Well this is my first Final Fantasy fic. And it ran up 3,689 words? O.o That is the longest thing I have written by ... 2,800 words. It spanned 18 pages of scrawled handwriting in my notebook. And as usual, most of it was written when I should have been sleeping. For once though, I've actually made several edits as I typed it up. Now I just hope it meets the approval of all you lovely readers. Any mistakes you spot or constructive criticism you have, drop me a review and let me know ^^
Hunt on Toam Hills
Morning thus far had taken an interesting turn. All mayhem began when Vaan had come bounding in with information on a mark. His excitement had been clear as he told his companions of the creature loose on the Giza Plains.
The bill had been posted by Masyua of the Nomad Village on the Plains. Apparently a creature bearing striking resemblance to a Buer had been spotted on the Toam Hills, west of their camp.
"A rank six? I don't know Vaan …"
"Aww come on Pen! We haven't been home in ages and I bet you miss Migelo too!" Vaan pouted, hoping she would want to visit Rabanastre as much as he did.
"Vaan." The tone told him that his friend would likely sever something from his person if he persisted in this endeavour. "It's for your own good. We can't seem to go anywhere these days without attracting trouble."
"I think we should go." All heads turned to Asch, surprise registering on most of the party's features. Bar Penelo who looked devastated by the Princess' betrayal.
"Yes! It's decided then!" Vaan grinned happily. "To the bridge to set course for Rabanastre!"
With that, an excited blonde skipped out of the room.
"Well, well. To what do we owe this bout of sentimentality?" Balthier smiled teasingly at Asch. "Feeling homesick, are we?"
Asch didn't look too amused by the comment but then she rarely looked amused by anything. "Not entirely Balthier. In case it had slipped your notice, a few people aboard have seemed rather down lately. Some time in the sun, near people we know and away from any immediate threats to our lives may be good for morale from time to time."
Penelo had to concede. The Princess made a valid argument. Balthier looked like he had prepared an adequate response to this though. Unfortunately for the sky pirate, Vaan interrupted just a second too soon.
"Come on Balthier! Let's go!" The blonde latched onto the pirate's arm and promptly dragged him in the direction of the bridge, despite several protests.
By early afternoon the Strahl was anchored above the Crystal Glade, south of the Nomad Village. It was decided that Vaan, as the instigator of this little adventure, would visit Masyua with Balthier and Basch to acquire information before heading to Toam Hills to slay the beastie. The rest of the party would travel straight to Rabanastre ahead of the others via the eastern route along the riverbank to make a start on shopping. And, being girls as they were, would not spend the group's hard earned supply money on clothes. Else face dire consequences.
After separating by the North Bank, Vaan happily led his group through the village until they reached the Dark Crystal on the outskirts. In it's shadow sat Masyua, perched atop one of her crates, hair moving in the gentle breeze. This had to be her favourite place in the village as Vaan could swear blind he had never seen her stray far from the obsidian stone.
She smiled as she saw them approach, certain of the reason they had come and stood to greet them.
"Welcome. I assume you are here for the bill I posted?"
Vaan's face split into an optimistic grin. "Yup. Just tell us where it is and we'll go deal with it for you!"
Masyua looked relieved as she listened to the blonde's confident words. "I'm glad you were the first to respond. After dealing with the Gil Snapper and that pesky Cluckatrice for us, I trust you'll do a fine job with this task. Though I admit this will be much tougher than those endeavours."
Balthier took his moment to speak before Vaan could interject. "This task was ranked accordingly. If we did not feel capable of completing it we would not be here."
"Of course." The young woman looked worried for a moment but quickly brushed it off, not wanting to doubt the men returning safely. "The creature arrived on the Plains a few days ago. It was spotted in Starfall Fields first but, as mentioned, has now made it's way into Toam Hills. We believe it has come through the Westersand from Zertinan Caverns, a collection of tunnels running below the Westersand and the Yensa Sandsea."
"Aye, we know it. The creature is thought to be a Buer?" Basch looked to Masyua for confirmation, receiving a nod before waiting for him to continue. "We have had many dealings with them already so, should this creature be one, we should have no troubles."
"Alright. I shall leave it to you then. Please be careful though. I dread to think of the sadness there would be should anything happen to you young men."
"Ah we'll be fine." Vaan grinned a grin that promised victory and barbequed Buer for dinner. And with that, they said a short farewell to Masyua and headed for the east entrance to the village that led on to Toam Hills.
As they walked Vaan folded his arms behind his head and looked over to Balthier.
"Hey Balthier! Did you see the way Masyua was looking at Basch?" His voice had a teasing tone to it mixed with amusement. "I still think she has the hots for him!"
