#Yuna at Luca stadium

[lureofthesea]

Source: ethernalium

For @cactuarqueen <3

[channoticedmeuwu]

aYyy Aww thankyou Ima try mah best- unrelated but who’s your bias in the groups u stan? And what’s one kpop moment you think abt every day? -🥴

oooooooOo yeah! Try your best, I'm rooting for you!!

hm so I stan alot of groups, but my ults are skz, nct, and itzy!

so my biases are kim seungmin, lee donghyuck, and shin ryujin!

one kpop moment I think about every day,,,,hanse viewing his past life, chenji domino episode, felix wrapped in a blanket and going "OooO fEeL sO soFt aNd fLuFfY, oOoo", vernon saying kidney function is a privilege, jungwon singing bbi bbi to a saseang, yuna going "hUSSEY", mark lee kick it era, hyuck and daegal playing, chan LITERALLY noticing me, chenle just breathing, Renjun being the reason I got my first nosebleed, rosé eating a fucking candle, lucas going "neomu lonely" and "neomu happy", jennie critiquing jisoo's basketball skills in english, the entire stadium in Manila (I think) going "iS SANA GAY?" at a concert, twice performing born this way, jyp nation at the 2018 KBS festival, itzy in paris, and just so many more like oh my God

yeah I kinda snapped there

[soulcluster-moved]

@whimsiied; for tidus

Luca would be their only stop in such a large town before Bevelle. Settlements rarely grew to this size for fear of Sin, but they were so important to Spira’s people. Seeing everyone gather for the blizball tournament, feeling their energy all around her, she had only experienced this once before: The day her father brought the Calm. She couldn’t be happy then but she could now.

Even that fragile peace was swiftly torn apart by the fiends in the stadium. Not to mention her abduction, but that piece of news was not widely known outside her Guardians and Yuna preferred to keep it that way.

Before they departed, Yuna found an out of the way spot to collect her thoughts and regain her energy. Sea wind blew in from the port and reminded her of home. She would not see Besaid again.

She would not see Luca again, either.

A noise to her left startled her and Yuna turned to see Tidus. She smiled. “Did they send you to find me?” Yuna suddenly felt like a wayward child.

[mezzopurrloin]

Mezzo Plays Final Fantasy X-2: Part 1

Yep, it's happening again. Final Fantasy X-2 (pronounced 'ten-two') is the direct sequel to Final Fantasy X, and the first actual sequel in the franchise. That helps explain its odd title a bit. Like before, I'm playing the HD Remastered version on PC, which conveniently has both games in a bundle, plus some other bonuses.

Eternal Calm is a cutscene that bridges the gap between X and X-2 a bit. It's not included with the original PS2 release of either, but is here along with everything else for the HD version.

Yuna's practicing her diving skills off the coast of Besaid, and 2 minutes 41 seconds is her new record for how long she can hold her breath. Wakka is impressed.

Two years have passed since Sin was defeated, and the Eternal Calm began.

She returns to the temple in Besaid Village, meeting with a concerned villager.

He's upset because his grandson has apparently joined the Youth League, while he and his wife are members of New Yevon.

"In the last two years, new groups have been springing up all over. Everyone wants to be part of a new age. Everyone wants to build a new age. Everyone wants to build a new Spira. People have different ideas, and sometimes, they disagree on the right thing to do. Some people worry about what the new age will bring. I just have to tell myself that for now, I'm doing the right thing."

Out on the bridge, Wakka asks Yuna if she's thought about settling down with someone. She's not interested in any potential suitors, and wants to make that clear to people.

A recruiter for the Youth League shows up, and Yuna gives her thoughts on that too.

Rikku arrives shortly after, and she has something to show them. She takes them out onto her salvage ship to do so.

The thing is a recording sphere. Kimahri apparently found it on Mt. Gagazet.

Tidus? Is that you? It's hard to tell since the footage is so grainy. He's stuck in a cage somewhere, ranting about how he only did what he could to protect the summoner.

Despite him not being able to be renamed in this game, they're still not going to ever mention his name. Rikku thinks that she should head off to find more about it, and that Yuna should come with. Wakka isn't sure about that.

But after all that she's done, shouldn't Yuna be able to do what she wants, not what everyone else wants?

Yuna comes to a decision.

After that's out of the way, we can begin the game proper.

We open at the blitzball stadium in Luca.

There's quite the crowd present.

Yuna takes the stage!

What can I do for you?

In the stands, Rikku watches from a pair of binoculars. Well, until a guard attacks her, giving her an opportunity for some cool poses.

As the concert continues, another girl finds herself in a similar situation.

Rikku and Paine hijack one of the guitarists' floating platforms and use it to move up to the stage.

Battle time already? This game's battle system is pretty different from its predecessor. This uses the Active Time Battle system common to many other Final Fantasy games, where each player's turn is on a timer (represented by the green bar underneath their HP display). For skills, Rikku has Steal available, and Paine can make use of Auron's Power Break.

Why are they fighting Yuna, though? Is this a fake?

After beating her, she runs offstage, and the other two pursue.

Some more goons pop up to bar the way, but they don't last long against Rikku and Paine's attacks.

This guy's a little tougher, though.

As is his partner. They move to attack, but find themselves repelled by a hail of gunfire.

The true Yuna has arrived.

Group pose!

The tall guy is Logos, the short one Ormi. Yuna and crew fight them together. Yuna has access to the Trigger Happy skill, which lets you continuously fire by tapping the button for a few seconds.

They sure didn't last long.

Fake Yuna appears to back them up.

She obliges, removing her disguise. "But it won't be yours for long!"

Time to show off a new gameplay mechanic. By using the Spherechange command, you can switch jobs mid-battle.

This comes with a very magical girl outfit change sequence.

And boom. Yuna's switched from Gunner to Songstress.

Now she can support the party with song and dance. Right now all she has is Darkness Dance, which blinds the opposition.

I decided to have Rikku switch jobs too. Leblanc here doesn't have anything of use to steal, so she changed from Thief to Warrior.

"So, I just hit stuff until we win? Sounds easy." This gives her the same skillset as Paine.

Leblanc was soon dealt with.

Yuna does a little dance.

And here's a closeup shot of the real Yuna, for completeness' sake.

The character advancement system is different now, using the traditional EXP and levels rather than the Sphere Grid. I'll get into that more later on. For now, let's get out of here.

Welcome aboard the Celsius. That's right, we get the airship right from the start this time.

Yuna explains that she couldn't control herself, and it was like someone else was dancing.

The inventor of the Garment Grid system offers his input.

Rikku's brother would have loved to see Yuna dance, but it's not happening.

No time to worry about that, though. The Gullwings have a new mission ready, but I'm not going for it quite yet.

Yuna takes a moment to muse on the new goth chick. Apparently Lulu was considered for this spot at one point, but the team realized that her harsh attitude just would not work with this game.

"I still don't know her very well. She's not exactly the talkative type. Apparently she joined the Gullwings shortly before I did..."

Like in X-1, save spheres give a full HP/MP restore, plus allow you to board the airship from anywhere. This one marks a good stopping point for now, before the Gullwings head out for their next mission.

[auronlu]

Title: Love Her and Despair Chapter 7: "We Interrupt This Broadcast" Final Fantasy X Characters: Isaaru, Maroda, Auron, Pacce, Elma, Lucil Rating: G Word Count: 2300 Summary: Arrival in Luca with more fanfare than one could wish. Navigation: Previous Chapter | Map of Pilgrimage / ToC The Story So Far: Thirteen years after Yuna falls defeating Sin, Grand Maester Isaaru resumes his pilgrimage with his brothers, investigating rumors of Sin's return and a heretical Cult of Sin. After dealing with Sin-attacks on Besaid and Kilika, they arrive in Luca.

