Chapter 1: Norune Village
Toan cautiously stepped around the corner of one of the levels in the Divine Beast Cave. He was on the second level and was very suspicious of dark places.
"Okay… safe." Toan found he was very wrong as a Dasher was dashing his way. "Aaah… no it's not safe!" He readied his sword. "Heeey! I can defeat you!" He said and killed the monster and grinned in triumph. "I think I'm getting the hang of this."
The young hero continued down the dimly lit corridor and soon ran into a new enemy, Yammich.
"What the hell is that?" He asked himself as he readied his sword once again. He killed the monster and collected the treasure near by. "Yes! Map!" He yelled happily as he held the map up in the air. He turned the corner after stashing the map somewhere within his pockets and promptly found himself on the ground. "Ouff!"
"Owie!" Cried out another male's voice, which sounded feminine.
Toan shook his head and looked across from himself at the person he'd bumped into. The boy had shoulder length golden brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing an outfit similar to Toan's, only a brown pair of pants, black boots and a black shirt under a green and light brown shawl. The Atlamillia holder blinked as he looked this boy up and down after the boy had stood up and brushed his clothes off. The boy shook his hair out and looked down at Toan. Toan couldn't help but blush.
"Are you okay, can you stand?" The boy asked worriedly.
Toan blinked. "Uh… yes. I'm fine." He replied and stood up and brushed his own clothes off, and then picked his dagger up. He then watched as the boy picked his bow and quiver of arrows up. "So… uh… what're you doing here?"
"Well… after that… thing… attacked… I ran in here." The boy replied.
"Who are you? This is a small village and I know everyone in Norune, but I've never seen you before."
"My name is Ahku." The boy, Ahku, smiled. "I migrated here recently."
"Ah." Toan whispered. It was silent for a moment as the two stared at each other. "How'd you get in here?"
. "Uh… I… followed… you."
"You followed me?" Toan asked, slightly angry. 'He must know about the fairy king then.' Toan thought.
"… Yes. I'm sorry. But I want to find my father." Ahku said sadly.
The young hero couldn't help but feel bad for sounding angry with the new comer.
"How old are you Ahku?"
"Fourteen." Ahku replied. "You didn't give me your name."
"I'm Toan." Toan replied with a smile. Ahku smiled back. "I… I'll help you find your father."
"You will?!" Ahku's eyes lit up.
Toan nodded. "I will."
"Oh thank you!" Ahku yelled and glomped Toan to the ground, his arms around Toan's neck.
"Eh!" Toan grunted as he hit the ground, his arms automatically going around the other boy's waist. He blushed madly. 'What the hell is this feeling?!' The young hero thought frantically. 'I thought this feeling was only for Paige! But now… this boy is taking over those feelings!'
"Oh. Sorry." Ahku said, blushing lightly as he stood up off of Toan and helped Toan up.
"That's alright." Toan replied and smiled charmingly at Ahku, making the boy blush lightly again. "Well… let's get moving."
Ahku nodded and followed Toan happily. Together… they defeated monsters without breaking Toan's dagger or running out of arrows for Ahku. Once they retrieved Dran's Crest, they left the dungeons and went to the mayor's house.
"Ahku, I see you are well and have met Toan!" The mayor said happily.
Ahku smiled. "Yes Mr. Mayor. I am well. Toan found me."
'More like you followed me into the cave.' Toan thought, but smiled nonetheless.
"Good job Toan." The mayor said, patting Toan's shoulder gently. "Ahku, would you like to stay here with me?"
"No, that's fine Mr. Mayor."
"I promised Ahku I would help him find his father." Toan said.
"I see. Well… here's you some more supplies and good luck."
With that… the two young boys walked back outside and into Divine Beast Cave.
"Well… here's level three. Let's hope nothing bad happens." Toan said.
Ahku nodded, walking close to Toan. As soon as they entered level three, the fairy king popped up, Ahku yelled and clung to Toan in surprise. Toan grunted and wrapped his arms around Ahku's shoulders.
'I guess he doesn't know about the fairy king.' ; Toan thought. 'Stupid Fairy King. Why won't he leave me alone? He talks way too much.'
