Stella wasn't aware of her surroundings. Where was the vast emptyness of space she had grown to love? She looked around. Where WAS she? Wait... she could feel...

Stareing down at herself Stella gasped. She had a body? Only yesterday she was a cestral being, without a shape... Now she had human form, and by the looks of it, a female, around 15. Stella was 2537, not 15!

She shakeily stood up. What was going ON? Last thing she had rememberd was becoming weak. She had been a beautifull star, big and bright. One of the brightest. She had also been very magnificent.

But it seemed her time was up. She was no longer a star. Why had she been ended? What purpose had the guardian of the stars for her on earth? Looking around she gasped. The veiw was beautifull. She was stood on a beach, the sand golden and the sea so blue.

But WHERE was she? She was many times admired the earth, but never remembered this place... And she would have rememberd such a place. Was she alone here?

Looking around she heard a rustleing sound. Behind her was a forest, and it seemed some one, or somthing was coming towards her. Braceing herself, she reached in her pocket. A stick? Ah! This stick is what humans called a wand! Grasping the wand tightly she waited, for whoever or whatever it was to show itself.

It had been a rather uneventful day for Kumorin. He had wondered through the forest since he had woken up. As he walked along the plain forest paths he had picked some berries to eat, which he had promptly devoured. Now he needed to find someone, someone to keep him company. Although solitude was nice for a while, Kumorin could never go too long without interacting with other beings. He enjoyed making people joyful, and hearing the pleasant sound of laughter.

He came to a spot in the forest where the trees became much less dense, and he could hear the sounds of the ocean in the distance. The tide and the seagull's cry seemed to call to him, or perhaps it was the fact that many people enjoyed the beach, and he may be able to find someone to socialise with.

As he trotted along, and came to the line where the last tree meets the first grain of sand, he spotted someone on the beach. Who was it? He ambled forward, straining to get a better look. He wouldn't go barging up to someone without seeing if they looked sociable first. It looked like a teenage human..He crept closer.. It was a teenage human! She looked like the friendly type, so Kumorin trotted forward, as he was moving, she raised a wand at him. To show that he was friendly and not a threat, he raised his hand to wave and said "Hello!" but just as the words left his mouth, he tumbled forward and landed face-first in the sand. He stumbled to his feet, looking a little embarassed.

"My name is Kumorin kupo." He said. "No need to aim weapons at me, I won't hurt you. You aren't lost by chance are you kupo?"

Stella stared at the creature. This was rare indeed! Smiling, Stella lowered her wand, as he seemed friendly enough, and harmless.

"Hello Kumorin kupo, my name is Stella! I am not sure if I'm lost or not... I was up until now a star, but it seems i have died. I believe the Guardian of the Stars has given me this form, though his purpose for me i am not sure. Where am i?" She asked, looking around.

Although the land was indeed beautiful, she was incredibly confused. She was new on earth and so wasn't sure if being where she was was good or bad... She should try make her way to the Guardian of the Stars, or some sort of alter so she could prey to him... But first she needed to make a home for herself, or possibly get some currency, whatever this was on this planet. All Stella had was Star Dust, and a book that was incredibly valuable to her, something in which she knew she would need in times of hardship.

Her main objective right now was to find a home, earn some money then perhaps settle down here on earth. That sounded nice.

She pocketed her wand and waited for a reply.

Watches, Stealthed.."Hmmm..what is she?..She looks so.." Makes a rustling noise, "Shoot" watches to see if he is spotted, holding his dagger..

Runs throught the forest, still in sight of her, trying to be quiet he stops out of breath.."Uhnnh.."

Kumorin looked at Stella with wide eyes. "You used to be a star? That's really spectacular kupo!" he said. Imagine living life as a star, and being one of those lights that brighten the knight sky. The only bad thing is you would probably be lonely, unless you had some other planet's to keep you company.. The odd thing about Stella is she had a very accurate human form, and looking at her, he could not tell that she was an elemental.

" You are currently on the beach of Haudhiaur Island kupo. It's located in the middle of the Palanen Ocean. It's odd that you came in to being here kupo. It's not that easy to get on and off you see. I had to stow away on a big ship kupo to get here. I come here for the tropical fruit you see."

Kupo looked around the island, considering if he should tell her something. "You see kupo.." he said. "Sometimes pirates come here and pilfer the island, if that happens kupo, you have to hide deep in the forest. They aren't exactly the friendly type, but that shouldn't be much of a problem right now kupo...hopefully."

