Hello, everyone! I've been writing other fan fictions – primarily for the game and anime Blue Dragon – but this is my first Crystal Chronicles story, so I hope it goes okay… This story is mostly just a collection of oneshots and drabbles about Tipa's caravan, meant to be little moments that are precious to them when things get hard. However, there will be about two or three chapters that close this thing out, with a twist on the regular storyline of Crystal Chronicles. Despite some flaws that I take issue to (mostly only the use of the GBA in multiplayer), I really do love this game, and while I know this little story probably won't be as good as some of the other fantastic, amazing stories I've seen for the game on this site in the past (er… probably rather distant past, now that I think about it), I'm still hoping that someone who reads it will enjoy it. :) Before we get started, though, let me introduce our caravan:
Amelia Applewood: Female, Clavat, Long Hair, Blacksmith's Daughter
Ellarick Hane (Erik): Male, Lilty, Bare Head, Alchemist's Son
Aryllis Duvielle: Female, Yuke, Spiral, Merchant's Daughter
Han Naa (Hannah): Female, Selkie, Owl Head, Rancher's Daughter
May Lockhill: Female, Clavat, Short Hair, Tailor's Daughter
Mirna Faust: Female, Lilty, Bare Head, Fisherman's Daughter
Elias Triae: Male, Yuke, Long Beak, Farmer's Son
Ana Lu: Female, Selkie, Wolfie, Miller's Daughter
(Note: The nicknames "Erik" and "Hannah" were bestowed by Amelia, and ended up being used so commonly that everyone who knew them referred to them as such. Amelia herself is sometimes fondly called "Amy" by May, and "Lia" by Aryllis and Elias.) (Note's Note: Probably should've tried to make a reference to all of that in-story, but I couldn't think of a good time to mention it. XD)
Now, while this is the caravan that's used for Wherever the Wind May Blow and any stories relating to it, there's also another caravan that I prefer using for what I consider my "main" Crystal Chronicles story (which is still in the process of being formulated). The characters above, though, will still appear with the same names and appearance, albeit with different family professions. That's all that I have to bother you with for the moment, though. After the disclaimer, read on! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. Or any other Final Fantasy game, for that matter. Um… Does something else go over here? XD
She wakes to the sound of her father hammering metal, as she does every morning. There was a hinting bite of chill in the air, and it made her want to curl underneath the blankets to sleep for another hour, when Mother would have breakfast ready.
But she knew it was an hour better spent to play, and would be time she couldn't get back later.
In moments, she was outside, securing her trusty feather pin to the hair tie that reached to just below her shoulder blades. Father told her to not be late before wishing her well; she responded that she would, and waved before running off.
It was dawn, and the sun hadn't quite risen yet, leaving the entire village of Tipa blanketed in a purplish-bluish hue - because of the things she associated with this time of day, that color had become one of her favorites (though, truth be told, she really had no favorite - she loved all colors, for to her, each of them held a unique and wonderful value).
She turned the corner, and the little house came into view. The small abode rested against the hillside as if it were a bed. Seeing it that way, she could almost imagine it waking up with the sun just like many of the villagers did.
"Foo!" She waved to her friend's older sister, who was tending flowers on the other side of fence. "'Morning!"
"Good morning." The Selkie girl smiled at her, then gestured backwards. "Sis is already waiting for you with him."
"Thank you!" She gave a quick bow, and then scurried under the fence planks.
The hill was a sea of green, waving grass, dotted here and there with black and white cows (though some were a solid white or black). Only one of them, though, happened to be the family pet - a young cow by the name of Patch, who wore a bell. And sitting next to and petting that cow was her best friend, Han Naa.
"Amelia!" She stood, grinning from ear to ear. "You're here! Let's go find Pa - I already asked him, and he said we could ride today as long as he watches us!"
She took Han's hand, and the bigger girl led them to her pa. He was stroking the back of a cow, and as he turned, they could see the animal being fed by a little boy with a black headband and hair the color of chestnuts...
A bump in the road is what wakes her. She rouses slow, long chocolate hair tumbling down her back. When not tied, it reaches half an inch past her hips now.
A few minutes later, she sits in front of her little mirror, which she's propped up on a box, all of her hair collected in one hand as she brushes it with the other. The strokes are in time with Erik's soft, endearing snores.
Once her bandana is in place - that's what she clips her feather pin to now - she carefully makes her way across the shapes of her fellow Tipa-landers, her childhood friends. Only after stepping over the last form does she stop, reaching down to tuck her best friend's hair behind her ear. Hannah mumbles in her sleep. Amelia smiles and continues on.
She pushes the curtain aside, stepping out and closing it behind her, breathing in the crisp morning air. It's not the same as Tipa, but the dusty road still holds that bluish-purple, or purplish-blue. Her favorite color. Or one of them, anyway.
She perches on the caravan's back plank, dangling her feet over the edge. In a little while, she'll go say good morning to Ana, who will probably give her that quiet smile of hers, and to Blu, their papaomus. Maybe she'll even sit with the older Selkie girl and watch what's still to come. For now, though, she will be at the back, eyes taking in what has already passed.
She takes out the paper that is always carefully folded in her coat pocket. She brushes fingers longingly across the sketch of a hope and a promise, and thinks optimistically that maybe today will be the day. After all, like Hannah always says, "Sometimes you might be waiting til dawn, but eventually the cows will always come home."
Maybe today will be the day that he comes home, too.
… And the first one is done! :D Shorter than my original intention, but I think it works, so… Sorry if there wasn't much description about Amelia's sketch; it's going to be explained later, so for now I wanted it to be something that was only alluded to.
If you have a chance, please review and let me know what you think of it! :) The next part is done, and will be uploaded right after this. I also have a oneshot that's almost done, relating to Wherever the Wind May Blow, which should be up pretty soon. In addition to that, there were some forums for Crystal Chronicles on this site that I was interested in (especially the challenges, though it's been four months since I saw them, so things might be different now), so if I manage to talk to someone about participating, you may find me around there, too. Anyway... That's all for now. See you soon! :)