(A/N): I know who the real Rinoa is and her relations to Squall, just to clear that up. I'm just switching stuff up because I can, and my Rinoa is different. If they do introduce the original Rinoa, then I'll change stuff :3
"Brother! Brother!" The swarming Shadows grow closer to the sprinting duo, Squall's hand clamps firmly on his baby sister's while his other holds a wooden sword.
"Almost, Rin!" He hopes, never wishing for anything more. Rinoa tries to stop sobbing, the tears running down her face as fast as their pace. The others had to be at the gummi ship docks by now, and there isn't much time. Squall swears to himself that he'll get Rinoa there and stop the dark creatures crawling after them.
And getting closer.
"Eek!" Rinoa shrieks as her foot catches on a torn cobblestone, causing her hand to slip out of her brother's. Squall rips around to see the Shadows already surrounding her, surrounding them.
"Get off!" He growls, swinging his toy sword at every bug-like body between him and his baby sister. "Get OFF!"
"Squall!"
He can hardly make out the pale fingers grasping out for his as the creatures writhe around, more appearing for each one he knocks aside.
"Rin, hang on!" A Shadow scratches Squall with a deformed claw to the forehead, causing crimson to seep into his raging blue eyes. No, no!
Suddenly, a strong pair of arms grab Squall around the middle, forcefully pulling him away from the mass pile of Shadows.
"C'mon, kid!" Cid shouts, nearly losing his toothpick in the process of moving the resisting injured boy.
"Let me go-" Squall can still see Rinoa's hand, and her screams for her big brother to save her.
"She's gone!" Cid looks at the dark formation, one of too many he's witnessed in the few precious minutes since the Heartless invasion. "You hear me? Time to go!"
"SQUALL!" It's the last he hears as Cid drags him away and to the gummi ship with two other children.
And the last she sees is the gummi ship escape the darkness.
Then unconsciousness.
My name is Rinoa Leonhart, and I was six years old when the Heartless brought my world to darkness under Queen Maleficent's reign. Of course, this is what she tells me every day as she demonstrates her power by taking out a poor world. I have no choice but to nod and obey, because she is my Queen and I have known this since having tried to escape for the nine years of darkhell.
It has nearly been nine years, and with this empty husk of what had been Radiant Garden, I hate to believe it.
My brother and all the friends I had are gone, fled our dying home and left me to the Shadows. I used to wish that he'd come rescue me, but now only a part of me still does. I won't say I've given up, because if I do, Lady Maleficent wins.
I won't let the darkness take my heart.