YANG OF FABUL
"We should head to Fabul." Edward announced.
"Fabul?" Yugi echoed, looking at Cecil.
The Dark Knight nodded. "Basically a kingdom of monks." He explained. "They live up in the mountains."
"Kay." Yugi drawled.
Rosa smiled. "Don't worry, Yugi." She said. "We'll be alright."
"I'm not worried." Yugi muttered. "I'm just a little confused."
"How so?" Rydia asked.
"I've never heard of a monastery of monks." Yugi answered. "I've never heard of a kingdom of monks. It just sounds a little strange to me."
Rydia blinked. "What's a monastery?"
Yugi sweat dropped as he blushed, feeling all eyes on him. "Err…i-it's like a temple but the monks live there." He stammered, trying to recall what he was told. "A-And it's usually isolated. Um…err…" He ducked his head, wishing he was invisible.
"We mustn't dawdle." Said Cecil, relieving stress on the small teen. "We have to get to Fabul." He picked up Rydia and put her on his shoulders.
Rosa picked up her longbow and a quiver of arrows and slung them over one shoulder. "The sooner, the better." She agreed.
Yugi and Edward nodded.
"I don't get it." Growled Cid, watching Mrs. Muto tend to the real King of Baron. "He's refusing to let you heal his wounds."
Mrs. Muto sighed. "Yes." She replied. "But it is his decision."
"But you're a Mage!" Cid protested. "You can heal him while he's asleep!"
Mrs. Muto shook her head. "Just be grateful I followed his orders and freed you." She hissed. "I will follow his commands until the bitter end."
Seems like it'll be soon. Cid thought.
"A-Ashita." The King groaned. "Please do one last thing for me before I die."
"Yes, my liege?" Mrs. Muto asked.
The King coughed and weased. "G-Go to my chamber a-and open the ch-chest near my b-bed." He whispered. "Th-There is something that I w-wanted Yugi to have."
Mrs. Muto nodded. "I understand." She replied. "Please, my liege, try to rest."
The King nodded and lost consciousness.
Mrs. Muto rose to her feet. "Cid, please take care of His Majesty." She ordered. "I will return as soon as I can."
"Be careful, Ashita." Cid muttered.
"…Yugi?" Rydia said, bringing the small teen back to reality. "Did you hear me?"
Yugi blinked at her. "What?" He replied.
"You didn't hear me." Rydia pouted.
"I'm sorry." Yugi apologized, blushing. "I zoned out."
Rydia tilted her head to one side. "Did you remember something?" She asked.
"Yeah." Yugi answered.
The Summoner's eyes lit up. "About what?"
Yugi shook his head.
The eagerness in Rydia's eyes died.
Cecil and Rosa looked at the small teen.
Edward grabbed Yugi by the arm. "May I speak with you alone, Yugi?" He whispered.
The small teen looked at the Bard with confusion. He saw an uncomfortable nervousness in Edward's eyes and nodded. Then he followed Edward away from the group.
"H-How open are you to the supernatural" Edward muttered.
"Real open." Yugi replied. "Why do you ask?"
Edward hesitated for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. He at last said, "L-Last night back in Kaipo, I saw Anna's spirit."
"What happened?" Yugi asked.
"As I wandered in Kaipo," Edward explained, "I was attacked. At first, I thought I was going to lose the fight when Anna's spirit appeared and helped me. After the fight, she told me she loved me and said goodbye."
Yugi blinked. He could see the honesty in the blond Bard's grave expression.
A tear escaped Edward's eye. "You don't really believe me, do you?"
Yugi smiled assuring. "I do believe you. I had an artifact called the Millennium Puzzle. The Puzzle held the spirit of an Egyptian Pharaoh, so I understand what you mean."
A small smile cracked Edward's lips. "D-Do you think I'll see Anna again"
"Maybe not in this life, but yeah, some day."
Edward nodded. "Thank you, Yugi."
The small teen's smile brightened. "You're welcome. C'mon. I think the others are getting worried.
After sometime, Yugi, Cecil, Rosa, Rydia, and Edward came across a wall of ice on Mount Hobs, blocking the way to Fabul." What now?" Edward asked.
"We need fire to melt it." Cecil said.
Rydia paled. She looked up at him with fear in her eyes. Then she backed up and turned away.
Yugi looked at her with concern.
Rosa turned to the Summoner. "Please, Rydia?" She said.
"No." Rydia hissed.
"Her home was destroyed by fire." Cecil explained, trying to hide the guilt in his voice.
"I hate fire!" Rydia shouted, tears streaming from her eyes.
Yugi looked down at the ground. "I can't blame her." He muttered. "I was there when it happened."
Rosa walked over to Rydia, knelt down, and said, "I know you don't like fire. But we need it to get through."
The Summoner looked down. "Only if Yugi helps." She growled.
