The sun shone brightly on the head of a particularly beautiful woman on the island of Besaid. The brilliant sun and bright colors of the island contrasted the simple yet revealing black dress of the woman. A small river of sweat ran down the side of her face carrying with it a purplish tint from her eye shadow. Her black hair covered most of her face, but there was still plenty of it behind her to braid that reached down to the ground. The sun also reflected off the purple beads that hung around her neck. Five Garudas swarmed around her in a giant circle. She noticed that one was about to strike.

"Thunder." She barely whispered. A single bolt flew from the sky immediately and struck the Garuda instantly killing it. It flopped down to the ground and pyreflies slowly emerged from its vanishing corpse.

Lulu sighed. Even her weakest spells were too much for these creatures. She had grown too powerful. Two other Garudas decided to attack her at once sending powerful gusts her way. She easily dodged them once again appreciating her decision to rid herself of the belts and fur. She could move much more easily in just the dress and so her agility and stamina grew as her magic did.

"Blizzard." She cast on the two attacking Garudas and they vanished like the first. Becoming agitated at the weakness of all the creatures around her she suddenly cast, "Ultima." The blast completely obliterated the remaining two Garudas as well as some of the scenery.

It wasn't like her to lose her temper like that but Lulu couldn't hold it in anymore. She slowly walked back to town without worry about monsters. She knew her Ultima spell had chased away most monsters in the area, and by now it was very rare for any monster to be foolish enough to attack Lulu.

Is this it? Lulu thought. Is this as far as my powers can go? I feel that I can go further. But where is there a challenge? It's certainly not here... And for a brief moment Lulu considered leaving Besaid. But then reality set in. She knew she couldn't leave. That wouldn't be fair to Wakka or their children.

Lulu finally arrived back in town and said hello to various people before entering her cabin and starting dinner. She lit the fire with a Fire spell but it was too powerful and made a small explosion which set the wall on fire. Lulu quickly put it out with a water spell but the force of the water nearly knocked down the shabby wall. Lulu sighed and lit the stove manually. She began to make a stew and by the time it was ready she heard Wakka and her three sons approaching.

"That was a great practice today guys, ya?" Wakka said.

"I almost kicked it straight Dad! Did you see me?" Lulu's youngest son Bron asked.

"Ya." Wakka replied.

"Hey, Dad! I think I'm getting better than Sanny!" the second oldest, Chak, boasted.

"No you're not!" Sanny came back.

"Oh yeah? Well I just mastered the Poison Shot, didn't I Dad?" Chak said.

Wakka obviously still feeling the effect of the poison replied, "You sure did son."

The four males entered the house at this point.

"Hi Mom!" the three boys said together and began to inhale the stew. Wakka took a look at the new burn marks on the wall and gave a concerned look to Lulu.

"How was your day, Lu?" He gave her a quick kiss.

"Fine." She replied. But later on that night, after her sons were all asleep, she talked with Wakka. She had talked to him like this before. She told him of her powers, and the curse of everyday life, and the lack of a challenge. He simply nodded at these things. And when she was finished he said the same thing he always did, "Why don't you take a vacation? Go to other places and fill this challenge you're looking for?"

"You know I can't do that. I can't just leave my children here. You couldn't take care of all of them alone. Besides, how would they feel knowing their mother left?"

"It's not like you'd never come back."

Lulu's mind flashed back to her parents, or what she remembered of them. She knew she had inherited her father's black hair from the stories her mother told. Her mother who was also able to summon magic from inside her. Her mother who had pushed her so hard to become a guardian and succeed where her mother had not, in protecting her father.

"I won't leave."

The next day there was gossip floating around the town. Someone had posted a sign on the old temple during the night and when Lulu heard of this news, she ran down to it. Vegetation had slowly taken over the temple over the last few years, but since it went unused, the temple remained the way it was.

Lulu pushed up to the front and read the sign there.

"Calling all mages." She read aloud, "Are your powers unparalleled? Do you wish to meet other mages like yourself? Are you up for a challenge?"

The word stuck in her mind: CHALLENGE. She read on.

"Then enter in the Dark Arts tournament. Participants will face each other in battle, where only magic will be allowed. The victor will be named the most powerful mage in all of Spira and receive the ultimate grand prize! Enter now!"

Time seemed to stand still for a moment. This is exactly what I've been waiting for! Lulu thought, A chance to match my magic against the magic of others like me.

But then reality set in again. She couldn't leave her family behind. And with that depressing thought, Lulu slowly walked back to her home. Wakka, who had already seen the notice, was waiting there for her. He noticed her depressed look.

"You're not going to enter are you?" he said.

"You know I won't and why." She replied.

"Listen, Lu." He stood up, "You are going to enter. I don't want to hear another word about it. This is what you've wanted for a long time now! And how can anyone call this a contest when the mage who helped Yuna defeat Yevon won't be there! The majority of people who enter this contest will do so to see how they size up against you!"

Lulu stared at him. She knew he was right. "But...the kids..."

"I've battled all around the world. I think I can handle our children on my own for a bit. This way, we'll all know where you are, when you're coming back, and you get to fight the way you've needed to."

Lulu stood there taking it all in. Wakka moved in closer and kissed her. Then he stepped back and said, "Go get 'em Lu."