Dark Cloud: Started

[StarStruckStrumpets]

I heard Thiel talking to me, but my answer wouldn't please them.

"When I used the sword before, I had all of the Atlamallia for the village, I haven't collected any for this village as yet..." I stared out at the smouldering village and saw a large figure in the middle of it all.

"SHH!" I said urgently.

I crept over to the figure, keeping my distance. When the smoke had lifted, he was there. The Dark Genie.

"Ho ho ho, nothing like the smell of burn!"
"Genie!"
"Oh, hello again, you're getting a little bothersome now aren't you? This wouldn't normally happen to me, but i've only had 50 years to recuperate, normally it would be in excess of 1000."
"Why are you doing this?!"
"Because it's...fun? I was meant to rule the world you know, i'm not going to pass up the chance, AND I WON'T LET A LITTLE BOY TAKE THAT AWAY!"

The genie came towards me and backhanded me in the face, I flew back into one of the few trees remaining and hit my head. I couldn't see a thing. I must have been knocked out. The light appeared inside my head again, the fairy king had come to say something.

"Naara...you can't fight him like this. He's too strong, even if his power isn't at it's maximum. You rest, let the others...prove their worth."

I lay back against the tree, I couldn't see, but I could hear...

 

[NeoAC]

The backhand smack could be heard across the field, and Ryaki saw his new target, the Genie himself.

"All right Genie, I think it's time you saw the light!" he shouted heroically as he aimed with his ring. He whispered, "Amy I swear to god, you better make this count," as a blast of white magic flashed from the ring. The holy blast caught the genie flush in the chest as he staggered backwards, looking down on a now smoking wound in his torso.

"Hohoho, I see someone's packing some Genie Magic as well," the Dark Genie said, smirking a little, "It's power will be a nice compliment TO MY OWN!" He gave chase after Ryaki, shooting dark fireballs at him. Ryaki had to scramble to get out of the way and then took off at top speed. He tried firing back, but his aim hadn't improved that much.

"If someone wants to add to what I did so far, now would be a really good time!" he called out to the others.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

In my head the clash of magic could be heard, I couldn't get up. The darkness was everlasting, I couldn't even twitch. A soft image of my parents snuggling together appeared to me, then Norune Village faded into vision. I remembered my father telling me about the music box, La Saia and her Husband. The whole tale was magical. I used to listen to it as a kid and I had never forgotten it. Why did I hate him so much? I was lucky to have a father as great as him. I imagined my father fighting alongside his companions against the Genie's powers. He told me about Xiao, Goro and the others. They all seemed so great. Now it was our time to be the heroes.

A voice whispered in my head.

"Heroes...Heroes...Heroes..."

Despite my unconcious state I managed to get a firm grip on my sword. I clutched it tightly, thinking of everything in my father's tale. The happiness, the sadness, and everything inbetween. My eyes opened and I was back again. The gang were fighting off the Genie, who's chest was smoking. I readied myself and a tear rolled down my face. I looked at him in the eyes and showed him how I felt. The Genie recoiled in horror as my face showed pure anger.

"THIS IS FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO OUR WORLD!"

I charged at him as fast as I could, and leapt into the air. I dropkicked the Genie and his fat purple body bounced onto the floor. I stood above him and thrust my sword into his chest. He looked as if he was drawing his last breaths.

"Ooh, I'll have to be careful of you lot next time, that could have been serious. Bye bye!"

As he said this, his body disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.

"Damn! I wasn't strong enough..." I sat on the floor in disgrace.
"Why couldn't I have done more?!" I asked myself.

 

[ae86gamer]

From the time they saw the genie until the time when the genie disappeared Dunce stood completely still. Her eyes wide open, she was stunned to actually see the monster they would be facing. She knew that he was strong, but she had no idea he was so strong that he could easily destroy two villages. She stood still, not moving or anything.

This is what you released great grandpa Seda? You brought this upon everyone?

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

I stood up and put my hands on Dunce's shoulders.

"Don't worry about it." I spoke from behind her.
"None of this was your fault, and I promise you, we will fix this. Together."

I turned her around and looked into her eyes. We stared at each other, and the world seemed to fade away. Now wasn't the appropriate time, the moment was right, but the mood didn't feel...perfect. Instead I just hugged her comfortingly and let go.

I turned to notice a large opening in the boundaries of the village.
"Hey, follow me!"

 

[ae86gamer]

Dunce felt Naara's hand go onto her shoulder. He looked into her eyes for a few minutes. But then turned around. Dunce didn't have anytime to react. Before she could even move Naara had started running towards the village. Dunce shook her head and followed right behind Naara.

