Note: This is the first fanfic I've written in a long time. Sorry if it sucks. XD And as for a disclaimer -- I don't own anything, blah blah blah.

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I gazed into the cobalt sky with my idealistic jade eyes. My vision was blurred by my relentless sobs, and I hadn't the slightest clue what was happening as my father left our home that day -- nine years ago. Wait, or was it ten? Yes, ten years ago.

He was accompanied by two men. The first was a tall man dressed in a black, tight-fitting tanktop obscured by a crimson jacket, which was adorned with golden shoulder-guards on either side. His black pants were faded and worn and his boots were equally so. This man was Auron, a fallen warrior monk whom had refused to wed a Maester's daughter. The latter was a slightly more rugged man. He didn't wear a shirt, but his torso was marked with some strange rune. His hair fell in layered, brunette tresses that terminated just below his shoulders. He wore black shorts, and over those there was some strange waist armor and an orange skirt with black flames licking up from the bottom. This man was Jecht, and he was from the city of Zanarkand. People still insist, "That 'city' is nothin' but a pile of ruins!" But they are ignorant, and only listen to what they're told. Then again, so do I, I suppose...

My father looked back at me with one last comforting smile, and when I think of this smile I wonder, "Was he trying to comfort me? Or himself?"

For now I know what awaited him at the end of his journey, and that it is my destiny to follow that same path.

"I will defeat Sin...I must defeat Sin," I reassured myself as the ferry docked at Kilika. Tidus looked up at me from where he lay on my lap, shaking. Was he shaking with fear? I still ask myself that question. We descended the ramp and greeted two elderly citizens with a prayer.

"Hello, I am the Summoner Yuna. I come from the Isle of Besaid. If there is no one else, will you allow me to perform the Sending?" I offered in a slightly sympathetic tone.
"Thank you, m'lady Summoner! We feared our loved ones would become fiends!"
The elderly man said as he bowed his head in gratitude, "Please, follow me."

I followed him, and my guardians followed me -- all four of them. I reached the dock and took off my boots, and as I stepped onto the water I felt a certain power in me; it was unnerving. I hesitantly walked further into the water, gazing below me at the coffins containing corpses...there were so many of them. So many stories had ended today. They had been cut short, as if their authors had grown bored and thrown them away.

Why do people have to die?

I raised my staff toward the sky and I began to dance gracefully upon the water, which rose beneath my feet. My mouth grew dry and my eyes began to burn. I felt a lump forming in my throat, and it was all I could do to suppress the tears that were screaming to be released. I promised myself I wouldn't cry. These souls were going to the Farplane, where they would wander happily-ever-after in endless flower fields. So why was I sad? Am I so faithless?

Pyreflies gathered and separated, disappearing with a silent gust of wind. The souls had all departed for the Farplane, hadn't they? The water eased and I stepped onto the dock. Lulu rushed toward me as I gave into the tears that had been covetous of their escape.

"Did...I do okay?" I managed to say as I let out a few muffled sobs.
"Yes," Lulu nodded gently as she brushed my hair back with her hand, "But no tears next time, okay?"
I nodded in agreement.

But truthfully...

I never wanted to dance again. I wondered if my father had felt the same way.

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End of chapter one. Any comments? My AIM screenname is deformed moogle, and my e-mail is