Chapter 2
Considering all the shade from the trees in the forest, it was a hot day in the Black Mage Village, and Vivi Ornitier was one of the many mages gathering fruit to make some refreshing juice to try and keep everybody cool during the warm weather.
"Phew! This heat is really staring to get to me." One of the mages said to Vivi as he filled up his basket "I prefer the winter months myself." Vivi smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Y-yeah. It's a lot easier getting warm than it is cooling yourself down." He suddenly jerked as he cut himself on one of the many thorns on the Sananberry fruit bush.
"Ouch! Those thorns sure are sharp." He said as he looked down at his hand, which despite being gloved, was bleeding pretty bad at the fingertip.
"Yeah, I know" agreed the other mage, who bent down to pluck a leaf off a nearby bush, and handed it to Vivi "Squeeze the sap out of this. It'll help the sting go away."
"Thanks, Mr 45." Vivi said as he cleaned his finger with a tissue before squeezing the sap onto his injury. It stung at little a first, but then the pain seemed to fade after a while.
"D-did you learn that from Mr 288?" he asked.
"Yes." 45 replied "He really is a wise mage, huh?"
"Uh huh. Well, you know what they say… you get older and wiser." 45 chuckled lightly at Vivi's little comment before dragging his full basket to the center of the village. Vivi sat down on a nearby rock and wiped the sweat from his brow. He had been living in the Black Mage Village for twelve years now, and in three weeks time, he'll be twenty-one. He hadn't really changed much since he and his friends finished their adventure. He had retained that stutter he always had, but now it wasn't as bad, and he still wore the same kind of outfit he wore when he was nine, only it was a little longer, and now he wore a steepled hat. He still kept his old hat, but it had gotten really worn over the years and now even the slightest touch could rip a hole through the fabric. He remembered getting quite upset when he couldn't wear it anymore, but Mr 288 let him have his old one, so he didn't have to worry about wondering around hatless.
"Vi, you lost there?" a voice said, snapping him out of his thinking state and he whirled round to see Black Mage No.14 smiling at him. He was one of the younger Black Mages, a little too young to be referred to as a 'Mr' just yet, and he looked a lot like younger Vivi, as he wore a long coat and a more floppy hat than a steepled hat. The only difference was that he wore a purple and white coat and purple pants. He was very lively boy, and he got excited over the simplest of things. For some reason, when Vivi moved to the Black Mage Village for good, he started to call Vivi 'Vi', and he still does even now. Vivi didn't mind though, as that was the same nickname Eiko and Zidane used to call him when they traveled Gaia together.
"Yeah. Just thinking about my birthday in three weeks. I can't believe I'll be twenty-one…" Vivi said, turning his head up towards a gap in the trees so he could see the sky. 14 knew he always did this or go to the cemetery when he was in a thinking mood, so he sat down and looked up at the sky as well to think with him.
"I know. The years fly by now that our life spans have been lengthened, eh?"
"Yeah. My best friend's birthday is just over a week. She'll be eighteen years old…"
"Eiko, right? The girl who lives with Regent Cid?" 14 asked. Vivi just nodded, and ate one of the sweet Sananberries he picked from the nearby bush.
"If she's your best friend, why does she only see you two or three times a year, or better yet, why don't you go over and see her? I'm sure she'd…" Vivi shook his head, cutting his friend off before he could finish his sentence.
"Because Regent Cid has a problem with Black Mages. He thinks we're all evil and would destroy his city if we ever went back, due to all those past battles with Brahne." Vivi explained sadly. "I can never go back to Lindblum because of that, and she only gets to see me when she argues with her father enough so he gives in to her, and even then, she's constantly being watched by guards, so I can never ask things I really want to ask her…" he trailed off in deep thought as he lowered his gaze to the ground, watching himself shuffle his feet. 14 couldn't help but feel sorry for his friend.
"I know it's hard at the moment, but you'll get a chance someday, Vi. Just think positive, OK?" 14 reassured him with a smile.
"Yeah… maybe one day…" Vivi's said, as he turned around and saw Mr 288 walk into the center of the village to help with the berry picking. He was still the same as he was twelve years ago… the most impressively dressed Black Mage out of everybody, and, next to Vivi, wielded the most powerful mage's staff in the village. He greeted everyone he walked by with a short 'hello' and smile, and stopped by Vivi's and 14's baskets to help fill it up quicker. He picked a few berries, until he noticed the sad look in Vivi's eyes and wondered what was wrong. He walked up to where Vivi and 14 were sitting and sat down next to the troubled mage.
