The village of the summoned monsters would normally be a frightening sight to most humans, but Rydia was really enjoying the chance to let loose. The houses were all expertly carved from solid stone, each with its own little quirks and eccentricities. Rydia really enjoyed the way the city was lit up with tiny glowing blue orbs that would sway to and fro. The monsters walking the street were quite baffled as to how a human child came all the way to the underground and on top of that found her way to the secret city of the summoned monsters. Rydia did not really like being stared at, she didn't feel that she was weird or anything.

"Tell me Mr. Chocobo? What do you summoned monsters do for fun around here? Seems kind of dullsville down here…" said Rydia with her hands on her hips, looking around. She did have a point; the town was really silent and calm.

"For fun?"

"Yeah for fun! You can't just sit around all day! You've got to have some fun and excitement in your life!"

"Well most of the monsters down here play all sorts of games and things like that. I personally like to go racing against my friends and see who is the fastest."

"A race! That's a perfect idea, I'm sure we can set something like that up in no time," said Rydia pounding her tiny fist in her open palm, a mischievous grin slowly spreading across her face.

"I don't like that expression you have on Rydia…what are you planning?"

"Just a friendly race, I'm sure the monsters around here would welcome some excitement, Lord knows they need it. Why don't you go find your friends and meet me at town square? I'll get everything set up while you're away."

"What about your lessons Rydia?"

"Lessons shmessons, besides, I'm sure old man Althazar will eventually fall asleep or something, just like my grandma. He'll forget about the whole thing," said Rydia smiling.

"I don't know…"

"Just hurry up! The longer you take the longer everyone will have to wait for the fun to start," said Rydia, hopping off the chocobo and gesturing for him to get going. After Rydia's fine feathered friend took his leave, she began to set about what to do next.

"Advertisement, we definitely need some advertisement. Maybe a banner!" she said, her bright eyes indicating an idea had just popped into her head.

Rydia began to run frantically from building to building, completely ignoring the fact the summoned monsters were staring at her rambunctious behavior.

"Who is that child?" asked one monster to the other.

Rydia was frantically searching for some type of stationary or supplies store. Timidly, she walked into the general store, and looked up at the old monster who was reading a newspaper. Despite the fact the general store owner had two sets of wings down his back and two rows of eyes, three in each row, Rydia still put on her sweetest puppy face she could manager.

"Um, excuse me, do you have any banner paper?" the young caller said, as sweetly as possible.

"Banner paper? Hmm, I can cut you a big sheet of paper if you'd like."

"That'd be great! If it costs money just ask my Auntie Asura to pay for it, I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"No it's fine. We don't really use money down here anyway. By the way, what is your name young lady?"

"I am Rydia of Mist" said the young girl curtseying.

"Ah! You must be a caller of mist then. We haven't had anyone human down here for a long time y'know."

"That's what Mr. Chocobo tells me. The callers from my village don't come down to visit you guys?"

"Well no, one did before you though, but that was at least two hundred years ago. Sadly…" but the old monster caught himself before he finished his sentence. Rydia looked up sweetly at him, and the shopkeeper didn't want to bring up a harsh subject like the destruction of Mist village. "I'll be right back with the paper you need."

"Okay!" answered Rydia, her hands behind her back and a large smile across her face.

Moments later, the shopkeeper returned with a long strip of thick paper and some string.

"You can use this to hang your banner up. I got extra long sized paper but if you need something longer I can cut that for you too."

"This'll do perfectly! Thanks!" said Rydia, waving and exiting the shop.

"And to think her predecessor was some old guy…my, my, what a switch," thought the shopkeeper, remembering the last person to visit the land of the summoned monsters.

Rydia laid out her banner on the ground near the fountain of the town square. The summoned monsters were curious as to what the little girl was about to do, so a few of them started to gather a fair distance away from her. With a wave of her hands and a little hocus pocus, Rydia used her magic to construct a very colorful banner. Looking over at the crowd that had gathered, Rydia held a finger to her chin thoughtfully, trying to figure out where would be the best place to put her sign.

"Could someone who's really tall help me hang this please?" asked Rydia sweetly.

The monsters were taken aback by the fact such a small child had absolutely no fear of them. Instead, she seemed to act just as sweet and playful as any other child her age would.

"Oh c'mon I can't get this thing all the way up there by myself! I'm too short!" said Rydia, titling her head slightly.

One of the monsters came forward, and took the banner up with his slimy tentacles, raising it up and tying it to two poles.

"Hmm a little to the left…" said Rydia making two opposing L's with her fingers, trying to center the banner in her field of vision.

"Is this okay?"

"Little more…"

"How about now?"

"Perfect!" exclaimed Rydia, thoroughly pleased with herself.

The banner read (written in a plethora of bright colors with sparkles) "Chocobo Race! Who is the fastest? Join today!"

The monsters were in a state of shock. A race? Nothing of that sort ever happened in the underground.

"Excuse me young girl who are you?" asked the tentacle monster.

"My name is Rydia of Mist, pleased to meet you," said Rydia with a curtsey.

