Once upon a time, there was a silly little 13-year-old girl who stumbled into a huge forum about FF7. She liked it well enough, and joined. She noticed others around her who were destined for greatness, fanfiction and beyond. She went to look up their pen names and happily chewed, swallowed and digested their stories.

She looked up a certain person, read a story, and bawled little-baby tears. Then she reviewed, unconscious of her brain riding into trigger-happy overdrive.

Sound familiar?

I lovelovelovelove that ending. And the beginning. And every-friggin'-thing in the middle.

Thanks so veryveryvery much.

MR from the GA

"When I go for a drive, I like to pull off to the side of the road, and run and jump into the ocean in my clothes. I'm smaller than a poppy seed inside a great big bowl, and the ocean is a giant that can swallow me whole... So I swim for all salvation, and I swim to save my soul, but my soul is just a whisper trapped inside a tornado -- So I flip to my back, and I float and I sing, 'I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything -- I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything.'"

Those are lyrics from a song by Kimya Dawson. This story really reminds me of them. Now that I think about it, the song fits your Rikku pretty well, too. It's called "I Like Giants." Look it up if you can, heh.

I love your use of repetition. Most people seem to use repetition when they write Rikku, but it wasn't obnoxious the way you did it.

And I love your characterization of her. Everything, from the "I don't do 'in love'" to the films to sewing up all the little tears. She's more than just the loud and the energy, but she's not secretly depressed, either. She's *Rikku*.

Congrats. You did an amazing job.

Wow, you're such a good angst-ish writer. I mean, this is really sad, but in such a way that I wouldn't call it angst, just really really sad. You're a really good writer. And thank you for the recommendations for stories. I'll make sure to read at least some of them. Actually it was Nagia's story "Burnt Offerings" that made me seek out your story and I thank you again for your help!

That was sweet, La. Having Rikku refuse to say she was 'in love' was brilliant, and it worked out even better when she admitted that she loves him, rather than loved him.

Very descriptive, awesome imagery, and a touch of affection.

~Koky

It amazes me that I'm only the 6th person to review your story. Can't say I'm a veteran of Fanfiction, but I have been reading and writing fanfics for six years. Especially reading. Of all the Aurikku stories out there, I felt yours was perfect. I won't say the best, since there are other very good Aurikku fanfics. While you are among them, what makes it perfect goes beyond writing style or good characterization. Sorry that I just can't explain exactly why. I'm not sure myself.

The point of view of Rikku dealing with her loss while trying to stay positive is, as far as I know, original. I have seen other stories where she is shown to be more emotional, but in those usually, not more than four years have passed, unlike in Parallels. I find it very touching.

Even though she talks about various subjects, everything ties up in the end. At no point of the story I thought it was getting long for nothing.

The only flaw I can think of is that the story is too short. I would love to read more in the same style, bitter and sweet all at once. Good luck with future writings.

Wow, you actually made me cry. And in public too :-P
This story can be described completely as "bittersweet". Your Rikku voice is fantastic, a little more serious than most Rikkus but it works for an older one. I love her admission at the end. I love the little quirks in her personality that you did, the running, the blowing rasberries. Really a fantastic story.

That was beautiful. There really aren't any other words to describe it ... you nailed Rikku's character perfectly.

I love that you put in the bits about her being selfish (when Tidus came back) and KNOWING she's selfish, but just accepting it and moving on. That is so Rikku. Some people, when writing her, forget that. But it's what makes her RIKKU. She has flaws, but she just accepts that she's flawed and doesn't beat herself up about it. It's one of the reasons she's one of my favorite FF girls EVER.

I think that next time I play FFX and X-2, I will be thinking of this fic, because it just seems so perfect and EXACTLY how things might really have been.

Oh, and your line at the end, about him walking away, and her walking a parallel path to him ... gah, that is the most gorgeous thing I've ever read. You did AWESOME with this, and I really hope to see more FFX and Aurikku-related stuff from you in the future.

oh my god. i have tears, you. many tears. that was just beautiful. a perfect rikku and a perfect rikku story. (:

I absolutely love love love love love this, especially how Rikku was completely *in* character...
one of the best aurikkus I've read in a while XD

That was brilliant! I've always loved Rikku and I've always loved Auron, and even though I never really thought of them as being together while I played the game, I toyed with the thought once I finished.

I like how in this Rikku isn't bitter that Yuna and Tidus can be together and stop the adventuring, though you mention that the thought passed through her mind. This seemed more Rikku-esque to me than most of the fanfictions I've read where she's upset because she wants the Gullwings to get back together, or she ventures to the Farplane to see Auron, etc...

It was quite good!

-MT