Welcome to my Dragon Quest XI story collection. The reason why I'm making an one-shot collection instead of just posting them as separate entries as I finish them is due to my concerns of accidentally spamming a tiny fandom.
Just a heads up: The Luminary's name will be Xander in all my stories because I got too attached to the name I used in my save file.
There will be Act 2 and 3 spoilers. Each chapter will have a warning.
Anyway, I was actually going to post a different story first but alas writer's block is being a jerk. So I did the next best thing: focus on a different idea.
This was originally part of an AU where the plot happens ten years earlier so the Luminary would be six years old instead of sixteen. It soon occurred to me midway writing that this idea works just as well with his canon self. That and I don't have enough energy to punch writer's block in the face in order to write the whole AU out. So I decided to focus on what's sticking around in my head the most.
(This one can be read as Luminary x Gemma or just a platonic friendship. I'm not really sure what I was going for this one)
Collection Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Quest XI. It is owned by Square Enix. If any of my works appear outside of my username in fanfiction dot net (bilbo-sama), Archive of Our Own (bilbosama), tumblr (bilbosama), and dreamwidth (bilbosama), it has been done so without my permission.
Spoiler warning: This contains Act 2 and 3 spoilers. Please proceed with caution.
Tales of the Luminary
By Bilbo-sama
Promises
[Side A]
As Hendrik watched the Luminary ("Please. Call me Xander.") say goodbye to his mother (or rather, attempted to before his mother wailed and hugged him tightly as he started flailing his limbs), he reflected on how well the young man managed to fight in battle despite the disadvantage from losing abilities related to his title.
It was, however, apparent that he had some training in Valorian sword fighting. Someone among his missing companions had been to Puerto Valor.
He was knocked out of his musings when Miss Gemma rescued the Luminary from his plight.
"I hope you haven't been doodling eye-brows onto every dog you've come across, Xander," she said teasingly. A few adults, who Hendrik recognized being from Cobblestone, chuckled. A nostalgic air came down around them.
Xander spluttered in response.
"That was one time!" he yelped, mortified and red faced. "You gave me a black eye for it!"
"And you punched back like a kitten," Gemma grinned and the dog known as Sandy woofed cheerfully.
"We were six at the time!"
"Do not fret," declared Hendrik with a serious expression, "I will make sure all dogs we come across in our travels remained unmarked."
"Thank you, Sir Hendrik," Gemma giggled while Xander glared at him. Hendrik didn't know it was possible for one's face to get redder when the girl suddenly hugged her childhood friend.
She must've whispered something into his ear because Xander nodded in response and replied quietly, "I'll try."
"You better," said Gemma.
Several months later, Hendrik and Xander's companions watched as the girl's face light up once she saw him return victorious.
[Side B]
"That was one time!" yelled a red-faced Luminary while his companions made their amusement known, "We were six and you gave me a black eye for it!"
"And you punched back like a kitten!" was Gemma's response. At this, Erik and Veronica couldn't hold back their laughter anymore.
Fascinating, thought Hendrik and he frowned as a feeling of deja vu came over him. When did he hear this conversation before?
He tried to focus on when it happened but the memory slipped out of his grasp and was gone. He felt disconcerted by it.
"Don't worry!" Erik interrupted Hendrik's train of thought and he returned to reality where the thief grinned as he clapped the Luminary's shoulder, "we'll make sure this guy is on his best behavior." He received a betrayed look in response.
"Si, we can't have you fulfill your dreams as a make up artist just yet, darling," added Sylvando teasingly.
"You guys aren't going to let me live this down, aren't you?" said the Luminary, resigned, as they headed to the exit of Cobblestone, his concerns of his fellow villagers laid to rest once he saw everyone working hard to revive the village.
"Nope," replied Erik, "not until it stops being funny."
END
To be honest I had a hard time trying to find a way to end this. I...I tried. orz