"I see you have a companion, Toan." The fairy king said.
"Uh… yeah I do. His name is Ahku." Toan replied, scared of the sparkling, knowing look in the fairy king's eyes.
After explaining everything about fighting and upgrading weapons, which Toan tried hard to listen to the fairy king, but that was hard considering Ahku was still clinging to him; Toan and Ahku finally continued their search for the younger boy's father and the Atlas.
When they came to level four, they fought the three skeletons and Ahku had to watch with anxiousness as Toan dueled against the captain skeleton. After he defeated the skeleton, Ahku ran up to him.
"Are you alright?" Ahku asked hastily.
Toan smiled up at him warmly, bending over, hands on his knees and panting. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Ahku blushed lightly. "Good. Let's move on."
Toan nodded and opened the chests and then followed Ahku up to the door.
Entering level five, Toan held back from screaming while the Fairy King talked about attachments and power up attacks. When the Fairy King left, Ahku giggled as he watched Toan.
"I swear… I'm going to scream bloody murder if he disturbs us one more time." Toan growled.
Ahku grabbed his hand. "Come on. Let's just move on."
Toan blushed, looking down at their hands, but followed Ahku nonetheless.
They soon entered level six and saw a tan colored cat with a bell.
"Hey… it's that cat again." Toan said.
Ahku blinked. "Again?" He asked as he watched the cat run off, stop and look at them, and then run off again.
"Yeah, I saw her before I ran into you." Toan replied.
"Hm." After that, they continued on.
Basement level seven, the Fairy King returned and told the two heroes about the back floors and then popped away.
"STUPID FAIRY, QUIT STALKING US!!" Toan yelled.
Ahku laughed and quickly fired a few arrows at the skeleton that was coming their way.
"Thanks." Toan muttered and started walking on, Ahku following. They soon entered a room and saw a huge blue fish, Opar. "What the hell is that?"
Ahku just gulped.
They soon finished the seventh level and left the dungeon. Ahku watched as Toan worked the magic of the Atlamillia in awe. After reopening Gaffer's wagon, they bought supplies and returned to the Divine Beast Cave.
On level eight, they ran into Seda. Ahku held onto the back of Toan's shawl as Seda asked Toan to give him the Atlamillia. Toan looked at the stone on his hand, and then up at Seda and shook his head slowly.
"I see… So you intend to use that stone to restore the world. A noble goal… But, even if you restore the world, the destruction could repeat itself, unless you defeat the Dark Genie. Unfortunately such a task is beyond your abilities. It is a being powerful enough to destroy the world in an instant. No weapon or man can stand and face it alone…"
"Geh!" Toan's eyes narrowed slightly. "We'll see about that." He muttered.
"I've come to this place, or rather this time for that stone… I need that stone. More than you actually. There is a great deal about that stone that you don't comprehend yet. Ugh!" The man doubled over slightly, his hands on his knees.
"Eh!" Toan's eyes widened and he stepped closer to the man.
The man with the short silver hair suddenly stood straight, his eyes red.
"Toan, look out!" Ahku yelled and grabbed Toan's hand, pulling him back to him.
"Heh, heh… pardon me. I do ramble on sometimes. Well, if you will not hand over the stone willingly… then I have no choice. … Let's see what you can do, as the one supposedly entitled to the stone!"
"Toan, be careful!" Ahku yelled again when Seda suddenly attacked him.
Toan dodged and jumped over Seda and landed behind him. Seda turned around and held his sword out. The two and slowly circled, then Seda held his sword up and swung at Toan, but the young hero dodged again and slide away on the ground. Seda smirked.
"Hmm, you did quite well. How's this then?" A purple ball charged in his hand.
Toan swallowed and stepped back, and then he noticed the cat and Ahku behind him. "Geh!" He looked back at Seda and quickly held his sword up just as Seda fired the magical attack. Toan fell to the ground just as the attack ended.
Seda smirked and walked toward Toan. Toan glared up at him and wiped the blood from his lip. Ahku fought back the urge to run over and attack Seda, knowing it would be useless and Toan wouldn't want him to get hurt, as they've spent many days fighting and saving each other's lives.
