DISCLAIMER – Final Fantasy IX and all related characters and products are
the property of Square-Enix. I don't claim to own them so I won't be
blamed for anything. I hope that you enjoy this addition to the story.
Please read and review!
It was early in the morning; the sun had just risen over the horizon, bringing its bright rays to light the new day. The sky was clear and blue, covered only in a few places by large, billowing nimbus clouds, seeming to smile down on the lush green landscape. On a distant beach, far from any real signs of civilization, the waves rolled in, leaving their soft white froth over the pearly sands. For Mira, the day had begun like any other. She had risen early, fed her pet Chocobo, Fern, tended to her small garden, and visited her parents' grave. She lived in the now deserted and ruined village of Jero. Her family had been the city's final inhabitants and now that her parents were gone, she was alone. However, Mira never gave into despair, for ever since she was a small child, Fern had befriended her. The former inhabitants of the village had left just after Mira had been born. They had seen that there was nothing left for the small village, its isolation from the world had left it poor and broken. Although legends told of ancient friendships between mythical places like Alexandria, Madain Sari, and the village of Jero, any connection had long since ended. However, Mira's family was the last of the island's inhabitants, the village had been practically wiped out by a hurricane several years ago. Mira's mother was too sickly for there to be any hope of escaping island, not that there was any to begin with. As time went on, Mira's mother grew worse and worse, despite the constant care of her father. In time, her mother passed away and soon after, her father, both from exhaustion and sorrow, began to fade himself. Within a year of her mother's death, Mira saw her father slip slowly away until he himself died. And so before she even reached the age of 13, Mira had buried her parents in the green hills of Jero. Mira had become accustomed to living on her own, she could provide for herself and for Fern, living without cares from day to day. Mira had lived this way for nearly six years and today marked her 18th birthday.
Over the years, the young girl had grown into a beautiful woman. Mira had shiny black hair that fell lightly over her smooth shoulders. Her simple skirt and her white shirt accentuated her trim body, helping to further radiate her beauty. Her soft cherry lips seldom concealed her shimmering smile, often displayed although no one was ever there to see it. However, it was her eyes that made her most stunning, the same eyes that her mother had. Her deep blue eyes could pierce the soul, making one feel very vulnerable and yet, very secure all in the same instant. But despite all of her beauty, she was alone, destined to be alone forever it seemed. The island paradise on which she lived was surrounded by a reef, completely inaccessible by sea, and seemly shielded by ever changing wind currents that prevented any access by air. On this, the day of her 18th birthday, Mira's life would change forever. Her decision to walk on the beach would forever alter not only her life, but the lives of many others who she did not yet know.
Mira walked slowly, allowing the soft white sands to slip between her toes and watching the blue waves crash and roll onto the beach. She stopped for a moment to sweep up a shell from the beach. It was a conch shell and the beautiful pearly interior reflected the sunlight as she gazed into it. She held it up to her ear, listening to hear the sound of the ocean. She lowered it and laughed, realized that she wouldn't be able to hear the tiny ocean inside the shell as she stood on the real beach. She glanced out at the water once again, taking in all of the beauty. Suddenly, she saw something large fall over one of the waves. She took a few quick strides towards the ocean. She held up her hand to shield her eyes from the burning sun. Slowly, she was able to make out the figure of a boy draped over a log of some kind. She immediately acted, running out into the water and diving in when she was deep enough. Swimming was always one of Mira's favorite activities and she had gotten quite good at it. In no time at all, she had reached the boy, taken hold of him, and swum back to shore. She laid him out on the sand, checking for signs of breathing. She was at once taken with his appearance. He had a head full of straggly, dirty blonde hair that fell almost to his shoulders. A peaceful look rested on his face and he had resumed a steady breathing. His shirt had been mostly torn away and what remained looked archaic. He was trim but muscular, his strength was readily apparent by his hardened body. He had assorted scars scattered on his torso, Mira gathered that he must have been through some terrible experience. He had no serious injuries that Mira could see and except for being exhausted, he appeared in perfect health. Mira called Fern; she decided she should take him back to what remained of her village to care for him. She didn't know what she was doing; it had been years since she'd seen another person, much less a guy. Despite this, she had been brought up to always help those in need and she saw that he needed her help. Fern arrived, digging her head under the boy and tossing him onto her back. Mira mounted Fern as well and they moved swiftly towards the village. As the breeze blew past them, the boy's hair fell over his face. Mira gently brushed it back, keeping her hand on his head as she stared at the sleeping boy.
It wasn't long until they reached the village; Mira quickly carried the boy into her hut. It had been an interesting birthday. Her life had just seen a drastic change. Even sleeping, this boy was the first human contact she had had in years. She was filled with a sense of fear, anticipation, and a feeling that she could not yet put words to. She didn't know how long he would sleep or what he'd been through. However, the one thing she did know was that when he woke up, he would probably be hungry. Mira promptly began cooking her favorite meal, hoping that he would like it as well.