Maester Lucil and Elma, Commander of the Djose Chocobo Knights

Despite Isaaru's pleas, Kiyuri insisted on flying Bevelle's banners for arrival in Luca. The grand maester would have his due, even if it dashed his hopes of slipping through the city quickly and quietly. Judging by the din from the docks, he would do neither. Other towns welcomed maesters with hymns and ceremonial. Only Luca could sprout souvenir stands and hawkers in the time it took for the S.S. Konna to hoist sails and put into port. Cheering crowds waved prayer flags. Sphere cameras flashed up and down the waterfront like so many pyreflies. Children clutched collectible summoner statues and played dueling aeons while waiting for the ship to dock. Over the general hubbub, the public address system blared a breezy patter, the local equivalent of pious homage.

"Ladieeees and gentleman, we'll return to the pre-game show shortly. But first, here's an exclusive update on today's developing news story. The S.S. Konna has arrived at Dock Three. We can now confirm that Grand Maester Isaaru is aboard. We repeat, Grand Maester Isaaru has arrived! We missed him at the High Summoner's festival, but he's joined us for Luca's most famous tournament, the Eleventh Annual Sir Tidus and Sir Wakka Memorial Cup! And it looks like all Luca's turned out to welcome the ruler of Yevon and the undisputed leader of Spira!"

"While we wait for the maester's party to disembark, Jimma, this is a good time to remind folks of the new security measures in place at the stadium for our fans' safety. All bags will be searched, and machina not approved by Yevon will be confiscated. Sphere cameras with Yevon's seal are permitted. If you're wearing goggles, please remove them as you approach the turnstyles."

Isaaru waved to the crowd placidly while the crew secured the moorings and lowered the ship's gangway. Maroda shook his head at the broadcast. "It's only going to get worse, the longer Sin's out there."

Isaaru nodded. "One more reason to be on our way."

READ MORE... 

[asummonersdream]

Warmth

A TiYu drabble inspired by this Amano artwork (an idea I mentioned in one of my previous reblogs). A moment of respite on the Fayth Scar, shortly before the ending of the pilgrimage... You can therefore expect fluff and sad feels about Yuna's impending doom.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The sight of Zanarkand usually brought Tidus joy; not this time. The ruins showed no signs of life, and the thought of what would happen to Yuna there only made it worse.

There was no doubt: that wasn't his Zanarkand, the city that never slept, with the huge blitzball stadium all lit up and the crowds cheering on him and his team.

Then again... He had seen his Zanarkand in that dream, or hallucination, or whatever the heck that was. Just who was that kid? And why had he said that Tidus was a dream?

"It was just a dream," he told himself. But was it?

A soft voice interrupted his musings:"Can't sleep?".

He looked up towards Yuna, who waved and smiled at him. Her eyes didn't smile, though: the sight of Zanarkand had affected everyone (even Rikku wasn't her usual, cheerful self), but Yuna more than anyone else.

Trying not to give up the nature of his thoughts, he feigned carelessness, saying:"Just watching the scenery". He shifted his weight, about to get up, but Yuna shook her head and sat next to him.

"It's pretty," she answered, staring somewhere off in the distance.

"Not quite what my old man told you about, though..." said Tidus, flashes of his Zanarkand mingling with those distant ruins.

"Yeah, your Zanarkand sounds... happier".

He remembered all the times she'd said she'd like to go to his city. Back on the S.S. Liki, at Macalania Spring... Maybe they'd still find a way: after all, he'd promised he wouldn't let her die. But the sight of those ruins meant they were almost out of time.

"It was," he answered. "Is. It is happier".

Yuna leaned against his shoulder. "I'd like to go there".

He said nothing, putting his arm around her. She was warm, which was nice with the chilly breeze of the night. Only then did he notice he had goosebumps.

She shifted closer to him, whispering:"Tell me about Zanarkand one more time, like that then we can both get some sleep".

He held her tighter, trying to keep them both warm. "So, where to begin? Zanarkand is a very big city, you know".

Yuna giggled. "How big?".

He frowned, trying to think about how to explain it to Yuna. "Imagine Luca, but ten times bigger!".

"That's really big... Well, let's hear about the stadium! The one that lights up at night, where your Abes play. Is it true that the people that gather there are at least ten thousand?".

"Yeah, and sometimes more! Zanarkand is a crowded city, and we all love blitzball there".

As he talked about the stadium, his team and many of the games he played back in Zanarkand, he realised why Yuna wanted him to tell her about Zanarkand. It was a way of keeping both their minds off from what was to come. "Yuna... Always cheering me up when her own problems are worse".

Eventually, her voice started trailing off into sleep as she mumbled:"Tell me about your home".

And just as he was telling her about the view from his houseboat, he looked down and saw her fast asleep. A smile flashed on his face: she was so cute when she slept...

His heart ached at the thought that soon the pilgrimage would end. He pulled her closer, careful not to wake her up, so they could both enjoy each other's warmth, for whatever little time they had left. The stars looked so different than that night at the spring. Distant, even. Maybe it was because back then he had more time, and higher hopes.

But he wouldn't give up. Even if it meant not defeating Sin, he wouldn't stand by and watch as Yuna threw her life away in the endless spiral of death. He'd find a way to break the cycle, and then they'd be free. No matter what that kid told him in his hallucination, everything would be fine.

He glanced one last time at Yuna, who smiled peacefully in her sleep, perhaps dreaming of a world like Zanarkand, without Sin, where everyone would be free to live their lives.

Yes, he had to find another way to defeat Sin. And she'd live her life as she wished, not be forced to throw it away.

[zenakent-alpuss]

Sage advice.

[Image: Yuna with hands clasped behind her back on causeway from Luca Stadium to town. She says: “Please don’t get scattered.”]

[bcxvi]

Episode IV - The Encounter

-

Morning came.

I woke up with the usual wood between my legs, a message from my bladder, retaining fluids that I wasn’t supposed to be drinking last night. Kimahri used to have the same issue too and we would both release the tension before starting our day.

But when I turned the only thing I touched was cold, empty bedsheets. This time Kimahri was not beside me. Somehow he was already up and nowhere to be seen, the same was for Wakka. Maybe both got out of bed early, we interrupted our discussion last night, perhaps they had some unspoken ideas to share.

I could not retain my urgency to pee any longer, I guess using my paws would’ve been enough, but it wasn’t my style to let loose of my cum without my soulmate beside me. So I got up and quickly found a spot at the balcony to release it all.

I was certain there were toilets around Wakka’s place, but I stopped being a prince a long time ago… and beasts like me weren’t used to toilets, unless surrounded by multitudes.

Afterwards I slipped my attires on and walked downstairs, the dining room was replenished with a new set of fruits and some cold meats. There was something boiling atop an improvised stove, I came closer, surprised Wakka was careless enough to leave fire lit while I was asleep.

“...please Kimahri, Yuna cannot know I told ya all of ‘tis, ya?” it was Wakka’s voice, almost like begging something out from Kimahri, “if she discovers our plan, she will refuse our help, ya?”

“I promise nothing,” Kimahri replied, “Yuna has the right to choose. She is a High Summoner and earned her title.”

