Enter the Summoner
(It's around lunchtime as Wakka and Link enter the village. Wakka begins to show Link around and their stomachs start to growl.)
Wakka: Besaid Village.
Link: what's there to eat...?
Wakka: (points to his home) We'll get you something over there later. Take a look around first. Let's see... The Crusaders lodge is over yonder. Luzzu and Gatta are usually there. Oh, right. Over here!
Link: Huh? What's up?
Wakka: You do remember the prayer, right
Link: I don't know any prayers.
Link:(Narration) Of course I'd never prayed before in my life. Not that he would know that...
Wakka: You must have forgot or something. Here, I'll show you.
[He shows Link the prayer.]
Wakka: Go ahead, you try.
[Link repeats the prayer... kind of)
Wakka: Hey, not bad. Okay, now go present yourself to the temple summoner.
Link: Narration) That 'prayer'... Only those with relations to the Hylian Royal family would know it. It was a sign of connection, it was Zelda's Lulliby...
[Link walks to the temple which from the outside is very unassuming; the inside statues lined the room covered by a large domed ceiling. Link heads inside and sees people praying to the statues.]
Link: (Narration) It was then, standing in that place. I began to realize how different this world was from my own.
[Link walks over to a large statue of a man with a staff. Link stood there for a few minutes looking at the statue and a monk walks over to him.]
Monk: Ten years have passed since Lord Braska became high summoner. And finally we receive a statue for our temple."
Link: What's a high summoner?
[Gasps come from the people in the temple.]
Link: I...I got too close to Sin's, uh, toxin.
Link:(Narration) It was strange letting myself make the same excuse over and over. Funny, and a little sad.
Monk: The summoners are practitioners of a sacred art, sworn to protect the people of Yevon. Only a chosen few become summoners, who call forth entities of greater power: the aeons. The aeons hear our prayers and come down to us. They are the blessing of Yevon.
Link:(Narration) so... what he was saying was that we should respect some kinda great men or something like that...I figured.
[Link walks back to Wakka's house.]
Wakka: Sorry, man. No time for lunch yet. Take a nap! You look bushed.
Link: 'yawns' Guess you're right...
[Link lies down on a cot and begins to fall asleep; a few minutes later a monk walks into the house and speaks to Wakka.]
Monk: You could at least go see how they're doing.
Wakka: We can't interfere. It's a rule.
Monk: But, it's been nearly...
[The two walk out together and Link begins to dream, the monk's words cuing up some memory to play out. He's back in Hyrule Castle, and people have gathered in the Throne Room. This time it doesn't seem like a happy occasion.]
Soldier: It's been nearly a day already.
Zelda: Perhaps you could go look for us.
Soldier: People are searching for him now.
Zelda: Thank you.
[The soldier leaves.]
Young Link: Who cares whether he comes back or not?
Zelda: But he might die!
Young Link: Fine, let him!
Zelda: Do you... Do you hate him so? If he dies, you'll never be able to tell him how much you hate him.
[Link wakes up in Besaid. It's still day out.]
Link: Wakka?
[Link walks back to the temple and finds Wakka talking with a monk.]
Link: Wakka? Whats wrong? did something happen?
Wakka: The summoner hasn't returned from the trial.
Link: what?
Wakka: Well, apprentice summoner, really...
Link: Ok?
Wakka: There's a room in there called the Cloiser of Trials. Beyond is where the apprentice summoner prays. If the prayer is heard,the apprentice becomes a fully-fledged summoner, remember?
Link: So... let me get this straight... there is someone in there, all the way in the back; and they haven't returned?
Wakka: A day's already gone by.
Link: That normal or is it dangerous in there?
Wakka: Sometimes, yes.
Link: So, why don't you go in and lend a hand?
Wakka: There's already guardians in there. Besides, it's forbidden.
[Link runs up the steps to the Cloister.]
Link: So what if something goes wrong, and this summoner dies?
Monk: The precepts must be obeyed!
Link: I've not been big on 'precepts'. If someone's in trouble I gotta help.
[Link runs into the Cloister lickety-split.]
Link:(Narration) Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, after all. I mean seriously... I haven't been in a dungeon or Temple since...
Those who seek to learn of Yevon's secret arts are tested by the Cloister of Trials. Find the right way, and you will be taken to the Chamber of the Fayth.
[Link touches a glyph on the wall and opens up a new path, to a niche in the wall that has a sphere in it. Link removes the Glyph Sphere and walks back the way he came, coming to a door with a sphere-sized niche in it. He opens the door using the sphere and touches some glyphs on a wall and finds a Besaid Sphere.]
Link: What the hell is with all these damn spheres
(He comes to another wall and puts the Besaid sphere iin it making the wall dissipate which reveals a pedestal. He pushes the pedestal until it sinks into the ground. Wakka appears.]
Wakka: Hey! What's gotten into you? Hey, it's okay. Only summoners, apprentice summoners, and their guardians can enter here. It's a tradition. Very important.
Link: So what about you?
Wakka: Me? I'm a guardian.
Link: Guardian?
