Moogles

I do not own Kingdom Hearts. It is the property of Square Enix and the Walt Disney Studios. This is a creative work that I do not profit off of in any way.

Hi kupo! Enjoy this newest vignette, kupo!

"I gotta admit, you're one of the last people I ever expected to see again," Axel said. "When Roxas and Xion said they saw you, I had to come investigate for myself."

"Nor did I expect to see you, kupo!" The Moogle said in his little voice. "What wares of mine catch your eye today?"

Back in the old days, back in the Organization, there had been a single Moogle that had sold various magical attachments and accessories to anyone who was willing to buy from him. In short order, due to its outrageous prices, almost everyone stopped buying from him. Everyone except Roxas and Xion, who, at the time, were too clueless to realize they were being fleeced, paying double or even triple what they could get from shopkeepers in Twilight Town for the same goods.

"I'm not buying," Axel said. "Not yet anyway. So Moogle, are you here by yourself? I know you guys usually have three or four to one of your little forges."

"Er…it is just I, today, kupo," The Moogle squeaked. "Nobody but I. Now, how may I take your munny, er, what would you like to buy?"

Moogles didn't have eyes or lips any discernible facial features whatsoever, but Axel knew when he was being lied to. The Moogle was nearly as bad a liar as Roxas and Xion were.

"Gloomex! Who is this?" A second, slightly larger Moogle hovered up to the window of the shop. "Hello, how are you?"

"Fine," Axel answered. "I just want to make sure my kids aren't getting taken advantage of…wait, Gloomex? You always said your name was of no importance!"

"And with regards to business, it was not," Gloomex said. "Now I assure you that the little girl is not getting faulty products…"

"That's what you said when you gave her an expired Elixir last year," Axel said. "I remember, Moogle."

"WHAT?!" The larger Moogle squeaked. "That could have made her very ill indeed! That is not at all the calling of a Moogle!"

"And Roxas and Xion are still shopping with you," Axel said. "I want to make sure that doesn't happen again!"

"It won't! It won't! It won't!" Goomlex insisted. "Moogle's honor!"

"What won't?" Xion asked. "Hi, Axel! Hello, Mister Moogle. I have my munny for the bracelets."

She reached into her munny pouch while Gloomex went behind the window, to the forge. He was back a moment later with three plain bracelets.

"What are these?" Axel said. "Xion…"

"Friendship bracelets," Xion said. "One for you, one for Roxas and one for me!"

"How much did you pay for these?" Axel said. "They look…well, they don't look like proper armor."

"Er…they are meant to be ornamental…" Xion said. "2000 each…is that too much? I know it's a lot more than ice cream…"

"WHAT?!" The larger Moogle, who Axel realized he still didn't know the name of, shrieked. "That's not…kupo, did you find these materials for the bracelets yourself?"

"Yep!" Xion said. "Took a week of fighting Heartless to get the pieces I needed, and then Gloomex said he could do it for a fee…"

"We're not supposed to charge if the kupo provides the materials!" A third Moogle, larger than the others and with a surprisingly deep voice, said. "This is the most sacred of Moogle Morals! You have violated our code!"

"Gloomex should be ashamed of himself!" A fourth, tiny Moogle squealed. "You are going to pay back the little kupo right now!"

"He hasn't actually taken my munny yet, sir?" Xion said. "Axel…"

Before Axel could say anything to reassure her, the Moogles had ganged up on Gloomex. Above his squeaking protests, they hoisted him above their tiny shoulders. The largest Moogle carried Gloomex away, saying something about how he was on scrubbing duty until further notice.

"A thousand apologies," The first Moogle who had shown up said. "Rest assured, I will not allow you to leave empty-handed. No charge for you at all."

"Thank you…" Xion said, taking the three bracelets. "Um…Axel?"

"Thanks kiddo," Axel said. He took the bracelet. It was plain copper, with simple beads that spelled out the word Axel.

"You don't have to wear it in public," Xion said. "It's just…Kairi mentioned that she and Naminé wear matching bracelets, and it sounded really nice and…"

Axel ruffled her hair, the beads on the bracelet pressing against her scalp. Xion began to giggle.

I have a soft spot for Moogles, but I can't imagine any of them would like the Organization Moogle very much. I know that Gloomex is more of a fandom name than anything else, but hey, it fits.

Thank you for reading my dear, dear readers. Leave a comment if you're so inclined! I appreciate each and every one of you!