Note from the author: Ok , the reason I didn't explain the storyline all to much is , the whole thing will be revealed over the length of the story .Many thanks go to my stories editor Lauren aka lamoo on this site
Note from The Editor: I am so sorry if it looks like I have written this rather than Rob. I edited, didn't write. All the credit goes to him. Well done Rob. *claps*
Chapter one
Rob woke up with dirt in the face. He stood up, "What the…" he said to himself, looking at the vast desert wasteland beyond him. He looked down at himself and saw Bone plate amour, Metal greaves, and metal boots. He also he had a sword holder around his waist, with a long sword in it. He took his sword out of its sheath, and started swinging it around. It felt natural, though he had never used a sword in his life. He swung and turned around, only barely missing the head on one of the creatures behind him.
Behind him was a great city and judging by the looks of it, the buildings completely made from sand. Many other creatures were looking at Rob with weird looks on their faces.
"Kupo, you could have almost killed me! Kupo" the creature standing behind Rob said in a loud disgruntled voice.
"Sorry, didn't know you were there," Replied Rob. "You're a moogle aren't you?" he asked. "wow," he added as the creature nodded. Rob looked around. "What is this place?" he asked the moogle,
"Kupo, yes I'm a moogle, but my name is Augusto," said the moogle, responding to the long stream of questions that Rob had suddenly asked. "This place is the city of Abral in the country of Adamanta," Augusto added. "You new here or something? I'd be happy to show you around, Kupo" the moogle said with a smile,
"Beats school, always wanted to be in the final fantasy world, such a good game", Rob said, more to himself than to Augusto,
"Kupo, game? Kupo", Augusto asked,
"never mind" Rob replied.
As the pair walked around the city, Augusto showed Rob various things, explaining about the country and all, "Kupo And there's the great war going on." He began Humans, Taragonians, fighting one another, for land, for honour, for the sake of fighting." He paused and shrugged. "I don't know anymore, been going on so long, Kupo" Augusto said as he and Rob walked down the main street of Abral.
"Taragonians?" Rob asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Kupo, yes, human like people," explained Augusto "Except they have hard bones growing out of their arms. These bones are sharpened, and they use them as weapons. They look completely human, apart from the sharp claws growing out of their arms, or so I've heard." Yet again the moogle paused for thought. He looked at Rob. "You look like a warrior, you could enlist in the war." He mused. "But you wouldn't Kupo " Augusto muttered.
The pair sat down on a near by bench and Rob sighed. "I'm not sure this place even exists," he said to Augusto. "I did hit my head pretty damn hard, might be all in my mind," he said. "Which is cool, due to the fact I can't really die here," he added with a grin. "But still, it could all be a coma induced fantasy world." Rob added, realising that he was ranting on.
"Kupo , how did you hit your head?" Augusto wondered.
"Well, back in my world, I was just walking to school, I looked up at the sky and it started to rain." Rob began. "Thunder was booming all around as the sky turned as black as the night. Darkness came over everything and the ground shook, as if there was an earthquake. As I fell and into the fissure I think I must have hit my head." He said. "And then I was here." Rob explained to Augusto.
"Kupo, great story there Rob, but I know my world is real," the moogle said with a satisfied smile. "Did you even happen to think the place your from isn't real? Kupo." Augusto asked.
"I wonder that every day my friend, everyday…." Rob replied looking up at the blue sky. It was far bluer then the sky back home. Rob then noticed people gathering around something up the street. He then stood up and ran to it, Augusto following behind.
Rob pushed his way through the crowd. The people had gathered around the entrance to an alleyway and someone was being beaten up by three bangaa warriors. Rob noticed who it was at a closer look. The face was pretty beaten up, but he could still recognise who it was.
"Alex," he muttered under his breath. "Stop it!" Rob shouted to the bangaa.
The three stoped hitting Alex and looked up, "You think you can take usss on?" One of them said sarcastically, giving another one a signal, as it withdrew its sword. The Bangaa aimed then swung its sword at Alex's head.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Rob shouted. Before anyone had a chance to register what was going on, Augusto had quickly drawn his gun, and fired a shot, very accurately, at the sword hand of the bangaa. the sword went flying out of the bangaa's hand and it turned its head around quickly, giving Augusto an evil glare.
"Thanks" Rob whispered to Augusto.
"Kupo, happy to help Kupo" Augusto said holding his gun, grinning.
