Dear Readers,

Today is a very special day for me. Today, February 7, 2007, marks exactly one year since I got my account on this website, and I just want to say a giant thank-you to everyone out there who helped me get this far.

You all have no idea how much it means to me to know that people actually read and enjoy my stories. Just Jill, thank you for reviewing every chapter, because that really feels good to know that someone cares about and likes the story enough to review. And all of you people who read and don't review, I love you too, because at least you're reading it. And if you keep reading it, I know that you enjoy it. At least, I hope so.

Oh, and a big thank you to Wends, who writes excellent Kingdom Hearts fanfiction and takes the time to sigh over the wonderfulness of Final Fantasy with me. Go read her story Behind Closed Doors. It's amazing! Thank you, Wends!

Well, I have soooo many ideas for where Celestial is heading, so I'll be around for a long time to come. Plushies of Zack to whoever bothered to read this whole thing, and as a gift to you, an important phone call that holds some key foreshadowing for the future. Introducing one of my minorly important OCs, and setting up for a major plot point! Enjoy!

Li

P.S. You'll never guess who she's on the phone with! But it is important! I promise! And I stole her name from a Final Fantasy past. Know which one?

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The helicopter's blades whirled insistently as the young woman climbed into the pilot's seat.

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you! Get a grip!" She may have been considered crazy for talking to her vehicle, but her and that helicopter had been through hell and high water together, so most who knew her excused her behavior.

This young woman was a mercenary, working for various employers all over the Planet. Any types of jobs were open to her; the only thing she wouldn't do was take on the Turks. It wasn't that she feared them or couldn't handle them, she just had a very personal reason not to.

She set her helicopter down just outside of Rocket Town, planning to stop and replenish her supplies, maybe grab a real bed at an inn for once. It was too late in the day to fly back to Wutai. She had a house there, but she only spent her time at it if she wasn't on the job. Tonight, she'd probably stay in Rocket Town. Her most recent job was complete, and she could relax before going to collect her reward.

Her phone rang suddenly, startling her with its' glaring loud music. Her ringtone always reminded her of battles, for some reason. She flipped the phone open, putting it to her ear with a sigh.

"Rydia Caramon, mercenary extraordinaire. No job is too…" She trailed off, beginning to smile as she heard the voice on the other end. "Hello, cousin. How are you?" She listened for a long moment, holding the phone away from her ear at the torrent of shouting pouring from the tiny speakers. "Whoa, you're kidding! No way! I thought he… Well, maybe not dead, but… At least, just gone…" Another torrent of shouting. "Gods bless it, just chill out! You have to put up with those assholes because they pay you. Do you want to turn down a job and go back to the way things were? I know you want to quit, more than anything, cousin dearest, but that's not the type of job where you just hand in a resignation."

This time the shouting was audible clearly with the phone held far away from her ear. "You think I don't know that?!?" the voice on the other end howled. "But this is just… It's too much!"

Rydia brushed her flaming hair from her face, putting the phone back to her ear. "Please, just a little longer. Just until we find a decent way for you to get out." She listened to his response, then smiled. "Okay. Yeah. Talk to you soon. Bye." She hung up the phone, a frown gracing her features. She worried for her cousin. He had a dangerous job, but it would be more dangerous to leave now. They had to wait for the right time, or everything would be for nothing. She turned to Rocket Town's borders, wondering how much longer they'd have to wait before everything fell apart.