"What's the matter Vivi?" he asked as he put his hand on his shoulder.
"He's got a long face because he's thinking about Eiko again." 14 interrupted. "Why does Regent Cid hate us so much, Mr 288? Why?"
"It was a long while ago 14, before you were born." 288 explained. "There was an evil man named Kuja, and he was batch producing Black Mages for Alexandria's old queen, Queen Brahne as weapons. Even though those mages were under his control, the hate Cid felt for us when those mages attacked Lindblum began to grow… then when we followed Kuja's plans because he tricked us about lengthening our life spans at that moment in time, and that must have made up his mind about hating all Black Mages." He then turned back towards Vivi.
"Sorry Vivi, but we can't change the way the regent feels about us… maybe one day, he'll understand that we are not what he thinks we are… we weren't created like the Black Waltzes, who believed their one purpose in life was to kill. Our purpose is to now try and help the people of Gaia realize that the Black Mages are a misunderstood race, not an evil one." Vivi sighed as 288 finished his little speech. He was right, but it still didn't change things… he still couldn't go to Lindblum to see his best friend.
"I know that…" Vivi mumbled "But it's just that I get to see everybody else when I feel like seeing them. I even get to see Amarant and Quina more than Eiko, and she and Zidane are my closest friends. I just want her father to like me…"
"I'm sure that if he knew you deep down like we all do, he'd like you." 288 said with emotion in his voice. "Let's just hope she received the card we sent her."
"Yeah. I'm sure if she did get it, she'd like it." added 14. "That sketch Mr 147 done of you and Aven was pretty cool."
"Yeah…" Vivi said as he wiped sweat from his forehead again. "Now let's get back to fruit picking. The sooner we get done, the sooner we can make refreshing mixed fruit crush."
"Yeah!" 14 shouted excitedly and went back to his Sananberry bush, picking at a little faster speed. Vivi smirked as he remembered his younger days when he got excited over little things like that.
"He's gonna hurt himself if he isn't careful, you know." Vivi whispered to 288 as they both watched 14 pick fruit happily whilst humming to himself. "If only I could be young again, and get excited about the small things in life…"
"I think we all wish we could be young again, Vivi." 288 chuckled as he stretched his limbs from sitting down for too long. "I'm sending a couple of mages down to Conde Petie to pick up some exotic fruits, and maybe you should go with them. A good walk may clear your head." He suggested whilst adjusting his hat. Vivi said nothing, but then nodded in agreement after 288 had walked away to help the other Black Mages fill their fruit baskets. The walk to Conde Petie was long, but it wouldn't take as long as it used too as not many monsters were around now, and the ones that were alive knew to stay away from Black Mages! 288 was right though, it would clear his head a little and might make him feel better. When he had his mind set, he walked on over to his hut to grab his Mace Of Zeus, just in case he should need it, only to be stopped by a moogle that ran straight into him, causing it to fall over.
"Hey, are you ok little guy?" Vivi asked, bending over to help the little creature back to its feet.
"Sorry Mr Mage. I'm very busy today helping with the mail, Kupo!" the moogle smiled as he reached into his satchel and pulled out a fancy looking white envelope. "Do you know a mister Vivi Ornitier?"
"Yep, I'm him."
"Oh!" the moogle gasped, surprised. "Well, that means my work here is done for the day, kupo!" he handed Vivi the letter, and then skipped off into the forest. Vivi chuckled to himself and looked down at his mail.
"Hmm… haven't received mail for ag…" he suddenly stopped talking as he examined the letter more closely. It had the Lindblum postage stamp on it!
"Lindblum… Eiko?!? She sent me mail!" Vivi cried out happily. He ripped the envelope as quickly as he could and pulled out a piece of paper which read…
'To Mr Vivi Ornitier, you have been invited to attend the birthday celebration of the Princess of Lindblum, Eiko Carol, situated at the Lindblum Grand Castle. A light buffet will be served until 2 o'clock, when the royal feast and birthday blessings shall begin. Formal dress required, as there will be ballroom dancing.
We hope you can make it.'