The leader of the bangaa drew his sword as well and charged at Augusto. Rob unsheathed his own blade and stopped the bangaa from decapitating Augusto, diverting the sword and knocking the blade out of the bangaa's hand. The sword was sent it flying into alley wall, lodging itself there. The bangaa closest to Alex suddenly charged at Rob, hitting him square in his stomach with its fist, As another grabbed Rob from behind, and held him as the other beat rob in the stomach.
The leader held Augusto up in one hand, and hit him repeatedly, Completely ignoring Alex. There was a sudden blinding flash of light, and when it dispersed the bangaa beating Rob lay on the ground, burn marks covering its body. There Alex was standing, staff in one hand, his other aiming at where the bangaa had been standing before.
"Letsss get out of here!" The remanning two said picking up the one on the ground, beginning to make a run for it. The crowd cheered and threw golden coins at the entrance to the alleyway as the bangaa fled. Augusto moving to pick them up was the last thing Rob saw before he fainted.
*******
A feeling of warmth came over Rob as he woke up lying on a bed, Alex standing over him, Augusto as well. Rob looked down at himself, and saw not a cut or a bruise or anything. "How the…" Rob started to ask.
"Kupo, Glad you're awake." The moogle said with a smile, "Alex here is a pretty good white mage!" he added excitedly. "and black mage, when I come to think of it, Kupo. I save him, you save me, he saves us, Pretty funny! Kupo!" Augusto said with a grin, talking very fast.
"How did you do it? knock that guy out?" Rob asked Alex.
"I don't know how it happened." Admitted Alex with a slight shrug of the shoulders. "Seeing you guys come and stand up for me was pretty brave, But when they all started ganging up on you, A feeling just came over me." He continued. "A feeling of anger and power, yet oddly enough, calmness. I just knew what I could do and had to do, so I raised my hand with my staff in my other hand and the feeling of power grew. The sky grew darker and a lightning bolt stuck the bangaa that was beating you. It zapped him," Alex explained. "But I don't really know how it happened."
"Cool, black magic," remarked Rob. "How did you end up here?" he asked.
"Kupo, his story is basically the same as yours, you people live in a strange world, Kupo", Augusto butted in
"Hmmmmmmm," Robert furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "Make the most of it I say!" he said to Alex and Augusto. "Probably wont last long, due to the fact I'm in a coma or something and this place is in my mind. If we are here, we are here for some purpose." He paused yet again. "Stop the war perhaps,? defeat some mass evil?" he added.
Alex threw up his arms. "Eh who knows, but we are here for some purpose," he replied. "But I know I'm real!" Alex added.
"I see Augusto filled you in on everything happening here…" Rob said, getting out of the bed, "Why would they choose me for something like this?" Rob muttered to himself. "Purpose my arse!" he rose to his feet and moves towards the window. He looked outside and it was raining heavily.
"Kupo, we got a lot of money out of that fight you realise." Augusto commented. "You guys are pretty good at this." He added. "We could go downstairs and check if there are any jobs available, we can earn us more gold, Kupo", Augusto suggested holding a bag of gold coins out, and putting them on the wooden table in the room.
Rob turned around and looked at the bag of gold. "Mmmmmm money and power" He said to himself with a grin, "We did make a pretty big scene didn't we, damn good fight as well!" Rob said to Alex and Augusto.
"Kupo, sure was, they asked all your guys names and such, they all loved you! You made a good entrance here." The moogle said to his two companions. "We got us 950 gil, minus the 50 I used to get this room for the week, Kupo," Augusto added with a smile.
"We can't do much while its still raining though" Alex said breaking his silence.
"Good point," agreed Rob. "I'm gunna get some sleep if you guys don't mind, we can talk about what we're going to do tomorrow." Rob said yawning. He jumped into one of the beds and lay down. He slowly drifted to sleep and it wasn't long before Augusto and Alex were doing the same.
*******
Light shone through the window as the sun rose. Rob was the first to wake. "Ohhh am I still here…" he groaned getting out of bed and putting his armour on. He strapped his belt and sword sheath on and sheathed the blade. As he did this he hummed a little tune to himself. Rob then turned strode out of the door and downstairs to the pub. He sat himself down at the bar and ordered some toast, eggs and a glass of tomato juice. About 10 minutes later, the bar maid came out with a plate of toast and eggs, and a mug of tomato juice.
"Thankyou very much" Rob said, nodding his thanks.
