Guest Post: Summoning Character Development

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. 

You can read the article here: 

http://www.fictorians.com/2016/04/28/summoning-character-development/

And for more fun, check out the Fictorian's website here: 

http://www.fictorians.com

Happy Anniversary FFX!

It's a day late, but happy anniversary to Final Fantasy X! 

I love this game. The world, the characters and the story are amazing! 

I drew a lot of inspiration from this game for my upcoming novel Starlight. The conflict was interesting, and Yuna is my favorite character. Her pilgrimage, and the lessons she learns along the way are powerful elements in the story. Tidus, the narrator also grows from an easy going athlete to a quick thinking hero. These two characters were my favorite, but I also looked up to Auron, the wise and strong warrior. Rikku's optimism, Wakka's determination, Lulu's guidance and Kimihari's dedication added to the team. 

This story from ignorance to enlightenment: doom to hope still impresses me, no matter how many times I play it. 

The world is beautiful, from the mythos to the geography. 

My favorite places were the Moonflow . . . 

and Macalania Woods.

This game has so much imagination and philosophy. It asks the big questions in a beautiful setting with magic and adventure. 

And who could forget the laughing scene ^_^ 

FFX has been a major influence on my life, from the moment my friend Becca first introduced it to me ^_^

I have dressed up as Yuna a few times.

I gave Lightning her outfit in Lightning Returns

I saw the FFX display at Artina Cafe.

And the soundtrack is part of my writing playlist: 

Final Fantasy X is one of my favorite Epics. 

The Power of Disguise

In my Mythology class a few years ago, my College Professor explained that you can learn a lot about a person by their disguises. Halloween itself is an archetypal holiday where people dress up as someone they admire, fear or want to be like. This lecture stuck with me as I learned about theatre, writing and the choices I've made for my costumes. Every character I have dressed up as is someone I admire or aspire to be.

When I was ten, I wanted to be just like Sailor Moon. She was brave, powerful, kind and beautiful. I dressed as her for Halloween because I admired her courage, kindness and her ability to overcome any obstacle thrown at her. Sailor Moon was my favorite character because I wanted to be just like her.

Belle has always been my favorite Disney Princess, and when I read the original fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, I admired many elements of Beauty or Belle's character. Belle is kind, true to herself and very smart. Her love of stories is something I relate to. Belle is also brave, and made the decision to stay at Beast's castle on her own to protect her father. I can't even count how many times I've dressed as Belle for Halloween. She's been a role model of mine for a long time. 

Yuna is my favorite Final Fantasy heroine, because she taught me how to find my own path, despite what I believed people expected of me. Yuna is a character that represents hope, courage and wisdom. Her difficult path made her stronger, wiser and insightful. As Yuna learns how to overcome obstacles, she discovers who she wants to be. I look up to Yuna's ability to face adversity and create her own path.

Serah was only in Final Fantasy XIII for a short time, but I was able to relate to her. Not only did we share the same name, but we have similar fears. Serah was afraid of becoming a burden, and even though she couldn't change the past, she guided her sister and the lcie to change their fate. In FFXIII 2 Serah is a main character with a difficult quest ahead of her. She makes the decision to do something instead of sit and wait for things to come to her. Serah doesn't let fate control her, she creates her own. This is why I dressed as Serah for a convention.

Alice has quite the story in the Tim Burton film. During the time when the movie came out, I was facing a big decision about facing fears, living my own life and not focusing on the expectations of people my age. I remember watching the film, and feeling exactly like Alice the entire time. All I wanted to do was run away. I didn't want to solve my problem. I wanted to run from it, as far as I could. But by the end of the film, I realized, just like Alice, that the only person who could solve my problem was myself. If I never faced that fear, I would never grow and change into the person I wanted to be. I dressed like Alice because I admire her bravery, and I believe that one day I will slay my own jabberwocky.

Lizzie Bennet is my current role model. She's smart, creative and cares for her family. Lizzie is even my age, or turns my age at the end of the show. Lizzie's character is a beacon of hope for my generation. She lives at home, and has a hard time deciding what she wants to do in the future, but she never gives up, and stays true to herself. She knows that she's not perfect, but she accepts her flaws and learns what she wants to do in her life. As a modern day Lizzy Bennet, Lizzie's character is a wonderful role model for the twenty something generation fresh out of college. I hope to be as creative, clever and true to myself as Lizzie is.