Wakka and Kimahri stayed silent the second they noticed me. I’m sure Kimahri had obvious reasons of this kind of secrecy, I was bothered by the feeling… yet I trusted him.

The next series of events happened fast and to be honest I lost track of time. Wakka noticed the fire he had left and rushed to turn off the boiling pot, followed by breakfast. Afterwards, he insisted on inviting us to his private thermal spring reservoir, a quiet place where we ended up taking a relaxing bath. Wakka insisted the reason he built up his fortress at the Gemini Cliff was the springs, even though he and Kimahri knew Mt. Gagazet’s were the best ones.

The next thing I remember is waving him goodbye while making promises to see eachother again. Wakka still insisted on me to be his disciple and become the next Blitzball star, but I limited myself to reply “I would think about it.”

Once in the ferry that would take us to Kilika Port, I approached Kimahri. The sun was already setting at the horizon, we wouldn’t reach our destination until tomorrow morning, but I thought it was worth having a bit of communication before hitting on the bunk beds we managed to rent.

I wanted to tell him what happened last night. I mean, I knew I had to mention something earlier, but this was a private matter Wakka didn’t have to hear, especially when he was already busy worrying about Yuna and insisting on Kimahri to risk his life upon a suspicion. I thought it over and instead brought up my curiosity towards that moment early in the morning.

“What about it?” Kimahri replied, still looking at the horizon.

“I trust you,” I said, “but I was surprised you didn’t wake me up.”

“Wakka is worried about Yuna.”

“I know, he made that clear last night.”

“So, why are you concerned?” Kimahri looked at me in the eyes, smiling.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” I replied, “Wakka is asking too much, to risk our lives upon something he has no data… what will I do if you die? We didn’t come here to get killed… do we?”

Kimahri remained quiet. “Is there something you wish to talk about?” he said, “did something… happened last night?”

“Maybe,” I replied back.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Keep something away from me,” said Kimahri.

I stood silent. It was a bit odd for me to explain how some Galka with teleporting and gliding abilities managed to grab my erected penis in the middle of the night and then vanished in the most threatening way.

“I had a nightmare last night,” I lied, “and I wasn’t happy with the setting or the ending of it.”

“Does this nightmare involved… us?”

“Yes…”

Kimahri turned and slowly wrapped his arms around me. A hug was the last thing I would expect from him, since he rarely gave me public signs of affection. At first I was confused, but Kimahri always hugged me in bed, in the shower and anywhere when we were all by ourselves. So I lied my head on his and responded with a gentle hug as well.

“Just promise you won’t do anything stupid,” I whispered.

“I promise.”

Kilika Port was not as large as Luca. When I inquired Kimahri about the stadium, the ships and all the balloons that he talked me about, he replied that I was confusing both places.

We certainly arrived early in the morning, but we were not allowed to disembark until past afternoon. The captain of the ship later explained that the disturbances on the temple had made the customs offices to double-check on permissions to land and extend the examination status of the merchandise.

When we finally were allowed to leave the ship, we were surprised by a massive market. It seemed we weren’t the only ones with a delay on their schedule: the docks were full of people, customers, buyers and sellers, all over the place. There were all kinds of products auctioning by the pound, some people were shouting out prices and the name of their products while others hastily carried large carts piled up with vegetables and sacs of seeds.

“Take your Gysahl Greens, the best Gysahl Greens in the world!” shouted a dark skinned lady dressed up in a luxurious outfit, while shaking up some fetid greens that looked like carrots on her left hand.

While listening some people shouting out the name of a popular potion, I felt my booty being slapped hardly by a stranger hand. I mean, Kimahri was next to me, yet the caress came from the opposite side.

I turned angrily in order to see who had just touched my ass. I know I wasn’t wearing much clothes this time, the heat was unbearable, but I never expected to get such kind of harassment.

“Hey there, I’m sorry!” it was a familiar voice, yet I couldn’t believe it. “I just couldn’t resist.”

“Hezmush!” said Kimahri with joy, “such a long time since we saw each other!”

“My friend!”

In no time I saw how the threatening shadow from last night was actually hugging and kissing my fiancé in the forehead. It was clear they both knew each other and that they were actually… friends?

“What has brought you here? and who’s this tall and handsome specimen?” Hezmush looked at me, I could see the lust deep within his iris.

“He is my man, we came to make our union official.” Kimahri held my hand, “Beast, this is my friend Hezmush, he’s a very old companion. Hezmush, may I introduce you to Beast?”

I lifted my hand in order to shake his, but Hezmush approached and hugged me tightly. I guess the greeting traditions of the Galka were different than those of common people. I wasn’t expecting a hug, especially from a very thick guy like him.

It felt like the longest minute in life, awaiting for him to release my body. Just when I thought he was letting me go from his tight chest, Hezmush tood my hand and planted a kind kiss at the back while wispering “A pleasure to meet you, monsieur….”

Afterwards, Hezmush turned towards Kimahri and continued the conversation. “And, why are you both making a stop here, at Kilika? Wouldn’t taking an airship be easier?”

“We need to make a favor to a friend.”

“Ah, kind Kimahri,” said Hezmush with a bit of mockery in his voice, “always making things for others. I hope it has nothing to do with the temple? You know, there’s a curfew now and people are not allowed to roam the docks after dark.”

An awkward silence generated between us. The market was a busy place and the environment noises invaded our pause.

“Well, I better not poke my large nose into other people’s businesses,” Hezmush waved a polite goodbye and hugged Kimahri, he tried to grab my hand again, but this time I dodged him. This guy was weird, I could tell he was into me… and not in the good way.

We saw him leave and walk away into the docks. At the far end was his ship, probably an old Blue Narciss model, like the ones they drove back at the kingdom of Alexandria in the days fog was still a fuel around the continents.

Hezmush was up to something.

“Goodbye!” Exclaimed the Galka.

“Goodbye!” Shouted back Kimahri.

While Kimahri effusively waved Hezmush the goodbye gesture, still grinning at him, in a flash, the flickering of his shadow disrupted even more my uneasiness. Just as if some invisible force was trying to come out of the darkness... Hezmush was not here by mere accident.

He had been following us.

“Beast?” Kimahri was grabbing me by the hand, a concerned look in his eyes.

“Uh-yeah, sorry,” I waved at Hezmush, while the engine of his Blue Narciss roared, leading him away of the shore. “Did you saw… that?”

“What?”

“Um-the uh…”

“Yes?”

“N-nothing... nevermind.”

[yunafied-blog1]

Timeline -- ;

This timeline will be more or less divided by two eras: B.C. (Before (Eternal] Calm] and E.C. (Eternal Calm]. E.C. is where the bulk of this timeline takes place.

0 E.C.

The reign of Yevon dissolves and Sin is defeated

Sir Auron disappears and the Dream of the Fayth ends; results in Tidus’ disappearance for good

Yuna gives a speech at Luca Stadium before returning home to Besaid

2 E.C.

Yuna is prompted by her cousin, Rikku, to join the Gullwings

Six months into their escapades, Yuna gives the Awesome Sphere to New Yevon

Nine months into the year, the Gullwings--alongside the Leblanc Syndicate and Gippal, Baralai, and Nooj--manage to disassemble Vegnagun and prevent it from committing omnicide on Spira

A month later, Yuna leaves for Besaid to live in peace

3 E.C.

Four months later, the events of the Last Mission are underway; lasts two days

Two months into the year, Yuna mysteriously vanishes. 