[The pedestal triggers an elevator to descend.]
Wakka: Summoners go on a pilgrimage to pray at every temple in Spira. Guardians protect them. The guardians in there now... One of them's got a short fuse, and who knows what the other is thinking. Well, now that we've come this far...might as we'll go all the way!
[The two walk into the room at the bottom of the elevator. The two guardians - a cat-person and a woman in black - are waiting around on some stairs. At the top of the stairs is a closed door to the room where the summoner is praying.]
Woman: What are you doing here? Didn't think we'd be able to handle it?
Wakka: No, it's uh...it's just...
[He elbows Link.]
Wakka: See, I told you she gets mad easily.
[The woman walks over.]
Link: Is the summoner all right?
Woman: Who are you?
[Just then, the door at the top of the stair opens. A woman steps out, stumbling. She almost falls down the stairs but the cat-person catches her, running faster than Link with ease.]
Woman: I have done it. I have become a summoner!
[The party walks back to the temple's entrance.]
Link:(Narrative) Man, was I surprised. And here I was, thinking summoners were all old geezers. She looks alot like her too...
[Link walks out of the Temple to join the rest of the people, Wakka sees him and calls him over.]
Wakka: Hey, over here!
[Wakka grabs him as he walks by and drags him closer.]
Link: What's up ... ow ow ow, not the ears!
Wakka: Wait till you see this!
Link: I can't see a thing!
Wakka: Ready!
New Summoner: Okay.
[She summons a gigantic bird-creature, which comes down to her. She pets its beak)
Link:(Narration) I had never seen anything like it. Yeah, it was scary, but it was gentle at the same time... But why does it remind me of home?
[The creature disappears back into the clouds.]
Link:(Narration) I remember... That night, we talked for the first time. I didn't know it then, but after that night, everything changed. For everyone... For me...
[come night-time, everyone had gathered celebrating. Link sees the Aurochs standing off to themselves near a bonfire and walks over.]
Wakka:(to Link) Let me introduce you to the team. This guy wants into the tournament so bad, I let him on the team. His memory's a little fuzzy, so don't mind him if he says anything odd! Come on, say hi.
Link: Right, so, um... hi guys. So, what's our goal?
Aurochs: To do our best!
Wakka: Nope, we got a new goal now! Our new goal...is victory! To win every match, to defeat every opposing team! To bring the Crystal Cup back to our island! That's all we need to do to win! Easy, ya?
Aurochs: Victory...? Victory! Victory! Victory!
[The team starts chanting 'victory!'. Link looks at the summoner and walks over to where she sits after awhile. She's surrounded by some elderly people and a child who don't seem very happy with him.]
Old Man: You heathen!
Old Woman: Stay away from the summoner!
Kid: You're a bad man!
[The summoner gets up.]
Old Man: Lady Yuna! Be careful!
Yuna: But it was really my fault to begin with.
[She walks to Link.]
Yuna: I'm Yuna. Thank you so much for your help earlier.
Link: I'm sorry about that. I wasn't really supposed to do that... I rush in at times without thinking...
Yuna: Oh, no. I was...overconfident.
Link: Um, I saw that aeon. That's amazing!
Yuna: Really? Do you think I can become high summoner?
[Link nods; the kid walks over.]
Kid: Lady Yuna, come play with me some more!
[The kid leaves.]
Yuna: So, tomorrow, then.
Link: Tomorrow?
Yuna: We're going on the same boat, aren't we?
Link: Really?
Yuna: We can talk more. You can tell me all about Hyrule!
[Yuna walks back; Wakka approaches.]
Wakka: She's cute, ya?
Link: Got that right
Wakka: Don't get no ideas.
Link:'smirks' I make no such promises. Besides, what if she, like, comes on to me?
Wakka: That's not going to happen. If you get tired, let me know. I had a bed made for you.
[Link goes to sleep later in the Crusaders Lodge and has a dream that he's on a pier near the beach. He sees Yuna there.]
Link: Where's that boat?
Yuna: Everyone will find us if it doesn't come soon.
Link: Is this really ok?
Yuna: Would you take me to Hyrule?
Rikku: Hey!
[Rikku appears.]
Rikku: You said you'd go with me!
Link: Rikku?!
Rikku: I thought Wakka told you not to get any ideas?
Yuna: He did?
Rikku: Yeah, so you're coming with me!
Jecht: Hey! Stop dreaming!
[Link sees Jecht on the shore.]
Jecht: You, with a woman? You couldn't even kill Ganondorf. Oh, what's the matter? Gonna cry again? Cry, cry. That's the only thing you're good for!
Link: I hate you!
Jecht: Huh? What'd you say?
Yuna: You have to speak louder.
Link: I HATE YOU!
Jecht: Eh?
Rikku: That's the spirit!
Yuna: You can do it!
[Link wakes up in the Lodge in a cold sweat.]
Link: I hate you!
[He hears a woman's voice outside the tented structure; he listens. It's the woman guardian arguing with Wakka.]
