Hello! This story is about Eki, Sol and Naru from the black root burrows, and tells about their friendship. I've always loved this section from the game, and wanted more backstory on Eki and Sol, so I decided to make my own story on how I think they met. anyway, hope you like it!
Prologue
A spirit was dashing through the clearing of the forest, racing against himself for the fastest running time. He loved the thrill of going fast, dashing through the forest and feeling like nothing could stop him. He whizzed by someone that was much smaller than him, and she shouted "HEY! EKI! COME BACK!" He heard the spirits words just in time for him to skid to a stop, and walk back to her. "Yeah Sol? What is it?" He questioned, and she looked up at him with stern eyes "you know not to go that fast around here! You almost ran into me!" She exclaimed, and crossed her arms. He sighed, remembering the dozens of times she had reminded him of this, but he had hit others in the past before, so he couldn't blame her for worrying. "I know I know, but this area is great for running! The forest has so many trees and rocks in the way so I can't run as fast there!" He said, and her stern expression lightened a bit, "I know, but you don't want another accident!" She pointed out, and he nodded "true, sorry about that." He apologized, and Sol pat him on the back "it's alright, anyways that's not what I wanted to tell you" she continued, and Eki followed her to a spirit well. "Come on, were going to the sunken glades" she told him, and he held her paw as they warped there. Sol looked to a high up wall that seemed to lead to a tunnel, and turned to him. "Give me a boost?" She asked, and he lifted her on his shoulders, "woahh!" She exclaimed as he set her on the ledge. She held out her paw and he took it, heaving himself up to join her, "just ahead, there's an area I've never seen before! It's not marked on the map stone, so we might be the first to explore it!" She said excitedly, and summoned a ball of light. He always found her power to be quite dazzling, able to hold and toss light as she pleased. He didn't know any other spirit capable of this, and he knew no one else could hold the light like she did. Sol raised her arm, and the orb floated in the air, illuminating the space around them. It was pitch black, but he noticed small platforms made of tree wood scattered everywhere. Someone must've built these, he guessed and Sol led him further down, her light glowing against the darkness. He saw her body trembling a bit, she probably waited for him so they could explore together, and it was clear she didn't know where to go. Her round ears were pinned down in fright, and her small stumpy tail was curled around her leg. Eki always found it kind of ironic, how she had the gift of light but was scared of the dark. He didn't blame her though, he himself sometimes found the darkness to be quite spooky, especially alone. They weaved their way around deadly thorn bushes and jumping frogs, and eventually found a mysterious statue of a creature with a white face and four horns. Sol looked at her friend in confusion, and he shrugged as they stepped towards it. The statue had some kind of pillar with a bowl on top, seemingly missing whatever was previously in it. Sol looked up at it, and noticed that it was the perfect size for her orb of light "huh...?" Eki wondered, noticing it too. She warily placed the orb inside, and a low rumbling sound echoed throughout the area. The light seemed to be growing bigger and bigger, and some of the stone ceiling was falling to the floor. Sol ran to Eki in fear and they held each other tight with their eyes closed. The noise suddenly stopped, and they looked around to see a brightly lit clearing with lots of platforms shifting from side to side. They looked at each other in astonishment, and stood while taking in the scenery, lots of differently colored mushrooms of various sizes, and ferns and moss and flowers blooming before their eyes. Eki spotted something to his left, it was a map stone fragment! That must be why this place wasn't on the previous one, there was already a map stone for it! He raced