Okay you guys hear me out, I can explain. ...I really like Final Fantasy 14 and I really like FF9 and I really like sticking things I like together, and uh... Both of them incorporate Mother Crystals from which stems all life so it's *basically* the same thing?

Yeah I got nothing.

So uhm here is a crossover just because. It's not all about Beatrix, this is just introducing her into Eorzea. There's gunna be other chapters that do this with the other characters, hopefully in some sort of timeline.

Fair warning, FF14 gets pretty dark in weird ways. I'm going to be using a lot of murder and gore and it might not be pretty. For instance, there's gunna be eye mutilation in here, because, well, Beatrix. Har. Also be wary: apparently FF14 writers freaking love A Song of Fire and Ice and everything is "DOTH THOU WISHEST TO FACE ME" and "PRAY RETURN TO THE WAKING SANDS". I tried to mimic some of it so like if that's not your cup of tea then *shrug?*

Hope you guys like it!


The harsh, unforgiving highlands and mountains of Gyr Abania were where the people of Ala Mhigo made their home. They had very few natural resources of their own, thus did the Highlanders of Ala Mhigo become militaristic and independent, taking what they needed from their neighbors. The strength of their monks was such that they once handily fought a two sided war, one to the west for resources, and one to the east to protect their home. The Garlean Empire was one that very few could face and come away unscathed, but the Ala Mhigans did it with both grace and power.

However, it was not to last. There came to be a civil war that broke out within the city itself, and the while the royal family's monks could fight a two pronged war, they could not handle one that came from three sides. Whether or not it was necessary to dethrone the power of Ala Mhigo, it certainly wasn't necessary *then*, as their army was pulled back to defend the throne, the enemy Garleans swept straight through during their time of greatest weakness. The Read family barely escaped from the land before the siege, bringing along their young daughter Beatrix. The refugees didn't look back, even when they heard that their beloved home was taken.

The Read family came upon the desert city of Ul'dah, a sultanate where capitalism reigned. Many refugees rushed to the desert land, as the other lands were unwilling to assist the war torn people. At least Ul'dah was prepared to do so as long as the refugees gave something to the sultanate. Unfortunately, with the huge influx of refugees from Ala Mhigo, there were no jobs available *to* help provide for Ul'dah. There was only one thing anyone could do: descend into the gladiatorial pits. Any gladiators who survived would become rich and famous, and so, people rushed into the grinder to die. Even Beatrix's father attempted the grueling battles with his punch daggers, but a wound early in his bouts hamstrung him so he could no longer fight...

...Without any way to gain anymore money, and with their finances dwindling, Beatrix knew of only one course. At the tender age of fifteen, much younger than any person should ever step into the gladiatorial ring, the woman picked up a sword and shield, stabbed the eye of a wildebeest straight from its socket, and held it aloft for all to see. The crowd's cheering was deafening, and young Read immediately became a fan favorite.

For seven years, she fought in the pits, gaining popularity and scars. She seemed to possess a serenity that was unheard of among people with her popularity. People walked into the ring for glory and money; it quickly became apparent that Read only did it to provide for her father and mother, to protect them from starving to death.

It also became apparent that she has reached the top of the ranks. There was no one that could stand up to her perfect defenses, neither man nor beast. There was not one, save for Raubahn Aldynn, a fellow gladiator from Ala Mhigo. There was no doubt that the next bout would be between the greatest gladiators that Ul'dah had seen.

The battle was one that would go down in Ul'dah's history, with the winnings giving either of them enough money to buy out the very coliseum they were fighting in, such was the money bet on the upcoming match. Beatrix entered the ring that day with trepidation. She drew her sword and the two gladiators saluted each other, and for the first time, she spoke while in the pits. "Lord Aldynn, just promise me I will be able to fight after this."

Raubahn's hands were just as red as hers; the lives that they claimed rising to this height showed just how deadly the both of them were. However, while Beatrix was still a child playing at fighting, Raubahn had been a warrior since she was still in swaddling clothes. The two of them both knew who the winner would be, and now all that was left was to put on a good show. He nodded softly and prepared his stance, "I will make it quick."

He was correct; the battle started and Beatrix barely had time to register that he had moved when he was before her, slamming the shield from her hand. She clasped her broken hand to her chest and held her sword out to parry his next attack, but when she tried to draw his sword away, his strength was such that he slid her own sword back into her own eye. The audience watched as Beatrix was reduced to a fifteen year old once again, and similar to the way she removed a wildebeest's eye, she split her own wide open until the fluids and blood spilled all over her sword and floor. The child grit her teeth to keep from biting her own tongue, dropped to the floor, and clutched at her bloodied, destroyed eye amid screams, cheers and jeers. After the entire affair there were people who actually claimed that their ears bled from the shouts from the onlookers.

Raubahn sheathed his sword, still unbloodied, and turned away from the sobbing girl. There was nothing that needed to be said.


Beatrix was certain that she would never fight again without her eye and with her broken hand, but with the money she acquired, her parents were able to hire a skilled conjurer from Gridania who watched over her hand until it was in (near) perfect order. At least it was her offhand... When Raubahn came to see her family and beg forgiveness for the battle (apparently he had misjudged the direction Beatrix was trying to parry, as he was used to Garlean tactics, and that was what caused the horrendous injury), Beatrix shut him down immediately. They were both gladiators, and it simply came with the job.

"Well, if you ever need anything, I will be happy to do what I can to repay you the damages." As if an eye were akin to a broken fence. Beatrix shook her head and sent him on his way. She didn't need his pity; she was still a powerful warrior in her own right.

