(auther's notes: i went back to revise both stories a bit for each chapter. i still find it cringe but better than where i had it back in 2013 and 14! if you want to know who melanie is, please read, connected from another world and, it was meant to be. recent vids have drawn me back to this fandom. i regret continuing the story line! but it needs to get off my mind for good)

Melanie walked down the narrow corridor and found herself a place to sit in a corner once entering a large open room. She set down a sphere right in front of her and played what was on it. At first, the image shown was pointing at the wall that used to have many fayth a part of it. She recognized the location and how the wall looked as if all the magic it had was gone for good.

"At peace... as it should be," she heard Auron speak out. "It's very peaceful here now. It remains as a scar."

The image faded and a new one came up. It was where they camped out two years ago, close by the ruined city of Zanarkand. It was a little surprising to her to see his robe off his shoulders and that collar gone. No more hiding that face! However, his sunglasses remained. He was sitting on the ground, facing the sphere.

"Do you remember what happened here? As the sun was setting? Hm." A small smile formed. "I think I was about a four. Only I didn't hate everyone... Just mostly myself... and... for what I almost did, yet you yourself seemed to be into it." He paused for a moment. "This was a good idea. I make this sphere for you and you make one for me to take along on the trip I will be on. Who knows how long this will take..." He stood and went up to the sphere to pick it up and had it face the night sky filled with stars. "I will watch it often, when I think of you. I hope maybe you'll do the same. If there is any hope... Why... Mm..."

The scene faded. Once it returned, it looked like it was being held and focused on the ground.

"I don't know what to say sometimes... This trip I am soon to make may be getting to me since... Well... I do want to show you something you need to know. She won't tell me why she gave that blue thing to you two years ago, but I made some notes on the dirt here. Just look at it and try them out. It is known as the song of healing."

Melanie paused the sphere and took a brief moment to look at it. The name sounded silly to her and musical notes that can have an effect if played with its actual tune sounded even more silly. She was on a world with magic, she remembered. Their world is probably no different, but just works differently! Their magic must mostly come from songs. She let the rest play out.

"The object you have is called an ocarina. The markings on it has three of the same symbols. It is a relic. Their world has gods as well." He rubbed the notes away with his boot for it to be gone. "I hope there is a way for me to be alive again. I hope you are having fun whatever it is you are doing with Yuna. You know I will return. If you have to visit the Farplane to see if I am there or not, I hope you never do see me there. I am curious... Can you see your brother there? Maybe even your father? Well... Anyway..." His arms wrapped around the sphere. "This is for you when you need it. I will return. I promise."

Melanie sat there, staring at a finished sphere. Rikku came into her view moments later. Melanie only glanced up, not asking or saying a single thing to her.

"That's the sixth time you watched that in almost two years!"

"It's nice to get that hug at the end," Melanie pointed out.

"Aw, does he leave you a big kiss too? A nice big wet one right on the sphere?"

Melanie stood up after grabbing the sphere. "Gross..."

Rikku giggled. "Hey! We got Yuna's sphere grid back! Buddy also found where a sphere may be located!"

"Then make course for it..."

"Will let him know, captain!"

"How long will this mutiny go on, Rikku?"

"Until Brother learns to stop being such a creep!"

"Have you even told him that Yuna is his cousin?"

"Oh, he knows..." Rikku made a grim face. "But I wish he would stop..." She patted Melanie's shoulder. "You make a great leader anyway! Hey, why didn't he say that he loved you?"

She didn't respond to her. Rikku ran back out to the bridge, not pushing the subject further. In a way, that was weird to Rikku. An ''I love you'' is always said to those that truly do love one another. Melanie glanced around the room she was in. The bar waited close by with the Hypello tending to it. He waved over at her, catching her gaze cross his way. She waved back and went on upstairs to the beds. She set the sphere down right onto hers and made her way to the bridge.

"I want the mutiny over! End it," Brother demanded with a tone like a child throwing a fit. His body language even described that of a child throwing a tantrum. "I found this ship, I dug it out of the ice!"

"Oh, and I sat around, doing nothing?" Buddy crossed his arms in his helm.

"Be good and you will get your position back. Where was this sphere located?" Melanie went up to Buddy.

"Right on top of the mountain here. So much cleared up from it. I never knew Gagazet had anything up here at its peak."

Melanie patted Buddie's shoulder, letting him know a job well done. She went on over to Rikku, Yuna and Paine. "Good luck."

"You aren't coming?" Rikku pouted a little. "You have to join us on one mission!"

Shinra turned around in his seat to face them. "My project is far from complete. Once it's finished, she can test it out there."

