The sun was high over Rabanastre, its heat shimmering across the cobblestones as Serah, Clive, Lunafreya, and Vivi wandered deeper into the bustling heart of Dalmasca. The air was alive with scents of roasted meats, fragrant spices, and the tang of sand carried on the desert wind. Voices echoed from every direction—hawkers shouting over one another, children darting between legs, laughter ringing out beneath the shade of cloth awnings stretched between buildings.
Vivi, his little hat bobbing as he moved, could hardly contain himself. His glowing eyes flickered brightly as he pointed toward every corner of the city.
"Look—look, Serah! That's the bazaar! They sell everything there—fruits, cloth, weapons, even strange charms that I've never seen before!" His words tumbled out quickly, almost tripping over themselves. "And over there, that's the shops. Some people say you can find rare things if you ask the right person."
Serah smiled softly, her steps slowing as she watched him. His enthusiasm reminded her so much of a younger sibling—like how Hope had once been when they'd fought alongside Lightning. "You know a lot about this place already, Vivi," she said warmly.
Vivi rubbed the back of his hat, shy. "I… I just listen a lot. People talk, and if you listen carefully, you learn so much. Besides, Sirius told me once… knowledge is another kind of strength."
Lunafreya glanced around the crowded streets, her eyes bright with curiosity. "This kingdom… it lives differently than Tenebrae or Lucis. There's no clear divide of class in this square—merchants and soldiers, beastmen and humans all together." She turned her gaze back to Serah, her voice thoughtful. "Does it feel strange to you? To walk among so many kinds of people?"
Serah nodded slowly. "It does. In Cocoon, everything felt… separate. People didn't even think about the world below. But here… it's all mixed together." Her lips curved faintly. "Maybe that's what makes it feel alive."
Clive, who had walked silently beside them, finally spoke. His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp as he scanned the crowd. "Alive, yes. But also vulnerable. Too many eyes, too many hidden blades. If this is where we begin, then we should know both its strength and its weaknesses."
Serah tilted her head, a little amused at his seriousness. "You sound like you're already protecting it."
Clive didn't answer, though his hand brushed the hilt of his sword unconsciously.
Vivi, eager to redirect the focus, tugged gently at Serah's sleeve. "The castle, Serah! You see that tall spire there?" He pointed with both hands, eyes glowing brighter. "That's the royal palace! They say the queen once ruled from there with honor and strength. The whole kingdom still looks up to it, even after so many years."
Serah followed his gaze, her breath catching slightly at the sight. The spire glittered against the desert sky, regal and imposing, yet graceful. She whispered, "It's beautiful…"
"And—oh! And the moogles!" Vivi blurted, his words stumbling in excitement. "They're… they're little, but they know so much. They run shops, and they help clans, and—and—"
Before he could finish, a familiar, cheerful voice interrupted.
"Pom-pom! Talking about me, are you, kupo?"
A small, fluffy figure floated into view, bobbing on tiny wings. A round red pom swayed above his head as he landed lightly before the group.
Clive's eyes narrowed instinctively, his hand twitching toward his sword. Lunafreya, startled but composed, pressed a hand to her chest, marveling at the sight. Vivi, however, clapped his hands together in pure joy. "A moogle! See, Serah! I told you!"
The moogle adjusted the little satchel strapped across his round body, then bowed deeply, wings fluttering. "Mog, at your service, kupo! And you must be Serah's friends." His bright eyes twinkled as he looked from Clive to Lunafreya to Vivi.
Clive blinked, his guard lowering only slightly. "What… exactly are you?" he asked bluntly.
Mog puffed out his chest, clearly unfazed. "Why, I'm a moogle, kupo! Guide, trader, messenger, companion—we moogles do it all!"
Lunafreya tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Remarkable… I have never seen a creature like you before."
Serah stepped forward, her voice soft but sure. "Mog isn't just a moogle. He's my friend. My companion. My protector. He's been with me through everything—my fears, my mistakes, even my death." Her hand brushed gently across Mog's fluffy head. "Without him, I wouldn't be here at all."
Mog leaned into her touch proudly, his little wings fluttering. "She's right, kupo! Wherever Serah goes, I go. And now that you're all together… I suppose that makes me your companion too, kupo!"
Vivi's eyes glowed brighter with awe. "You're amazing, Mog… I wish more people could see moogles like you."
Clive, though still a little guarded, finally gave a slow nod. "If Serah trusts you, then that's enough for me."
Lunafreya bowed her head slightly in respect. "Then welcome, Mog. If you protect Serah, you protect all of us as well."
Serah smiled, the knot of uncertainty in her chest loosening just a little. Surrounded by these companions—by Clive's strength, Lunafreya's grace, Vivi's courage, and Mog's loyalty—she felt for the first time that maybe, just maybe, this strange world of Dalmasca could be more than a burden.
It could be a beginning.