Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XI is the property of Square-Enix Inc. I'm just writing this fanfiction because it's about time. The character Zeomeyer, Hylide and Kaiapus are characters on the Lakshmi server.

Zeo's Adventure in Vanad'iel

By: Derek Douglas Hollaway

Prologue

I remember when I was little my grandfather, Amadeus told me stories about the war between the four nations of Vanad'iel and the evil beastmen. My parents, Loyola and Danielle, are merchants that work around the auction house in Bastok Markets. However, since the quadav have a foothold in Zulkeim, business has been sour. My mother and father are away for the time being as Legionaires helping to maintain control of the area for the sake of our country's economy.

Ever since I was little I always wanted to be the grand mage of Bastok. Our town has always been famous for innovations such as the airship and the gun but lacking in the magic department. The president of Bastok, has not created the position yet, but I'm sure that he'll think of something. My family understood that, so when it was time for me to start off on my own as an Adventurer, they made sure that before I left for gustaburg, that I would know how to fight without the use of magic, so I would be able to survive on my own. I still remember the hits I would get when I sparred with my father.

Starting out as a red mage, I made sure to hone in my magic skills but at the same time made sure that my weapon would serve me well. I would later travel to Zulkeim to join groups that would need me to help them in their journey.

While travelling in the dunes, I met up with an Elvaan named Hylide. He was a very sly fellow and was notorious for stealing items from goblins in the dunes. We hit it off quite well. Even when we were away from each other we still manage to keep in touch using the linkshells that we gave each other during our first meeting.

I've spent a lot of time in the dunes, in fact too much time. Selbina offers a temporary repreive but I've had a lot of close calls. I've died a lot of times, and if it weren't for the white mages that pass by every now and then, I would end up staying dead. I have traveled to every major city from San d'oria to Jeuno, which is where I'm at now, standing in line in hope of getting a airship pass to get around faster.

"Next!" Derrick said.

"Hi, I would like to obtain an airship pass."

"That will be 500,000 gil."

"You got to be shittin me."

"Nope."

"I don't have any money."

"Then no pass for you."

I walk out of the department of commerce and industry with a sigh of sadness that I would end up continuing to walk for most of my days out of bastok. It took me 3 days to get from the crag of dem to Jeuno, and boy it was difficult. If it weren't for Kaiapus, then I would have ended up laying on the grass dead in the marshlands. But luckily for me, he escorted me there. As an 18 yr old red mage, I would have been fresh dinner if I went alone.

At this point though, I'm stuck with less than 500 gil to my name. I receive a lot of message from the linkshell to invite me to join them in honing their skills. Most of them of course, comes from the dunes. I desire to return there to increase my skills, but because I don't have 500 gil to teleport near there, or a chocobo licence, I'm outta luck.

So i'm stuck in jeuno until I can find a why out.

Selling in the auction house there is a merchant's hell. It cost at least 100 gil just to put something on auction there. So hopefully, i'll be able to get out of jeuno, soon.

In the meantime, I'm going to get a long rest in the rent-a-room.

Nightmare

I could hear the sound of screams. It was horrible. I was walking through the sands of Valkum Dunes. Legionaires from all over Vanad'iel ran for their lives as a legion of goblins attacked the outpost north of Selbina. The legionaires fought with valor and honor, but could not contain the mass of goblins that poured into the area. My mother and father fought together next to each other, hoping to prevail among the rest. Mom continued casting spells to heal my father, while he charged unto them.

However, they were overwhelmed and both fell before them. A bogy appeared from behind and killed them as swift as it appeared. Those that were left, ran to Selbina, hoping to rush to Windurst for safety.

As I saw their bodies I woke up.

"Aahh!"

My moogle flew over to my bed.

"Zeo, are u alright, kupo?"

"I'm fine, moogle, but I just saw my parents die in a dream." I said to him. "Check the delivery box."

"Ok, kupo."

The moogle checked the delivery box, and found two things, both were sent from Bastok. One was a letter marked with the official seal, while the other was my father's aspir knife that he obtained from killing Eyy Mon the Ironbreaker. As the moogle brought the items to me, I realized that I would never see my parents again.

I looked at the window then I curled up into a ball on the bed and cried. I loved my parents and I couldn't believe what the hell happened. The official letter from the Bastok legionaires clairfied my worse nightmare coming true.

I later stood up and looked at the armor I left on the side. I walked to it and put on my armor and walked outside to lower jeuno. As I left, I saw my linkshell glowing so I picked it up.

"Zeo where are u?"

It was Hylide, and he was in bad shape. I never saw him in so much scars until today.

"I'm in Jeuno."

"How the hell did u get there."

So I told him about my friend Kaiapus and how tough the monsters were in Derfland.

"You need to hurry to Zulkeim, it is total mayhem."

"I'll try to make it but I don't have enough gil to reach the crag of holla."

"Then make it fast, cause if you don't, your parents will be dead."

"They are still alive?"

"Yeah, their hiding in Muhara, and you're not going to believe this. A hume was leading the goblins into battle.

"What the hell?" I screamed through the linkshell. I was never so pissed in my life until today. A hume, fighting with those things?

"Yeah and it was female.."

"What was her name?"

"I don't know." But what I do know is that as long as she lives, the Zulkeim region will be in the hands of the beastmen.

"I'm on my way there, meet me at the crag of mea in Kolshushu."

"What about Zulkeim?"

"We can't do anything if we're dead." I told him. "Go to Muhara and look after my parents."

"Ok."

I began to search throughout Lower Jeuno. So far, not many white mages that would be willing to teleport me without gil. So I headed to the auction house and put some items on auction while I opened up my portable bazaar to sell the rest.

My parents were alive. I was happy about that, but I was still stuck in Jeuno.

End

Let me know what u guys think of it. I hope that everyone enjoyed the first chapter of my fic.