Vivi couldn't believe his eyes as he read the letter. After all these years, he was finally allowed to go over to Lindblum to see his friend. He read the paper over and over again to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
"I-I can't believe this!" he gasped with a big smile. "I can finally see Eiko!" he went to place the invitation back in the envelope when he saw another piece of paper inside. Vivi raised an eyebrow (AN: Yes, he has eyebrows, you just can't see 'em!) as he slowly pulled it out and started to read.
'Dear Vivi,
You've probably read the invitation by now, so I hope you can make it… no you ARE going to make it to my birthday in a week's time.
However, this doesn't mean that my father thinks that black mages aren't evil, which is why I'm warning you now that guards are gonna be keeping an eye on you, so be prepared. So sorry about this, but there was no other way I could convince him to let you come.
I'll be looking forward to seeing you!
Eiko
X'
Vivi sighed heavily. He thought it was too good to be true that Cid had forgiven the Black Mages. None the less, he decided that he was going to go to Lindblum, and he would just have to bear being supervised.
"Wow, haven't been to Lindblum for ages…" he sighed, scratching his forehead under the brim of his hat. "But, I'm gonna go, so I'll have to prepare for the trip after I return from Conde Petie." He then placed the letter on his bedside table, and walked off to Conde Petie with his friends to gather fruit.
A week later, a day before the celebration, Vivi had gathered a few items in a satchel to take with him on his journey through Fossil Roo, which despite having less monsters around, is still a pretty long way to travel. A few ethers and potions, some food and his present for Eiko which he bought in Conde Petie.
'I hope she'll like it…' he thought as he stepped out of his hut. Everyone turned around to say goodbye as they all knew where he was headed.
"I'll miss ya Vi!" 14 smiled, high fiving him. "Bring me back something from Lindblum!"
"That is, if they'll let me buy anything, 14." Vivi said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "I don't think anyone in Lindblum will want me around."
"That may be the case Vivi, but all that really matters is that Eiko wants you there." 288 reassured him with a friendly pat on the back and a smile. Vivi smiled back, and after waving goodbye to everyone and telling 14 for the final time he would be back soon, he headed off to Lindblum for the very first time in 12 years.
To be continued….
The next chapter is what happens at the party. I'm nearly done on that already so I promise the next update won't be so long. Please read and review!
Considering all the shade from the trees in the forest, it was a hot day in the Black Mage Village, and Vivi Ornitier was one of the many mages gathering fruit to make some refreshing juice to try and keep everybody cool during the warm weather.
"Phew! This heat is really staring to get to me." One of the mages said to Vivi as he filled up his basket "I prefer the winter months myself." Vivi smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Y-yeah. It's a lot easier getting warm than it is cooling yourself down." He suddenly jerked as he cut himself on one of the many thorns on the Sananberry fruit bush.
"Ouch! Those thorns sure are sharp." He said as he looked down at his hand, which despite being gloved, was bleeding pretty bad at the fingertip.
"Yeah, I know" agreed the other mage, who bent down to pluck a leaf off a nearby bush, and handed it to Vivi "Squeeze the sap out of this. It'll help the sting go away."
"Thanks, Mr 45." Vivi said as he cleaned his finger with a tissue before squeezing the sap onto his injury. It stung at little a first, but then the pain seemed to fade after a while.
"D-did you learn that from Mr 288?" he asked.
"Yes." 45 replied "He really is a wise mage, huh?"
"Uh huh. Well, you know what they say… you get older and wiser." 45 chuckled lightly at Vivi's little comment before dragging his full basket to the center of the village. Vivi sat down on a nearby rock and wiped the sweat from his brow. He had been living in the Black Mage Village for twelve years now, and in three weeks time, he'll be twenty-one. He hadn't really changed much since he and his friends finished their adventure. He had retained that stutter he always had, but now it wasn't as bad, and he still wore the same kind of outfit he wore when he was nine, only it was a little longer, and now he wore a steepled hat. He still kept his old hat, but it had gotten really worn over the years and now even the slightest touch could rip a hole through the fabric. He remembered getting quite upset when he couldn't wear it anymore, but Mr 288 let him have his old one, so he didn't have to worry about wondering around hatless.
