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Messages - Danko Kaji

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46
FFX-3 Speculation and Developments / Re: Original Novel vs. Restoration
« on: August 26, 2015, 03:50:56 pm »
Yeah! I was just about to reference TV Tropes, too!  :D

Although I initially thought of Yuna as a virgin throughout FFX-2, it didn't seem quite right to me. Because Yuna blossomed (no pun intended) into quite the independent young woman in the sequel that it wouldn't be altogether that inappropriate if she lost her innocence in more ways than one during FFX.

Physical intimacy, especially of a sexual nature, is not something I want to shy away from. Not anymore, at any rate. I know fanfiction painted quite the negative stigma for it (ahemsmutcough), but I want to explore it tastefully in the context of an official work, especially in regards to possible canon.

47
Whew! Finally got Chapter 1 complete!

I wanted to point one major detail I changed:

Quote
He had fallen in love too. The day they had confessed to each other, Tidus had understood their story was impossible. Although it was a losing battle, he had refused to submit himself to destiny.

In the original, Nojima wrote 'the day they confessed their feelings for each other.' Or at least, that's how I interpreted it, because it's annoyingly vague, leaving much to the imagination. So, I decided to rewrite it as thus:

Quote
He remembered falling in love, too, with a girl he wanted to save. That night they confessed their feelings for each other, making love in a magical, moonlit spring, and the day Tidus finally understood the end of their story would never have a happy ending together. Although he acknowledged it as a losing battle, he put on a brave face for Yuna and forged ahead, refusing to surrender to destiny. Even if it meant him forfeiting his life would spare Yuna from having to forfeit her own, at least his sacrifice would have meaning.

Because there were several implications in-game and out (promotional artwork; http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120129121711/finalfantasy/images/1/1a/Tidus_%26_Yuna-1.jpg) that inspired me to believe Tidus and Yuna actually had sex in that fated Macalania Woods scene. Wouldn't be too far-fetched, given Nojima wrote the same kind of ambiguously, intimate scene before in FFVII with Cloud and Tifa.

What do you think? Should I continue the direction I chose to rewrite this?

48
Chapter 1
Tentative Title: Of Chasing Daylight
part three of three
---

(A/N): Gosh darnit all to hecks, this chapter exceeded the character limitations in the last post. XD Can you believe the word count actually reached 6k?

*

Wakka woke him up at some point. “The boat’s going to return with the catch of the evening. They’ll need help to bring in the fish. C’mon, ya? Let’s go! This is a job for the Aurochs!”

Out past the entrance, Tidus found the team playing blitzball to kill time while waiting for the boat. Keepa proposed a race to the cove, feeling the fore competition, and Tidus accepted, never one to turn down a challenge, rushing through the path alongside the others. He hurtled down the slope with only Yuna in his mind, sparing not a single thought for anything else.

‘She must be wondering where I am. I should’ve stayed in the village.’

“You’re so slow, Tidus!”

Whoever said that brought him back to reality, and he looked around. Although he ran as fast as he could, everyone else managed to outrun him - except Wakka. Had he gotten rusty from two years stuck in limbo or something, or did everyone actually get better through serious practice?

“Be careful, Wakka!” One of the boys ahead of them teased. “It’s nearly nightfall, ya? You’ll risk falling. Slow down or you’ll hurt yourself!”

“Oh, shut up!" he said, laughing out loud, and then he started to slow down, already winded. “Enough, guys! Stop!”

The team were forced to wait so Wakka could catch up,, and Tidus took this as the opportunity to slow down as well, stopping beside him. “Well, Wakka, did retirement do a number on you?”

Out of breath and dripping with sweat, Wakka nodded, keeled over on his knees. Once he caught his breath, he stood straighter and pushed himself to start walking. “You remember the tournament we played in together, two years ago?”

Tidus nodded, falling into step beside him.

“Well, I had planned to stop playing after. I told you about that, right? I wanted to become an actual professional trainer. But then, we lost the next match. It was a bitter failure, different from when we were losing all those times before. We really suffered from it. After that, we worked hard to train every day with all our strength. The villagers were kind enough to release use from our chores in order to give us breathing room for the game. And as you can see, we improved! I was thinking we reached our highest level. By watching Datto and Letty, it made me want to practice again. But then Yuna started talking about the Gullwings, her everyday adventures with them, flailing around in that provocative outfit of hers.” Wakka paused to laugh. “And Lulu’s stomach started to fill out real big, and I became more involved in the affairs of the village for Lulu’s sake. I’m as motivated as anybody. I’m still young, too, you see… and well…”

He shrugged after a moment of awkward silence, as if to say: “You understand, ya?”

‘Wakka, still as indecisive as ever,’ Tidus thought.

“But everyday, Lulu still scolds me…” He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. Because of their slow, leisurely pace, the rest of the team walked too far ahead, beyond earshot of the last two stragglers.

Tidus trudged forward, stewing in the last two years he lost, when Wakka wrapped his arm around his neck. ‘Were we this close before?’ Tidus wondered. Too busy sorting through his memories, he allowed Wakka to guide him.

The path they were traversing surrounded the whole island, coined as ‘the waterfall’s path.’ Speaking of which, thin droplets rained down on them from over the cliff, and soon enough they found themselves soaked. Falling into a comfortable lull in conversation, Tidus felt Wakka’s fingers brush his neck in circular motions, through his locks of hair, scratching the crown of his head. This started to feel strange, and Tidus exploded, shoving his hand away. “The hell are you going?!”