Balthier frowned slightly but it went unnoticed as Vaan was already waiting for the other blonde's reaction.
"I think not Vaan. Why would she possibly hold interest for me? We scarcely visit Giza and, as such, she barely knows me."
"Yeah but every time we do visit we make an impact or we deal with her for Sunstones. It's totally possible."
Balthier interrupted as they neared the bridge in the centre of the area. "Vaan don't you think it's time to start focusing on the task at hand?"
Basch looked to him with a thank you in his eyes while their younger party member sulked silently.
"Besides, have you not noticed how quiet this area is? Usually we would have been attacked by at least a Hyena or two by now."
"Huh. You're right." Vaan looked around, only just now aware of the abnormality in the area. "Hey, over there."
The boy pointed just beyond the bridge where blood and the edge of a Hyena's corpse could be seen protruding from behind some rocks. The three headed to investigate, watching their surroundings carefully. What they found was a sight and a half. Lacerations covered the entirety of the beast's body, some inflicted even after death. Whatever the poor thing had come across, it hadn't stood a chance.
"Wow …" Vaan looked away disgusted.
"If this was a Buer, it is certainly in a mood. Likely from the constant exposure to light. This attack was merciless." The sky pirate's nose wrinkled in distaste. "What is worse is this does not seem to be it's only victim. I can see why Masyua was worried."
"Aye."
True to word, from where they stood many more bodies could be seen. Hyena and Urstrix alike were scattered across the sand. But not all downed in the same manner. A few of the corpses were riddled with claw marks, yes, but many had limbs or wings encased in ice.
"Oh geez that one's still alive!" Vaan reeled away as Basch approached to put it out of it's misery. A single precise stab to the throat ceased the squirming. The hyena's legs and part of it's torso were frozen but beneath were horrible cuts, deep and surely lethal were it not for the ice. The pain this creature must have been in was unimaginable.
"This is not right." Balthier knelt himself beside Basch and ran his fingers over the frozen body. "Buers use Blizzara, yes, but when was the last time you saw black magicks do this?"
"It seems we face a formidable opponent. We had best find it before it finds the village."
The party followed the area round to the left in moderate silence. There were no words that could distract from the carnage. Vaan, clearly shaken up by what he had already seen, kept a few footfalls behind the others. As the path narrowed ahead, the list of creatures involved grew. The top half of a Slaven lay in blood, shock written through it's dilated and lifeless eyes.
Suddenly Basch raised his arm and motioned for the other to slow.
"Wha-"
"Quiet Vaan!" The knight listened intently for a moment. "The beast is engaged ahead of us."
Sure enough, as they drew nearer, the sound of a conflict could be heard over the wind. It seemed the mark had come head-to-head with the Plains' Alpha Hyena moments before. Yet the damage belied the time span. The Alpha was already bleeding heavily below it's right eye and from a gash across it's side as it faced off against the Buer. As that is what it certainly was. Or had once been. It was paler than was normal, tense and the mischief common among it's kind missing from it's face. Wounds covered it's body, most still fresh. Including a sizable mouthful missing from a wing, causing a battle in itself to stay level in the air. Upon the creatures fingers and feet, those that had once been but sharpened nail were now extended into vicious claws that matched the victims across the Hills.
Basch drew his sword, waiting for the ideal moment to intervene. His companions made short work of readying their own weapons though Vaan was apprehensive. Balthier levelled his rifle and, as the Buer dived for another hit on the hyena, squeezed his trigger. The bullet hit it's mark clear in the shoulder. A screech assaulted their ears as it flew back a metre or so. Seeing an opportunity, the Alpha Hyena lunged forward, impaling it's foe low in the stomach with it's horn as the party moved forward to join the fight.
It seemed the Buer had had enough with the Alpha now. A familiar chill filled the air as magickal particles gathered, crystallising into ice around the beast's head. But where it would usually condense and shatter, the magick transcended into the physical and Vaan watched in horror as the Alpha Hyena suffocated.
Basch took the moment to swing his blade, catching a leg as the damaged wing impeded the Buer's movements. In retaliation the monster dove in, indulging in close combat. It tried to scratch and slice at the knight's face and torso, barely held back by steel in it's rage.
Another shot was fired from behind, piercing through a lesser injured wing. Balthier dared not aim closer for fear of hitting Basch. The creature dipped slightly, claws trying for purchase in now already torn shoulders. Pain filled an ill-concealed groan as Basch tried in vain to pry the thing from his being. This snapped Vaan back to reality from his terror-stricken haze and he began the hasty castings of a cure spell for the knight.
