- I I -
Nick's eyes were closed. He could feel a cool breeze of transient magic and elusive dreams swim through his hair and across his flustered face. He felt warm, his eyes weeping small, gentle tears of release as the rain of his dreams floated past his cheeks. He could feel his clothes wafting in the breeze and he could nothing but the silent rustle of his hair, tickling his skin across his forehead. He felt light and life returning to him. He opened his eyes, accomplished a smile, and…
"AGGGHHHH!"
Nick was terrified. He found himself falling gently, head first, within a dark nothingness. Stars, full of nothing themselves, were gliding around him, encircling him within a starlit blackness of fantastical mystery, and they seemed so close but you knew that they were too far away. If that wasn't bad enough he found himself floating downwards within a wall-less a tube of shimmering purple rings, made of nothing but pure, glistening light. He turned to his right, still upside down, his tears to where he had no idea from whence they came drying within his frightened eyes, to see Sam and Liana falling, in the same way and in the same situation. Their eyes were closed, yet their bodies had yet to excrete tears made from the coolness of the wind. The two had not awoken yet and all Nick could do was to just stared blankly in front of him, still falling head first, within this endless void of streaming light and endless beauty...
A shining white light appeared high above of the group, stretching out from the black sky above. Nick opened his eyes from a long sleep to see this event occur before him. Sam and Liana also awoke from this disturbance to see where they were. They cried out in horror but, after seeing that they were in no real danger, stared at the shining light also. The radiant luminosity beamed outwards like god was sending down an angel of the heavens. Liana was in a mass trauma that they had "died", but they could all quickly see that that was not the case. Something materialised from within this light and floated quickly down towards the group. It slowed down in front of the three friends for them to lay eyes upon its unusual appearance. Who is it? What is it? The image of the strange figure in front of them seemed familiar, yet within the blackness and the striking stars all seemed so confusing what was the point in understanding? It was a small, furry creature with a golden headband, waistcoat and a bag containing maps strapped to its bag.
"Is in a-?" said Sam, "Nah it couldn't be." But then it let out a very familiar sound.
"Kupo!"
"IT IS!" They all cried, "A MOOGLE!"
Stiltzkin the moogle floated before them. His fur drafting in the wind and he smiled at the onlookers of who were filled with complete bewilderment.
"Nice to meet you my humble Realities." he said kindly as he bowed within the air.
"R… realities?" asked Liana shakily. "What do you mean?" She could not believe that she was talking to a creature that did not exist whatsoever.
"Those who do not come from the non-reality world are so called Realities."
"Isn't a non-reality sort of like a fantasy universe?" asked Nick, who was now more confident that they were in no mortal danger.
"Precisely." replied the moogle, his eyes glimmering in the radiating brightness of the towering light. "And this place, of which you are now in, is called the Non-Reality." He raised his arms to give the emphasis of what he was talking about, the darkness, the light, the stars and the endless rings around them. "The Non-Reality is a place, a vortex, between worlds. It will take those who wish to be taken to a world that needs their help. My name is Stiltzkin and I am your guide for this world."
"I get it." said Sam. "This place transports you to other worlds!" His teeth were shown from behind his lips in a slowly growing smile of excitement, "and depending on which world you are whisked away to, you receive a guide which symbolises that world."
"Correct." replied the moogle with a smile. He seemed pleased that the three understood him.
"So you're our guide for this world we're travelling to." said Liana, who was also beginning to understand. "Stiltzkin the moogle comes from… wait a minute! Are you seriously telling me that we're -"
"Yes." interrupted the moogle, "Final Fantasy IX is awaiting your presence."
"Why is all this happening?" asked Nick, "Why are we travelling through this bloody tunnel? What's going on?"
"The three 'role playing masters' have been chosen to realise the dream of living in a fantasy and re-writing the story for their hearts, souls and dreams." said Stiltzkin.
"So when we arrive in Final Fantasy IX," said Nick "We get to be a part of the story? Draft it to out wants? Travel with the heroes?"
"Correct." said Stiltzkin again. He was starting to become a tutorial guide in the eyes of the trio "Not only that but you will be given unique powers, abilities and weapons which correspond to a certain hero in that world. For example, you may be given the thieving abilities of Zidane and be granted his type of weapons." Yes, definitely a tutorial.
"Cool!" said Sam, who was now very excited about the upcoming events in his life.
"When you know what hero you correspond to you will be able to perform special unique abilities."
"You mean like Overdrives? Special attacks? Limit Breaks?" said Liana, realising the past names of the Final Fantasy series which identified these unique abilities.
"Yes. With these attacks you will be able to team up with your corresponded hero and perform it."
