-Second Chance

Mistaya

Crispy Critter
Adventurer
Joined
May 20, 2004
Messages
738
Location
Upper Jeuno
It is not easy to start over...


The tarutaru frowned. "Thith ith dangerouth, lady Misthaya. And... We will mith you."

The Mithra crossed her arms, her gleaming black sword looking as deadly as her eyes. "It's time, Enyr. I have to go back."

Enyr looked exceedingly unhappy. "I know. There ith a chanth though... If thomething thould go wrong, that... You could looth everything. Even memorieth. I am worried."

The Mithra's shoulders slumped, giving a tiny hint of indecision, but she did not back down. She touched the green and white sigil of windurst on her shoulder. "I am ready."

She knelt and let him hug her goodbye, a favor no other save one could ever boast. "Farewell Lady Misthaya! For the good of Windurtht, I hope the Thybil knew what she was doing." He closed his eyes briefly.

The bright cheery candles of the tarutaru's workshop flickered as the ancient magic was called on. Mistaya closed her own, as the force built around her. It pressed in on her, like a typical warp spell but it didnt stop. Instead it built on itself, a hundred times stronger than warp ever was. As her feet left the ground she could hardly breathe. Calmly she took a deep gasp of air. This is it! And then there was nothing.

The young Mithra with the old eyes gazed for a time at the shining Home Point as it hummed softly. She rubbed her arms and shivered a little. It was done, the magic cast. She struggled to hold onto her memories as they tried to slip away and leave her with nothing.

Some were lost to blackness but others... The soft green and tan suit of the village Mithra caressed her fur. Wait. This wasn't right. She dropped into battle stance, grasping for the great sword on her back but it was gone. Blinking unsteadily she unsheathed the pitiful looking Onion Sword that hung at her side. "This is all? But..." Her body felt weak and light.

Something had gone horribly wrong.
 
-2

The moogle looked at her perplexedly. "Kupo, there were never any items to store? You've only just gotten your own home... This is my first day here! I'd remember, kupo, I hope."

Mistaya plopped onto the floor to think. Her equipment was gone, her items were gone, her money was gone. Just like Enyr had said. She had lost everything, even her memories. What was she doing? Why was she here? Images crossed her mind. The Star Sybil. A shadow that covered Windurst. A threat...

Mistaya shook her head to clear it. She had to see the Sybil. Only then would it make sense. With new purpose she left the confused moogle and walked confidently to the Great Star Tree.

As she stepped ino the warm glowing portal and trotted towards the stone doors leading to the spiral staircase, something felt wrong. Guards she'd known for ages didn't notice her, people she'd helped didn't wave or smile back. But the biggest shock was just to come.

"What do you mean I can't see her?" Mistaya slammed her paw on Kupipi's desk. "Just what I said." Kupipi looked at Mistaya coolly. "Now please don't make a fuss, the Star Sybil is a very busy woman and cannot see just any old cat who's come in off the corner!" "Kupipi, its me, Mistaya! Hero of Windurst! I..." Her shoulders slumped as she gripped one shoulder and realized the splendid aketon and its white and green patches were gone.

"Oh~ho! Hero of Windurst? Now how can that be, when theres nothing to save Windurst from? Please, I have things to attend..." Kupipi arranged some papers on her little desk. Mistaya had the wild notion of bursting through the gate and up the stair. Surely if she could just meet the Sybil... But that thought was squashed as soon as she had it. What if the Sybil herself had forgotten? Mistaya had knows Kupipi for years yet still she had been erased from the tarutaru's memory as if by magic.

"I'm sorry." Mistaya said defeated. "I will come back when I am called for." Kupipi laughed. "Oh~ho, I don't think that will be soon." She said.

The stone door opened at that second. Semih Lafina strode through in her white coat. "Kupipi? I need to talk to..." She stopped midsentance, and looked hard at Mistaya. "You remind me of someone." She said after a moment. Mistaya's ears dropped. She had been hopeful, only for an instant. "I'm sure the gate guards have mission appropriate for your abilities, run along young one."

With a heavy heart Mistaya left the tower.
 
-3

The gate guard did indeed have a mission for her. One she knew she had done before. The Horutoto Ruins had been her training ground in her first days of battle, ages and ages ago it felt like. Still as she hefted the unbalanced Onion Sword she was worried. Her hard won strength, years of training, were completely gone. Her body was soft and maybe even a bit plump around the middle. The sword felt unfamiliar in her hand and she could not even complete the most basic skills. When she tried to call on the dark magic that had been hers to command for years, it did not answer.

There was only one explanation, and she hated it as she realized the truth. The magical warp that had sent her to the other world had done its job too well. It had sent her back, and back in time.

As she strode up to one of the enourmous bees that hovered around near the gate she realized the significance of that truth. The events that had led to... Suddenly her memory gave out. To what? Something... Something horrible. So horrible she and several others had fled the world itself in search of hope. She had found it, found the answer in the other world, the other Windurst. But the answer, and even the question, were lost to her.

