Okay, once again, we get a glimpse of Rayne's better-than-average powers, and some (or a lot) of you may not like this. But, as always, I swear there is a good reason for this! If you want to know why, keep reading.

Final Fantasy X and PlayStation are owned by Square Enix and Sony, respectively, meaning they do not belong to me. I am in no way, shape, and/or form claiming to be the owner/creator of these concepts, though I do claim any characters not apart of the original Final Fantasy X storyline (such as Rayne and Marcus) mine. As such, I would appreciate fellow authors and readers to give credit where credit is due and not steal any of my characters and/or concepts. Thank you, and have a pleasant day.

(Powerful Emotions)

Later that night, the trio walked back on to the deck and looked up at the second story. The ice was still on the steps and Rayne hadn't come down to bed, leaving them to believe that she was still sulking at the top.

Jecht walked towards the steps tensely and called, "Hey, kid! You still up there?" His answer was an icy spike that shot out of the stairs and stopped just millimeters from his face. "Whoa!" He stumbled backwards and hit the rail, almost dropping into the ocean. When he had recovered, he looked to Braska and Auron, his eyes pleading for help. They just shook their heads and pointed to the upper deck, sending him the signal: 'You screwed up, you fix!'

He sighed and watched as the spike melted back into the ice sheet, desperately trying to figure out how he was going to get to the top. Then, an idea struck him. "Alright, kid, I'm coming up!" He stomped over to the stairs and, as he expected, another spike formed in the ice, only this time he stepped to the side and jumped on top of it, using it like a ladder. More spikes shot out and he continued on his way up, dodging and jumping on top of them.

When he reached the top, though, he found Rayne standing to meet him, her icy blue eyes narrowed and her hands raised. "Kid!" He tried to start, "I'm sor—" He was cut of, though, when another ice sheet rose from the old and slammed into him, sweeping him to the side and sending him careening to the aft of the boat.

Auron, who had just about had enough of this, took advantage of the ice-free steps and ran up, vaulting over the railing and coming up behind her. He grabbed her wrists from behind and crossed them over her chest, lowering his mouth to her ear and shouting, "Enough!"

Rayne started struggling and screaming, spells of all sorts going off around her and Auron and the air around her crackling. Jecht and Braska ran to the top, ducking as a Demi spell went off beside their heads. Braska looked at her with wide eyes, "She shouldn't be able to do that spell, yet!"

Jecht watched as she thrashed around in Auron's arms, her eyes wide and wild, and he shook his head slowly, "It's like she's 'Berserked', but worse."

"That's actually the most accurate description for it that there is."

The three looked at the stairs, where an elderly couple was now standing. Braska turned to them.

"What's wrong with her?"

The old man sighed and shook his head, watching Rayne with pity in his eyes, "She's been taken over by her magic. I've only seen it happen once, but I would recognize anywhere. I had feared this…"

Jecht's eyes narrowed at this and he took a step between Rayne and the couple, "Just who're you?"

The couple looked at each other and chuckled, the woman bowing slightly, "I am Kala and this is my husband, Harref. I am the one who gave her the staff."

Harref bowed, "And I am the one who gave her my magic."

Braska stiffened and stared at the two, "Then why have you not passed on?"

The old man sighed and looked back to Rayne, "Because, I feared that this would happen. She was mentally unstable when I passed my magic to her, but there really wouldn't have been a better time."

Kala nodded, "And so I gave her the staff in hopes that it would calm her instability, and it did… for a while. But now, the calming effect is wearing off."

Harref took over, "When people of high magical affinity, especially Mages, have a mental breakdown, their power flares. They then retreat to their minds, seeking sanctuary, and the magic takes over their body, ruling it using the simplest and most common of emotions."

"Anger, fear, sorrow, just to name a few." Kala added.

"Is there anything you can do?" Asked Braska.

Harref and Kala looked at each other, Harref then nodded hesitantly, "We can sate it… for now."

"But," Kala added quickly, "It would only be temporary, and she would more than likely suffer this again. Probably several times throughout her life."

"It all depends on her changing mental states. The more unstable she is, the greater the chances, and more frequent the attacks."

"She can learn, over time, to control this herself…"

"But, in the beginning, she would need help and support. People she can count on. Friends." Harref looked between the three men pointedly. "Can we count on you for this?"

The trio looked between each other, then to Rayne, who was still struggling in Auron's arms and haphazardly casting spells.

"Wait…" Jecht turned back to the couple, "What's making her so unstable, anyway? If you knew that she was unstable, then why did you give her such powerful magic? How do we know that we can trust you?"

