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Disclaimer: I still don't own Final Fantasy IX. Squaresoft does.

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"We're all out of food, kupo," Moco sighed as he closed a cupboard door.

"But according to my calculations, kupo, we had enough food for at least another week," Morrison protested. "Who could've eaten all the extra grub?"

"Mocha…?" I asked.

"Yes, kupo?"

"Did you eat the rest of our food?"

"Uh, define eat, kupo…"

"Mocha, how could you!?" Chimomo shouted.

"We need food for supper!" Momatose added.

"Hold it!" I shouted. The kitchen suddenly became very quiet. "That's better. I'm sure Mocha didn't mean to eat all our food, did you Mocha?"

"No ma'am, kupo."

"He was just being a pig…"

"Hey!"

"Sorry. Anyway, Mog and I will go to Conde Petie to get more food, right Mog?"

"Kupo!"

"Great! …How about getting some pickled owl's feet, kupo?"

"Mocha, you're in no position to be picky," Moco scolded.

"See you guys later. We'll be back soon," I said as Mog and I left the kitchen.

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"Mog hurry!" I called.

"Kupo!" Mog followed me towards the Mountain Path.

I ran past two people, but I couldn't stop to see what they looked like.

"Stop thief!" the two dwarves who were chasing me yelled.

"Just keep going, Mog! They'll never leave the village!"

"Kupo! …Kupo!?" Mog looked back at me.

"What is it, Mo-"

At that moment, I somehow found myself hanging on a branch at the edge of a cliff. I must've almost ran off it!

"Kupopo!!!" Mog was flying in front of my face.

"Hurry, Mog! Before we get caught!" I never want to see those dwarves again as long as I live!

"Kupo!" Mog looked nervously around her.

"What's wrong, Mog?"

"K-kupo!" She turned and flew away.

"W-wait!!!" I began to flail my arms so she'd notice me. "Don't leave me here!!!" I looked down at the bottomless pit that was to become my grave. "Sigh… Stuck on a branch. Betrayed by my own trusted moogle…. Is this how I meet my end? Mog… I'm gonna haunt you if I die here!" I looked to my right. A cute boy with blond hair was standing there. "Oh, am I hallucinating? That person has no horn. He has a tail, though. Huh!?" Behind the boy stood a girl with long, dark hair and a black mage… Black mage!? Don't they kill people? I heard rumors they like to eat them alive. "AHHH!!! Help!!! Don't eat me! I won't taste good! It's true! I taste awful!!!"

"You heard her, Quina," the boy said.

Was the black mage named Quina?

"I see. Too bad. But moogle that ran away a very strange color. I go find and eat it," a voice behind me answered. I guess the black mage's name isn't Quina after all. …Did s/he say eat!?

"No, don't!" I begged.

I suddenly felt a large thud and I began to fall. I closed my eyes. Is this the end?

"Gotcha…" I fell into the boy's arms.

"…… Th-thanks…" I told him as I jumped out of his arms.

"Are you okay?" the girl spoke up.

I nodded, "Yeah…"

"You're not hurt?"

I turned around to face her. "I told you I'm okay! I'm not a child, like that kid in blue!"

"But …You don't look any older than me," the black mage answered. He was about my height and he didn't look like he would hurt a fly. Only the grown mages must kill…

I stomped my feet. "Are you kidding!? And I do have a name, you know! The name's Eiko." I put my hands on my hips. "Shouldn't you introduce yourself before addressing a lady?" In my fairy tale books, the prince would always say his name before he spoke to the princess.

"You introduced yourself first…"

"You got a problem!?" This kid was seriously ticking me off.

"…" He turned around and adjusted his hat. He seemed like a quiet kid. I was sorry I snapped at him.

"I'm Dagger and this is Vivi," the girl told me, pointing to the black mage.

"Yeah?" I turned around to face the boy. "What about you?"

"Me? I'm Zidane," he answered.

"Zidane. Alright."

"So, Miss Eiko, why did you steal from the village?"

Can I trust this guy not to bring me back to the dwarves?

"I was hungry…"

"Ha ha ha… You sound just like Quina. Hey, did s/he really go chasing after that moogle?"

"Oh no… S/he's gonna eat Mog!"

"I don't think Quina would eat a moogle. Do you live nearby, Eiko?" Dagger asked.

"Yeah, beyond this path. I'm sure Mog went home…" At least I hope she did.

"Why don't we take her home, Zidane?"

"Yes, yes… Anything for my lovely wife."

"You two are married!?" I questioned in disbelief. They didn't look that old to me!

"Yup. We're newlyweds," Zidane answered.

"No, no. We're just friends," Dagger assured me.

Zidane lowered his head. "Well, I guess that's better than nothing…"

"I wanna be your friend, too!" Zidane was my hero and I'm not gonna let him get away without getting to know me!

"Alright, then, let's go to our new friend's house."

Grandpa, this is my big chance and I vow I'll never be left alone again no matter what!

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