"Where are we going?"

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

I kept racing towards the hole, I had no idea what would be there. We got inside and a wilting tree surrounded by a dried-up moat was moping there.

Spoiler: The Tree

"Oh my..."
"Eugh...yes?"
"Gah! It's alive?!"
"Oh, I guess you're not from here, are you travellers?"
"Erm...I guess so..."
"You're here to stop the Genie, yes?"
"How do you know that?"
"Jurak knows many things, please hurry, without Jurak this village will die."
"Yes, sir?"

We raced off again into the old village grounds and saw two trees forming a gate. A sign near the tree's read:

Wise Owl Forest.

"Guess we can only go there..." We stepped inside, and all manner of insects slithered around us.

"Eww..."

 

[Aloran]

The genies magic had brought back painful memories for Damas. The images of his foster parents being murdered now being brought to the front of his memory. He kept on going, following the group, struggling to maintain his concentration.

can't let these thoughts overwhelm me he thought, as another wave of images appeared.

my father...strung up as he tried to defend my adoptive mother... and me, hidden in the shadows like a thief

Damas couldn't take it anymore. He had to find an escape, somewhere to sit down and think.

"Guys, I'll go ahead and scout." He lied. He just wanted to escape, to ponder, to be alone.

"If you need me, you'll find me...I know you will."

He bounded off ahead of the group, into the thicket.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

I watched Damas as he ran off. I knew what he was feeling. I'd had to go through the same sort of thing. I kept going and saw a large flower in the distance. I thought it'd pick it for Dunce, so I approached it.

"Wow this is pretty!" No later had I pulled a petal, I was assaulted by needles and poisonous spores.

I coughed a lot and covered my nose and mouth.

"Monster plants?! Whatever next..."

I took out my sword and readied myself. Then another 4 joined it.

"5 of them?!"

 

[ae86gamer]

Dunce saw as Damas ran off into the distance.

I wonder what could be troubling him?

The group walked into the tree. Naara pulled a pedal off of a beautiful flower. Suddenly the flower attacked. It seemed everything was alive. Soon four more monster plants joined. Dunce pulled out her chronicle sword.

"This just keeps getting weirder and weirder."

Dunce quickly struck one of the plant monsters cutting it into tiny pieces.

 

[reyttm4]

I ran towards one of the flower monsters drawing my daggers at the same time, it saw and shot some poisonous spores towards me, I responded with my wind magic shooting them right back at it, of course I did no effect but the wind buffeted it a bit, after that I sliced right through the stalk of the flower with ease killing it.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

"Haha, poupori?" I laughed as I cut down two of the other flowers.

"This is getting weirder." We finished the rest of them off and advanced deeper into the forest.

A nice strawberry lay in the middle of the clearing and I picked it up. It didn't pose any threat, so we kept it with us. A little while after we came across an owl, guarding the way to the second territory of the forest.

"Can we go past?"
"Twit Twooo!"
"Well that was useful..."
"Twit Twoooo!" This time it pointed at my bag.
"You want something?" I fumbled around in my bag and found the strawberry.
"This?"
"Twooo!" It took the strawberry and swallowed it whole. The vines that draped in front of us now seperated, revealing the way to the second territory.

"Great, now even the animals have demands."

 

[Aloran]

Damas kept running. He didn't know what to do. He'd just abandoned his friends because he was too weak to fight off the atrocities of his past.

stupid...stupid. How could I be so stupid? Leaving them to this forest alone.

He eventually came upon a river in the forest. It was a picturesque scene with sunlight shimmering through the air, almost illuminating the pure stream that seemed out of place amongst the mass of plants.

I just need to think He thought, as he sat down beneath a tree near to the river.

He slowly became lost in his thoughts, oblivious to the surroundings, the tranquility of the area helped him focus.

My parents. Who were they? Why were they killed? Why was I spared? Who owned these swords before me?

As he questioned himself he could feel the anger rising inside of him. He had no answers to his questions. He stood up by the tree, fists clenched in anger.

"WHO AM I?!" he screamed, punching the tree, ripping bark and skin alike. A flock of birds flew out of the canopy, startled due to the sudden noise.

if the others didn't know where I was...they will now. He thought, somewhat ruefully.

He slumped down, tears of rage staining his face.

"why was I spared?" He said quietly, more a whisper.

 

[ae86gamer]

Duncewas looking at the strange animal until she heard a scream. It was Damas. She turned to the rest of the group.

"Keep going. I'll check and see if it was Damas."

She followed where the scream had come from and saw Damas slumped down. He was crying.

Is he ok?

