Chapter 3
Yuna awoke the next day in tears. Her dream gad seemed so real. Part of her wanted to fall asleep so she could dream of Tidus once more, but she could not bear him leaving again.
As she dressed, she thought more about her dream.
"Could it mean something?" She thought. "Or is my mind just making me crazy…"
She stepped outside and glanced to see some children playing near the temple. She sighed; she had avoided entering the temple since she had returned to Besaid; it held to many memories. That was where she met him…
"Yunie!"
She turned to see Rikku running towards her from the village entrance.
"Yunie!" Rikku called again.
Finally reaching her cousin, she stopped abruptly and while holding her knees gasped for breathe.
"Are you alright, Rikku?" Yuna asked.
"Of course!" Rikku replied. "I just heard from Brother. He says there's trouble in Bevelle. Now that Sin is gone and everyone knows the truth about Yevon, the people want answers. They want the High Summoner, they want you, Yunie."
Yuna looked at Rikku with a sad but unsurprised expression at the sound of the news.
"I knew this day would come…" she sighed.
The Al Bhed girl looked at her cousin sympathetically.
"Aw, come on Yunie, it's not that bad. Besides, I think it would do you some good to get off this island. This is your chance!" Yuna smiled slightly, and she continued, "And of course there are still fiends running around, so I'll be there to protect you."
"Alright, I'll go," the High Summoner said.
"Great! We leave tomorrow!"
That night as Yuna prepared for her trip to Bevelle, she thought about what she would say to the people. They were afraid and confused; they needed guidance, but where do we go from here? Something was telling her that this wouldn't be easy. She would have to make this journey without Tidus; it was possible she knew, but who would be there to tell her to laugh when times got tough.
The next day everyone gathered at the beach to wish Yuna and Rikku goodbye. Wakka and Lulu both hugged the girls.
"Yuna," Lulu began as she pulled the girl aside, "I know this isn't easy "
"It's alright Lulu. I need to do this." Yuna interrupted.
"I know, but…I want you to be careful. People are easily convinced when they have nothing to lose. Remember that." The black mage continued.
Yuna agreed, but she was a little unsure of what her guardian had meant.
As they boarded the airship, Rikku jumped up and down while waving. Yuna simply looked back as she left tiny Besaid behind once more.
"Yunie, you've met Brother before; this is Buddy, he's our navigator, and this is Shinra, the kid genius," Rikku said then proceeded to put Shinra in a chokehold.
"It's nice to meet you," Yuna said extending her hand toward Buddy. She giggled and blushed as Brother pushed ahead and kissed her hand.
"Brother is becoming bilingual!" Rikku said excitedly.
"Hello, Yuna" he said with a heavy accent.
When they arrived in Bevelle, Yuna looked around to see people everywhere in a state of confusion. At the first sight of her, people began yelling, "Lady Yuna!" Brother, Buddy, and Rikku had to guard her to keep the people away.
As they entered the Maester's Hall, they noticed that this once private place was now full of people, too. This place brought her unhappy memories of Seymour. It was because of him that all of the maesters were gone now.
"Lady Summoner," said Machen who was approaching them, "Will you be prepared to speak tonight? We've arranged a banquet for afterwards."
"Yes," she replied, "I'll be ready."
That night Yuna and Rikku were getting ready in their room (which was far away from the crowds of people).
"Here Yunie, you should wear this dress, you wanna impress the people, right?"
"Where did you get that Rikku, it's beautiful!"
"Oh, it was your mom's. When she died, your dad had already left on his pilgrimage, so it was given to my Pops for safekeeping. I just found out about it, but I think you should have it."
"Thank you, Rikku," Yuna said as she hugged her cousin. She thought about her mother and wished she were still alive. She hadn't known her for long before she died, but she had heard that she was a strong woman. People often told her that she was a lot like her mother, but somehow she couldn't see it.
The dress was blue with a low triangle neckline, which showed off the necklace her father had given her before her left. The bottom covered her feet as it flowed to the ground. The back was very low cut, and there were no sleeves. She wore long black gloves and put her hair up. It was a nice change from her usual summoning kimono.
"You look all prettyful, Yunie!"
As she approached the great hall her stomach grew butterflies. Normally, speaking would not bother her, but this was so important. As she walked by, the people stared as if she were some sort of princess. Finally, she reached the pedestal.
"People of Spira," she began, "Sin is dead, he is never coming back. Much of what we believed of Yevon is dead, too. So the question is: where do we go from here? Spira needs leadership; the maesters are gone. We need someone to replace them. We cannot operate without guidance. I am no politician, but I think we need a group of leaders who are willing to sacrifice their time to set Spira in order. And since I am no politician, I will leave that for others who are more qualified than myself to decide…"
