Disclaimer – All characters and dialogue present in the PS2 game Dark Cloud are registered trademarks and copyright of SCEE and Level 5.
A/N – This chapter will be (thankfully) shorter than the previous chapter. Not that I have anything against length, but it was a bit long. ((rueful grin)) Now, up first we have the wretched Divine Beast Cave, as Simba so eloquently put it. From here onwards, I am veering slightly away from the script – not the story, but some of the things said will be expanded on, actions added, explanations put in. I guess you could call it a 'between the lines' with a little more freedom. Any constructive criticism is more than welcome, and any suggestions for story one-shot-like events to occur in Matataki Village are wanted! A thank you to those who read and Macky, who reviewed. Thanks! It's really appreciated.
Nolun Village Part I – The Divine Beast Cave
Nolun Village
Day One
Morning
Toan frowned, pushing his sweaty brown hair from his eyes. The sun blazed down on him, bright sparks dancing before his eyes as he squinted up at the heavenly body.
Morning… He sighed, wiping moisture from his forehead. It's already baking. Must be because there are no trees… He looked around the empty valley, his jaw clenching tightly. Or that there's no river, or windmill.
Or anything.
If the Fairy King was to be believed, everything was all right. Everyone was sealed in spheres called… Toan frowned. What were they again? Atla? So the people of his town were in Atla, and so were their belongings. Toan's back ached, his head pounded and his sweat was stinging in his cuts. He felt like he'd been put face-first through a meat-grinder for pies, minus the gravy. The skin of his arms were almost blackened with soot from all the fires of the night before, and he wasn't sure when he'd be able to be clean once more.
If only home hadn't been destroyed… he thought wistfully. There was a shower out back there, a change of clothes, food and water – his stomach rumbled. Toan made a face, wishing he was able to concentrate. Half the world was destroyed, and he could barely think past his growling stomach.
I just hope the Mayor's alright. Maybe he knows what to do. Slowly, Toan nodded and shielded his eyes from the sun so he could make out the distant building. With any luck, the Mayor would be there. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do going about saving the world, but the Mayor had to have some suggestions. Just to get started…
Toan wiped the sweat from his eyes again, muttering to himself. Why was it so Terra-damn hot? It had never been this hot during spring. Surely even the deserts in the South couldn't even be this parched…
I can't stand that sun much longer… Toan straightened his turban, narrowing his eyes at the house. I guess I'd better get there fast, or not at all.
He began to run – slowly at first, the sunlight stinging in his eyes and burning his skin, but soon his feet were going faster. He could hear the loose dirt where fields had once been scrunching beneath his feet, the wind whipping his orange poncho back and whispering like ice over his sweaty skin. The blisters on his heels began to rub against his boots, the coarse material of the poncho rasping over the skin of his arms. Everything felt so intense now. Toan forced his eyes open and let out a massive holler – he was alive. Not like before; not like when he was imitating life without truly enjoying every sensation available to him. He was living.
As he slowed down near the base of the wooden stairs that lead up to the mayor's house, Toan doubled over, gasping and trying to stop himself from laughing. Life was a lot better than death that he was sure of! He sucked in huge breaths, trying to keep himself from fainting from the heat, and then looked up. The mayor's house stood silent and motionless, still looking like a giant, wooden blimp had crashed on the raised area of land in the valley and the mayor had simply decided to live in it. Toan rested his gloved hand on the wooden rail of the stairs, suddenly feeling apprehensive.
What if the mayor isn't there? What if it's just the house left?
Toan mentally shook himself. He was being stupid. The mayor was in there – he had been in his home when the Dark Genie had struck, so if the house had survived, surely the mayor had too… The sun still beating down mercilessly from above, Toan took a deep, long breath, and then strode up the wooden stairs with all the calmness he could pull together. There was really no other way to find out.
The metal of the door was cold on his fingertips through the gloves, and Toan hesitated again, and then smiled ruefully.
So full of the joy of living, and I can't even deal with the idea of a setback. His eyes fixed on the stone – Atlamillia – planted into his flesh. It reflected the burning light from the sun, seeming to glow as Toan stared at it. He sighed.
Some hero I am. Toan wrapped his fingers around the metal doorknob and slowly turned it, closing his eyes. Please be alright…
The interior of the mayor's home was pleasantly cool on Toan's sweaty skin, light filtering in through several small windows. It was quiet – too quiet. The mayor was always tinkering away with the machines he imported in from the East, so it was never, ever this quiet –
Toan glanced around the room hurriedly, his heart in his throat. No – the mayor wasn't here –
"You! What do you want!"