“Sorry. I just had to be sure…” Wakka ducked his head, apologetic. “You really are real? Not some illusion or spectre of the Farplane?”

“I hope so…” Tidus didn’t feel too sure about it himself, and he scowled. “I mean, of course I’m real!”

Overjoyed by his sudden burst of confidence, Wakka burst out laughing. “Of course, you are!” He clapped his shoulder, as if to make amends.

In spite of the older man’s mirth, Tidus latched onto disconcerting words. “You really are real? Not some illusion?” He thought of the other world, this mystical place where the dead could appear in front of the living in reaction to prayers, talking with their friends and family… Tidus remembered his first trip to the Farplane. When he thought about his mother, she had appeared before him. ‘Am I a ghost, just like her?’

“Aren’t spectres illusions, though? Hallucinations?”

“Well, they’re kinda like real visions.”

“So, in other words?”

“Here’s how I understand things: the pyreflies react to the mind of the one who goes into the Farplane, taking the shape of the person they want to meet. The entire conversation’s made up by the living person. Therefore, the dead can only say what the living wants to hear. If the living wishes for encouragement, the dead will give them some. If they wish for pity, the dead will comply.”

“Really? Is that how it's supposed to work?”

Wakka surprised him. This explanations sounded very lucid and level-headed, something unusual for him. And then Tidus understood: since the earliest days of his childhood, Wakka had believed in and followed Yevon’s teachings without question. Until one day, he discovered it had all been a lie. Without the support of the Fayth, Wakka had been forced to rely on himself to explain the world around him. Tidus perceived the underlying meaning behind his spoken answer.

“But we’re on Besaid, not in the Farplane, right? So, I’m real.” To emphasize this simple fact, Tidus pinched the flab on Wakka’s waist. Wakka’s wonderful cry of indignation echoed like sweet music in his ears.

49
Chapter 1
Tentative Title: Of Chasing Daylight
part two of three
---

(A/N): No real major changes in content. I simply extended/fleshed out certain parts of dialogue, Lulu's in particular. However, I did face some frustration with the redundancy of 'two years' sprinkled throughout the text, so I plan to smoothen that out once I'm ready to finalize the revisions.

*

On the road, each member of the Aurochs approached Tidus to talk with him in turns. They helped him catch up with all the events during his absence; it almost felt like he had never felt. Datto and Keep told him about their team’s progress, as well as their new exercise regiment, and it made him quite proud. New players moved to live on the island in order to join the team -- news which touched his heart. The tournament in which Tidus debuted in Spira two years ago served as the triggering factor to their spike in popularity.

They all walked for about half an hour before arriving at the village, and Lulu greeted Tidus by her tent. “Tonight there will be a banquet directed by the elders,” she said. “It’s to celebrate Yuna’s long-awaited return home, and for returning the three leaders who went missing. This is the best opportunity to show yourself in your best light. Help with the preparations. Make a good impression. But before all that, you can rest there if you like. I know you must be tired trying to absorb everything that happened since you left.”

She pointed to the highest tend in the village, and Tidus recognized it as the Crusader’s lodgings.

“What do they do these days? The Crusaders, I mean.”

“These days? Whatever they want.” Lulu shrugs, crossing her arms. “Yuna’s room is inside the temple, in the same place as always.”

“Oh ho!” Wakka walked by, carrying an armful of wood that would be used for the bonfire.

At the man’s mischievous remark, Tidus felt his cheeks burn hot.

“Honestly.” Lulu sighed, annoyed. “I know what you two are up to. It goes without saying that I forbid you to go there. At least, not yet. Your behavior must not lead to confusion, so it’s be better to wait until Yuna presents you to the elders. Also, keep in mind your attitude will determine the villagers’ opinion of you. And since the temple has become useless, Yuna’s expected to support an idle clergy. You may have heard that Yuna became a sphere hunter for a time. Well, she may have been able to do whatever she wanted before, but only because she left the village without telling them. She knew that if she did, they would never have approved. Now that she has returned, she isn’t free to act on her own anymore. Don’t forget that.”

Lulu ended her long-winded tirade with a shrug, adjusting Vidina in her arms.

Bothered by this, Tidus frowned. “Isn’t she happy?”

“I don’t know. Only Yuna can tell you.”

“From what you’re telling me, that doesn’t sound like her at all.”

She nodded, casting her solemn gaze to the side, as if reflecting on her thoughts. “From what I have seen, Yuna’s feelings about everything are torn and insecure. She feels responsible for the situation, and the village stifles her with their expectations. That is why she flew all over the world with Rikku and her group, the Gullwings, to get away from it all. She wanted to live her own life, if even for a little while.”

“What do they do? The ‘Gullwings’?”

“That’s also something you’ll have to ask her yourself. But in the meantime, please do not do or say anything that can complicate her position.”

Although Tidus didn't understand, he nodded. He didn’t have to understand anything; as long as he cared about her, he would do anything to support her. “Got it.”