"Hmph, you amuse me boy. You can't even handle an attack as meager as this? You cannot be worthy of the stone. Huh!" Seda blinked when he saw the cat growling up at him and standing beside Toan, and then Ahku holding an arrow at the ready to fire at him. "Ha… ha, ha, ha, ha… It's not that you couldn't dodge… You simply didn't dodge… Deliberately. Fine then… That's it for today. I think I'm beginning to see why the fairies chose you. It will be amusing to see how well you do." With that, Seda turned around and started walking away. He looked over his shoulder at Toan.
"I will offer you some free information though. You cannot defeat the Dark Genie even with the stone. Not yet. If you have even a vague desire to defeat it, you must become stronger. Oh, I almost forgot… I have a gift for you."
Toan stood up and caught the item that Seda threw at him.
"Have that little one return you the favor." Seda said. "See you soon." He turned back around and walked away, fading slowly.
Toan looked down at the cat and reached down to touch it, but the cat ran off and turned into an Atla. The young hero blinked in surprise.
"Toan!" Ahku yelled.
Toan turned around only to be glomped by his partner in saving the village… now the world.
"Oh Toan! I was so worried he was going to kill you!" Ahku cried his arms around Toan's waist and head in his chest.
Toan blinked rapidly, before smiling and wrapping his arms around Ahku's shoulders and holding him while petting his head. "It's alright Ahku. I'm fine." He said.
Ahku looked up at him and blinked, a tear sliding down his cheek. Toan smiled down at him and lifted a hand, gently wiping the tear away with his thumb. Ahku smiled.
"Come on. Let's get a move on." Toan said gently.
Ahku nodded and put his bow over his shoulder. When the two learned they couldn't cross the river, they left the Divine Beast Cave and helped more people with their houses.
"Let's go check on my mom." Toan said and Ahku nodded and followed him toward Toan's house.
"Oh. You came in just in time. Look."
Toan and Ahku looked at the stray cat on the table and blinked.
"A little kitty cat wandered in here."
The cat jumped off the table and into Toan's arms and nuzzled him. Ahku smiled and petted her.
"Toan, let's give this kitty a name, alright?"
"Xiao! That's a good name. Your name is Xiao. Hi Xiao." Xiao just mowed at Renee.
Toan gave Xiao the changing potion he got from Seda and watched in amazement as she turned into a human with ears, claws and a tail. Ahku gripped the back of Toan's shawl.
"What…? What's this?! Whoa, I'm like, totally a human!" Xiao leaned toward Toan. "Wow, how did you do it? Master, are you a wizard?"
"No." Toan replied, looking over his shoulder at Ahku. Ahku shrugged.
"Oh well, never mind. Well anyways… Xiao wants to help master and master's boyfriend with the adventure!"
"BOYFRIEND?!" Both Toan and Ahku yelled at the same time.
"Please, can I? Please, please, please?! Say yes, say yes!"
"Uh… sure." Toan said, looking to Ahku, who just nods.
Downstairs, Renee sees Xiao, who's holding and nuzzling Toan's leg and Toan just rubs his head. Ahku couldn't help but feel jealous while watching.
"Oh, is this a new friend? I haven't seen her around here."
"Uh…" Renee smiled and walked away when Toan wouldn't answer.
'Toan…'
Toan blinked. "Huh?" Then blackness surrounded him and Ahku.
"Ha ha ha… It's been a while eh, Toan?"
"Not really." Toan grumbled to himself, Ahku smiled.
"Ah, so you have another ally to help you through your adventure. Now, let me give you some tips about allies."
'Oh damn. Not another 'tip'!' Toan thought wearily. Ahku giggled and Toan glared at him playfully. They continued to stare at each other, secretly knowing the other was beginning to fall in love with the other as the old fairy king gave his 'tip'.
"So long. Ha ha ha…"
Toan sighed in relieve and walked out of his house, Ahku following closely behind. "Stupid old fairy." The young hero grumbled. Ahku smiled. "Well… let's get back to the cave and continue."
"Yes." Ahku nodded.
"Ow!" Toan yelled when a mimic hit him. "Take this!"
Ahku sighed dramatically, watching Toan destroy the treasure box mimic.
