~Ivalice looks to the horizon

The Cerobi Secret: Chapter 1

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:28:42 GMT

Title: The Cerobi Secret
Characters/ Pairings: Basch x Ashe & full cast in first couple of chapters
Rating: K+
Length: 2316 words
Notes: In-game
Summary: At the Phon Coast Basch and Ashe learn of a legendary hunt. If they suceed in slaying the mark, a rare and ancient life spell from the Gods will be passed on to the slayer. Will the Gods allow them to toy with death?

The Cerobi Secret

1. Whisper by the Fireside
Basch leaned back on a sandy rock as he gazed out at the beautiful red sunset. Wispy clouds and rippling waves seemed to still as though in awe of the sky and it's slowly shifting colours. Mulled wine buzzed in his veins and he was filled with a rare feeling of contentment. Slowly he unravelled the tight bandage on his arm and relished the feel of cool breeze on a hot and throbbing wound. He would never tell her, but Ashe always bound his bandages too tight. Penelo was the preferred healer to all but Ashe often felt it her responsibility to heal injuries from blows originally aimed at her. Basch had learned not to protest with his rather stubborn charge.

The journey through the Mosphoran Highwaste had really tested their strength. More than once he had blocked perilous blows aimed at the princess and had received the deep gash in the crook of his arm as a result. Of course, Basch didn't mind that in the slightest, but it unnerved him how weak their weapons and defences seemed to be in this part of Ivalice. They would need to restock here at the Phon Coast. Once they caught up with their finances.

Ashe had recommended they rest at the Hunters Camp -- no doubt having been shaken by the fiends in the Necrohol of Nabudis. The group had agreed heartily, especially after Balthier's description of this little beach sanctuary.

Basch was glad to let Ashe and the others rest here a while. He himself had aching legs and blisters on his feet from their long walk. Not to mention the stiffness of his back from so many nights on the hard ground under the stars. He pulled off his sandals and let the cold sea water wash away his fatigue. His blisters stung but at least they would be cleaned.

Not normally was he granted such a gem of a moment... to just sit and gaze upon such beauty without a worry in the world...

Or so he allowed himself to think on this night.

He sighed, putting away his bandage and turning to check on the group sitting around the campfire. He seemed to have gained the knack of remembering to check on Ashe every now and again. She was constantly on his mind.

The scene was a typical one given the circumstance. A slightly drunken pair of teenagers causing rowdy mischief to the locals, egged on as usual by Balthier. Penelo was monkeying around on Vaan's back trying to snatch an object he'd probably pick-pocketed from her. Vaan threw whatever it was to Balthier who then found a red-cheeked Penelo chasing after him instead. Balthier ran off, cackling into the darkness beyond the firelight, Vaan hot in pursuit and grinning like an idiot.

Fran watched them from a distance with an amused smirk gracing her delicate features. Ashe may as well have been sitting by herself for all the notice she took of her companions.

She sat with her arms around her knees like a child, gazing at the flames with a faraway look. The others had long given up their attempts to involve her in anything trivial. Basch knew they understood that it was because Ashe had been brought up in a Royal Palace without much of a childhood. Penelo had gasped when she'd asked the rules of Hide and Seek. No doubt she had never received a single "tig" either. They knew she was not as distant and cold as she often appeared. Her heart was kind and she showed her friendship and appreciation in more subtle ways.

Basch sat down beside her on the driftwood. He was glad when she turned and smiled at him briefly. It felt like yesterday when he had sat beside her on a night like this and she had frozen stiff as though turned to ice, not to thaw for hours.

They were more comfortable in each others presence these days. Months of eating, sleeping and fighting alongside each other had softened their relationship and Basch felt more in sync with her. He was careful not to cross the line as always but he also knew that Ashe had come to like his company just as much as his protection.

Eventually Balthier, Vaan and Penelo gathered back around the fire to get some food. It was clear who had won the struggle -- Penelo had a very satisfied twinkle in her eyes as the other two fought to catch their breath. Basch suppressed a smile; he had taught Penelo a little "self-defence" trickery the night earlier so that she could catch the two out. Sure enough, she shot him a knowing look by way of thanks. Unfortunately this was caught by Balthier, who cocked his head at him and raised an eyebrow.

Basch chuckled as the silence was broken by the approach of an elderly local.

"So, will you lot be doing some hunting while you’re here, then?" she asked, sitting amongst them and adjusting her shawls.

Basch glanced at Ashe before speaking, looking for approval. She gave a tiny nod.

"Yes," he said. "Some of us plan on hunting over the following week’s though we have not yet spoken with any petitioners."

The old lady nodded slowly, eyeing the gory open wound on his arm. "Been biting off more than you can chew recently, have you? You ought to have that stitched up." She said, nodding at his arm.

"A- Aye," Basch faltered, remembering their cover story. They were to make out that they were hunters from Dalmasca who merely wanted a change of scenery.

She nodded, as if guessing this already from their accents or their clothing. Scrutinising the rest of the group she merely hummed once, and returned her gaze to Basch.

She left them to their food and returned a minute later with stitches for his arm. Fran turned away pointedly as the old lady took her place beside Basch and began to clean the area.

“Thank you, er-”

“Jeyn,” she said, keeping her eyes on the gash.

“Thank you Jeyn, I do not wish to cause you any trouble”.

She made a noise and shook her silver head. Her hands were delicate and she was careful not to hurt him.

A crash and a clank sounded and they all turned to witness Penelo inflating like a bomb. She was covered in her own stew that had been flipped over her and knocked her backward off her rock. Vaan and Balthier both blinked back tears of mirth as they hastily retreated, gobbling down the rest of their stew as fast as they could without choking.

Fran let out a rare laugh, clapping her hands together once as if this show was put on for her amusement.

"Poor girl," the old lady said. She scooped up Penelo's bowl and rinsed it out ready for when she came back for more.

"Watch and you'll see that she will hold her own," Ashe said fondly. Basch's heart soared as it always did to see such a rare display of sheer happiness on the Princess' face.

"Actually..." the old lady leaned closer to them, lowering her voice and putting down the ointment. “I would like to take this opportunity to speak with you privately. I may have some valuable information for your benefit."

Ashe's eyes widened. "Of course," she said.

The lady had a testy look in her eye. Basch began to worry whether this woman recognised their faces or suspected their true identities. Seeing the serious expression he must have held, she seemed to relax- finally having approved of something and completely baffling Basch.

"I want you to understand that I would not tell this story what I'm about to tell you to just anybody." Basch gave a respectful nod, curious. "I also want you to understand that what I will say is mere legend... though I, for one, believe it is truth."

Basch shifted and suppressed a sigh. This could be one of those nights. He was so tired... The old lady began stitching his arm, keeping her eyes on her work as she spoke.