A month later, Yuna begins her training with Joit and Kush, acquires name of Meiyou like ancient summoners; last about 2-3 weeks

A week after, under Kush’s encouraging, Yuna begins a quest to acquire the 13 gods & goddesses of the ancient pantheon; instability of this causes Beckoning Crisis & Sin’s return

This last for five months. Sightings of her are sporadic throughout this time; she’s seen everywhere from Kilika all the way to Zanarkand, though most frequent sightings are in Bevelle, chiefly in Via Infinito 

Roughly a week or two later, Yuna returns to Besaid and passes out for two days.

She then joins the Yevoners as a Priestess

Another weeks passes before she’s summoned by the Spiran Council regarding the appearance of another Shoopuff supposedly extinct; journeys to Bevelle from Moonflow with Chuami & Kurgum

A kangaroo court is held for a forcefully beckoned Maesters Mika & Kinoc. After being found guilty for their crimes, they are sentenced to death by firing squad before being sent again.

Yuna begins working with Chancellor Baralai, now head of the Spiran Council

For a few months, they collaborate; usually divided between research & governmental obligations as well as confronting Sin & reconstruction in its aftermath

Near the end of the year, Yuna makes a permanent move to Bevelle and stays within the Palace of St. Bevelle

4 E.C.

A month into the new year, Yuna adopts Shinra as her son & ascends to High Priestess of the Yevoners

A few weeks later still, she is ordained as Consul of the City-State of Bevelle; works directly on par and alongside Baralai

About halfway through the year, a coup is suddenly staged by Trema--the former Praetor of New Yevon--alongside an Unsent hoard of fiends that had been amassing in Via Infinito without anyone’s conscious knowledge.

Yuna & the Spiran Council are forcefully ousted from Bevelle, fleeing on the Celsius where they make for asylum on Bikenel Island

A genocidal campaign against the Al Bhed is waged by the Yevoners and results in the beginning of a civil war, forcing many Al Bhed to flee for Bikenel

For the rest of the year, Yuna and her compatriots fight with guerrilla warfare throughout Spira, slowly whittling away the Yeoners and drastically shrinking their sphere of influence.

5 E.C.

For the first month into the year, they begin prepping the Al Bhed to launch a final assault on Bevelle and Trema’s forces

Arb, the god of knowledge, reveals to Yuna how to defeat Sin. By the third month into the year, through a 3-day enmity are they able to finally defeat Sin for good by utilizing 

In the ensuing chaos of pyreflies, Yuna & co. use it as a smokescreen to abscond to Bevelle

There, Baralai and Yuna infiltrate the very top and embattle themselves against Trema, defeating him after a long, grueling battle

For the next three months, they spent it reinstating Spiran Council control as well as expunging the rest of the Yevoners from Spira in a war tribunal that lasts months

By the end of the year, it is reported that the Farplane is sealed and can no longer by accessed by any means

It is said that fiends are starting to go extinct, and go fully within a few years

7 E.C.

By the midway point of the year, Yuna weds Baralai (specifically @chancellorofspira] and together they start a family

The Farplane, completely sealed, means Sin can never resurrect

Old machina cities are slowly revitalized and predominantly overseen by Al Bhed architects

Yevon has been completely outlawed by this time

Cid Highwind dies later into the year, passing on his position to both Rikku & Brother

[starvingtongue]

"They'd be clamouring to get tickets, my dear, we both know that." she said it as if it were obvious, like what else could they possibly do? Luca stadium had all but sold out of tickets when Leblanc had impersonated Yuna the first time, so many had almost tripped over themselves the second time Yuna had thrown a concert. the world would most certainly throw themselves at a new song that the former high summoner was part of.

a hand was placed on her hip, chin almost jutting out proudly. "I've been working on a few singles lately," hopefully gearing her way up to a full album one day. "Yet I would positively love to do something a bit more out there." which is just where Yuna came in. "Which is where you come in, my dear." a grin spread itself over her lips, her hand removing itself from her hips to point towards the former sphere hunter.

"See, you have such a fantastic voice, it would pair so nicely with my own, or at least the music I create." perhaps she was laying it on a bit thick, but in truth, she didn't much care. "A pop song perhaps? Or maybe you'd like to do a ballad again? Spira loved that the last time." she wanted, no needed, Yuna to be part of this. while she'd had a modocum of success with her own music, doing one song, at least, with Yuna would boost her platform that little bit more. even if Yuna realised this, some things were better left unsaid. her hand moved back to her side as she moved toward the desk Yuna sat behind. her eyes were glazed over as she pictured the roaring crowds. "We would create such wonderful music together, love, I can hear out fans screaming out for more now."

@braskide / ♡'d for a Leblanc starter

"Yuna, my dear," her voice was bordering on a sickenly sweet tone that indicated that Leblanc might want something. her fan waved slightly, almost absentmindedly, as she paced towards the brunette. "You have such a lovely voice, it would be a shame to let it go to waste pouring over all those boring old manuscripts in Bevelle." a compliment here and there might help her case. might persuade the former summoner to collaborate with Leblanc on her latest album. having such a powerful figure appear on such a thing would definitely increase her sales. "I might have the perfect opportunity to help you get your vocal chords dancing for the masses again."

[riftmeanewone]

WIP FFX+ Timeline

This is for my Russel and @yunafied‘s version of events for their Yuna GIANT SPOILERS BELOW

19 BE (before Eternal Calm) - Russel is born in Bevelle (same year as Nooj, Clasko, Elma, Jassu, Shelinda) - Russel and Shelinda grow up as childhood friends 18 BE - a Bevelle priest named Braska eloped with an Al Bhed woman (Cid's sister), a big scandal Russel likely heard about through his young childhood 17 BE - Yuna is born to Braska & Al Bhed wife - Lulu's parents are killed during an attack by Sin 16 BE - Paine & Gippal (leader of Machine Faction) are born 15 BE - Rikku is born to Cid & his wife, mother later killed by rampaging machina 13 BE - While heading to the Al Bhed Home by ship, Yuna's mother was killed by Sin. Braska decided to become a summoner. 10 BE - Wakka joined the Besaid Aurochs - While out training for blitzball at sea, Jecht touched the fifth incarnation of Sin and was transported to Spira. He became imprisoned in Bevelle, being thought of as a drunken madman, but Braska recruited him to be his guardian regardless. - Braska embarks on a pilgrimage with Jecht and Auron as his guardians. Braska asks Auron to take Yuna to live in Besaid. He brings another Calm but dies & Jecht becomes his Final Aeon, then Sin. - Auron fought Yunalesca and was wounded - Kimahri's horn was broken by Biran and he left Gagazet - Auron entrusted Yuna to Kimahri outside Bevelle before dying & becoming an unsent - the Guados revoked Seymour's exile - Kimahri took Yuna to Besaid Village - the gossip about Braska likely mostly ends at this point since people are grateful to him for the new Calm 9 BE - Jyscal of the Guado (Seymour's father) and Kelk of the Ronso become Maesters of Yevon as part of Mika's "sub-races appeasement policy" - the 6th Sin appears publicly - Russel and Shelinda, both 10, slowly begin to drift apart due to differing viewpoints 3 BE - Wen Kinoc becomes a maester of Yevon - Seymour becomes high priest of Macalania Temple - Russel meets Maechen and becomes his "apprentice" (Maechen sometimes disappears for weeks at a time so Russel just does his own research during those times) 2 BE - Yuna begins training to become a summoner with Kimahri as her guardian - Lady Ginnem attempts to obtain Yojimbo in the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth but dies. Lulu, her only guardian to survive, returns to Besaid. 1 BE - Lulu becomes a guardian for Zuke - The Crusaders carried out a daring defense operation of the Djose Shore. Wakka's brother and Lulu's fiancé Chappu was killed taking part in the battle as a Crusader. - Lulu and Wakka leave on a pilgrimage as Zuke's guardians - Zuke quits his pilgrimage in the Calm Lands; Lulu and Wakka go back to Besaid to become Yuna's guardians - Jyscal dies & Seymour becomes leader of the Guado & a maester of Yevon