Lulu ducked through the flap of her tent, leaving Tidus with nothing to do except join the Aurochs at the village central area. Yuna stood in front of the temple within earshot, yet Tidus could not call out to her. It seemed like everyone wanted to talk to her, and they gave her no choice to refuse. She could always come up with an excuse to leave, she had the authority and the right to, but of course she would never do that. Kindness happened to be one of Yuna’s main strengths; as of this moment, though, it only served to annoy him.

“I’m sure she wants to talk to you, too, ya?” Wakka said, reassuring him. Perceiving the sullen, petulant look, he made an effort to negotiate for a moment of Yuna’s time, yet came back empty-handed. “They sure are keeping a sharp eye on you!”

“Why?” Tidus scowled, feeling impatient. He wondered if they were the same, old stingy ladies who told him to ‘stay away from the summoner!’ two years back. “Did they forget I was Yuna’s Guardian? I stuck by her all the way, even when they stopped her from entering Besaid, calling her a traitor and all that stuff. I deserve recognition and some respect like the rest of you, so how come I don’t see em give me either?”

“Ha! If you say so,” someone said in a sing-song voice. Rikku skipped into view, and then stopped before him to sway on her feet, giving him a roguish grin.

Tidus almost didn’t recognize the Al Bhed girl for her tanner skin and… bolder choice in clothing, or lack thereof. For some reason he could not displace, she seemed more put together in his memories.

“Hi, Tidus! It’s been a long time, huh?”

He would agree, if only he knew how long it had been. Since when did the fifteen-year-old tomboy go around flaunting her bare skin and newly developed curves?

Rikku turned in the direction from which she came, calling for someone to come over. A young woman Tidus never met before stopped beside her, sporting short, smooth hair, a stern face, and wore skin tight leather black clothes that only exposed her shoulders. The contrast between her and bright, sunny, loud Rikku startled him.

“This is Paine! A friend; she worked with us as a sphere hunter.”

“Yuna told me about you,” Paine said. “Well, more like harping, actually. But…” She paused to examine him, which unnerved him.

“Two years have passed,” Rikku said, sounding distant all of a sudden, “and yet…” Stepping closer to invade his personal space, she scrutinized him as well, her nose almost brushing his collarbone.

Tidus resisted the urge to lean back, perturbed by their morbid fascination. This bikini-toting, space-invading Al Bhed wasn’t the Rikku he knew.

Two years? He felt his stomach turn to lead. Throughout his multiple conversations with old friends, he assumed his absence had lasted a good several months, maybe a year at most. But two whole years…

“You’re the same as always!”

Rikku’s chipper declaration snapped him out of his miserable musings. He did not know whether he wanted to laugh or cry, but all the same chose to give them a smile. “Easy for you to say! Look at you!”

She made a noise of discontent, twisting away from him to fold her sleeved arms over her chest, displeased by his observation.

This motion caused him to catch sight of Yuna behind her. “You changed, too,” he said, worried. If her taste in clothing had changed, what else did? It made him wonder what else he missed about her, and whether or not he would like this bold, new side of her.

“Hellooo! I’m right here!” Rikku pouted, anchoring his attention back on her. “Man, you are different.”

“But you just said the opposite.” Tidus frowned, annoyed.

“Before, I was talking about your looks. Now I’m talking about you -- as in, the way you’re acting right now. I mean, back then you were a bit spacey, but at least you were a nice guy.”

Although offended at first, he took her remark in stride, hoping she meant it in a playful, mean way. “Geez, thanks for the compliment!”

They burst out laughing, confusing the quieter woman with their antics, and then Rikku began to narrate the events of the last two years. She told him about “The Movement for the Truth,” a popular new fad initiated by a political group that inspired people to follow, becoming sphere hunters without associations, thus eventually leading to the Gullwings… At first, Tidus flooded her with questions for each new name introduced, but now he grew annoyed by the constant flow of unknown people.

“You sound like you had a lot of fun.”

“What, are you jealous?” Rikku smirked, but then dropped the humor at the upset look on his face.

“That’s because I don’t have anything to talk about on my end. It’s frustrating. I’ve been gone for two whole years, and not a single new thing… What was I doing this entire time?”

“A break,” Paine said.

Her crooked grin made it seem like a joke, but maybe that’s just her unique way of cheering him up. In any case, Tidus knew this much: he wouldn’t learn anything if he stood around stuck in the same spot.

“I’m glad you girls had some fun,” he said, smiling. “If you had spent your days crying over me, I’d have felt guilty.”

Despite his light-hearted tone, Rikku frowned. “I didn’t cry! I was more angry than anything else. I wanted to understand why you had to disappear then, I needed to know what happened to you and why. We went all over Spira, visiting places, but after awhile I gave up, and then…” She drifted off into thought.

Tidus quirked an eyebrow. “And?”

“Yuna looked like she was really enjoying herself with us. But if you ask me, she never slacked off, even for a second. She happily jumped from one place to the next, hunting rare spheres, hosting concerts, but ultimately, her only goal… was you. She wanted to find you again. Or forget you. I don’t know.” She added as an afterthought, pinching her peaceful expression into a frown.

It disheartened him to hear that Rikku would think her cousin wanted to move from him. But then again, he couldn’t blame her. Two years… Just the repeating echo of those simple words were killing him.

“Me?”

“Yeah. She left the village when I showed her this sphere of you.”

“What? I was in a sphere?”