Dunce slowly walked up to him. She didn't know what to do. So she did the only thing she ever did when someone she knew was hurting. She hugged him.

"Whatever your thinking. You need tell me. That way I can help you. You're not alone anymore Damas. You have me and the rest of the group."

Dunce looked at Damas. A sincere smile across her face.

 

[Aloran]

Damas looked up. The sudden appearance of Dunce had startled him. But to him, all the pretty smiles in the world weren't going to help him.

Why did she come? She's too wrapped up with Naara to care about me. He thought, hoping his emotions didn't show on his face.

"You don't understand. None of you do. We've got Naara who whines about his father being the hero of the frickin' land, 'oh my daddy's a hero, boo hoo hoo'" He said in a sarcastic tone. He could see his words had hurt Dunce, Naara was her best friend after all, but at this moment, he didn't care.

"And the rest of them...What pain do they understand? I don't know what to do anymore Dunce. I've had 2 parents murdered, 2! And I don't even know who killed my real parents. Do you have any idea what it's like? Not knowing where you came from or who you are? It's ok for you and Naara, you 2 have each other. I don't really know about the others, I think the fight between Naara and I has made everyone dislike me."

He paused, and let his emotions get the better of him once more.

"I just don't know anymore Dunce. I can't see myself being some 'saviour of the world'. I'm not that kind of person. I just don't know..."

He looked at his bleeding, splintered hand and then he sat back down. The silence of the forest was all too real.

 

[ae86gamer]

Dunce sat next to Damas. He had a hard life. Much harder than anyone else in the group. Dunce couldn't relate. But she felt sympathy for him.

When he sat back down Dunce rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry for the life you've had. I may not know your pain but I do know my own version. I've never told anyone this Damas. I've only ever spoken to it briefly with Naara. My great grandfather was the one who summoned the dark genie. His name was Seda. He helped Toan, Naara's father, defeat the genie. Even though my great grandfather helped... People disregard me as garbage. They thought that I was going to be the one to bring back the genie. They look at me and see him. I've always been shunned by everyone in Norune because of it. And as for Naara.. He does have other people. Everyone in the village admires him....everyone loves him. But they all hate me. Thats why I've always been loud. I was trying to get attention, trying to get people to recognize me for me and not as my great grandfather. The smile I always had on my face masked the loneliness I felt."

Dunce could feel the tears in her eyes forming. She sighed and shook her head. The forest was eerily quiet.

"And as for no one liking you, you're wrong. I like you and so does everyone else. You may not think of yourself as the 'saviour of the world' right now but when you see the villages that need our help, the people who ask for our help, then you'll want to help them. Thats when you'll want to save the world and defeat the dark genie."

Dunce took Damas' hand. She pulled out some bandages and ointment and began to wrap it.

 

[Aloran]

Damas grew uncomfortable when Dunce put her head on his shoulder

she's not making me liking her any easier is she? he thought.

"I can't see why they would hate you. You are yourself, not your great grandfather. The sins of our parents do not predetermine what we shall do ourselves." Damas was taken aback. He'd never said anything so philosophical in his life, especially not to women.

He looked over at Dunce, only just noticing that she was bandaging his hand. He saw the tears in her eyes.

"Hey" He lifted her chin with his good hand. "Don't cry. As you said, we'll get through it. Besides, we wouldn't want any tears staining that pretty face would we?" He said with a smile, looking into her eyes.

He'd gone an emotional termoil, but, in the forest, surrounded by things that probably wanted to kill him, he was happy.

 

[goatzilla8463]

As usual, everyone was getting all emotional.

"Hey come on guys. There shall be times for us all to sob on each other's shoulders but not now. we need to find a way of getting back at this almighty genie."

 

[ae86gamer]

Dunce continued to wrap Damas hand. She heard him speak. The words he spoke were like that of a monk.

"I can't see why they would hate you. You are yourself, not your great grandfather. The sins of our parents do not predetermine what we shall do ourselves."

He lifted her chin up, looked into her eyes and spoke with a smile. She heard his words and blushed. Her face turned a bright pink. Suddenly Rachel walked in, more or less ruining the moment. Dunce quickly got up, having already finished wrapping up Damas' hand. She nodded in agreement.

"Yes. We should get going."

What am I thinking? Did I blush when he looked at me?

 

[goatzilla8463]

[em]Jesus Christ. Emotional shitbags or what? The world is falling apart and all they can think about is who they want to shag first.[/em]

I shook my head.

[em]How am I ever going to get along with anyone at this rate. I'm like a little cynic. Maybe even a bit jealous that I can't ever get into relationships. Oh well, I win in the end.[/em]