Kala smiled sadly, "Ah, disbelieving youth. The thing that is making her so unstable, young man, is sorrow. That young lady has grown up in an illusion, and she is having a hard time accepting reality."

"And," Said Harref, "I gave her that magic because she needs it, and is going to need it. Besides, it needed to be returned to its rightful owner. As for trusting us… well… there really is nothing we can do about that. You can either risk it, or risk her staying like that." Another Demi spell was dodged. "Which will you chose?"

"And can we count on you to help her, if ever this happens again?"

The trio exchanged glances again, looked at Rayne again, then looked back at each other and nodded. Braska turned to the couple and bowed. "We will do our best. Please, help her."

The couple stepped forward and took Rayne from Auron, surprisingly able to restrain her. Kala took Auron's old position and held Rayne from behind, whispering into her ear in soothing tones while Harref grabbed her face in his hands.

"Shush now, child." Rayne's eyes locked with his and she scowled at him, growling. Harref just lifted one of his hands and rubbed her head, leaving the other to cup her cheek. "Child, you need to come out of this. You're hurting your friends. You're hurting yourself. You could take this whole ship down and kill everyone onboard. You don't want to be a killer."

The spells decreased in frequency.

"That's right, dearie. Calm down. It's alright. We're here. You're surrounded by people who care for you. You're not alone." Kala whispered.

Rayne stopped thrashing and the spells stopped completely.

"I promise, you're not alone."

She looked at the ground and started trembling.

"We're here with you; for you."

A tear slid down her face and, when it dropped to the ground, everything that was once frozen or burning changed back to normal, if slightly waterlogged or charred.

"We promise, you're not alone."

Rayne slumped and her face went blank. Kala and Harref let her go and stepped back, leaving Rayne to stand on her own. They then turned to Braska.

"It is done, Lord Summoner." Kala whispered, exhaustion evident on her face.

"Please," Harref spoke similarly, "Send us now."

Braska nodded solemnly, raising his staff and twirling it, the elderly couple breaking into pyreflies. They held each others hands, closed their eyes, and faded away, Rayne watching them go with a blank face. When it was over, she quietly walked passed Braska and down the stairs. The trio followed her, Auron grabbing her staff, and she walked across the deck, down the hull stairs, and into the boarding rooms, where she collapsed on her hammock and immediately fell asleep.

The trio followed not long afterwards.

Rayne was floating… in white… just floating… she heard voices around her…

"We were lucky, this time."

Who was it?… They sounded… familiar…

"If Kala and Harref hadn't been there, she would have killed them all."

She recognized the voices… but… she hadn't heard them in so long, it seemed…

"Having Harref give her those powers when she was still unstable was reckless."

Wait… were they… talking about her?…

"I know, but we had no choice. She had to get them then and there."

That voice… the boy in purple?…

"I agree. Any later would have been too late, and that wouldn't be acceptable."

Were they… the Fayth?…

"I'll say it again; we were lucky. What about next time?"

Yes… they had to be…

"Is all of this really worth it? Do we really have to risk this?"

Risk?… Risk what?…

"Yes. They all must wake, even her. No one may be left behind."

Bahamut?… What is he talking about?…

"He's right. Besides, it really is our fault it turned out like this."

Valefor…

"Hmm, I agree. They should have been kept under better watch."

Was that… Yojimbo?…

"How could you even ask that question? She is just as deserving as the rest!"

Ifrit…

"Yes, she is. And besides, she has someone waiting for her, on the other side."

The… priestess?…

"I never said she wasn't! It's just… she's been placed in a delicate position…"

The mariner…

"Yes. And if they can't handle another slip up like that…"

"It could permanently damage…"

"The future, and everything we've worked for!"

The women… those sisters…

"I believe that she can handle it. That they can handle it."

Seymour's aeon… Anima…

"Yes, I believe so as well. Which is why I risked this. I believe that she can do it."

Bahamut… what did you risk?…What does this have to do with me?…

"Don't worry, they can handle it. Besides, she does have him there to help."

Him?… Him who?…

"Sure, she has him! But they can't stop—"

No… Wait!… What's going on?… Wait… I don't… want to… wake… up…

But it was too late… she was already awake.

"I DON'T WANNA WAKE UP YET!!!"

"I… I'm sorry… Kid… but ya… gotta… now… please… let go… of my neck!"

Rayne's eyes snapped open to find a blue faced Jecht in front of her, his neck in her hands. She hastily let go of his neck and watched wide eyed as he stumbled backwards, sucking in air.

"Oh, jeez, Jecht! I am SO sorry!"

He waved her off, grinning and coughing. "It's alright, really. It's better than the punishment you gave me last night."

Rayne frowned, "Last night? What happened?"