Cecil, Rosa, and Edward looked at the small teen.
Yugi nodded. "All right."
Rydia turned with a small smile. She nodded, ran up to the wall of ice, closed her eyes, and concentrated.
Yugi walked up next to her, closed his eyes, and concentrated. Then they both shouted, "Fire!"
A large flame burst forth and melted the ice.
Rydia stared, wide eyed. Then she smiled. "We did it." She breathed.
Cecil walked over to Yugi, leaned forward, and whispered, "You really didn't do much, did you?"
Yugi shook his head. "I did a little," he replied softly, "Rydia doesn't know, and I think its better that way." He smiled. Someday, Rydia, he thought, I hope you'll be able to stand on your own. Just like I did. He saw Cecil, Edward, and Rosa leave, and followed with Rydia behind him.
Rydia jumped and wrapped her arms around the small teen's neck and legs around his waist. Giggling, she said, "Carry me, Yugi!"
Wrapping his arms around her legs, Yugi muttered, "You're making a habit of this."
The Summoner blushed softly and murmured into his ear, "I love you."
Yugi's head perked and he looked at her from the corner of his eye. Say what? He thought.
The walk was long, but they eventually came across a man fighting monsters. His head was completely shaven, save for a high ponytail that was braided. He wore pants and sandals.
"It's a monk of Fabul." Edward said.
Rydia slid off Yugi's back.
The Monk made quick work of his enemies. Then a giant bomb-like monster appeared with two other small bomb-like monsters.
"A Mom Bomb!" Edward shouted.
"A what?" Yugi said.
The monsters attacked and weakened the Monk.
"We have to help" Cecil announced.
"Cure!" Rosa called, healing the Monk. Then the others jumped in and helped
Rydia shouted, "Summon! Chocobo!"
A very large, yellow bird suddenly came charging in and pecked at one of the smaller bomb-like monsters. Then it exploded and disappeared.
Rosa and Edward were on healing duty (Edward's a bard, so he's busy singing. Yay Life's Anthem!), Rydia was using her Black Magic, Cecil and the Monk were attacking, and Yugi was switching between attacking and Black Magic. They made the other small bomb-like monster explode and disappear so they went after the Mom Bomb.
Suddenly, the Mom Bomb began to tick, counting down until it blew.
"That's. Not. A good sound." Yugi muttered. He and the others went on the defensive and waited.
The Mom Bomb hit zero and blew.
"Protect!" Yugi shouted without thinking.
Magic shields appeared in front of everyone and bounced most of the explosion and debris back. Once the explosion subsided and the smoke cleared, the shields faded, Yugi stuck his sword into the ground and leaned against it.
The Monk walked over to the five and bowed respectfully. "Thank you." He said. "I don't know what would have happened if you didn't show up."
"Who are you?" Cecil asked.
"I am Yang." The Monk answered. (Pronounced, "Young.") "And who, may I ask, are you?"
The Dark Knight nodded. "I am Cecil."
The Bard bowed. "I am Edward, prince of Damcyan."
The Healer smiled. "My name is Rosa."
"I'm Rydia!" The Summoner cheered. Then she threw her arms around the small teen's waist. "And this is Yugi!"
Yugi blushed and bowed.
Yang looked at Yugi. "You used the Protect spell just as the Mom Bomb exploded." He observed. "Isn't that spell beyond your level?"
"Yeah," Yugi responded, "but I have a habit of doing that. But it hasn't killed me yet, so it's all good."
Yang blinked.
"We're trying to get to Fabul." Cecil announced. "Can you help us?"
Yang nodded. "Yes. Follow me."
Yugi sighed as he looked through his backpack. He and the group had taken a break to conserve their strength before reaching Fabul.
His backpack contained his school uniform, shampoo, a towel, a comb, and the box with the necklace.
The last time he took a bath was in Kaipo the night before they left. All the traveling and monster fighting left him covered from head to toe in dirt and sweat.
Sighing again, Yugi zipped closed his backpack and closed his eyes. He felt a weight rest against him, which made him open his eyes.
Leaning against him was Rydia, who was sleeping peacefully. Her hand was placed on his chest and the other was wrapped lazily behind him on his waist.
Instead of complaining, Yugi put his arm around her shoulder and closed his eyes. He didn't mind having the Summoner around partly because he found her very cute for a seven-year-old but mostly because she wasn't as clingy as Tea or Rebecca. Something in the back of his mind wanted him to believe that he and Rydia were destined to be, but the ten year age difference made him ignore that feeling.
Rosa looked at the young sleeping couple and smiled slightly, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. She wanted to tell the small teen about his mother, but thought better that he rest. She hoped they when she told him, it wouldn't be too late.
Once the team of six reached Fabul, something felt off to Yugi as if something bad were about to happen. Rydia saw the grave look on the small teen's face. "Something wrong?" She asked.
