Author's Note: this story is an idea that me and KaidaRhapsodos have been mulling over for awhile and have decided to finally write.
In our universe all the final fantasy worlds are all one big world but each one happens to be in a different cycle (one after the other). Think of it as a bit like the birth and death cycle of a phoenix.
We are linking final fantasy 7 and 12 together to make on story.
So anyway now that's out of the way on with the show.
"Beginnings are usually scary and endings are usually sad, but it's the middle the counts.
You have to remember this when you find yourself at the beginning."
Sandra Bullock
Chapter 1 Sunsets and Rose Songs
Uncharted jungle: temple ruins
The dense jungle muffled the echoes of excited voices from the team of archaeology students that foraged amongst thick foliage. It was hot and humid and the students had yet to find any thing of great importance.
Toran El'eska wiped a hand across his sweaty brow and eyed the vine covered ruins wearily. He and his fellow students had been working on this particular sight for seven days strait.
They had found a few trinkets, chests full of corroded gold and a fist full of ancient gill, that looked like a round disk with a square hole in the centre.
Toran lent on his shovel and watch the other students climb the crumbling structure like shiny long legged insects.
"Hello any one home?" a pale hand waved in front of his face.
Toran glanced down and found himself look at Alanna Vista. A loud and well endowed girl with curly red orange hair who happened to be of a diminutive stature .
"Can I help you?" He asked slightly tiredly. She had been asking him questions non-stop for the last three days.
Alanna beamed, "Ivine thinks that we might have found some thing."
Toran's eyes brightened, "Really?"
Alanna nodded vigorously, "Yep," she chirped.
Toran abandoned his shovel, "Well what are you waiting for? Show me."
Alanna grinned and turned away dancing across the mouldering stones.
In the inner caves high above the jungle ruins and young man knelt. He was tall with a pale pinched face and quick onyx eyes that seemed to absorb every thing they saw. His shoulder length slightly wavy black hair fluttered in an non-existent wind.
He held a ceremonial dagger in his trembling hand and was watching the silent crowd of statues with wrapped interest.
"I am sky. I am earth. I am the birds that sing in the trees. I am the sea that batters the shore. I am the fire that scorches ground. I am the light that shines in the dark places. I am Caliban am I invoke the right of Ragnarok."
The ground seemed to shake and a low rumbled shook the cave. Caliban drew the dagger's blade across the palm of his left hand and let several drops drip to the dirt. His hand burned and he hissed with pain. The wound streamed and smouldered leaving a lived red line.
In the dim light Caliban grinned.
Toran watched with growing horror as the gigantic structure shook and crumbled to dust before his very eyes. Alanna clutched his arm in a numbing grip and gasped.
All around them dust flew and pieces of rubble crashed to earth. Alanna squeak and clutched his arm tighter, "What's happening?"
Toran shook his head in shock, "I don't know," he whispered.
The wind howled around them and the screams of their fellow students filled the dust clogged air. In the maelstrom of debris Toran thought he saw the outline of a woman. She was tall with pale silver hair that swirled around her head like a halo. She reminded him of death.
Alanna took one look and spun on her heal tearing off into the jungle. Toran spun round, "Hey where are you going?" he made to follow when he felt a thin bony hand clamp down on his shoulder.
He found himself face to face with a hollow cheeked woman. Her skin was as cold as ice and was tinged blue. Her nails were like talons and dug painfully into his shoulder drawing beads of ruby blood.
Toran quaked in her iron grip as he gazed into her steely eyes. The woman tightened her grip and hissed through jagged teeth, "Sweet child, hume child, your blood is like the nectar of the world."
Toran shivered and whimpered, "P-please, please don't."
The woman smiled a sickly sweet smile and then shoved her hand into his stomach. He gasped blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He let out what might have been a scream but ended up as a strangled gurgle.
The woman stocked his quickly cooling cheek with a ivory nail, "So beautiful," she murmured.
Archades: Hanglington terrace
The cool night air sent the tiny night creatures scuttling for shelter.In the growing dark the Demoriss mansion crouched like a large jewel encrusted insect. The night guard stiffly patrolled the perimeter keeping an eye out for any one foolish enough to attempt to rob the place.
But foolishness is a matter of opinion. What one man might think is madness is another's brilliance.
Balthier swung himself easily over the wall dropping lightly to the ground below. Behind him Fran parked the hover bike and leaped gracefully after him.
Rais Mandiss was struggling to stay awake. He'd been on duty since the late afternoon and it was now early morning. There had been no disturbances for over a month so he was very surprised when two unexpected guests appeared in front of his drooping eyes.
The man gave him a wolfish smile, "Why good morning to you my good sir. Would you mind at all if we appropriate some of your masters vastly used gold?"
Rais blinked in poorly concealed shock, "I...I...um what?" he stammered.
The man frowned, "What? Is that a no? Oh well I'm certain we can return at a later date." and with that he smacked the poor guard in the face with the but of his gun. The man crumpled like a empty sack of grain.
Balthier eyed the unconscious man with contempt, "Come now I was expecting a little more resistance."
Fran rolled her eyes, "You would wouldn't you."
Balthier shrugged, "What's life without a little action?" he turned away skulking towards the mansion and the tantalising call of unprotected treasure.
They got into the main treasury easily enough, in fact the lack of security was quite disappointing. Blathier and Fran helped themselves to a number of fine jewels and trinkets but nothing spectacular.
That was of course before Balthier noticed a strange white eerily glowing orb nestled in the hands of a marble statue. He found himself unexplainable drawn to it and carting his armful of treasure on Fran, he wandered over to investigate.
The statute was of a pretty faced woman. She had long hair tied with a ribbon and wore an ankle length dress. Her most noticeable feature however where her eyes, they looked terribly old and filled with sadness.
