"Come on, Mog!" I called. "Before they see us!"
"Kupo!" Mog's tiny arms were filled with food.
"This way!" Eiko and Mog hurried past Conde Petie's west exit, towards the Mountain Path and Madain Sari.
It had been a year since Grandpa died. I kept my promise and I still live in the village. Oh, and the reason Mog and I were running away from Conde Petie was because we were borrowing food, not stealing. Stealing sounds so bad. Moogles had come to my village to help me with my chores and we're all really good friends, too.
"Kupo!"
"Kupo!"
"Kupo!"
"Mocha! Moco! Chimomo!" I exclaimed.
"Kupo!"
"Kupo!"
"Momatose! Morrison!" I was surrounded by moogles. "Where's Mog? I thought she was right behind me…"
"Kupo!" a faint voice called.
"Mog?"
Mog was slowly making her way towards the village.
"Finally, kupo! I'm starved! Let's eat!" Mocha announced.
"I think I'll make pumpkin-bomb pie. It was… Grandpa's… own recipe…" I said quietly.
"Kupo. Kupo!"
"Thanks Mog. …Let's get cooking!"
* * *
"Wow Eiko, kupo, this time your pie was delicious!" Momatose complemented.
"This time!?"
"Uh, heh-heh-heh, kupo…"
I had to learn how to cook since Grandpa died. I think I'm doing a good job considering I'm only six. The moogles had tried to teach me some of their recipes, although a few were… different…
"I think I'm gonna go to the Eidolon Wall. Wanna come with me Mog?" I asked.
"Kupo!" Mog nodded.
"We'll clean up, kupo," Moco offered.
"Thanks guys. Let's go Mog."
* * *
I stared at the paintings on the Wall. When Grandpa was alive, we used to come every day to pray and burn incense for our ancestors. I still come every day with Mog. Grandpa would describe the legends so vividly, I could picture the paintings coming to life. Shiva, Bahamut, Atomos… Those were some of my favorite stories.
"Mog?" I inquired.
"Kupo?"
"Do you… think I'll be alone forever?"
"Kupo." Mog shook her head.
"I'm not so sure. I just wish I had someone to talk to."
"Kupo! Kupo!"
Giggling I said, "I know I have you Mog…, but I meant a human, someone the same as me…"
"Kupo-kupo."
"Thanks Mog. I hope I find someone, too. Maybe a fairy tale prince will come and rescue me…"
I have a book of fairy tales that I read every night, now that Grandpa is gone. I love to imagine fairy tales can come true. I walked over to the Shiva painting.
"Shiva, the snow fairy. Grandpa always loved to talk about her. He said she reminded him of my mother.
"Kupo. Kupo?" Mog flew over to a section of the wall. "Kupo?"
"What is it, Mog?" I walked over to where Mog was looking. "Hey, it looks like there's something written here." I read what it said outloud.
" 'This is where the fault lines collide.
Listen to the planet's heartbeat.
Breathe slowly and calm your mind.
Let memories return to you.
Memories shape time.
Time overlaps.
The overlap becomes our memory.
Memories construct time.
History repeats itself.
We must stand in its flow and understand
the world.
Such is the goal of our tribe.'"
"Kupo?"
"Memories? Understand the world? …Goal of our tribe? What does that mean?"
* * *
That evening, Mog and I went outside to look at the stars.
"Mog, I remember the day Grandpa and I came out to look at the stars. The night before he before he passed away…"
"Kupo…"
"It's okay Mog. That was a while ago. He said my mom and dad were watching over me from the stars. Now I guess he's watching over me, too."
I closed my eyes. I pictured Grandpa's smiling face, his funny laugh…
"Mog?"
"Kupo?"
"I just realized I have my memories to help me through the tough times when I feel lonely."
"Kupo." Mog nodded.
"…And we have our friendship…"
* What do you think so far? Review and tell me what you think! Next chapter Eiko will meet Zidane, Dagger, Vivi, and Quina for the first time. *