Chapter Four: Dance For Aeris
Later that evening, a strange, painful sound swept down from the swamps. Melekinope was positive it didn't come from the man with the black cape, it wasn't even close to human sounding. Maybe it had come from one of the snakes. With that sword, and the smell and evils the man radiated, Melekinope was sure that it had been one of the giant water snakes.
He couldn't sleep all night. Curiosity of what lay beyond the mountains troubled his mind. Plain Dasher had told him so many stories, painting wonderful, mind dazzling pictures in his mind's eye. He wanted so much more now to run beyond the swamps and through the mountain to experience the world that Plain Dasher had so thoroughly described to him over the past year.
By the time the dawning sun began to rise above the painted horizon, Melekinope had made it a personal challenge of his to do everything he could in his power to make his dream of visiting the outside world come true.
The day wore on as it naturally did, Melekinope's time spent eating and running around, enjoying the warm spring air. But as early afternoon came, it also brought with it a group of five weary travelers
"Oye, strangers!" Joe called out as he emerged from the barn, waving.
Two of the travelers, both female humans, waved. The two male humans merely nodded, the red tiger-like creature with them doing nothing.
"Do you happen to know which direction the Mythril Caves are?" The girl with the long brown hair held in a braid with a large pink bow asked.
Joe nodded, tilting his head in the direction of the caves as he put his hands to his hips. "Yep, that'a way. Some stranger yesterday was asking about it too."
One of the guys with the spiky blonde hair stiffened. "Was he wearing a black cape and a long sword?"
"Yeah, actually, he was." Joe scratched his head curiously. "Kinda drew it on me too. Friend of yours?"
The red tiger-creature shuffled. "No," the blonde guy shook his head. "Just someone we're following."
"Well, I'm not asking anymore questions. I make a point to stay outta peoples business, you know?"
"Thanks anyway!" The same girl replied cheerfully, waving. The group of travlers began to walk away.
"What?! You mean you're headed that way tonight?" Joe ran closer to them, shaking his big head. "It looks close, but it's at least a day and a half away, by chocobo. Longer on foot. Lemme put you up for the night."
"Oh, we don't want to impose." The other girl with long, dark brown hair shook her head. "We have tents, we'll be okay."
"Nono, no trouble at all! I insist!" Joe smiled, holding his hand out. "Name's Joe. I'd feel a lot better if you strangers stay here the night."
The one with the spiky blonde hair thought for a second, then nodded, taking Joe's outstretched hand. "Thanks. I'm Cloud. This is Aeris," he pointed to the girl with the pink bow, "Tifa," the other girl, "Barret," he said to the dark skinned man with a gun for one of his arms, "and Red XIII."
The red-tiger nodded. "A pleasure to meet you, Joe."
Warm sounds of laughter and conversation flowed out from the house that night as Joe, Aria and the strangers talked and told stories and jokes over their evening meal. Melekinope, out on the warm night in the pasture, stood near the house, content as he stood listening. He would have been happier being with the humans, but just being able to listen to their joyous mood was good enough for now.
Until he started to think back about his mother, and about the world beyond.
Oye, what's wrong, black bird? Plain Dasher came up behind him.
Just thinking. Thinking about my mother, what I do know of her. Thinking about the world past the mountains, how wonderful things out there must be!
Plain Dasher warked in laughter. I'm sorry, Melekinope. It's not all fun and games out there though. There's monsters, and not all humans are kind. Like the stranger who passed through the other day.
I know. Melekinope puffed. But, I still want to go out and see it. If only once.
The world is a big place. Even I haven't seen it all.
Well, I'm going to.
Both birds were silent for a moment, listening as laughter continued to waft towards them from the open house windows.
Well, Melekinope, if you're really that determined, you could try and be selected tomorrow.
Selected? he asked, turning towards her.
I heard one of the farm hands talking about how Joe told the strangers that they could use some of us to cross the plains and the swamp. You'd have to remember the way, so that you wouldn't get lost on your way back. Of course, you'd be with others, but it would get you out to see a little.
Melekinope instantly jumped on the idea. But, would I have to come back?
Of course! Plain Dasher warked, flapping her powerful wings. You belong to Joe, besides, that's what good chocobo's do. And Aria loves you so much. You wouldn't want to break the poor girls heart now, would you?