Every Halloween, I dress up like a character who inspires me, or who I aspire to be. A few other characters I remember, but couldn't find pictures for are : Megara from Hercules, Queen Amidala from Star Wars, and Mulan.
What about you? On Halloween do you dress up as a character who inspires you, frightens you or who you aspire to be?

Final Fantasy X/X2 trailer!

Cannot wait for this!

Two Worlds: One city

Yuna stood at the edge of the crumbling city. Pyreflies surrounded the rubble, and their short songs echoed through the dark and deserted place. She didn't like coming here, be she felt that she had to. It reminded her of him, Tidus. To Yuna, Zanarkand wasn't just a city of ruins, or even the former temple of Yunalesca. It was Tidus's home. He had described it to her countless times. The lights on in every tall building. The great Blitzball stadium where people came to watch Tidus, star player of the Zanarkand Abes. People would run on the giant walkways. Kids would play on a platform surrounded by stars. He had always told her that she should see it. She caught a glimpse of his world when Seymour showed them the memory sphere. It had seemed so amazing! People rushed past her. Signs flashed and whooshed by as they watched the sphere fly through the city. It was full of life instead of memories of the dead. Bright and thriving instead of dark and desolate. If she stood there long enough and closed her eyes, Yuna could almost see what Tidus saw. She could walk where he had walked and imagine people, tall buildings and bright lights. She she walked among the pyreflies, she could see the busy street, the great statues guarding the stadium, and the giant sphere of water that made the Blitzball Stadium. It was all so beautiful, and yet it was sad. She missed him. Sometimes she would expect him to walk around the corner or run up to her with one of his smiles. At the time, nothing mattered while they journeyed together, but now Yuna knew they were from different worlds. 

She whistled, then brushed away a tear. He wasn't coming back. Not here. She would have to find him another way. Still, she thought she heard his whistle, as if it came from far away. But the sound could also have been an echo of her own whistle, just as Tidus was now an echo of an amazing dream. 

The Summoner

The summoner stood in the water, staring at the moon and sky. The world was now against her, calling her the traitor of Yevon who had doomed all of Spira to the wrath of Sin. The shimmering crystals  glow all around her, yet her shoulders are slumped, and she stares at the sky as if she has lost everything to her name. Even the most beautiful scene of lights and the moon's reflection couldn't distract her from the choice she had to make. Would she continue her pilgrimage? Would she give up and live for herself? 

Yuna. It hurt seeing her this way. She was always smiling, hiding her sadness and pain with a muffled laugh or a cheerful remark. If only I had known she was supposed to die. If only they had told me when I walked into that temple that I had to be careful what to say around her. 

I remembered that moment, one I still cherish, where we watched the sunset and I told her "after we beat Sin, that's when you can worry about the future." 

It must have been so painful for her. 

Kimahari stared at me as I walked toward the pond, every step careful and quiet. With a nod of his head, Kihamari said it all. It was okay, I could pass, and he knew that Yuna might want some company. 

I stood there for a moment, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry" didn't seem good enough. And the words I really wanted to say, I knew they just wouldn't help.  She had been through so much with Seymour. Asking even more of her, especially in that department would not do anything to heal her pain. I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to make her smile again, and let her know that whatever she decided, I would support her. But I didn't want to interrupt this moment she seemed to be having, thinking about the world, and herself, possibly for the first time. 

Words at this time were useless, but I was still standing there, not moving, wondering what to do. Finally, I decided that I would do what I always did, plunge in head first without thinking. I dove in the water, and let the pieces fall where they would. 

The Ruins of Mount Gagazet

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.