"I am Saldos. Who is going to race in this contest?"

"Why, Mr. Chocobo and some of his friends of course! I am going to be a jockey and ride him to victory! Anyone else can sign up. Whoever gets first place will be called the fastest in the land of summoned monsters!"

The monsters were taken back by the little girl's enthusiastic spirit, but at heart were happy there was someone to shake things up.

"If it's a race you want, it's a race you'll get," piped up a small blue monster with long spiky ears and a large tail.

"I can't let you be called the fastest in the land of summoned monsters, count me in!" piped up a small eye monster with two small leathery wings and wiry hands.

"I think one more will do in this little race. You guys are going to eat my dust!" exclaimed a light yellow imp like creature.

"Well it looks like we've got our jockeys! Oh look, Mr. Chocobo and his friends are back!" said Rydia, motioning with a grand gesture towards her chocobo and his friends who had just arrived.

"Rydia, you've got everyone gathered here to see the race?" asked the chocobo quizzically.

"Of course? Who would miss the race of the century? Alright everyone, we'll take our places here near the fountain, and race to the edge of the road on the other side of town. Whoever gets their first will be the fastest in the land of summoned monsters!" exclaimed Rydia, raising her hands in the air excitedly. The monsters all immediately took a shine to the little girl, and everyone was excited over the race. Soon, the monsters and their chocobos took their positions near the fountain and got ready to race. Rydia sat atop her chocobo wearing a jockey's helmet she conjured. Saldos stood next to the starting line and raised a single flag with his tentacle. The summoned monsters were really getting into it, each monster cheering and supporting their favorite rider.

"All right racers! On your mark…"

"Let's do this Mr. Chocobo," said Rydia, gearing herself up to race.

"Get set….GO!"

Just as the flag was dropped, the chocobos took off from their positions and raced frantically down the road. The chocobos were neck and neck with each other. Rydia was determined to take the lead however, and urged on her chocobo using her reigns. At first it looked like the blue chocobo with the floating eye rider would take the lead, but then he was soon overtaken by the imp on the red chocobo.

"All right Mr. Chocobo let's show everyone what you've got!" Rydia said in her chocobos ear. Rydia's yellow chocobo suddenly sped up and overtook the other riders. Shocked, the other monsters all tried to urge their respective chocobos to run faster, but Rydia and her steed were quite determined to maintain their lead. They all got closer and closer to the finish line…

"Almost there Mr. Chocobo…"

Rydia's chocobo was the first across the finish line, with the imp coming in second, the floating eye coming in third, and the blue monster coming in last. Triumphant, Rydia cheered.

"We did it Mr. Chocobo! We did it!" wailed Rydia, the most excited she had been in her entire life.

However her chocobo didn't share in her celebration, instead he was trying to desperately stop before both he and Rydia fell over the edge of the city.

"Hang on Rydia!" yelled out the chocobo as he tripped on a rock, sending both he and Rydia flying off the edge of the city. The summoned monsters ran to the edge and looked on in horror as they saw Rydia and her chocobo fall below.

"They'll land in the underground caves! No human can survive down there! Quickly someone do something!" yelled out the eye monster.

Rydia didn't like the feeling of plummeting, and nor did her chocobo. Flapping his wings in vain, Mr. Chocobo tried to right himself and make sure Rydia didn't fall off his back.

"You're a bird, why don't you fly!"

"I can't fly Rydia, you know chocobos can't!" lamented the falling bird.

One of the summoned monsters that could fly leapt off the edge of the city and flew at a breakneck speed trying to catch up with Rydia and her hapless stead.

"Hang on Rydia! Once we hit the barrier we won't be able to get back into the land of summoned monsters!"

"What barrier Mr. Chocobo?"

"You'll see in a sec, hang on!"

Just as Mr. Chocobo had said, he and Rydia were plummeting straight towards a wide net of blue energy. The shield around the land of summoned monsters kept the wild monsters out of the city, but allowed the summoned monsters to leave in case of an emergency. Trying his best to catch the pair before they hit the barrier, the winged monster sped as fast as he could, and was only a few inches away from nabbing Rydia before she sped straight through the barrier. Mustering his courage, the winged creature went through the barrier with them and managed to catch Rydia and her chocobo before they smashed into the ground. Thankfully, he nabbed both Rydia and her chocobo, keeping them from making contact with the floor.

"Thanks for saving us…" said Rydia, who was trying to catch her breath.

"Save your thanks for when we get back little lady. We're definitely not out of the woods just yet. We won't be able to get back into the city until Asura lets down the barrier to let us back in."

"What's wrong with the floor?" said Rydia pointing downward. The ground was filled with what looked like neon blue fluid flowing from cracks in the ground. Noxious fumes rose from the fluid, making Rydia cover her nose with her shirt.

"It's nothing you want to touch. This is the land where all of the crazed monsters live. I've got to find somewhere to land, because I can't carry you two forever…"

Rydia looked out at the inside of the cave, fearing what may lurk in the deep darkness ahead.