"It is said that an Esper long ago was granted a powerful gift from the Gods. The gift was a spell like no other... a life spell of great value. It is said that the use of this spell when cast by a desperate mind can bring another back from the dead... within moments of death. It would not heal the dying, but it would heal the dead and bring them back."

Basch sat up; suddenly wide awake and eager to see where this story was going. She had said the information would benefit them so surely she must mean...

Smiling at him encouragingly, she backtracked. "Now, as far as we know, the Gods only allow one being to possess this ability in all of Ivalice at one time. It is passed down the line by bloody murder and in this way it has been possessed by creatures and races of many kinds. Man slew Esper, Monster slew man, Bangaa slew monster..." she rung off the deaths with her fingers. "You can see how the trace is lost over centuries. However..."

She glanced around at this, checking that only the four of them were in the vicinity still. Fran appeared not to be listening except for the tense stance of the ear closest to them.

"My late husband and I were travelling on the road through the Cerobi Steppe not a decade ago when we were ambushed by a mighty beast and it's off lings. Of course, Vynne and I were not what we used to be... We did not escape in time and my husband was crushed by a rock slide as the beast blocked our path..."

Ashe placed a hand on the old lady's arm as she bowed her head in grief at the memory. Taking a deep breath she brought her head back up and gazed at Basch.

"Forgive me... but you look somewhat like my husband. Vynne and I... I remembered the beast and the revenge I once sought for my husband’s death." She sniffed and composed herself. "The beast managed to create an explosion that brought down the roads banks upon my husband and me, we saw a curious thing. One of the Beast's off lings had gotten caught in the avalanche and killed. Oho, it was definitely dead. Completely crushed. And yet the mother merely stopped to gather a white mist and the off ling was up and about in no time.

"Of course, at that moment I was too busy trying to free my husband from under the rocks… But I often wonder what could have happened had I slain that Beast and claimed the spell for myself... Vynne would be by my side this very night, maybe."

She trailed off into silence. Basch looked to Ashe who looked back with clear interest. She addressed the old lady.

"Why then, if this spell is so rare and powerful, does the world not know about this? I take it you mean that this beast is still at large?"

"Ah, my child... You rush and do not think things through..."

Ashe did not look pleased at such a patronising comment, but bit back her retort at any rate.

"Had I ran around telling everyone with an ear to listen that this ability had resurfaced so near to Archadia... Well for one -- the Draklor Laboratory would have it in an instant. It is also not known of the rules of such a Life spell. I have read that casting such spells can drain the caster of life in turn. The Gods do not like those who defy Death.

"No... It is best kept secret. That way the man with the spell would not be hunted in turn himself."

"So this Beast is currently residing in the Cerobi Steppe if it still lives," Basch said. "Though you say the road is blocked... can we reach it on Chocobo?"

"Yes!" The old lady said, startling them both with her enthusiasm. "If you travel East through the Thectia Uplands you will reach a road still blocked with rocks and boulders. I believe there is a Chocobo track over the stones. Though you must take caution as you travel through the Cerobi. The fiends are said to be ferocious and plentiful."

Basch considered. They could certainly do with such a spell. They had closely avoided death far too many times on their journey so far and it would be a valuable ability for him should anything happen to his charge...

The old lady smiled and rose slowly to her feet. "Well, I'll let you two think on it." She winked, setting off towards her family gathered around another fire outside her hut. "Oh," she paused, looking back at them. "And you can count me as your petitioner. I want my husband avenged and I'm prepared to give you anything for it... so long as I have it to give of course." She winked and smiled again, hobbling away.

A scream and a splash sent Basch and Ashe running towards the shore in an instant. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Basch saw Penelo's head bob up from a circle of moonlit ripples in the sea. She thrashed the water, shaking her loose hair out of her eyes.

"VAAN," she yelled as Balthier and Vaan rushed past them, bent double with laughter. “Get him, Basch!!”

Basch caught Vaan around the waste with his good arm and threw him over his shoulder, making for the sea.

Vaan's shouted protests were extinguished as he hit the water with an almighty splash. Basch scraped his hands together as the others laughed. Penelo gave him a thankful salute as Vaan rose to the surface, spluttering.

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Valley Of The Dead: Part Five

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:56:23 GMT

Title: Valley Of The Dead: Chapter 5
Characters/ Pairings: Ashe/ Basch
Rating: 12/ K
Length: 1272 words
Notes: Last chapter! Bring on the climax, w00t.
Summary: Raithwall's Tomb part of the game. Basch is hit by the confuse spell and unleashes his deadly anger on the rest of the group. Only one person can bring him out of it. Ashe/ Basch+ full group and Vossler.

Valley Of The Dead: Chapter 5

Basch ran. The air that whipped the hair from his face was sterile and ancient. It blew away his weariness and gave oxygen to the fire that fuelled his heart and limbs. The sweat on his body seemed to chill, though his heart pumped hot blood and adrenaline furiously through his veins.

Basch took fore granted his ability to stay focused so sharply during times such as this. It was one of the reasons he became captain of his squad. The reason so many men had trusted him to bring them to their goal and back home to their family afterwards.

Today was a day he would not forget as long as he lived. Today was the day he let his guard down to the near ruin of Dalmasca… for the second time.

Vossler stood with his sword raised and ready over the still and fragile form of Ashelia Dalmasca on the golden floor of Raithwall's Tomb. It was in that critical moment of finding the missing Princess and yet finding her apparently slain by her own Knight and trusted friend that the confuse spell hit him squarely in the back.

He had been oblivious to the undead that surrounded them, eyes alert to nothing but finding his charge. The undead were slow fiends and the others could take care of them. Fran slew the last the moment it cast the curse on Basch, and collapsed alongside it in a faint. Balthier rushed to her side.

But Basch registered little more. It was as though his most recent nightmare came to life before his eyes. Vossler- how could he? Vossler was a true man, a good man... Basch couldn't think. He felt sick. His head spun and the world made no sense anymore. It may well have crumbled down around him as his heart crumbled in his chest while he tore his eyes away from Ashe.

Revenge screamed in his mind. Guilt would come later.

And with that, Basch Fon Ronsenburg was gone. In his place came a deadly Knight with nothing but murder in his heart.

It was easy. Simple. Physical. It was what he was made for. He felt as one with his sword as he released his wrath on the bastards that surrounded him. Vossler first.

He charged and his target turned to witness the attack. Basch felt a fresh wave of fury as Vossler blocked the blow and raised his own sword- threatening but not attacking. Basch stabbed at him and this time he pierced the shoulder of the his sword arm.

A rush of blonde hair- the girl had leapt on his back in an attempt to restrain him. A mere irritation that only angered him further. He thrust his sword into the boy who was attempting to wrestle the sword from him with his bare hands. This was no match for him. Where was the satisfaction he needed just for a moment to quieten the anguish of his being?

