Author's note: I just wanted to be able to respond to a review from Jhalor and say that yes you're right, I'm sorry that there was such a sharp transition from Tidus' to Yuna's point of view in the first chapter haha. When I had written it, there was initially a line dividing the two to indicate transition, but it didn't appear in the actual upload. I'm sorry about that! I was trying to make it clear but I'll be more careful about that in the future. But thank you for your review and enjoying my story! I really appreciate it.

Also, just to note, these are one-shots, so they aren't really connected in a chapter sense, and take place at different times. Some will come after or before previous chapters.

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Today was the day. The day that I would tell my closest friends of my decision to become a summoner.

As I sat in one of the backrooms of the temple, where I was supposed to be studying the teachings, my mind began to drift to the task at hand, and I began to reflect on the past ten years of my life.

I had known Wakka and Lulu for ten years, since I was seven years old. We had grown up together, here, on Besaid. Although I am originally from Bevelle, Besaid is my home. The only one I've ever really known; at least the only one I've known with good memories attached to it.

Bevelle only reminds me of my father. Although I loved him dearly, and am thankful for his sacrifice to bring the Calm, I felt so alone after I had realized that he was dead, gone forever, and that I would never see him again.

Despite my hardships, I have had a blessed and peaceful life. Wakka, Lulu, Kimahri, and Chappu had been by my side, never letting me feel truly alone. They've always been there to comfort me, make me laugh, and make me feel loved and cared for. Sure, we've had our spats over the years, mainly about trivial and childish matters, but we always made a point to apologize and make peace soon after.

Although it's never really been spoken aloud, we all have known; my path leans toward becoming a summoner. I am the daughter of High Summoner Braska, I have been raised in the temple and given knowledge of the teachings, and I have always felt the burden to ease the suffering of all Spira. I've always felt a desire to help the people, despite not truly knowing in a visceral sense the devastation that Sin brings, other than losing my father at a young age.

And then, only three months ago, we lost Chappu.

Out of the blue he had become a Crusader, and left to battle Sin. We prayed and prayed that he would return safely. Lulu stayed up almost every night, silently gazing upwards at the starry night sky, willing him to come back to her. Wakka became distant, pouring himself into training with the Aurochs, but we knew how afraid he was.

But, our worst nightmares came true. Sir Luzzu came back with the news: Chappu had been killed by Sin on Djose beach, during an operation gone haywire.

All of us had a piece of our heart shatter that day, but something inside of Lulu had died along with her lover. Bright, strong, lovely Chappu, whose face lit up with a warm and infectious smile, who purposely made jokes at the most awkward times, who excelled at blitzball and inspired his brother and his teammates, who gave Lulu his heart unabashedly; dead on the shores of Djose, crushed by Sin.

Wakka had been at the tournament in Luca when he heard the news. Unsurprisingly, the Aurochs suffered an even more humiliating and swift loss than usual. When he came back from Luca, he had an unusual hardness in his eyes and in his voice. I knew he wanted revenge for his brother.

We all dealt with our grief in different ways, but for me, grief came with determination.

My father's sacrifice, and the sacrifice of all of the High Summoners before him, the suffering of the people, the longing for the Calm, my father's unspoken trust in me that I would follow in his footsteps; all of these things inspired me to follow the path of the summoner. But Chappu's death was the catalyst that put it all into motion.

Over the last three months, I have been making the necessary preparations to begin my summoner's apprenticeship. I have kept it hidden from Lulu, Wakka, and Kimahri. I didn't want them to have to deal with the thought of my death so soon too.

But it has reached a point where I can't hide it any more. Besides, I want to ask all three of them to be my guardians during my pilgrimage, and I need to give them the time that they need to prepare as well.

I take in a deep breath. I can no longer focus on my studies of Yevon's teachings. The more I think, the more the desire and urgency to tell them wells up within me.

I stood to leave. I walked through the temple, looking at the villagers devotedly praying as I went. These were people whose faces I had seen for the majority of my life, people who were dear to me, who constantly prayed for much needed peace. Turning my gaze straight ahead, I continued forward.

Out now in the gentle sunlight, I make my way towards Lulu's hut. I can smell the lunch that she's cooking as I get closer. I stand right outside now and, breathing in slowly and exhaling, I steady myself and proceeded to enter.

I make sure that Lulu knows I have come in, so as not to startle her. Wouldn't want her zapping me with a thunder spell accidently.

"Oh. Hello Yuna. How was studying today? Anything new going on at the temple?"

I smiled and shook my head. "Oh no, nothing new. Studying was alright." Like the perceptive mother-figure that she was, she sensed my hesitancy and looked at me, raising one eyebrow.

"Yuna, is everything alright?" She could always tell if something bothersome was on my mind.

"Yes, everything's fine. I wanted to have lunch with you, Wakka, and Kimahri. I had some things that I wanted to discuss with all of you, if it's alright."

She got a look of premonition in her eyes, but it quickly went away, and she stayed calm and collected. "Well, I didn't really intend to feed Wakka and Kimahri with this soup. You know how much they eat." I smiled as she continued. She sighed and shook her head in playful exasperation. "But, I guess I can make it work."

"Thank you Lulu. I'll go let them know." I did the prayer of Yevon and went out, looking for Wakka and Kimahri.

