Ancient Aliment
Disclaimer:Well, here it is. I finally finished FFXII and this story line popped in to my head, and I liked it. Hope you do too!
Chapter one
Queen Ashe sighed as she looked out over the city of Rabanastre. She had had a boring day of politics, lessons, and a lack of sleep. She had escaped from etiquette lessons for a few moments, saying she was feeling ill from the heat (even though it was a surprisingly cool day) and ran out on to the balcony.
Oh, how she missed the freedom of traveling with the others. In this past year she had seen none of them, although Penelo had written her a charming letter telling her about the going on of the ex-group. Ashe was relieved Balthier and Fran were alright, even if they hadn't stopped in to say hello. She was glad to have her wedding ring back, though. She had laughed out loud in the middle of reading about the warning of a Noble her friend had spied walking towards the palace. He looked like "someone who had angered a hive of bees" and had been wearing to many clothes for the hot desert climent, and had been apparently sweating enough to flood the whole city. Unfortunately, that very Noble had been sitting across from her at dinner. She couldn't stop giggling the whole time, much to the anger of her etiquette tutors.
Larsa had written her a letter also. Well, two. One was delivered normally, congratulating her on becoming queen and hoping for a long alliance between the empire and Dalmasca. Rather boring, to be sure.
She had nearly screamed when she had walked into her room that night to find Basch in his brothers armor looking out the window. He was there to deliver another letter from Larsa, this one much less political and more like the young teenage boy he was. It had been wonderful to get to see Basch again, although he was still hiding in The Sandsea tavern.
Groaning, Ashe heard something below. Looking down she saw her guards blocking someone from entering, but she couldn't make out who. Their voices rose though, and she heard their argument.
"Sir, we must ask you to come back another time..."
"There is no time! The children..."
"Sir, we can remove you if necessary. Please, go home and come ba-"
"I need to see the Queen! She may have the answer!"
"Sir..."
Ashe stopped listening, and gathered her skirts so she could run easier. Many yelled in shock to see their Queen in such a distressed state, but Ashe was to busy to notice or care. Bolting towards the gate where the Guards were about to cart the poor Bangaa away, Ashe heard the rest of the conversation.
"The children...they're in danger..." The nasally voiced blue bangaa cried.
"Guards, stop!" Ashe screamed, causing the guards to drop the bangaa and stand at attention. Being Royalty had it's advantages...
"Your Highness..." The Bangaa said, bowing low.
"Yes, yes." Ashe waved her hand as if to shoo the formalities away. "What were you saying? About the children?"
"Several of them have fallen ill, going to sleep and not being able to wake up! It's happening to more and more everyday, hitting mostly the young boys and girls of Lowtown. Three of my workers have gotten it, and last night, just before he got it, Vaan told me to tell you if anything should happen."
"Vaan?" Ashe gasped. It couldn't be... "You're Migelo, aren't you?"
"Yes, your majesty." The poor Bangaa looked ready to burst into tears. "You must help them, please, they are in my shop in the east end."
"I'll be there soon." Ashe assured him. "I just have to find some help." And some better clothes...
"Thank you, thank you your highness!" Migelo said, running back towards the shop.
"Your majesty...?" The Guards questioned. "Your tutors?"
"Oh...tell them I've fallen ill and need rest! Or that I've jumped of a bridge! I don't care what those stuffy old bats think, just buy me time!"
"Y-yes your majesty!" The guards stuttered, bowing.
"Oh, Vaan..." Ashe sighed, running to get her old traveling clothes. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?"
Basch was writing a letter to Larsa when the knocks on his door started. Looking up in confusion, as he was not expecting company, he got up to answer the never ending knocks. Upon opening the door, he was met with a fist flying at his face. dodging to the side, Basch caught the attacker in his arms.
"Opps!" Ashe said sheepishly.
"Ashe? What is it?" Basch asked, setting her on her own feet. He did a double take when he saw what she was wearing. "Your clothes..."
"I needed something to wear." Ashe said, brushing off her handy short skirt and shutting the door. "Apparently, most of the Lowtown children have gotten some form of illness that prevents them from waking up."
With a sad look, Ashe then added, "Basch, Vaan caught it."
