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When they left the temple, Ann saw three new people over where Wakka was, before he walked away
Ann~Those three seem to know Wakka...Do you know them?
Auron~The blonde one is Rikku. The one with the long half skirt is Lady Yuna. She's the one I served after Lord braska passed away
Ann~The emo looking one?
Auron~Don't know her. Let's go though
As they came closer, Yuna noticed first and bowed
Yuna~Sir Auron! It's nice to see you again
Rikku~Oh hey! How's it been...well...in the farplane?
Auron~Hello girls. It's been good. Happy to see my wife again.
Rikku~You were married?! And never told us?!
Ann~Dad! You didn't even tell your friends about mom?
She hit him, and Auron smacked her head.
Auron~It was never relevant.
Rikku~Oooo! Who's this little cutey?!
She reached out to rub Ann's cheek. Ann flinched at first, expecting to get into a fight like Zabuza usually does first, but Rikku didn't move to swing at her. So Ann leaned into her hand
Auron~She's Ann, my daughter. But I must warn you, she does have a destructive attitude
Yuna~D-daughter? Uh–it's not a problem for me–just uh startled
She raised her hands defensively
Auron chuckled~It's okay. Like I said, it was never relevant. But you never introduced us to your new friend
Yuna~She's Paine, a sphere hunter
Rikku~And now...
She jumped backwards and struck a pose with Paine and Yuna
Yuna~Y
Rikku~R
Paine~P
Three~And we're the Gullwings, at your service
Auron chuckled. Yuna and Rikku had changed in the two years he’s been gone.
Ann~Hey...Why'd you stop Rikku?
Rikku giggled~Alright, you cutie.
Rikku picked Ann up and kept rubbing her cheeks
Rikku~Hehe you're a big girl. Right, Yunie?
Yuna~And cute
Paine~Teens...They're all the same
Rikku put Ann down
Ann~Awww...
Auron~Don't be like that. Come on, we should eat
Her stomach grumbled and she rubbed her neck
Ann~What's there to eat?

They ate lunch with Lulu, and Wakka came from his walk partway through. They exchanged stories of growing up and how they learned to fight.
Ann~Wait, wait, can you guys teach me magic?!
Wakka~I don’t think you should, Lu. You’re too far along. The baby could come any day now.
Lulu~It’ll still be a couple months before it’s ready. Anyways, I don’t think a few basic spells is too much to do.
Ann~So you will?!
Yuna~I can help too, Lulu, that way you don’t have to overexert yourself.
Rikku~Yeah, magic can be tricky. You shouldn’t risk anything with the baby.
Auron stopped Ann from getting up.
Ann~But–
Auron~Finish eating first, dear. You’ll need the energy.
Ann pouted while Rikku and Yuna giggled. Auron gave them a look and Yuna raised her hands up defensively again
Rikku~I’ve never heard you so affectionate, Auron. Why didn’t you ever call us dear?
Yuna~He’s called me that a few times before leaving with my father. *giggle* I remember being fussy with naps too.
Rikku~Really?! And Sir Auron likes naps???
Ann~Naps with Auron are really good.
Auron quietly sighed and resisted the urge to facepalm. They’d probably tease him more if he reacted, and Ann does a good job at that without being prompted too.
Rikku~That sounds amazing! Is it like Kimahri?
Ann~Who’s Kimahri?
Paine~You can ignore them. They’re always like this when they get excited.
Auron~Heh, I guess running away has really let you come out of your shell.
Lulu~It certainly has…Dear
Wakka’s hand cover did nothing to hide his chuckle.
Auron~Not you too.
Ann giggled~You can’t blame me for this one, Daddy.

After having lunch, they gathered outside of the gate. Ann, Yuna, Rikku, and Lulu were further ahead in the open field while Auron and Paine were leaning against the wall while Wakka sat nearby.
Wakka~Sir Auron?
Auron~Yes?
Wakka~How did you react when you learned you had a daughter?
Auron~Mostly surprised. And honestly, guilt. Are you worried about having a child?
Wakka sighed~I don’t know what I’m supposed to do…How did you figure it out?
Auron~I’m still figuring it out. It hasn’t been that long since I stepped into her life.
Paine~How old is she? Is your guilt a part of where you’ve been?
Auron~She’s just turned 13. Yeah, it’s…complicated…with my whereabouts.
Wakka~Yuna sent you two years ago, yeah? How’d you end up an unsent again?
Auron~Also complicated. Both I don’t know how to explain. Not without having to explain our kekkei genkai at least. I’m not entirely sure they’d even understand Dream Zanarkand…
Wakka~Does she know? About you being an unsent, I mean. You definitely surprised us in Zanarkand.
Auron~She knows. I think it’s the reason why she gets clingy with me.
Paine~Is that so, dear?
Wakka chuckled again, not even trying to hide it this time. Auron shook his head, but chuckled anyways
Auron~I can’t believe I have to live through this