"No problem" the bar maid said with a casual shrug as she strode back behind the bar. Rob savoured every bite and mouthful of the eggs and toast as he ate. He hadn't had toast or eggs in quite some time after all. After a while he finished his meal. He stood up and as he stretched let go a huge belch. He then saw Augusto and Alex coming down from the upper rooms. "You guys just missed breakfast." Rob said to them with an amused grin.
"You go looking for some work if you're searching for some way to occupy yourself." Alex said to Rob. "We'll stay here to get some breakfast and catch up with you later." He added, as he and Augusto sat themselves down at the bar, and ordered themselves some breakfast.
*************
Rob walked the early morning streets, nothing much out of the ordinary happening around him. That was until up ahead he spied a group of people standing in a sort of circle, crowding around a man. As soon as Rob walked nearer the others ran off. Rob stood over the man, helped him to his feet, and brushed dirt and sand off him.
"You ok?" Rob asked the man, whose head was hung low, hiding his eyes.
"The question is, are you ok?" The man replied, lifting his head, his eyes glowing a bright red. The scare made Rob take a few steps back. A dark aurora now surrounded the man expanding outwards in a sphere shape, engulfing Rob and the man. The man let out a roar, and his body grew 10 sizes, muscles, body and all. He began to laugh but let out a cry of pain as two more arms exploded out of his waist. Blood sprayed everywhere. "You wont be getting home anytime soon Robert, Pick you guys off one by one, as the master said" The man said.
"Wh..wh..whaa...aaat are you?!" Rob wanted to know, fear in is voice,
"I am all that is dead, But all that is alive." Said the creature. "There are many of us, We follow the master's orders. We are spirits as such" The spirit explained before it charged at Rob. Rob could do nothing as the spirit like being smashed him with one fist in the head, and the other in the stomach. Rob doubled over in pain and the spirit moved back. Rob, though badly hurt, unsheathed his blade. He glared at the spirit before he charged at it. However, it managed to dodge the full impact of the blade. But Rob did manage to cut off one of its hands. It fell to the ground, blood spilling out of it.
The spirit only smiled in a malicious sort of way, "Feel no sorrow, Feel no pain." It said in its raspy voice as the hand grew back in seconds. The hand on the floor quickly grew itself an arm, which developed a torso, sprouting legs then more arms and finally a head, forming a second complete spirit. Rob, in complete disbelief, held his sword high as he moved to the back of the sphere.
"Ahh crap." he muttered to himself, under his breath. Both the spirits charged very quickly at Rob, slamming him down to the ground with 4 simultaneous hits to the chest, throwing Rob to the ground. Rob, though barely able to breathe, pulled himself from the crater his body had created and gathered what remained of his strength. He raised his sword in a defensive manner, as all hope drained from his body.
A Flash of light broke through the sphere, imploding one of the spirits leaving all but a crystal of its former self-lying on the ground. The sphere of darkness collapsed around. The remaining spirit swung around, and roared at Alex, who stood there, defiant, his body shining with a radiant light. Augusto appeared beside him. Then half of the remaining spirit's head was blown off and Augusto stood with a pleased expression on his face, gun smoking in his hand. The spirit roared again and turned and glared at Rob. It then faded away into the light.
Using all that remained of his strength, Rob sheathed his sword grabbed the crystal of the spirit. He slowly rose to his feet and walked towards Alex and Augusto. "Thanks, you guys saved my butt, yet again," he said. "But Alex, if you wouldn't mind, Heal me up, They got me pretty good." Rob added, barely able to get the words out.
"Kupo, you're lucky we came along when we did." Commented Augusto. "But we're even now, Kupo," the moogle added and Rob let out a small laugh. Alex held out his hand, and put it on Rob's shoulder. White light and a Warm feeling filled Rob as all the wounds, scars and bruises disappeared and his strength returned.
"Thanks." Rob said to Alex, who nodded in response. "Whatever that thing was, it seemed to know where I was from, that I didn't belong here." Rob added, explaining to his friends about the spirit being that had nearly made mince meat out of him. "It said it served some master as well. Maybe we are here for a purpose…." He mused, the last part he muttered to himself.
Alex nodded. "Very strange," was all he said, An expression of deep thought on his face. The bunch spilt up again and went looking for work, agreeing to meet back at their current spot in 2 hours time. But Rob stayed where he was as the others strode off. He sat down, and started thinking about what just happened to him.
Two hours later Rob met up with Alex and Augusto again.
"So hows it going on the jobs front?" Rob asked his friends as they came near.
"Kupo, thanks to the fight yesterday we made ourselves quite a name." Augusto explained. "And I managed to get us a job" he added with a grin. "To find a Stolen Amulet, Kupo." Augusto said.
