The Adamantoise and the Cactuar

The Adamantoise and the Cactuar is the first picture book in Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales. It follows the story of an arrogant cactuar who wishes to race a group of adamantoises. However, the cactuar's pride causes him to lose the race. The book is based on .
==Volume 1: Race to the Top==
===Prologue===
Once upon a time,
there lived cactuslike
monsters called "cactuars"
and tortoiselike monsters
called "adamantoises."
One day, a herd of
adamantoises stopped at
a clean spring to quench
their parched throats.
A cactuar came by who was
quite thirsty as well. He lined
up behind the adamantoises,
but soon grew impatient.
"Speed up the guzzling,
girls and boyses!
No time to wait
for adamantoises!"
One of the adamantoises
replied:
"We're just taking our time,
friend. The water tastes
much sweeter when you
drink at a moderate pace."
The cactuar did not like the
sound of that, not one little
bit.
"Moderate pace?
What a disgrace!
Speed is key,
can't you see?"
"'Slow and steady wins
the race' is our policy,"
replied an adamantoise.
"Slow and steady? 
What a laugh!
My blinding speed
tears up the path!
"So up that mountain,
to the summit!
We’ll race until
I’ve clearly won it!
"To better the mood,
The loser should
give to the winner
their favorite food!"
"We accept your proposal,
little friend."
And so the race began
between the speedy little
cactuar and the slow but
steady adamantoises...
===Epilogue===
;1. Prickly Pride
And so the race began!
The contenders sped away
from the starting line.
The cactuar had put a lot
of distance between himself
and the adamantoises, but
unfortunately for him, his
mind wasn't quite as sharp
as his prickly spines.
"There's no way I can lose!
It's time for a snooze!"
With that, the little fellow
settled down for a nap--
in the middle of the race,
no less!
At the same time, the
adamantoises were moving up
the mountain, slow and steady,
at their very own pace.
A short while later,
the cactuar awoke to quite
a shock! He peered up the
rocky path and saw the
adamantoises already at
the top of the mountain,
holding a post-race debate.
"This can't be right!
Alas, alack!
Restart the race!
Yes, take it back!"
"Now, now, little friend,
don't forget. Speed is key.
You said it yourself."
With his own words turned
against him, the cactuar
blew his tiny top.
He showered the
adamantoises with a burst
of prickly spines.
Luckily for them, their hard
shells protected their delicate
skin and it didn't hurt...
not even one little bit.
;2. Merry Meat
And so the race began!
The contenders sped away
from the starting line.
As sharp as his spines were,
the cactuar had quite
the dull intellect, and soon
settled down for a nap,
content with his current lead.
At the same time, the
adamantoises were moving up
the mountain, slow and steady,
at their very own pace.
The large fellows kept on
moving, and with the cactuar
fast asleep, they quickly found
themselves the victors at the
mountaintop.
"We did it! We won!"
The cactuar was at last
awakened by their triumphant
cheers.
"Winning while I sleep?
Ain't that a bit cheap?"
"But a promise is a promise,
little friend," the winners
reminded the sore loser.
And so, with a sorry look on
his face, the cactuar handed
the adamantoises their prize:
delicious slabs of fresh,
juicy meat!
"What a mouthwatering
feast you've prepared! Why
don't you join us?"
"No way! No way!
What did you say?
"You really think
that you'd be able
to host a loser
at your table?"
"The more the merrier is our
time-tested faith!"
And so the cactuar and the
adamantoises enjoyed the
sweet taste of victory
together as friends.
;3. Boulder Barrage
So the race began!
The contenders sped away
from the starting line.
As sharp as his spines were,
the cactuar had quite
the dull intellect, and soon
settled down for a nap,
content with his current lead.
At the same time, the
adamantoises were moving up
the mountain, slow and steady
at their very own pace, and
had soon reached the top!
"Now that I’m feeling
good and rested,
it’s time to smoke those
fools I’ve bested!"
The cactuar awoke and then
sped off like the wind...
unaware he had already
lost the race.
Suddenly, the mountainside
shook, and a boulder came
crashing down on the poor
little cactuar.
"I'm stuck! I'm stuck!
What lousy luck!"
The adamantoises heard his
cry for help and came to
the rescue.
"Although we're not as quick
as you are, these shells come
in handy, don't you think?"
"Allow me to
apologize!
I’d be a cactuar sandwich
without you guys!"