"Vaan? One would think he'd be with Balthier..." Basch wondered, throwing some potions and other spells in his bag.
"Yes, well, Migelo came to the Palace looking for me. Vaan had told him to come to me if something should happen."
"Migelo?" Basch questioned, trying to place the name.
"The Bangaa Vaan and Penelo worked for before we meet them. Vaan must have gone back."
"I remember. Penelo talked fondly of him, like daughter of a father." Basch said, remembering the blonde girls tales.
"Yes...I wonder if Penelo is still working there too? If she is, I wonder if she is ill as well?"
"Have they tried Alarm Clocks?" Basch asked, strapping his sword to his waist.
"I don't know, but I'm heading over to Migelo's Sundries to see if Vaan's alright." Ashe smiled at Basch, who was already to go. "And I see I don't have to ask you if you want to come."
"Old habits die hard. Lead the way."
Ashe and Basch were at Migelo's in moments, weaving through the customers to get to the counter. Ashe tried to get the shop keepers attention, but the young man was to busy.
"Well, how do we find out where Vaan is?" Basch asked.
"Are you looking for Vaan?" A soft accented voice asked from behind them. Turning around, the two were met by a gentle looking Veira.
"Uh, yes." Ashe said. "Do you know where he is?"
"He is in the room above us with Kytes and Penelo." She answered sadly, hanging her head. Ashe noticed she carried three bowls filled with soup.
"Have they gotten better?" Ashe asked.
"No, they grow worse everyday. But I feed them to help them get better."
"Can we go see them?" Basch asked, gripping the strap of his pack, wondering if it would take more then one Alarm Clock to wake them.
"Yes, I hope more friends will help..." The Veira said, leading them up the stairs to the rooms above the shop. "I am Ktjn, and Vaan is a dear friend. He talked to me when I had just come to Rabanastre, and helped me make an important decision. I hope he will be alright."
"Do not worry." Basch assured her. "Vaan has gone through more then this and come out in one piece."
"It is not pieces I am worried about..." Ktjn whispered.
Coming to a door, Ktjn stopped paused. Basch reached forward and opened it for her. "Thank you. I must have shut it to give our guests some privacy." As she walked in, Basch and Ashe were shocked at what they saw.
Vaan, Penelo and a younger boy were lying in beds, pale and still. Penelo and the boy looked the worst, like the color was being sucked from them. Penelo had a gray tinged to her cheeks and her one shining hair was dull. They lay limp and unresponsive as Ktjn tucked the blankets around them.
Vaan was already pale even though he'd gotten it only last night. He had dark circles under his eyes, and even moved his head towards Ktjn's hand pushing his hair back.
"Poor child..." She muttered. Looking at the two by the door, she sighed. "He refused to sleep for days, watching Penelo and Kytes as they slept. He was bent on finding out what plagued them. He spent his days scouting for information, visiting the people in Lowtown. He was so brave, but it got to him first."
Ashe and Basch came forward, numb to what they were seeing. Basch knelt next to Penelo, gently touching her cheek. He couldn't believe this was the bubbly girl who had cheered them all up on the hard days trying to get Ashe back to the throne. Gripping her hand in his, he looked up at Ktjn.
"Have they tried Alarm clocks?" He asked.
Ktjn nodded. "We've tried everything. Children and others came to try and help these three. Vaan has touched many lives it seems, and they would like to help him get better."
"Well, well, well." As familiar voice sounded at the door, Basch and Ashe whipped around to face the owner. " Do my eyes deceive me, because it looks like a Queen and a Judge are caring about the little people for once."
"Balthier! Fran! Why are you here?" Ashe asked, looking back and forth between the two sky pirates.
"The same reason you are." Balthier said, setting the bag he was carrying on the table. Fran walked over to the bed the boy called Kytes slept in and started checking him over. "Is it there, Fran?"
Fran nodded, looking at the boys arm. Basch and Ashe went forward to see what they are talking about. Fran held Kytes arm out to them, showing the strange marking on the wrist.
"What is it?" Basch asked.
"That's just it." Balthier said, playing with his cuffs (again). "We haven't a clue. We only got here this morning, and we've been trying to find out what's happened."