The boy's eyes snapped up and he whirled around. The mayor was leaning over the rail separating the second floor of his house with a huge drop. A thin wisp of smoke wafted up from the wooden pipe clenched between his teeth. He looked haggard, Toan noted mentally as he watched the man ease himself down the stairs. It looked like he hadn't slept in days. The mayor slowly stopped, his eyes boring straight into Toan's.
"…Toan?" he rasped, his eyes going very wide. Toan blinked and nodded, unsure of what to say. The mayor's face crumpled in relief.
"Toan, my boy! You're alive! I – I thought everyone was –" The mayor took a breath, and then started again. "It seems to me, Toan, that we are the only ones in the village who survived. In one night our village is just gone! No wreckage, or… I – we never dreamt that this could ever happen!"
Toan shook his head vigorously. "Sir, I think –"
The mayor buried his face in his hands, slumping into his seat. "Can you believe this, Toan? I feel so… so helpless! I, the mayor of the village! I can't do anything to help! What am I supposed to do now?"
Toan's shoulders slumped. So the mayor had no idea of what to do, either. So he was supposed to save the world – how? Where was he supposed to begin rebuilding? Who could help him? Nobody could stand up to the might of the East, not with the Dark Genie as their weapon.
Atlamillia felt heavy on the back of his hand, and Toan glanced at it. The mayor rose to his feet, pacing.
So I am supposed to rebuild the world with this stone. It seems impossible, no matter how much magic this thing might have.
This stone can unlock the Atla, which are magical spheres the Fairy King used to save the people and structures of the world, sealed the instant before their destruction. It seems too good to be true…
Toan watched the mayor pace, the man muttering ideas beneath his breath.
So all I have to do is find these 'Atla' and somehow build the world.
That doesn't seem any easier.
The mayor's muttering began to get more heated, snapping Toan out of his daydreaming as he began slapping his forehead. "Maybe if I call in a favour from the Old Baron - get help from Matataki Village, they can send a few hunters for help to Queens –"
This stone is the answer, the Fairy King told me. This stone is the key to saving the world. Toan bit his lip, his eyes following the mayor. I have to do something.
"Sir, I have an idea." Toan winced at the pathetic sound of his voice. The mayor halted, looking up in surprise.
"Toan, you do not have to concern yourself with this –"
Yes, I do. It's my responsibility, now that I have Atlamillia.
He took a deep breath, and then took the plunge. "Sir, last night, a creature called the Dark Genie attacked this village. Probably Matataki, too. It's no good calling for help, because…" Toan tried to ignore the surprised frown on the mayor's face. "…because half the world has been destroyed along with our village."
The mayor's attention was on Toan completely, now. "Toan, my boy," he said softly, "How exactly do you know all of this?"
Toan hesitated before holding his hand up, the Atlamillia exposed and gleaming in the light. He heard the sharp intake of breath the beautiful stone received with a rueful sigh.
"My boy… where did you get that stone?" The mayor was frowning again, his face wrinkling deeply.
Toan wet his lips, trying to gather his thoughts. He honestly didn't understand it himself, so how was he to explain it to someone else? He could try, he guessed. "Last night, I saw the village being destroyed. My mother's house, Gaffer's buggy, the Macho's house… Then everything was engulfed in white light, and I woke up alone, in the dark. Nobody was there. Everything was gone."
"The Divine Beast Cave? Surely –"
"Then I wasn't alone any more. A man came – the Fairy King. He told me that the Dark Genie had been released from his confinement by the men of the East and had destroyed half the world in an act of war."
The mayor shook his head, looking very, very tired. "I see. The East…"
"But… he said, the instant before the people and places were destroyed, the Fairy King was able to seal them inside protective Atla. The Atla were scattered by the enormous power." Toan scratched his head, trying to sort what was relevant to what wasn't. "I'm not sure why, but the Fairy King told me to gather the Atla and rebuild the world. I mean, I get that it has to be done but… me?"
The mayor nodded sagely. "You are Aga's son, after all. Never been a greater fighter, not since Fudoh of Matataki."
Toan didn't think that was why the Fairy King had chosen him, but kept quiet. "He gave me the power to rebuild the world. This stone, Atlamillia."
The mayor's eyebrows rose. "Atlamillia?"
Toan felt relief, his weariness suddenly closing in like a crushing hammer. "You know it?"
"Atlamillia isn't a well-known myth, Toan." The mayor began to pace again. "I myself have only heard the bare minimum. Atlamillia is a stone of legendary magical power that is extremely rare. Nobody still living has seen Atlamillia, and very few know the name."
Toan found himself nodding. That would be why he'd never heard of anything like this stone – or the Atla – before.
