During the time when our heroes fought with the Monster Keeper who has been discovered to be the Aeon of Earth, Titan, a robed figure had entered Besaid Temple and its Chamber of the Fayth. She sighed more in hope than any real belief that this would work. She chanted.

"In destruction, renewal

Your cries I heard

In death, rebirth

Come Phoenix, firebird."

As the robed figure finished Valefor appear, but subtly different. There is no chain-like earring in the left. Valefor opens its wings and bursts into flames for thanks to Yuna its two halves have been rejoined. Too late does it realise that the robed figure has started the Yevon imprisonment rituals. However the renewed Phoenix resists with all its might. Unlike the capture of Titan there can be no trickery, just willpower. Eventually with an anguished cry the Phoenix disappears. The robed figure makes the prayer sign. Two aeons, and that heathen devil has none. This was the right way she was undoubtedly blessed by Yevon.

The robed figure leaves missing the returning party, who are soon embroiled in a family discussion. Wakka deals with Tidus and Yuna, while Lulu talks to Tidus.

"Not liking the way they're behaving are you?"

"Their two of the best girls I've known. Brave, determined, willing to give up everything for what they believe is right, so why are they acting so immaturely?"

Lulu casts her mind back to Chappu and so looks away from Tidus. "Jealousy often impairs judgement. While none of us mentioned it we all knew that they were fighting over you during the pilgrimage. And don't tell me Rikku couldn't have won that fight. It would be difficult, true, but not impossible. When we were under the lake and Rikku did her cute thing with her index finger, Yuna stepped directly in front of her. They both like you Tidus, and are scared the other will take you away from them."

"As they're related they'll have to share me. I think heard them discussing both being married to me."

"While they both have traditions of Polygamy behind them, you are pretty much monogamous through and through. You looked for advice on which one you should choose. So the joint marriage was only practical because ..."

"I was dead." Tidus sighed.

Lulu hoped this would open a possibility that Tidus would have closed down even though he would have certainly fantasized over it. It still probably wouldn't work, since even if Tidus was able to open himself to it as a practical proposition because Rikku and Yuna would still want to be exclusive, and even if they ever did manage to agree that this was the best move they'd still compete over their position.

Tidus liked the two girls. He only hoped they had sorted out their problems, or at least got it back to he level it had been on the pilgrimage. Serial Monogamy he could do, but not this thing.

Meanwhile, Wakka was trying to comfort Rikku who for no apparent reason had burst into tears. She seemed to be murmuring. "Vydran'c tayt." Wakka sighed. "Translation? I don't speak Al Bhed."

"Cunno." Rikku murmurs.

Yuna sighs. "She just got some bad news. Cid's been killed."

"And I just happened to mention she was the heir." Wakka thinks to himself, then aloud. "There, There."

Tidus and Lulu soon returned, at which Rikku quickly dusted herself off. It was time to organise what they should be doing - assuming anyone would listen to her. Too many saw her as this bouncy kid. Not that this wasn't true, but only Tidus had truly seen her take command. No Yevonite would listen to an Al Bhed, Yuna despite her more adult seeming wasn't good at command, and Tidus didn't know enough about this world. This was why when they were on the Pilgrimage it was Auron who was truly in command and that had probably been in the end a good thing. Auron understood when to follow her commands and of course everyone took his lead, him being legendary and all.

"We need to work out where the new Aeons are. Unless you have some even with the apparent defeat of Sin, only the Al Bhed and the Crusader's will believe you, Yunie. So we know that there are three Aeons remaining, and one she will not call upon."

Yuna nods. No true Yevonite would call upon the Al Bhed's god, though finding that would be difficult. She remembered Penance, so the Aeon's body was not yet complete. She would have to visit certain places again. She sighs. "Another pilgrimage. Once again I march to my death."

"Hey, this time you know you can live," Tidus states.

"That's why Yunie's so scared, you know? On the last journey she knew was going to die anyway. On this one..."