The three were now very excited.
"Now then," said Stiltzkin, "You must go and realise your destiny within the world of Final Fantasy IX. Believe, dream, journey." He winked one final time and spoke his final words. "May your fantasy become your reality."
Stiltzkin once again raised his arms and he began to glow with the very light had brought him before them. The three friends were swamped in surprise. The moogle's body was now just a blank white light, as if his body had been physically erased from the black background like a photograph, and it began to disperse in every direction, twirling up to the bright light above their heads. They watched until he had completely vanished within the glow above them. The blinding light suddenly placed itself out and the group found themselves once again floating within the Non-Reality… alone.
"What now?" said Sam as he stared beneath their feet into the never ending vortex.
"I guess we just wait." said Nick.
About 15 minutes had passed since Stiltzkin had disappeared and the trio were muttering to themselves in an excited tone which was only imaginable. They spoke of what the amazing attacks they were going to receive. Of whom they were going to imitate once they arrived. Of what they would turn the story into when they meet up with the heroes.
"I hope I'm Vivi!" said Sam.
"I knew you were going to say that!" said Liana. "I hope I'm either Dagger or Eiko. Dagger's beautiful whilst Eiko's cute. Either would do for me."
"Zidane for me." said Nick. "I don't see myself in any other character's costume. I just can't wait to get my hands on that Ultimate Weapon!"
"We'll find out soon enough who gets to be whom." said Liana, and they all continued floating through the endless space talking about how their lives are going to get so much better than they could ever dream of.
Another 15 minutes had passed when the group were talking. It was Nick to break the conversation due to an event which was occurring below them. They all looked down to see a golden light grow bright and wide, reaching just past the outer rims of the tube.
"I think this is it." said Liana in excitement. The four, acting like they had done this before, turned themselves around in the air so that they were once again falling head first down the ringed tube. The winds got stronger, as did their dreams. The stars glimmered brighter, as did their desires, and suddenly the bright light below them glared so intensely that it almost blinded the group as it let out a wind almost forcing the group back up through the tunnel. The group covered their eyes and screamed. The winds blew even stronger and the group, without any knowledge of it, were plummeted straight towards the light at an incredible speed. Head first they were being hurled through the air towards the bright golden light until they were plunged within its shine, completely encased within its light. It felt like they had dived head first into a very dense swimming pool, yet instead they could breathe.
The winds had stopped and they floated within the light, forced to form a circle as they outstretched their arms and accepted the glow of both their hearts longing and the sweet sea of delight. And suddenly their clothes, flashing with shattering light of their own, vanished into the streaming air. They were not ashamed for the light covered them and they allowed themselves to bath peacefully in the golden shine. Then, their bodies released a dazzling light. Clothes were forming, placing themselves onto the bare bodies of the friends. They let the light weave its magic until it died down, showing their costumes for the world ahead.
Sam was dressed in beautiful robes made in the finest material. He also wore a large, wide-rimmed hat which sat very comfortably on him head. Everyone smiled, happy that Sam had gotten his wish of becoming a Vivi. Nick was dressed in a small, waistcoat-looking top and jeans which were also quite comfortable. He had leather armbands which signified who he was. Alex was a bit grumpy but still smiled that his brother had become a Zidane. Lastly, Liana was dressed in an orange trouser top with a white shirt peeking underneath. Her long hair had been tied by a large headband and she laughed in joy. A Dagger was amongst them.
One last touch needed to be made. Before them materialised weapons of high standard. Sam claimed a very nice staff. Nick took hold of an Ultimate Weapon look alike and Liana ceased a very beautiful Rod of which had small angel wings on its side.
"Are you ready?" said Sam excitedly, and they all shouted out loud,
"FINAL FANTASY IX, HERE WE COME!"
A blast of light exploded from beneath them, an evanescence, intercession, and they accepted it gracefully, and that as the last they saw of the Non-Reality…
- - - - -
"WATCH OUT!"
Nick was almost clawed to death by a wolf which had pounced towards him. A young man had jumped in the way and struck the animal down before it got a chance to deal any harm, a blade clasped firmly within his hands. The young man looked at young boy sprawled across the ground. "Are you OK?"
Nick found himself lying in the middle of a pebbled street with houses and stores lines up at all sides of him. It was a beautiful day and people were rushing about the streets. He immediately realised where he was. Lindblum! Capital of the Mist Continent in Final Fantasy IX! He scrambled to his feet off the ground and stared at the young man you had saved him. The man had neck-long blonde hair and was dressed in what seemed to be almost identical to Nick's clothing. Could it be?
Holy shit…
"Zidane!"