"Seems simple enough, but there's always a catch to these simple things, I just know this time wont be any different." Rob Ranted on to himself.
"Well Apparently the Lerinian bandits took it." Commented Alex. "And from what Augusto has said about them, they're a pretty fierce bunch. Their hideout is a cave not so far from here." He contributed.
"Good enough for me." Rob replied with a shrug. "How about we go stock up on supplies and buy some better weapons or something," he suggested. "Sounds like we're up against a strong bunch." Rob said,
"Kupo, I don't need anything," Augusto piped up. "Let's split the remaining gil 50/50, or close enough. 500 for one 450 for another. Kupo" the moogle suggested.
"Very generous of you Augusto, I'll take the 450." rob replied as Augusto took out the bag of coins. He counted out Rob's share of the money and put it in his hand.
"I wont need anything, keep the other 500." Alex said. "I know where the shops and such are I can show you where they are." He said.
"Kupo, I'll be at the pub/inn when your done, Packing bags, preparing for our little adventure, Kupo" Augusto said with a smile, walking off. Alex and Rob nodded, then walked in the directions of the shops.
Alex showed Rob the magic items shop and he ran straight in. Even though he knew no magic, and very little about it, he still found it fascinating.
"I'll go get us some food, stay here I'll be back soon." Alex said walking out of the magic item shop, leaving Rob behind.
"Sooo got any good magic items, a person such as myself with no magic knowledge whatsoever can use?" Rob asked the shopkeeper.
"Well" The shop keeper said in his scruffy voice, drumming his fingers upon the counter top. "I do have a morpher's ring, only one of its kind. Let me get it for you." He said getting up and going to the back room. Rob heard the sound of boxes and crates being moved around but the sounds soon stopped as the man came back out holding something. He plonked a ring on the front counter. It was a silver ring, a bright green gem inserted at the top of it.
"So what does this ring do?" Rob wondered staring at the ring.
"Well, you touch the gem, and depending on the time of day or what mood your in, I'm not sure…it changes you into a hawk, or a raven." Explained the shop keeper. "Then when you're the hawk or raven you use thought to change yourself back," he explained.
"How much?" Rob asked.
"20 gil." The shopkeeper replied.
"Sold." Rob said grabbing the ring and putting it on his index finger. He dumped 20 gold coins on the desk and walked out of the shop, Rubbing the gem. Much to his surprise, he wasn't too sure whether the ring would work or not, he felt himself changing. Before he knew it he had miraculously morphed into a hawk. He spread his wings and took flight.
Rob landed on Alex's shoulder, and jumped off as his friend jumped in surprise and shock. Rob changed back into his normal form and chuckled at the look of disbelief on Alex's face. "Pretty cool eh?" Rob said to Alex, Alex wearing a bamboozled expression of pure bewilderment. "Got the supplies?" Rob asked before Alex had the chance to say anything.
Alex nodded, regaining his composure. "Yes and I was just about to head back to get you." he replied.
"No need for that, we can head back to the inn now." Rob replied. "Cya there!" Rob said with a chuckle before he changed into the hawk again. He took off and soared back in the direction of the inn, leaving Alex down below.
*********
"What took you so long?" Rob said, laughing, as Alex entered the room. Augusto already had the supplies packed up, in a bag that he was carrying, Alex doing the same.
"Kupo let us get moving then, it's almost a days journey, Kupo, to the bandits cave." Augusto said, walking towards the door.
"No time to rest Alex, gotta get going." Rob said, walking out the door with Augusto. Alex sighed to himself and followed.
*********
The trio walked for hours along the hot desert plains, in the direction Augusto thought the cave was in. As they walked they talked and as they talked, the three friends got to know each other better. Finally in the distance there was what looked to be a cave entrance, leading deep into under burrows of the desert. Rob entered first, walking in carefully down deeper into the cave. It was very cold and damp and the cave walls and surface were hard and rocky. As it got deeper and deeper it gradually grew colder and darker. The group walked and walked, and reached a fork in the passage, 3 different ways to go.
"I say we split up, the passages are bound to converge sooner or later." Rob suggested. "And we have more a chance of reaching where they are this way." He added.
Augusto shook his head. "Kupo, but If we run into the bandits, One against many, Kupo, wont stand much of a chance,"
"That's a risk I'm willing to take." Rob replied.
"Kupo, as am I, Kupo. Augusto said.