"I've been given a second chance." She thought to herself as she drove the sword into the bee's abdomen. "This time, I'll do it right."

Day faded to night and the Mithra slept. Hours of hard work with the sword had paid off and her skill increased. As dawn came she felt ready to take on the mission.

Without mercy the goblins and bats in the Ruins fell before her. She carefully searched for the mana orb, but it was not to be so easily done. A Bomb ambushed her as she looked. It was a terrible battle. The cat dodged and parried as the floating ball slammed into her repeatedly. She took what strikes she could but there was little hope for victory. As her strength faded, she called for help.

A passing thief noticed her peril. He engaged bravely and drove his little dagger into the bomb's backside. It shrieked and hissed and then deflated, defeated. Mistaya looked up in grattitude. "Thank you!" She exclaimed. The thief laughed. "You should be more careful." He said. He leaned against the stone wall. Suddenly it gave way, and he fell on his back as a hidden door opened behind him. "What the.."

The pedastel holding the Mana Orb was in the hidden room. "You'd think they'dve told us that." The Thief laughed as he picked it up. "Here, turn it in. I want to explore this place a bit more." He tossed the orb to her. It was warm to the touch. She nodded gratefully and fled the ruins.
 
This is such a great story! Is this you, restarting the game? I notice your "position" says "I'm Back!". If so, welcome back!
 
-4
::Thank you for the comments :) it is alwyas nice to see someone appreciates your work.::

Mistaya scowled at the little badge on her front. Rank 2! It proudly proclaimed. It was supposed to be an acomplishment but she really felt no sense of satisfaction from it. She bid the gate guards good day and set out. Today would be an interesting one.

Attaining rank 3, she could not do alone. It was time to seek out old friends and renew lost aquaintences. It was a longshot but... Her heart told her there was only one place to find them.

As she crossed from the lush green of Sarutabaruta into the harsh dusty Tahronghi region, her sense of adventure grew. The majestic dhalmels 20 feet tall grazed on the scrubby trees, while the yagudo bird men kept a quiet watch. Admiring the former and avoiding the latter, Mistaya crossed the canyon with practiced steps. This place was as familiar to her as her own backyard. Soon the great grey lump of the Mea Crag was in sight. She crossed the last open ground to touch the crystal and gain affinity.

Something was wrong! The telepoint lay shattered into a million pieces at her feet. "What in Altana's name.." Suddenly a party of adventurers materialized around her. They sat down to rest immediately, and she could tell they'd just finished a terrible battle. "What happened here?" Mistaya questioned, nudging one of the crystal shards with her foot.

The elvaan white mage smiled at her. "A nightmare is trying to take hold of the world. We are fighting it back, through these broken gates, as best we can."

Mistaya blinked in alarm. Nightmare?! "Is there anything I can do to help?" The elf shrugged. "Gain strength, little one. There is nothing you can do now."

Nodding, the mithra left the party to thier struggle. On a whim she trotted to the second tele-point and to her suprise it was whole and normal. Sighing in relief she gained affinity for mea crystal, and continued on her journey.

Her destination, was the hot sands of Valkurm Dunes.
 
-5

Mistaya sat down at the outpost in Buburimu Penninsula. The walk had been long and she needed a drink. It amazed her how empty of adventurers the Penn was. In her day it had been swarming with young recruits, and the beastmen had been driven back all the way to the Maze of Shakrami. Now though... She gazed sadly at the beastman's banner fluttering over her nation's outpost. Kids these days, she thought and shouldered her pack once again. The last steps to Muhara were always the hardest.

She took three deep breaths to prepare for the dash. From the outpost to the gate was a long stretch of road plagued by goblin ambushers. Long ago, a dear freind had taught her the secret to survival here.

Never look back. Never stop running.

Her eyes fixed on the road ahead she let herself smile and started the sprint. Step one, step two, step one, step two. Her long legs ate up the distance easily. But the road was long and dangerous. It seemed almost instantly she heard a goblin warcry and a crossbow bolt flicked over her head.

Now the race was really on. She ducked and poured on the speed. Another goblin called out and another. She was blinded for a second by Dia sparks but squinted through it and ran on. The goblins were fat and slow, if she kept up her pace they could do nothing. There was the big wooden sign that said "Muhara". Gasping in relief she made the turn. Halfway there.

Dodging around rocks and through Dhamel legs, she put distance between herself and her pursuers, but it wasn't enough. She slid on the loose sand and tumbled right into an old leecher. The goblin grunted in surprise and waved his small stick in anger. Aero winds sliced her skin and hurt terribly. Suddenly the sand reached up and grabbed her ankles, and she went down. Bound! Terrified, she looked back at the veritable army of goblins rushing to finish her. She dug at the sand freeing her feet and took off once again. The city and safety were just ahead!

The goblins chased her right to the gate but did not cross it. Strong magic repelled them and they yelled angrily but finally gave up. Panting and limping, Mistaya climbed the short staircase to the Homepoint. She collapsed next to it to regain her strength.

The ferry horn sounded as it pulled into port.
 
first time I've read it. very nice story.
 
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