And yet, despite all of that, Raubahn had still won. He went on to buy out the entire coliseum, showing that even the lowest of commoners could find their way into the Ul'dahn Syndicate. He became the symbol of greatness among the refugees, while Beatrix was certain she would wallow in his shadow. She could win battles, but no one would bet on a sure thing. She could not get the same amount of money, not unless she began to throw matches, which would risk more dangerous wounds... She had no idea where she would go from there...

The answer came when, one day, a call came from the royal palace, and Beatrix, horrified, prepared for whatever doom they would bestow upon her. Perhaps she forgot to pay her taxes, or perhaps they decided that she had more money than she should have... She needed to throw herself at the mercy of the sultan and hope that he would believe any story she gave him.

As such, she arrived as soon as possible to show that she wished to follow every bit of red tape they'd present her. As she stood in the Hall of Rule, she scratched at her eye patch absently, still not used to having it on her face. She immediately snapped to attention when Lord Papashan, the Lalafell leader of the royal Sultansworn, approached her. Beatrix noted the two Sultansworn on either of his side, and she stood straight up again as the tiny man, barely the height of her belt, crossed his arms and looked to inspect her. "Beatrix Read, you know of Lord Raubahn Aldynn's desire to create a fighting force to repel the Garlean invasion of Eorzea, correct?"

Ah yes, the Immortal Flames. It was hard *not* to know about it, given that it was on everyone's lips, not to mention... "I do, Flame General Aldynn even extended an invitation for me to lead the Ala Mhigan Brigade. I declined, as I'm sure you know."

"Indeed," Papashan replied, placing his chin in his hand in thought, "I invited you here today to ask the reason for your decision. Do you honestly think you are unable to protect our people? You certainly seem to be quite a capable fighter..."

She supposed it wasn't strange for outsiders to believe that she had lost all will to fight, even though it couldn't be further from the truth. She tried to find a way to say her feelings honestly but delicately. "I don't wish to live in the flame general's shadow. I understand that the Immortal Flames are a wonderful way to fight back at the people that harmed Ala Mhigo..." It wasn't "her home", as she was barely a babe when her family escaped. ...Technically, Ul'dah was the only home she ever knew, but out of respect for her parents, she wished to do what she could for the highland country. "I was afraid that people would think that my placement in his army was one of pity. I wish to follow my own course." She blushed softly and looked down at the still thinking Lalafell, "If... that makes sense..."

"I see, I see," Papashan said softly. He nodded and placed a hand on his hip before looking up at the highlander, "Very well, if you are still willing to fight for the defense of Ul'dah, perhaps I could ask you instead to join the Sultansworn and protect our beloved Sultana."

Beatrix was silent for a long minute, so long that Papashan was afraid she did not hear him. "Miss Read...? Did you hear me? I said..."

Beatrix shook her head, rubbing at her ear with a grunt of apology. "I'm sorry, Lord Papashan, I heard, I just... Perhaps I am a little overwhelmed and anxious, but I could have sworn I heard you say that you wanted *me*, a lowborn, common refugee, to join the paladins. You would ask me to join the Sultansworn...!"

"We choose our members by merit, not by birth, Lady Read," Papashan said, stroking his tiny goatee with his free hand, "Here in the Sultansworn, you are no longer commoner nor noble, merchant nor refugee. You are simply sister to those who love their country."

Beatrix looked up at the midlander Hyur and hellsguard Roegadyn who flanked Papashan, and they reached out to her in welcome, "Come join us, sister! You'll do so much better fighting for a greater cause than just for blood or sport!"

"And the families of the Sultansworn are well recompensed for losing a child! Your father and mother need not want for anything again!" Beatrix opened her mouth, and suddenly she realized the real problem. She would become sworn to the sultanate. She could not live with her family, and she would not be able to travel for anything but war. Perhaps one day the sultan may travel as a dignitary, but from then on, she would be trapped... perhaps...

...But this was safety, her home was not Ala Mhigo, and while she wanted her parents to be able to return to their place of birth someday, she wanted to protect what small place they had *now*, not try to regain everything that they lost... not yet, at least...

...And now, if there was a civil war *this* time, she would be *there* to stop it. She would make sure that history would not repeat itself.

The highlander nodded, her course clear, and she snapped her heels together and saluted the Lalafell, mentally preparing herself for anything that might come next in her life. "Beatrix Read, Sultansworn, reporting for duty, Lord Papashan!"


Fun Fax Beatrix becoming a gladiator first and then a paladin is similar to FF14, wherein you spend the first 30 levels being a scrub class and then you get upgraded to an actual job like a boss. Ironically "gladiator" was an actual job in some of the Tactics games but now it's a scrub class. RIP. Some other characters will go "Class to Job", but people like Steiner and Garnet won't go through those hoops, and I'm thinking Zidane might end up going backwards, given his story.

Oh PS, Beatrix doesn't really fit a Hyur (Human) name, since they're more Celtic and Germanic names while "Beatrix" is Latin in origin. I guess the closest thing would be, ironically, Garlean names, which come mostly from Latin, although it's usually fake/butchered. I guess given that, Beatrixis half Garlean, probably on her mother's side. Perhaps she left the empire, tired of their evil ways, and ended up living in Ala Mhigo? But perhaps she still has some love of her old country; she did *grow up* there after all, and that's why they ended up naming their daughter Beatrix. Food for thought I guess.

Also the name "Read" is pronounced more like "Red", for the color of *blood*. Or her hair. Whichever you prefer.

So uhm. Hope you enjoyed it. Shoot me a message telling me what you liked/hated about it. I always need some feedback.