“Well, it wasn’t exactly you. This guy, Shuyin, and the woman he loved, Lenne, they had lived in Zanarkand a thousand years ago. Lenne was this famous singer, and a Summoner, too, just like Yunie. I can’t really begin to explain the horrors they experienced together, but all you need to know is Shuyin’s practically a spitting image of you. Yuna even wondered whether or not it was really you, but she believed it could be her biggest clue to find you again. But after all that, we found ourselves standing in front of an ancient war machine from Bevelle!”

Rikku’s tall tale overwhelmed him, and he breathed. “Are you serious?” Such a crazy story, but then again, the world of Spira often defied common sense (or at least the common sense he grew up with), such as the true nature behind Dream Zanarkand, so he decided to stay quiet.

“I know! It was unbelievable!” Rikku rolled her eyes, bouncing on her heels with barely contained energy, her arms swaying at her sides. “But I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so I can’t deny it. If I stopped to think about the grand scope of things, I would probably be dead! I didn’t have time to think or try to understand. I had to fight, or else Spira would have been toast!”

In order to further illustrate her point, she playfully wrapped her hands around his neck and stuck her tongue out.

Tidus laughed, breaking the solemn air with amusement.

“The machine was called Vegnagun,” Paine said, bringing the two dorks back into orbit.

Tidus raised an eyebrow; he never heard someone call a machina a machine.

“It was enormous, and would have definitely massacred everyone if Lenne hadn’t of stopped Shuyin. Oh, and Lenne was hiding out in Yuna’s songstress Dressphere. For some reason, she chose to communicate through Yuna. Anyway, Shuyin ended up activating Vegnagun once more, and we had to deal with it.” Paine narrowed her eyes on him, making him uncomfortable.

“W-What are you looking at?”

“You.” She relaxed, crossing her arms. “According to Yuna, the Fayth promised to bring you back in exchange for saving Spira again.”

“So, I’m here thanks to him?”

“No!” Rikku said. “Yuna went out of her way to find you, not him!”

At her loud exclamation, all other conversations broke off so that everyone turned towards their small group. The elders surrounding their beloved Summoner frowned at him, and Tidus felt the heavy pressure of their judging eyes. Why, when Rikku had been the one who made that outburst? Through the throng of people, his eyes met Yuna’s. She smiled, mouthing the words ‘sorry’ and ‘later,’ and he smiled in return. For some mild revenge, he decided to demonstrate his disappointment at her show of restraint by acting casual, shrugging. Perhaps she failed to understand his mirth, because she once again mouthed ‘later,’ enunciating the syllables more slow. One of the women who noticed their exchange frowned, looking between them and reprimanding Yuna who simply apologized, before returning to their conversation.

‘Later’ appeared to never come, though, because the elders spoke to her for a long time until a matron declared that Yuna needed to change from her scant attire and proceeded to cart her away into the temple. Tidus preoccupied himself in the meantime, joining in the preparations for the banquet by Lulu’s suggestion. Since the entire village largely contributed in the efforts, Tidus soon found himself with nothing to do, wandering back to Rikku and Paine with a sheepish grin.

Understanding the poor boy’s plight for company, they told him about what happened during his long absence, starting with Kimahri and how the Ronso Elder found that fateful sphere, alluding to New Yevon, the Youth League, and the Machine Faction. Tidus didn’t bother trying to keep up with these new onslaught of names, regardless of how important they might be. The more they embellished the events of Yuna’s concert, first the imposter’s and then her own, the more they were irritating him. How could they make light of such a life-threatening adventure? Maybe he had to be there to understand…

“What’s the matter?" Rikku asked him. “Are you in a bad mood?”

“Wha? Of course not…”

“Yeah, right! You’re lying -- I could tell from the look on your face.” She looked downright upset, pointing her finger at him. “I mean, I did my best to tell you everything, and you… If that’s how you’re going to be, then fine. I’m going to the airship!”

Paine and Tidus watched her stomp off towards the entrance, exiting the village while leaving them in awkward silence, and they exchanged weary looks.

“Don’t take it personally,” Paine said, trying to alleviate his guilt. “I’m sure she only said it out of anger. It’s not just Yuna; Rikku hasn’t see you in so long, she probably got overexcited.”

Tidus gave her a small smile; he appreciated her efforts in cheering him up, even though they haven’t known each other for very long. Paine told him to let Yuna know that the Gullwings were going to leave and that they would come back in a few days. Tidus thought to ask why they didn’t want to stay, but instead chose to mumble some words as his way of answer.

There’s nothing worse than being alone in the middle of a crowd with too many things to do. Not wanting to feel stranded, he sought refuge in the Crusade’s tent -- or should he call it the Auroch’s lodge? -- and collapsed into a vacant bed. Questions and thoughts filled his mind as the day wore on. ‘Soon.” Tidus thought. He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift, imagining Yuna’s face the moment they met again.

50
FFX-3 Speculation and Developments / Re: Final Fantasy X-2.5 : The Truth
« on: August 24, 2015, 06:26:40 pm »
In this case, I have a lot of bull to sort through in the Restoration. Believe in yourself, me. XD

Joking aside, I just want to prepare myself for the FFX-3, if not for the FFX-3 fic I plan to write someday. I was able to stomach a lot of things so far; except for that damn 'dead incarnate spirits can conceive with a living person.' I'm like, are you for realz, guys? Yuna's tsundere, OOC behavior's one thing; I can patch that up somehow, tone it down, something. Tidus being a poor hate child woobie, yeah, that's nothing new. But Bria having a kid? Uhhh, I think Nojima's retconning the crap out of pyrefly physics. We need Maechen up in here!

