Disclaimer; I do not own Final Fantasy XII, or the characters. They are property of Square Enix and the FFXII crew.

Final Fantasy XII - Fabula Ex Animo

Chapter One - Memoriter

It has been two years. Two whole years since he left this place for Archades and a new duty as a Judge Magister and personal bodyguard of Archades' new ruler, Larsa Solidor.

Basch closed his eyes for a moment and just felt the atmosphere of Rabanastre, the main capital of a country he had served for long. It felt the same as he remembered. Maybe it was a bit livelier than he remembered, but it felt good.

He was at the west gate, just arriving moments ago in an airship. Vaan and Penelo were to meet up with him, but they had yet to arrive. The sun was shining, and Basch realized his Judge-armor probably was a bit much in this unending heat. To be relieved, if only a little, his hands reached up and took off the giant, horned helmet. When it came off, he drew a deep breath, revealing his short blonde hair, his sharp but still handsome features and a scar right above his left eyebrow, making him look even more fascinating. A becoming beard adorned his chin. Almost immediately people around him recognized who he was. He had made quite the reputation four years ago when he supposedly killed King Raminas and with the murder betrayed all of Dalmasca.

Although, today most people knew that not him, but his twin-brother, Noah, or, as he was called by that time, Gabranth, was the true murderer- all to give Basch the blame.

Anyway, people were probably talking about him taking off almost two years ago, off to Archadia and taking his brothers' place as a Judge Magister. Many things had happened these years since, in both Dalmasca and Archadia, and neither Basch nor Larsa had the time to leave their duties and pay their friends a visit at all. Of course, Vaan and Penelo had been visiting them a couple of times, and liven things up quite a bit.

But since he left, he hadn't seen Balthier and Fran (although they were alive and well, pirating as always, according to Vaan and Penelo) or Princess Ashe. Or Queen Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca, as she was to be called now.

"Basch!"

Vaans voice echoed over the crowd and brought Basch back to reality. From the great gate two blondes came running, Vaan first and then Penelo following right after.

They came up to Basch, panting as if the had run a race themselves against a flock of chocobos.

"Sorry, we're late!" Penelo said and smiled widely. Vaan stood right in front of Basch, trying to catch his breath.

"It is alright," Basch said "I did not have to wait for long."

"That is... That is good to hear!" Vaan smiled, seemingly very excited about something.

Basch gave the boy a wondering glance.

"Did something happen? You seem all tuned up about something."

"Well," Vaan crossed his arms that cocky way he used to "There's going to be a huge ball at the Rabanastre Palace in three days, and both Penelo and I have been personally invited by Ashe."

"Is that so?"

Penelo went between the two men, waving her arms excitingly.

"Yeah, and she also invited Balthier and Fran, so they're coming really soon too!"

"Hmm," Basch smiled "So I am not invited, I wonder?"

"Of course you are!" Panelo replied, placing her hands to her sides.

Basch looked up into the sky, thinking out loud:

"It is going to be good to see them again, Balthier and Fran."

Just a moment later, he felt observed and looked down into two faces full of expectations. His face widened in a smile and he continued:

"And it is good to see you two, as well."

Basch looked around. It was a neat little household, Vaan and Penelos place. Small but beautiful and serving its purposes. Penelo went up to him from behind. Vaan seemed to have left just a moment ago.

"We won't have room for you here," Penelo began "but since we want you to stay for a few days, Ashe will give you a room at the Palace."

He turned to the young woman, with an almost startled look in his face.

"At the Palace?"

"Sure, why not? You are a Judge Magister after all, of much higher rank than Vaan or me. It's only appropriate for you to stay there."

'That is true...' Basch thought ' ...but... The Princess... Queen Ashe...'

"Aw, come on, Basch!" Penelo said, noticing his pale and confused expression "You've been there many years in the past. You know Ashe! She wants you to stay!"

'For now... or forever?' he thought to himself but he took Penelos words for what they were- a plea for him to stay these days at the Palace.

"Alright" he said at last "I will stay at the Royal Palace. I thank you."

"Good to hear! You won't regret it!"

Penelo smiled so happily, Basch had to smile too, and she continued:

"Vaan went to fix with his beloved airship. I'll show you there, so that you won't have to sit around here alone."

