I believe I am under obligation to state for the record that I hold no rights or ownership to the Final Fantasy franchise, to FFXII, or any of it's characters.

This is the very first story I have ever had the courage to let other's read. I wrote it for myself, but hope it's enjoyed by any readers. While I am not searching for reviews, if you do feel strongly enough about this story to wish to comment on it, I would be thankful. All I ask is that you please be kind.

Also, an apology. No matter how many times I read and re-read this story, I seem to be forever spotting spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. I am sorry for these and am trying to correct them.

Thank you.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN TO CHANGE

CHAPTER ONE

It was the Phon Coast.

That was where it had all begun to change.

Princess Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca and her eclectic band of allies had arrived at the Hunter's Camp, located at the centre of that beautiful stretch of shoreline on their way to Archades only a few short hours before, and it was there, whilst their companions had their attention elsewhere, that Balthier had made a confession of his past to her.

Needless to say it had stunned her somewhat, and it was his voice and his words that were currently preventing the Princess from getting her sleep.

The party had been able to rent the use of one of the wooden huts positioned around the camp, conveniently containing six small cabins in a row. Ashe was currently lying in hers, blanket half-kicked off of her body, with the moonlight from the small window shining directly onto her face. 'That is not helping.' She thought and sighed audibly.

She couldn't work out exactly what it was about his confession that bothered her so greatly. She had already known he was Archadian, the accent had given that away when they'd first met, so to learn that he was from the capitol was no surprise. To realise that he had been brought up amongst the exalted and the powerful of the city was not so great a reveal either considering his mannerisms and the way he carried himself. It couldn't all be an act, she had determined. It had seemed far too deeply ingrained.

Of course, the revelation that his father was Doctor Cid Bunansa, the man behind the Empire's greatest weapons and scientific discoveries, the man behind the nethicite, was alarming. More so that he had apparently lost his mind to it's power, causing Balthier to question Ashe's own intent with the substance. Power-hungry, obsessed… She did not want Balthier to be thinking of her in such terms. That disturbed her.

But Balthier was not his father. He had no interest in the nethicite and he had told her these things in order to prevent her following in his father's footsteps. He had also fled the city and his father, disregarding everything that he was, to become a person he truly wanted to be.

'Imagine if he had stayed.' Ashe pondered. 'He'd be a Judge.' That was a thought that sent shivers down her spine and she felt she was closer to what was plaguing her. For despite being a Sky Pirate, a thief and a cad, despite the fact that he had been in process of robbing from her former home when they first met and, despite that fact that her had taken her late husband's wedding ring from her as 'payment' for his services, she had grown to like Balthier. It was clear that, even though he played to the contrary, he had a good soul. He was loyal, to herself and the others. He had never lied to her. He was charming and witty and could be incredibly kind when he thought he wasn't being observed. Ashe's clearest example of this had been in the Paramina Rift when she had seen him holding hands with Penelo as they walked. He had later said it was to help the young girl keep her balance on the ice and to help keep their hands warm, but the truth was Penelo was having a rough day and just needed to hold someone's hand. Someone who cared and was observant enough to realise what she needed.

Ashe had initially been concerned at all of this but quickly realised that the pair had formed an easy brother/sister type of relationship. Fran later informed her that Balthier was an only child and had always had a strong desire for a younger sister, and knowing that Penelo had lost two older brothers and so naturally be always on the lookout for someone to fill the role they left, Ashe vowed to stop viewing every act the Pirate took with quite so much suspicion.

Mind you he was still a dandy, and a pirate, and a mischievous bastard and so could be incredibly infuriating when the fancy took him, driving Ashe to distraction at times, she would occasionally find herself wishing he would knock himself out with the recoil action of his gun just for a moments peace.

But a Judge though. It just felt so wrong. The idea of that smart, funny, handsome, debonair, young man being contained behind a metal helm simply didn't sit right with her. A Judge was just so anti-Balthier. 'Maybe that explains a lot.' She reasoned.

Also being a Judge would mean having to follow orders and the only person Balthier took orders from was his partner and even then that was rarely on the first command.

Ashe huffed and pressed her palms to her eyes. She needed to get out of this room and get some air. She would be safe on her own as long as she stayed within the camp she rationalised to herself. Tossing off her blanket completely and choosing not to put on her boots as it was a warm night, she left her room and stepped outside the hut into the night air.

