Author's Note
All the characters in this story are of Squaresoft's Final Fantasy VII, VIII, X, and X-2
except for Rane Lockhart, Rynn Lockhart and Lynx Almasy. This story is purely fictional; some
terms or storyline may relate to the Final Fantasy games, but most have been altered to match
the course of the story.
This story is dedicated to my beloved sisters, without whom this story would not have
reached its completion in such a short time. Thank you for your support and encouragement, and
for being my two most avid fans. And to my readers out there, a very heartfelt thank you for
spending the time reading this.
God bless you all.
- (c) Youna
Prologue.
"I still don't see the point of your going away and looking for trouble," Rane Lockhart said heatedly,
turning her back towards Tidus.
"So you think it's better to sit tight and wait for the disasters to show up at our doorstep?" There
was an unmistakable hint of smile in his voice.
Rane spun around and glared at her boyfriend. In the whole year that she had been with him
through thick and thin, she would never understand his ability to take everything so lightheartedly.
Even in the midst of such a serious conversation, he had the nerve to smile and joke about this. "I
don't see what's so amusing about this, Tidus," she snapped, leaping to her feet and angrily
striding away from the couch.
Tidus jumped up from the couch and hurried after her. "Come on, Rane. Okay, I'm sorry, there's
nothing funny about this. But I don't want you to worry about me going away." He pulled her arm
and gently turned her around to face him. "You know I'll be back." He snapped his fingers and
smiled. "In a flash."
Rane exhaled in exasperation. "How can I not worry about you? You're going after Shuyin – and
we all know what he is capable of with that terrifying machine! And, for some reason, you don't
want anyone else to go with you." She pulled away from him and walked out into the balcony,
staring out helplessly into the velvety night sky dotted with brilliant stars. She hadn't meant to
burst out like that, but she couldn't help feeling upset.
Tidus came up behind her, and when he spoke again, Rane thought he had never sounded so
serious. He held her hand. "I won't be gone for long, Rane. I just want to know the truth – at least,
I want to know what Shuyin has to say. And I want to destroy Vanegan."
Rane looked away, feeling the tears flooding her eyes. "Why can't you just ignore his demand?
How do you know if he didn't ask you to go there to kill you and set Vanegan to destroy Spira?
Why else would he want you to go by yourself, and not with us?"
"I don't know, Rane. Rynn's team wouldn't know either – they've come so far to seek and destroy
Vanegan, yet they haven't had one successful event. That's why I'm going to find out," Tidus said
gently.
Rane shook her head angrily. "Our mission is to stop Sephiroth from attempting to destroy the
Planet again, Tidus. Shuyin and Vanegan are not in our hands – Rynn's team is taking care of
that. So why can't you just drop it?"
"Because they won't get anywhere else without my help, Rane. This is everyone's only hope to
end Shuyin's threats on Spira, and destroy Vanegan." Tidus squeezed her hand. "I know what
you're feeling now, Rane, but we don't have any other choice. If I don't go, Shuyin's going to
destroy Spira."
Rane turned away abruptly, a lump rising in her throat as a tear rolled softly down her cheeks. For
a moment, she was too choked to argue anything further. She knew Tidus was right; and she was
only being selfish, wanting to hold on tight to him. She was so afraid of losing him; her heart felt
so heavy.
Tidus moved closer to her, letting go of her hand and slipping an arm around her waist. "I love
you, Rane, and it hurts me to leave you for even one second." He hugged her and pressed his
lips to her hair. "But don't you see? I have to go."
Rane closed her eyes, and the sentence seemed to echo in her ears over and over, until she
couldn't stand it anymore, and she fled from the room, from him, and that was the last time she
ever saw him …