Disclaimer- I don't own Squaresoft, Squareenix, or Final Fantasy. I do however own a copy of FFXI and am thus basing it on this. Please don't sue for I'm making nothing on this.

Author notes- Yes, I know, you few people reading this are mad that I haven't updated, but well, I've been busy. I finished my other story (mostly) and I'm updating this one now so I hope I can continue it. Enjoy.

I arrived at the gates to San d'Oria noticing chocobos of all sizes and people of every race waiting in front of two somewhat nervous-looking guards.

"What's going on? Why can't we get in?" A Hume asked.

"We're sorry, but San d'Oria is closing its doors to outsiders." The male guard started to explain. "A thief has stolen a large sum from the Auction House and the guards don't want him or her to escape." The Elvaan said.

"We hope you will be patient while we find the thief." The female guard said.

"How long have the gates been closed?" I asked a Galka nearby.

"For two hours. But that was when I got here people have come and gone the gate's probably been closed for half a day." He told me and I nodded.

"Any idea who stole the money?" I asked.

"Anyone's a suspect, but my guess is a Hume or Mithra. I don't think a Tarutaru could hold that much money, Elvaans are too noble and I don't think they'd rob from their own country, and Galkas…well I don't know I just don't want to get blamed." He smiled.

"But what if a Tarutaru mage warped or teleported to a crag?" A female Elvaan asked overhearing our conversation.

"Still they'd have to have a caravan or something to hold that much money."

"Crag? Caravan?" I thought for a second. "A caravan brought me from Selbina to La Theine…. You don't think they planed it do you?"

"Were they from Windurst?" I looked down to find a Tarutaru. It was hard for me to tell if it was male or female because it was wearing a cloak

"They didn't have a Windurst accent but claimed they were." I said. The Tarutaru danced around.

"Great moogles!" the Tarutaru shouted. "They must be the Tarutaru bandit corp.!" I was confused. "Mira! Come quick!" A Mithra snaked through the crowd and looked at the Tarutaru.

"What is it?" The startle Mithra asked.

"This Elvaan knows who stole the money." She, I assumed, pointed at me. I was lost. How did I know who stole the money? And why did this Tarutaru think this bandit corp or whatever was related to me.

"I do?"

"Yes, where did the caravan leave you?" The mage asked.

"They left me at the zone from the Vulkurm Dunes. They teleported to the holla crag."

"This must be their plan. Our spies knew they were up to something. They planed this, no doubt, in advance. They'd have an excuse for not teleporting from Windurst and be in contact with the thief in San d'Oria. I hope we're not too late." The Mithra trailed off she pointed at me and the other Elvaan. "You two tell the guards that Mira and Maru-Tara of the Jeuno International Crime Department have found the thief and request back up at the Holla crag. Maru, we'll try to track them down."

"Way ahead of you," the Tarutaru was already murmuring a spell. In a flash they were both gone. I struggled to remember it all. The Elvaan grabbed my hand and was about to yell when the Galka bellowed and everyone jumped. He ran through the crowd leaving plenty of room for us. We ran and caught up with him. The guards on duty had their swords out. He stopped a distance back and stepped aside letting us run through.

"Guards listen, Mira and Maru-Tara of the JICD found the thief and need reinforcements at the Holla Crag." I caught my breath and she smiled. The guards looked confused and then nodded at each other. They sheathed their swords.

"Very well we will tell the higher ups about this but we won't open the gate to everyone yet," The Elvaan guard said nodding to his partner and she opened the gate, stepping inside quickly. I sighed catching my breath, and disappeared into the crowd. This was too much, I just wanted to become an official resident of San d'Oria and be a Red Mage. That was all; I didn't want to be a hero.

The girl and the Galka found me, somehow, leaning against a tree.

"You just saved a lot of people a lot of time. The sooner the San d'Orians get moving the sooner these gates will open, so what's your name?"

"Timian, the hopeful Red Mage." She offered her hand and I shook it.

"Kristune, the hopeful White Mage." She said.

"And I'm Indog, the mighty Galka Monk." Kristune laughed at Indog flexed. "We've been traveling together for a while all the way from Bastok."

"You're Bastokian?" I asked, shocked. I knew most Galka were Bastokian, that didn't surprise me. What did was that Kristune was Bastokian. An Elvaan that was from Bastok was truly a rare soul.

"Well, I was born there, my parents are representative to Bastok from San d'Oria. This is the first time I've been to San d'Oria as long as I can remember."

"I've been in Selbina all my life." I said.

"Selbina? That small port town San d'Oria and Bastok often fight to control?" Indog asked. "Must have been rough growing up there."

"Yeah…. So what's Bastok like?"

"Since you've been in Selbina, it'd be hard to explain. It's a lot bigger and it has much more people." Kristune said. "You'll go there some day if you plan to be a Red Mage. It's home to many successful Red Mages."

"Make way for the Temple Knights!" The guard shouted and I saw the crowd move out of the way. A herd of chocobos thundered past us and headed south. I turned toward the gate and found the guards were opening it all the way.

"We thank you for your patience, now, San d'Oria awaits." There were loud cheers and a rush of people through the gates. I turned my attention back to my two new friends.

"This is my Moogle's address. Tell your Moogle to send me a message if you ever want to meet up." She said trading me a letter.

"Here is mine as well." Indog said and I thanked them.

"I'll contact you once I get settled" The nodded in agreement and walked through the gate. I took a deep breath and walked through the gates, to the home I never knew.