The boy cried out and fell as he was struck, clutching a wound in his side. The girl screamed in his ear words he didn't care to listen to. Growling he threw her off just as the Sky Pirate crashed into him.

Though he was merely knocked back and not injured, his mind whirled once again. He was light-headed and the strength he'd felt a moment ago seemed to drain away until he sagged slightly. Vossler and Balthier took their chance and pounced on him. Basch was thrown down and crushed beneath them, pinned to the ground with fury boiling inside him more than ever.

"NO! I must avenge her!" He gasped, struggling with all his might.

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In her spelled state of petrifaction, Ashe could do nothing to stop the scene that unfolded before her but watch in increasing despair. She cried silently for her friends as they were struck down. She could not see what had happened to Vaan she couldn’t help but imagine him in a horrific state. She could only hear his agony and Penelo's desperate cries for him to hold on.

Had she been too quick to trust Basch? Was this what he had planned all along? To massacre them in the depths of her ancestor's grave where nobody would find them for months, years?

Yet he'd had plenty of opportunity before now. As Penelo rushed to her side and fumbled through their bag of remedies for a Golden Needle, Ashe began to anger. She cursed Vossler silently for his good heart that trusted too quickly.

And yet...

She had caught the look in Basch's eye. He did not seem himself. And then she heard him yell: "NO! I must avenge her!"

Her heart burned and she would have gasped had the spell allowed her. Suddenly understanding, she urged her muscles to move, to show Basch that she was not dead. She must bring him out of this insanity before he killed them all.

Just as Ashe thought Penelo had given up, the girl released the Esuna spell over her and she cherished the return of her body… but only for a second. She must end this. Quickly.

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With an almighty wrench Basch threw off Balthier and rolled Vossler over bodily so that it was him that pinned the other down. His sword was snatched away but Basch had already head-butted Vossler so that the other mans head hit the stone hard. The man went limp underneath him and Basch rushed to his feet, searching for the other.

He and the girl were bent over the boy and his charge. Though they did not seem to be harming her, Basch still wanted them away from her. Sword forgotten he hurtled toward Balthier.

What happened next threw him completely off-guard.

The Princess rushed toward him in an instant, stumbling up against him. Basch felt utterly confused as her beautiful face leaned close and her smooth lips touched his desperately.

His heart beat like the wings of dragon. He was too taken aback to react. He thought that he must have lost his sanity, but how could he care when her lips were so soft, her taste so sweet? Her smell so...

He did not know what was happening anymore, all he knew was that he could not help but respond. He let her lips part his and joined the kiss passionately, sinking into the serenity of her embrace. His arms curled around her waist and his fingers tangled through her soft hair.

This had to be a dream, it was too perfect and yet it was forbidden. It was wrong...

"Basch..." Ashe whispered against his lips. He did not want to kiss to end. Now he had her, he never wanted to let her go. She pulled back slowly in his arms.

"Basch."

He opened his eyes to the full devastation of what he'd done.

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-fin-

Thanks to stormbornxxii for your help and thanks so much to those who commented and reviewed. I'm writing a new story about Basch and Ashe and the new chapter of that will be up very soon :D

Valley Of The Dead: Part 4

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:51:28 GMT

I wanted to make this the last chapter but it got a bit long and it's been a while since I posted the last chapter so here is the next installment! Please let me know what you think XD

Title: Valley Of The Dead: Part 4
Characters/ Pairings: Full Cast. BaschxAshe.
Rating: Generally T-ish
Length: 1636 words
Summary: As Basch recovers from a near-fatal head injury in Raithwall's Tomb, a certain member of the group goes missing.

Valley of the Dead: Chapter 4

Basch felt as though the world swayed below him. With an enormous effort he pulled up from that smothered him and opened his heavy lids. The sight that met his eyes was so beautiful that for a moment he forgot to breath. Ashelia held her face close, smiling expectantly and looking every bit the angel. Basch felt then that he looked upon the most beautiful and precious woman in all of Ivalice. This vision of perfection was flawed slightly by the blood on her cheeks and the old belief that he didn’t deserve to go to heaven- he’d killed too many men on the battle field.

Her hand gently released his head and it fell back briefly before he caught it. He felt horribly weary- a feeling that often terrified him to the core. On the contrary, Basch felt unusually safe, dazed and dream-like… except for the sharp ache at the back of his head.

He reached up a hand to wipe the red blood from Ashe’s tear-stained cheek. Her skin was soft and warm. Basch suddenly felt embarrassed at his open display of compassion. He tried to get a grip on himself but his thoughts were scattered from the blow. "Are you well, princess?" he asked, his voice not nearly as gruff as he would have liked.

She rolled her eyes slightly and her angelic smile turned into a smirk worthy of Balthier. "Of course." She moved away from him to a more respectable distance. "You make a soft landing." The smile fell from her face a second later- leaving her looking quite sickened. Her voice deepened as she became somber. "I thank you… "She looked like she wanted to say more, but couldn’t quite find the words.

The memory of their fall swam to the surface in his mind as Ashe stood up. He must have hit his head and fallen unconscious. To put off the moment when he’d have to try and stand up respectably, Basch took in his surroundings. He was sitting in an island of red. The sight of so much blood alerted him, sending adrenaline through his veins and putting his thoughts into sharper focus.

A metal hand gripped the crook of his arm, offering to help him stand. "It’s all yours, Basch. We’re not hurt." Vossler. Relief washed over him and he let his old comrade pull most of his weight as he got to his feet, staggering a little. He felt light-headed and heavy-limbed.

Penelo appeared at his side looking sympathetic. "You had a cracked skull but Vossler managed to heal it," she handed him a canteen of water and joined Vossler as he made his way back up the steps. "Shouldn’t we rest a moment before we go on? We don’t know what awaits…"

Basch could listen to no more. The others were already following Vossler and only Ashe remained at his side. Shelving his pride with shame and reluctance he gave in to his body and sank back to the ground. He could face nothing at this moment. Let us rest… let us rest…
--

Something stirred inside Ashe- sadness? Pity? Anxiety? Yes- it was a mixture of those and much more, it was something she had felt only a taste of before- it was love. She knew it now. It was an ache in her chest, an obsessive need, an intoxicating rush through her veins that rendered her unable to think rationally. It was the force that gave someone the power to utterly break you without even raising a sword.

--

His body rested, but his shaken mind did not. His sleep-controlled imagination was addled with confused images of his friends and old enemies long passed. They fought on the golden tiles now tinged with pools and flecks of scarlet. Nothing made sense- his dreams weaved into one big blurry rampaging battle field where friend fought friend alike and betrayal broke hearts and allies around him.