"I don't know." Yugi answered. "I just gotta bad feeling."
"Fabul is a strong and peaceful place." Said Yang.
Yugi looked up at the azure blue sky. That doesn't shake this feeling I have. He thought.
Rydia slipped her hand into Yugi's and clasped it tightly.
The small wrapped his fingers around her small hand, feeling the assurance she gave him.
"We should go speak with the King." Suggested Cecil, picking up Rydia and setting her on his shoulders. "It's important."
Yang nodded understanding and led them to the throne room.
Rosa placed her hand upon Yugi's head and smiled assuring.
The small teen looked up at the Healer, smiled slightly, and nodded a "thank you."
Rosa nodded a reply.
Yugi looked away, took a deep breath, and heaved a heavy sigh. He thought about the explanation Cecil gave about four crystals, one of Water from Mysidia, one of Fire from Damcyan, one of Earth from Troia, and one of Wind in Fabul. He remembered the guilt in the Dark Knight's voice when Cecil spoke about taking the Water Crystal from Mysidia and the reason the village Mist was destroyed. He couldn't hold it against Cecil, who was only blindingly obeying the orders of his King.
Once in the throne room, the King of Fabul rose and bowed to the new comers. "Welcome." He said.
Yang dropped to one knee. "Hello, Your Majesty." He replied. "My companions here wish to speak with you."
Cecil stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, your crystal is in danger."
"Danger?" The Fabul King echoed.
Cecil nodded.
"No one has ever tried to steal the Wind Crystal." The Fabul King said. "We have been guarding it well."
"That won't be enough!" Yugi protested, now standing next to Cecil. The Fire Crystal from Damcyan Castle was guarded well enough, but the Red Wings destroyed the castle and took the crystal. The same thing will happen to Fabul."
"Your crystal isn't safe." Cecil added.
Yang turned to Yugi. "What makes you so sure that the Red Wings will come here?" He asked. "They can't enter the mountains on their airships."
Yugi hesitated. He turned back to Rydia, who was holding Rosa's hand and then to Yang. "I don't know that the Red Wings will come here." He answered. "I just get this feeling that someone or something will."
Rosa and Cecil stared at Yugi with surprise. When could he do that? Wondered the Dark Knight.
Yang and the Fabul King exchanged glances.
Yugi's head perked, and there was a sudden rumble.
"That's coming from the Crystal Chamber!" The Fabul King shouted. He jumped up. "Follow me!" He, Yang, Cecil, Rosa, Edward, Rydia, and Yugi ran to the Crystal Chamber.
Once in the Chamber, they saw a tall, muscular man dawned in the same armor Cecil was. He grabbed the Wind Crystal and it vanished beneath his cape.
"Who are you?" The Fabul King shouted.
The man turned, his cape billowing behind him. "I am Golbez." He said.
"Return the Wind Crystal at once!" Yang ordered.
"No." Golbez hissed. "I believe you know him." He waved his hand and Kain appeared.
"Kain!" Cecil shouted. "You're alive!"
"Yes." Kain hissed. Then he pulled out his spear. "Now, fight me!"
"What?" Cecil breathed.
"Kain," said Rosa, "what are you talking about?"
"Take your blade, Cecil." Kain ordered. "We end this here." He charged at Cecil.
The Dark Knight quickly pulled out his sword and parried the Dragoon's attack. "Kain, don't do this!" He pleaded.
Kain attacked again and struck Cecil in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
"Cecil!" Rosa cried.
Kain went in quickly for another attack.
Yugi suddenly jumped between them and blocked Kain's spear with his sword.
Surprised, Kain muttered, "Yu-Yugi. Y-You're still alive after all this time?"
The small teen nodded. "Why are you trying to kill Cecil?" He demanded. "You two might have had your disagreements in the past, but you're best friends. Tell me, Kain, why are you trying to kill Cecil?"
The Dragoon hesitated at first. Then he said, "I do not need to explain myself to you, you little runt!" He hit Yugi in the stomach and again in the head, sending him to the ground.
Rydia ran to Yugi and carefully helped him sit up.
Yang ran at Golbez only to be struck back.
"Now!" Golbez said and threw his cape up to cover Rosa. Once his cape fell, she was gone.
"Rosa!" Cecil shouted.
Then Golbez turned to the others. "If you wish to see her again," he said, "you will retrieve the Earth Crystal." Without another word, Golbez and King disappeared.
"Why?" Cecil breathed. "Why?"
dragonchild247: Tah-dah! Rosa has been kidnapped. And now it's up to Cecil and company to rescue her. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Mrs. Muto is normally is known as Mrs. Muto, so I gave her a first name simply because I haven't the faintest idea what her first name actually is. But at any rate. Please reivew.