"I have to go now... ...But thank you so much for all the happiness you've given me... Please, let go of chains that bind your heart... I release you... Give your love to the one who now dwells in your heart... Love her... as you loved me... Phoenix... Be reborn! And give your power... to Locke!!"

—Rachel's last words

Rachel (レイチェル, Reicheru^?) is a non-playable character in Final Fantasy VI. She was Locke's lover who lived in Kohlingen.

StoryEdit

The player is introduced to Rachel as Locke's girlfriend from Kohlingen. One day, Locke took Rachel to Mt. Kolts, supposedly looking for what would become her engagement ring. Upon crossing a rickety bridge, it began to collapse with Locke on it, before Rachel pushed him out of the way just in time. In doing so Rachel took the fall for him. Locke saved her and brought her back to Kohlingen, but due to the fall, she had lost her memory. Her father blamed it on Locke, and he kicked him out of their house.

Rachel agreed to her father's decision because she had no memory of Locke, and only saw him as someone who was upsetting her parents. The residents of Kohlingen were also angry at him, leading him to leave the town. Rachel was killed one year later in a raid by the Empire, but her memory was also restored right before her death. Her last words were: "If a man called Locke should ever return, please tell him that I love him".

Locke eventually heard about the attack, and came back to Kohlingen only to find he was too late. Determined to do something for her, he took her to an herbologist living in Kohlingen, who preserved her body in its youthful state using herbs. After that, Locke searched for a way to bring her back to life. His feelings of guilt continued to haunt him, causing him to try to protect every woman he came across in need. He searched far and wide for a way, but he does not find it until the world is destroyed. He hears of the legendary esper, Phoenix, that can revive the dead.

He immediately goes searching for it, and finds it right when the player party shows up. When he gets to Kohlingen, he uses the Phoenix esper on Rachel, but the cracked magicite shard could only revive her for a few moments. She helps Locke overcome his guilt, tells him to "give his love to the one who now dwells in his heart" and dies again but not before her spirit merges with the Phoenix magicite and restores the magicite to its original splendor, thus allowing Locke to finally make peace with his torrid past.

Musical ThemesEdit

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"Forever Rachel"
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The theme associated with Locke and Rachel's relationship is called "Forever Rachel" (永遠に、レイチェル, Eien ni, Reicheru^?). The theme plays during Locke's flashback scene with Rachel and the subsequent events involving them. The theme shares the same melody as "Locke's Theme".

EtymologyEdit

The name "Rachel" is a Hebrew name that means "Ewe" or "Innocent Lamb".