The Buer pushed back suddenly, struggling but just managing to keep balance in the air. With minor wounds already starting to heal, Basch made to follow it. The endeavour was cut short however by a shout from Balthier.
"Basch! Look out!"
One more bullet flew past him. Too late though did he realise the meaning of the warning as a chill ran down his right leg, followed by an incomparable burning that did not cease. Within seconds he could feel the dirt on his face but it mattered little as he felt himself slip into unconsciousness.
Now, without the fear of hitting the older man, Balthier made a relentless onslaught, his rifle firing as soon as it was able. Vaan too began an assault, casting fire magicks between sword blows.
Still the Buer refused to fall. Not until a memory caught in the edge of the sky pirate's mind.
"Vaan! Lightening! They are weak to lightening!"
The boy looked to him and nodded. "Could have done with knowing that before, Balthier!"
Balthier's apology was drowned out by the crackle of Thundaga splitting the air. Another screech erupted from the Buer as, finally, it's wings gave out and it fell to the ground. It's blood pooled into the sand below it, much as the blood of it's victims had. The creature convulsed a few times and then it was still.
Immediately Balthier was at Basch's side, joining Vaan in Curaja casting. It took little time for all his gashes and punctures to leave him but the ice around his leg stayed.
Vaan looked up to the pirate. "What are we going to do?"
"Don't worry." Balthier lifted Basch and stood. "I'll take him back to the Strahl and sort this. You take the Buer to Masyua. Assure her that she and her people are now safe and acquire the reward. Once you've done that, meet with the others."
"What if you can't help him?"
"Then I'll fly him to someone who can."
The blonde seemed satisfied with this and, reluctant and worried as he was, did as instructed. As he grabbed the Buer by the leg he turned to his companion. "Alright. Good luck. I'll see you later."
"Yes." Then Balthier was gone, heading back towards the Starfall Fields and on to the Crystal Glade. Vaan watched him go before dragging the Buer's corpse through the sand to the village.
Back in the comfort of the Strahl Balthier felt safer. His calm façade had fooled Vaan but in actuality he was worried beyond belief. After laying Basch down in the dining area he checked the man's vitals. Those he knew how to at any rate. The knight was weak but didn't seem to be in immediate danger which was a godsend. Still, Balthier would have to be fast if he wanted to prevent any long lasting damage.
Moving with intent and purpose, Balthier traversed the ship's kitchen, gathering both a knife and a long unused hot water bottle from below the sink. He flicked the switch on the thankfully full kettle then made his way back to Basch's side. After removing the belts that held Basch's leg guards in place, he careful began to cut away the fabric at the height of the blonde's leg, gently pulling it down as the blade moved round his thigh. Once that was complete he prepared himself for what was next.
Just as he thought he was ready however, Basch began to stir.
"Nnh … Balthier? … Wha?" Everything was hazy, bar the pain in his leg. He could just about see the worried look in the other's eyes.
Balthier suddenly felt all the worse for what he was about to do. He moved his hands to hover over the edge of the ice just above the knight's ankle and focused on his goal. Basch eyed him curiously as he did so, trying his best to guess his plan.
"What … are you going to do?"
The one-word response was not really registered until he saw the effects of it surround his limb.
"Fira."
Basch braced himself, fists clawing at whatever fabric was beneath him as the burning in part of his leg shot from cold to hot. Immediately Balthier was casting Curaja, soothing that small area of flesh. Regaining some focus, Basch looked back down at the younger man, not entirely sure what to think before the fire magick was cast again further up.
The pain was almost unbearable but to his merit, Balthier was doing an excellent job given the circumstances. And by the time he had made his way through maybe two thirds of the offending ice, Basch was finding it much easier to focus on his surroundings over his injured leg.
He studied Balthier carefully as he cast spell after spell for him. The pirate was really doing his best and with the worry still pooled in his eyes, it was obvious he took no joy nor payment from the pain he inflicted to heal. He was desperate for Basch to be alright. That was something he had never seen in him before. Or mayhaps he had just been blind to it. Still, it brought him comfort and a small pang of hope settled in his chest.
Eventually all the external ice was gone and Balthier hoped beyond hope that it had not spread too deep inside. He cast one more Curaja for good measure, his hands warm on the knight's skin as the white magick tingled through him.
"There. Can you move it?" He looked to Basch as an attempt was made. It was a poor one. Basch could just barely bend his knee, lifting it scarcely an inch and a half. He muttered something in his native tongue that Balthier did not understand and chose not to dwell on as he stood and once again found the kettle's switch to reheat it. As it boiled, the pirate began to bandage Basch's leg.