Kumo heard a rustling noise and turned to the forest where he had heard it. Was someone watching them? He scanned the area..No, he couldn't see anyone. He turned his attention back to Stella.

"So do you want me to help you get off the island kupo? I'm sure we can find a crate big enough for a human on the next ship, I had plenty of room in mine on the way here kupo."

What Kumo was oblivious to was that he was only 2 feet tall, and what was plenty of room to him was not for a human. Still, maybe she could scrunch up inside a really big one.

Pirates? Stella had watched Pirates many a time, and indeed they where not friendly, and she didn't really have any desire to cross paths with one. She may be new on this planet, and rather confused, but she valued her new life, and had no wish for it to end with a bloody battle.

But something else was not right... something seemed wrong...Stella was filled with a peculiar feeling. Where they being watched? Turning back tot he moogle Stella nodded in thanks.

"That would be great! However I'm afraid im not much help..." she murmured, then looked again towards the trees. She was positive some one was there. Heading off into the trees she looked around curiously.

"Is... Is anyone there?" She asked, trying to sound confident. No reply. She began to search the odd bush, yet still nothing. Perhaps she imagined something..? Walking back out towards the beach Stella sighed

"Sorry about that, i thought i heard something.." Looking around she turned to Kumorin kupo. "How are we supposed to make a raft.." She asked. Did this moogle have a axe to cut trees? Stella eyed him up and down curiously.

Kumorin scratched his head and thought for a while. Hmm a raft...He didn't have any means of cutting down trees, or tying them together. He also didn't have any way of getting those means since they were stranded on an island. It seemed like the only logical thing to do was to stow away on a ship. Unfortunately, it might not be the safest thing to do, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

"Well Stella.." he said. " I think the only logical thing to do kupo is to stow away on a pirate ship. Im sure we can make it through if we we just be careful kupo. The pirates may be mean, but they aren't the smartest bunch kupo. All we have to do is a find a dark corner to hide in in the cargo hold kupo , and then get out as soon as they get to port."

Admittedly, some things could go wrong, the pirates could always come in to the cargo hold if they ran out of booze on the trip, but hopefully they'd be lucky and these wouldn't be alcoholic pirates. He had done this sort of thing many times, and had gotten caught once or twice too. The only thing was is he was small and fast, so he could escape right under their legs and get away rather easily. Stella might not have such an easy time getting away. Then again, she did have a wand, and it looked like she might be rather accomplished with magic.

"So Stella, what do you say kupo? It's either we try to stowaway on a ship, or you could be stuck here for quite a while kupo. It's the only way I've found kupo, unless you have a better idea.

Stella nodded along as Kumorin told her about his plan. Indeed it sounded reckless, and most of all illegal, but it was the most obvious thing they could do, no matter how much danger they could get in.

Smiling in triumph she nodded vigorously. "That's a GREAT plan! Only..." She looked around in wonder, and her theory was correct. "There are no ships... ANYWHERE! And i do not no this island well... where are the ships?" She asked. She suspected far away, but she didn't mind a walk.

This island was lovely, and she wanted to see more of it. Staring into the deep tropical rain forest she smirked.

Kumorin looked around the beach, getting a rough idea of where they were. He turned south, looking down the beach, where in the distance there was a wall of sea rock jutting out in to the sea. Kumorin knew a secret that few living creatures new. Those rocks sheltered something not visible from the beach.

"Look Kupo." said Kumorin pointing to the rocks. "There is a cove deep in those rocks kupo, where the pirates have a hideout. We can sneak in to the base kupo, and then sneak on to the ship. It might be a bit of a work to get on the ship kupo. If we have to, we can knock out a few guards, but we don't want to cause a kupo ruckus. Fighting a whole horde of pirates doesn't sound very fun to me, Kupo!"

Indeed, Kumorin had quite a hard time fighting most enemies, since the only magic dance he had mastered was his healing dance. His dagger was of very limited use, especially considering his size. Stabbing your opponent's leg usually only suceeded in making them angrier.
Soon hopefully he would be able to master a dance of fireball, or perhaps magic missle, and he would be able to dancey-dance his way out of any fight.

"We should hurry Kupo, they like to set sail at sunset, so that gives us about two and a half hours to get safely nestled on board the ship. It might take a while, considering there is lot's of sneaking around to do kupo. " Kumorin began walking towards the cove, in hopes of making good time. The last thing they'd want it to have to wait 24 hours to board another ship.

