Chocobo - Go Go Go!

[neverfirstclass]

Who: Cloud, Shining Armor, Zelda, Rukia, Ace, Pyrrha, Yuri, Bartz and K’pandolu
Where: On the road to and adventures in the Crystal Forest
When: February 1-6
Summary: Cloud and his friends embark on a journey south across the continent to visit the fabled Chocobo Forest
Warnings: None

To say that Cloud was overwhelmed by the support he received in chasing down a rumor for the sake of his chocobo would be an understatement. Friends and acquaintances both had come together to help, largely by a single bond: their love of Chocobos and their desire not to see one suffer any longer than he had to from the illness he’d been suffering. It would be a long journey, but as long as luck was with them and they moved swiftly he hoped that they would be back in around a week.

Comments

NPC

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud was still back at the sleigh, rousing Zack from his nap and coaxing him out of it. He didn't know what to expect out of this forest but he felt sure that they would find something. Maybe it was hope running on its own but it was something he wanted to hold onto. He couldn't recall what happened to Zack in that vision of the future but he didn't dare think his bird's journey ended here.

The boy and moogle looked about at the group, carefully and quietly at each person in turn before settling on the blonde struggling to help the yellow chocobo to his feet. Zack wobbled but he stood, breathing heavily all the while.

"Ah, I see. So you heard the stories of the Chocobo Forest and decided to come here." He frowned, unsure how to continue. The moogle however picked up the thread.

"That's all just a legend, kupo. There's nothing here anymore."

The boy nodded and continued, "The way the stories tell it there used to be something here. Long ago there was a place called Chocobo's Paradise, and it was ruled over by the great Fat Chocobo. All Chocobos could come to this land and live in happiness and peace, free from pain and slavery."

"But then the Calamity came, kupo. Great battles swept the lands, and even the Chocobo's Paradise was caught in the middle. The forest here and the stones in it are all that remain. So the story goes, kupo."

The moogle floated a bit lower as he imparted the bad news. The boy on the other hand looked thoughtful, tapping his foot as he rubbed his chin. "I wonder..."

[damn_juicebox]

There was something odd about this situation. The more Rukia listened, the more questions sprang up in her mind. What was a child doing out here in the middle of a desolate forest? Even with a Moogle at his side, she couldn't fathom how he got here, or why he'd persist living here. Were he an adult, she might not question a hermit's nature, but there was definitely something unusual here.

"Who are you?" she asked abruptly, her expression serious. "No human child would dwell in these woods alone."

Perhaps it was a rude accusation to make, but it was simply too strange to ignore for the sake of politeness.

[dammit_flynn]

Yuri had more or less the same questions when they were spoken to. He can't possibly believe that there is a lost individual with all this information. The more it talked the more he raised his brow. Of course, he didn't question yet, but he was observing quietly next to his dog as the two of them waited for answers.

At least Rukia was smart enough to ask the question first. He didn't have to accuse them of anything too grand.

NPC

[neverfirstclass]

Given all that the Heroes had been exposed to as of late it couldn't be blamed on them to question the motives of mysterious newcomers. The boy and moogle glanced at each other at Rukia's question, but neither seemed particularly put off by it.

"It's not easy living here, but it's peaceful. And there's a lot of food if you know where to look. There's a lot about this forest we'd like to find out about ourselves and that's why we stay here. You can call me Chocoboy."

"And I'm Mene, kupo."

Chocoboy turned towards Cloud as the blonde walked up with the tired looking bird. Frowning, the boy got a bit closer to inspect Zack's condition. Whether from fatigue or trust Zack did not shy away from the like poking and prodding.

"I'm...sorry. I don't know if there's anything in this forest that can help your friend....but there might be one thing. The legends also mentioned the Fat Chocobo's blessing. It might be able to help him."

[unyieldingspirit]

There were several questions that rose in K'pandolu's mind, relating in no small part to the story of the Calamity reaching this place. She let that slide for the moment, one hand buried in Esen's neck feathers for the moment as she watched Chocoboy examine Zack.

"So the Fat Chocobo still lives?" she asked. "What kind of blessing does it give?"

[pole_position]

"Does the Fat Chocobo live in the forest, or elsewhere? How can we find it, and how might we gain its favor?"

Pyrrha is all business as usual. If there's a chance for Zack, and it's with this Fat Chocobo, they need to find out as much as they can about it.

[shining_derp]

"Or is it like an artifact? Something it left behind?" Asked Shining.

He was wondering about the whole situation. If the place was empty then... "Do we have to gain its favor or do something to obtain it?"