He blinked, "You don't remember?"

She shook her head and frowned even more, "Alright, your vagueness is really making this sound bad. And I mean bad! What happened between us last night?!"

Jecht looked at her oddly, then burst out into laughter, "Oh, Yevon, kid! Not that! No, no, no! You got really mad at me yesterday and beat the hell out of me with a load of 'Blizzard' spells. That's it!"

Her eyes widened, "'That's it'?! Jecht! Why in the hell did I do that?! I could have killed you, and all you can say is 'that's it'?! Oh, God! I'm a monster!" She buried her head in her hands and rocked back and forth.

"Hey!" Rayne looked up when Jecht snapped at her, "Stop blaming yourself! I actually deserved what I got, so drop it and forget it! Now, let's go, we're almost in Besaid!" He grabbed her hand and drug her out of the hammock. "We'll be up top, but before you come up, you have got to see the engine room! It's hilarious! See ya when ya come up!" He then ran out of the room.

"That's great, Jecht, but where is the engine room?!" She groaned, strapped her staff to her back, threw on her coat, grabbed her box and walked out of the bunk room, walking around and looking for another door. Then, in a small dark corner, she saw a small door that had 'Engine Room' written on it. Shrugging, she walked inside and almost fainted at what she saw. "What the hell is this?!"

"It's chocobo power!"

Rayne turned and glared at the young woman who said it. "I would call it 'animal cruelty' before I called it that!" The woman chuckled.

"Oh, no! It's alright, really. The chocobos like it. There never was a chocobo who didn't like to run!"

Rayne frowned and looked at the chocobos running in the mouse wheel contraptions. "You sure?"

"Yep. We even left the side of the wheel open so they can get out if they want to."

When she noticed this, Rayne nodded, "If you say so…" She paused when she saw something small and purple in the back of the room. "Excuse me." She walked over and picked it up. 'Another primer!' "Hey!" When the woman turned to her, Rayne waved the primer. "Do you mind if I take this?"

"Hmm, never seen that before. Ah, it's probably nothing important. Go ahead and take it."

"Thanks." She opened it and found the same introduction as before at the top, but the translation was different.

B P

"Is it just me, or is this just Spiran with the letters mixed around?"

"Huh?"

Rayne looked up and found the woman staring at her strangely. She laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head, "Oh, nothing! Well, it's been a pleasure talking to you. Ta ta!"

Rayne ran out of the room and up onto the deck, stepping out into the sun and breathing in the salty air deeply. Suddenly, she had the oddest feeling that someone was looking at her… or rather… glaring at her. 'What's Auron ticked off about now?!' But it wasn't Auron.

Rayne turned to find a group of girls and women huddled close together, whispering to each other and glaring at her periodically. Snippets of the previous night came flooding back.

"…stalking the summoner's party…"

"…giving Sir Auron trouble…"

"…leave the summoner alone…"

"…tramp…"

"…whore…"

"…slut…"

She turned away from the group quickly, feeling all of the blood drain out of her face. 'Is all of Spira talking about this?' No longer eager to look for the trio, Rayne walked over to the port railing, away from the group. She was staring down into the water when she heard Jecht calling her.

"Kid! Over here!"

She looked up and saw Jecht waving at her from the fore, Braska and Auron standing with him.

"Come on, you're gonna miss it!"

Rayne stole a quick, and she hoped unnoticed, glance at the group of chatting women, all of whom were not silent and staring at her. She looked back at Jecht, who hadn't seen her look away, and dismally shook her head, turning away and back out to the ocean.

She was looking at a particularly interesting piece of kelp when she heard a pair of heavy boots walk up beside her and saw a shadow next to hers in the water.

"Let's go. Jecht will be upset if you don't join."

An arm reached out and wrapped around her waist, then drug her away from the railing and led her to the front. When they passed by the group of girls, the arm held her even tighter, and she looked down and saw a red sleeve.

"Auron, please. Don—"

"Do not allow that kind of scum to get under your skin, or I won't bother with helping you again. They don't deserve any pleasure from tormenting you. Had there not been any question about wanting you with us or not, we would have left you in Kilika."

He felt her muscles clench under his arm, and barely heard her breath a, "Thank you." He grunted, squeezed his arm slightly, and let her go when they had reached their destination; the prow of the vessel.

"Heeey." Jecht drawled with a grin. "You two were looking pretty cozy o—"

"Jecht!"

"Jecht, please…" Rayne sighed, "Not now."

Auron glanced at her, "Don't forget what I told you."

Jecht watched as she nodded, eyes cast downward, then loudly said, "Well, when you're done moping, let's watch the docking!"