Balthier frowned up at her, "Why so glum madam?" he was not surprised when she did not give him a reply. He shrugged and reached out to take the strange orb, "Suite yourself."
His hand closed around the strange object when all hell decided to let loose. Some where some one had discovered the unconscious guard and had raised the alarm.
Balthier shot Fran a wide grin, "It looks like we've out stayed our welcome."
"So it would appear," Fran replied.
They ran dodging the vast number of guards that clanked through the many corridors. The two sky pirates hurtled round a bend and Balthier screeched to a halt Fran crashing into his back.
"What is wrong?" the startled viera asked.
Balthier backed up, "Patrol," he hissed, "Damn they were fast." He frowned, they weren't getting out of here without loosing a few shots, "Ready Fran?"
The viera nodded an affirmative. Baltheir launched himself around the corner gun blazing. The patrol was taken by surprise and dove for cover behind the many statues that lined the corridor. Balthier and Fran sprinted down the abandoned centre dodging and ducking the number of bullets sent their way.
Balthier nodded to a ground floor window, "Ladies first."
Fran swung her leg back and shattered the glass with a powerful kick before diving out into fresh air. Balthier grinned, that woman was truly magnificent. He leaped after her dropping and rolling to protect himself from the fall.
He scrambled to his feet darting after his companion. Fran had already cleared the wall and stored their loot by the time he'd joined her. He shoved the mysterious ball into one of the pouches on his belts and leaped on behind her, "Time to drop the curtain my dear Fran."
The hover bike roared to life and sped away from the panic filled mansion. Another hist successful. They left Archades behind and disappeared into the shelter of Old Archades.
They made there way to the old abandoned aerodrome were the Strahl was docked. Fran stored their loot in the cargo hold and Balthier got rid of the hover bike.
Baltheir was about to start up the Strahl when Fran put a restraining hand on his shoulder, "We should get some rest Balthier, we still have our contact to meet tomorrow and he will not wait."
Baltheir nodded with a resigned sigh turned away from the controls, "Very well, sleep it is."
Balfonheim Port
The Strahl soared through the sky like a graceful bird. She flew as one with the wind circling the aerodrome until her pilot landed her gently in the docking bay. Her crew was met be a cluster of excited chatter from a small group bright faced moogles.
Balthier shooed them away so Nono could fill in the dock in procedures for him. "Look after her for me but try not to attract any undue attention hmmm," the sky pirate drawled.
"Nono always look after the Strahl kupo. Not attract any attention Kupo-po," the little moogle chirped fluttering his wings.
Balthier nodded, "Very good."
He and Fran strolled through the bustling streets ignoring the wide-eyed star-glazed looks some of the younger pirates and even civilians gave them. They made there way towards a clean but well worn bar near the harbour.
The bar was warm and smoky, filled with the usual chatter of old men and drunkards. A dim lantern swayed from the ceiling and scantily dressed maids weaved their way through the throng bearing drinks of strong oaky ale.
The bar's occupants fell silent as the sky pirate and viera entered but quickly were drawn back to their drinks.
Balthier and Fran found a table near the back and ordered drinks. Balthier lent back in his chair and rested his hands on his stomach, "So what do we know about this charming fellow we're going to meet?"
Fran wrinkled her nose, "He seems to be no one of importance but he is willing to pay us a substantial amount of gil."
Blathier nodded, "Wonderful." he had a sneaky suspicion that this new in devour was going to be far more trouble than it was worth.
The strange man sneaked through the loud cheery streets of Balfonheim Port his black cloak pulled up to hid his face. He slip from one shadow to another until he reached his destination. No one noticed him as he slipped into the busy bar.
He noticed his quarry right away. There lounging like fat cats binging on cream in the far corner. He sidled over, "So you are the infamous Baltheir and Fran."
Baltheir glanced up, "And I take it that you are are supposed contact."
The stranger nodded taking the last remaining seat, "I have a business proposition for you."
Baltheir raised and eyebrow, "Really, and prey tell what is this proposition of yours?"
The unnamed man reached over the table and dropped a yellowing piece of parchment in front of the two pirates, "I want you to steal some thing for me. You'll get full payment, half up front."
Balthier scrutinised the parchment, "And how should we know what it is that we should be stealing?"
"Look for the sarcophagus filled with treasurers." the mysterious man told him.
Balthier nodded, "I want a third up front."
The stranger held out his hand, "Done."
Balthier took it and felt raised scar tissues brush against his own palm. He kept his expression neutral so not to give away his thoughts but his nagging suspicion had just got even worse.
The stranger left the table and vanished into the crowed. Balthier frowned, "I have a bad feeling about this," he murmured.
Fran arched an eyebrow, "And why is that?" she asked softly.
Balthier shrugged, "I'm not entirely certain."
The sun was setting ruby red on the horizon as Baltheir and Fran strolled along the wharf. It shone its crimson rays across the cobbles like tiny gems.
"You are worried," Fran stated.
Baltheir turned to look at her, "I am not worried merely curious."
Fran's ears twitched, "Your are not a good liar at least not to me Baltheir."
Balthier shrugged, "I would be hard pressed to pull one over you Fran."
The viera's eyes twinkled with amusement.
Somewhere further in town some one started to sing. It was a sweet but haunting melody of love and loss and new beginnings.
Baltheir felt his hand twitch closer to Fran's of its own accord until he forced it to be still, "I have a feeling that this is only the beginning of a new venture."
Fran allowed herself and small smile, "Then the leading man must step up and play his part."
Balthier grinned widely, "But not without his leading lady."
In the dying light Fran's cheeks tinged a deep dusty pink.