Disclaimer: I do not own any races, places, and all that are part of Final Fantasy XII. All names, races, places in Final Fantasy XII rightfully belong to Square-Enix. I only own Original Characters that I have named, which are Kevin and Cliff.
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"Wake up, kupo!"
"Huh?"
"Kupo! Wake up!"
"Who's there?
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"Ungh…wha?" He saw a pair of large blue eyes as he opened his own. Still drowsy, he shook his head, and adjusted to the sunlight behind the figure. Eventually, he noticed that he was lying down, and hovering over him was a Moogle. It sounded like a young one, he could tell by his voice from earlier. He had white fur and blue eyes, and wore a green coat over a white-ish blue undershirt. He had a short figure; well, shorter than most common Moogle. He wasn't very chubby, and even more to the boy's amazement, not 'flat' at all, which, the boy lying down figured, was very common to see in this city. He gave a hum as he remembered something just then, finally awoke from his stupor. With a groan, the boy got up and stretched his hands and legs. Brushing dust off his garments, he looked down on the Moogle.
"Hey, do you know why was I asleep…on the street?" the boy asked the Moogle, who shook his head, his dangling red pom-pom following suit.
"How should I know, kupo?" The Moogle answered. "It's very common to see some people falling down on the street because they're drunk, but not children, kupo."
"Hmm…let's see, lemme try to remember something.," the boy thought hard about what he was doing before he fell asleep.
"Um…I finally came back here since we were free to return to this place…what was it called? Rabanastre, that's it." The Moogle stood there, intently listening to his story. "I came from the south because our family was staying there with our relatives because of the war ending. And, we didn't exactly wanted to come back here because of The Empire being here occupying this place, and---"
"Kupo! Don't say that here!" The Moogle quickly hushed him.
"What? Why?" he glanced around. The Moogle gave a worried look on the boy. "Oh, right! Now I remember! Thankfully, no one's here." He found that he was standing in a large rock-paved pathway, which lead people to and fro from the Giza Plains, a glorious wetland during the rain season, but a mere dried-out meadow during the current dry season, and the massive gates to Rabanastre, an incredible city built as part of Dalmasca—well, it once belonged to Dalmasca, but the kingdom had long since fallen for two years. A little further off the pathway and he would be in the Chocobo stables, a place where people can rent Chocobo for rides.
"Oh! I forgot!" The boy quickly turned back to the Moogle, and did a bow of the head. "I forgot to thank you. Thank you for waking me up!" his face blushed with embarrassment. "Uh…I need to go look for my parents." He turned around, left and right, then, his both his head and shoulders slumped. "Where are they, anyway?"
"They're probably inside, kupo. They could've come back for you, but the Empire isn't letting anyone back out once they go in, kupo. Pretty soon, no one's allowed to go in either."
"But why?" the boy suddenly remembered a string of events before he fainted. "Oh, isn't it the day the new consul comes to Rabanastre?"
"That's right, kupo. And we'd better go inside and see if you're parents are waiting."
"Hmm…they mentioned something else when we were going here, something about a Michael or something…Miguel? Well, I know he sells stuff. That's all I remember." The Moogle gave a kupo with the same tone one would say 'Aha!'
"You mean Migelo, kupo? He's one famous person around here that sells lots of things." The boy nodded.
"That's right! Migelo…" his voice trailed off. "Thing is, I haven't been here in so long, I'm not so sure where it is!"
"I can take you to him, kupo." The Moogle offered his hand. The boy took his hands in great appreciation.
"Really? Thank you!" he was shaking very hard that the Moogle found it hard to stay still.
"Kupo! Can you stop now? This shaking is making me slightly dizzy!" the boy realized what he had done, and stopped and bowed his head again, with his eyes closed and face red with another sudden burst of embarrassment.
"I'm sorry! I got carried away! I'm really sorry!"
"You don't have to apologize all the time, kupo…its okay." The Moogle was ready to offer his hand once more, but quickly withdrew it remembering what had just happened. "I'm Kevin, kupo!"
"And I'm Cliff."
The two worked their way past rushing people desperate to make it inside Rabanastre in time before the gates would be closed. Being the shortest group of people, it wasn't very easy for them to stay together. Cliff managed to get glances from here and there around the hulking figures of Hume, Seeq and Bangaa alike. He caught sight of the Chocobo stables, with a wooden frame before the room holding several Chocobo having their feed, while some people were arguing with the Moogle who was in charge of the stables on how unfair it was why the stables were closed. He also saw the fabled 'Save Crystal', a haven for every adventuring party. It was known to them as a means of healing quickly, and can save those dying with but a touch. The crystal was about as tall as he was, and it was slightly hovering over the ground, spinning gently. It was illuminated in blue, with a harmonic hue.
After waiting in a line, the two had managed to enter into Rabanastres southern plaza. There was a fountain in the middle, water spouted around it. Several people were being ushered into an exit from the fountain and everywhere in the plaza—to the bazaar or to the shops—whichever one they were near to. It was very difficult for two very short individuals to see anything in this place among the larger society. Lowtown, the lower section of Rabanastre deep underground, had its entrances sealed off. Cliff and Kevin made their way into the shopping area. This section was more crowded than ever—it seemed like half of Rabanastres population was all cramped here.
"Th-this place is giving me a headache!" Cliff complained.
"You tell me, kupo! The entire new consul's arrival is getting everybody worked up; no one can do anything in peace, kupo!" Kevin was practically shouting over the large bustle. Without even knowing, Kevin was leading Cliff by pulling him by hand. Passing through more crowds and several twists and turns, Kevin finally stopped in front of a shop, with a sign labeled 'Migelo's Sundries'. "This is the place, kupo!" Kevin signaled towards the door. "After you, kupo."
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This is Rabanastre. Once the capital city of the Kingdom of Dalmasca, now under the hard iron fist of the Empire of Archadia. Two years ago, the Knights had taken up swords to defend themselves from an invasion. Lacking superior firepower and preparation, the knights had been decimated, and many had died. Countless innocents had been lost. Many refugees had fled to other, farther nations. The King had been offered a treaty to allow the Empire into Dalmasca, and, the king, who had lost his own newly-wed son, accepted. On the night the peace-treaty was to be signed, a group of people believing that this was more of an 'unconditional surrender' had made a desperate assault into the castle. Every one had been slain. Captain Basch Von Rosenburg had killed every single one of the men, and the king, before Basch was brought into custody by the Empire. Because of the murder of the king, the treaty had not been signed; and the Empire had now complete access into Dalmasca, and entered by force. People of Dalmasca now scorned Basch Von Rosenburg, and the Marquis Ondore of Bhjeurba had executed Basch for high treason.
The people of Rabanastre were poor. Rabanastrians with insufficient Gil were sent to what was a storage deposit in years back, called Lowtown. The place is dirty and littered. It stood next to sewers, and yet people tried to make a living. People had suffered dearly. Every minute, Imperials in Rabanastre are constantly watching. Searching. For any soul who breaks any law or even gets in their way, are caught and most of the time sent to prison. They have no care for the people and trample over them. The Rabanastrians despise the Imperials. Every second, one more soul loses hope of escaping the hell which is the Empire. Many tried to fight back, but were taken down quickly. Today was the day the city was to receive a new consul. Many weren't thrilled at the thought—thinking he would be just another Imperial.
This is the story of another group of individuals. Another group that crosses lines with Vaan's. A parallel story to his journey. They will face the same foes, have the same allies, and fight the same battles—all at different as well as at same times and places.
