's possible. But my emotional state is much more stable than theirs, so I'm unlikely to turn into a fiend. Our kekkei genkai also helps with that. On the other hand, if a summoner like Yuna does the sending, I'll still be sent if I don't resist it. That did happen during my pilgrimage with her.
Ann~I don't like that…
Auron~I know. But if I don't tell you, then you're left wondering. I don't want you to doubt me.
Ann~I've never doubted you. Even when you're being manipulative, like at Luca.
She hit him.
Auron~I'm actually surprised that we didn't come across more people about it.
Ann~It'd be unfortunate if it got contained to Luca. I wanted to watch blitzball.
Auron~Speaking of blitzball, look.
Ann~What's this?
They came to a building with more people loitering outside.
Ann~What's with all the tourists?
Auron~You are too...This is the Zanarkand Dome, the city's temple. In Dream Zanarkand, this is the blitzball stadium.
Ann~Dream Zanarkand?
Auron~Remember how I said that wall of Fayth were used? They were dreaming of what Zanarkand used to be. I lived there for a few years after I died.
Ann~Oh. That's interesting. How did that happen?
Auron~A lot of things are possible as an unsent. Let's go inside. We'll pass through some halls then straight into the trials.
Ann~What are the trials like in here?
Auron~There are buttons that you have to step on to make the right tile shape appear
Ann~How do you know if it's the right shape?
Auron~There's a screen in the room that tells you what you need.
They passed through the cloister quickly as they were already solved, probably because of the tourists being there. They went down the lift in the middle of the room and came to the Fayth's chamber. Ann knelt down next to the Fayth statue and touched the crack on its protective dome.
Ann~It's another statue. This is a Fayth?
Auron~That's right. This used to be the Final Aeon, then it lost its power. That's why guardians had to give themselves up at the end of the pilgrimage.
Ann~So, Jecht offered to be Lord Braska's Final Aeon. When did you find out about Sin's rebirth?
Auron~Before we got the Final Aeon. Jecht insisted on it though. Lord Braska died just before Jecht turned into the new core for Sin.
Ann~That's tragic…What about you? How did you die?
Auron~It starts in the next room.
Ann stood up and they went through the threshold. There were stairs to the left going up, and one at the back going down. In the middle was a gaping hole.
Ann~This is where you died?
Auron~I died just outside of Bevelle. This is where I was injured.
Ann~Your scar?
Auron~That's right. She did a lot of internal damage as well.
Ann~She? Who's she?
Auron~Yunalesca. She granted the Final Aeon. It wasn't pretty.
He stepped forward a few paces and focused on the pyreflies. The balls of light came together to show a very young Auron and a woman floating over the hole that Ann guessed to be Yunalesca.
She listened to the visions talk to each other, then the younger Auron verbally reprimand the woman, and finally watched him lash out before being blasted back.
Ann~Dad...
Auron~I managed to drag myself to Bevelle where I met Kimahri. He took care of Yuna from then on out. I went to care for Tidus.
Ann went to Auron and hugged him tight.
Auron~I'm sorry, Ann. I could have been there for you, but…
Ann~That doesn't matter to me. I never expected you to be here even after learning of our kekkei genkai. You're here now though. I just…religion sucks…No one should have to die like that. Being a shinobi isn't any better, but at least we go in knowing what we're dying for…
Auron~I know, honey. No one has to sacrifice themselves like that anymore. That's why the Eternal Calm is such a big deal.
Ann~I can't believe that went on for a thousand years…
Auron~I know, honey. Do you want to stay a bit longer?
Ann~Can I sit with the Fayth for a while?
Auron~You can. Can I know why?
Ann~He seems lonely. He and Yunalesca were a couple, right?
They went back to the chamber.
Auron~How do you know that?
Ann~Back at the Besaid temple. There were two statues on either side of the door to the cloister. One was Yunalesca. The other I'm just assuming now is her partner. The Fayth looks a lot like his statue there.
Auron~You remember all of that? Most people wouldn't even notice that.
Ann~Daddy, you know I'm not most people.
She sat down and touched the crack again.
Auron~I know. You still amaze me even though I know most of your tricks.
Ann~How do you think I manage to piss off Zabuza all the time?
Auron~I thought it was because you don't listen to him.
They shared a laugh.
Auron~Let me know when you’re ready to go. I think I saw a sphere earlier that might be from the girls. It looked like something that boy made.
Ann~Shinra?
Auron nodded and went to sit on some nearby fallen debris.