We all sat on the floor around the table. Wakka and Lulu chatted lightheartedly, as Lulu gently sipped her soup and Wakka guzzled it. Kimahri sat silent, which was comfortable for him and for the rest of us as well. I just stared at the bowl of soup in front of me, trying not to get ahead of myself.

Once a lull in the meal was reached, and the inevitable moment of their anticipation at what I had to discuss with them arrived, I smiled hesitantly as my eyes slowly scanned the faces sitting at the table around me.

"Well, there is something important that I wanted to talk about with you all. I have done a lot of thinking over these last few months since…we got the news about Chappu…" My eyes flickered quickly over at Wakka and Lulu; both looked away in remembrance of that day's events, pain and bitterness in their expressions. I continued quickly.

"As much as I love Besaid and my life here, I love Spira and its people even more. Something inside of me cries out. Our world… is suffering. No matter how peaceful and content life seems, every one of us knows underneath that it's a façade; there is a terror looming over all of our lives, just waiting to bring chaos, destruction, and death."

The others must know where this is going. Dread fills their expressions, but they remain silent; allowing me to get all of my thoughts out and say everything that I need to.

"Fear…is our constant companion. Grief and devastation follow Sin wherever it goes. Whole families are being torn apart…none of us living have escaped without scars."

I close my eyes and bow my head. Even though I had planned for this moment and even though my friends already know what's coming next, it's still much harder than I had imagined to actually say the words.

I look up, resolve filling my being. "I can take away the people's suffering. I can make sure that every child of Spira can go to sleep at night without being afraid…"

"I have become an apprentice summoner."

Silence fills the room. They all look at me, then look away, and then back to me. Kimahri looks pained, but stays silent. Lulu covers her face with her hand as she looks down, hiding her expression. Wakka's brow furrows, and he lets a small growl of frustration out under his breath.

Lulu spoke first. "Yuna, please don't feel that you have to do this just because it's expected of you as High Summoner Braska's daughter."

I shook my head. "No. This is my decision. I know that this is the path that is before me. No other way makes sense."

Wakka hit his hand on the table, startling everyone. "Don't do this Yuna! There'll be other summoners. We can't lose you too!" I wanted to cry at his last statement.

"Yes, there may be other summoners, but we can't expect that of someone else. If I don't stand up, who's to say that anyone will? And then who will defeat Sin? What if my sacrifice rids Spira of Sin forever?"

He was angry, but after a moment he calmed slightly. "I guess you gotta point... I just wish you didn't, ya?"

Kimahri finally spoke. "Kimahri doesn't want Yuna to become summoner…but Kimahri will protect Yuna no matter what." I smiled appreciatively for Kimahri's unwavering loyalty. His statement led me to my next matter of business.

"So then, I wanted to ask all of you, if I am able to become a full-fledged summoner, if you would please do me the honor of being my guardians."

Lulu and Wakka had both been on pilgrimages before as guardians, but neither of their previous summoners had actually completed it.

Lulu contemplated something before she spoke. "Yuna, I really don't think that I can support this decision. I need time to think." My heart sank at her words. Wakka nodded in agreement. "It's jus' that, this is a lot to lay on us at once, y'know? We just need some time."

I nodded, respecting their wishes. Despite the not-so-favorable response, a part of me felt very warm inside. To know that they cared about me this much; it meant a lot to me, and I felt humbled to have such friends...no…to have such a family.

…..

The next week was pretty quiet. We all kept our distance from each other. There wasn't a spirit of anger in our silence however. I focused on my apprenticeship and my studies, praying every day that they would understand and come around to my thinking. I couldn't even imagine going on the pilgrimage without them.

After two weeks of praying, pleading from them to reconsider, and silence, Lulu and Wakka came up to me one day in unison.

Although they looked reluctant at first, they then looked at me, and Lulu spoke, saying, "Yuna. After thinking about it, and knowing you and how you don't change your mind on something you've decided, especially of this magnitude, we have chosen to commit to becoming your guardians." There was a fierce look of determination and loyalty in her eyes.

Wakka rubbed the back of his neck in the usual way he does before saying, "Even though we didn't wanna admit it, we knew from the beginning this is the path you'd choose. And there's no way we'd let ya go it alone, ya? What kinda friends would we be if we didn't protect ya and do everything we could to support your decision?"

Lulu nodded and walked up to me, wrapping her arms around me. "We'll be with you all the way. We'll make sure you get to Zanarkand."

I smiled. Tears were in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around Lulu as well. "Thank you both, for everything."

After a second, we let go and she stepped back. Lulu said, "We'll go tell Kimahri of our decision, so that the three of us can proceed to make the necessary preparations and begin our training."

She turned to walk away. Wakka patted my shoulder before also turning and followed behind Lulu. Before they had turned away, there was a look of deep sadness on both of their faces.

My heart ached for them and I felt slightly guilty. I was sorry that they would have to let me go, that I was causing them pain in choosing to die, but I knew that I was delivering them from Sin as well, and my sacrifice would greatly help these ones that I love so dearly.

So, that was it. My path was set. I would become a summoner, and with my friends beside me, protecting me as my guardians, we would bring peace to Spira.