Hey guys. I told you I'd put up this chapter fast. It's suppossed to be emotional, 'cause it symbolizes all Yoli left behind after the caravan incident. I was also listening to Never Ending Story by Within Temptation, which is kinda sad, so just bear with me. I also tried to include times from Yoli's past.
Disclaimer:
Miiake: I don't any of Square-Enix or any places. Just my boring old original characters. But i still wish i owned Square-Enix... But, i don't... TT.
With that said, let the story...begin )
"… Hey, it's been a while. I really missed you…"
A young mithra with a long, blonde ponytail ran through the street in Windurst Waters, giggling with delight as her friends, a mithra with red hair and a short tarutaru with a yellow hat, tried to catch her. She turned the corner and ran into a small shop. Behind the counter an older mithra, with long brown hair falling to her lower back, was selling some dried roots to a customer. The little mithra waved at her and ran to hid behind the counter under the woman's apron. She covered her mouth with her hands as her two friends entered the shop, gasping for air.
The blonde mithra looked up to the older mithra and whispered, "Don't tell them I'm over here, Mama! Otherwise, they'll catch me and I'll be It!"
The older mithra, shop keeper Ryukah, smiled at Yoli and nodded. Then she turned to her friends. "And what can I help you guys with today, hmmm? Oh, and where might Yoli be?" She quickly winked at her daughter and looked back at the two children who stood there.
"We'rrre playing tag, and me and Kumomo are It!" Tsuiko Nhade, the red-haired mithra explained, motioning to the young tarutaru girl, Kumomo.
"Is Yoli here? We've been looking all over-wover for her!" Kumomo added, jumping up and down with excitement.
"Therrre!" Shouted Tsuiko. She quickly jolted behind the counter and tagged Yoli.
"Aww, I don't wanna be it!" Whined Yoli. Her mother raised an eyebrow at her.
"Your friends were both It, and they caught you fairrr and squarrre. Now its your turn. Go on, play nicely Yoli," Ryukah reprimanded her. Yoli smiled and nodded.
"Okay! You got twenty seconds to find a place to hide, so get going! 1… 2… 3… 4… 5…"
"So, how are you? I hope it hasn't rained too much over here… "
Yoli sat on her bed, the blanket covering her legs. Outside, the sky was grey and rain fell steadily. It was altogether quite depressing. She sighed dejectedly and cover her head completely with her blanket. Her mithran ears picked up footsteps, echoing over the stairs. Soon, there was a faint knock on her door. "Mama? Is that you?"
Ryukah opened the door and nodded. She carried a tray with a mug and a plate of food. "Oh, my favorrrite! Mithkababs! What's in the mug, Mama?" Yoli asked, not taking notice of her mother's grim expression.
"It's Windurstian Tea. I added some berries for flavor, since I know you don't like it plain."
Yoli sat criss-cross, the tray of food sitting on her bed in front of her. "Thanks, Mama! Man, I'm starrrved! I bet I could eat a hundred of these!" She motioned, swinging the mithkabob wildly.
Ryukah nodded and sat next to her on the bed. She put her arm over Yoli's shoulder, and sighed. "I'm glad you like it, Yoli."
Yoli ate, expecting her mother to continue speaking. After a few minutes of silence, though, she put down her mithkabob and looked up at her mother. "Is something wrrrong Mama?"
Ryukah didn't answer the question. Instead, she looked out the window as she spoke. "Do you remember that hume boy who lived down the street from the shop?"
Yoli nodded. "You mean Kevin?" Her mother nodded. "Yeah, 'courrrse I know him! He always hangs out with me after school when Tsuiko and Kumomo arrre busy. But he hasn't been in class lately. Like forrr a whole week!" She paused before looking up at her mother. "I heard he was sick."
Her mother stared her in the eye. She seemed unsure of how to answer. She began softly. "Yoli, his mother came in yesterday night an-"
"How come I didn't get to see herrr?"
"You werrre already sleeping. It was very late when she came."
"Why did she come so late?"
"She had some verrry terrible news Yoli." Upon hearing this, Yoli shivered and moved closer to her mother.
"What was it? Is she ok, Mama?"
Ryukah sighed before answering. "Kevin was very sick." She paused, her voice was quivering. Kevin was very dear to her. He had been like her own son. Yoli's eyes began to tear.
"Mama… is Kevin ok? What's wrrrong with him?"
"No, he's not alrrright Yoli." Yoli's eyes widened.
"Ma-" Her mother would not let her interrupt.
"He was very ill, and his motherrr came to tell me that he passed away. His funeral will be in a week."
Yoli stopped everything. She began to sob. One of her best friends, since she was still a baby, who had been like an elder brother to her, had died. "It's not fair! He didn't do anything wrrrong! Mama, why did he get sick? He was always being so nice. Why did Altana make him sick!" She yelled, unable to control her sadness.
Ryukah's eyes softened. "It's just the way life is Yoli… Shhh, it'll be alrrright. Why don't you pick some flowers for him? His motherrr would really appreciate it, and I'm sure Kevin would like them."
Yoli raised her head and looked at her mother. "He would?" She asked softly, her voice no louder than a whisper. Her mother nodded, and began to pat her back gently, calming Yoli. Her cries lessened to sniffles and soon she was gently sleeping against her mother's chest.
