I am happy to announce that I was recently given the opportunity to write an Arcticlt for The Fictorians: a group of savvy writers who discuss storytelling, writing and wisdom in the writer's career.
I wrote an article about Yuna, and how she grows through the Final Fantasy series.
I stepped off the airship and onto the strange crumbling floor of Mount Gagazet's temple. Tidus, you've never been here. For some reason, these ruins appeared after Sin was defeated, and you well . . . you know. I've tried to move on, and Rikku has helped me more than she can ever know. We're traveling the world, visiting different places in Spira. Places I would never have seen if I stayed a summoner. This temple, I think you would like it. You always did make a game out of every temple we went to. But this temple doesn't have an aeon. It even has machina! Brother and Rikku found this rock fromation hovering over Mount Gagazet. Khimari guards it well, leading what is left of the Ronso, and protecting this sacred ground. Up here, so close to the stars and moon, I feel like you're with me. I turn around, expecting to see you stare open mouthed at the waterfalls that fall through the clouds, and the floating rocks, similar to Djose where the lightning held them in place. There's even a platform elevator, but when we pressed the button, the results were . . . disasteriffic. Brother has been so kind, and he's allowed me to hide from the people who want me in power.
I know if you were here, you wouldn't want that at all. Maybe you would want to travel, like me. See all of Spira, and explore areas we didn't even know about during our journey. We both know what too much power can do. As long as I'm here, I want to protect our places. The ruins of Zanarkand and the Macalania Forest. Even the Moonflow that you wanted to see at night. Each place I visit, and each sphere I find brings me closer to you. It had to be you. Why else would I feel like you're here, even now, waiting for me to bring you back? There has to be a reason. A reason this temple hoveres in the sky. A reason it reminds me of Zanarkand, the one you told me about, and why I'm not afraid to look down from the edge of the stone floor and see nothing but clouds and sky. It's beautiful, and maybe one day, I can bring you here to see the details of the statues, pillars and steps. I just know you'd love it. You might even be here, right now, guiding me to get back to you.
After creating the Summoner Yuna outfit, I took on the challenge of her Gullwing attire. I tried to get the best skirt, since Yuna only has a half skirt and stayed with the color scheme of white, coral pink and blue.
View the entire set here: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=73441416
No matter how many times this quote is mentioned, it is still my favorite of the Final Fantasy quotes. Both Tidus and Yuna say this when they have to make a tough decision or when they think back on what has happened. It's a powerful statement that encourages them to do what they believe is right. Whenever they feel lost or confused, Tidus and Yuna say, "This is my story" to help them move forward, no matter what the consequences are.
Memories and Lightwaves is my favorite Final Fantasy theme and I always listen to it when it shows up on my playlist. But Tidus's theme has been growing on me lately. It's perfect to write to and it fits Tidus's personality.
You have to pay him to make him do anything. Yet he fights you for free in Final Fantasy X2. I will say that he had a pretty intro and an awesome overdrive, but the cost for that was annoyingly high. Not to mention every time he finished an attack, he'd hold out a hand expecting more money without even addressing you. The rudest and most selfish aeon ever >_<
I loved this job. Fighting fiends and collecting spheres (while searching for Tidus). It was fun performing shows at the Moonflow, going against machina and following clues to discover where spheres were hidden.
I've said goodbye to a lot of people. Many have left this world. Many have never said goodbye and still exist, somewhere, living their lives. People have passed through my life, weaving strings like a tapestry of memories, good and bad. Some I came close to. Others I pushed away. Some, I never knew as much as I wanted to about them. Some people simply sat in the same classroom with me, and heard the same lecture or read the same novel. Each person I have seen, heard and become friends with has impacted my life in ways I may never know.
I took a class on grief, and wrote an essay on it, but I still don't think that grief just mysteriously disappears one day. Because people have been in your life, you think of them. Especially when you see someone who reminds you of them, hear a song you used to sing together, or be reminded of a time that you were closer to them than you are now. I guess this is the power of the heart.
In Kingdom Hearts, Leon tells Sora, "We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other." The heart and mind record people in your life and you see them in others from time to time, or you remember something about them at random.
In Avatar the Last Airbender, Guru Pathik tells Aang, "The Heart Chakra deals with love and is blocked by grief." After Aang lays all his grief in front of him, Guru Pathik says, "You have indeed felt a great loss, but love is a form of energy, and it swirls all around us. The Air nomads love for you has not left this world. It is still inside of your heart, and is reborn as new love."
Grief may not be the same as remembering someone, or smiling at an old joke, but there is a familiar pang of loneliness when you realize that someone is gone, or things will never be the same.
They may not even be gone physically, but they are just not the same person you once knew. People and life are constantly changing, but in many ways, they stay the same. They fall on old habits, whether good or bad, and go through transformation after transformation. And because no one lives the same life, everyone approaches life differently.
Life is a powerful thing, but I think it's okay to remember someone every once in a while. You may discover something new, just from remembering the past under a new perspective.
Yuna says this best:
“I guess everyone’s like this. We cling to our
secrets, our doubts, our memories…We’re never able to put them aside.
Even though they confuse us, there are some things we can only find in
that confusion. I think…it’s okay to feel that way.”
I have so many favorite soundtracks and inspirational tracks for my writing playlist. These tracks come from all over: video games, movies, TV shows and random recommendations. Here are my top ten.
1. Eternity Memory of Lightwaves - Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi
I love this theme the most. It reminds me of myself for some reason. It's a calming tune and a relaxing melody.
2. Dearly Beloved- Yoko Shimomura
Another relaxing theme, and my favorite track in the Kingdom Hearts series.
3. Forbidden Friendship- John Powel
I love writing to this song. It has a little bit of everything.
4. The Riders of Rohan- Howard Shore
Everything about this piece puts me back to the moment in the movie. I love the violins!
5. Becoming A Geisha- John Williams
This piece showed the transformation of Chio to Sayuri in one smooth melody.
6. Belle's Story- Mark Isham
This is another piece I enjoy writing to. It is simple and soft.
7. He's a Pirate- Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer
Such an exciting and memorable melody, this piece became one of my favorites very quickly.
8. The Guardian's Song- Ralph Schuckett
This track still astounds me.
9. Define Dancing- Thomas Newman
This track is just amazing :)
10. 꽃잎이 내린다 - 두 번째 달- Goong Soundtrack
I love this piece. It's so beautiful.
There are so many more amazing instrumentals out there, but these are my favorites. What instrumentals do you love listening to?