"In that case, I believe that we must take this seriously. Atlamillia's name in itself… this is very serious. I can't imagine this being a prank -" Toan's attention began to wander as the mayor continued. His eyelids felt like lead, his back ached, his head was pounding with a vengeance and the burns and cuts on his arms were stinging like there was no tomorrow. He blinked wearily, staring over the mayor's shoulder. The mayor was saying something, but Toan couldn't hear – the sounds were muffled like he was underwater.
So… tired… His eyelids began to sag shut. Sleep would be kinda nice about now… A dull roaring sound began to fill his ears, and Toan thought he heard something.
"TOAN!"
"Toan?" The mayor shook the boy's shoulder gently. Toan's eyes snapped open and he stared into the mayor's concerned face.
"Did you hear that?" he asked in a hushed tone. The mayor shook his head doubtfully, his worry written in deep lines over his face. The boy touched a hand to his head, struggling to relieve the intense pounding filling his skull.
Terra…
"Toan, you look exhausted. You must rest – you're dead on your feet! No, now come this way, get some sleep and we'll plan what's going to happen next when you're properly recovered." The mayor took hold of Toan's arm and sat him on the couch. Toan obeyed numbly, suddenly unable to even think for himself. Sleep sounded so wonderful, like an impossible fantasy –
The mayor took a light blanket from his cupboard and a pillow, passing them to the exhausted boy gently. Toan's eyes drifted shut and he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Nolun Village
Day Two
Morning
Sunlight falling directly over his eyelids woke Toan, and he rolled over, muttering beneath his breath. He'd had the strangest, most frightening dream –
His back and arms ached fiercely, and Toan groaned deeply. Once again, it appeared it was not a dream. Atlamillia was cold against his cheek as he rested his face on his folded hands, alerting him to just how real the situation was. Besides, have a stone anchored in your hand wasn't exactly something you could really dream, no matter what you'd eaten the night before. Toan pulled the blanket higher, desperately wanting to go back to sleep. Maybe the next time he woke up, it would all be a dream. This was probably just a really, really long and horrible dream…
"Ah! Toan!"
Toan almost groaned again. So much for the hope of another chance to wake up – properly. He cracked his eyes open, fumbling blindly about the floor for his turban, poncho and gloves. He snagged the gloves first and sat up straight, blinking back sleep and pulling the gloves on. He yawned widely enough to crack his jaw, and then looked about for the mayor. He was sitting at the table, bread and cheese laid out on the table with steaming bowls of oats. The smell of dried fruit cooked into the oats made Toan's stomach rumble loudly in hunger, and he flushed.
"Breakfast, my boy. Eat up, because you still look exhausted." The mayor waved his hands at the fruit and oats, and Toan sat down at the table gratefully. Terra, the oats looked even better than they smelled! He picked up his spoon, and looked at the mayor.
"I was up thinking all last night, Toan, about what we can do." He wiped his short grey beard with a napkin and glanced at Toan. "Do eat up, lad. You do need the energy, if you are to go see the guardian of Nolun Village."
Toan choked on mouthful of oats, the burning food scalding its way down the back of his throat. He quickly downed his glass of water, blinking back tears of shock and pain from his eyes.
I'm going where?
"Dran will not abandon us. He'll help us, for sure. I need you to go to the Divine Beast Cave and tell Dran what happened." The mayor leaned over his folded arms, his wooden pipe clenched between his teeth securely. Wisps of smoke rose up from the barrel, before gently fading towards the high roof. Toan looked back at the mayor, raising his spoon to his mouth again – then he frowned. The bowl was empty. He guessed he was hungrier than he thought.
"The Divine Beast Cave is the cave outside towards your right hand side. You've seen it before." The grey-bearded man sighed heavily. "I may be imagining things, but I sense something has changed about the cave, so I want you to be careful. I've patched you up – put ointment on the burns and salve on the cuts, so you should be right to go."
Toan looked reflexively at his arms. Thin bandages wrapped his arms in numerous places, binding the wounds tightly. He touched one of the cuts through the linen, and then nodded to the mayor. He had done a good job – the burns didn't hurt so much now.
No point in delaying the inevitable. I have to go see a god… The thought made him uneasy. He was just a farm boy, and he was going to see a god. It didn't feel right.
Grabbing his boots and turban while shrugging into his poncho, Toan snagged a slice of toast and began to move towards the door. The mayor shook his head, and tapped the tall boy on the shoulder.
"This is the Cave Key – you'll need it to unlock the Divine Beast Cave. Generally it's locked so children do no play in there, but the time is right to unlock it again. I put the things you might need in your bag for you, and remember, don't get carried away. If you get in trouble in there, come back here. I'll get you more supplies. Good luck, Toan."