With little pain left now to distract, the older man found himself following the feel of Balthier's hands on him. And most certainly enjoying it more than he should have, particularly when those hands were once again around his thigh. And then it was done. He watched Balthier move to fill a hot water bottle, a comfort he had not seen in years, then wrap it once in a towel and place it under his leg where the ice had been thickest.
After discarding of what little had been left of Basch's trouser leg and shoe, Balthier sat down on a chair opposite where the knight lay and watched the man now quietly lost in thought.
True calm was starting to return to him now, seeing that Basch really would be alright. Honestly, he could not begin to imagine what he would so had the former Captain been lost. He rest his elbows in his lap and propped his chin upon his folded hands as he continued to watch.
Some minutes later Basch returned from his musings.
"Thank you." His tone was sincere.
"Hmm? I'm sure anyone aboard this ship would have done the same."
"Aye. But not with such conviction, I fear."
"Well I suppose we shall never know. Assuming you do not plan to endure such a thing again." Balthier's usual air seemed to be about him once more.
"Not if I can help it." Basch gave an amused smile. " As I'm sure you have no intention nor want to have to strip me again and the others would likely be beside themselves at the thought." A small laugh escaped him that may have made the pirate blush had he not already been so from the comment itself.
"Yes, well …" Balthier brought a fist to his mouth and forced a cough. "Moving swiftly on … I'm sure Vaan has by now informed Masyua of our exploits. No doubt she will be worried for you."
Basch sighed. When the pirate had refuse to play along with Vaan earlier, he had been happy. But now it seemed Balthier was to believe it also.
"Honestly, I care not. Vaan may jest all he pleases but it will not change the fact that I have no interest in that woman."
"Is that so? Then, I must ask, what about the Princess?" There was a hint of sadness to his voice but in Basch's wave of annoyance, he failed to notice.
"It is my duty to guard her, Balthier. Nothing more. If you truly wish to ascertain this sort of information then might you at least ask of me the correct gender?"
His frustration was clear and Balthier was quite taken aback by such a sudden admittance. He hesitated before questioning once more.
"Then who? Vaan? Or … myself?"
The reality of what he had just done hit Basch harder than a falling airship. To admit such a thing to Balthier of all people …
"No … To pursue anyone among us would be pointless." Basch easily, though much reluctantly, lied to hide his previous blunder. "Vaan has Penelo and you have Fran after all."
In that moment it could not be stopped and Balthier found himself laughing out loud.
"Me and Fran? Are you joking? Don't get me wrong, I love her but not like that. I don't think I could ever love Fran romantically."
That speck of hope floated to the surface again, much as Basch tried to keep it down. It became much harder though as Balthier's smile faded. He could see the sadness present this time. What were the chances of his previous answer being the cause, really? Still …
"Balthier?"
"Yes?"
"If not Fran, then what of yourself?"
Twas the pirate's turn to sigh and Basch thought he could see defeat in those eyes as Balthier rose and walked towards him. Truly, he expected the young man to walk past where he lay and on out the door. Not to sit by his hip, lean over and kiss him.
After the briefest of moments, he pulled away and looked the knight in the eyes.
"Am I really that much of a lost cause?"
Basch smiled. "I suppose not."
The sky pirate returned the smile, looking honestly pleased. He ruffled Basch's hair gently and stood again. "Well, we should head to Rabanastre before Vaan worries himself into a stupor. Rest up here as long as you need, I'll come back through to check on you once we've docked."
"Alright."
Basch watched Balthier walk to the door before he turned to look back at him. A mischievous smirk graced his face. "Oh and for what it is worth Basch, I think I would have no aversion to having to strip you again." He laughed as the knight's face turned scarlet. And with that, he left the room at last.
"Balthier …"
The name was barely audible above the low thrum of the Strahl's engines, but it was still enough to provoke a self-satisfied smile from the sky pirate as he made his way down the corridor to the bridge. No, things rarely followed plan aboard his ship. Though, just this once, Balthier decided he could be happy with the outcome of this mishap.
The End. Maybe?
I really wouldn't mind writing more for this but I think I could only face such an endeavour again if people really wanted it. If you do (for whatever crazy reason) want more, then tell me what kind of thing you would want to see or any rawr-rawrs (that's monsters in layman's terms) that you'd like to show up and I'll see what I can do ^^
Writing this was such a task as I wanted it to be perfect. So hours were spent flicking between creature information and maps, literally running circles around Giza while trying to decide where things would happen, ogling my Balthier figure for inspiration ... I had the playstaion on for hours on three seperate occassions and did nothing that would merit saving =w= Then the hours of writing and typing. I'm proud of this thing even if no one else likes. Now time to actually go play the game. Laters x