"What have you found out?" Ktjn asked hopefully, toying with Vaan's hair again.
"Nothing, except that all the ill children have that mark on their wrists." Balthier replied. With a sheepish grin, he added "And not to try and seduce some information out of the women down there."
Basch raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly. As for Ashe, if looks could kill, Balthier would be six feet under ground...or what would be left of him.
"This reminds me of a tale I heard long, long ago." Fran suddenly said, placing Kytes arm back under his blanket. "The symptoms are the same, although it is just a tale."
"What is it?" Basch questioned. All eyes were on Fran as she walked over to Penelo and checked her wrist next. Finding the mark, Fran spoke.
"It is about a beautiful young queen of old, who, in vanity about her beauty, challenged the gods to grant her beauty for the rest of time. She spoke spiteful words, shouting for the Gods to prove their power, saying that she could beat any god or goddess in beauty. To torment her, the gods bade it, so that everytime she looked in a mirror, she would see what death would do to her body. It was horrifying to the young woman at first, but still she challenged them. They next had all men see her as an ugly old woman. Still, she hide herself away and questioned their power. Time passed and the Gods grew angry at the women. So they decided to give her what she wanted."
"Why would they do that?" Ashe asked, confused.
"Shh." Ktjn said, listening to Fran's tale with interest. "She is not yet finished."
"Thank you, Ktjn." Fran said. "The Gods gave her what she wanted, but at a price. She would remain beautiful for the rest of eternity, ever living. This is what the gods told her."
"What they did not tell her, is that she would have to obtain the youth from others." Ktjn said. "I thought I had heard this legend before, but it is a child's tale against vanity. It cannot be true...Can it?"
"Well, let us Humes hear the end of the tale and we'll tell you. Finish the story, Fran." Balthier said, gesturing towards his partner.
"As the Queen aged, she screamed at the gods for not granting her wish. The gods thought it fitting she die not knowing she could live. And die she would have, if a minor god had not fallen for her beauty. He came to her in a dream, explaining what the gods wanted her to do. She woke in the morning, called her most trusted advisor and told him to bring her the most beautiful youths in the city.
Over the years, the people came to notice the rate their children were disapearing. They looked to their Queen for guideance, but she hid from their questions, leaving her sisters to try and descover the fiend. But the disappearances stopped, instead, the children left for days in bed, unable to wake, wasting away to nothing. Trouble came when the youngest sister, a mere seven years, fell ill."
Suddenly, Kytes moaned in pain, twisting in his bed. Ktjn was by his side in a moment, pressing a damp cloth to the boys head. Finally, after awhile, Kytes had calmed down and was just as still as before.
"Does that happen oftan?" Basch asked, comeing over to help tuck the boy back in.
Ktjn sighed. "Yes, but mostly to Kytes. I wish they would wake and get well."
"They will, once we find out how." Ashe said stubbornly. "What happened next, Fran?"
"The Queen's lust for beauty couldn't be satasfied. She started attacking her own family, but only the younger ones. One night, a young knight pretended to sleep, waiting for the beast that the town was talking about to get him. When it came, he attacked, and was horrified by what his Queen had become. He told the citizens, who chased the Queen deep into the earth, locking her in with powerful magiks. The Knight was wed to the last remaning Daughter, who bore the ansestors of Rabanastre it is said.
"The Queen was never freed, and died without the sustaining life-blood she took from her victems."
As the silence grew, Ashe couldn't stand it. "Is that all?"
Balthier smirked. "As Ktjn said, it's a child's Tale, Ashe. I'm suprised they didn't shorten it down any more."
"But, could this ancient Queen really be what plauges the young ones?" Ktjn asked, clasping her hands to her chest.
"Well, if it is, where would she hide?" Basch asked.
"If they are the ansestors of Rabanastre, then the 'deep in the earth' could very well mean the sewers." Ashe said.
"If only Vaan could help." Balthier grinned. "Thats his territory."
No one laughed at the joke, only looked at the pale face of their old friend, asleep with no chance of waking.
To be continued
Well, what do you think? Should I go on? Or is it to fast? Reveiw if ya wanna!