Divine Beast Cave
Day Two
Morning
Toan felt the hair on the back of his neck begin to prickle as he stepped down into the cave, dust rising from the bare ground as his feet kicked up cloud. He swallowed.
Oh man, this is creepy… He'd never been anywhere so dark, silent or menacing in his whole life. Never – he was pretty sure that the Macho brothers had never described the cave as 'creepy' – in fact, they'd called it a boring, dead place with nothing but dust and the bones of those buried by the soldiers who fought the East four hundred years ago.
'Sure, the bones are freaky-arse and the like, short-man, but that place gets so boring so fast you fall asleep where you stand.' Macho had told him one time, and that had been the end of any wish Toan had to go into the Cave.
But why could he feel a… crawling in the flesh on his bones? There was something strange an unnatural about this cave. Something that scared him. Toan's feet barely made a sound in the dust as he crept through the darkness. Torches lined the passageways, burning brightly and doing their best to dispel the blackness that had settled onto the cave. Toan wondered how Dran had time to keep all of those torches lit – it must have been a huge bother. Then again, Dran was a god…
"It's for real this time, Toan."
Toan yelped and spun around, drawing his dagger from his belt and holding it threateningly before him. The Fairy King's eyes crinkled in amusement as Toan's hand dropped, the boy heaving a huge sigh of relief and slipped his knife into his belt again.
"Sorry, I thought you were –"
"-a monster?" The Fairy King asked kindly, tapping his staff in the dust. Toan felt his face flush, and he nodded reluctantly. It sounded stupid, even now.
The Fairy King gave a heavy sigh. "No, Toan, it is not as ridiculous as you might think. Monsters, drawn by the Dark Genie's corrupt power, have infested these caves. Dran or no Dran, they're here, and they will attempt to stop and destroy you – something they will instinctively do. You could feel them."
Toan looked down at Atlamillia. The light from the torches gleamed off the mirror surface… "Yes."
"As the Hero of the Atlamillia, you can sense the voices of the world itself – you can even feel the abominations themselves. Any others walking into this cave would feel that nothing would be amiss – until they got a face-to-face encounter with a Skeleton Soldier, that is. Be prepared, Toan, for from here on, you will be put to the true test." His arms spread wide, encompassing the dark chambers around them. "First, conquer this wretched Divine Beast Cave and find Dran's lair. That's your first goal."
Toan nodded slowly. It made sense, but –
"What happens when I find him?"
The Fairy King looked thoughtful. "I could be wrong, but not is all as it should be, here. I believe the Nolun Village Mayor is correct. Something has changed in this cave – and I have the feeling that it may have something to do with Dran."
"If Dran is –" Toan really didn't know how to phrase this. "If he's not okay, what'll happen?"
"We deal with that when we find him, my boy. No sense in jumping the gun, hm? For now, I want you to focus on finding and absorbing Atla. The ones containing your village have been scattered throughout this cave, and I suspect you're eager to find your family and friends."
Toan smiled eagerly.
The Fairy King chortled. "If you wish to open an Atla to collect that which lies in fragments inside it, simple walk up to the Atla. You will know one when you see one – and if not, Atlamillia will sense it and react accordingly. So you walk up to the Atla and touch it along the dividing groove. Atlamillia will enable you to bypass the security traps I've laid upon them to prevent meddlers and monsters from getting to the pieces, and it will take care of the rest. Once you get some pieces of your village, return to ground level and I'll show you how to reconstruct the world!"
Toan wished he knew what the Fairy King was talking about, but he grinned and nodded anyway. The old man raised an eyebrow at Toan, then gave the boy a short bow.
"Now, show me your true ability on this quest. Good luck." The Fairy King vanished in a pillar of light, and Toan was left alone once more. The cave was silent, then -
'Careful there, Toan. That windmill wasn't made for climbing on.'
Toan jumped and looked around, his eyes scanning the torch-lit cavern. That had sounded like Komacho – he could have sworn it was the short, compact man who lived on the outskirts of Nolun Village. Then he shook his head.
I'm being ridiculous, he thought in despair. Must be lack of sleep.
He scanned the cavern again, searching for the Atla the Fairy King had described. There was nothing here – no monsters, no chests, and certainly no floating spheres. With a sigh, Toan slipped his dagger from his belt. There was only one way to find all of the Atla and Dran – he had to go further into the cave. No matter if he was scared witless, no…
Toan found the next cavern more quickly than he would have liked – and almost as soon as he rounded the bend, his senses came alive with the sound of shuffling feet, hoarse growls and shrieks of bats. He flattened himself against the wooden boards lining the walls and peered around.