As soon as the adamantoises
set the little cactuar free,
he sped off in a hurry,
too embarrassed to stick
around after his unexpected
defeat.
==Volume 2: Rescue on the Rapids==
===Prologue===
Months passed by after the
thrilling competition
between the cactuar and
the adamantoises, and
winter was ready to settle in
over the land.
"My winter stocks are
gone, it seems!
I guess I’ll have to
head downstream!"
But the adamantoises tried to
stop the cactuar from going.
"The water on the river runs
rapid this time of year, friend.
It's also far too chilly."
"Don’t get your shells
into a bunch!
I’ll be right back
in time for lunch!"
"Didn't you save up food
during the summertime?"
Unfortunately, the cactuar
had spent his midsummer days
frolicking in the sun, and
had ignored the important
task at hand.
"There are even stories about
a real whale of a monster in
the river waters," warned the
adamantoises.
"No fear! No fear!
I'm outta here!"
And so the cactuar set out
on the river in his wee little
raft, having ignored the wise
advice of his friends...
===Epilogue===
;1. Prickly Pride 2
"No fear! No fear!
I'm outta here!"
Soon after departing,
the cactuar lost control of his
raft, which was cast into some
rocks by the raging waters.
"Help! Help!
I'm allergic to kelp!"
Suddenly, the gigantic whale
Bismarck emerged from the
depths of the river and
opened his titanic maw,
waiting for the cactuar
to lose his grip.
Luckily, the equally
amphibious adamantoises
were able to rescue the
cactuar before he was
served up as Bismarck's
mid-afternoon snack.
"If you had done what you
were supposed to do in the
summer, this wouldn't have
happened," the adamantoises
scolded.
But the cactuar was too
embarrassed and too shaken
up by the day’s trauma
to listen reasonably.
"You greedy misers!
Oh, the nerve!
Insults are all
you’ll ever serve!"
Then the agitated cactuar,
who could bear it no more,
unleashed a flurry of spines
at his friends...who were
only trying to help.
;2. Whale's Wrath
"No fear! No fear!
I'm outta here!"
Soon after departing,
the cactuar lost control of his
raft, which was cast into some
rocks by the raging waters.
"Help! Help!
I'm allergic to kelp!"
Suddenly, the gigantic whale
Bismarck emerged from the
depths of the river and
opened his titanic maw,
waiting for the cactuar
to lose his grip.
Luckily, the equally
amphibious adamantoises
were able to rescue the
cactuar before he was
served up as Bismarck's
mid-afternoon snack.
"Thanks a bunch!
I was almost that
whale's lunch!"
But Bismarck was one
unhappy camper.
"How dare you steal away
my most delicious treat!?"
"Now, now, I'm sure we can
work this--"
"Silence!!!"
Suddenly, Bismarck unleashed
a powerful stream of water
at the group of friends.
Luckily for them, they were
strong against water,
and it didn't hurt...
not even one little bit.
;3. Winter Woe
"No fear! No fear!
I'm outta here!"
Soon after departing,
the cactuar lost control of his
raft, which was cast into some
rocks by the raging waters.
"Help! Help!
I'm allergic to kelp!"
Suddenly, the gigantic whale
Bismarck emerged from the
depths of the river and
opened his titanic maw,
waiting for the cactuar
to lose his grip.
Luckily, the equally
amphibious adamantoises
were able to rescue the
cactuar before he was
served up as Bismarck's
mid-afternoon snack.
Or at least that's what they
thought...
Crash!
In the next instant, Bismarck
swallowed up the cactuar and
the adamantoises!
"Whew! That was a close one!
I spent all my midsummer days
frolicking and almost ended up
with nothing for the winter!"
With plenty of food for the
upcoming season, Bismarck
swam off, as happy a whale
as there ever was.
==Gallery==
The Adamantoise and the Cactuar vol 1 Quick Play preview.png|Volume 1 preview in Quick Play
The Adamantoise and the Cactuar vol 2 Quick Play preview.png|Volume 2 preview in Quick Play
The Adamantoise and the Cactuar vol 1 last page.png|Last two pages of volume 1
The Adamantoise and the Cactuar vol 2 last page.png|Last two pages of volume 2
The Adamantoise and the Cactuar background (top screen).png|Prologue and epilogue background(top screen)
The Adamantoise and the Cactuar background (bottom screen).png|Prologue and epilogue background(bottom screen)
Category:Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales
Category:Picture books