Author Note (6/11/2020)

Hello fellow Final Fantasy IV lovers! Have you ever wondered what happened in Rydia's life in between being "Child" Rydia and...Teenage Rydia? Adult Rydia? How old was she when you got her back at the Dwarf Castle anyway? I've always thought that'd make for a cool story, where she lives with the summoned creatures. Here's a fanfiction about what happened in between the time Rydia was knocked off the ship at Fabul and before she joins back up with Cecil and Company!

Thanks for checking it out, I hope you enjoy it...and please drop a review if you don't mind!

The Time In Between

Prologue

King Leviathan crushed the ship of land dwellers that he wrongly assumed were behind the recent dark actions and crystal gatherings. Little did he know that he ones that he thought were up to no good, were the very same humans that were fighting against the forces of evil. Later, he would right his wrong and join along side these heroes in a battle against invaders from the Moon who wished to take over the Blue Planet...But this isn't that story.

This is the story of the little girl that the King of Eidolons found after almost killing her and her friends when destroying the boat he thought was a danger to the world. Upon returning to the scene and realizing maybe he had over reacted, Leviathan saw a young girl, perhaps the age of five or six, washed up on the shore and unconscious. He sensed tremendous power in her, and wondered if she have it in her to be a great summoner. One of his subjects, a powerful dragon made of Mist, recently told him of a great summoner who gave her life trying to defend her town, and save her young daughter. This little girl, Leviathan thought, bore a spitting image of the description the dragon had shared with him.

So he took young Rydia, the young Caller with bright green hair and ocean blue eyes, and brought her to the town of summoned creatures, also known Feymarch, located in the Underworld hidden away from most humans.

Rydia awoke four days later in a small bed in a little hut building, surrounded by several smaller creatures that were either tending to her needs or simply watching her out of curiosity. The young girl jumped and yelped in fear as she awoke to seeing the faces of goblins, bombs, and pixies, which then caused many of them to jump in startled fear as well. Rydia soon realized these creatures meant her no harm, and she began to make friends with the monsters. Within moments of realizing she was in no danger in this place she had found herself, Rydia also learned that she could communicate with each monster as if they were a human. She knew this was because of her Summoner gift, that allowed her to connect with many monsters.

Word got out in Feymarch that the human girl had awoken after four long days of observation and concern, and soon she was brought before Queen Ashura and Lord Leviathan. They had many questions for her. Who was she? Who were those people she was traveling with? Were they threats? Was she held against her will? Rydia explained all about the journey she was on. She spoke about Cecil, who had been sent to destroy her town but then ended up saving her. She spoke about how the two of them ended up working with Edward, Yang, and Rosa, to defend Fabul and try to stop the evil Golbez from stealing the Crystal. She then told them about how they failed, and in the end Golbez took the Crystal and Rosa. Rydia expressed her desire to return to the upper world as soon as possible to aid her friends in their quest, and save Rosa who was in certain danger.

"I have the power to send you home right now." King Leviathan spoke, "But perhaps you ought to consider staying down here with us for some time and hone your abilities. That way, when you return to your friends you will not return to them a little girl who stands in the back row scared of enemies. You will return to them a powerful Sorceress and Summoner. That is a woman who could definitely turn the tide against this war against darkness that you and your friends seem to be involved in."

Lord Leviathan explained to Rydia that in Feymarch time progressed differently then in the outer world. Because of the mystic energy surrounding their civilization, he told Rydia that she could spend years living with them and growing in her power and when she returned to Cecil and the others it would be as if very little time had passed at all. Rydia considered this offer, and decided it was best for her to stay and train to become a powerful Sorceress and Summoner.

Every day for the next eleven years Rydia went through hell training her magic powers, and being guided by Queen Ashura who knew a great deal about magic. Rydia studied dilligantly, reading every single book in Feymarch and learning everything she could about her people, magic, and Eidolons. When she was fifteen, Rydia read a tale of ancient summoners who would go through the Summoner's Trial and should they complete all the tasks given to them, they would become a Grand Summoner and earn the respect of some of the greatest, most powerful creatures in all of Feymarch. Rydia knew instantly that this was what she needed to do if she was going to be the most help to Cecil and his quest.

She asked Queen Ashura if she could embark on the Summoner's trial and the Queen, impressed with the young caller's resolve, agreed. In the coming days Rydia would enter a mystical cavern, held sacred by the people of Feymarch, and encounter powerful Eidolons and risk her life to earn their power and respect.

This is the Tale In Between the time Rydia was shipwrecked, and when she joined back up with Cecil.