"Have I ever told you about the time I caught a whale of a fish?" a fisherman said.
"You will not believe the monster I took down." a knight said.
"I just came back from the most amazing place. Wanna hear?" a traveler said.
The town of Tales, a very popular place in the Adventure Universe where stories are alive and well. Almost everyone here has a tale to tell as well as keeping the largest record of stories ever known. And it is here that our heroes have come.
"The town of Tales. From what I've heard, everyone has a story to tell here." Cia said.
"I'd bet. This place seems very lively." Sachiko said.
"There is so much you could learn of here. Legends, Myths, and People." Lana said.
"It's like a HUB world in RPGs where you can share info and everything. Everyone here has their own story to tell." Kendo said.
"And those stories are exactly why we're here. Well, not exactly any ordinary ones." Hope said.
"Yes, the Tale of the Dancer, which is part of several others." Ace said.
"I did some searching around. It turns out that Dancer story was one of eight stories. Paimon only told us the first… there are seven more that are either known or told. That's why the locals call all eight stories the Eight Tales of Legend." Tails said.
"Incredible. But where should we start our search?" Reflet asked. "Is there a library somewhere in this town?"
"Reflet, you can't possibly expect that these Eight Legendary Stories could be found in an ordinary library." Mahiru said.
"She's right. If these stories were so legendary, why would just anyone have access to to them. I think we should look for Cobalt and see if he knows something." David said.
"Cobalt?" Ace asked.
"He was the Adventure Universe rep in the WBC. He didn't seem like much during the tournament, but his heart is as pure as gold, I can guarantee that." David said.
"He's a hardcore Adventurer. His dream is to gather the ultimate RPG party and ...What was the rest?" Hope asked.
"Cobalt's actually changed his plans. He's actually trying to gather people to form a guild here." Jexi said.
"A guild?" Sachiko asked.
"A guild is sort of like...a place for adventurers to find work." Jade said.
"Take Team Natsu for example, they're part of a guild called Fairy Tail on their world." Roy said.
"Jexi...friends!" A voice shouted as they saw Cobalt waving to them. "It's been to long dear comrades."
"So this is Cobalt. He seems cheerful." Ace said.
"So...you decided to follow my advice after all. Glad you did." Cobalt said.
"Thanks...so where's Emerald?" Jexi asked.
"He's waiting for us at the temple...the one uphill." Cobalt said.
"Could you take us there?" Al asked.
"Why do you think I'm here?" Cobalt said.
"Well, let's go!" Luffy said.
They traveled across the town taking in the sights before they came to a large temple where Emerald waited outside.
"Ah...you finally arrived with your friends and...Ah!" Emerald said seeing Mari as he rushed to her and grabbed her hand. "Young lady! I've seen it in your eyes! Your days of loneliness are over! I insist you marry me!"
"W-w-w-What?" Mari said a bit flustered with red cheeks.
"Is he a ladies man?" Hope asked Cobalt.
"Unfortunately. He's the biggest womanizer in the entire land." Cobalt said.
"Just like Sanji in a way." Ace said.
"But why did he go for Mari?" Al asked.
"He has this foolish belief that the first woman to meet his glance within 24 hours is his one true love." Cobalt said.
"O-Oh my, I'm really flattered, but why don't we take it slow first?" Mari said.
"Dangit Mari, avert your eyes! Don't fall to the temptation!" Stoj said.
"Look, we didn't come here to get Mari engaged. We're here because of the Eight Tales of Legend." Hope said.
"We just call them the eight tales." Cobalt said. "And yes. Emerald...she hates you."
"Gah!" Emerald said as he collapsed before rising back up. "It is a shame...but I shall never forget her. Now let's go." He said as they headed inside.
"Well he recovered from that quickly." Al said as she saw Mari with flushed cheeks still.
"Are you gonna be okay, Mari?" Hiyoko asked.
"Y-Yeah, I'll be fine. Come on." Mari said.
"So why come to this temple?" Hope asked.
"It is here that the last keeper of these ancient tales is located along with the gates that lead there." Cobalt said.