"Hey, it sounds good! Whatever it is, I can't wait to see it." Yuna smiled and headed on out before the other two.

Rikku and Paine followed right after. It took a bit of time before the three returned back to the ship. Paine handed Shinra a sphere they did find. That kid was happy enough to get it analyzed right away.

"Mutiny over now?" Brother asked, seeming to be in a apologetic pose.

"That's not up to me," Melanie answered.

Brother responded to that in Al Bhed saying, "I did not ask you!" He looked to Yuna and spoke for everyone to hear. "What do I need to do? Please... tell me!"

"Maybe if you stop being a creep to your cousin," Melanie told him

"Yeah! That is like, really wrong right now," Rikku agreed with Melanie. "Besides, she is looking for you-know-who."

Brother became as limp as a doll.

"Yuna?" Melanie looked to her for an answer.

"Well..." Yuna put a hand up to her chin. "Once we see him do better..."

"Then I am putting him second in command."

"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Paine asked.

"Every captain needs a number one."

Brother perked up to that. "I can still give orders?"

"The sphere has been analyzed," Shinra interrupted.

It didn't take long for the girls to head over to the boy and watch it play. The image looked to be distorted, yet everything could be made out alright. It looked to be Zanarkand and whoever was recording got a shot of a lot of the lit buildings. It cut out and opened to a new scene with others around, as if waiting for something or someone. Whoever was holding the recorder started to move.

"I actually can't believe I got a ticket!" It was a man that could not be identified. It cut out fast and opened up again to a new spot. "What a thrill, to be able to shake her hand like that!"

"Think it's worth anything," Yuna asked.

"It has the city, displayed live and well from a thousand years ago. It leaves a mystery. Who was that man and who's hand did he shake? He..." Melanie paused. "He sounds a little familiar..."

"It does have special components for a dressphere," Shinra butted in.

"We got a message from Luca," Buddy informed. "It seems someone wants to thank Yuna for the show."

"Who," Rikku asked.

"Someone Melanie doesn't like all that much."

"We go anyway," Melanie stated. "If there's one thing I learned, you cannot run from your past forever. We go."

"Sure you can! You are on an airship now! You can run away from them forever!" Rikku danced.

Melanie said nothing more. She didn't like having any lack of knowledge on what was going on. Yuna wanted to find Tidus after finding that sphere that looked like it was the very man himself, but Melanie knew better. The voice, the clothing, the face even looked different, but somehow it did feel connected. They arrived in Luca and the girls made their way to the stadium. Within the stadium, Rin stood in the center of it all, surrounded by other bodies in conversation about their day or what game Rin has going on very soon for them to play!

"Looks like you been very busy," Yuna began after meeting up with Rin.

"Ahh, Yuna! Welcome! I want to thank you for drawing in such a crowd earlier."

Yuna smiled. She didn't have the heart to say that it was not her at all, but a goofy woman who stole her grid.

"Is this all we are here for," Paine asked, not sounding pleased to be there.

"There is something else I wanted to ask, but... I don't see her here with you."

"Running from the past, I guess." Paine shrugged. "Even when she said she can't keep running forever."

"Oopsie..." Rikku cringed a little, knowing it was her fault.

"Then, can you deliver a message to her from me?" Rin handed Yuna a silver coin.

She took it and looked it over. "It's..." She shook her head. "What is this?"

"A Tidus coin. For you. I wanted to ask her that she would participate in the tournament coming up. She should earn hers by becoming number one. She knew this day would happen. I would bring fun to Spira!"

"And two little birds would be all over you..." Yuna remembered.

"Triplets, actually." Rin sounded rather happy on that.

"Can we go before I give up my lunch right here," Paine asked, sounding annoyed.

"Well that's a lot better than what Brother does!" Rikku smiled.

"Thank you, Rin," Yuna chimed in with a light head bow. "I will gladly tell her, but this feels like you are trying to get her jealous again. She wanted something from you, not for you to give this... to me..."

"Old habits die hard," he admitted.

"Ugh..." Paine was the first to walk out.

"And she needs to stop running, yes?" Rin smiled.

Rikku ran after and Yuna joined in right behind her, all of them headed back onto the ship.

"So, did he give a huge reward," Brother asked, seeing them arrive on the bridge. "Lots of money?"

Yuna shook her head. "It was mostly a thank you, for his game to get hyped and ready for the next tournament. Melanie." She looked in her direction. Melanie did not face her. She understood. "He wants you to join in the tournament to win that coin. He remembered."

"Can we make a path to Zanarkand?"

To Yuna, she felt ignored, but it was mostly toward Rin. This, she understood as well.