Gullwing Yuna Polyvore Set

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

FF 30 day challenge day 27: Favorite scene in any game

This is a tough one. But the scene that immediately comes to mind is the laughing scene in Luca from FFX. When you first see this scene, you laugh, because at the time, you think it's ridiculous and funny. There's more to this scene than that. It's a moment of comfort for both Tidus and Yuna. Tidus has just found out that his father is alive, and Spira's greatest threat. He's also found Auron again, reverting back into the kid he once was around him. Yuna has discovered that Tidus might leave, so she is worried that she will literally never see him again. In her own way, she tries to cheer Tidus up, because even though they will continue their journey together, something seems off about Tidus. He's not cheerful or carefree. So she shares something really important with him, a coping mechanism. She has a way to deal with sadness, and she knows that life is more precious than people understand. Her life is slowly coming to an end in her mind, and she is ready to say hello and goodbye to each place they go to. But at that moment, when she's worried that she'll never see Tidus again, she finds out that he's not leaving her and, just for a little while, she is genuinely happy. But her concern for Tidus is obvious when she tries to make him laugh.
No one else really understands what's going on in this scene, except maybe Auron, who knows why Tidus is upset, but even so, this is a moment that Tidus and Yuna get a little closer to each other. Tidus shows a different side, expressing how he really feels about being in a strange new world. Yuna shows a different side too. She lives in the moment, for the first time since Tidus has met her. It's a strange role reversal because Tidus is always happy, and if you notice, Yuna is always sad. In this scene, Tidus is the sad one, and Yuna cheers him up the way he cheers her up.
I think that's what makes this scene memorable and iconic for Final Fantasy X.

FF 30 day challenge day 24: Favorite Quote

"This is my story."

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.

FF 30 day challenge day 22: Favorite Theme

It's a tie between Tidus and Yuna's themes.

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.

FF 30 day challenge day 21: Favorite Boss Fight

Hmm, I can think of a lot of boss fights that are on my least favorite list. Every one of them involves Seymour except one, the first Seymour fight at Macalania temple. This is where Yuna obtains my favorite aeon Shiva, and this fight is where she stands up for herself and finally listens to her heart. I like the fight probably because of where it ties in with the story. Yuna's guardians rush in to help her and once Yuna realizes that she isn't alone in dealing with Seymour, she takes a stand and the fight begins. This was probably a difficult decision that she thought about over and over again, until her guardians came and stood by her side. From that moment on, Yuna decides to listen to herself and continues to resist Seymour, even when he kidnaps her. It's a sign of self confidence that Yuna did not show before, and it was that moment that Tidus stepped in and decided to get involved.I guess this boss fight is memorable, because it represents a moment of strength for Yuna and an important decision for Tidus. At this point, they both decide to take charge of their lives and call the shots instead of do what everyone expects of them.

FF 30 day challenge day 13: Favorite Job

Sphere Hunter/ Gullwing

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.

FF 30 day challenge day 7: Favorite Couple

(I'm skipping ahead because I've never played Crystal Chronicles)

Tidus and Yuna

I love their story, and how their personalities compliment each other. Yuna is very reserved, while Tidus is always joking around and trying to lighten the mood. Considering the journey Yuna was on, without Tidus, she might not have had the strength to continue on. Tidus showed her how to have fun, and taught her to believe in herself. Yuna taught Tidus how to be responsible, and she gave him the courage to do the right thing. Both Yuna and Tidus were never the same after meeting each other. They even have a sweet side story in Dissidia, where Yuna tries to help Tidus overcome his anger toward his father and remember the journey they had together. Because of these two, I had to get the best ending in FFX2 and bring them together again. I was a little sad that they never met in Kingdom Hearts.

FF 30 day challenge day 5: Favorite White Magic Spell

This is an odd question, but I love summoning aeons in FFX. They were my favorite battle strategy, until Yuna disappeared half way through the game :(  On a side side, I guess I like the cure spell since it is usually my best friend in video games.

The Heart Chakra

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.”

—	Yuna, Final Fantasy X-2

Summoner Yuna Polyvore Set

I finally found pieces that work for Summoner Yuna's outfit!

View full set here:

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=67687496

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 20: Character you would cosplay as

Fairy Yuna from Kingdom Hearts II.
The outfit is really cute and looks simple to make. I love the wings on the ponytail and the cute zigzag pattern of the shirt and skirt.

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 11: Favorite original Final Fantasy Character(s)

Tidus

I love how cheerful Tidus is. He's always looking for fun, and he does the best to find the positive in a situation, no matter how grim. Considering his story, he is very brave in the face of adversity and he knows how to cope with difficult obstacles.

Yuna

Yuna has an inner strength and wisdom, to hold herself together and be ready for whatever comes her way. I admire her ability to stand strong and face obstacles both internal and external. She learns how to stand up for herself and be brave when everything falls apart. She has a big heart and she isn't afraid of anything.

MoonFlow Memories