Oh my god, good stories can only stay good and consistent when you have a team of people, not a single artist or writer doing all the work. Because this is what we get when Nojima's green-lighted to write a novel for a possible, future game. :P Too much unjustified artistic licensing crossing into personal territory.

Er, sorry, I'm ranting at this point. It's just... as a fellow writer, what Nojima did was blasphemous to me.

51
FFX-3 Speculation and Developments / Re: Final Fantasy X-2.5 : The Truth
« on: August 24, 2015, 02:10:59 pm »
Whelp. That ending.  ???

I think what frustrated me the most was the utter lack of setting detail? Like Tidus jumping from one place to the next, the whole 'the elder ladies wanted to hide the accidental incident' for no apparent good reason? What's the point of ambiguously painting Bria as a villain? So he had the chance to relive his life anew, fall in love again, have a family, which defies the logic of him as an incarnate (dead) spirit? So does imagination serve as the fuel to pyrefly magic? Confusion everywhere.

I feel like when Bria called his relationship with Kush 'a puppy love, a thing of the past,' it seriously foreshadowed Tidus and Yuna's love.

I just think Nojima really hates the Tuna romance, because it does not fit with his original vision.

That's what I'm getting from this mess of a novel.

52
FFX-3 Speculation and Developments / Re: Final Fantasy X-2.5 : The Truth
« on: August 20, 2015, 11:32:30 am »
Hip hip hurray! We're almost done!

Now it's time for me to get started on that Restoration!  8)

53
FFX-3 Speculation and Developments / Re: Final Fantasy X-2.5 : The Truth
« on: August 20, 2015, 09:23:42 am »
Whee! I'm back in America! It's good to be home. :D

I think I'm the only one here who actually liked the novella. It's not like I expected kittens and rainbows come out of it, you know.

I actually like the novella, too. Sure, it's fanfiction quality, and I've read better fanfiction, but for what it's worth as canon, it's pretty neat. And I think a lot of things can be justified (not everything) by a little bit of imagination. I think my biggest pet peeve with the novel is the freakin rules that Kush and Ifharnal go by. I mean, sending Tidus back to the real Besaid in search of Bria? Asking Yuna to go here and there? Or is it the other way around? I'm so confused. Why did they have to be so roundabout? Otherwise, I like it. Plus, I enjoy seeing the realistic side of Tidus/Yuna romance. It helps define the timeline of how long they continued dating post-FFX-2. I think by 8 months, when the Spiran Council formed indefinitely after casting aside Yevon (which is wise), Yuna picked up from the ashes to hide the truth. Four months is enough time for 'that' incident with the Yevoners to pass, whatever that was (Yevoners becoming overzealous with Beckoning?), for Yevoner hunters to arise, and for Senders and their assistants to make themselves official. There must be a new system in this government, and I'm curious to see that the writer chose to make Baralai the essential Maester leader of the world, being second to the High Summoner in importance.

So, yeah. In a nutshell, the audio drama, novel, and Last Mission really help establish that one year period that leads up to FFX-3.

54
FFX General / Re: If Seymour HAD become Yuna's Final Aeon...
« on: July 22, 2015, 07:46:00 am »
*double high five*

55
Chapter 1
Tentative Title: Of Chasing Daylight
part one of three
---

(A/N): I made only one (slight) alteration, which I am open to critique, and included some details for the sake of smoothing out OOC behavior. Again, I'm open to critique and feedback, especially since this is not the final edit. Let me know how I did writing Tidus. I don't have much experience with him compared to Yuna and Baralai. XD

*

Huddled up over his knees, Tidus drifted inside darkness.

Pictures painted themselves in his mind’s eye. Were they real, a figment of his imagination, or memories? He didn’t know, but he could make out the broad, tan back of a burly man whose long, messy hair and red bandana streamed down his naked shoulders, and a woman cuddled up by his side. His parents. Tidus remembered how father had disappeared one day, and how his mother died not too long after from sorrow.

Tidus remembered how he felt, inadequate and useless, unable to comfort his own grieving mother in her time of need. Pain woke up in his chest as another memory emerged from his mind unbidden; Tidus stood before a crowd in front of his seaside boathouse, answering their cheers with a blissful smile. The sudden sadness began to depart, confusing him. Where did it come from? He gave in to these familiar sensations, going with the flow -- until a wave of questions bombarded him in the chaos.

A terrifying monster attacked his home, Zanarkand. Overcome with panic, Tidus ran for his life, becoming lost along the way.

"Don’t worry. He came here for you."

Tidus couldn’t remember who said that to him or when; Auron came to mind, for some reason, and a strange, little boy whose face hid within the shadows of his purple hood. He remembered them both, before being carried into the eye of the storm, and then hours upon hours of swimming in Spira’s vast ocean, navigating through old, forgotten ruins, deep diving into an enormous, submerged airship, awakening from his long nightmare near a bright and sunny shore. The tropical scenery poured itself into his senses, so different from his native region that it threw him out of alignment. Despite everything he experienced in this foreign land, the kindness and compassion from the island’s inhabitants brought the smile back on Tidus’s face. He made some friends, among them two magical girls, a humanoid beast, and an athlete no different from himself.

