Kupita's Introduction

Anticipation ran high among the new recruits. This was going to be their first battle, but more than that, this was a special chance to prove their worth. The Empire had gone to a lot of trouble to keep prying eyes away, but to no avail. High Lord Brand himself would be overseeing the maneuver, and the Empire's troops wouldn't know what hit them.

The mounts stamped their feet and snorted in the morning air. Well, all the mounts except one. Kupita sat astride her chocobo, who sniffed and warked to himself. The Green Wing was nervous, largely because they were actually made up of fresh recruits. But the Shadow Knights had uncovered the Empire's plot only the day before, and while the elites were on the way, there was no time to waste. The Green Wing was stationed on the Tulisian Continent and only a day's march away from the point of contention. Brand was confident that they would win the day. The mission was very simple. The Empire had picked up a large force of Werewolves and was leading them stealthily into the continent's interior. At the vanguard of the convoy was a collection of soldiers with some mech suits and standard issue weaponry, led by someone important to the Empire... and thus to the Knights. The Green Wing only needed engage and overpower the handful of Empire Soldiers and detain their commanding officer while Brand and his elites kept the main force of Werewolves away.

The Knights drew up lines within the forest, almost on the clearing where the Empire's soldiers were waiting. The Sergeant gave the word to move out and the group made their move. On perimeter duty were a few mech suit equipped soldiers, apparently not ready for any kind of action.

Kupita hollers to her knight partner, "Kupo Kupo!" He looked at her blankly. "Sorry," she said, "I keep forgeting that you don't speak moogle. I said 'Time to kick some Mech-butt!'" She digs her feet into HP's side and slapped the reigns, charging towards the Mech. She turns back towards her partner and says, "I'll take the high road!" then she turned to he chocobo. "Kupo kupo kupo." she says to HP. (Which means "Go for the eyes") They fly up into the air and head directly at the mech. She leaps from HP and she flies to the left as he flies to the right.

HP flies up to the soldier and pecks him on the head.

The other Knight misses.

Kupita looks over the soldier's armor, but finds no discernable weak points.

The Soldier dashes up to the Knight with incredible speed. Before he can do anything, a puff of smoke escapes from inside his suit. The suit whirs and clicks, freeing the man. He starts running away. With a horrendous boom the armor explodes.

The soldier runs away. Giving chase, the party is surrounded by four more soldiers. They split off, two against the knight and two against Kupita.

Hot Property proudly struts around and Warks confidently. He eyes the approaching soldier, and fluffs his feathers at him. Kupita yells to him "Kupo!" which means: "Hey! Get your act together HP! Quit antagonizing the guy and attack!" HP scratches dirt towards kupita and charges at the soldier, attacking him with a Power Kick. Kupita whips out her sword and flies headlong at the soldier approching her. Her intent: to drive it through his skull.

Hot Property struts up, kicking only dirt and missing the soldier.

Kupita slashes the first soldier, giving him a slight wound on the arm.

Soldiers three and four tackle the other knight, throwing him to the ground and stunning him.

The first soldier counters with his baton.

Hot Property's Soldier wickedly bashes him with a strong blow.

Kupita comes to HP's aid, drawing her blade in a mighty arc across the second soldier's chest. He groans, staggering backwards.

As the knight fights his way to his feet, he trips one of his attackers, knocking the wind out of him and preventing his attack.

The first soldier takes advantage of Kupita's over-extension, striking her under the arm.

The second soldier follows his comrade, merely grazing Kupita with the baton. ::1dmg::

The remaining attacker swipes at the knight, dealing him a minor blow.

HP pecks the second soldier, drawing blood.

Enraged, the second soldier tries to step past his partner to bludgeon the chocobo but his wild swing catches the man across the neck instead.

The first soldier stands stunned...

Kupita, sensing her chance, slices the second soldier viciously, taking him down.

HP kicks at the stunned soldier, failing to connect.

One soldier swipes at the knight, but misses.

The Knight slashes his other opponent.

The soldier counters, sending the knight staggering.

The knight tries to counter his injury, but the soldier sidesteps, then strikes him across the back, sending him to the dirt.

HP pecks the first soldier, who falls to his knees, then slumps over.

Kupita whirls, slashing the soldier who felled her partner, dealing him a fast slash.

The remaining soldier cuffs Kupita.

HP struts forward, sensing victory... he trips and sprawls out on the ground.

The third soldier brings his baton down hard across Kupita's shoulder, numbing her arm.

Kupita is weakened and flails harmlessly.

The last soldier swings wide.

Kupita rushes up to H.P.'s limp form, and cradles his head in her arms. ^^H.P., please don't die! I love you!^^ She says in Moogle. You're my only friend... she thinks. H.P.'s eyes flutter open, he tries to lift his head, a faint "Wark" escapes his beak. Then his eyes roll back in his head, his lashes flutter and he goes limp once again. ^^NOOOOOOOOOOO!^^ She stands up, tears welling in her eyes, "How could you!" She yells at the soldier. "You Monster! He was just a baby!" She manuevers herself to stand between H.P. and the Soldier. "Go pick on someone your own size!" She yells at him as she wipes the tears away. "I won't let you do anymore to him! Now back off, you big creep!" She squats down like a sumo Wrestler, sword ready.

