I’m writing a special post today for a number of reasons, including (but not limited to) the following: Unc’s repeated questioning, my actual desire to write, something to appease Miraun’s ego indirectly since his spreadsheet keeps failing, Halloween, and my 21st birthday that’s coming up next Friday (the 30th). Enjoy~

Taru for a Day

It all started with a wish, or so the legend says…

“Wait, Liyel! I was just kidding!” Kyoshin said as he chased after the heartbroken Mithran White Mage. Just before he could reach her, he tripped over the pumpkin they were going to carve together and slammed his face into the closing door of his Mog House. “Thish couldn’t get any worshe.” He moaned with his face still plastered against the door, only getting up after realizing his Moogle was laughing uncontrollably over his misfortune. “What’s your problem, you stupid panda-freak?”

“It’s one thing to call someone short,” his Moogle replied after catching its breath. “but it’s an entirely different story for that to come from someone tall enough to re-paint all of the cermet statues in the Hall of the Gods! Besides, you of all people ought to know how the little miss feels about her height.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Kyoshin rolled his eyes, flustered more over the Moogle realizing the truth before he did than the result of his actions itself. “What exactly do you suggest that I do?”

Kyoshin’s Moogle grinned as it began telling him the details of the latest Halloween event cooked up by the MHMU, and burst once more into laughter as Kyoshin bolted out of his Mog House to find the designated target.

“Lucky…” Kyoshin said out loud as he found the Galka, Proud Beard. Just before he was going to ask Proud Beard about the event, there was a sudden explosion of energy that came out of nowhere–and filled everywhere! When Kyoshin could again see, everything felt just a tiny bit different…

“H-Hey wait!” Kyoshin stammered out in his new pint-sized voice. “Just what is this all about? I’m not registered for the event, I don’t doubt!”

“Interesting…” Proud Beard spoke in a ghastly voice behind him, frightening the newly-Tarutaru-sized Kyoshin to the brink of death. “Speech… the magic changed it… too…”

“What about size?! That’s the problem here, or don’t you realize?” Kyoshin asked, trying to pound the ground with his tiny feet.

“The MHMU only choose… those who would play tricks or pranks on others… or those who need to have a change…” Proud Beard said, somewhat bemused by his own role in the holiday.

“A change in what? In all honesty the MHMU can kiss my moogle mutt!”

“…Of heart, of course.” Proud Beard finished.

Kyoshin thought long and hard about what the change in heart was. Nothing seemed to come to him–he wasn’t the type to play pranks on others, for any rhyme nor reason. A change in heart… something he had done recently… “Liyel!!” Kyoshin shouted, jumping as high as he could. “If Liyel can be found, then maybe I can stop being so small and round!”

“The cat can be found… somewhere in the alleys.”

“Thank you!” Kyoshin shouted as he ran off deeper into Bastok Mines.

As he got closer to the Auction House, he could hear a feline sniffle off in the distance. Behind the Auction House, certainly enough, was Liyel–pouting in the corner. Kyoshin thought long and hard about what he would say, but no matter how good he tried to make it sound–the words would simply not form. So much for Tarutaru intelligence, he thought to himself.

“What do you want with me?” Liyel asked, having turned around to face the now-much-smaller Kyoshin while he was paying more attention to thinking than to reality.

“Uhh… well… you see…” Kyoshin stammered. He was certainly not good with confronting women about anything. “I-I’m a Mog House Management Union representative, and I believe that crying isn’t quite so festive! How about I cheer you up with a few alchemic jokes regarding a distillation cup?”

“I only know one guy strange enough to make jokes about such a topic.” Liyel said, wiping her tears as Kyoshin went into a panic. “Are you a friend of Kyoshin?”

Kyoshin quickly stifled his fear with a cough. “S-something like that! Perhaps we could instead have just a little chat?”

“I’d like that.” Liyel added onto the rhyme with a little giggle. It was only then that Kyoshin even noticed he had been speaking in such a manner, but there was little he could do in his current state.

The pair talked for what seemed like an eternity–something they had not done in several months in Kyoshin’s normal form. He was always so busy with traveling the world and the like that he could rarely pay any attention to Liyel’s own growth. It was amazing to him about how far she had come since her first days in Bastok–and he was surprised to hear that she had even enlisted as a mercenary for the Salaheem Sentinel’s–a band of which he was already a distinguished officer. For someone who saw things as stepping stones and little more, it was quite refreshing for Kyoshin to see the world through Liyel’s eyes; for she still bore the burning, passionate heart of an adventurer.

As time went on, Kyoshin realized that he still had to keep his promise and travel to the Ru’Aun Gardens to assist in the conquering of the Shijin once more. He got up and apologized to Liyel, but she stood up and merely asked, “Kyoshin always gives me a high five when he thinks he has a chance at victory. Care to try?” As she held out her hand, Kyoshin could only smile to try and hide the tear that came from his eye. He jumped with all of his might and extended his arm until the muscle reached its peak… and he still could not reach her.

“Well…” Kyoshin said with a sad laugh as he waved goodbye instead. “I suppose I’ll just have to pretend, and then perhaps my luck shall bend!” He ran back to his Mog House to gather the necessary items for his expedition, which his Moogle frequently held, when suddenly he felt a great presence behind him. He turned around and saw a giant form of his old self.

“It matters little how large I was,” he whispered to the illusion. “for this has to be done–just because!”

Through magic and ancient technology, Kyoshin traveled from the lowly mines of Bastok to the great temple in the sky–Ru’Aun Gardens. It was there that he would band together with several comrades in another attempt to conquer the Shijin–and to use their binding seals to make a contract to summon, and defeat, the great beast Kirin. These great deities he fought with often, for their lust for battle and worthy challengers could not be quenched. Kyoshin sighed, slowly shifting back to the mundane until he heard a voice call out to him from the Shrine of Ru’Avitau. “Dost thou truly wish to battle?” It asked.

“…No, of course not. With Liyel in my arms, I would much rather be caught.” Kyoshin said with a depressed sigh. It was then that he remembered her words on the first day he traveled to the temple:

“No matter where you go, I only want you to come back safely, and for you to share with me all of your likely exaggerated tales of glory in combat. Alright?” She had said with a truly candid smile.

“Dost thou have the resolve to battle?” The voice asked Kyoshin, snapping him back to reality.

He turned around, quickly changing back to his normal Elvaan self and said with a grin, “Of course I do. Even if I break every bone in my body in the process, I’m still going to go home to Liyel and tell her how I beat every single one of you–with my hands behind my back, no less!”

“Very good, child of Altana! Forbade thyself of forgetting thy sin of Arrogance and pride; yet thou must remember the serenity of companionship–for it has always been the greatest spell of them all.”

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Enjoy my 21st birthday!… And oh yeah, that day after… Halloween, or something. Have fun with that too!

-Kyo