He knew, in the depths of his being, that he was asleep- that he had suffered a severe head injury and this was his reward- but still instinct urged him to get up and help them. He was a Knight of Dalmasca, sitting in shame on the bloodied earth like a new recruit who was out of his depth. He was stronger than this! But he couldn’t move fast enough- he was spent. Useless. His own body had betrayed him yet again.

Vossler leapt into view possessed with the raw animal ferocity that Basch had come to recognise well from battles spent at his side. He dreaded seeing which doomed soul Vossler was so focused on… and at this thought his mind conjured an image of Balthier, guns forgotten, thrashing at Vossler with Basch’s own sword, his face unrecognisable with eyes filled with alien rage and concentration. Basch wanted to yell a warning to Balthier. The fool was no match for him!

Vossler prepared a feinting attack Basch knew had never failed him and he panicked. He wrenched himself forward and lunged for Vossler, to knock him down, anything. His attempt was not enough- Vossler merely dodged aside and brought down his sword on Bal- no, Balthier was no longer in sight, Vossler’s sword fell as if in slow motion down to shatter Ashelia. An undefended, terrified and utterly vulnerable Ashelia.

Basch roared.

And woke himself up. His shout carried on long after he’d stopped- it echoed around the otherwise silent hall- startling the others.

After that he vowed to stay awake as long as he could endure it.

--

Their footsteps unsettled the ancient dust and grime as they descended the first flight of stairs. The group was wary- Basch noticed how they shot side-long glances at him, though they tried to be discreet.

He could do little to stop his stumbles on the steps and more than once he’d had to grasp the banister for fear of toppling into the others and into the depths of the temple below. He refused offers of more rest though- he had already held them up and would not become a burden. There was little time before the Imperials would arrive to reclaim the princess.

A sharp prick sent a hot sensation through the skin at his throat and he turned to witness a white bats wings retreating in a flurry. He made to draw his heavy sword but was stilled by a light touch at his arm and a knowing look from its owner. Ashe hold him back as Fran shot at the bats with her bow.

Basch didn’t protest as the others insisted that he held back from fighting. It was all he could do to keep his eyes open and not succumb to the blackness that clawed at him from the shadows.

He found himself at the rear of the group with Ashe, paying little attention to his surroundings as they wove deeper into the maze of the tomb. He put his faith in Balthier, Vaan and Penelo who lead the group and took the bulk of the foes with the occasional arrow and healing spell from Fran.

Another light touch to his arm sparked his awareness and he turned, expecting the slender white hand of before. The hand was grey, rotted and the flesh stripped in places to expose human bones. He stumbled backwards away from the zombie instinctively, retching slightly. No man could stomach the stench of its skin, or the pure horror of its dead and hollow face so close.

His breath began to come in sharp gasps.

"The Lady Ashe, Ashe- where is Ashe?!"
The last thought he shouted aloud, drawing his sword against the oncoming undead. There were several now, rising hunch- backed from the stone as though from a long-settled grave.

The others sprinted back to him, shouting and frantically searching for Ashe as though she might be hiding behind a torch. Fire born of fright and fear for his post sent Basch hurtling back along the corridor they’d come, beaten only by Vossler who was already out of sight.

--

Ashe had long slain the undead that crept up silently behind the group. True: she had given her focus to the uncharacteristically apathetic Knight that marched wearily before her, and she hadn’t given much thought to the spell that had been cast on her with apparently little effect.

She’d been a fool to overlook the symptoms. As the group slowly but steadily progressed, her body had ached and became stiff and cold. She did not shiver and her arms felt too heavy to hug herself warm. Each passing minute she had felt the hairs on her arms stand more and more erect at the slightest hint of a threat.

A gunshot broke the eerie silence as Balthier shot at foes in the next room. A fresh wave of fear wracked her- more ferociously than the last, making her gasp. In that unexplainable moment she finally realised what was happening to her.

By then it was too late. She went down hard on one knee, trying to scream in her effort to pull her leaden body upright again, but no sound left her lips but a gush of air. As terror crept up her cold spine to claim her, the weight of her limbs dragged her to the stone floor.

The waiting was the worst part. Her terror was complete and shattering. Her mind screamed but her body would not. She willed her mouth to move, wrenched herself fruitlessly. It was no use. Her thoughts began to fade, freezing over despite her determination to cling on to it. She was completely and utterly petrified.

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-One more chapter to go! I hope you like the climax XD I'll try and get it posted asap because there are parts of this that tie in tightly with this chapter. I can't wait to move onto something longer and more planned out!
- Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII, it's characters, settings etc. My stories are completely fictional.
-Please comment! I really want constructive criticism and feedback!

Valley Of The Dead: Part Three

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:35:01 GMT

Title: Valley of the Dead: Chapter 3
Characters/ Pairings: Ashe/ Basch. Full cast + Vossler.
Rating: T
Length: 1312
Notes: In-game so no ending spoilers and chapter's can be read as one-offs.
Summary: Things get off to a very bad start as the group take on Raithwall's Tomb. Ashe fears that Basch's selfless loyalty will cost him his life. Some violence.

Valley of the Dead: Chapter 3

A great cracking and crumbling sounded behind Basch as soon as his foot touched the bridge at the rear of the group. Everyone swung round towards the source as one, weapons at the ready and nerves on edge.

The great statue at the start of the bridge appeared to come to life before them, ripping itself from the golden stone it was carved to. It's many legs clawed at the bridge, inching itself slowly but surely towards them.

"Fight or run? Better decide fast!" Vaan yelled from the front.

"To the door, Vaan!" Basch shouted, sending the group running along the bridge. They hurtled through the gigantic double doors only to stagger to a halt, staring at the same view they saw if they looked behind them.

Only the Knights kept their pace, swords raised. "We'll have to fight this one!" Vossler roared over his shoulder. "Destroy it before it can flatten us!"

Their footsteps echoed loudly around the great hall as they sprinted across the bridge to the second Demon Wall, already a good way across the long bridge. Basch reached it first and drove his great sword into the creature with all his strength. The rock of it was easier to penetrate than he had thought from appearance, he almost fell into the creature.

The others began hacking at it's many clawing legs, not having weapons large enough to deal enough damage to the rest of it. Penelo danced aggressively with her daggers. Her strikes were perfect and accurate, slicing leg after leg to the ground. Ashe fought beside Basch and Vossler, aiming for the creatures arms and neck with their long swords.

It was difficult, they had to keep moving slowly back up the bridge to avoid being crushed and the creature clawed at them continuously, it's claws strong and razor sharp. Vossler was knocked forcefully into Vaan and Penelo and Fran was gashed down her leg.

Another great arm swung towards Vossler, who ducked instinctively. Instead it caught up Ashe and tossed her into the air. Basch threw himself in her path, thinking to stop her being cast over the bridge and into the void, but she hit with such force he was knocked off his feet and thrown over the edge with her.

