Rinoa Heartilly
Rinoa is the passionate, somewhat spoiled heroine who changes Squall's life. The complete opposite of Squall, she's the kind of person who loves being around people and being loved back. She's an emotional girl who needs to have physical contact and lots of communication with her loved ones. Rinoa does not take no for an answer, and is very stubborn and persistent in her beliefs. She isn't afraid to make the first move and fight for her causes.
Her personality perfectly complements Squall's - its like they represent the scattered pieces of a puzzle, and when they come together, everything suddenly makes perfect sense. Rinoa boldly makes the first move to go up to Squall at the SeeD graduation dance, and it was a good thing she did because Squall would have just stayed by the wall by his lonesome self, ignoring everyone but the lady carrying the drinks. Well, they would have met anyway in Timber, but it was obvious they both fell in love with each other on that fateful night.
The Angel
Rinoa is constantly compared to angels in the game. Angels are the embodiment of goodness, purity, and selflessness - qualities which she symbolizes.
- Her duster has a painting of white wings on the back.
- Her dog is named Angelo, which means angel.
- Rinoa's ultimate weapon is called Angel Wing, in which wings come out of her back.
- Feathers are associated with wings, which closely relates to angels, and they were present several times with Rinoa or when Squall was thinking of her.
Family and Owls
Her mother, Julia Heartilly, was a famous singer/pianist whose first love went off to war and never came back. She was comforted by Fury Caraway, a general in the Galbadian army, and Rinoa was born. She lived in a life of luxury - loving parents, good education, and living the upper-class life in a mansion. When she was around 5, Julia dies in a car accident and to shut out the pain, her father threw himself into his career and ended up neglecting Rinoa, causing her to resent and rebel against him.
Thanks to her father, she knows much about the Galbadian government and grows a distinct hatred toward the government. She feels especially passionate for the liberation of Timber, who have been under Galbadian control ever since they were invaded 18 years earlier. She joins an active resistance faction called the Forest Owls, where the other members of the faction refer to her as Princess.
Zell: "So the father's a top military officer, and the daughter's a member of an anti-government faction!? That's bad... Really BAD!"
Of course, a small group like them can only accomplish so much, so they enlist the help of SeeD to help carry out their mission. This is how Rinoa meets Squall, and although the mission failed, they eventually win over each other.
Sorceress
When Rinoa becomes a sorceress after the battle with Sorceress Edea, she is frightened by what people will think, afraid they were going to reject and hate her.
Rinoa: "They'll all be angry at me."
Squall: "Angry?"
Rinoa: "I've... become a sorceress. I can't stay with you anymore, Squall. I don't want the future. I want the present to stand still. I just want to stay here with you..."
Squall: (Rinoa...)
Rinoa: "Nobody would want to be around me anymore... I'm... scared. I'm scared, Squall. I don't wanna go back."
But she has nothing to worry about because her friends still love her, and Squall - he'd go to the end of the world for her. He eventually vows to be her knight.
Rinoa: "If Ultimecia possesses me again... You saw me. She controlled me in outer space and made me break Adel's seal. What might happen next time? What will I end up doing? Will I end up fighting everyone?... Scary thought, isn't it?"
Squall: (Rinoa...... Even if you end up as the world's enemy... I'll... I'll be your knight.)