over, and just before he went to get it, he noticed these huge boulders on top of the tunnel leading to it. He knew these, they would fall down and crush you if you weren't quick enough, but he was quick enough. He took a deep breath, and dashed through the tunnel as he heard loud thumps behind him, signaling that the rocks had missed their target. He made it, and picked up the fragment. It was heavier than he expected, but it wasn't heavy enough to slow him down as he dashed back to join Sol. She heard the rocks and turned to see him returning with the fragment, and her eyes went wide. "Wow!" She gasped, and Eki placed it on the stone floor for her to inspect closer. "We need to find the map stone for it," she told him, pointing to a small pit where a tunnel seemed to be. Eki stepped towards it, and peered down the abyss, there seemed to be a small stone that shot a green laser every few seconds. Curious, he dropped a small pebble down to test it, and the stone disintegrated upon impact of the laser. He stepped back, and turned to his friend who was studying the map fragment closer. He looked back down to count the seconds between the laser, one...two...three... it turned on again, and another three seconds after it turned off. I can make that, I think he told himself, and but his lip in fear what if Sol can't run fast enough? Would she die?! He wondered, and then rolled his eyes at himself oh! Duh, I can carry her! He thought. Then after making a plan, he went to meet her at her spot. "Sol, I have to carry you for this next part" he said, and she raised her head to look at him with concern "...why?" She asked, and he gestured for her to follow him "over here, come look" he told her, and pointed to the green laser. She covered her mouth with her paw, and looked up at him "I'm scared.." she admitted, and looked around frantically for another solution. But she didn't find one and her ears drooped, "what if we don't make it?!" She whispered, and he hugged her as she was shivering. "We will, I'm fast enough, you just hold on tight." He said, trying to hide his own fear. He was just as scared as she was, but he had to be brave right now. Sol picked up the map fragment, and Eki picked her up in his arms, "here goes nothing" he said, and dropped down as soon as it was safe. He dashed away and felt Sol's grip loosening, he ran faster and felt her fall off him. "SOL!!" He screamed, and she ran as fast as she could to him. They had to jump, there wasn't any time left. He grabbed her tight, and threw himself off the ledge just in time, he felt himself falling and closed his eyes is this the end? Are we going to die? He wondered, then soon felt his body landing on the cold hard surface of stone. He let go of Sol, and they started panting once they realized they were safe. "We...made...it.." Eki gasped, and Sol nodded as she held his paw with her own. "I'm so glad your safe" she told him, "me too, I thought you were a goner" he replied, and Sol pushed the stone fragment off her chest with a heave. Eki sat up to look around, and behind him was another statue with the same creature on it, only it was much bigger and it's arms were spread out. They heard a soft crack, the sound of feet on stone, walking towards them. Sol stood up and summoned an orb, ready to protect her friend "what—" "shhhh!" Sol shushed him, and he remained silent. Another step, and the sound kept getting closer, but eventually came a small black creature with a white face and blue stomach. It was about their size, and looked similar to the statues they had seen, Sol lowered her orb and the creature waved to them "hello" it said, and the pair looked at each other in confusion. "My name is Naru, I didn't know spirits lived down here!" She said, and Eki stood with Sol "Uh.. hi?" He said, and Naru walked to them. "What are your names?" She asked, "I'm Eki, and that's Sol" he answered, pointing down to the little spirit. "Nice to meet you, Naru" Sol said, and gave her the orb of light. "Oh wow... that's so pretty!" She said in amazement, and Sol smiled "you can have it" she told her. "Want to be friends?" Eki asked, and Naru nodded in happiness.