The fall wasn’t as far as the darkness had suggested, they slammed into the ground within seconds. Having fallen backwards with Ashe pinning him down, Basch had no way of breaking his fall. His back struck rock a split second before his head slammed onto the stone with a sickening thud.

The last thing he saw before darkness overwhelmed him was Ashe, safe and unbroken in his arms.

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Ashe had screamed as she’d fallen but it was nothing like the raw piercing sound that escaped her now. She was surrounded by blood, it seeped out from under them at an alarming rate. Basch did not stir underneath her. Panic clawed at her insides as her Knight didn’t respond at the sound of such distress. She could hear the others still fighting the Demon Wall above her.
Trembling, she shifted her weight off him so she would not make his injuries worse. Her mind stalled in her terror as she knelt instead beside him. She was blinded by the realization that Basch was not invincible- that he was just as breakable as her.

She picked him up gingerly and held him to her chest. Stupid, impulsive, but she didn’t want to lose him. Her hand supporting his head met hot, sticky hair and came away trembling, drenched in red.

She felt the soft brush of warm air at her neck and hope flickered inside her. She couldn’t lay him back down on a cracked skull and she couldn’t lift him. All she could do was yell for Vossler, for Fran, for the Gods, anyone.

The Demon Wall screeched above her and she could hear the others sprinting along to the end of the bridge, and down the steps towards her. Penelo stopped short of them, hand over her mouth. Vossler dropped to his knees in front of her. Ashe realized her face was wet and brushed at her cheeks before she remembered her hands were covered in blood.

“Don’t panic“, Vossler said roughly, examining Basch’s head. “Head wounds bleed much more than normal ones.”

Don’t panic? Don’t panic?! Ashe thought wildly. We can hardly scoop all this blood and pour it back into him! She forced herself to take a deep breath.

“Everyone get your healing spells ready, fast!” Vossler ordered. Ashe looked around thinking of Ethers. “No- your majesty- just hold him up for me. He is in better light where you hold him. Apply pressure here.” He moved her hand on Basch’s head and began to examine the wound. Ashe was glad she couldn’t see the gory details.

As the others raised their arms and gathered their magick’s, Vossler said, “It is as I thought, he’s cracked his skull but it’s not fatal if he has not been drained of blood. The healing spells should work… if they fail we‘ll carry him to the gate crystal and return to Rabanastre. There is no doctor in the Resistance, but there are those who have dealt with injuries such as this.” Ashe watched his face to assess how bad the situation really was, but he seemed to be speaking honestly. Concentration was in his eyes as he worked, cleaning the wound. Holding Basch close and supporting his head, she felt better to feel him warm and breathing softly. His golden eyelashes flickered once and she wondered if he was dreaming, or if he knew his life was leaking down his back and over her arms to the ground. She clutched him tighter.

A ball of green light rushed over Basch from Penelo, followed by more of different hue from the others. Vossler applied some sort of remedy to the wound. As the silence began to stretch and Vossler pulled back blankly from the wound, panic flared in Ashe again. “Why is he not waking up? Has it not worked?”

Vossler gave her a small smile, “It is healed, though he may not wake up straight away. That was a big shock and his body is coping with it.” Ashe saw the others relax around her, sheath their weapons and wipe sweat from their brows.

“Thank the Gods for that,” Balthier said. “No offense but we wouldn’t last five minutes in this place without our slightly suicidal Captain here.” His face was still a little shaken to pull of his smirk. Ashe shot him a disgusted look.

“We ought to find a proper healer we can count on back at the Resistance for in case Ashe or Basch get injured like this again.” Vaan said. “We can’t have them being held in hospital by Imperials, and we can‘t turn up at the door of the Resistance and expect them to drop everything and save a King-slayer… ”

Vossler simply nodded. “We should wake him. He may have a concussion.”

Ashe slackened her hold on Basch, slightly apprehensive because of the last time she’d woken him up. Vossler chuckled darkly, seeming to read her mind and taking away Basch’s sword. “I doubt he’ll have the energy, Ashe.”

The others pulled out water and potions and tended to their own injuries. Ashe blushed, realizing Basch would wake up in her arms, possibly wondering how he’d gotten there.

Repressing a smile, she put her lips to his ear and whispered his name.

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- Getting better, no? Well I actually had a rough plan before I wrote this one, which probably helped a lot *headdesk* Comments highly appreciated!

Valley Of The Dead: Part Two

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:28:49 GMT

Title: Valley Of The Dead (Chapter 2/?)
Characters/ Pairings: Ashe/Basch (+full cast & Vossler)
Rating: T
Length: 1385
Summary: As the group travel to Raithwall's tomb, Ashe and Basch begin to realise their feelings for eachother. In-Game so no spoilers. Ashe / Basch centered. Read and review please!

(Chapter One here)

Chapter Two

"Basch?" Ashe gently shook his shoulder.

Suddenly, Basch's eyes snapped open and his sword was at her neck in an instant. She flinched, but then she saw recognition soften his eyes and he lowered his arm, panting slightly and passing a hand over his eyes. "I'm sorry, your Highness... you startled me."

They were silent for a moment, listening to their heartbeats return to normal. She studied him in the twilight, Basch's eyes were distant as he remembered the nightmare he'd just had. She wondered what it had been about, he had said her name in anguish as she approached him. Ashe hadn't known him well enough to understand the expression on his face. Was it fear?

"A dream, Captain?"

"Aye." The man was more reserved than she remembered. Thinking back, she couldn't remember her father's most trusted knight ever being one likely to speak unless asked a question or giving advice to her father.

She took a deep breath. "It is going to be very cold soon, you should join the others to keep warm." As he began to rise she added, "But I want to speak with you first."

He sat back again, seeming wary. Ashe looked guiltily at her hands and sat down on the stone-cold sand in front of him.

"I owe you an apol-"

"No-" he interrupted, "you don't owe me anything."

Ashe looked up to glare at him. "Do not interrupt me," she snapped- her natural reaction. She closed her eyes, sighed and looked back at her hands. "Please," and she was glad to hear her tone had softened again. "Let me finish."

Basch said nothing so she began again. "I owe you an apology. I should not have doubted your honesty once I learned of the true events the night Dalmasca fell." She paused, looked at his face with what she hoped was an apologetic expression. She did not like to admit she'd been wrong about anything.

"You were always so highly valued by my father, and I should not be so quick to dismiss all that you have done for my family... For my country." Hesitantly, she put a hand on his arm in a gesture of gratitude. Basch looked away from her eyes to the ground between them. Of course, she realized, he has not had anyone touch him this way in a very long time. The thought made her feel sad and sick to the core. The God's had not favored them these last few years.