"Vi, you lost there?" a voice said, snapping him out of his thinking state and he whirled round to see Black Mage No.14 smiling at him. He was one of the younger Black Mages, a little too young to be referred to as a 'Mr' just yet, and he looked a lot like younger Vivi, as he wore a long coat and a more floppy hat than a steepled hat. The only difference was that he wore a purple and white coat and purple pants. He was very lively boy, and he got excited over the simplest of things. For some reason, when Vivi moved to the Black Mage Village for good, he started to call Vivi 'Vi', and he still does even now. Vivi didn't mind though, as that was the same nickname Eiko and Zidane used to call him when they traveled Gaia together.
"Yeah. Just thinking about my birthday in three weeks. I can't believe I'll be twenty-one…" Vivi said, turning his head up towards a gap in the trees so he could see the sky. 14 knew he always did this or go to the cemetery when he was in a thinking mood, so he sat down and looked up at the sky as well to think with him.
"I know. The years fly by now that our life spans have been lengthened, eh?"
"Yeah. My best friend's birthday is just over a week. She'll be eighteen years old…"
"Eiko, right? The girl who lives with Regent Cid?" 14 asked. Vivi just nodded, and ate one of the sweet Sananberries he picked from the nearby bush.
"If she's your best friend, why does she only see you two or three times a year, or better yet, why don't you go over and see her? I'm sure she'd…" Vivi shook his head, cutting his friend off before he could finish his sentence.
"Because Regent Cid has a problem with Black Mages. He thinks we're all evil and would destroy his city if we ever went back, due to all those past battles with Brahne." Vivi explained sadly. "I can never go back to Lindblum because of that, and she only gets to see me when she argues with her father enough so he gives in to her, and even then, she's constantly being watched by guards, so I can never ask things I really want to ask her…" he trailed off in deep thought as he lowered his gaze to the ground, watching himself shuffle his feet. 14 couldn't help but feel sorry for his friend.
"I know it's hard at the moment, but you'll get a chance someday, Vi. Just think positive, OK?" 14 reassured him with a smile.
"Yeah… maybe one day…" Vivi's said, as he turned around and saw Mr 288 walk into the center of the village to help with the berry picking. He was still the same as he was twelve years ago… the most impressively dressed Black Mage out of everybody, and, next to Vivi, wielded the most powerful mage's staff in the village. He greeted everyone he walked by with a short 'hello' and smile, and stopped by Vivi's and 14's baskets to help fill it up quicker. He picked a few berries, until he noticed the sad look in Vivi's eyes and wondered what was wrong. He walked up to where Vivi and 14 were sitting and sat down next to the troubled mage.
"What's the matter Vivi?" he asked as he put his hand on his shoulder.
"He's got a long face because he's thinking about Eiko again." 14 interrupted. "Why does Regent Cid hate us so much, Mr 288? Why?"
"It was a long while ago 14, before you were born." 288 explained. "There was an evil man named Kuja, and he was batch producing Black Mages for Alexandria's old queen, Queen Brahne as weapons. Even though those mages were under his control, the hate Cid felt for us when those mages attacked Lindblum began to grow… then when we followed Kuja's plans because he tricked us about lengthening our life spans at that moment in time, and that must have made up his mind about hating all Black Mages." He then turned back towards Vivi.
"Sorry Vivi, but we can't change the way the regent feels about us… maybe one day, he'll understand that we are not what he thinks we are… we weren't created like the Black Waltzes, who believed their one purpose in life was to kill. Our purpose is to now try and help the people of Gaia realize that the Black Mages are a misunderstood race, not an evil one." Vivi sighed as 288 finished his little speech. He was right, but it still didn't change things… he still couldn't go to Lindblum to see his best friend.
"I know that…" Vivi mumbled "But it's just that I get to see everybody else when I feel like seeing them. I even get to see Amarant and Quina more than Eiko, and she and Zidane are my closest friends. I just want her father to like me…"
"I'm sure that if he knew you deep down like we all do, he'd like you." 288 said with emotion in his voice. "Let's just hope she received the card we sent her."
"Yeah. I'm sure if she did get it, she'd like it." added 14. "That sketch Mr 147 done of you and Aven was pretty cool."
"Yeah…" Vivi said as he wiped sweat from his forehead again. "Now let's get back to fruit picking. The sooner we get done, the sooner we can make refreshing mixed fruit crush."
"Yeah!" 14 shouted excitedly and went back to his Sananberry bush, picking at a little faster speed. Vivi smirked as he remembered his younger days when he got excited over little things like that.