The din of battle begins to wane as the Soldiers gain the upper hand against the knights. New soldiers stream out of their tents, rifles drawn. From somewhere amongst the knights a cry of retreat rises. As Kupita prepares to stand against her attackers, a shadow descends on them, bowling them over. "To the rendezvous!" comes the voice of the High Lord from atop his black horse. "Wake your bird," he says to Kupita as he sets his mount for a charge at a group of assembling soldiers. The soldiers eye Brand and then skulk away.

HP blinks, then hops to his feet, casting mean glances around. "Grab that man," commands Brand, pointing Kupita to her unconscious partner. After directing her to sling the man over her chocobo, he says, "We have to get out of here immediately. They're sending in the tanks." As if in emphasis, a blast shakes the ground. He points Kupita into the forest and spurs his horse after.

For some time they charge headlong through the forest, until their mounts are nearly exhausted. Brand checks the status of their injured passengers. After a far too brief rest, Brand insists on traveling again, but at a more moderate pace. The forest thins, then gives way to plains. "We're taking the long way around," explains the High Lord. Soon, another forest comes into view. Noting the coming of night, he says, "We'll camp there, and better tend these injured."

"Uh, High Lord, Hello." She nervously giggled. "I was just teaching St. Jalopei some new moves, you know, for battle. She how well she did!" Then she hollers to HP, "Okay, H.P.! You can come back now, the training is over."

Brand looked around, watching the chocobo waddle back. "Where's that other Knight?" he asks finally. "And your saddle?" There was a moan from the horse's saddle, where an unconscious werewolf dangled helplessly. Brand rushed to the animal's side, checking his passenger. "You could have killed him!" He rounds on Kupita. "What's your name, knight? I'm as patient as the next man, but this kind of insubordination is intolerable. New recruit, or not." He gave Kupita a long look. She still couldn't see his expression, but she knew she was in deep trouble.

Another Stupid, stuck up authority figure. Well, I'll show him... "The name is Kupita, SIR... The other knight it fine. H.P.'s saddle was chaffing him, and you are the Sorriest excuse for a commanding officer I have ever encountered. When I signed up for this assignment I wanted glory and...and FUN! You lead us into a virtual kamikaze mission! You are just a big...a big CHEESE HEAD! KUUUUUUPOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" She says the last word as she swings herself back onto H.P. and runs back for his saddle.

As fast as Kupita launches herself onto the back of her chocobo, she finds herself dumped harshly on the ground. "Have a seat," says the High Lord. He begins to unload the comatose werewolf draped over his saddle, laying him carefully on the ground. Kupita sat dazed, while HP ran around in circles, confused. "I didn't get where I am today by being stupid or slow. You should remember who your friends are. If they're as slow as you are, you should get new ones." He breaks out some of his supplies and pokes around a terrible, bandaged gash across the wolf's chest. He sighs. "You're right about the skirmish. If you want glory, however, you need to stay with me. I need to tend these injuries or this one will die. Your second needs treatment, too. You may want to go get your saddle and your friend. *You* may want to bring him where *I* can help him. Your choice." He breaks a leaf and pours some water from a skin, not looking at the moogle.

Kupita mutters to herself. Then she and H.P. return for the saddle, and the knight.

She places the saddle back onto H.P.'s back. She then proceeds to give H.P. a pep talk. ^^I've noticed that you aren't very good at flying yet. In fact, you can hardly even float. Frankly I think you need to practice. Back in that fight with the Mechs, you were lucky. I saw what you were doing. It was pretty much just flapping about. Now, I'm your coach. ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO, UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN!^^ As she gives the commands Kupita flaps hers wings up and down dramatically. H.P. Looks at her amused. "Wark wark wark," he says almost sarcastically. He then prunes his feathers a bit, and yawns.

^^Pay attention H.P.! What if we were to run into something worse than a mech. Something bigger and faster. You'd never be able to pull that same trick off a second time. You are a Black Chocobo. You were bred to fly. Now start flying!^^ At this Kupita ran at H.P. headlong. He simply side stepped her. ^^Oh you are infuriating! That's it, no kupo nuts for you until you start behaving yourself.^^

H.P. gives her a disgusted look. "Wark Wark!" he says defiantly. Then he trots over to the mostly dead knight laying on the ground and starts rummaging through his pack, looking for food.

^^Get out of there! That's not yours!^^ She starts after him. He grabs the Knight's pack, and starts running back towards the woods where they had just been with Brand. That bird is as bad as I am! Kupita thought with a laugh as she followed in hot pursuit.

G6 Chapter One