"Sounds pretty cool. Has anyone ever attempted to live these tales before?" Kaminari asked.
"Live them? Such foolishness. No, they go through to witness them firsthand." Emerald said. "Such silliness from these non adventurers."
"I have 'Adventurers' in my group name, if you must know." David said.
"Quiet all of you. We approach." Cobalt said as they entered a room with eight gates and in the center was a sage in a chair sitting with dignity.
"I shall talk with him." Emerald said. "Noble sage...I ask of you...the tales." he said but received no answer. Only to see the sage with his eyes closed and snoring.
"What? He's asleep?!" Usopp, Chopper and Kaminari said.
"Should we wake him up? Or would that just aggravate him?" Ochako asked.
"Well seems things never get old. This group is still full of those who just ask questions and state the obvious." A voice said.
"Wait...I know this voice." Hope said turning around to see a familiar thief. "Hello, Jack."
"Brother." Jack said.
"What brings you here?" Hope asked. "Come to steal from the Adventure Universe?"
"No, I'm here for charity..of course I'm stealing! I wouldn't be much of a thief if I didn't steal." Jack said.
"What's in your sights then?" Hope said.
"Not telling." Jack said smirking.
"You haven't changed either." Ace said.
"Wait...I know you. You're that thief from the museum!" Luna said.
"Ah yeah. You were with that Coalition I humiliated. Ah...good times." Jack said.
"That was our first heist." Joker said.
"Technically it was mine since I did all the work on that one." Jack said.
"Guys! Can we focus on the sage? We're all here for one reason or another, and that concerns these tales." Mahiru said.
"She's right. We're all here for research on these tales." A voice said as Harumi descended from the shadows.
"Wah!" Luna said. "Harumi?! Don't scare people like that, you almost shocked me to death!"
"I am an assassin. Sticking with the shadows is sort of what I do." Harumi said.
"Yeah...and it's fun. Boo." Another voice said as Zexi dropped behind Lucy making her scream.
"You too?!" Lucy said.
"Lucy, with all due respect, this is Zexi were talking about." Hope smiled. "So I guess you heard about the tales too?"
"Yeah...remember when we did the Hyrule redux...well around the same time Sunset claimed the medal from that Yamatobokeru guy...another city rose up in New World." Zexi said.
"It did? Wow… it's almost as if it made it on its own. Could New World be… Alive?" Robin said.
"Anyway...there were some ruins that showed this temple." Zexi said. "So we came here."
"It was almost like it wanted you to come here." Hope said.
"Yeah...seems fate kinda weird in that way." Another voice said as they saw Ty approaching with the remaining Neo Dimensional Heroes not far behind.
"Ty." Hope said. "Wait… where's your team?"
"That's what I came here for. About a week ago, Gowther started to act strangely about his ideals about memory. He wanted to see how it worked, even if it meant using his own magic on us. There was a big fight, and it seemed like we stopped Gowther, but there was a feeling in my gut that he was just getting started. And that wasn't it. In the grapevine, I started hearing these weird rumors. The dead were suddenly coming back to life everywhere."
"The dead… Coming back to life?" Takeshi asked.
"Trust me...it sounded weird too so I sent my team to investigate...but none of them came back. Then...when I was about to go out to look. I found a note telling me to come here if I wanna find them." Ty said.
"So it looks like you're here for reasons. You poor guy." Hope said.
"Don't I know it…. But I feel like there's something about coming here that'll lead me to something else. Someone i think finding will be the most happiest thing...then again I'm just going with gut feeling so what do I know?" Ty said.
"I wish there was someway we could help." Ace said.
"You can't go wishin to help everyone little boy." Another voice said as they saw Connor leaning against a pillar. "Cause if you did...you'd be a wishing well." he said tipping his hat.
"I know that, Connor. I'm not an idiot." Ace said.
"Wait, why are you here? You don't really seem the type to be into stories." Hope said.
"I'm not. I'm here for work. A mysterious letter was delivered to us back in Alola with promises of a job for us." Connor said.
"A job? What kind?" Mona asked.
"Dunno, the letter only gave this address." Connor said.
