Chapter 2: Duncan's Burden -------------------------- Kurago hadn't gained any ground yet even as Duncan disappeared over the hill top. "Damn, the old geezer's fast," he thought. Kurago ran onto the summit hoping to see where Duncan might have run off to. He scanned the base of the hill and saw Duncan twirling as shock waves of air slammed into half a dozen crawlers. One of the crawlers perished instantly. "Lali-ho!" Kurago yelled. He really wanted to get some use out of his DragoonBoots. He started to run down the hill, then *jumped*! * * * * Even before Kulock could reach the crest of the hill, he saw his cousin's Moogle-form zip straight into the air. "Kupo!" He hurried on to the top where he could see Duncan facing off against a pack of crawlers. "Kupoppo!" Kulock charged down the hill, but the crawlers ignored him and launched a *coordinated* step-mine attack. Blue magic shot skyward and struck Duncan one right after the other. Kulock unfastened his Wing Edge and let it loose on a slow crawler before it too could step-mine. Kurune ran down the hillside, and Kurago began his descent; Kulock reached Duncan's side and caught his returning Wing Edge. The remaining crawlers took this opportunity to hit Duncan and Kurago with their feelers. * * * * When Kurago finally completed his jump, he crashed lance-first into one crawler, and with the aid of his Dragon Horn, skewered a second, and then a third crawler before returning to the others. That left only one crawler, which Duncan decidedly pounced on. "Suplex!" "Remedy!" Kurune cried as she drained the toxins from Kulock's systems. She turned to Kurago whose nose was bleeding, "Kupo! Are you hurt?" "Yeah, I think I might have jumped too high..." Kurago admitted. "Cure1!" The bleeding stopped. * * * * Duncan finished his Suplex and slammed the last crawler into the ground. "Kupo! Kupo!" Kulock applauded. He banged his Wing Edge against his shield. "Kupo! Kupo!" Kurune chimed in. "Bravo, Duncan, Bravo! That was a very moving performance," Kurago commented. They had never seen a live ballet before. "It would have been just kupo! with the right music." "I could even compose a few lines if you'd like," Kulock offered. Duncan looked exhausted and was beginning to show his age. The step-mine attack had really taken its toll. Duncan dropped to one knee and started coughing. He pulled out a hankerchief and dabbed drops of blood from the corner of his mouth. Kurune rushed to his side and cast "Remedy!" followed by "Cure1!" Duncan's breathing improved noticeably. He stood up and inhaled deeply. "Thank you, young lady, *cough*. Thank you all. These damned crawlers get bolder by the day." "If it weren't for those crawlers, we might never have caught up to you. Why'd you run off like that, anyhow?" asked Kurago. Duncan looked back towards his home. "It sounds silly now, but at the time, I thought you'd come to avenge your Moogle-friends." "Avenge? Kupo. What happened to the other Moogles?" * * * * Duncan led the Three Moogleteers along a path in back of his house. Amidst a grove of trees, the path opened into a clearing. Kurune, Kurago, and Kulock walked up to the four graves where sharply-chiseled inscriptions spoke to the fragileness of life. "It was a sad day. A sad, sad day," Duncan sighed. "And even now it hurts to remember." He stood before the granite markers for the longest time before he continued: "It was in the middle of the night when all it started. The *loudest* crack of thunder you ever heard shook the entire house. I heard a commotion outside, and rushed out to see the Moogles fighting each other! "At first I was *furious*. I ordered them to stop and take their positions. At least one of my pupils heard me; he shot an AuraBolt at me point blank! Then they all came at me!! They were all possessed and tore at me with such hate and anger... I was trying to break a Bum Rush when everything slowly faded into darkness. "When I woke up, there were tears in my eyes, and I could hear a far-off sobbing in the air. It was early morning, and the sun was just rising. I made my way around the corner of the house. "There I found two of the Moogles. One appeared to be sitting against a tree, but he was dead. The other was crying into his Moogle-friend's shoulder. He clutched one end of a Ribbon and was trying desperately to hold his friend's grip around loose end. I had to pull him away, I had to. "I tried to restore his little body the best I could, but he wouldn't hold on. I could only comfort him as he just cried himself to sleep..." Duncan wiped the tears from his eyes. "This is their forest now. I come here to remember..." The sun began to set and long shadows crawled along the graves. Kurune began to sob and Kurago swallowed hard. Kulock could only manage one word: "Kupo..." * * * * Duncan was planting a new garden when the Moogleteers approached. He looked them over and asked, "Where are you guys going?" "We're going home, Duncan." "Kupo..." "Good luck on your garden." "You're not leaving so soon, are you?" asked Duncan. "I thought you'd at least wait for the other Moogle to return." "Kupo! Other Moogle?" "Mog..." said Duncan. "He left the others here to train. I think he said something about Maranda and Jidoor..." "Kupo! Maranda and Jidoor!"