"Same." Agreed Alex. Rob nodded as he entered the middle passageway. Alex took the passage to the left, and Augusto the right. Where they would end up, they did not know….
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~
Note from The Editor: I am so sorry if it looks like I have written this rather than Rob. I edited, didn't write. All the credit goes to him. Well done Rob. *claps*
Chapter one
Rob woke up with dirt in the face. He stood up, "What the…" he said to himself, looking at the vast desert wasteland beyond him. He looked down at himself and saw Bone plate amour, Metal greaves, and metal boots. He also he had a sword holder around his waist, with a long sword in it. He took his sword out of its sheath, and started swinging it around. It felt natural, though he had never used a sword in his life. He swung and turned around, only barely missing the head on one of the creatures behind him.
Behind him was a great city and judging by the looks of it, the buildings completely made from sand. Many other creatures were looking at Rob with weird looks on their faces.
"Kupo, you could have almost killed me! Kupo" the creature standing behind Rob said in a loud disgruntled voice.
"Sorry, didn't know you were there," Replied Rob. "You're a moogle aren't you?" he asked. "wow," he added as the creature nodded. Rob looked around. "What is this place?" he asked the moogle,
"Kupo, yes I'm a moogle, but my name is Augusto," said the moogle, responding to the long stream of questions that Rob had suddenly asked. "This place is the city of Abral in the country of Adamanta," Augusto added. "You new here or something? I'd be happy to show you around, Kupo" the moogle said with a smile,
"Beats school, always wanted to be in the final fantasy world, such a good game", Rob said, more to himself than to Augusto,
"Kupo, game? Kupo", Augusto asked,
"never mind" Rob replied.
As the pair walked around the city, Augusto showed Rob various things, explaining about the country and all, "Kupo And there's the great war going on." He began Humans, Taragonians, fighting one another, for land, for honour, for the sake of fighting." He paused and shrugged. "I don't know anymore, been going on so long, Kupo" Augusto said as he and Rob walked down the main street of Abral.
"Taragonians?" Rob asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Kupo, yes, human like people," explained Augusto "Except they have hard bones growing out of their arms. These bones are sharpened, and they use them as weapons. They look completely human, apart from the sharp claws growing out of their arms, or so I've heard." Yet again the moogle paused for thought. He looked at Rob. "You look like a warrior, you could enlist in the war." He mused. "But you wouldn't Kupo " Augusto muttered.
The pair sat down on a near by bench and Rob sighed. "I'm not sure this place even exists," he said to Augusto. "I did hit my head pretty damn hard, might be all in my mind," he said. "Which is cool, due to the fact I can't really die here," he added with a grin. "But still, it could all be a coma induced fantasy world." Rob added, realising that he was ranting on.
"Kupo , how did you hit your head?" Augusto wondered.
"Well, back in my world, I was just walking to school, I looked up at the sky and it started to rain." Rob began. "Thunder was booming all around as the sky turned as black as the night. Darkness came over everything and the ground shook, as if there was an earthquake. As I fell and into the fissure I think I must have hit my head." He said. "And then I was here." Rob explained to Augusto.
"Kupo, great story there Rob, but I know my world is real," the moogle said with a satisfied smile. "Did you even happen to think the place your from isn't real? Kupo." Augusto asked.
"I wonder that every day my friend, everyday…." Rob replied looking up at the blue sky. It was far bluer then the sky back home. Rob then noticed people gathering around something up the street. He then stood up and ran to it, Augusto following behind.
Rob pushed his way through the crowd. The people had gathered around the entrance to an alleyway and someone was being beaten up by three bangaa warriors. Rob noticed who it was at a closer look. The face was pretty beaten up, but he could still recognise who it was.
"Alex," he muttered under his breath. "Stop it!" Rob shouted to the bangaa.
The three stoped hitting Alex and looked up, "You think you can take usss on?" One of them said sarcastically, giving another one a signal, as it withdrew its sword. The Bangaa aimed then swung its sword at Alex's head.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Rob shouted. Before anyone had a chance to register what was going on, Augusto had quickly drawn his gun, and fired a shot, very accurately, at the sword hand of the bangaa. the sword went flying out of the bangaa's hand and it turned its head around quickly, giving Augusto an evil glare.
"Thanks" Rob whispered to Augusto.
"Kupo, happy to help Kupo" Augusto said holding his gun, grinning.