DURING FFX - The Crimson Squad are all killed in the Den of Woe, except Paine, Gippal, Baralai, and Nooj (Russel might hear of this first- or second-hand since he's their age) - Wakka & Lulu get married - Trema establishes the New Yevon party to collect spheres - Nooj founds the Youth League - Gippal founds the Machine Faction - at Maechen's suggestion, Russel becomes a sphere hunter to gather knowledge - Trema attempts to destroy New Yevon's collected spheres in Via Infinito but dies & becomes an unsent & traps other unsent with him (Wen Kinoc, Jyscal Guado, Yo Mika, Yunalesca, & Zaon) - Seymour and the Guado slaughter most of the Ronso - New Yevon gets a new chief - Kimahri becomes the elder of the Ronso tribe - Brother becomes a sphere hunter and founds the Gullwings with Buddy; Rikku and Paine join

ETERNAL CALM TIME (Russel is 19 and Yuna is 17) - The reign of Yevon dissolves and Sin is defeated - Sir Auron disappears and the Dream of the Fayth ends; results in Tidus’ disappearance for good - Yuna gives a speech at Luca Stadium before returning home to Besaid - Russel and Shelinda reconcile their friendship, Shelinda becoming a tv news reporter to help spread information - Lake Macalania melts & the temple sinks & the Woods start to die/fade? (Russel would be sad about this) - the Guado are driven out of Guadosalam by the Ronso seeking revenge; they take refuge in Macalania Woods

2 EC (after Eternal Calm ie FFX-2 time) - Yuna leaves Besaid & joins the Gullwings - Baralai becomes praetor of New Yevon - Lulu gives birth to her & Wakka's son, Vidina - Yuna gives the Awesome Sphere (showing Vegnagun) to New Yevon - Nine months into the year, the Gullwings--alongside the Leblanc Syndicate and Gippal, Baralai, and Nooj--manage to disassemble Vegnagun and prevent it from committing omnicide on Spira - Maechen visits Russel to say goodbye before sending himself to the Farplane (or not?) - Yuna leaves for Besaid to live in peace 3 EC - Yuna mysteriously vanishes (transported 1000 years into the past for the events of the novel Eien no Daishou), during which time there are sporadic sightings of her all throughout Spira, and instability causes the Beckoning Crisis & Sin's return - Yuna returns to Besaid & passes out for 2 days - Yuna joins the Yevoners as a Priestess - the Spiran Council summons Yuna re: a Shoopuf Present Day?

[chancellorofspira]

Have you ever wanted to run from it all?

No, had been the first word to enter his mind.

But then, he had to stop himself, because voicing it otherwise would be an outright lie. He harbored too much pride to admit either of the truth. That no, he never wanted to run from it all, to give up when his perpetrator still lived, drinking the cold wine of his suffering.

When Kinoc exploited the Crimson Squad for his own gain, sparing no second thought the consequences of his actions, regarding Baralai’s own squadron, his teammates, indispensable, he could not take that lying down. And when Nooj went on to betray them through the actions of another, an Unsent more vengeful than himself, Baralai wrote him next on the blacklist. 

He ran then, only to live for another day, to draw the blueprints for his revenge. But he never once ran for the sake of running away. He ran with full intentions to return and deliver the harsh hand of justice. Those days have come and passed, though.

Joining New Yevon almost made him forget his thoughts for revenge, because the seeds that took root in his bleeding heart, feeding off his pain and suffering, blooming in the soil of his nightmares, began to drown in his desire for peace and change. Entering the world of politics inspired him, taught him to look at the bigger picture beyond his tunnel vision.

Even when Nooj became the Mevyn of the Youth League, an infantile faction that seemed to exist only to spite New Yevon, Baralai did not put much stock into it, believing this to be the result of a karmic destiny. Someday, he thought, he would put an end to him by uprooting him from the safety net of his empire, for the simple act of killing him with his own two hands would not suffice. Not if he truly wanted his old friend to suffer the way Nooj had done unto him. Cursing life, rejecting every day with deep-seated contempt, nurturing distrust and resentment. 

But then, Shuyin possessed him, and that had been the moment Baralai experienced clarity for the first time in his life since Nooj’s betrayal. Because Nooj… wasn’t Nooj. Even under the mercy of a thousand year old Unsent, he didn’t want to run. He wanted to face him headlong, but he had none of the means to resist, let alone confront him. It felt like a battle he had to wage against himself, and he lost. So he decided to accept it. 

He even started to hope that maybe Nooj or Gippal would find him, and put an end to himself, anything to save Spira from his own weakness. He lost all hope. And then Yuna appeared, by some miracle, as if she had heard his prayers and wanted to prove him wrong. She freed him from Shuyin; she disassembled Vegnagun and fought off Shuyin. 

Baralai returned to the world he loved, the world he wanted to govern, in tribute to Yuna. Because she had been the one to vanquish Sin, bringing forth a Calm that would last for Eternity. And he had been one step away from ruining it all.

No. To run away from it all– the thought never crossed his mind. Not throughout his days in the aftermath of the Crimson Squad or Nooj’s betrayal, or even his days in Maester Seymour’s service, or after Kinoc’s subsequent death. New Yevon, Lord Trema’s demise, the Via Infinito, his Praetorship, Shuyin’s possession, none of those pushed him to the very edge.

But in the first couple of weeks returning to New Yevon, resuming office after his tentative leave, to recuperate from his madness, his insanity, his pitiful show of weakness– no, even before that, the days leading up to his speech in the Luca stadium, journeying with Gippal and Nooj on each of their respective paths home, until Baralai had been the last to reach Bevelle–

He wanted to leave. He couldn’t face himself. 

He saw himself in the eyes of his followers, his advisors. The fear and doubt when the full story of the experience had been told, leaked to the public, that Lady Yuna saved Spira again, except this time Baralai had been painted as the enemy, not the victim, because an Unsent for a villain does not make for a tangible scapegoat, and that’s how the tabloids twisted it. 

Instead of sympathy or understanding, they criticized him for falling victim to a vice that had taken root years before his rise to power. And what drove the final nail in the coffin: Isaaru. Apparently, the councilmen wasted no time looking for a replacement, someone similar, if not more malleable, more willing to listen or appease them, because Baralai had a history of questioning authority, of criticizing every bill and proposal that comes onto the table. 

He wanted to run away from it all, to leave New Yevon behind. Because Nooj managed to disband the Youth League, and Baralai’s primary reason for joining New Yevon– scouring confidential information on that machina, building a party to support his leadership if not to rival Nooj– were no longer valid. 

But he couldn’t trust Isaaru’s capacity to lead; susceptible to influence, Isaaru could fall into the wayside, becoming a true figure head in all sense of the word. Or if not Isaaru, anyone. Baralai couldn’t trust anyone to lead a world stripped of its acting government, entrenched in a peaceful anarchy. It had to be him.