She had only taken a few steps before she instantly felt better. It was a clear night and the moon was high in the sky, illuminating everything. Ashe stood, toes in the sand and took a deep, clarifying breath of the ocean air, raising her head and running her hands through her hair. It truly was beautiful here. Swinging her arms in a carefree manner as she strolled down to the shore, she felt more at ease then she had done in a long time, not thinking about her cause and the path her life took. She even skipped a little.

It was then, out of the corner of her eye she spotted a dark but familiar figure standing in the surf, staring out towards the ocean. 'Looks like I'm not the only one struggling to sleep.' She thought. She debated whether or not to disturb his peace or leave him be before concluding that it was foolish that they both be out here and ignore each other. Especially as it was more than likely the same thing that was keeping them awake. Slowly, she headed over to him.

"Balthier?" She called softly. Balthier started at the sound of her voice.

"Oh, hello Princess." He said, turning his head slightly to acknowledge her but not turning fully. "Can't sleep either?" He asked. He sounded tired. Ashe noticed he too was without footwear, his shoes abandoned further up the beach, and was standing ankle-deep in the water. She wrinkled her nose.

"The water, is it not cold?" She asked, approaching it gingerly. He turned his head again, this time wearing his trademark grin.

"Or perhaps you're out for a midnight swim?" He said, playfully. "Well, if that's the case then please, do not let me stop you. I promise I won't even look when you get undressed."

"Yes, but you wouldn't stop staring as I walked into the water though, would you?" She countered, stepping in to the water next to him. It was surprisingly warm.

Balthier chuckled to himself. "Ah, Princess, I see you've got me all figured out." He flicked her a soft smile.

"Not yet." She said, offering one back. "But I think I am getting there."

They stood in silence for a moment, listening to the sound of the waves on the beach. Ashe broke first.

"I wanted to thank you." She said. "For telling me what you told me. It can't have been easy for you."

"I thought you deserved to know." He responded, shifting slightly. "I wanted you to be prepared for what the nethicite could lead to, and be prepared for when we inevitably run in to him."

"You believe we will encounter him then?" She asked tentatively. Balthier grunted.

"You seek knowledge on the nethicite and he is the foremost authority on the damned stuff. Yes, I believe our paths will cross sooner or later. It feels unavoidable." He kicked out at the water around his feet in frustration. Ashe couldn't help but feel remorse at making him return to somewhere he had worked so hard to leave behind.

"Also, I suppose I didn't want you to think less of me. When you found out who I was. What he was to me." Those words caught Ashe off guard and she turned to him in surprise. "More then you already do I mean, of course." He said in jest.

Ashe suddenly realised what it really was about his earlier confession that had troubled her. She was worried it would change things between them, that they would distance themselves from one another. She had just begun to think of him as a friend, someone whom she truly trusted and there were so few whom she did. She didn't want that to change. Not now, when she needed him the most. But Balthier had identified the problem for her and she thought she had spotted a way to defuse the possible tension between them. She made a big show of shaking her head.

"Well, I don't know, Pirate." She shrugged and tried not to laugh at his suddenly concerned expression. "I mean, it's going to take an awful lot for me to think less of you then I already do." Her countenance started to break and she finished with a grin. "I think you're going to have to just try harder."

Balthier was also grinning by now. "Now that, Princess, sounds like a challenge!" He said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"And one I'm sure you will aspire to." They lapsed into an easy silence as they both stared out over the water, occasionally flicking sniggering glances at each other. After a few minutes of this Balthier finally spoke again.

"You know, Princess, as I confessed something very deep and personal to you, I think that you should confess something to me." Ashe looked at him with a quirked eyebrow and a smile of bemusement.

"Oh? And why would I want to do that?" She opposed him.

"It's only fair."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

"Well, that was a well constructed argument."

"I like to think so."

"That's not how the game is played."

"But it is when I play it."

"You cheat!"

"Only when it's necessary to get what I want." He winked at her. She remained unconvinced. "I promise your confession will go no further then this beach." He said, hand on heart. Ashe surveyed him with narrow eyes and a ponderous mouth.

"Alright then, Pirate." Balthier beamed like his birthday had come early. He hadn't actually expected her to agree. He watched Ashe's face as she thought, and then as a wide and timid smile spread across her face.

