Chapter 15: The Game's Afoot!
                        -----------------------------

  The elemental was walking around the clearing, talking to itself in an
incomprehensible gibberish. It had not, as yet, noticed Sascha and Akfek.  The
two conspirators drew silently back into the shadows.
  "This one was _easy_ to find!" whispered Sascha.
  "Ah, yes," said Shade, looking as wistful as one can when one is a Mr.
Potato Head-shaped statue. "My relatives are not as interested in drama as
I..."
  "The question is," continued Sascha, "how are we going to get it to join
us?"
  "Luna is the Elemental of the Moon, and thus is somewhat... unpredictable,"
answered Shade. "But, we should be able to convince her to join us..."
  "Yesss..." said Akfek slowly. "I'm getting an idea. Sascha, we're going to
stage our own little drama..."

* * * *

  While all this was going on, Luna was minding her own business, engaged in a
fascinating conversation with herself concerning the political status of
chocobos in Pandora. Enthralling, really.
  Suddenly, she heard a twig snap behind her. She spun around, startled.
  Entering her clearing were two humans, a male and a female. The man was tall
with long white hair, and was dressed in a long black cloak. The female was
petite and redhaired, and was also dressed in dark clothing. Both appeared to
be tired, and extremely haggard. The girl was leaning heavily on a walking
stick. When the two spotted Luna, they stopped short, with looks of amazement
on their faces. The girl took a step forward.
  "Is that...an elemental?" Her voice was thin and trembling. She seemed about
to collapse. Luna wondered what the heck they were doing here.
  "No, it...it couldn't be. But, it _does_ look like one..." The man squinted
at the small creature.  Luna spoke.
  "Greetings, and hi, how's it going? I am Luna, the Moon Elemental. I am
also... Oh, darn! I forget... Oh yeah! A pelican!" With that, Luna began to
jump up and down with excitement. The man's face lit up.
  "It _is_ you! Oh, this is truly a blessing! A blessing from the Lord!"
  "God be praised!" the woman chimed in. "We were so afraid that you had
been... destroyed."  Luna was confused - but hey, that was nothing new.
  "What? Destroyed? By the Hermaphroditic Elven Mosquitoes, what are you
talking about?" And how did these mortals know of elementals, anyway? It was
supposed to be a secret!
  At this point, Shade appeared. "You have been watching the stars for too
long, my friend. Many things have occurred in your, er, absence. We now live
in a hostile, confused world."
  "Whatever do you mean?" The world turned hostile? Were passing ruffians
saying Ni at will to old ladies? What was going on?... The man had begun to
speak.
  "These are indeed sad times. I will tell you how the planet came into this
sorry state. A short time ago, a group of misguided individuals was seeking
to destroy all magic in the world. Through perseverance and propaganda, they
became very powerful. They used this ill-gotten power to destroy all magic
that they could find..." The girl picked up the tale. Her voice was sad and
melancholy.
  "They did a very thorough job. They managed to kill it all. All, that is,
except for the Elementals. This they were unaware of. But, they have since
learned of your existence, and now want to destroy you too!" The woman's voice
became urgent. "Their actions have already thrown the world into chaos. Magic
must be restored soon, before it is too late. We must re-establish the balance
that Nature intended!"
 "That," the man said, when his companion paused, "is our quest. We have come
here to humbly ask for your aid."  Luna was flabbergasted. She looked to
her fellow elemental, Shade, for confirmation.
  "It is all true," the dark one said. "And there is more. We have heard
reports that these twisted crusaders now want to destroy _all_ Mana, even that
which is contained in the powers of Nature, and the Earth herself. There have
even been rumors of... defenestration." The two humans nodded solemnly. Luna
made up her mind. This could not be allowed to go on.  Defenestration! The
very _height_ of perversity!
  "It seems," she began, "that my choice in this matter is clear. This blatant
silliness must not be permitted to continue. I shall give you my power, and
help you in any way that I can. Now, step forward and receive my gift." The
humans approached and respectfully knelt before the diminuitive elemental.
Luna could sense their storng spirits. 'Good,' she
thought, 'they'll need them if they're going to be Junior Woodchucks, and
their quest will none too easy, either...' She closed her hypnotic eyes, and
directed her power to them, by bonking them each on the head with a stick.

* * * *

  Sascha and Akfek glowed gold for an instant as the transfer occurred. Sascha
closed her eyes, and savored the feel of the power flowing through her. It was
different from Shade's, but no less enjoyable. She had to try very hard to
keep a self-satisfied smile from spreading across her face. She looked over to
Akfek, who was getting to his feet. She did likewise.
  "I hope that this will be of help, " the elemental was saying.
  'Oh, I'm _certain_ it will,' Sascha thought. 'Sucker...'
  "You now have all my power, and some of my ju-jubes," it continued, "and I
shall accompany you on your journey." Sascha didn't like _that_ idea. What
would happen if if it found out what she and Akfek were really up to?
  'Don't worry, Sascha,' she heard Shade in her mind again, 'I can keep Luna
out of the way.' She exchanged a look with Akfek, and knew that he had heard
too. Shade spoke aloud.
  "You should travel with me in my cloak of darkness, cousin," he said with a
'smile'. "It will be safer for both of us in this cruel world."
  "You are right, of course, Shade," Luna agreed. The two disappeared.
  'You may speak now. She will not hear you...'
  Sascha sighed, then rearranged her hair, and cast aside her walking stick.
"That was _easy_! I should've been an actress!" Akfek smiled.
  "We should be going now, Sascha. We don't want to be late for our
meeting..." They returned to the boat, and Akfek ordered the terrified sailors
to head for a small inlet near the meeting house. Their cringing and cowering
never faled to amuse Sascha...
  That evening, they reached their destination. The house where the gathering
was to take place was large, and loud shouts could be heard from within. It
reminded Sascha slightly of the tavern at the port. But this time, she was not
intimidated. Not with the power of magic tingling at her fingertips.