"I demand….SILENCE!" The sage said making everyone stop. "The eight have gathered...now...we may begin."
"Well, he's awake now!" Hope said.
"Noble Sage, please forgive our chatter." Emerald said.
"What do you mean? I've been awake since the start." He said.
"Uh huh…" Stoj said with a deadpanned expression.
"Now...we have eight groups...well seven and one loner. But that is still eight in total. Now we can begin this month's telling of the tales." He said.
"This month?" Jexi asked.
"The sage only opens the temple once a month." Cobalt said.
"Now…" He said grabbing his staff and banging the ground as a table rose up with eight cards. "Each group leader will draw a card. The card you draw will determine which gate you enter." He said.
"Well this oughta be good." Connor said.
"I will pick you one at a time. Let's start with Jexi." The Sage said.
"But how did...okay." Jexi said drawing a card. "I've drawn the Knight."
"Good...now Ty is next." The Sage said.
"If this is what brings me closer to them." Ty said drawing. "I drew the Dancer."
"Now Hope...you go." He said.
"Yeehaw." Hope said as he drew. " The Apothecary."
"Jack...take a steal of these cards." The Sage said.
"Done. I stole the Thief." Jack said.
"David...your turn." He said.
David drew his card. "The Hunter. How fitting."
"Ace...let your heart draw." The Sage said.
"..." Ace stayed silent as he drew. "The Cleric."
"Very Good. Next is Mr. Trav." The Sage said.
"Better be what I need." Connor said drawing. "I got the Scholar? Not really a learner, old man."
"Okay, so that leaves us with…" Harumi said.
"The Merchant." Zexi said picking the remaining card.
"Good. Now...here is how this works...these cards are the keys to the corresponding gates. Hold them up and the gates shall open. Once then...you will arrive on the continent of Orsterra where our stories take place." The Sage said.
"This is pretty surreal…" Ty said.
"It is no illusion. These are the paths that you must take." The Sage said as the eight groups approached the gates as Ty held the card of the Dancer up to his gate. "You will arrive in the Sandlands in the town of Sunshade...you will see the tale of the Dancer unfold. The tale of Primrose." He said as the gate opened as Ty found himself sucked into it before it closed.
David held up his card next. "You will arrive at the village of S'warrki, in the Woodlands. You will see the tale of the Hunter unfold. The tale of H'aanit." The Sage said as the gate opened.
"Well, see you guys." David said.
"Good luck, brother." Harumi said as David and his group were sucked in as she saw Zexi go next.
"You will arrive in Rippletide in the Coastlands. See the tale of the Merchant unfold. The tale of Tressa." The Sage said as Zexi and his group went into the gate.
"Guess I better get going. I don't wanna miss my check." Connor said holding his card up.
"You will arrive in Atlasdam in the Flatlands. See the tale of the Scholar delve into great mystery. The tale of Cyrus." The Sage said as Connor and his group vanished.
Hope approached his gate as it opened.
"Hope the Victor, your journey begins in Clearbrook, in the Riverlands. You will see the healing miracles of the Apothecary unfold. The tale of Alfyn." the Sage said as Hope and his group vanished.
"I'm not getting left behind." Jack said going next.
"You will arrive in Bolderfall, in the Clifflands. See the tale of the Thief take to the dark. The Tale of Therion." The Sage said as Jack and his thieves vanished.
'I'm headed out next." Jexi said raising his card.
"You shall arrive in Cobbleston, in the Highlands. See the Knight's tale of honor and purpose unfold before thee. The tale of Olberic." The Sage said as Jexi and his group vanished.
Ace Neptune was the last to approach as he held his card into the air.
"You will arrive in Flamesgrace in the Snowlands. See the tale of the cleric as you discover hope and faith. The tale of Ophilia." He said as Ace and his group vanished.
"So...will they be okay?" Cobalt asked.
"Yes...I'm certain this will be the last group to enter these halls." The Sage said.
"Uh...did you just say last?" Emerald asked.
"Yes...you see...they are who the continent has been waiting for...the ones who will stop a great evil." The Sage said.
Now...the tales have truly begun.
