A/N: This is a short something, I wrote for my birthday. Actually I wanted to just write something for my birthday and this plot bunny was doing a jig in my mind for the longest time.

FFXII Theory: I was thinking about how Vaan always appeared to be on the same level Ashe was for a while until something changed. It made me think maybe Vaan is also a part of the Dynast King's legacy? I mean, he would be something like Ashe's very distant cousin.

Here's my logic, Kings were known to have mistresses and there were sometimes illegitimate heirs produced. (I can't remember where in the game but I talked to someone and the mentioned Ashe was the first female child of the line) Anyway the illegitimate child goes on and has a family and it eventually leads to Reks and Vaan (depending on when the illegitimate heir was produced). I would suppose that maybe Vaan's bloodline is far more diluted than Ashe's (or maybe it isn't?) and that's why when Rassler was seen in the beginning both saw him because the image (could have been?) tailored to the bloodline of the Dynast King. It was only when they realized that Vaan could see him that they narrowed to the intended target. /end theory.

So I was thinking of making a short little story in honor of my eighteenth birthday (February 13th)

X

Penelo was out shopping for supplies, when a strange thought occurred to her. It hadn't been more than a year or two since the stint she and Vaan took in saving the world, but she didn't know why the logic hadn't rammed its way into her brain before now. It was practically obvious that Vaan was different than a normal peasant boy, other than the fact that half the time he didn't seem like the most colorful chocobo in the pack.

It only took one night of camping before Vaan was chatting her ear off about how both he and Ashe had seen Prince Rassler, which seemed odd because only those two had seen him, but Penelo had shrugged it off as nothing more than Vaan being special. They had had to have been dragged into the fray for some reason.

Still it wasn't until she was between buying fruit and a new necklace did she wonder if maybe, just maybe Ashe and Vaan were very distantly related? It would make some sense as to Vaan's special-ness. (Penelo frowned because for once she was the one making up words instead of Vaan or their orphans). Vaan was also the one who easily held both the King's Blade and the Treaty Blade along with Ash. So, it was strange that just right then after all this time she had finally come to the conclusion that Vaan could be of the Dynast line.

A smile over came Penelo's face as she thought of telling Vaan her theory. He'd probably laugh it off first, but she was sure that all she needed to plant some thought in his head was to merely mention it, and how cool would it be if they could figure out if he was or if he wasn't. It would be like an adventure, except maybe one that would allow them some breathing room. She could go record diving and Vaan could talk to the few survivors whom remembered his parents and grandparents, since he hated going over papers. (That was probably why she was always the one who filled out their licenses). It would be fun and probably safe, or safer. Because with Vaan around the trouble was always just hanging around the corner waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting members of his group.

Penelo was too enthralled in her theory that she didn't noticed Vaan's approached until he grabbed her from around the middle and swung her around. If she could have jumped she would have, but seeing as jumping usually meant one was touching the ground somewhat it was impossible for her at the moment.

"Vaan!" she shrieked (though it was also mixed with a giggle). The blonde in question just grinned. "Put me down!" She squirmed as best she could. Vaan relented in his spinning of her and set her down back on her feet.

"Aw, Penelo you're no fun," he gave a pout before looking behind her seemingly trying to see what exactly was behind her. "So, what were you looking at that was so intriguing?"

"Oh! I wasn't looking at anything. I was thinking."

"Doesn't that hurt when you do that?" Vaan teasingly said as he tapped his temple. Penelo gaped at him for a moment before giving him a good shove.

"I could've ask you the same thing!" she laughed. "How long were you waiting to use that one?"

"All year," Vaan grinned.

"Though so," Penelo scrunched her nose at him as she linked her arm with his. They were quiet for a while neither speaking (and for once not because they both had silence casted upon while having virtually no echo herbs or remedies). The two orphans were just enjoying each other's presence. Of course it didn't last long as both of them had been known as chatterboxes (it had been very much an annoyance to the adults of their group).

"So," Vaan dragged the word out as all as he could before Penelo gave him a look, "what were you thinking about?"

"Your heritage."

"What?"

"You know your bloodline, who you came from," Penelo explained.

"I know what heritage means! What I meant was why are you wondering about it?" Vaan stammered.

"Oh, well I have this theory and you better not laugh about it!" Penelo warned shaking her finger in his face. Vaan promised not to laugh and she told him of her theory. During the telling, Vaan's face morphed from confused to about to laugh and back to confused again.

"I don't think it's possible," Vaan shook his head.

"Who knows it could be," Penelo shrugged. She didn't bring it up again, but she could see the wheels turning in his head. Pretty soon he might want to see if it was true, Penelo was sure of it, and she knew Vaan almost better than she knew herself.

The End! (Or is it?)

I could honestly see this turning into a chapter story, but it can also stand-alone. I'm on a fence about continuing it or not.

So tell me what you think. Did you hate it did you love it? Are you iffy about it? Drop a line.