NPC

[neverfirstclass]

"It's said that the Fat Chocobo could grant new powers to a normal Chocobo. The Chocobos he gifted with green feathers gained the power to walk across mountains. The Chocobos he gifted with blue feathers gained the power to walk across water. The Chocobos he gifted with black feathers gained the power to walk across mountains and water. And the Chocobos he gifted with golden feathers gained on top of this the power to fly!"

"Of course, no Chocobos we've ever seen can do any of that, kupo. No matter what their color." Mene then looked apologetically at Pyrrha. "We're not sure where the Fat Chocobo lives, kupo. But we're sure his power is still out there. Possibly as an Eidolon, kupo."

Chocoboy nodded to Mene and then turned to Shining, "If there are any clues to where he is or an offering you could make to him, this is the best place to look. If you didn't know already Chocobos are natural diggers. They might be able to find something we couldn't."

Re: NPC

[pole_position]

"Diggers..." Pyrrha repeats, looking at the ground and then around at the various assembled birds. "So if we have them look around, they might find an artifact or something hidden that could be used to attract the Fat Chocobo's attention?"

She smiles, almost chuckling to herself. Professor Oobleck would love this.

Re: NPC

[shining_derp]

"I'm up for that. Lets unhook the chocobos and myself from the sled, and we'll get to digging around. Sound good everyone? We'll fan out, across the entire forest. It shouldn't take too long if we coordinate our work." Said Shining, feeling more in tune with his surroundings now.

[confidentia]

The cadet's eyes widened a little at the legend that seemed overly specific to be entirely baseless. Besides, he knew from experience that it was indeed possible for the birds to develop special skills, at least in his world, even if never once had he heard of any that could fly.

"What kind of treasures have you found around here so far?" Ace's voice was decidedly softer this time around, as he decided to give the pair the benefit of the doubt. Of course, he agreed with the plan, out of distinct lack of any other possibilities.

As well as his own curiosity.

[dammit_flynn]

Yuri wasn't against trying to help injured or ill animals but this all seemed too much to be real. Still, he's seen a lot of situations where things could not be explained well. This at least made sense. So they could just go dig for treasures and such and make offerings? It seemed easy enough.

He continued to watch the group without saying much since questions were being asked and answers were given. There was no need for him to pitch in right now.

[unyieldingspirit]

Esen ruffled her feathers and let out a sound, stretching out her neck and wings to show how ready she was. K'pandolu ducked for a moment, though she wasn't in any immediate danger, and frowned, thinking.

"I take it you haven't tried this yourself, then?"

[neverfirstclass]

Chocoboy shrugged at K'pandolu. "We've tried. But we haven't been able to discover anything. But then again, if the fabled Heroes can't find anything here then there probably isn't anything to find."

"All we did find were random items and scraps, kupo. There was definitely a city here once, kupo." There was only so much the amateur archaeologists could do, but fortune did seem to favor the Heroes in this. Hopefully they wouldn't turn up any ancient Weapons though.

Cloud, standing by with Zack, checked on his companion. The chocobo's breathing was still heavy and he looked tired, but before he could even suggest that his bird get some rest Zack looked at him with a firm look in his avian eyes. He was going to dig with the others. He wasn't going to be left behind. Cloud nodded, not about to shut down the chocobo's resolve.

On uneasy feet Zack walked over to the remnants of a statue, shattered beyond any clue of what it might have once been. He bent down and pecked at the dirt beneath it a few times before moving on.

((ooc: we're basically in Chocobo Hot and Cold mode here. Given enough time, the group will find the hints they need to open up the final thread in this log. Everyone is free to play out digging here.)

[confidentia]

It didn't happen often that Suzaku would act on his own without any prompt from the rider on his back, so when the chocobo suddenly threw himself forward, Ace swayed in his saddle, surprised. At the same time, he saw no reason not to allow the bird follow his own instincts, even if the determined animal didn't give him any opportunity to get off before it began to dig in the ground so fervently, the boy was forced to hang onto the feathered neck.

"...Um, Suzaku?" Could there be something really hiding in that particular spot?

Well. What can one do.

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia exchanged another glance with Yuri, then shrugged slightly before turning her attention back to... "Chocoboy." Something about this situation still felt strange to her, but the boy wasn't willing to talk, and he seemed like he didn't mean them any harm. So what could they do?

With a nudge of her knees she urged Yuki away from the others, spreading out their efforts until the chocobo primly raked at the ground with her long pearly talons. What they were expected to find, she didn't know, but the longer Yuki was allowed to behave naturally, the more intently she began to dig with determination and focus.