He remembered falling in love, too, with a girl he wanted to save. That night they confessed their feelings for each other, making love in a magical, moonlit spring, and the day Tidus finally understood the end of their story would never have a happy ending together. Although he acknowledged it as a losing battle, he put on a brave face for Yuna and forged ahead, refusing to surrender to destiny. Even if it meant him forfeiting his life would spare Yuna from having to forfeit her own, at least his sacrifice would have meaning.

He remembered contemplating over a sea made of stardust and clouds, memories of the last day he spent in Spira. He watched himself from back aboard the aircraft. A shadow of his former self, he sprinted across the deck before jumping off the edge. Losing himself in the motions, his chest exploded with pain, a single thought bursting through his conscious.

‘Yuna!’

This shook him into clarity, his vision no longer obstructed by darkness. Whatever surrounded him and his physical body became sharp and clear all of a sudden, and then he felt solid and heavy, motivating him to pull free from the chaos of his thoughts and emotions, allowing the rapid pyreflies to facilitate his rebirth.

‘I’m back! I’m coming, Yuna!’

His feet propelled him to the surface, to a world where Yuna waited.

He sensed the boundary as he approached, the line between “here” and “there” where a luminous boundary rippled above him. Could it be a symbol, or the gateway to a radiant world? Tidus swam upwards, ever upwards, as he prided himself a good swimmer.

He broke through the wall at long last, into dazzling sunlight. Sea-salt air flooded his lungs, which made him grimace, startled by an onslaught of overwhelming, forgotten sensations. Blinking against an azure, white backdrop of sky and clouds, his eyes adjusted to the new sight, having been confined in limbo.

He found himself surrounded by an endless, teal ocean. Beneath his feet, Tidus felt the massive presence of an abominable being, an invisible force that, if he were not careful, could claim him back into the previous darkness that kept him prisoner. He realized he must have a strong connection to this world, or else why would he be able to return?

‘I won’t let myself pushed around! Not anymore. I just came back, after all. I can’t disappear, not like this!’

Tidus turned around, recognizing an island for its hill that overlooked a verdant triangle of forest life: Besaid. To further confirm this belief, white-washed, blue sea waves lapped over an empty beach, retreating just as slow into the ocean. He brought his fingers up for a whistle, clear and sharp in velocity. Even if nobody else were around to answer his call, the sound still reassured him, and he smiled. His senses did not lie; everything felt real.

He started swimming towards the coast, his mind swamped with hope and a multitude of questions. Who will Tidus run into first? Who would he meet along the way, if not within the forest or near the river?

‘Where are you, Yuna?’

A deafening roar boomed from overhead, as if in answer to his prayers. Tidus looked over his shoulder, catching the crimson sheen of a colorful aircraft, admiring how it sparkled in the hot sunlight, before common sense hit him. That large, frightening machine cut a sweeping circle in the sky, hovering close enough to ground level. A hatch opened afterwards, revealing a young woman.

Without hesitation, she dropped into the opening, and Tidus watched her drop feet first into the shallow edge of the sea. She wore bright clothing he never imagined she would wear, and this cast doubt into his heart. That couldn’t be Yuna; she ran so fast, long skirt dragging along in the water, her arms swinging at her sides, yet perceiving the recognition and joy in her sea-green eyes, all doubt disappeared from his body. She rushed to embrace him with open arms, gripping him so fierce he knew nothing else mattered.

“Are you real? Is it really you?”

“I think so.”

Her timid question sobered his mirth, and Tidus wished Yuna could confirm this for the both of them. She pulled back, examining him, her hands on his chest while her eyes took in his full features before lifting her head back up to initiate eye contact, humbled by his presence.

“So? Do I pass?” he said, nervous at the receiving end of her scrutiny.

She beamed, followed by a confident nod, her eyes lit up with joy. “You’re back.”

Tidus let out a breath of relief. “I am back. I’m home!” No longer able to contain his happiness, he reciprocated her earlier heartfelt embrace with equal force, breathing in the scent of her wind-swept hair. For a split second, he experienced a moment of insecurity he wouldn’t dare confess - the fear of rejection - and squeezed her tight.

“Welcome home,” she said, embracing him in turn. “Yes. Home.”

An obnoxious voice interrupted their moment. “Hey! Get a room, you two!”

That sounded like Wakka! Startled, they pulled apart, turning in direction towards the coast. People swarmed the whole beach, as if the entire village had come out to greet them. Tidus recognized Wakka and Lulu at the front of the crowd, plus the Besaid Aurochs by their matching uniforms, and -- people he could barely remember! There were so many people, cheering and whistling. Tidus couldn’t catch his breath.

Wakka gave the couple a roguish grin. “Whassup?”

Yuna and Tidus exchanged bashful, mischievous looks, and then he scoffed. “Who asked you to watch, Wakka?”

He smirked, shameless, throwing Lulu a knowing look over his shoulder, who simply lifted the purple-wrapped bundle in her arms with an affectionate smile. Tidus couldn’t tell what from this far a distance, so he grabbed Yuna’s hand, dragging her down to the beach, eager to join the others -- until Yuna started to outrun him! Overcome with a sudden burst of speed, she looked back at him, giggling as she led him by the hand this time. Tidus stared, trying to catch his breath.