"You got a built in radar, or something? There is a sphere there." Buddy put in the settings to make way there. "And one is picking up in Besaid, too."

"Are you sure there isn't more about you that we don't know?" Rikku circled Melanie. "Maybe you know what Yunie will find, or maybe you know where all the spheres are!"

Melanie looked at Paine, seeing her stare at her, seeing some bits of curiosity form within her. She faced Rikku. "You know everything there is to know about that that I know myself. It was all of Sin that I knew of, not passed that point. The dreams stopped, too."

"Oh, poopie."

"Melanie," Shinra called out. "Can we have a chat? I want to make this dressphere the best there is. I love your idea, but I'm missing some parts. Do I have permission to speak to Gippal about the job offer he has that can lead me to unique parts?"

"Job offer?" Melanie questioned this for a moment. "Go ahead..."

"Great! Now, can I borrow your goggles for a moment?"

Melanie went up to him and took them off her head. She handed them over to him. He took them and started setting something up inside right onto the glass.

"This may take a while..."

"We are here," Buddy informed them. "Good luck!"

"Gullwings, go!" Brother danced.

This place was packed. So many bodies everywhere, standing, talking... Yuna was saddened by this sight. This place was once her treasured memory, yet not hers alone. This place was her father's as well and many others before them. This place was sacred and it seemed no one cared about that anymore. If fewer were around, maybe it would be better... Yuna did not look happy at all. What set her off inside even further was someone standing where Tidus and her once stood to look at the ruins of the tall buildings. She went up to them while the others stayed close, but walked around a bit.

"At least you are finally out," Rikku told Melanie. "But..."

"It's too full here... It's not right..."

"What started all this?" Rikku looked about. "Who started all this? Why are there quite a few monkeys?"

"I think there should be more..."

Rikku grinned. "Hey, that might work! Get the monkeys to get their love groove on and the tourists will stop coming!"

"I will leave that to you. I'm not touching that one... I think I will head on back up to the airship for now."

"But you just finally got down here," Rikku pouted.

"Blame the overcrowding." Melanie took her leave.

It wasn't something she expected to see, either. Much like Yuna, some anger did build up in her seeing how it looked like a tourist trap. Whoever was behind it, she hoped the trio would find them and put a stop to it, even if it meant getting the monkeys in a love vibe. Melanie was hoping to have gone in deep and watch history play before her within the dome as she done in the past before everything was changed. To her, it was the only way to see him again, no matter how sad the scenes were... It got her thinking... The way Auron looked in her sphere reminded her of how he was over ten years ago. He was open then and now he seemed to be open again. No more grieving, no more avenging...

Shinra went up to her and held up the goggles. "Try them on."

Melanie took them and put them on. "I don't see anything different or am I jumping the gun here?"

"That you are... You have a dial now on the sides! Each setting will help you darken things more if you are out in the desert. Your eyes are not used to our sun as I was told. Also, if you hit that button on the right side..."

Melanie did so with no hesitation. "Night vision!"

"Not only that..."

"Let me guess, you can see what I see, right?"

Shinra nodded. "I tried the connections. I want you to go far to see how strong the signal is."

"When we head to Besaid, it will be a good test then."

"Would you like to practice?"

Melanie looked at him in question.

"Sphere break. That's what the game is called that Rin holds for good prizes in the tournaments. I can help you get that coin."

"You don't have to..."

"I want to."

She didn't refuse. It was a good way to pass time while waiting for the trio to return hopefully with the sphere.

"This game confuses me," Brother claimed. "What happens if the center number is a one!"

Shinra shook his head. "I'm not telling you."

"What about me? You are teaching me after all!"

Shinra only laughed. The trio returned and not one of them looked happy. Yuna held half a sphere.

"What was Pops thinking! Turning Zanarkand into a treasure hunt!"

"Father?" Brother picked up on this. He watched Rikku nod.

"Yeah! That sand for brains didn't know what he was thinking! And we found a broken sphere that can't be looked at." Rikku shook her head.

"We can be mad at him later. We should head to Besaid and find that sphere." Melanie went to the front of the bridge. "Where could one be hiding on the island?"

Brother mumbled something under his breathe about his old man in his main language. Melanie did her best to ignore it. The sun was setting and they approached the island. All the gals went to the entrance of the village.

"Shinra, how is the view?"

Rikku, Yuna and Paine faced Melanie in curiosity.

"So far, everything seems to be working just fine. Travel farther," Shinra responded. "At least I didn't have to attach a communicator into that. I can hear everything from you all perfectly from the normal communicator."

"What did Shinra do," Yuna asked.

"I made her goggles into a traveling sphere cam."