"Back home, in the Palace," She began. "There is a long hallway, a portrait gallery that runs through the east wing. For the last two years, I've been promising myself that, when I reclaimed my throne, I would go to that hallway, when there is no one around -" She began to giggle at the shear silliness of it. "- And do cartwheels all the way down it!" She finished proudly.

Balthier blinked at her for a moment, then slowly threw his head back and laughed from his chest. Ashe joined in, still shy from her confession. Balthier shook his head and sighed.

"I can honestly say I was not expecting that!" He laughed. "You do surprise me, Ashelia. Promise me something though." He turned to her. "That when you do this amazing feat of acrobatics, I'm there with you and we'll do it together."

"It's a deal." She said and she held out her hand and they shook on it.

"I suppose we should be really heading in now." He said, realising how long they had been outside. "Try and finally get some sleep." Ashe nodded and took the arm he offered and they headed back up the beach.

As they entered their hut though, Balthier seemed hesitant. Ashe had gone to her door and had turned to wish him goodnight when she noticed him looking at the other doors wearing a puzzled and even slightly worried expression.

"Is everything alright?" She whispered, so as not to wake the others.

"Um, yes." He said slowly though his face did not change. "I just… I gave my things to Fran to bring up for me and, err… Princess, you don't happen to know which room is mine, do you?" He asked her hopefully.

Ashe's eyes widened. Exactly how long had he been out there on the beach? She shook her head and his face dropped slightly. She had been the first to retire for the night, though that had proven to be a pointless endeavour, and did not see who went where.

"Ah, well. No matter." He said quickly recovering. "I'll figure something out." He cautiously touched one of the door handles and placed his ear to the door in hope to hear if there was any movement or sound coming from within. Ashe just watched him.

"It's alright, Ashe. Go to bed." He said after a moment. "If needs be I'll sleep out on the beach, I don't mind. Trust me, I've slept in worse places." He gave her a wink.

Ashe bit her lip in indecision. She couldn't let him sleep out there, not without any covering. She looked into her room and then back at the Pirate who had moved on to another door. She couldn't, no she couldn't, it was insane! She wasn't seriously even contemplating…

Balthier looked like he was about to give up and head back outside when she made up her mind. 'Gods, this is a mistake.' She thought but she gestured to him anyway.

"Balthier, stop." She said and took a deep breath. "You can bunk with me." She let out.

At any other time the look Balthier wore would be highly comical. His eyebrows had shot up his head faster then The Strahl took off, and his eyes where enormous. He quickly composed himself however and reverted to the charming flirt Ashe had become so familiar with over the course of their journey.

"I'm sorry, Princess, I'm not sure I heard you correctly. Could you repeat that?" He said with a suave grin that he knew would normally melt a lady's legs away from under her. Ashe simply looked back at him, plainly.

"I'll not say it again, Balthier." She said and stepped into her room. Balthier followed with speed.

"Are you sure though? Really?" He asked genuinely once the door was closed. Ashe did look nervous but she nodded. She was actually feeling surprisingly calm about the situation and she was touched by his concern.

"It's fine, honestly. We can fit two people in that bed. And it's not liked we haven't slept tighter in close situations before. Remember the Paramina Rift?" After getting lost in a snowstorm, they found they couldn't get down from that snowy mountain before nightfall and had chosen to sleep, three to a tent instead of the usual two, to share body heat. Ashe remembered how Balthier had dived straight for the middle of the tent he was sharing with both herself and Fran, grinning like maniac before crying out for 'his ladies' to come join him. Ashe had turned the same colour as her skirt. Fran had just ignored him. Judging by his face though, Balthier clearly remembered.

"Princess, while I have no problem if you want to recreate that night, I will have to insist we include Fran." He said with a wiggle of eyebrows. Ashe swatted him in the stomach before climbing into the bed and moving as close to wall as she could get.

"Just don't make me regret this." She said as she lay down and faced the wall. Balthier removed his vest and slid into the small bed close to her.

"I assume you know that if you touch me in an untoward fashion, I will destroy you." Ashe warned him. She felt his head move behind her in a nod.

"Understood." Came the answer. There was a stillness as Ashe willed herself to unwind. A second later she heard his voice come softly.

"Goodnight, Ashe."

She smiled and felt her body relax. "Goodnight, Balthier." She replied.

And finally, she fell asleep.