Chapter 1: the black root burrows
Naru was waiting for her friends, just outside the lost grove. It had been a few weeks after they met, and they became fast friends, playing and sleeping together. Eki and Sol were supposed to meet her here, but for some reason they hadn't shown up yet. Her hopes started fading and she turned to walk home, but she head distant footsteps and stopped to see who it was. Eki came dashing towards her, with Sol close behind, and she saw how tired they looked. Eki stopped and started gasping for air, and Sol hugged her, "sorry were so late" she said. "We had to meet at the spirit tree." Eki explained, and Naru gave them a hug in greeting, "what for? Seems sudden" she asked. "We had to secure the forest borders from threats" Sol replied, and Eki nodded. "What's it like out there? I've never seen outside of the black root burrows," Naru wondered, then turned back to the platforms they used to travel, made of blue light. "Sol hopped on the first one, and it carried her down until Eki jumped on the second. "It's very bright, the sun lights up the whole forest!" She said, and Naru joined them as they descended deeper down. "Yeah, and the ginso tree is very tall, it's our source of water. If you go close enough, you can see it gushing out of the bark!" Eki continued, "and the forlorn ruins! It's very lush and green, the gumon are lucky that they get to live with so many flowers!" The spirits continued talking, telling her about all the wonders in Nibel. She wished to see it one day, it sounded wonderful. They soon reached the bottom, and raced each other to their spot. Eki got there first of course, he was easily the fastest of the three, followed by Sol and then Naru close behind. They sat in a circle, and Sol illuminated the area with her light orb. The only source of light in the burrows. "So what's it like living with other spirits?" Naru asked, and her friends seemed delighted to tell her everything about their beautiful home. "You wake up to a whole meadow dotted with white flowers, and spirits up and about. Always playing, working, training, fighting. It's amazing, we have so many gifts and talents, working together to build a home for spirits in the future." Eki said, and Sol nodded while looking blissfully into the orb, recalling the sunshine and the freedom. "That sounds wonderful." Naru simply replied, and Eki stood up with a sudden burst of energy. "Now c'mon! Aren't we playing catch?" He said excitedly, and dashed off into the burrows with a giant smile on his face. The others followed, their laughter echoing throughout the area, and played until they lost track of time. "NARU!" someone shouted, interrupting their chase, and Naru stopped abruptly while shushing the others. "My dad is looking for me, I gotta go," she whispered. Eki and Sol looked at her with sadness in their eyes, "do you have to?" Sol asked, and she nodded. Turning away, Naru slowly followed the sound, but Eki caught her hand first "see you tomorrow?" He said softly, and she nodded while waving goodbye. "Wouldn't miss it" she whispered, and disappeared behind a large boulder as her small shadow faded away. "I wish..." Eki started, but his friend knew what he would say "I know. Me too, but her father doesn't trust the light remember? He can't know, or we'll never see her again." Sol interrupted, and he nodded sadly. They had had this conversation many times before, wishing that Naru could stay longer, but always came to the same conclusion. Her father didn't trust them, but they couldn't blame him, they weren't born from the light like the spirits were. And they knew that it was fatal for creatures born from darkness to be exposed to too much light. The pair sighed, and started walking to the spirit well they used for travel. They had been quite relieved when they realized the laser wasn't their only option of escape. But Sol stopped abruptly with an idea, "hey Eki... when is Naru's birthday?"
•••••••••••••••••••••
"You sure this'll work?" Eki questioned, it was now midnight, and they were planning something big for Naru's eighth birthday: they would take her to the surface, and show her the forest of Nibel. "Yes, it'll be fine." Sol answered with a heave, they were trying to block off the laser so Naru could safely pass the area, but they hadn't made much progress. All the boulders they were shoving up there had eventually broken down from its power, and Eki was starting to lose hope. "Too bad we can't bring her to Niwen eh?" He said teasingly. They knew taking her to their home wasn't in the picture, but maybe someday when they were older. They had come to Nibel on accident actually, they were swept into the air from a strong storm, and woke up here. But decided to stay, and protect the spirits here, only just arriving after waiting for the tree to grow. They had a purpose now, living among the spirits, and telling tales of their home across the water. "Yeah, that would be something" Sol said with a smile. She was preparing a giant pile of boulders, ready to toss them up to her friend when he needed them. "What if they break again?" "Then we just pile enough rocks for the laser to burn through until we get back!" She replied, throwing a rock to him. He pondered this idea for a moment, heaving the rock onto the small pile that was blocking it, "I guess that could work.. but we'll need a lot more." He said, and she nodded in agreement "well let's get to it." She finished, and they continued working.
