The chicken or the egg? One argument is that she has Griever. Griever is born from Squall's ring, proponents of the R=U theory claim, just as Doomtrain was found in the Solomon ring. Since Rinoa was in possession of Squall's ring at the end of the game, she still had it later on, after becoming Ultimecia, and obtained the legendary beast from it. This is really quite sketchy overall; if the ring contained the actual GF, wouldn't Squall have been aware of it? He has great respect for the lion and wants to be just like him. It's far more likely that the ring is simply made in Griever's likeness, and Squall believes Griever to be the strongest GF, so he wears the ring (and necklace) in honor of him. Also, note that the Solomon ring is just that - the Solomon ring. It's not the Doomtrain ring, nor does it have Doomtrain's likeness on it. Why would Griever's ring be so painfully obvious when another GF's isn't? Other theories include Rinoa/Ultimecia naming the GF after Squall's ring, or that Squall himself became the GF. Both of these are easily disproven by the scan data on Griever during the final battle. It states, "In Squall's mind, the strongest GF." Clearly, Griever was in existence before the start of the game, and so could not have been created or named by Ultimecia in the future. Also, as a side note, Squall becoming a GF? Come on, this is FFVIII, not FFX. The same origins of summoned beasts do not apply.
Location, location Another typical point is that Ultimecia's castle appears in close proximity to the flower field where Squall and Rinoa made their promise. The devil lies in the details of this one. The castle is not directly over the flower field, it is only *nearby*. It's also near the Orphanage. Perhaps Ultimecia wanted to be close to Edea's home, or where all the SeeD who are now out to kill her grew up. If the castle was specifically placed in or over the flower field, or was anchored there, I could give this idea a little more credit, but as is, it proves nothing.
Wind beneath my wings Yet one more popular argument concerns their wings. Rinoa and Ultimecia both have feathered wings, Rinoa's in white and Ultimecia's in black, and some seem to think this implies that they are good and evil versions of the same person. This argument is problematic to me in that its basis is not the intuitive solution. In many stories, the main "good" guy is especially developed by the inclusion of a contrast character. Such a foil is close enough to the main person that their differences are especially noticeable and accentuated. To me, this seems like the situation with Rinoa and Ultimecia. The stark color difference but same type wings is not meant to imply that Ultimecia is the evil future Rinoa, but rather that they are the perfect embodiments of good and evil power. Both are immensely gifted, but are at the core utter antitheses. Of course, if one does not want to believe that theory, then I can discount the wing proof through simple structure - Rinoa's wings are rounded at the top and flourish downward, like a stereotyped angel's wings, while Ultimecia's have no bend and stand straight out, pointed horizontally. If the intention was really to show a connection between them, why not make their wings identical except in color? The different structures show that a connecting factor is not what was intended by giving them both feathered wings.
Such a pretty me! In addition to these plot and concept-based proofs, which have fallen entirely flat, I've also seen images presented as proof. People overlay an image of Rinoa with one of Ultimecia. The two pictures involved are these:
I find it particularly interesting that the picture of Rinoa selected is an odd one, where she is just waking up from being in a trance, induced by Edea, who was possessed by Ultimecia. Given all of that, I don't find it to be the most representative picture of Rinoa. Also, even using this picture for comparison, the differences are quite noticeable. Rinoa's eyes have more of a downward slant at the outer edges, whereas Ultimecia's go higher. Also, Rinoa has more of a button nose, but Ultimecia's is a bit thinner and less of an upturn at the tip. In addition, though hair colors and styles are changeable, the shape of a person's hairline typically remains the same, and their's are markedly different. Ultimecia has an exaggeratedly pronounced widow's peak, while Rinoa has a much straighter and rounder hairline. As further proof, I have selected here a picture I think is more representative of casual Rinoa, and placed it alongside not only the picture of Ultimecia, but also images of Quistis and Selphie.
Here, the same differences between Rinoa and Ultimecia are present, and in addition, one can see their contrasting face shapes. Ultimecia has a narrowed and pointy chin, but Rinoa's jawline is smoother, and she has a far less prominent chin. In fact, I'd say that both Selphie and Quistis have jawlines more similar to Ultimecia's than Rinoa's is. I'd also like to point out the similarities between Quistis's nose and Ultimecia's. Now, I'm not saying they're the same person by any means; that would be a foolish leap to make. Similarly, to claim Rinoa and Ultimecia look enough like each other to be the same person is ridiculous. There's no visible proof of that; to the contrary, they look enough different that I'd have a hard time accepting the R=U theory even if the other claims had been true. Any similarities are just from being in the same game, and can be found between all of the girls. In summation, there is *no* real evidence, visible or plot-related, to support the R=U theory.
Angelo Kannon? Moving on, I'd now like to present my proofs as to why the R=U theory could not possibly be true. To begin with, when the group finally faces Ultimecia in her castle, she speaks to them in an accent. All of her c's have been replaced with k's, indicating that she has a Russian/European accent, and most likely a strong one at that. Rinoa, on the other hand, has no such accent. If the implication is supposed to be that they're the same person, why insert such a differentiating measure? Maybe Square was actually trying to separate Ultimecia from all other introduced characters by giving her such an identifiable trait. It is illogical that Rinoa could develop such an accent, and equally illogical that Square would muddle up an already unclear and strained plot point by inserting such a blockade. The only rational conclusion to draw is that, as with everything else I've already covered, Rinoa and Ultimecia are not the same person.