The leader of the bangaa drew his sword as well and charged at Augusto. Rob unsheathed his own blade and stopped the bangaa from decapitating Augusto, diverting the sword and knocking the blade out of the bangaa's hand. The sword was sent it flying into alley wall, lodging itself there. The bangaa closest to Alex suddenly charged at Rob, hitting him square in his stomach with its fist, As another grabbed Rob from behind, and held him as the other beat rob in the stomach.
The leader held Augusto up in one hand, and hit him repeatedly, Completely ignoring Alex. There was a sudden blinding flash of light, and when it dispersed the bangaa beating Rob lay on the ground, burn marks covering its body. There Alex was standing, staff in one hand, his other aiming at where the bangaa had been standing before.
"Letsss get out of here!" The remanning two said picking up the one on the ground, beginning to make a run for it. The crowd cheered and threw golden coins at the entrance to the alleyway as the bangaa fled. Augusto moving to pick them up was the last thing Rob saw before he fainted.
*******
A feeling of warmth came over Rob as he woke up lying on a bed, Alex standing over him, Augusto as well. Rob looked down at himself, and saw not a cut or a bruise or anything. "How the…" Rob started to ask.
"Kupo, Glad you're awake." The moogle said with a smile, "Alex here is a pretty good white mage!" he added excitedly. "and black mage, when I come to think of it, Kupo. I save him, you save me, he saves us, Pretty funny! Kupo!" Augusto said with a grin, talking very fast.
"How did you do it? knock that guy out?" Rob asked Alex.
"I don't know how it happened." Admitted Alex with a slight shrug of the shoulders. "Seeing you guys come and stand up for me was pretty brave, But when they all started ganging up on you, A feeling just came over me." He continued. "A feeling of anger and power, yet oddly enough, calmness. I just knew what I could do and had to do, so I raised my hand with my staff in my other hand and the feeling of power grew. The sky grew darker and a lightning bolt stuck the bangaa that was beating you. It zapped him," Alex explained. "But I don't really know how it happened."
"Cool, black magic," remarked Rob. "How did you end up here?" he asked.
"Kupo, his story is basically the same as yours, you people live in a strange world, Kupo", Augusto butted in
"Hmmmmmmm," Robert furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "Make the most of it I say!" he said to Alex and Augusto. "Probably wont last long, due to the fact I'm in a coma or something and this place is in my mind. If we are here, we are here for some purpose." He paused yet again. "Stop the war perhaps,? defeat some mass evil?" he added.
Alex threw up his arms. "Eh who knows, but we are here for some purpose," he replied. "But I know I'm real!" Alex added.
"I see Augusto filled you in on everything happening here…" Rob said, getting out of the bed, "Why would they choose me for something like this?" Rob muttered to himself. "Purpose my arse!" he rose to his feet and moves towards the window. He looked outside and it was raining heavily.
"Kupo, we got a lot of money out of that fight you realise." Augusto commented. "You guys are pretty good at this." He added. "We could go downstairs and check if there are any jobs available, we can earn us more gold, Kupo", Augusto suggested holding a bag of gold coins out, and putting them on the wooden table in the room.
Rob turned around and looked at the bag of gold. "Mmmmmm money and power" He said to himself with a grin, "We did make a pretty big scene didn't we, damn good fight as well!" Rob said to Alex and Augusto.
"Kupo, sure was, they asked all your guys names and such, they all loved you! You made a good entrance here." The moogle said to his two companions. "We got us 950 gil, minus the 50 I used to get this room for the week, Kupo," Augusto added with a smile.
"We can't do much while its still raining though" Alex said breaking his silence.
"Good point," agreed Rob. "I'm gunna get some sleep if you guys don't mind, we can talk about what we're going to do tomorrow." Rob said yawning. He jumped into one of the beds and lay down. He slowly drifted to sleep and it wasn't long before Augusto and Alex were doing the same.
*******
Light shone through the window as the sun rose. Rob was the first to wake. "Ohhh am I still here…" he groaned getting out of bed and putting his armour on. He strapped his belt and sword sheath on and sheathed the blade. As he did this he hummed a little tune to himself. Rob then turned strode out of the door and downstairs to the pub. He sat himself down at the bar and ordered some toast, eggs and a glass of tomato juice. About 10 minutes later, the bar maid came out with a plate of toast and eggs, and a mug of tomato juice.
"Thankyou very much" Rob said, nodding his thanks.
"No problem" the bar maid said with a casual shrug as she strode back behind the bar. Rob savoured every bite and mouthful of the eggs and toast as he ate. He hadn't had toast or eggs in quite some time after all. After a while he finished his meal. He stood up and as he stretched let go a huge belch. He then saw Augusto and Alex coming down from the upper rooms. "You guys just missed breakfast." Rob said to them with an amused grin.