A Dasher – an armoured boar that walked on two legs and wielded a spiked club larger than Toan's torso – was wandering about the cavern, occasionally snuffling the air before going back to pacing. Its club was resting on one shoulder, and he was carrying what looked like a bag of money at his belt. Beyond the Dasher a large orb floated a foot above the ground.
Toan's heart stilled.
An Atla. He ducked back around the bend and rested his head against the wall. He took a deep, steadying breath, feeling the stone on his hand hum in response to the Atla. That Dasher was in his way – he didn't relish the idea of killing the beast, but that Atla… he needed to get it.
Atlamillia hummed an affirmative. Then it suddenly glowed with a dangerous red light. Toan's senses went ballistic, and he rolled away just as the Dasher's spiked club slammed into the wall – right where his head had been resting. Toan's breath caught. How close had that been? He leapt to his feet, his dagger drawn and he dropped into an instinctive crouch. He began to circle the boar as it shook its head and pulled its club from the hole in the wall it had made, Toan struggling to gather his thoughts.
What do I know about Dashers? What have the Macho brothers talked about? What would my father have done…? Toan's thoughts stilled as the Dasher's beady red eyes locked on him again. The creature sprinted forward, swinging its massive club sideways and down, aiming to crush Toan's chest in. Toan darted behind the Dasher as it brought its club down, gasping.
That thing is fast! But its recovery time is so slow – that's it! Toan readied his dagger, fixing his eyes on the spiked hair covering the Dasher's scalp. The boar snorted and heaved its club up again, squealed and whirled around and at Toan again. Toan's eyes narrowed, and he waited until the Dasher was swinging the cudgel at his head before he rolled around the monster and drove his dagger between the gaps in the Dasher's breastplate and into the flesh.
"Hyahh!"
The Dasher squealed again, then vanished in a swirl of dark air. The pouch of money dropped to the earth, and Toan snagged the sack up with one hand. The gilda clinked against one another as he emptied it in his palm.
Ten gilda… not that bad for the first monster taken care of. He stuffed them into his pocket and turned his eyes to the grand prize. Atlamillia glowed, humming fiercely as he neared the sphere. The Fairy King had been right – the stone had begun to react as soon as he'd found an Atla. Toan hesitated for a moment when he reached out. This was it…
His fingers brushed the dividing groove, and the entire sphere split down the centre. It was completely hollow – or so it seemed. Atlamillia flared once more, and a small globe of yellow light rushed out and into the stone. Toan stared open-mouthed at the stone, blinking a few times. The blue stone's pale swirls darkened for an instant, then something was slowly spelled out in faint lettering.
'Komacho'. He smiled down at the gem, feeling a large weigh come off his shoulders. The Fairy King hadn't been lying. The world could be restored, and his friends along with it. So long as he was willing to collect the Atla to do so. Then he sighed. He had a whole lot of Atla to collect, it seemed.
Divine Beast Cave
Day Two
Late Afternoon
It was late before Toan had enough Atla absorbed to even consider heading back to the surface. It had been hard work – a lot harder than he'd ever anticipated. His beginner's luck with the first Dasher hadn't lasted long, and as soon as he'd come up against two Skeleton Soldiers and a Cave Bat, he'd been in a lot of trouble. But he had gotten most of what he remembered came with the Macho household. A lamp, a fence, a barbell, Macho and Komacho respectively, and the annex room Macho was so fond of.
Toan could help but drag his feet as he slowly made his way back to the entrance. He didn't have to worry about any monsters – at least, not until he came back in the morning. The Machos claimed monsters tended to respawn the moment you left them to it. Toan let out a groan as he realized this. Did that mean he'd have to go through it all over again if he entered the cave…?
…that wasn't exactly fair. He sheathed his dagger in his belt, trying to ignore the blisters on his feet and the ache in his shoulders. Never had he ever wanted a bed so much as now – he could finally see the entrance to the cave – the late afternoon light streaming in between the huge stone doors. Toan gave a sigh of relief. Finally – he was getting out of the darkness and into the light.
Movement to his right made him jump, and he leaped away in shock. A cat – a mottled brown thing, probably a stray – paused in surprise at his presence, just as shocked to see him there as he was to see her. Then it bolted into the darkness and out of sight. Toan frowned as he stared after it.
A cat, living here with all these monsters? It'll get hurt! But… there's really nothing I can do. I don't even have a home to give it. He shook his head, stepping out of the cave and into the afternoon sunlight.
"Ah! Toan!" The Fairy King greeted him as he came out onto the empty lot. "I imagine you are surprised to see me. But your next lesson must be taught! Building the world itself!"