"He's gonna hurt himself if he isn't careful, you know." Vivi whispered to 288 as they both watched 14 pick fruit happily whilst humming to himself. "If only I could be young again, and get excited about the small things in life…"
"I think we all wish we could be young again, Vivi." 288 chuckled as he stretched his limbs from sitting down for too long. "I'm sending a couple of mages down to Conde Petie to pick up some exotic fruits, and maybe you should go with them. A good walk may clear your head." He suggested whilst adjusting his hat. Vivi said nothing, but then nodded in agreement after 288 had walked away to help the other Black Mages fill their fruit baskets. The walk to Conde Petie was long, but it wouldn't take as long as it used too as not many monsters were around now, and the ones that were alive knew to stay away from Black Mages! 288 was right though, it would clear his head a little and might make him feel better. When he had his mind set, he walked on over to his hut to grab his Mace Of Zeus, just in case he should need it, only to be stopped by a moogle that ran straight into him, causing it to fall over.
"Hey, are you ok little guy?" Vivi asked, bending over to help the little creature back to its feet.
"Sorry Mr Mage. I'm very busy today helping with the mail, Kupo!" the moogle smiled as he reached into his satchel and pulled out a fancy looking white envelope. "Do you know a mister Vivi Ornitier?"
"Yep, I'm him."
"Oh!" the moogle gasped, surprised. "Well, that means my work here is done for the day, kupo!" he handed Vivi the letter, and then skipped off into the forest. Vivi chuckled to himself and looked down at his mail.
"Hmm… haven't received mail for ag…" he suddenly stopped talking as he examined the letter more closely. It had the Lindblum postage stamp on it!
"Lindblum… Eiko?!? She sent me mail!" Vivi cried out happily. He ripped the envelope as quickly as he could and pulled out a piece of paper which read…
'To Mr Vivi Ornitier, you have been invited to attend the birthday celebration of the Princess of Lindblum, Eiko Carol, situated at the Lindblum Grand Castle. A light buffet will be served until 2 o'clock, when the royal feast and birthday blessings shall begin. Formal dress required, as there will be ballroom dancing.
We hope you can make it.'
Vivi couldn't believe his eyes as he read the letter. After all these years, he was finally allowed to go over to Lindblum to see his friend. He read the paper over and over again to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
"I-I can't believe this!" he gasped with a big smile. "I can finally see Eiko!" he went to place the invitation back in the envelope when he saw another piece of paper inside. Vivi raised an eyebrow (AN: Yes, he has eyebrows, you just can't see 'em!) as he slowly pulled it out and started to read.
'Dear Vivi,
You've probably read the invitation by now, so I hope you can make it… no you ARE going to make it to my birthday in a week's time.
However, this doesn't mean that my father thinks that black mages aren't evil, which is why I'm warning you now that guards are gonna be keeping an eye on you, so be prepared. So sorry about this, but there was no other way I could convince him to let you come.
I'll be looking forward to seeing you!
Eiko
X'
Vivi sighed heavily. He thought it was too good to be true that Cid had forgiven the Black Mages. None the less, he decided that he was going to go to Lindblum, and he would just have to bear being supervised.
"Wow, haven't been to Lindblum for ages…" he sighed, scratching his forehead under the brim of his hat. "But, I'm gonna go, so I'll have to prepare for the trip after I return from Conde Petie." He then placed the letter on his bedside table, and walked off to Conde Petie with his friends to gather fruit.
A week later, a day before the celebration, Vivi had gathered a few items in a satchel to take with him on his journey through Fossil Roo, which despite having less monsters around, is still a pretty long way to travel. A few ethers and potions, some food and his present for Eiko which he bought in Conde Petie.
'I hope she'll like it…' he thought as he stepped out of his hut. Everyone turned around to say goodbye as they all knew where he was headed.
"I'll miss ya Vi!" 14 smiled, high fiving him. "Bring me back something from Lindblum!"
"That is, if they'll let me buy anything, 14." Vivi said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "I don't think anyone in Lindblum will want me around."
"That may be the case Vivi, but all that really matters is that Eiko wants you there." 288 reassured him with a friendly pat on the back and a smile. Vivi smiled back, and after waving goodbye to everyone and telling 14 for the final time he would be back soon, he headed off to Lindblum for the very first time in 12 years.
To be continued….
The next chapter is what happens at the party. I'm nearly done on that already so I promise the next update won't be so long. Please read and review!