Rikku got into view and waved. Melanie smiled a bit. There was a shoving sound along with hearing Shinra grunt.

"I want to see Yuna!" Brother sounded too desperate over the comm.

Melanie took off the goggles. "You lost privileges now!"

"I will be good! Ahh! I will be good!" Brother begged and cried.

Melanie sighed and put them back on. "You better or I am coming back up there and knocking you out."

Yuna walked on up ahead with the others soon to follow. Wakka had exited out of a hut and spotted the gals.

"Hey," he called out and waved to them. "Yuna!"

Yuna ran up to him. "It's good to see you again!"

"You made quite a fuss, young lady." He crossed his arms.

"I know," Yuna nodded. "I had to... I'm a sphere hunter now."

Wakka looked at them all. "Huh... A sphere hunter! Hey, Melanie. You sure you aren't an Al Bhed? You sure do look like one."

"Do I need to have a reenactment of the ice lake," Melanie asked.

"Hey, no, no! It's passed... I promise! The hate is gone, ya? It's for the best, right?"

"Two years have passed and I feel I should say I am sorry for that moment..."

Wakka rubbed the back of his head, recalling every word she told him that was the cold truth. He smiled and looked at Paine.

"Oh, this is Paine! She is my friend," Yuna told him.

"You are quite a team." Wakka crossed his arms again. "So this is why you ran off! Nothing wrong with that."

"How is Lulu," she asked him.

Wakka grinned. "Gonna be a father soon! I been making sure she is all good. She is happy and well, so don't you worry."

"Really," Rikku asked happily. "How far along now?"

"Any moment now," Wakka answered.

"Can I talk to her," Melanie asked him.

"It would make her even more happy knowing you all are safe! She worried the most when Yuna ran off." Wakka gestured to the hut. "Go ahead. I will be back soon."

The gals entered the hut and were greeted by Lulu. She was indeed showing, but it didn't look like she was too far along to give birth any day.

"When, when will it be born," Rikku chimed in, not able to keep her excitement in.

"Give it some time," Lulu responded with a smile. "And you, Melanie... I now know what you mean by my big moment two years from now."

"Hey, I thought you said it was only Sin's defeat was as far as you knew," Rikku scolded.

"Some things might have slipped when I was shown what was to happen."

Lulu stood and went to the door. "Care to join me for a walk?"

"Are you ok to," Yuna asked her.

"I need it anyway." Lulu went on outside. The gals followed closely. Lulu stopped at a certain location, getting a good view of the whole village where she stood. She faced the gals. "Now, what was the fuss on running out of Besaid?"

Yuna pulled out the sphere. "It was this."

Lulu watched the playback. "It does look like him, but it is not him."

Yuna put it away and nodded in regret. "Melanie told me the same thing... Yet, it's so strange."

"Yuna... Never forget who you are."

"I defeated Sin. I brought a calm everyone will remember. Now I am on my own path. I am doing what I want to do."

"You really have spread your wings." Lulu chuckled. "Why not stay the night since you come this far?"

Everyone was grateful for the offer. They stayed the night until morning came with Wakka not in sight in the village. Lulu had told Yuna that there was a cave nearby he might have gone to. Yuna and Melanie both, never seen or heard of this cave in the past before!

"Melanie," Shinra interrupted. "I got word from Gippal that he wants to see you at Djose temple."

"Now? Why," she asked.

Rikku went up to Melanie. "Tell him I said hi!"

"I'm not going to," Shinra told her.

"Not you!"

"Alright, I am on my way up. Return here after you drop me off, Buddy." Melanie walked off.

Lulu waited for a moment. "How has she been with Sir Auron?"

"She watches his sphere from time to time," Yuna answered. "She misses him... No different than myself really..."

"Did he disappear as well!?"

"It's not like that... His journey is different and had to leave Spira to find a way to become alive again."

Lulu held her head. "He didn't need to do that... at all! What if there is no way? How long will he be before he returns to find her in her depressed state again?"

"Ah, you have a point there," Rikku agreed. "Shame we can't find him!"

"Where could he have gone..."

"To the world filled with water and many islands that reside about," Yuna answered. "And that's all I know."

"Shouldn't we be looking for Wakka," Paine butted in.

Yuna nodded. "You are right. We have time to talk about this later."

"And with Melanie around so we can get her answers," Paine added.

"It was my fault. I should have asked while she was still here. Anyway, good luck to you three."

"Keep pouring in the luck!" Rikku jumped for joy.

Lulu watched them off. She couldn't help but think out loud. "Why does he want to live again? He has an eternity with her here." She felt a light kick in her belly. "Oh!" She set a hand on her stomach and smiled. "I think you answered my question there."