Even though he cannot trust in himself, either, at least he can trust what he’s capable of. He knows his vices, his own strengths and weakness, better than anyone else. His desire for peace and positive change never died; it still exists, a flickering flame on a candle wick, nurtured by his steadfast devotion to truth.

Once, Baralai had thought about wanting to run away from it all.

But never again. 

[frankii-g]

UPDATE: Yuna performing Real Emotion in the Luca Stadium while i dance to the choreography is ALSO gay culture

FF X-2 is gay culture.

[auronlu]

Title: Love Her and Despair Chapter 8: "Best-Laid Plans" Final Fantasy X (AU sequel) Characters: Isaaru, Maroda, Auron, Pacce, Lucil/Elma Rating: G Word Count: 2500 Summary: Planning the next Operation Mi'ihen. Is this a good idea? Navigation: Previous Chapter | Chapter 1 | ToC / Map The Story So Far: Thirteen years after Yuna falls defeating Sin, Isaaru sets the mantle of maester aside to resume his pilgrimage with his brothers. Teaming up with Sir Auron, they discover a pattern to Sin's attacks: it seems to be targeting temples. They meet Maester Lucil at Luca Stadium to report their findings.

Sin and an old friend...

The carnival ambiance of the blitzball tournament ebbed and flowed around Isaaru and his companions like another world pinned by pyreflies to a gigantic sphere. Fans cheered for their favorite players, bickered over team loyalties, lived and died with every goal. In the maesters' box, all was still.

Isaaru had been uncharacteristically stark, blunt, and brief as he narrated the bare bones of their journey. Now he and Lucil sat between two worlds, surrounded by a sea of noise. Clapping when the crowd roared, feigning interest in a match that no one but Pacce actually watched, they waited for the final moments of a Bevelle upset ("That's one for the history books, folks!") to play out so they could slip away to ponder the fate of the world.

As soon as the buzzer sounded, Isaaru and Lucil retired to a VIP suite below the maester's dais. The chamber was as dark as a Cloister of Trials, despite a few skylights. Luxurious furniture and refreshments could not disguise the fact that it had been built into the stadium's walls as a fortified retreat against attack— from Sin, or from an angry mob, to judge by its defenses. Years ago, Lucil had commanded the removal of the machina weapons embedded in the heavy doors leading out to the stadium, but the peepholes of gunsights and the stripped mountings on the doors' inner faces were a sober reminder of what Yevon could be.

Isaaru settled into a high-backed chair, his guardians forming a triangle around him. Elma helped Lucil into the seat across from him. The maester in charge of Yevon's military concealed her infirmity in public, but a chocobo accident had left her partially paralyzed. Her aide was no longer a starry-eyed cadet, but a seasoned officer with a scar half-hidden under short dark hair and a complexion weathered by years of riding.

Elma gave orders to the sentries outside and shut the doors. "There. No one's going to disturb us for anything short of a Sin sighting. The next match is in forty-five minutes, if you mean to keep up appearances."

"Thank you, Commander," Isaaru said, forgetting that he was no longer the senior official in the room.

"Djose, then." Lucil steepled her hands in her lap, expression grave. "Elma. Provide Summoner Isaaru and his party with mounts and escort them to Djose. Send couriers ahead to Mushroom Rock Lodge, advising the captain to begin battle preparations and await your arrival. We will need his ground forces as well..."

READ MORE...

[goddess4302]

Before the events of Final Fantasy X, Rikku's mother died in an incident involving a faulty machina. Rikku's father is Cid, the leader of the Al Bhed faction, and she has an older brother named Brother. Cid's sister (Rikku's aunt) married summoner Braska, Yuna's father, thus making him Rikku's uncle. Rikku and Brother are Yuna's maternal cross cousins.

In Final Fantasy X, Rikku is the first friend Tidus makes in Spira, and she becomes Yuna's final guardian on her pilgrimage.

In Final Fantasy X-2, Rikku convinces Yuna to become a sphere hunter, and accompanies her on her personal quest that evolves into a bid to save Spira again.

In Final Fantasy X, Rikku is fifteen years old and has medium-length blonde hair in a ponytail and braided pigtails with orange feathers. She has the Al Bhed trademark green eyes with swirled pupils, although in FMV cutscenes in X-2, Rikku's eyes have normal pupils instead.

When she is first met aboard the salvage ship, Rikku wears a full Al Bhed combat diving suit that conceals her identity. When she joins Yuna's pilgrimage and sheds the suit, she wears a pair of flared green short-shorts with an orange belt and an orange sleeveless tank-top with side straps and two long blue ribbons hanging from the back. She wears a pair of goggles around her neck, a pair of boots, a gauntlet and arm guard for her right arm and a large protective forearm mitt for her left. Around her right thigh she keeps a pouch for her alchemy materials and equipment. Rikku's nails are painted yellow. Despite carrying goggles around her neck and wearing them while salvaging and piloting machina, Rikku never wears her goggles again after she takes them off on the Moonflow.

In Final Fantasy X-2, the now 17-year-old Rikku wears her longer hair loose and braided, tied atop her head, adorned with colorful beads, and held by a blue bandanna. Rikku has unique outfits for each of the thirteen dresspheres used in combat with details that distinguish her from Paine and Yuna. Rikku's default look is the Thief dressphere, where she wears a yellow g-string bikini and an olive green mini-skirt, carrying two pouches at her waist and ruffle sleeves. A long yellow and red scarf hangs loosely around her neck. Wearing the Thief dressphere in combat, she wields two red dagger-like blades designed for rapid attacks.

In other dresspheres, she wields Yuna's Tiny Bee guns and summoning staves El Dorado and Spiked Rod, as well as Tidus's Crystal Sword, Auron's Katana blade and his Masamune katana. Her deck theme for the Lady Luck dressphere is clubs, and her Mascot dressphere is a Cait Sith.

In Kingdom Hearts II, Rikku's hairstyle remains unchanged and her default Thief dressphere has a minor changes: she wears a yellow tube top and an orange skirt with two yellow ribbons and white ruffle sleeves. Her long scarf is now red with an orange tint. She now wears white knee-high socks and her boots are white with blue folded sleeves.

During Rikku's childhood, a machina went on a rampage and her mother was killed. Rikku was attacked by a fiend while playing on the beach and Brotheraimed a Thunder spell at the fiend to fend it off, but the spell missed and hit Rikku instead, leaving her with a fear of thunder.

After Tidus is ambushed by a fiend in the Underwater Ruins, he is rescued by a group of Al Bhed led by Rikku. While the others believe him to be a fiend in human form, Rikku objects to killing Tidus and instead knocks him out so he can be taken to the Al Bhed Salvage Ship. As the bilingual member of the group, Rikku enlists Tidus in reactivating an underwater power plant to salvage a sunken airship. Striking up a friendship and surprised by his claims of hailing from Zanarkand, Rikku promises to take him to Luca so he can find someone he knows. The two are separated when Sin attacks the ship and Tidus is washed overboard.

Tidus drifts to Besaid and ends up joining Yuna on her pilgrimage. When Yuna's group crosses the Moonflow via Shoopuf, Rikku pilots an underwater machinato kidnap her and stop her pilgrimage, but Tidus and Wakka dive in after her and save Yuna by destroying Rikku's machina. Ejecting from the damaged machina, Rikku washes ashore and Tidus finds her. Rikku discards her Al Bhed uniform to move about incognito and joins Yuna's pilgrimage as her final guardian. While the others know of her heritage, Rikku's status as an Al Bhed is concealed from Wakka, who does not approve of the Al Bhed for personal reasons. Though she enjoys the hospitality at Guadosalam, Rikku stays out of the Farplane while the others go for a visit, saying that the images of the dead Farplane conjures for its visitors are mere memories, and she prefers keeping her memories to herself.