Rikku was a few feet away setting up sticks for targets.
Ann~Okay, so magic. It’s spells, so there’s an incantation, right?
Lulu~Yes, and we’ll focus on just two for now. Fire and Cure.
Ann~Those are common words. How do you not accidentally cast spells?
Lulu~There has to be focus and intent. Rikku, are the targets ready?
Rikku~Yup! Just like you asked!
She ran back to them to move behind the line of fire.
Lulu~Watch closely, Ann.
Ann kept her eye trained on Lulu. She saw her gather strength, her hair shifting slightly, and then waved her arm. She tracked the spell leaving her person, through the air, and to the conch resting on the stick which combusted with a flame. When the fire died out, the shell was blackened but still intact. Ann stayed still, processing the sequence.
Yuna~Lady Ann?
She stayed still for a few more moments, her eyes fixed on the shells but not focused on them. Then she blinked a few times and cracked her fingers.
Rikku~Are you okay? You…changed…She seems older now. More mature. Scary…
Ann~I think I figured it out. It looks just like using a jutsu. Less steps. More focus.
Lulu~Let’s see it. Don’t worry if it doesn’t go as expected. Not everyone can use magic.
Lulu took a few steps away in case it blew up in her face. Ann closed her eye, exhaled, and brought her hands up to form the tiger seal to focus. She took her time to feel for something other than her chakra. It was still there, but it was quiet. Then she felt something else begin to build, almost bubbly compared to her chakra, and then it was hot and ready. She opened her eye and waved her arm like Lulu. A blast came out and knocked Ann flat on the ground. She waved her arm in the air and responded quickly.
Ann~I’m okay!
She groaned and rolled to her side. Ann couldn’t remember the last time she had to use that signal. Rikku and Yuna came to help her up. Lulu also came closer to look her over.
Rikku~That was actually a really good first try. Most people can’t even get a spark.
Yuna~Are you hurt? You hit the ground pretty hard.
Ann~Not really. I should have expected to get blown up. Ugh, why does it hurt
Rikku~Maybe because you got blown up?!
Ann~Yeah, but this isn’t the first time it’s happened. I’ve never been thrown like that either…
They stared at her.
Lulu~You’ve had point-blank explosions before?
Ann~Yeah. My best friend and I used to make rockets to prank our friends.
Rikku~What the hell kind of stuff did you do?!
Yuna~Anyways, I think this is a good time to learn Cure. It won’t be explosive…Or at least it shouldn’t be explosive.
Ann~What’s that supposed to mean?
She went to hit the summoner, but stopped herself.
Yuna~Did I say something wrong? I’m–
Ann~No, no. You’re fine Lady Yuna. It was me. I needed to be more polite. Dad would have a fit if I treated you like my uncle.
Rikku~Why do you hit your uncle? Is he mean to you?
Ann~No, not actually mean. We’re just…really physical. That’s just how we play
Lulu~Is that why you hit Sir Auron? You’re playing?
Ann~Yeah. He’s used to it because of my mom. It’s a thing we do on her side of the family.
Yuna~Thank you, but you don’t have to treat me differently. It’s nice to not be a celebrity sometimes.
Ann~Let me know if I go too far, then.
Ann gave her a gentle nudge.
Lulu~It seems like your attempt was more smoke than actual fire. You still have a light burn to your arm because of the explosion, though.
Ann~So, how should I focus for Cure?
Yuna~Think of comfort. Something that makes you feel at home and grounded. Safe from getting hurt. Once you feel it, don’t force it out like your last spell. Let it flow, like water.
Ann~I understand water. It’s easy to disappear in when–N-nevermind.
Rikku~Huh? What do you mean disappear in water?
Ann shrugged~It’s complicated.
She giggled as Rikku facepalmed at her Auron-esque response. Ann placed her hand over her arm. She took a breath to try to gather that other aura she felt. It was easier to build this time, and she was able to release it from her hand to her arm. She thought of Zabuza, not when they were training, but of the times they were still and resting. When she took away her hand, most of the burn was gone.
Lulu~I know Sir Auron said you were a fighter, but it seems like you have more control over healing magic.
Yuna~This was a very successful cast, Ann.

Wakka~I’m surprised you didn't run. I think I would be a wreck if I watched my child blow themselves up like that.
He gave a nervous laugh.
Paine~You didn’t even flinch. Is this a normal occurrence?
Wakka~Normal???
Auron~It is. She’s just like her mother…You wouldn’t believe the kind of shenanigans she gets into when left unchecked.
He smiled softly. Ann's reckless Momochi streak to jump headfirst was strong and reminded him of Ane, but it was also something that he could trust to keep her resilient. Her structured training with Zabuza in her formative years definitely helped her control that recklessness into something he could manage with a few stern words when needed. It made her the perfect tool as a shinobi, but the autonomy she had while growing up in the Leaf allowed her to be something more, and he got the chance to help shape it further now.