"I picked you some flower. I hope you like them. Hey, did I tell you? I'm a dark knight now! I got strrronger just for you. I wish you could see me now. It was harrrd though. Sometimes I felt like giving up."
She ran as fast as she could. No matter how much she longed to turn around and see them, her body forbade it. Her legs could only keep moving. Her mind was beyond panic, beyond sadness, beyond any feeling except that of pure instinct. Fear. Her body as well was beyond exhaustion and fatigue. Soon, she found herself at the beginning stretches of the Rolanberry Fields. The scene was so peaceful. It hardly suited what had just taken place. They were dead. Sunder was dead. And Yoli could only blame herself. Her weakness. Her lack of combat abilities led to Sunder's demise. She began to weep. It was from sadness, from pain, from anger. She couldn't stop. "It's not fair! I hate this! I hate being weak! Therrre was nothing I could do for them!"
At that moment a large galka, dressed in dark armor walked over to her with an offer. An offer for power. She would never forget that day. "Why are you crying?" He asked, making no attempt to comfort the mithra.
"Because they're dead! Sunder's dead and there was nothing I could do forrr them! I so weak! I hate it!"
The galka began to think. After a few moments, he walked closer to her. "Is power what you are seeking?"
Yoli began to calm herself, though she was still shaking violently. She nodded. "Yes! I wanna be so strong, that I can go back and kill everrry monster there! I'd do anything it takes to get that strong. I wanna be strong enough to destroy anything that tries to get in my way!" She almost began to yell.
"You say you're willing to do anything for that power... But how far does that willingness truly extend? Would you be willing to give up all your happiness, to forsake everything you care about and treasure? Are you willing to let this life die and fade away, to cast all the light in your soul away, and allow your heart to plunge into darkness? Would you truly be willing to sacrifice this for your power?"
Yoli hugged herself tightly. She didn't look him in the eye. She was breathing heavily, and tears were streaming down her cheeks, although she was not sobbing anymore. She closed her eyes tightly. It seemed like ages before she opened them. The galka had already seen her decision. From the moment he asked, she had already let herself die. The girl who sat before him was no longer the same person. She was ready.. to begin her training as a dark knight. She slowly looked up at him. Then she nodded her head. "Yes, I said I'd do anything, and I meant it."
"Then, from this day forth, you shall call me Master Zeid."
"I underrrstand." With that, she raised herself shakily, and began walking after the galka, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"Well, I'm rrreally glad I got to talk to you. I would stay longer, but I don't wanna get lost in the rrrain here. And if I don't go soon, that weird thief is never going to shut up." With that, Yoli quickly wiped a tear from her face and walked over to the old sword, placing a few white flowers in front of it.
Then she took hold of her chocobo and sped out of the marshlands. "This feeling is tearing me apart. It's as if someone is cutting my heart to pieces with a dagger… Sunder, I'm so sorry I let you die. I'm stronger now, and I'll do anything it takes to show that to you."
"Hmph! 'Go to the highlands without me, I'll catch up. There's something important I need to do!' Yeah right! When I agreed to this, I didn't think she'd take forever!" Isaac whined, kicking a rock out of the way. He was just outside the beginning of the marshlands, and it was getting late. "Where the hell is she?" He wondered, starting to worry. He already had a tent set up when a male voice behind him startled him.
"Are you quite sure you would want to make your camp there? If a Tremor Ram passes by, it will kill you for sure."
Isaac jumped up and spun around. Behind him, a mysterious man wearing a black hat and muffler stood, leaning on a silver sword. "Huh! Who are you! And, what's a tremor ram?"
The man laughed a little and then walked over to Isaac. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. As for the Tremor Ram, its an animal native to this part of the highlands. Of course, they are rare, but not rare enough that there isn't a chance it won't show up."
"Uh… I knew that! I was only double checkin', ya know, to make sure you knew that!" Isaac replied, unsure of what to make of the strange character. "First he sneaks up on me, and now he's giving me advice on adventuring?" He shook his head and walked over to the man. "Um… so, what brings you to the highlands? I'm on a quest with a dark knight. Of course, she just happens to be late…"
"I'm on a mission to Bastok for the archduke of Jeuno himself. And, although I'd love to meet your partner, I must make my leave. Give Yoli my regards, if you please."
"Yeah sure, no problemo!"
With that, the man waved goodbye and left. It was then that Isaac realized something strange. "Hey wait a sec! How did you know her name was Yoli? I never said it!" But the man was gone already. Isaac clutched his fists and sat down by the campfire. He could hear faint the sounds of a chocobo from the distance. "Damn it, that better be you, Yoli. Somethin' seriously twisted is going on…"
Indeed it was Yoli. She looked exhausted, and Isaac decided it was best to leave these matter until the morning. "Hey, you okay, Yoli?"
She looked at him from her position by the fire and gave him a weak smile. "Mmmhmm. I'm just tirrred. We'll talk tomorrow, ok?"
"She's hiding something." Every one of his sense tore at him, screaming it in his head. Isaac only shrugged and nodded. "'Kay, g'night. And can we sleep until after the crack of dawn please?"