"You are going somewhere?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm going to tell Ashe. We're gonna get a room in order for you. After that I'll come and get you. Now, lets take you to Vaan."

As she finished the sentence, Penelo grabbed Baschs arm, almost dragging him out of the house, through the crowds, all the way down to South Gate, where a new hangar had been built.

She led him inside and they went down a hallway, then went left through a door and there it was.

Vaans beauty.

"Vaan!" Penelo called into the room after finally releasing Baschs arm.

"Hey!" she called again, this time getting a response.

"Yeah?" Vaan stuck his head out through the door of the airship, looking down at the young girl and the older man.

"I'm going to the Palace, so you entertain Basch until I get back, okay?"

"Will do!" Vaan smiled and jumped down beside them.

Smiling, Penelo went back to the door, but before leaving, she turned back:

"I'll come back as fast as I can!"

Then she left and disappeared, leaving the two men alone. They looked after her for a moment, then they turned to each other.

"Wanna look inside?" Vaan asked smiling, proud as ever.

Knowing Vaans affection for his airship, Basch smiled and nodded. Vaan climbed back up again. Basch placed his helmet beside the ship on the floor, then climbed up himself. The entrance was a small room filled with all kinds of devices that probably made this thing fly. Basch wasn't sure, since he was no airship expert.

"Follow me to the cockpit." Vaan said as he went into the next room. The Judge Magister followed, but stopped for a moment in the next room, the room before the cockpit. It was small, kind of dark and there was a bed attached to the wall to the left. It was in a room just like this that he had died two years ago. Noah, Baschs twin-brother.

Basch still remembered that day clearly. His brother lying there, pale, dying. Both of them were feeling some kind of peace inside since ending their burning hatred for each other. Noahs wishes of Basch taking over his duty as a Judge Magister and to defend Lord Larsa at all costs. Basch shook off those thoughts, bringing himself back to reality. Then he quickly went into to the cockpit, as he didn't want to keep Vaan waiting.

Inside, Vaan was already sitting in the pilot's seat. Seeing Basch enter, Vaan lifted his hand and pointed to the seat beside him, hinting for his older friend to take a break.

Taking the hint, Basch went up to the seat, sat down in it and made himself comfortable.

"She's not as nice or fast as the Strahl, but Siren is my little baby..." Vaan said proudly.

"You have done well," Basch smiled "you have really earned her."

Vaan blushed unwillingly, not used to hearing things like that from his stoic and authoritarian friend.

"You really think so? Because of all the things we did two years ago?"

Basch nodded and turned to the front, looking into the large room. The ceiling was open, he didn't notice before, and the sun sent warm rays of light onto them.

"Then, what about you?" Vaan asked after a moment.

"What of me?" Basch replied, leaning his upper body back to rest against the seat.

"Did ever get what you wanted?"

Basch looked into the sky above, hesitant to answer.

"I was forgiven for all my failures. That is all I ever needed."

Vaans face expressed a dissatisfied look and he turned towards the sky too. Not letting the Judge Magister off his hook that easily, Vaan tried again.

"But did you get what you wanted?"

Basch didn't say anything. Instead, he closed his eyes against the sun. There was something, but he could not talk about it, he wasn't allowed to even think about it. It was beyond the grasp of someone like him.

He opened his eyes again as Vaan spoke.

"So maybe Penelos assumptions were right after all..."

"What is Penelo assuming?" Basch asked and turned to his young friend.

"Since you made that promise to Gabranth, and went to Archedes... Well, Penelo felt that there were more to that than just your promise..."

Vaan looked back at Basch, hoping to see some reaction, but other mans face remained the same. Basch leaned almost unnoticeable towards Vaan and said:

"And what would that be, I ask?"

"Well..." Vaan began, but Basch eyeing him made him nervous. "... Damn... I don't know how to continue."

"Just tell me."

Vaan took a deep breath and said, almost without a pause:

"Well, here goes... Penelo thinks that you have strong feelings for Ashe, and that you went to Archades to forget."

For a while, it seemed as if time itself stopped. Basch couldn't say anything, he could barely breathe. How could she know? How could Penelo notice? How he, Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg, tried his best to hide and repress his feelings for a certain young and beautiful princess?