Episode 1: Intro/the dream

Everything was dark except for the light the pryeflies were giving off as they swarmed around me. What did they want from me? I wondered as one of them brushed against my skin before the whole swarm started floating away. "Hey wait!" I exclaimed, chasing after them. They were fast little bugers I had to admit as I continued following them. I finally got close to catching one, but then everything went dark. I had woken up from a dream yet again with tears forming in my eyes. I sighed, wiping my eyes. Why did I always wake up from that dream and feel so empty afterwards? Was there something missing?

I got up and stretched before heading downstairs.

"Why ish mish Rikku up so early, yesh?" Barkeep questioned, tilting his head to one side as I sat down.

"Bad dream," I shrugged. Barkeep nodding, turning to start my breakfast that he makes me every morning. "Thanks Barkeep," I said, resting my head on the counter.

"Your up early."

I lifted my head to see a silver haired woman standing before me. "Paine!"

I jumped up and started running towards her full speed.

"OH DEAR YEVON!" Paine exclaimed, her red eyes becoming wide. She turned to run, but it was to late for I had leapt at her and now we were on the ground.

"I missed you!" I said, squeezing her.

"I missed you too...Now get off!" Paine said, pushing me off her.

"He-he sorry," I giggled as we got to our feet. "So how did the mission in Bevelle go?"

"It was tiring, but a success," Paine said, taking a seat. Baralai requested Paine's help with an outbreak in the underground. Why I wasn't invited I have no clue...maybe they wanted to be alone?

"Ah...anything happen between you two?" I questioned, nudging her. Paine's pale skin turned a bright pink.

"If anything had happened, which it didn't, it would be none of your business," she said, folding her arms. I just waved my hand in the strange gesture that I always seem to do when I don't believe something. "Hey Barkeep, can I get something to drink?"

Barkeep nodding pouring Paine a glass of water. "Oh I saw Gippal yesterday," Paine said before taking a sip. My heart pounded against my chest.

"A-and?" I stuttered. Paine eyed me suspiciously before replying.

"He wants to give you something."

"That's it?" I said, feeling disappointed. "Well it gives me a reason to visit him."

I hadn't seen Gippal since Tidus and Yunie were reunited which has been months. Well I had talked to him over a commsphere on some nights, but its not the same as face to face.

"Why would you need a reason to visit?" Paine asked. I felt the blood rushing to my face.

"Um...well he's a busy guy, you know?" I replied, scratching my cheek. Barkeep handed me my food and I started to chow down.

"Whatever...," Paine said, rolling her eyes. I stuck my tongue out at her before returning to my meal. I finished and sprung to my feet. "Done!" I announced, before sprinting to the elevator.

"Wait Rikku!..." I heard Paine exclaim, but it was to late...I had ran into someone. I was about to apologize, but I was speechless to the person before me.

"Gip-Gippal!" I gapped.

"In the flesh," he said with a smirk.

"How-?"

"Paine invited me on the ship...I was talking to Brother and Buddy," Gippal said, rubbing the back of his head. I shook my head before wrapping my arms around him. It took him a moment before he put his arms on me to.

"I missed you,"I said, burying my head in his chest.

"I missed you too," Gippal chuckled, running his hand through my blond hair. I pulled away and looked at him, smiling.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"Great...and you?" he asked, touching my face.

"Good if you don't count the strange dream I've been having," I said, gripping his hand. He tilted his head in thought.

"Recurring?" Gippal asked. I nodded. "What's it about?"

"I'd be surrounded by pryeflies and I would feel so secure, but then they float away and I go chasing after them, Right? And I always come so close to catching one, but before I do I always wake up and afterwards I feel like I lost something...or someone," I replied, shaking my head. "Its confusing!"

Gippal nodded, rubbing the back of his head in thought. "Do you think it means something?" I asked, closing in on his face.

"Maybe," Gippal said, taking a step back from me. I giggled at how red his face went. "Wanna find out?"

"Yes, but-,"I said, putting my fist on my heart. "Do you actually think there's something out there that can explain this."

Gippal shrugged. "We could try."

I nodded, grinning all the while. "Oh before I forget I have something for you," Gippal said, reaching into his bag and pulling out a sphere. I grasped in my hand and just stared at it. I hadn't been sphere hunting since Tidus came back. All I've been doing is helping my pops with some excavating in Bikanel and flying around with Brother and them(god they get annoying!). "Well are you gonna watch it or stare at it all day?" Gippal questioned, poking my forehead. I giggled, punching him affectionately.

"Have you watched it?" I questioned.

"Just watch it,"Gippal said softly. I stuck my tongue out at him and sat down and played the sphere back.

Moaning and shivering could be heard but all you saw was smoke and a blaze of fire. "C-Cid," a woman's voice came. The woman started to cough. "This may be silly, but I really hate you," the woman stated, chuckling softly. "That's a lie...I love you so much, you have no idea what you mean to me..."

There was more coughing. "...I'm sorry for not running away from the machina and leaving you all...but I couldn't let that machina hurt anyone else. I'm sorry. Tell Brother and Rikku I love them and I'll always be with them..."

Sniffling could be heard then the woman started humming a song that she used to sing to Rikku and Brother before putting them down to sleep. The sphere now showed the woman's face it wasn't to scared up just one crescent cut on each cheek and her face was a little black, but she was okay to look at. She stopped humming and smiled. "Take care of them...goodnight..." the woman's eyes closed and the sphere went black.

I had tears in my eyes. "Sudran...," I whispered, dropping the sphere. I held my knees against my chest closely.

"Rikku...," Gippal whispered softly, putting a comforting arm around me. "Ajanodrehkc kuehk du pa ugyo...bmayca,tuh'd lno ."

I drew in a quivering breath before falling into Gippal's lap. I don't know how long I cried or how long Gippal sat trying to comfort me, petting my hair and whispering comforting words, but eventually I stopped and decided I needed to get dressed and go to the Farplane which I thought I'd never visit to see someone I held dear. Not in a million years. This is the start of my story...I am going to find answers no matter what it takes.

a/n what do you think? I hope the ending wasn't to lame...give me suggestions so I can edit it and make it better! I always wanted to start a story like this, but I couldn't come up with any ideas. R&R please. Oh and if you didn't know Sudran means "mother" and the line Gippal says at the end in al'bhed means Everything's going to be okay...please, don't cry.