Author's Note

I think it's about time to include another Moogle Centric Chapter, don't you?

...If you're disagreeing with that statement, then too bad; I'm the one in the driver's seat for this story.

Season 1: Episode 8 - The Great Moogle Elder Departs Part 1

This time, we shift our focus elsewhere on Equees to the city of Goug; and in particular, we are seeing events in the Flying District. The majority of the Moogle Population lives in the Flying District; in fact, 90% of Goug's population lives in the Flying District. You'd think that with such a high population living in the Flying District, that a concept such as The Slums wouldn't even exist. Well, the fact that the flying city is flying is not a cheap production: Housing Costs in the Flying District are far higher than anywhere else on Equees. It's why those who are deemed too poor to afford the housing in the Flying District are sent down to the Slums in the first place. Most folk who live in the Flying District tend to be snobbish and unfriendly towards those who live below down on the surface of Equees. Only the rich even live in the Flying District after all. As such, all the Moogles who live down in the Slums call the Flying District by another name...

"Welp, here we are: Aristocrat Estate..." The Moogle Thief accompanying Mazool. As the Bangaa had learned, the Thief's name was named June.

"Ugh...I think I feel a little sky sick from the way we got up here." Mazool said.

"You wanted to avoid the Chocobo Patrol right? Well, then that was the only way up here outside of the magical teleporter." June said.

"Let's just find this house of the Great Moogle Elder." Mazool said.

"No worries, I know exactly where to go." June said, and thus the male moogle thief led the way to a particular street of the Flying District. It was on that street the duo found a pathway leading to a lone house. "Here we are: The House of the Great Moogle Elder. If anyone knows the truth behind Zalmeno, I can't think of anyone better to ask then the Great Moogle Elder."

"So, does this Great Moogle Elder have an actual name?" Mazool asked.

"Well yeah, he does. It's just that no one calls him by his actual name anymore. The last time anyone did so was over a thousand years ago." June stated.

"A-a thousand years?! How can anyone live for that long?!" Mazool had to stop himself from letting his jaw drop.

"Hey, if anyone could figure out how to live for such a long period of time, I wouldn't put it past The Great Moogle Elder. That's why in Goug, we have a saying: If The Great Moogle Elder doesn't know about something, it'd be the end of the world as we know it." June said.

"That's...kind of bleak..." Mazool said. Just before the two went towards the house, they spotted Garrison and Cinnamon heading inside the house. "...Oh great, those two beat us here. I can't be seen by those two."

"Well, I know the perfect place to hide nearby." June said.

Meanwhile, Garrison & Cinnamon had entered the home of The Great Moogle Elder. The elder in question, Mog, looked up at the pair who had come in. "Ah. I see two members of the Knight's Order have come to visit me today: One a unit commander, and the other a fellow moogle, kupo." The Elder said.

"Hello Elder, kupo." Cinnamon said.

"Wow. You certainly look old; much older than any Moogle I've ever seen. I think the fact you've lived for over a thousand years is a testament to your wisdom." Garrison said.

"You humble me, kupo. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, kupo? For I doubt you have come here just to chat with an old moogle such as myself, kupo." The Elder said.

"You would guess correctly. Dang, you are as good as Cinnamon says you are." Garrison said.

"Sir, focus kupo." Cinnamon said.

"Right. I was hoping you would have information in regard to Zalmeno's personal record, for it seemingly doesn't exist." Garrison said.

"I had a feeling someone would come looking for that one day, kupo; I just didn't expect it to be the Knight's Order itself." The Elder said. "That being said, the information you are looking for won't come easy, kupo."

"So, what is it that you want in return? I've got a few valuable trinkets with me." Garrison said.

"Your possessions hold no value with me; for it is information I want, kupo." The Elder said. "It is an equivalent exchange: I am willing to exchange the information you seek for information I deem is worth an equal price in value."

"Huh. I guess that's how you stay in the know around Goug: Folks trade you information for information they seek. It's no wonder your so wise." Garrison said.

"Please don't drift off topic, sir." Cinnamon said. "What do you wish to know in exchange oh great elder?" He asked.

"What I wish to know, is the specifics of the Knight's Order; specifically in it's current structure." The Elder said.

"Ah, an easy one. About three years ago, I went on a mission to restructure the Knight's Order from the ground up; I doubt you'd be able to find a single trace of corruption." Garrison said.

"You say that, and yet you allow Cinnamon to continue to serve the Knight's Order, kupo." Mog said; and after saying such, he opened his eyes.

Garrison gulped. In all his time as part of the Knight's Order, he's been known to be fearless, even in the face of the greatest of dangers. And yet, here this Moogle Elder was, staring at him as if the moogle was staring into Garrison's soul. "Cinnamon's background didn't show any criminal record." Garrison said.

"Perhaps you weren't aware then...of this..." Mog said, before a report was magically manifested into the room, and magically given to Garrison.

Garrison took some time to read through the file in-depth. "...Cinnamon, you took a bribe while guarding a bridge?!" Garrison's tone was dead serious.

"H-hey now, I may have took the bribe, but I still put the criminal in jail afterwards, kupo." Cinnamon said.

"I don't care. Under no circumstances is anyone allowed to accept a bribe in this organization. You are so being fired when we get back to the Knight's Hall." Garrison said.

"I see. You take this anti-corruption angle seriously, do you Captain Garrison?" Mog asked.

"Zero. Tolerance." Garrison said.

Mog laughed. "Well, then my fears about the Knight's Order are unfounded so long as you are in charge, kupo." The elder said. "Very well, then I shall tell you what I know."

To Be Continued...