No. he quickly said. But how much, how much could the girl possibly miss me? Melekinope thought to himself, looking back towards the house. If I did go on, follow the humans, how much would she really miss me?
"Hello!" A cheery voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
Warking, he turned to the direction of the sound. The girl, Aeris, if he remembered correctly, stood beside the fence watching the two birds. Smiling, she held out both of her hands, holding greens. "Come here, lil' chocobos. Here's some greens for you."
Treats! Plain Dasher cried, dashing over to Aeris' outstretched hand. Melekinope warked in laughter, following his friend to the girl.
After nibbling on his portion of the greens Aeris held out for him, he nuzzled her, rubbing the side of his large beak against her shoulder. She giggled, stroking his satiny feathers as Plain Dasher walked away in search of food.
"You're so pretty!" Aeris said, continuing to pet him. "I've never seen a black chocobo before. Dark Storm, I think Aria said your name was, right?"
Melekinope warked, bobbing his head in agreement.
Aeris smiled, handing him another handful of special greens. "I wouldn't mind riding you all the way to the Mythril Caves tomorrow. You're probably the best chocobo here too, huh?"
Again, he warked and bobbed in agreement, giving her another nuzzle.
Aeris laughed. "Oh, I wish I could ride you. I've never ridden a chocobo before. I don't think Aria would give you up even for a day though. She's very proud of you, you know." Patting him once more, she headed back into the house.
Mixed emotions flooded through Melekinope. Aria seemed to really care a lot about him. But he wanted to go out into the world so bad, it almost hurt. But can I possibly hurt Aria that way, knowing how much she cares? He wondered as he headed back towards the nesting area.
Aeris was right anyway, he might as well not get his hopes up. There was probably no way Aria was going to let him go, even for a day.
Morning came as it always did. Melekinope woke up and halfheartedly ate the greens that had been left out by the farm hands at dawn. He had almost given up hope of being able to leave until he saw the humans leaving the house, heading towards the pasture.
The other chocobos on the farm noticed too, many running towards that side of the pasture, the majority of them excited about possibly being picked to go on short adventure.
I have to at least try, he thought to himself, joining the others.
"I recommend these two for you guys." Joe was saying as he pointed to two of the larger chocobos on the ranch. "They're big, a little slow, but can handle the weight, especially for you, Barret, no offense."
Barret mumbled something back, shaking his head.
"Ooo, I like this one!" Tifa cried, running over to Plain Dasher who was off to the side, doing some sort of strange dance. She first picked up her feet to the front, slowly, then turned around with her wings held out, bobbing up and down a few times when she returned to her original position.
"That's Plain Dasher. She's a good girl, a retired Gold Saucer racer. Used to be one of the best in her days. She may not be that fast anymore, but she's very reliable."
Tifa petted her over the fence. "Yeah, I want this one!"
"Okay, so that would leave you, Aeris." Cloud said, moving towards her.
He knew at once this was his chance, his one and only chance for... Who knew how long! He couldn't mess this up.
All the other chocobos warked and flapped their wings, trying to make enough noise and ruckus to be singled out. He knew he had to do something drastic, something to draw all of their attention to him, and not to the others.
He began warking in a rhythm, doing the dance that Plain Dancer had been doing. Picking up speed, he began to add hops into it, jumping up and down on his feet in a circle, his wings rocking back and forth. With a loud cry, he spun around on one foot, bringing his wings around in a full circle. Green fireflies of energy flew around him, reflecting magically off his black glossy feathers, the Chocobo Healing spell he had forgotten he had..
"Black Storm!" He could hear Aeris' voice shout through all of the commotion.
Most of the other chocobos stopped their warks and movement, looking out in the open space of the pasture at Melekinope.
"Why don't you take him?" He could hear Aria telling Aeris. "He's good luck. He'll keep you safe. Plus, he special, Pa told me once that he can use magic!"
"Oh, thank you!" Aeris hugged Aria happily. "I'll take good care of him for you, I promise!"
Melekinope warked happily at his success, doing the dance again with more enthusiasm than he had ever felt. Even the evil glares the other chocobos who hated him were giving him weren't enough to break the euphoria that was like fire raging in his entire being.
Oye, good for you! Good for you! Plain Dasher warked at him, bobbing.
Melekinope did his new dance five more times before the saddles had been brought out into the pasture. He couldn't remember a better day in his short life.