Ahku shot at a bat while Toan fought another mimic a few rooms later.
After level nine, they helped more people and went into Claude's house, which Claude was in the shower.
"Eew!" Ahku hid his face in Toan's shoulder.
They gathered more supplies, since they now had a new team member, and returned to the cave once more.
In level eleven, the two heroes couldn't go and Xiao was summoned alone, so they waited outside the cave, sitting down and leaning against the rock wall next to each other, shoulders touching. Ahku shyly looked over at Toan and watched him. Toan's eyes were closed, feeling the light, cool breeze. He blushed lightly and smiled warmly.
A soft snore caught his attention and he blinked when he realized Toan was sleeping.
"Ack!" Ahku promptly fell over in surprise. He blinked and looked up at Toan and his eyes widened when he saw Toan falling toward him. "Toan!"
Toan's eyes blinked open just as their lips meet in a sweet, innocent kiss. He was lying on top of Ahku, flush against his body. Both their eyes widened and it took them a moment to register that they were kissing.
"Ack!" Toan yelped and quickly got off of Ahku, blushing. "I'm so sorry!"
Ahku slowly sat up, blushing as well. "I-It's alright."
Toan swallowed thickly and they were quiet the rest of the time until Xiao came back out triumphantly. After buying more supplies, the trio headed back into the Divine Beast Cave. They completed another level and helped more villagers and once again gathered more supplies. The rest of the levels were defeated without problem. Toan and Ahku were quiet and said hardly any words to each other.
As they walked into Paige's house, Ahku felt jealous again, knowing the girl had a crush on Toan. He looked away as the girl fastened the new pouch on Toan's belt. Toan saw the look in Ahku's eyes and had to hide a smirk.
"Okay guys. This is it, the Divine Beast's Chamber. Are you ready?"
"I am." Ahku replied.
"Yeah!" Xiao exclaimed.
Toan smiled and stepped up to the door, holding the key in one hand and his dagger in the other. The three slowly stepped inside.
"We'll have to work as a team!" Toan yelled as the Fairy King told them that Dran was being manipulated.
Toan and Ahku looked at each other and nodded. 'Here goes nothing.' They thought together. Ten breads and a bunch of scratches later, Dran was back to normal. Ahku clung to Toan's side as Dran flew them out of the cave. Toan grinned and held Ahku close.
"Well… now that everyone is happy and everything is back t-"
"Ahku, there you are!!"
Toan and Ahku both turned around to see a man that looked similar to Ahku and standing at least 6'1" running over to them.
"Papa, you're alright!" Ahku yelled and ran over to the man, glomping him.
Toan smiled, but he couldn't help but feel a little lonely, thinking Ahku was going to stay here while he went to save the rest of the world. He watched as Ahku pulled his father over to him.
"You must be Toan."
"Yes sir." Toan nodded.
"Thank you so much for everything you've done. Ahku tells me he wishes to join you on your adventure."
Toan looked at Ahku and Ahku smiled at him.
"I give him permission to go with you. But I ask you to please watch over him."
"Don't worry Sir. He's safe with me." Toan replied, looking at Ahku still.
"Good. Well… I have some things to take care of. Take care you two and good luck." He hugged his son one last time before walking off.
Ahku stepped up to Toan, who looked away. "Thought you'd be rid of me so easily did you?"
Toan smiled, still looking down. "I… I had thought you would stay home with your father."
"Nah, it's too boring here! I'm like you and want adventure!" Ahku smiled. He noticed how Toan kept his head down. "Toan… what's wrong?"
Toan stepped closer to Ahku and hugged him tightly. Ahku gasped softly and blushed as some of the villagers watched them.
"I don't know if I would be able to save the world without you Ahku." Toan whispered, one hand gripping Ahku's hair gently and the other around his waist, face buried in the other boy's neck.
Ahku smiled and wrapped his arms around Toan in return. "Of course you wouldn't have. We're a team, partners."
Toan looked at Ahku and grinned.
"Now… let's go to Mataki Village."
Toan nodded and the two let go of each other and he got out the map. Ahku placed a hand on Toan's shoulder as Toan placed a finger on the dot symbolizing Mataki Village.