She took back her arm. He looked up at her with a haunted expression. "Thank you," was all he said. She nodded once, understanding the things he left unsaid.

Vaan's voice carried over to them from where the others sat gathered around the fire. Ashe tapped Basch's arm and said in a forcefully lighter voice, "Come, let us forget our sorrows for now. Balthier has left you some of his soup." She smiled, handing him his sword as he stood so he could finally sheath it. It had been hours since they'd killed the Garuda and Basch had fallen asleep in exhaustion. The group had found a spring of water near the entrance to Raithwall's tomb, and gathered firewood, and a few herbs and meat for Balthier to make some soup whilst they let him sleep.

"We won't need anyone on watch here," Vaan was saying heatedly as Basch and Ashe sat down near the fire. "By the look of it, that Garuda's been here for centuries, those Urutan Yensa are not stupid enough to come anywhere near the tomb."

Penelo hugged her blanket closer to her as she argued with him. "Someone will need to keep the fire going anyway or we'll all freeze in our sleep."

Vaan crossed his arms. Ashe knew he was only arguing because it was his turn to take a watch. "We can lay together to keep warm-"

"It's all right, Vaan," Basch spoke up, his low voice steady and reassuring. "You have let me sleep too long, I will not need much more. I can take two or three watches."

"I can take one, I'm not tired either," Ashe lied. In reality her body ached with fatigue from their long day, but her mind was alert enough to keep her awake an extra few hours.

"And I will take the morning watch," Fran said in a tone of finality.

After that, the group pulled out their blankets and extra clothing and settled around the fire, talking quietly to one another before they fell asleep one by one. Ashe made herself comfortable for her watch, sitting away from the fire so that she didn't become blinded by it's light. The air was still warm around her as the sun had not long been set. After a while she decided to find a piece of wood to sit on and keep her too uncomfortable to fall asleep. Just as she rose and started back toward the fire and it's pile of firewood, she noticed Basch sitting up, apparently refusing to sleep.

Ashe stopped, put her hands on her hips, smiling slightly at him, still trying to befriend him. She opened her mouth to tell him to go to sleep- that she doubted any attacks tonight. Before she could, he opened his blanket to her without a word, inviting her to sit by him and share his warmth.

Surprised, Ashe suppressed a real smile as she went to join him. She was forgiven for being so cold and suspicious of him these last few days. Basch's face remained expressionless as she sat close beside him on the sand. His arm brushed her neck as he let his blanket fall over her shoulders. She was shocked to feel the skin tingle at his touch. She shivered but he didn't seem to notice.

He was much warmer than her. She could feel the heat of his body through the cotton of her own blanket. Warmer than the fire before them.

They sat comfortably in silence for a time. Watching the fire, watching their companions sleep. Never speaking.

Penelo was curled like a cat close to Vaan who lay sprawled in contrast. Ashe suppressed a chuckle when her eyes found Vossler. He sat furthest away from the group, propped up against a pillar, arms crossed loosely over the sword unsheathed in his lap, a slight frown on his face even in sleep. So typical of him...

She sighed and let her mind drift.

Warm skin touched her arm and she turned to look at Basch. He was watching her intensely, the fire reflected in his eyes. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand moved to her neck with the softest of touches. She tilted her head up invitingly and he closed his eyes slowly. She brushed his soft lips with hers-

Her head snapped up from where it had come to rest on his shoulder. "Oh!" she breathed and felt heat blossom in her cheeks.

"My Lady?" Basch whispered urgently from beside her.

Ashe attempted to clear her head with a small shake. "I... fell asleep," she murmured back. "I'm sorry," she added. The image of Basch so close lingered in her mind, too vivid to shake away. The feel of Basch's lips on hers had felt so real...

"You should get some sleep," he rumbled, pulling the blanket off himself and letting it fall over her. "It is almost my watch now." She nodded and rose to her feet, her head still dazed slightly. She took off his blanket and draped it back over him, letting her hand linger on his shoulder longer than was necessary. "Goodnight, Basch."

She lay down not far from him, closer to the fire and closed her eyes wearily.

"Sleep well, Princess."

And she did, dreaming of his face, inches from her own, with that intense and fiery look in his eyes and hair as gold as the sand beneath them.

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Thanks for reading! Please comment! And feel free to friend for updates and to see past fics :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII, it's characters, settings etc. My stories are completely fictional.

Fic #2: Valley Of The Dead. Part One

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:30:45 GMT

Title: Valley Of The Dead. (Part 1/?)
Characters/ Pairings: Basch/ Ashe. Full cast + Vossler.
Rating: T
Length: 539
Notes: In-Game so no spoilers
Summary: An exhausted Basch falls asleep outside Raitwalls Tomb, and is haunted by his worst fears. First Chapter. Basch-centred.

Valley Of The Dead: Part One

With the torturing sun beating down on their backs, the entrance to Raithwalls tomb was like a colossal furnace, intent on driving them insane with it's heat. Basch's skin prickled and he fought to control his rasping breath as beads of sweat trickled down his body.

Vossler slid down the pillar beside him, chest heaving under his armour, hands reaching for the water he carried.

The others thought this an inviting idea. They stumbled towards the teasingly inviting shade of the cliff edge and threw themselves onto mercifully cool sand. Vaan actually groaned and stretched out his arms as if to hug the ground.

Basch’s head swam as he sat down dizzily and his back struck rock. It was high time for a rest. The Sandseas were far enough to cross on foot without the unbearable heat, constant stream of foes to slay and Garuda the undead dragon to welcome them enthusiastically here at the Valley of the Dead.

The poor princess had gone from white to red over the last hour or so and didn't look like she could even lift an arm let alone cast a spell to relieve herself.

In fact, Basch could barely gather the energy to raise his own weary, bruised arm. But lift it he did, and slowly summoned the power to cast Cura as Fran cast a spell Basch didn't’t recognize. A shower of icy droplets cascaded blissfully down upon them for a short moment. Balthier swigged the potion.

A light, swirling wind lifted the hair from his neck, cooling him further. He sighed and let his eyelids close before he could stop himself.

Dimly he registered Balthier’s voice. “Poor man’s worn himself out. Of course, it would help if he slept during the night like everybody else, for a change.”

And exhaustion rolled over him like a smothering cloud on the breeze.

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He struggled at the hands that pinned his own behind his back. Thrashed and snarled in panic and desperation. His efforts wasted, his Armour weighing him down, strength ebbing away from his limbs.

“Captain- our King… What have you done?”

Basch froze.

He knew the words, thought the voice was not amongst those that had haunted his endless night in Nalbina.

He lifted his head sharply. Vaan- eyes wide and disbelieving- snaked to the ground clutching his side.

A growl ripped at his throat, dread pounded his heart as he thrashed against his captors with renewed vigor.

