Dee_Moyza, 2021-09-11 [original]

This is an absolutely charming fic! Thank you so much for writing it for me! 💕💕💕

First off, I adore your characterization! It is so spot-on, I could practically hear these lines in each character's voice. It feels like a scene cut from the final product, like something we should've gotten as a DLC in later versions (and now I'll forever wish we'd gotten to see Kimahri try to explain why he'd been covered in butterflies ten years before!).

And speaking of that, that is such an adorable mental image! The thought of these butterflies deciding to rest on Kimahri and providing a moment of levity for both him and Yuna during such a somber time is incredibly sweet.

I loved the conversation about both Yuna and Tidus as children, and how eager Tidus was to hear more about her. Lulu and Auron delivered some great lines, and really balanced the youthful exuberance of Tidus and Yuna. This group really does feel like a family in this fic, and you can tell how close they've grown to one another over the course of the pilgrimage.

The atmosphere in the group had changed during that conversation, Kimahri reflected as they walked on: there was none of the tense feeling that had beset them all when they entered the forest. Yuna had that effect on people, that ability to lift the spirits. It was why she made such an excellent summoner, and why everyone wished she could have chosen some other profession.

I love this paragraph. It so eloquently captures what makes Yuna so special, and why she is so beloved by others.

Oh, and that conversation between Auron and Kimahri at the end! Perfection!!! I love Auron's frankness (especially about Tidus; that line about him being intolerable made me laugh out loud) and Kimahri's intuition of when to remain silent and let Auron divulge details if and when he pleases. I also really enjoyed the bit of Auron and Braska's backstory you wove in here; it's interesting to think of them as having started out relative strangers and forging their bond along the pilgrimage route, as the in-game party did.

And Braska being mischievous? I can totally see that! As Auron mentioned here and the game hinted at, Braska was not concerned with upholding the traditional aspects of Yevon and the pilgrimage, and I love how this will eventually play out in Yuna's own decisions later on. And I especially like how he understands that Yuna undertook the pilgrimage of her own free will, and that Kimahri, Lulu, and Wakka raised her to the best of their abilities.

And I'm definitely with Kimahri at the end--we need more stories about Braska, especially from someone who knew him so well!

This is such a lovely, lovely fic. It features several of my favorite relationships in the game--Yuna & Kimahri and Auron & Kimahri, in particular--and you portray them in such a gentle, understanding way that not only allows their personalities to shine through, but also highlights the bonds they've formed with the others via memory and shared experience. I'm a total sucker for found family vibes and backstories, and you delivered both in spades! Thank you so much for writing this for me! 💕💕💕 It has already become a part of my headcanons for this game and these characters, and I will never tire of imagining young Kimahri covered in butterflies! 🦋🦋🦋

wingsyouburn, 2021-09-11 [original]

This is heartwarming and sweet, yet strikes the right melancholy note that FFX is so good at it. All of the characters sounds so good here - you've captured their voices so well! Of course Yuna was mischievous but not bad; Tidus was probably a hellion, lol! Thank you for writing this ♥

chacusha, 2021-09-19 [original]

Love seeing missing scenes featuring the party bonding, and also Kimahri-centric stuff (he's so underused!). Little heartwarming moments on these long journeys, both in the present and in the past.

Yuna had that effect on people, that ability to lift the spirits. It was why she made such an excellent summoner, and why everyone wished she could have chosen some other profession.
Oof my heart! I love Kimahri having these sort of quiet insights.

minkhollow, 2022-01-23 [original]

I love how much is going on in Kimahri's head, even though he only says maybe 10 percent of it.