"You go looking for some work if you're searching for some way to occupy yourself." Alex said to Rob. "We'll stay here to get some breakfast and catch up with you later." He added, as he and Augusto sat themselves down at the bar, and ordered themselves some breakfast.
*************
Rob walked the early morning streets, nothing much out of the ordinary happening around him. That was until up ahead he spied a group of people standing in a sort of circle, crowding around a man. As soon as Rob walked nearer the others ran off. Rob stood over the man, helped him to his feet, and brushed dirt and sand off him.
"You ok?" Rob asked the man, whose head was hung low, hiding his eyes.
"The question is, are you ok?" The man replied, lifting his head, his eyes glowing a bright red. The scare made Rob take a few steps back. A dark aurora now surrounded the man expanding outwards in a sphere shape, engulfing Rob and the man. The man let out a roar, and his body grew 10 sizes, muscles, body and all. He began to laugh but let out a cry of pain as two more arms exploded out of his waist. Blood sprayed everywhere. "You wont be getting home anytime soon Robert, Pick you guys off one by one, as the master said" The man said.
"Wh..wh..whaa...aaat are you?!" Rob wanted to know, fear in is voice,
"I am all that is dead, But all that is alive." Said the creature. "There are many of us, We follow the master's orders. We are spirits as such" The spirit explained before it charged at Rob. Rob could do nothing as the spirit like being smashed him with one fist in the head, and the other in the stomach. Rob doubled over in pain and the spirit moved back. Rob, though badly hurt, unsheathed his blade. He glared at the spirit before he charged at it. However, it managed to dodge the full impact of the blade. But Rob did manage to cut off one of its hands. It fell to the ground, blood spilling out of it.
The spirit only smiled in a malicious sort of way, "Feel no sorrow, Feel no pain." It said in its raspy voice as the hand grew back in seconds. The hand on the floor quickly grew itself an arm, which developed a torso, sprouting legs then more arms and finally a head, forming a second complete spirit. Rob, in complete disbelief, held his sword high as he moved to the back of the sphere.
"Ahh crap." he muttered to himself, under his breath. Both the spirits charged very quickly at Rob, slamming him down to the ground with 4 simultaneous hits to the chest, throwing Rob to the ground. Rob, though barely able to breathe, pulled himself from the crater his body had created and gathered what remained of his strength. He raised his sword in a defensive manner, as all hope drained from his body.
A Flash of light broke through the sphere, imploding one of the spirits leaving all but a crystal of its former self-lying on the ground. The sphere of darkness collapsed around. The remaining spirit swung around, and roared at Alex, who stood there, defiant, his body shining with a radiant light. Augusto appeared beside him. Then half of the remaining spirit's head was blown off and Augusto stood with a pleased expression on his face, gun smoking in his hand. The spirit roared again and turned and glared at Rob. It then faded away into the light.
Using all that remained of his strength, Rob sheathed his sword grabbed the crystal of the spirit. He slowly rose to his feet and walked towards Alex and Augusto. "Thanks, you guys saved my butt, yet again," he said. "But Alex, if you wouldn't mind, Heal me up, They got me pretty good." Rob added, barely able to get the words out.
"Kupo, you're lucky we came along when we did." Commented Augusto. "But we're even now, Kupo," the moogle added and Rob let out a small laugh. Alex held out his hand, and put it on Rob's shoulder. White light and a Warm feeling filled Rob as all the wounds, scars and bruises disappeared and his strength returned.
"Thanks." Rob said to Alex, who nodded in response. "Whatever that thing was, it seemed to know where I was from, that I didn't belong here." Rob added, explaining to his friends about the spirit being that had nearly made mince meat out of him. "It said it served some master as well. Maybe we are here for a purpose…." He mused, the last part he muttered to himself.
Alex nodded. "Very strange," was all he said, An expression of deep thought on his face. The bunch spilt up again and went looking for work, agreeing to meet back at their current spot in 2 hours time. But Rob stayed where he was as the others strode off. He sat down, and started thinking about what just happened to him.
Two hours later Rob met up with Alex and Augusto again.
"So hows it going on the jobs front?" Rob asked his friends as they came near.
"Kupo, thanks to the fight yesterday we made ourselves quite a name." Augusto explained. "And I managed to get us a job" he added with a grin. "To find a Stolen Amulet, Kupo." Augusto said.