A flash of white hair-

He stilled, staring in horror at his King’s thrown.

Ashe-

Her head rested on her blood-drenched shoulder. Her dead eyes gazed unseeingly at the blue carpet beside him.

An eruption of raw emotion took place in his chest. He could not breath. He could not see.

Ashe- my Queen-

Mist shrouded around her where she sat sprawled, animating her sickeningly. Her eyes suddenly focused, unblinking. Her head turned slowly towards him.

“Basch. My Knight, my Guardian,” she spoke in a far away voice that seemed to come from all around him.

“What have you done? My Captain… my Captain…” she trailed off.

“Basch?” she whispered.

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- Please Comment! -

Notes:
- Thanks for reading :D Next part soon.
- Entries are friends-locked after a few days so you must friend this journal to read past fics.
- Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII, it's characters, settings etc. My stories are completely fictional.
-Please comment! Constructive criticism welcome, this is only my second fic ever and I don't write much.

Practice Fic lol

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:56:19 GMT

Title: The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side
Characters/ Pairings: Vaan/Penelo, Larsa, Basch + rest of cast
Rating: K+/ PG
Length: 2349
Notes: This is my first fic ever. Reviews highly appreciated :)
Summary: Vaan is bitten by a snake in Ozmone Plain and has a severe allergic reaction. Larsa's point of view.

The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side

The air in Ozmone Plain was heavier and wetter than Larsa was used to in the grand heights of Archades or Bhujerba. It was a small price to pay for the secret elation he felt in his current situation. Surrounded by a small group of the most unlikely combination of characters.

With them he felt so free, unwatched and full of anticipation for the road ahead and it’s adventures. He was by no means ungrateful for the position life had given him as a son of the Empire, but he often wandered what it would be like if his family were that of the usual in Ivalice, if he was a child with nothing more expected of him but to play nicely with his friends. He was swiftly becoming a man, after all, and beginning to realize all he had missed.

He sensed that the others had let down most of their prejudices against him, and he had gained their trust. So he relaxed and listened to the friendly banter of Vaan and Penelo.

“I am not going anywhere near Vaan if he so much as lifts a giantsword,” Penelo was saying.

“Hey! At least I could lift one. No wonder you prefer daggers-” he scoffed.

“Well Basch isn’t about to let any one of us within a square inch of that sword, so you are wasting your breath,” Larsa intervened, amused.

Vaan and Penelo’s discussion about who should be allocated which new weapon had been becoming more like bickering as the evening went on. Jahara and it’s weapon store was miles behind them now.

“That’s right,” a gruff but amused voice said behind them. “I will teach you in time to wield a great sword if you wish it, but at present you are not trained and it would be a safety hazard to us all.” The corners of his lips twitched upwards at that.

Penelo changed tack. “Yeah, Vaan, don’t think I haven’t noticed how you hide behind Basch as soon as a brown chocobo so much as glares at you.”

Larsa knew she was really talking about herself there.

Vaan resigned with a sigh, “I’m cool with the axe, it’s pretty lethal.” He pulled it out and took a swing at the air. Ashe stopped dead in her tracks behind him. Balthier snickered.

“Mind what your doing, Vaan. The bounty on our heads is large enough without slaying our future Queen as well,” he said with a glance at Basch.

“Here,” Basch reached out for the axe. “Hold it like this,” he said and demonstrated a proper swing. It looked impressive to Larsa, who had only been trained with a sword.

“I got it, I got it…” Vaan exclaimed, slightly abashed and taking back the axe.

“Say, Vaan, here comes a Python,” Penelo gazed over the plain at a large green snake slithering through the grass. “Why don’t you take care of it instead of Basch for a change?”

Vaan shot her a look Larsa couldn't’t read. Penelo looked back innocently, but also a little smug. Larsa knew she was being unfair- they normally fought in groups, but he was too occupied deciphering their silent communication to offer him help.

So Vaan rolled his eyes, sighed again in exasperation and ran towards the snake.

Penelo gasped. “No! Vaan I didn't’t mean it! I was only teasing!” She panicked, gathering her own weapons.

“Penelo?”

“He’s allergic to snake venom! It affects him worse than other people!” Balthier groaned and they all ran after him.

Larsa drew his sword as he reached Vaan and the snake. It was dodging his attacks and lashing at him with it’s tail.

“Vaan, what are you doing you’ll get hurt!” Penelo shouted at him. This only distracted Vaan enough to being on the receiving end of a heavy blow in the stomach from the colossal tail of the snake.

A gun sounded along with the twang of a bow from Balthier and Fran. Ashe stood with them, searching the bags they’d dropped. Basch and Larsa began to attack the snake as Vaan bent double, winded and Penelo rushed to his side.

The snake writhed, evading their every attack. Bullets and arrows were no use, the great sword too slow.

Larsa thrust his sword gracefully as it’s head whipped around to thrash at Vaan. Everyone froze as it’s fangs pierced his shoulder, making him gasp.

Penelo roared and rose to the attack. Dagger in hand, she started a fierce flurry of attacks that caused Larsa and Basch to retreat a few spaces. Balthier and Fran stopped shooting for fear of hitting her.

Her dance was a deadly one of rage, her dagger working so fast it blurred. It was all the snake could do to dodge it.

The snake let out a piercing hiss as the dagger finally found it’s mark above the eyes. It collapsed and grew still on the ground.

The fire in Penelo’s eyes remained as they all turned to Vaan. He knelt on one knee, head bowed and gasping. Penelo hurried over to help him to his feet.

“What will happen to him?” Fran asked.

“I’m fine,” Vaan gasped pathetically.

“I’m not sure,” Penelo answered quickly. “I was six when he was bitten last time. I just remember they took him to the doctor.”

“Nothing a good antidote can’t cure,” looking towards their bags.

“There are none,” Ashe spoke up. “We mustn't’t have bought any in Jahara…”

“Do I have to think of everything, Vaan?” Penelo rage. Vaan responded with a grimace and sank to the ground. Penelo’s face went from angry to anxious in a second.

“We will go back,” Fran proposed. “It will not take us more than a few hours at most.”

It was clear that Vaan wasn't’t about to walk anywhere. Penelo let him lean against her on the grass as his gasping grew louder.

Basch took pity. “We will stay. You go with Balthier and fetch some Antidote… and whatever else we missed. Be quick,” he added, his eyes returning to where Vaan sat with Penelo.

“I will go with them,” Ashe said. “Arrows and bullets clearly don’t work on everything out here,” she looked at Basch, who looked torn but nodded once.

“Don’t worry, Captain. The Princess is safe in my hands…” Balthier said in a bored voice as he turned in the direction of Jahara.