It was early in the morning; the sun had just risen over the horizon, bringing its bright rays to light the new day. The sky was clear and blue, covered only in a few places by large, billowing nimbus clouds, seeming to smile down on the lush green landscape. On a distant beach, far from any real signs of civilization, the waves rolled in, leaving their soft white froth over the pearly sands. For Mira, the day had begun like any other. She had risen early, fed her pet Chocobo, Fern, tended to her small garden, and visited her parents' grave. She lived in the now deserted and ruined village of Jero. Her family had been the city's final inhabitants and now that her parents were gone, she was alone. However, Mira never gave into despair, for ever since she was a small child, Fern had befriended her. The former inhabitants of the village had left just after Mira had been born. They had seen that there was nothing left for the small village, its isolation from the world had left it poor and broken. Although legends told of ancient friendships between mythical places like Alexandria, Madain Sari, and the village of Jero, any connection had long since ended. However, Mira's family was the last of the island's inhabitants, the village had been practically wiped out by a hurricane several years ago. Mira's mother was too sickly for there to be any hope of escaping island, not that there was any to begin with. As time went on, Mira's mother grew worse and worse, despite the constant care of her father. In time, her mother passed away and soon after, her father, both from exhaustion and sorrow, began to fade himself. Within a year of her mother's death, Mira saw her father slip slowly away until he himself died. And so before she even reached the age of 13, Mira had buried her parents in the green hills of Jero. Mira had become accustomed to living on her own, she could provide for herself and for Fern, living without cares from day to day. Mira had lived this way for nearly six years and today marked her 18th birthday.
Over the years, the young girl had grown into a beautiful woman. Mira had shiny black hair that fell lightly over her smooth shoulders. Her simple skirt and her white shirt accentuated her trim body, helping to further radiate her beauty. Her soft cherry lips seldom concealed her shimmering smile, often displayed although no one was ever there to see it. However, it was her eyes that made her most stunning, the same eyes that her mother had. Her deep blue eyes could pierce the soul, making one feel very vulnerable and yet, very secure all in the same instant. But despite all of her beauty, she was alone, destined to be alone forever it seemed. The island paradise on which she lived was surrounded by a reef, completely inaccessible by sea, and seemly shielded by ever changing wind currents that prevented any access by air. On this, the day of her 18th birthday, Mira's life would change forever. Her decision to walk on the beach would forever alter not only her life, but the lives of many others who she did not yet know.
Mira walked slowly, allowing the soft white sands to slip between her toes and watching the blue waves crash and roll onto the beach. She stopped for a moment to sweep up a shell from the beach. It was a conch shell and the beautiful pearly interior reflected the sunlight as she gazed into it. She held it up to her ear, listening to hear the sound of the ocean. She lowered it and laughed, realized that she wouldn't be able to hear the tiny ocean inside the shell as she stood on the real beach. She glanced out at the water once again, taking in all of the beauty. Suddenly, she saw something large fall over one of the waves. She took a few quick strides towards the ocean. She held up her hand to shield her eyes from the burning sun. Slowly, she was able to make out the figure of a boy draped over a log of some kind. She immediately acted, running out into the water and diving in when she was deep enough. Swimming was always one of Mira's favorite activities and she had gotten quite good at it. In no time at all, she had reached the boy, taken hold of him, and swum back to shore. She laid him out on the sand, checking for signs of breathing. She was at once taken with his appearance. He had a head full of straggly, dirty blonde hair that fell almost to his shoulders. A peaceful look rested on his face and he had resumed a steady breathing. His shirt had been mostly torn away and what remained looked archaic. He was trim but muscular, his strength was readily apparent by his hardened body. He had assorted scars scattered on his torso, Mira gathered that he must have been through some terrible experience. He had no serious injuries that Mira could see and except for being exhausted, he appeared in perfect health. Mira called Fern; she decided she should take him back to what remained of her village to care for him. She didn't know what she was doing; it had been years since she'd seen another person, much less a guy. Despite this, she had been brought up to always help those in need and she saw that he needed her help. Fern arrived, digging her head under the boy and tossing him onto her back. Mira mounted Fern as well and they moved swiftly towards the village. As the breeze blew past them, the boy's hair fell over his face. Mira gently brushed it back, keeping her hand on his head as she stared at the sleeping boy.
It wasn't long until they reached the village; Mira quickly carried the boy into her hut. It had been an interesting birthday. Her life had just seen a drastic change. Even sleeping, this boy was the first human contact she had had in years. She was filled with a sense of fear, anticipation, and a feeling that she could not yet put words to. She didn't know how long he would sleep or what he'd been through. However, the one thing she did know was that when he woke up, he would probably be hungry. Mira promptly began cooking her favorite meal, hoping that he would like it as well.