Hello again! Sorry it's been a while, I kinda forgot about this series but I'm determined to finish it because I like where the story is headed. Don't worry, I won't abandon this project or my other one (Akila and the light of Niwen.) I just took a short break in between writing, but now I'm back!
Chapter 2: Naru
Eki and Sol sat on the soft grass of their home, Waiting patiently for sunrise. Well, Eki wasn't patient, he was getting quite restless in fact. But Sol sat calmly as she gazed at the horizon, while Eki kept pacing. "Is it time yet? Can we go now? Is the sun up?" He asked with an anxious voice. "Calm down Eki, I'll let you know when it's time to go." She said sternly, but that didn't stop his pacing. He had been doing it for so long that there were now small scrapes on the wood from his hooves meeting the hard surface. She sighed, and the cool blue clouds began to fade into a pinkish orange color, a sign that sunrise was near. Thank goodness she thought, not knowing if she could sit there for much longer. Eki noticed a small yellow glow emerge from the hills, illuminating the grass with a warm yellow color, and it made him stop to see it. Sol sighed, "ok, let's get going." She said "fiiiinaly!" Eki replied with a dragged out yawn. She sprinted out the door, heading for the spirit well as Eki speedily caught up. Quickly warping to their destination, Eki ran ahead to see if the plan was working. "The rocks are holding up!" He shouted as he peered over the edge of the pit. They had spent all night piling rocks in front of the laser, and it would be a shame for all their hard work to go to waste. But luckily, the rocks were doing their job and the laser was blocked. Sol saw him exhale in relief, and stopped him before he dashed off again. "I know what your about to try. We aren't ready yet!" She told him, and he looked at her with an unamused expression. "But I just wanna see if Naru is awake yet!" He protested. She shook her head, "nope, we have to finish setting up first." She reminded him sternly. Sol walked to a small secluded area of the burrows, and sat down in front of a pile of rocks with a covering over them. Tossing them aside, she uncovered vines and flowers they had collected over the days for decoration. Holding up a long winding vine, Eki got to work tying them up over the stalactites so they would hang gracefully. Sol joined in, but she could only toss them up to him, considering how small the spirit was. She instead started placing orbs of light in tiny crevices of stone to illuminate the area with a soft blue glow. But it was hard to concentrate since Eki kept on running around so much that it was starting to get dusty, and she started sneezing lightly. "Eki, stop that! Your dusting up our work!" She exclaimed, and he stopped abruptly as they both heard small footsteps echoing throughout the cavern. "Shhh!" He shushed her just when Sol was opening her mouth. They both stood at the sight of a small black shadow approaching, and Naru emerged with a sleepy expression. "Oh! Good morning" she greeted them, not expecting to be here so early. "We have a surprise for you!" Eki said happily, while skipping over to her. "Follow us," Sol continued, as the pair led her upwards towards the top of the cavern. "What are you guys up to?" She asked, as Eki helped her up the pit where the laser was blocked. "You'll see!" He replied with a smile. Hopping across the platforms, Sol caught a glimpse of the sunrise through the cracks of the ceiling and saw the golden sun shining bright as it rose higher and higher into the sky. The rays of sun peeking through warmed her cold body, and it always surprised her how cold it was in the burrows in comparison to the sunlit grass. Heaving herself upward on the steep terrain, Eki swiftly caught up in time to help Naru climb as well. They were now just a few steps from the spirit well in the sunken glades, and their friend seemed to recognize the statue that had appeared days after their meeting. "Oh! My father and I carved that a few days ago!" She exclaimed, brushing her hand across the smooth stone near her moonlike face. "Come on! We're almost there!" Eki said in a rushed voice, and Sol elbowed him in the side. "Hey! Don't be pushy!" She scolded the spirit, and he looked back at Naru with an apologetic face, "sorry.." he said sheepishly, and she patted him on the back. "It's ok! Let's go!"