Later that evening, a strange, painful sound swept down from the swamps. Melekinope was positive it didn't come from the man with the black cape, it wasn't even close to human sounding. Maybe it had come from one of the snakes. With that sword, and the smell and evils the man radiated, Melekinope was sure that it had been one of the giant water snakes.
He couldn't sleep all night. Curiosity of what lay beyond the mountains troubled his mind. Plain Dasher had told him so many stories, painting wonderful, mind dazzling pictures in his mind's eye. He wanted so much more now to run beyond the swamps and through the mountain to experience the world that Plain Dasher had so thoroughly described to him over the past year.
By the time the dawning sun began to rise above the painted horizon, Melekinope had made it a personal challenge of his to do everything he could in his power to make his dream of visiting the outside world come true.
The day wore on as it naturally did, Melekinope's time spent eating and running around, enjoying the warm spring air. But as early afternoon came, it also brought with it a group of five weary travelers
"Oye, strangers!" Joe called out as he emerged from the barn, waving.
Two of the travelers, both female humans, waved. The two male humans merely nodded, the red tiger-like creature with them doing nothing.
"Do you happen to know which direction the Mythril Caves are?" The girl with the long brown hair held in a braid with a large pink bow asked.
Joe nodded, tilting his head in the direction of the caves as he put his hands to his hips. "Yep, that'a way. Some stranger yesterday was asking about it too."
One of the guys with the spiky blonde hair stiffened. "Was he wearing a black cape and a long sword?"
"Yeah, actually, he was." Joe scratched his head curiously. "Kinda drew it on me too. Friend of yours?"
The red tiger-creature shuffled. "No," the blonde guy shook his head. "Just someone we're following."
"Well, I'm not asking anymore questions. I make a point to stay outta peoples business, you know?"
"Thanks anyway!" The same girl replied cheerfully, waving. The group of travlers began to walk away.
"What?! You mean you're headed that way tonight?" Joe ran closer to them, shaking his big head. "It looks close, but it's at least a day and a half away, by chocobo. Longer on foot. Lemme put you up for the night."
"Oh, we don't want to impose." The other girl with long, dark brown hair shook her head. "We have tents, we'll be okay."
"Nono, no trouble at all! I insist!" Joe smiled, holding his hand out. "Name's Joe. I'd feel a lot better if you strangers stay here the night."
The one with the spiky blonde hair thought for a second, then nodded, taking Joe's outstretched hand. "Thanks. I'm Cloud. This is Aeris," he pointed to the girl with the pink bow, "Tifa," the other girl, "Barret," he said to the dark skinned man with a gun for one of his arms, "and Red XIII."
The red-tiger nodded. "A pleasure to meet you, Joe."
Warm sounds of laughter and conversation flowed out from the house that night as Joe, Aria and the strangers talked and told stories and jokes over their evening meal. Melekinope, out on the warm night in the pasture, stood near the house, content as he stood listening. He would have been happier being with the humans, but just being able to listen to their joyous mood was good enough for now.
Until he started to think back about his mother, and about the world beyond.
Oye, what's wrong, black bird? Plain Dasher came up behind him.
Just thinking. Thinking about my mother, what I do know of her. Thinking about the world past the mountains, how wonderful things out there must be!
Plain Dasher warked in laughter. I'm sorry, Melekinope. It's not all fun and games out there though. There's monsters, and not all humans are kind. Like the stranger who passed through the other day.
I know. Melekinope puffed. But, I still want to go out and see it. If only once.
The world is a big place. Even I haven't seen it all.
Well, I'm going to.
Both birds were silent for a moment, listening as laughter continued to waft towards them from the open house windows.
Well, Melekinope, if you're really that determined, you could try and be selected tomorrow.
Selected? he asked, turning towards her.
I heard one of the farm hands talking about how Joe told the strangers that they could use some of us to cross the plains and the swamp. You'd have to remember the way, so that you wouldn't get lost on your way back. Of course, you'd be with others, but it would get you out to see a little.
Melekinope instantly jumped on the idea. But, would I have to come back?
Of course! Plain Dasher warked, flapping her powerful wings. You belong to Joe, besides, that's what good chocobo's do. And Aria loves you so much. You wouldn't want to break the poor girls heart now, would you?
