rikku

In Final Fantasy X, Rikku has a variety of claw-like weapons, her ultimate equipment being the "Godhand". Her shields are called targes. In Final Fantasy X-2, Rikku uses daggers while in her default Thief dressphere. In Final Fantasy X, Rikku is the only character with the default abilities to steal and to make use of a subset of items: some offensive (e.g. "smoke grenades" or "water gems") and some healing or defensive (e.g. "Al Bhed potions" and "light curtains"). This, together with her Overdrive ability to mix any two items for greater effect, makes her one of the more versatile characters in the party. Along with Tidus, Rikku is one of the two characters who can order the airship Fahrenheit to move in or pull back during battles that take place on its deck.

Biography

Final Fantasy X

Fifteen years old in Final Fantasy X, Rikku is the daughter of Cid, sister of Brother, and cousin of Yuna. Her mother never appears in the game, however, as she was killed by a rampaging machina sometime after Rikku's birth.^[1][2] As she herself wanted more siblings—which was made impossible because of her mother's death—she plans to have lots of children when she marries so that her children will never have to feel alone.^[3] Rikku also suffered from severe astraphobia as a result of her brother accidentally hitting her with a thunder spell when they were younger while trying to target a fiend that was attacking Rikku. This fear becomes apparent when Rikku becomes apprehensive about traveling onto the Thunder Plains and remains stricken with panic-induced agitation during the journey across those lands.

Rikku first appears in Final Fantasy X as an aid to Tidus shortly after he first arrives in the vicinity of Spira's mainland. Their meeting takes place at an ancient Yevon temple known as "Baaj Temple." After helping Tidus defeat a fiend, she prevents her brother and their Al Bhed comrades—who thought he too was a fiend—from killing him. Later, while Yuna and her guardians are crossing the Moonflow along the path of Yuna's pilgrimage, Rikku was part of an Al Bhed team who tried to abduct Yuna in a machina, so as to prevent her from completing her pilgrimage—which would cost Yuna her life—only to be stopped by Tidus and Wakka. After explaining herself to Yuna and Lulu, and gaining Auron's approval, Rikku became the last member to join Yuna's entourage of guardians, though Wakka—who was deeply prejudiced toward the Al Bhed at that time—was clueless that Rikku was an Al Bhed until her brother tried to abduct Yuna once again, this time near Macalania Temple.

Her personality is perky and optimistic, but as an Al Bhed, she has suffered discrimination from the Yevonite majority. Despite this, she managed to keep a positive outlook and wanted to save Yuna from vainly giving her life with the Final Summoning. Rikku also has something of a sibling-like friendship with Tidus, supported by their similar personalities and their deep devotion to Yuna. She actively encouraged the relationship between Tidus and Yuna, despite occasionally having flirted with Tidus.

Final Fantasy X-2

Two years later, in Final Fantasy X-2, Rikku, is 17 years old and a member of the Gullwings, led by Brother. The only character from Final Fantasy X other than Yuna to be playable in Final Fantasy X-2, Rikku is steadfastly loyal to Yuna, giving her support when she discusses her feelings concerning the loss of Tidus, and her hopes to find him once more. In the two years that passed between the two games, Rikku managed to overcome her astraphobia by camping out on the Thunder Plains for a week.^[4]

Notably, during the Mi'ihen Highroad investigation sidequest, if clues are arranged in a specific manner, it's revealed that Rikku unintentionally caused a machina malfunction on the Mi'ihen Highroad while trying to help catch a chocobo for her team's young friend, Calli. Though the incident was an accident, Rikku is assigned clean-up service to make up for it.

In Final Fantasy X-2 International+Last Mission, Yuna, Rikku and Paine reunited after being disbanded three months after the game ended. While exploring the Yadonoki Tower, it was later found out that Rikku spends her time searching for sunken machina on the ocean floor. She shows a bit of annoyance to Yuna and Paine, but it was because she felt she was cut off from them, and reluctant to consider that they may have lost their friendship in the times (Yuna living with Tidus, Lulu and Wakka in Besaid and Paine travelling independently). After realizing that they all share that sentiment, all three girls promised each other that they will write and keep in touch, ensuring that their friendship will never go away.

It is implied by Gippal that that he and Rikku were once romantically involved. Judging by Rikku's response, however, it is possible that Gippal was joking around (though Rikku gets all defensive over the whole matter). ^[5]

Other appearances

Rikku appears in Kingdom Hearts II along with her companions from the game, Yuna and Paine. The three appear as chibi fairy versions of themselves and wear modifed versions of their Final Fantasy X-2 attire. Much like her FFX2-self, Rikku is a bit ditzy and good-natured as well as a treasure fanatic like her teammates. The trio appear in Hollow Bastion to spy on Leon and company for Maleficent who offered them all treasure they could want. Rikku almost told Sora who they worked for on their first encounter. However, they eventually aid in the defense of Hollow Bastion, after Maleficent abandoned them and then being lied to by Donald that Leon would pay the trio for their help. Rikku and others did forgive Sora and gang for the deception by giving Sora the keychain of the Gullwing Keyblade.

Itadaki Street features a chibi Rikku in her X-2 outfit, along with Yuna and Paine.

Trivia

• Rikku was originally meant to appear in Kingdom Hearts as a Final Fantasy cameo. However, because of her main character status in Final Fantasy X-2 and because the game already features another character with a similar sounding name, the role intended for Rikku was revised and given to Yuffie Kisaragi from Final Fantasy VII. However, Rikku does appear in Kingdom Hearts II as a minor character and her name is spoken, but only in text and in a whispered converstion between the three girls that is hard to hear and doesn't have text along with it.

• Rikku was G4's 2005 Viewers Choice Video Game Vixen.[1]

• Despite the fact she spends the majority of FFX-2 wearing a bikini as part of her attire, in the one story-sequence in the game that requires the character to wear a swimsuit she dons a different (and considerably more conservative) one-piece suit. Why she does this is never explained.

References

External links

• Upbeat Soul - a Rikku shrine