Rikku's astraphobia is revealed while the group cross the Thunder Plains, pleading with the others to rest at the nearby Rin's Travel Agency. Auron's harshness causes an upset Rikku to momentarily overcome her fear by the time they reach Macalania Woods. On the way to Macalania Temple, Rikku defends Yuna from her brother when he attempts to kidnap her. When she tells him she will protect Yuna using her native tongue, Rikku finds herself insulted by a shocked Wakka. She retorts by telling him to think for himself for once without Yevon's influence, and show proof of his claims that her people are to blame for Sin. If Tidus rides a machina sled with Rikku to Macalania Temple, she reveals she is Yuna's cousin and articulates in a roundabout way that Yuna will die if she continues her pilgrimage, but Tidus is oblivious.

At Macalania Temple, a guard, disbelieving an Al Bhed could be a guardian to a summoner, denies Rikku entry until Auron comes to her defense. After the group confront Seymour for his role in murdering his father, Jyscal Guado, which escalates into a battle that kills Seymour, they are pursued by the Guado and fall to the bottom of the frozen Lake Macalania, where they are whisked away by an encounter with Sin.

The party regroups on Bikanel Island but cannot find Yuna. Rikku leads the others to the Al Bhed Home that is under attack by the Guado. They locate Rikku's father, Cid, and Rikku reveals to an unaware Tidus that Yuna will die if she performs the Final Summoning. They escape on the airship the Al Bhed had restored from the salvage operation Tidus participated briefly in.

At Bevelle, the party drops in on Yuna's forced wedding ceremony to the now-unsent Seymour but are forced to watch it continue while held at gunpoint. After Yuna escapes on Valefor, Rikku tosses a flash bomb to blind Seymour and the warrior monks so that the group can retreat into Bevelle Temple. After Kinoc holds them up, Rikku tries to warn Tidus not to exit the Chamber of the Fayth with Yuna, but it is too late, and they are arrested and held on trial for treason.

Rikku is thrown into the Via Purifico with Tidus and Wakka but they escape from the dungeon's monster and reunite with Yuna and the others. On Bevelle's Highbridge, Seymour transforms into Seymour Natus and confronts the group. They defeat him and flee to the Macalania Woods where Rikku hopes Yuna would quit her pilgrimage now that they know the truth about Yevon's corrupt ways, and although Yuna is set on continuing Rikku and Tidus decide to come up with a way to save her. During the group's climb up Mt. Gagazet to the Zanarkand Ruins, Rikku becomes increasingly distraught over Yuna's impending fate and pleads with her not to go through with it. Yuna comforts Rikku and thanks her for her help, but Rikku refuses to accept Yuna's choice.

Within the Zanarkand Dome, the party learns of the Final Summoning's true nature as a continuation of Sin, and Rikku is overjoyed when Yuna rejects it as a false rite. The party decides to fight Sin via other means and Rikku tells Shelinda to spread word of the plan to pacify Sin by using the "Hymn of the Fayth". They fly the airship into the calmed Sin and traverse its innards to reach the core. After Wakka makes his peace with her people, Rikku joins the others in defeating Jecht in his Final Aeon form to destroy Yu Yevon.

As Yuna sends her aeons, Auron dissolves into pyreflies and departs for the Farplane. With Yu Yevon no more, Sin, the fayth, the aeons, and Tidus begin to fade. The party returns to the airship and Tidus says his goodbyes to everyone, but Rikku does not accept his departure, saying they will meet again. Some time later, Rikku is present with Lulu, Wakka, and Kimahri as Yuna delivers a speech in Luca Stadium to announce the onset of the Eternal Calm.

Final Fantasy -2

The Gullwings gain a rivalry with the Leblanc Syndicate, another sphere hunting group, led by Leblanc. One day, Leblanc steals Yuna's Garment Grid and performs a concert in Luca while posing as Yuna. Rikku and Paine crash the concert while Yuna dons a moogle costume to keep a low profile. Rikku and Paine chase Leblanc out to the docks and Yuna joins the fray and reclaims her Garment Grid.

The Gullwings explore the recently discovered Floating Ruins at the peak of Mt. Gagazet and claim the treasure sphere that contains images of Zanarkand. At the Zanarkand Ruins they find half a sphere. The Gullwings travel throughout Spira and encounter many old and new friends, including the three most influential Spirans: Youth League leader Nooj, New Yevon Praetor Baralai, and Gippal, leader of the Machine Faction. Gippal, a ladies' man and an old friend of Rikku's, embarrasses her with a crack about the two of them having "made quite the couple". News spreads about an "awesome sphere" found in Kilika, which draws the attention of both the Youth League and New Yevon. The Gullwings seize the sphere whose footage displays the mysterious man who resembles Tidus standing before a large weapon, mentioning someone named Lenne.

The awesome sphere is returned to either the Youth League or New Yevon, and it is learned from Nooj or Baralai the colossal weapon is called Vegnagun. Leblanc broke into the airship and stole the Gullwings' broken sphere from the Zanarkand Ruins, and in Leblanc's headquarters, Chateau Leblanc, the girls discover Leblanc already had the other half and stole their half to make it whole. After watching the restored sphere it is learned Vegnagun lies hidden underneath Bevelle. Forming a truce with the Leblanc Syndicate, the sphere hunters enter the underground passage under Bevelle formed after the fayth's disappearance and find a secret complex filled with machina.

When YRP reach Vegnagun's lair, they face an antagonistic Bahamut and the girls are forced to fight it. Vegnagun is gone and a large hole is left in its place. Fiends pour out of the temples, and Nooj, Baralai, and Gippal go missing. After defeating a possessed Ixion in Djose Temple its surprise death blow attack sends Yuna falling down the hole in the former Chamber of the Fayth and into the Farplane. Rikku, Paine, and the others soon hear from Yuna again when she emerges in the Bevelle Underground.

Back on the Celsius, Yuna tells everyone about Shuyin and Lenne who lived during the times of the Machina War a thousand years ago, and Lenne's spirit coalesced into a sphere, which the Gullwings now use as the Songstressdressphere. After learning about Shuyin and Lenne from Maechen after Yuna's 1000 Words concert, Rikku pities Shuyin, as two years ago, she, too, went to great lengths to try and save Yuna from a tragic fate. Now knowing the holes in the temples lead to the Farplane, Yuna plans talking to Shuyin and tell him how Lenne felt.

Rikku feels that people are always leaving her behind, but Yuna thanks her for 'kidnapping' her and letting her join the Gullwings. YRP descend into the depths of the Farplane in search of Shuyin and Vegnagun. After destroying Vegnagun and defeating Shuyin, Lenne's spirit puts Shuyin's hatred to rest and they return to the Farplane together. The Gullwings leave Spira's leaders at Luca and ride the Celsius to Besaid where Yuna reunites with a revived Tidus.

[mezzopurrloin]

Mezzo Plays Final Fantasy X: Part 5

The boat to Luca is pretty crowded. The Aurochs, the Goers, Yuna's party, Dona, and Barthello are all present.

And the Goers are still being jerks too. Tidus says he's the star of the Zanarkand Abes, which makes them laugh.

Yuna's here to defend him, though. They get bored and walk away, leaving Tidus and Yuna to have another moment.

Tidus heads to the upper deck and hears part of a conversation.