No. he quickly said. But how much, how much could the girl possibly miss me? Melekinope thought to himself, looking back towards the house. If I did go on, follow the humans, how much would she really miss me?
"Hello!" A cheery voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
Warking, he turned to the direction of the sound. The girl, Aeris, if he remembered correctly, stood beside the fence watching the two birds. Smiling, she held out both of her hands, holding greens. "Come here, lil' chocobos. Here's some greens for you."
Treats! Plain Dasher cried, dashing over to Aeris' outstretched hand. Melekinope warked in laughter, following his friend to the girl.
After nibbling on his portion of the greens Aeris held out for him, he nuzzled her, rubbing the side of his large beak against her shoulder. She giggled, stroking his satiny feathers as Plain Dasher walked away in search of food.
"You're so pretty!" Aeris said, continuing to pet him. "I've never seen a black chocobo before. Dark Storm, I think Aria said your name was, right?"
Melekinope warked, bobbing his head in agreement.
Aeris smiled, handing him another handful of special greens. "I wouldn't mind riding you all the way to the Mythril Caves tomorrow. You're probably the best chocobo here too, huh?"
Again, he warked and bobbed in agreement, giving her another nuzzle.
Aeris laughed. "Oh, I wish I could ride you. I've never ridden a chocobo before. I don't think Aria would give you up even for a day though. She's very proud of you, you know." Patting him once more, she headed back into the house.
Mixed emotions flooded through Melekinope. Aria seemed to really care a lot about him. But he wanted to go out into the world so bad, it almost hurt. But can I possibly hurt Aria that way, knowing how much she cares? He wondered as he headed back towards the nesting area.
Aeris was right anyway, he might as well not get his hopes up. There was probably no way Aria was going to let him go, even for a day.
Morning came as it always did. Melekinope woke up and halfheartedly ate the greens that had been left out by the farm hands at dawn. He had almost given up hope of being able to leave until he saw the humans leaving the house, heading towards the pasture.
The other chocobos on the farm noticed too, many running towards that side of the pasture, the majority of them excited about possibly being picked to go on short adventure.
I have to at least try, he thought to himself, joining the others.
"I recommend these two for you guys." Joe was saying as he pointed to two of the larger chocobos on the ranch. "They're big, a little slow, but can handle the weight, especially for you, Barret, no offense."
Barret mumbled something back, shaking his head.
"Ooo, I like this one!" Tifa cried, running over to Plain Dasher who was off to the side, doing some sort of strange dance. She first picked up her feet to the front, slowly, then turned around with her wings held out, bobbing up and down a few times when she returned to her original position.
"That's Plain Dasher. She's a good girl, a retired Gold Saucer racer. Used to be one of the best in her days. She may not be that fast anymore, but she's very reliable."
Tifa petted her over the fence. "Yeah, I want this one!"
"Okay, so that would leave you, Aeris." Cloud said, moving towards her.
He knew at once this was his chance, his one and only chance for... Who knew how long! He couldn't mess this up.
All the other chocobos warked and flapped their wings, trying to make enough noise and ruckus to be singled out. He knew he had to do something drastic, something to draw all of their attention to him, and not to the others.
He began warking in a rhythm, doing the dance that Plain Dancer had been doing. Picking up speed, he began to add hops into it, jumping up and down on his feet in a circle, his wings rocking back and forth. With a loud cry, he spun around on one foot, bringing his wings around in a full circle. Green fireflies of energy flew around him, reflecting magically off his black glossy feathers, the Chocobo Healing spell he had forgotten he had..
"Black Storm!" He could hear Aeris' voice shout through all of the commotion.
Most of the other chocobos stopped their warks and movement, looking out in the open space of the pasture at Melekinope.
"Why don't you take him?" He could hear Aria telling Aeris. "He's good luck. He'll keep you safe. Plus, he special, Pa told me once that he can use magic!"
"Oh, thank you!" Aeris hugged Aria happily. "I'll take good care of him for you, I promise!"
Melekinope warked happily at his success, doing the dance again with more enthusiasm than he had ever felt. Even the evil glares the other chocobos who hated him were giving him weren't enough to break the euphoria that was like fire raging in his entire being.
Oye, good for you! Good for you! Plain Dasher warked at him, bobbing.
Melekinope did his new dance five more times before the saddles had been brought out into the pasture. He couldn't remember a better day in his short life.