Pat yourself on the back Alright, I'd like to take a side tangent at this point. This is not a game-based proof, but something that's a bit more theoretical. I'm a Caltech alum; I can't help it. In the ending of the game, Squall is able to step back into the past and meet not only Matron but also himself. This is possible because time is a dimension. The distinguishing factor is that Past-Squall is from the past, whereas Present-Squall is from the present. It is plausible that they could meet each other, as time designations distinguish them. On the other hand, in a time-compressed world, such an event could not happen. There would be no Past-Squall or Present-Squall, as time designations ceased to exist. There could be only one Squall. When Rinoa and the rest face Ultimecia, time is being compressed. They are able to see SeeDs who have perished in the future as the future is not separate anymore. Only one time exists, and so they coexist with those who would were separated from them before by the constraints of time. In this world, it is *impossible* that Rinoa and Ultimecia could face each other if they are indeed the same person. Just like with Past-Squall and Present-Squall, Present-Rinoa and Future-Rinoa/Ultimecia could not meet, as they would be indistinguishable. One Rinoa, independent of time labels, can exist. Thus, in the final confrontation, everyone involved must be their own person, apart from all others. By this constraint, Rinoa and Ultimecia must be entirely separate beings, and not only distinguished by time differences, as the R=U theory assumes.
Love before first sight? Here's a short but sweet one. At the end of the final battle, Ultimecia tells them to reflect on their childhoods, and muses that time always slips away. If she is indeed Rinoa, then why would she tell Squall to reflect on his childhood? They met at age 17 - not exactly the prime of childhood. A more reasonable message would be to tell Squall to hold onto his time now, and cherish it, or simply to reflect on his youth, rather than referring specifically to the childhood portion of it. Yet this is not what she says. I think that her last words reflect not a specific reference, but instead general advice. Something in her life, her childhood, she feels slighted out of. Perhaps it's just that childhood goes by so quickly, or maybe there's something special from them that she lost and misses. Either way, the message is one from Ultimecia to Squall, not Rinoa to Squall.
Suicidal, much? The first thing that struck me as horribly wrong when I heard the R=U theory is the history that Rinoa and Ultimecia have with each other. Twice, Ultimecia possesses Rinoa and then throws her away like garbage. At the end of Disc 2, when Edea is defeated, Ultimecia takes possession of Rinoa's body in order to kiss and revive Seifer, a process which sends Rinoa into a coma. Even if Rinoa did once have feelings for Seifer, it is very odd to think that she'd put herself into a coma to awaken him. While in the coma, Rinoa loses precious time with Squall, which, by the R=U theory, is what she seeks to reclaim through time compression. Why would she deprive herself of the one thing she's willing to destroy existence as we know it for? Even if one can accept this action as "something necessary to the cause," it is not so simple to rationalize Ultimecia's second possession of Rinoa. While out on the Lunar Base, she inhabits Rinoa's body in order to release Adel from her seal. To begin with, why even awaken Adel? Ultimecia is clearly an egomaniac, as it takes someone horribly involved with herself to be willing to destroy all normal life to have her own world. To be worthy of such a world, she must consider herself the most powerful. Why not then simply use herself - Rinoa? Greater power, less trouble, and better-looking to boot! It seems like the best course of action overall would have been to use Rinoa's powers, rather than sacrifice her to release Adel. It is simply unthinkable that Ultimecia would not recognize the benefits if she knew of Rinoa's powers, which she must if she is her. Again, (am I sounding like a broken record?) the only conclusion to draw is that Rinoa and Ultimecia are not the same person. But wait! One more proof! After releasing Adel, Ultimecia throws Rinoa off into space to die. No one with a selfish objective in mind would sacrifive herself in the pursuit of it. You would be sabotaging yourself. If the past was changed and Rinoa died in space, then Future-Rinoa would cease to exist. If Ultimecia is Future-Rinoa, and wants to make a world entirely for herself, it would be logical for her to protect Present-Rinoa at all costs, not just use her and then toss her aside to die. Once more, and say it with me this time, I must conclude that Rinoa and Ultimecia are *not* the same person!
And the reason is... I'd like to close with a few broad thoughts about the R=U theory and what it would mean for Final Fantasy VIII. For a moment, disregard all of the evidence and arguments presented above. Pretend that Rinoa and Ultimecia are the same person, somehow, some way. This changes the entire message of the game. Rinoa teaches Squall to open up, to learn to live and love and not be afraid of loss. Even if you lose something, it is worth the pain of it to have had that beauty once. Now, for Rinoa to turn into Ultimecia, we are to believe that she gives up that idea entirely. Her personality does a complete 180. Rather than reminiscing and loving that she had him, she becomes bitter and regresses past where he was. Not only does she not accept the pain of loss in exchange for the joys of love, but she becomes vindictive and wants to kill everyone else for the chance to have her happiness again. What is the lesson we are learning here? Such a bitter taste to leave in your mouth! I don't think that's the message that should be conveyed. Instead, I suggest this interpretation: Ultimecia was what Squall might have become; cold, lonely, desperately reaching for something that has passed. She is consumed by her misery, and becomes a horrible monster, out to destroy all except her. Rinoa is the antithesis to this. She shows Squall that life is for living. It does no good to sit and mourn the past forever. Instead, embrace the present! Love for the sake of loving, and even if it slips away, you will have known such a happiness once that you never would have had you not taken the chance. Ultimecia can never win, for she is dark, and Rinoa is light. The light conquers all, and even though they are mortal and someday death will part them, Squall and Rinoa love each other now, powerfully, and that is worth far more than a mournful eternity alone.
Rinoa is not Ultimecia. Nothing could be further from the truth.