Woman: He's dead, okay? Dead! He does look a lot like Chappu. I was surprised, too, the first time I saw him. But no matter what he looks like, he isn't Chappu. You shouldn't have brought him here in the first place.
Wakka: Yeah, but...he needed our help!
Woman: Excuses again?
Wakka: Yeah, but...
Woman: That's it. No more. Enough, Wakka!
[She leaves and Wakka walks dejectedly back to the tent. He sees Link prying at the conversation.]
Link: Scary! So, who's Chappu?
Wakka: My little brother, Chappu. He looked like you. Well except for the pointy ears.
Link: He's dead?
Wakka: He was with the Crusaders when they fought Sin last year. He didn't make it. I first heard on the day of the tournament.
Link: I see... that explains it then.
Wakka: I became a guardian to fight Sin, ya?
Link: Revenge, then?
Wakka: That was the idea. I'm more worried about a stupid game now than avenging my brother. Well, after the next tournament, I'll be a guardian full-time. I know it kinda looks like I'm using you, but I'm not.
Link: It's nothing, besides I owe you. You really helped me out, you know? What I mean is...thanks, Wakka.
Wakka: Stop, you're embarrassing me!
[The next morning, Link walks out to the village square to find the woman guardian and Wakka there, the latter carrying a big blue sword.]
Wakka: Hey! Sleepyhead! Something I want to give you.
Link: Whats this, for me?
Wakka: Yeah, use it well!
[The woman speaks and is addressed as Lulu.]
Lulu: That's the sword you gave Chappu.
Wakka: Well, he never used it. Where's Yuna?
Link: If we're all taking the same boat, then why are we waiting here?
Wakka: Yuna came to this village ten years ago, when the last Calm started.
Link: Whats the Calm?
Wakka: Since then, she's been like a little sister to me and Lulu. But she had the talent... She became an apprentice. Now, today, she leaves as a summoner.
Lulu: This is our journey. We should leave together.
[Yuna comes down the temple steps, dragging a large suitcase.]
Lulu: You really don't need all that luggage.
Yuna: They're not really my things. They're gifts for the temples we're to visit.
Wakka: This isn't a vacation, Yuna.
Yuna: I guess...I guess you're right.
[She leaves the suitace on the steps to the Temple and joins everyone.]
Wakka: Okay! Off we go!
[The party leaves town and no sooner do they get out the gates, a canine monster attacks them.]
Wakka: Here comes one now... Hey, why don't ya try out that sword I gave you?
Link: It was nothing!
(Link slays it with ease)
Wakka: Not too shabby! You kept up with him pretty well. Might make a good guardian someday.
[A bird monster flies into the battle.]
Wakka: A flyer! My kind of customer!
[The party encounters a jelly-like monster soon after.]
Wakka: That...looks like trouble.
Link: A blob huh? lemme at him!
[Link does minor damage.]
Wakka: Told you. Only magic can beat that thing. If you can't beat 'em down, you gotta use magic of an element they dont like.
Link: What do you mean?
Wakka: Let's have our black mage show you what I mean. Lu! You're up!
Lulu: Clueless, aren't you? Good thing I'm here. Spells of ice work well against fire fiends... And ice fiends are
weak against fire magic.
Link: So, I understand fire and ice, but what about lightning and water?"
Lulu: Lighting and water are opposed, just like fire and ice. This one here is a water fiend, which means...
[Lulu uses Thunder and ends the battle. On the ridge above Besaid,the party stops and looks.]
Lulu: Take your time.
Link: ... lets get goin'.
Wakka: We're gonna wait.
[Yuna walks by.]
Wakka: Are you ready?
[Yuna nods and everyone starts to leave. They walk down the road only a ways before the cat-person guardian engages Link in battle.]
Link: The hell? When did the Gorons grow fur and get skinny!
Wakka: That's enough!
[Kimahri shakes his head and walks away.]
Link: What the hell was that all about?
Lulu: Kimarhi Ronso, of the Ronso tribe. He's learned the fiends' way of fighting.
Link: Not exactly what i meant.
Wakka: He's another of Yuna's guardians.
Yuna: Sometimes we don't understand him either. Kimahri doesn't talk much anyway. But he has protected me since I was a child!
(Suddenly a Huge Garuda swoops down on the group)
Link: A flyer...that's your department, right?
Wakka: True, true. But, uh... Why don't we let our summoner show us what's she's made of?
(Yuna runs foward in front of the group)
Wakka: Your first real battle! Let's see some style!
Lulu: Show us what your training has taught you, Yuna!
[Yuna summons Valefor and slays the ginormous bird, but another shows up in battle soon after.]
Wakka: Another one of those? No problem! Leave this one to me, ya? Say goodnight, birdie!
Link: (pulls out his bow, and sets a ice arrow)I think this will do the trick!
[Wakka blinds the bird with a skill and Link's ice arrow freezes and shatters the enemy. After the battle they head down to the beach and board the boat. Yuna says goodbye to the people as she boards the boat, and the boat starts to take off as she waves goodbye.]
Yuna: Goodbye.
(And so begins the voyage to Kilika Port. It will be a long journey so tune in next time to see what happens next.]