---------------------------------------

They made camp for the night near the wreckage of a fallen airship. Basch had carried a weakly protesting Vaan and he lay now, restless, in blankets by the fire. Larsa could tell that Penelo could not stand to see Vaan like this, and that Vaan was trying not to show the agony he was on for the same reason. She sat near him and tried to take his mind off it, teasing or talking about their home.

Larsa had never truly felt lonely until he met this pair of orphans. He half wished he’s grown up with Penelo, though he was glad he hadn't’t been through the horrors that they had. He admired them enormously for the way they dealt with it.

Vaan hadn't’t spoken in a while and Penelo’s distractions subsided. She looked anxious at his silence, though he seemed to be in less pain than before. Larsa wondered if he was unconscious. Penelo was easier to talk to without Vaan distracting her so he went to sit with her at the other side of the fire.

Vaan was not asleep. He lay watching the fire, face turned away from Penelo. He looked truly awful from this close up. Haggard and exhausted. His eyes were half shut, face much paler that usual, moist and glowing in the semi-darkness. Larsa noticed he was shaking despite the blankets and the fire they had built for him. Basch had said it would help to sweat out his fever.

“How are you feeling, Vaan?” Larsa asked him quietly.

“Cold…” he murmured. “Dizzy,” his teeth chattered.

“You need to relax, Vaan,” Basch spoke up, “it will stop the shaking.”

Penelo leaned forward to lift Vaan carefully and raise a pouch of water to his lips. “Stop babying me,” he mumbled, but drank the water like a dying man in the desert. She eased him back down with his head in her lap. He was too weak to protest. He just shivered and winced.

Larsa and Basch watched the two of them without realizing it. She stroked the golden hair from his hot face and dabbed Balthier’s cold, damp handkerchief to his forehead. Vaan soon stropped shaking so violently and his eyelids fluttered shut.

Larsa registered a moment of panic in Penelo’s eyes before she watched his chest rise and she released the breath she’d been holding. She was completely absorbed in taking care of him. Not because he was her master or because it was her duty, but simply because she loved her friend and wanted to ease his suffering.

Larsa envied this about Vaan. He welcomed this envy, was deeply happy these two street urchins- brought up on rats and stolen food and raised on the street- had something he, Lord Larsa of the house of Solidor, had not. He had all the riches, all the food he could ever want, all the finest boys garb in all of the Empire, yet he did not have a friend who loved him like Vaan or Penelo. One who would risk his life and cross the seas to rescue him from captives, or simply watch his back in battle as an act of friendship and nothing more.

Vaan groaned softly, bringing Larsa out of his thoughts. He looked away from him and mentally shook himself. There was no use in him taking his position fore granted. He was Lord Larsa of the house of Solidor, this was his lot in life and he embraced it with all he could give and his head held high.

His gaze came to rest on Basch. He was still watching Penelo, lost in his own thoughts. Curiosity burned in Larsa. What was he thinking about? The Knight must have lost any friend or family or lovers he had on that night in Nalbina. He had lost much more than that.

Larsa sensed that this man did not like to talk of himself to anyone. Whether because he thought it unimportant or because his memories were too painful, he could not tell. He decided to find out. He had spent most of his life with men like Basch. He was not as hesitant as a boy his age should be in probing the thoughts of an infamous Knight.

“You do not talk much about yourself, Captain,” he said quietly. Vaan didn't’t stir as Penelo started.

Basch looked at him, wary, frowning.

“Don’t worry, I am no spy. Merely curious.”

Basch relaxed slightly but the frown remained. After a moment he said tensely, “What has passed is unimportant. We will never see tomorrow if we are looking behind us.”

Larsa nodded, admiring this perspective. Of course, how else would he have survived Nalbina Dungeon? He shuddered.

A silence followed, broken only by Vaan’s uneven breathing.

“Did you have someone, Basch?” Penelo whispered, gazing intently at him. “Before Nalbina…”

Basch shifted uncomfortably, looked away from them into the darkness beyond the ring of light cast by the fire. “I…” he looked back at Penelo and something he saw on her face seemed to change his mind. “No,” he said gruffly, standing and taking Vaan’s axe to cut more firewood, though the pile was already large enough to last the night.

He stopped, his back to them. “Dalmascan Knights have no time for such things. They must devote themselves completely to defending Dalmasca and it’s Masters… Vossler and I formed friendships enough within our everyday company.” He left them with that, striding into the darkness so that they would not ask him to relive and more of his memories.

Larsa lowered his eyes, feeling slightly guilty. He was sure that Basch would have spoken more openly had they not been so young.

Penelo looked like she wanted to follow Basch but she still held Vaan to her. The boy looked white as a ghost and purple under the eyes. His long eyelashes fluttered and didn't’t seem to rest.

“Penelo…” Larsa inclined his head to Vaan.

As she looked down at her lap, Vaan’s eyes rolled open and he gasped in pain again. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

He sat up, trembling, Penelo rubbing his back. “Vaan are you OK…?”

He just pressed his lips together, stood up and swayed dangerously. Penelo jumped up to steady him and he shook her off, stumbling away from the fire. Larsa looked around for Basch but his eyes were blinded by the fire. He heard Vaan groan slightly, not too far away. He put an arm out to keep Penelo from going to him.

“Let him be. He does not want you to see him sick.” For Larsa could see him now, bent over and clutching his stomach.

The grass rustled behind them and they whipped around, sword and dagger at the ready and Larsa still clutching Penelo’s arm by the fire.

Balthier chuckled in the darkness. “Cute,” he commented. Fran, Ashe and Basch were revealed in the firelight after him, looking around for Vaan. “Where is our damsel in distress? Don’t tell me he’s better already, the-” he began, pulling out a bottle of Antidote.

Penelo and Larsa looked back towards the darkness behind them where they could make out Vaan walking back.

Balthier hurried forward just in time: Vaan collapsed against him.

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Notes: This is my first fan fiction ever, so I'd really appreciate reviews to help me with future fics. ETA: I also realise this is one lacks depth and descriptions, I am used to writing scripts so I'll work on it XD

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Thanks for reading! This post will be friends locked in a few days so if you want to read more you should probably friend this journal :)

Ideas for fics much appreciated!

FRIENDS LOCKED! POSTS ARE ALL FICS.

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:51:47 GMT

Welcome to dusk_shard! Thanks for stopping by. This is the fan fiction journal of navi_glow. Here I write fics abour Final Fantasy XII (all characters). I may go on to write about other fandoms in the future, but at the moment I'm just starting out and sticking to FF12 :)

I've never been a good writer but I still find this fun and I hope you enjoy them anyway! The idea is that I will get better over time XP

Entries are Friends-Locked after a few days so you need to Friend dusk_shard to read the rest.

You should also know that I'm on semi-hiatus this summer so I might take a while to reply to comments. I rely on comments though so please leave comments! Especially constructive ones :D

♥