“You know, you’ve changed.”

“Well, you’ve missed a few things.”

Tidus grinned. “I wanna hear everything!”

Her confidence impressed him, which made him all the more curious to ask what changed her to become this bold, but right now he didn’t care. How could the past be more important than the present, when nothing could compare to the joyous feeling of running by her side?

*

Going by the generous reception, Tidus realized nobody could have known he would make his miraculous return. How could they, when he didn’t even know about it himself until he woke up? No, the villagers had been eagerly  anticipating Yuna’s return, impatient of her long absence… gathering from what Wakka told him, at any rate. Even so, Tidus smiled. He recognized most of the people by face, touched by their kindness, especially the Aurochs. He couldn’t forget about Datto, Letty, Botta, Jassu, and Keepa. So good to see them again after all this time! ‘After how long exactly?’ he couldn’t help, but wonder.

And of course, Wakka just had to steal the spotlight, introducing a baby from within its bundle of blankets. “May I present to you our newest member of Besaid: Vidina! He’s adorable, ya?”

“Absolutely!” He grinned, peering at the quiet, curious baby. From what he could tell, Vidina inherited his father’s wild, red hair and big, fat cheeks - or that could be Wakka putting on some weight. After all, Tidus couldn’t remember this man looking so… pudgy. Unable to discern the features from his mother, Tidus looked up. “But, uh, who’s the mother?”

“Me.” Right on cue, a curt voice cut in between them.

Tidus jumped a little, turning around to come face-to-face with a familiar, large chest. Lulu’s, to be precise. Recovering from the view, Tidus tore his eyes away before the woman could throttle him in her fury of favorite, fire spells. “Well, now I know who he takes after in good looks.”

Lulu laughed, before retrieving her child from Wakka’s arms, fixing her partner a chiding look. “I thought I told you I don’t want Vidina exposed to the wind of the open sea.”

“I know, but he’s a child of the sea, just like his father! What’s the problem with that?”

“You could have at least waited for the tide.”

“But, Lu…”

What a familiar sight, watching those two bicker. Unlike all the other times, though, Tidus could sense a sort of gentleness between them. Lulu toned down the bite in her words while Wakka managed to ease back on his words with light humor. Tidus sensed something missing as well, the belligerence, their clash of opinions, instead making way for warmth to seep into every look and touch, their eyes glowing with tender regard. Tidus smiled, touched by the sight of them, and decided he wanted to intervene.

“Hey, congratulations! You’re finally a couple now, huh? I always knew it’d happen!”

Considering how Lulu still grieved the loss of her lover, and Wakka’s little brother, tensions were always high between them. Despite their obvious differences, though, Tidus could tell they cared about each other a lot, almost as much as they both cared about Yuna. He recalled all the times he encouraged Lulu to cut Wakka some slack, because she kept comparing him to Chappu, unable to see his positive traits past his flaws, and when Lulu still yearned for him in the Farplane, Tidus remembered comforting her to find new love.

Lulu must have thought the same thing, because she conceded with a sigh, smiling nonetheless. “Yes. Marriage is not the most exciting lifestyle in the world, and sometimes even I feel like I’ve had enough--.”

“Gee, thanks!” Wakka protested with a wounded look, yet he recovered quick enough evident by his easygoing grin.

“But it’s what makes me happy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” The tender moment ended as soon as it began, as Lulu seemed more eager to cart Vidina away than to stay and chat. “Say, Tidus, will you be staying here for a while?”

“If you want me here,” he said, worried about imposing. He still didn’t know his place in the world, yet.

“What’s with the look?” Lulu gave him a soft smile. “No need to feel humble. You’re most welcome here.” Looking around them, she watched the crowd filter out the beach, entering the forest to tread the waterfall’s path back to the village, noticing Yuna being swept away by the villagers. “We should go back to the village, too.”

Hefting her child to her chin now, she joined the others, and Tidus frowned, understanding her sudden need to depart, motivated by a mother’s concern for her infant. Regardless, he couldn’t help but feel abandoned.

“Let’s go!” Wakka smacked him on the back, snapping him out of his momentary daze to lead the way.

56
I thought so! You're so adorable, Shuyiin. XD

Oh, yeah. I wanted to ask: What would you like me to refer to you as? By kk or Shuyiin?

P.S. You haven't responded to my last message on Tumblr, yet. :P

57
This might as well be nicknamed the Headcanon Exchange page, because look at all this amazing lore and information. :D

There is no mention of Fayth being races other than human, because that's all we know from Yevon's time and onwards, and that in itself can be considered a Dark Age. Who says there couldn't be non-human Fayth in Spira? The only reason why Al Bhed (in the last 1000 years, at least) were never among the (known) Fayth, because during the Machina War era they were "lower" class. Who knows where they originated from, or how they came to reach that point. Apparently in FFX, Rikku said that the Al Bhed used to live in a city out in an island near Bikanel Desert before Sin destroyed it, so perhaps the Bedohls had their own home city, isolated from the main continent. I don't know, in terms of the exclusive status of Summoning, we've only seen it hoarded and abused during a golden age overcome with human strife. Who knows where the Summoning craft originated and with whom. I just don't think the ability to manipulate pyreflies was easily or naturally accessible to anyone but the Guado. If Summoning did in fact originate from humans, then its roots could be traced to a shady minority of humans were mighty in tune with the planet to the point of insanity.