Lulu is mad at Wakka (again) for taking Tidus along, especially since he just plans to leave him in Luca afterward. Tidus decides it's best not to interfere.

There's a lone blitzball sitting on the deck. Tidus is reminded of his father once again.

Jecht shows off his skills by doing a kick followed by a midair spin.

Then one last shot to send the ball flying.

This leads to a short minigame where Tidus has to fend off the memories of Jecht as he tries to replicate the shot.

Turns out the Aurochs were watching, and they're quite impressed. Tidus says it doesn't have a name.

But Yuna knows better. It's actually the "Sublimely Magnificent Jecht Shot Mark III", but there never was a Mark I or II. He just made that up to keep the crowds coming.

She wonders if Jecht is alive, but neither of them has any clue. Tidus isn't even sure what he'd do if he met him. Probably smack him, though. Yuna talks about how it is when your father is famous, and that she is honored by his accomplishment. Tidus says there really isn't anything honorable about his old man.

The two retire to their cabins, and they reach Luca the next morning.

It's a big city, the second biggest in all of Spira. The announcers call out the teams as they arrive for the tournament: the Kilika Beasts, the Besaid Aurochs, and their very own Luca Goers.

Okay, that's just harsh.

Tidus decides the team needs some remoralization after that, and grabs a nearby megaphone to taunt the Goers.

A large crowd gathers around a particularly fancy boat.

This is Maester Mika, one of the Maesters of Yevon and the leader of the people of Spira. This tournament is being held in honor of his fiftieth year as maester.

He is accompanied by Maester Seymour, a newly-appointed maester and proud owner of the weirdest hairstyle in Spira. There's a brief moment of eye contact between him and Yuna as he steps onto the dock.

The Aurochs prep for the big tournament in their locker room. Their first match is against the Al Bhed Psyches, and if they win that they're on to the finals.

Yuna barges in with some important information. Turns out she knows who Auron is because he was also one of her father's guardians.

"It didn't even occur to me to think that the Auron Yuna was talking about...and the one I knew from Zanarkand could be two different people. I don't know why, but I knew it was the same guy. I knew it was the same Auron."

Yuna is concerned about getting separated from the others, so Tidus tries to teach her to whistle. She doesn't get the hang of it quite yet.

Tidus is impressed by the town's size. Large cities like this aren't very common in Spira, mainly due to the Sin threat. The Crusaders are doing all they can to keep the people safe so they can enjoy the blitz.

There's no Auron in the cafe, but Kimahri runs into some old acquaintances. They tease him about his small size and refusal to speak.

Pretty good response. Soon, though, everyone is distracted by the tournament starting on the screen.

Mika gives an impassioned speech before the team captains.

Then, the stadium is set up.

Blitzball is played entirely within a sphere of water, which is kept aloft through presumably magical means. Blitzball players have trained to hold their breath for long periods of time, which explains Tidus and Wakka's swimming skills.

As the game starts, Tidus and Kimahri suddenly notice that Yuna is missing. They head out and run into Lulu.

The Psyches plan to hold Yuna hostage and force the Aurochs to throw the game. Tidus' group isn't going to stand for this, and heads to the rescue.

They also have a few salvaged machina guarding their boat. These things attack on sight, and their metal bodies are vulnerable to electricity.

They pass by a screen as they run to the dock. Wakka took a serious hit, but he's managing to stay in there.

Eventually they encounter a boss mech on the Al Bhed boat. This thing is really just a blitzball pitching machine, but as we've seen from Wakka, thrown blitzballs can cause some serious damage. We've also got a full Overdrive bar for Lulu, so let's try that out.

Lulu's Overdrive is Fury, and it has probably the most annoying gimmick of them all. You need to rotate the right stick as swiftly as possible, and then she unleashes a barrage of magic, with the number of rotations equaling the number of casts. In this case I used Thunder Fury to drop 4 lightning bolts on the field. Two hit the boss, and two hit the crane on the side, restoring power to it.

Then I could use a trigger command to dismantle the mech, dealing some serious damage.

A few more zaps and it was junk.

Yuna is safe and sound. Tidus looks around the ship, and confirms it's not the one Rikku was on. He mentions the Al Bhed he first met to the others, and Yuna asks if he met a man named Cid. Cid is Yuna's uncle, and though she hasn't seen him in years, she knew she could come to him for advice. This also means Yuna is half Al Bhed, on her mother's side. This is why she has one blue eye and one green eye.

Wakka has kind of a grudge, so it's best not to mention this.

Lulu sends out a magical flare to signal to Wakka that Yuna is safe.

Wakka receives the signal, and scores one last goal, winning the game 3-2.

Unfortunately, after taking that hit, he's too injured to play the next match. Tidus has to step in.

The Blitzball tutorial is incredibly long and tedious, and I don't want to get into it too much. Let's just play.

Blitzball plays as a combination of a turn-based RPG and a sports game, two things you'd never really expect to see combined.

Teams are 6 v. 6, and each player has their own HP, tackle, block, pass, and shoot stats.

When one player intercepts another, you have to choose whether to suffer a tackle from them or throw the ball and have them block it. If either fails, the opposing team grabs the ball.

Unfortunately for me, the Goers managed to score a goal in the first half of the game.

Wakka gives a pep talk at halftime, then it's back to blitzing.

I even had Tidus try out the famous Jecht Shot, but the Goers' goalie just barely managed to catch it. At about 3 minutes in, the crowd starts chanting Wakka's name.

Tidus leaves and Wakka returns to play, and you play out the rest of the game as him.

Unfortunately again, the Goers managed to score one more goal in the last few seconds.

Final score: 0-2. Goers win.

Announcer: "The Aurochs may have lost the game, but what a way to go!"

Suddenly, fiends appear in the stadium! Tidus and Wakka have to fight them off. In the stands, a large reptilian fiend stands against a familiar figure.

One who strikes a pose of sheer badassery.

Yeah, he's already dead. Tidus and Wakka join with Auron to fight off a few more fiends, then Maester Seymour rises to the front.

It turns out that he is also a summoner. His aeon fires blasts of pain from her eye, reducing the remaining fiends to dust. The stadium is saved, and Maester Mika is confirmed to be all right.

The Aurochs are sad to see Wakka go, but Wakka is determined to become a full-time guardian for Yuna.

Elsewhere, Tidus and Auron have a talk. Auron says that he knew both Jecht and Yuna's father.

Tidus asks if Jecht is alive, and Auron says he is... for a given definition of "alive". After all, Tidus must have felt something of Jecht when he attacked Zanarkand.

Of all the RPGs to have a "the villain is really the hero's father" plot twist, I sure wasn't expecting this to be one. Tidus points out that this is nonsense, but Auron insists that it's true.

Tidus knows that Auron has the answers he needs, so he has no choice but to come along. They meet with Yuna's group, and Yuna is honored to have him as a guardian. She also notices that Tidus is feeling kind of down after that reveal.

She has some advice for him.

Yuna: "Next, try laughing out loud."

You know what's coming.

This scene has been memified so much. Tidus' "AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA" is legendary. Apparently it's been taken out of context too, to the point where James Arnold Taylor, the voice actor for Tidus, had to explain that no, it's supposed to be stupid fake laughing.

Tidus keeps laughing anyway.

Yuna joins in with her own stupid fake laugh, and the two eventually collapse into genuine laughter.

They both seem a little relieved after that, even if they're getting weird looks from all the other party members.

There's no time to rest, though. The next stage of Yuna's pilgrimage lies ahead.