"So.." He said, deciding there was no harm in talking as they walked. "How does it feel to have a humanoid body, is walking strange kupo? Does it feel physically different from being a star? I'm fascinated kupo!"

Stella looked at where he pointed out. A cove full of pirates? The task seemed impossible, and dangerous, but Stella was up for it. Who said this wouldn't be a good time to try out some new spells she had learned?

Walking beside Kumorin she smiled. It was a question that would be the start of many. Who knew that in time she would be asked that question for every new person she met? Stella seemed to have a strange premonitions about this, and so smiled.

"I guess its quite different. All i used to be was a floating ball of luminous gas, and to now have another form is VERY strange. Ive watched this planet closely though. There's nothing much to do, being a star. Ive required quite a lot of information on the earth, and so i no a lot of hideouts and people. I wrote a book!" She announced proudly.

"Its about this worlds treasures! It was my biggest accomplishment!" That book was her greatest treasure of all, apart from her necklace. Grasping it she sighed sadly.

"I wasn't always good you no..." she went on, slightly scared. He may no wish to no her now... "When i was granted human form i was reversed, and so i became evil. I began to terrorise people, and so a mage took some of the dust from my glow and produced a necklace. When i put the necklace on i became how i am now. I was then cast of to this island. That's all i remember." She dropped the necklace and gazed up at the sky.

"I don't want to be bad. So i keep it on. I can never take it off. Not ever." She announced, then smiled. "Sorry! I'm talking too much! Please... tell me about yourself."

Kumorin listened intently, his head tilting from side to side every so often. He wasn't it was weird for her to have a human form. Going from a gas to a solid was bad enough by itself, (or vice versa, and people didn't usually survive the reverse...) Stars had very good vision apparently, because Stella had seen all the secrets of the planet in her days as a star. It was quite fascinating to simple Kumorin. Maybe he would ask her to read that book one day.

Then Stella said she hadn't always been good...That she had been evil. Kumorin didn't believe it was possible, but then again, he didn't believe stars could become people either. He supposed anything was possible. She elaborated about how when she was first human she was evil, and did some bad things. A mage had saved her though, and Kumorin was happy. He smiled and nodded his head eageryly at this point.

"It's a good thing you've got that necklace Stella...kupo. You seem like a very nice person, and it would be a shame if you should anything bad that you would regret kupo. You want to know about me kupo..?" He paused, thinking about what there was to say about himself.

"Well, I was born about 21 years ago in a back room of an inn to my loving mother and my hard working father kupo. They raised me really well for a while kupo, til I was about six, Then my mother and father got called away for some business, and I was raised by grandmother until I was 13. My grandmother gave me this flute I carry around my neck for my birthday, seeing as I always loved music." He held the miniature flute he had hanging around his neck in his hand and smiled at her. This quickly turned to a bit of a somber look. " and then she died... two months after my 13th birthday kupo. I was left all on my own, but that was ok kupo, because I had a great love for music which kept me busy. I mastered basic dance and flute playing, and I've even been able to learn how to cast simple kupo spells by dancing or playing the flute..."

Kumorin played a few notes on his flute, a quick simple jingle. "I can play more for you some time.. But we do need to worry about getting off this island now kupo."

Stella nodded. His story was indeed a sad one. She listened to his tune on his flute and smiled. "I loved it." She commented, then to his first question.

"Well... i think that going to the cove will be the best option. I'm sure we will be fine!" She commented, then bit her lip. The trip would be hard, but for now she was more concerned about getting them both off. The trip to the cove was log, filled with small talk.

Stella did not mind at all. She liked Kumorin greatly. When they reached the cove she felt very scared, but it must be done. It was filled with lard laughter and the smell of stale ale. They seemed to be celebrating something, clanking glass's hitting each other.

She and Kumorin sneaked round, but Stella's glow seemed to give her away. One man in particular spotted her, an grabbed her around the waist. "Ello Poppet. where you off tu 'hen" He demanded, pulling her down on his lap. She wrestled up, gasping against the wall. They where making a scene.

"Kumorin... run.. before they notice you!" She whispered to the moogle , scared. She wasn't sure if they had seem him, but it was useless them both being caught! The Pirate rose to his feet and pinned her arms high on the wall. "It seems we 'av ere a new barmaid!" He spoke, his face close to hers. He smelled like stale beer and smoke.

She turned her head away in revulsion. "Let me go!!" She shouted. Struggling.