Curiously enough, FFX-2 International Mission hints at the possibility of newborn fiends through Shinra's Creature Creation, among other things (such as the extent of humanity a fiend does retain from its human life). I want to do an elaborate sweep of the Fiend Tales to develop a more clear headcanon for it. Oh, and another thing. The reason why I classify fiends as 'alive' more so than dead, because of the fact implications have been thrown that the people of Spira do eat fiends, like Wakka when pitted against a Behemoth. Not only are there morality issues with people eating reincarnated humans, but there's also the disturbing fact fiends are supposed to be considered undead life forms. That's why I thought it'd make more sense if fiends were considered animals instead, or monsters that are not exactly 'living carcasses' but sentient creatures.

Bevelle is the heart of hypocrisy. It's sad, but true. That's probably why Yevon left his home city in the first place, leaving behind everything he knew. The fact he placed more emotional attachment on a dream of a city instead of its people makes me wonder if Yevon actually gave up on humanity, if not the world as a whole, seeing no hope for redemption. Summoners are supposed to live for the people, serving as the main source of balance between the physical realm and the afterlife. It's unorthodox for a Summoner, no matter a peerless one, to turn their back on their core principles.

Your entire essay of Zanarkand/Bevelle/Machina War history gives me feels. Hnnnng. I-It's... it's so brilliant...  :o  But one thing, according to the FFX Ultimania Guide, Sin did level Bevelle to the ground shortly after its birth, thus forcing what remained from the rubble to rebuild it (and Yevon knows how long it took to restore Bevelle to its former glory). Try to squeeze that somewhere into your... brilliant, magnificent essay, hnng. >.>

I'm gonna miss swapping long-winded posts with you, UltimaGriever. Farewell, but not goodbye. I shall return in one month's time!  ;D

58
FFX General / Re: If Seymour HAD become Yuna's Final Aeon...
« on: July 21, 2015, 04:03:20 pm »
Fascinating idea! This'd make a great FFX AU fic. :3

I still believe in Seymour/Yuna against all odds! DDDDD:

And I still believe in Baralai/Yuna against all odds. Ultima, let's unite as compatriots of crack shipping! :D

Because Tidus is our enemy, and 'the enemy of my enemy is a friend'

59
At this rate, you'll finish translating the entire novel by the time I return from Bulgaria next month. XD

I'll be leaving Wednesday morning, so I won't be able to write long messages for awhile. Just wanted to give a head's up. :3

60
This is why I absolutely love Seymour/Yuna, and btw, I want to read that one-shot!  :o

Here's the link. ;3
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3445591/1/Closure

I actually fancy Seymour/Yuna myself, if not Seymour/Yuna/Baralai. ;) I believe another reason why Seymour fell in love with Yuna was because she resembled his mother (it doesn't help they share the same voice actor). Because Yuna and Seymour are singularities of the world, being half-breeds from their respective cultures, they could understand each other's pain and hardship better than anyone. I'm a sucker for that kind of couple chemistry. :3

Maybe Spira started out as a world governed by Fayth in times of antiquity. Even if humans and other intelligent life forms are capable of becoming Summoners, I highly doubt the ancient art originated from humans. Because Guados are not human, it probably made all the more sense to them. Human nature always perseveres in their pursuit for knowledge and power; the Hypello are content with their lackadaisical lifestyle, the Ronso kept to their mountain, and the Guado to their forests. Only Al Bhed, an off branch of humans, are the only other race shown to want more than what they already have. Spira must have been a planet saturated with an abundance of pyreflies, and there must have been a prehistoric age of chaos - where the dead coexisted with the living. Maybe pyreflies latched onto other life forms, such as the trees which grew to develop humanoid characteristics, and polar lions that evolved into beings capable of speech, learning to walk on their hind legs, and amphibians who became the Hypellos we know today.

The fact that a Goddess existed in the lore of FFVII makes me wonder if another type of God existed around FFX's time, perhaps an otherworldly being who dwells (or appears) in the Farplane. For all intents and purposes, the Farplane acts as the inner core of the planet (considering pyreflies are pure energy that circulates throughout space and are the "breath" of the soul). Perhaps that God manipulated pyreflies to craft living beings in his/her image, and that is why so many races are humanoid. Although the fiends we see in FFX are mainly those that are coalescence of pyreflies born from the lingering will of dead people, maybe the fiends were originally a part of the natural food chain. Fiends may have walked the earth as animals and not reincarnated humans, and during the 1000 years of tyranny under Sin, natural-born fiends blended with reincarnated ones. There's so much we don't know about Spira in its years of yore, only stories relevant to Yevon's age. Sigh.

You're right. That mural-Fayth could have been the "voice" for all we know. If only certain things were more clear. Hmph.

As for Macalania Woods, what had it been before Shiva's existence? A normal forest? Because the region must have existed before she froze the entire area within ice and crystal. Perhaps the woods are dying without Shiva, because it's melting - having been frozen for too long that the trees and plant life adapted to the temperature and are now dying under the rapid climate change.

You provide such incredible insight to the Machina War, I am in awe. <3

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