"Seems simple enough, but there's always a catch to these simple things, I just know this time wont be any different." Rob Ranted on to himself.
"Well Apparently the Lerinian bandits took it." Commented Alex. "And from what Augusto has said about them, they're a pretty fierce bunch. Their hideout is a cave not so far from here." He contributed.
"Good enough for me." Rob replied with a shrug. "How about we go stock up on supplies and buy some better weapons or something," he suggested. "Sounds like we're up against a strong bunch." Rob said,
"Kupo, I don't need anything," Augusto piped up. "Let's split the remaining gil 50/50, or close enough. 500 for one 450 for another. Kupo" the moogle suggested.
"Very generous of you Augusto, I'll take the 450." rob replied as Augusto took out the bag of coins. He counted out Rob's share of the money and put it in his hand.
"I wont need anything, keep the other 500." Alex said. "I know where the shops and such are I can show you where they are." He said.
"Kupo, I'll be at the pub/inn when your done, Packing bags, preparing for our little adventure, Kupo" Augusto said with a smile, walking off. Alex and Rob nodded, then walked in the directions of the shops.
Alex showed Rob the magic items shop and he ran straight in. Even though he knew no magic, and very little about it, he still found it fascinating.
"I'll go get us some food, stay here I'll be back soon." Alex said walking out of the magic item shop, leaving Rob behind.
"Sooo got any good magic items, a person such as myself with no magic knowledge whatsoever can use?" Rob asked the shopkeeper.
"Well" The shop keeper said in his scruffy voice, drumming his fingers upon the counter top. "I do have a morpher's ring, only one of its kind. Let me get it for you." He said getting up and going to the back room. Rob heard the sound of boxes and crates being moved around but the sounds soon stopped as the man came back out holding something. He plonked a ring on the front counter. It was a silver ring, a bright green gem inserted at the top of it.
"So what does this ring do?" Rob wondered staring at the ring.
"Well, you touch the gem, and depending on the time of day or what mood your in, I'm not sure…it changes you into a hawk, or a raven." Explained the shop keeper. "Then when you're the hawk or raven you use thought to change yourself back," he explained.
"How much?" Rob asked.
"20 gil." The shopkeeper replied.
"Sold." Rob said grabbing the ring and putting it on his index finger. He dumped 20 gold coins on the desk and walked out of the shop, Rubbing the gem. Much to his surprise, he wasn't too sure whether the ring would work or not, he felt himself changing. Before he knew it he had miraculously morphed into a hawk. He spread his wings and took flight.
Rob landed on Alex's shoulder, and jumped off as his friend jumped in surprise and shock. Rob changed back into his normal form and chuckled at the look of disbelief on Alex's face. "Pretty cool eh?" Rob said to Alex, Alex wearing a bamboozled expression of pure bewilderment. "Got the supplies?" Rob asked before Alex had the chance to say anything.
Alex nodded, regaining his composure. "Yes and I was just about to head back to get you." he replied.
"No need for that, we can head back to the inn now." Rob replied. "Cya there!" Rob said with a chuckle before he changed into the hawk again. He took off and soared back in the direction of the inn, leaving Alex down below.
*********
"What took you so long?" Rob said, laughing, as Alex entered the room. Augusto already had the supplies packed up, in a bag that he was carrying, Alex doing the same.
"Kupo let us get moving then, it's almost a days journey, Kupo, to the bandits cave." Augusto said, walking towards the door.
"No time to rest Alex, gotta get going." Rob said, walking out the door with Augusto. Alex sighed to himself and followed.
*********
The trio walked for hours along the hot desert plains, in the direction Augusto thought the cave was in. As they walked they talked and as they talked, the three friends got to know each other better. Finally in the distance there was what looked to be a cave entrance, leading deep into under burrows of the desert. Rob entered first, walking in carefully down deeper into the cave. It was very cold and damp and the cave walls and surface were hard and rocky. As it got deeper and deeper it gradually grew colder and darker. The group walked and walked, and reached a fork in the passage, 3 different ways to go.
"I say we split up, the passages are bound to converge sooner or later." Rob suggested. "And we have more a chance of reaching where they are this way." He added.
Augusto shook his head. "Kupo, but If we run into the bandits, One against many, Kupo, wont stand much of a chance,"
"That's a risk I'm willing to take." Rob replied.
"Kupo, as am I, Kupo. Augusto said.
"Same." Agreed Alex. Rob nodded as he entered the middle passageway. Alex took the passage to the left, and Augusto the right. Where they would end up, they did not know….
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