Disclaimer: All recognizable names, characters, and places belong to Square Enix. Poem used (Nothing Gold Can Stay) belongs to Robert Frost and all respective companies.
Author's Note: Involves BaschxOC. Hopefully not Mary Sue. About 4 chapters
Comments and Criticisms are always welcome ;)


Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.

"This is really great! What is it?" Vaan asked.

"Just a little recipe I've always wanted to try out." I answered, avoiding technicalities. Who knew that the vast and magical world of Ivalice had never tasted, let alone seen, a sandwich?

"Its look a little suspicious if you ask me," Balthier remarked, one of the few characters that I have yet to know. Although I 'd expected that I wouldn't befriend Fran due to her being, you know, Fran, I thought Balthier would be very eager to tell all about himself, not that he was conceited, but it seems to fit his 'leading man' character, or so he says. But in reality, Balthier spends most of his time letting other people talk. One of the few traits he and I have in common. Maybe he has things he would rather keep to himself (My gods, maybe he and I are more alike than I would like it to be)

"It's ingenious! I'm surprised I haven't seen this in the Muthru bazaar! Right Penelo?" Vaan added. I haven't seen someone so excited over a sandwich.

"It's quite delectable, and quite easy to handle." Ashe commented, taking a graceful bite out of her sandwich. Princess Ashe, ever so regal.

Although their comments gave me a little confidence boost, the fact that they haven't asked what's in it irked me a little. If it were me, the very first thing out of my mouth was 'what's in it' but then again, we are hundreds and hundreds of miles away from any food shop. Food substitutions were inevitable. Who knew cockatrice meat tasted exactly like roast beef ? (Or that poultry in Ivalice in general tasted like beef)

"Did you make this recipe?" Penelo asked, taking a peek inside her sandwich.

"My mom taught it to me." I lied nonchalantly. If its one thing I learned in Ivalice, it's lying, or as I call it, acting.

"She must be a wonderful cook." She replied with a smile that was genuinely Penelo. Although I have only known her for four years, I treat her and Vaan like my own siblings, which why I am traveling with the current party. That, and Balthier's jeans (Or the fine piece of meat encased in those jeans, I may be twenty-five, but I am still weak to good looking men and their rears).

"Sometimes." I answered with a smile. My mom could cook, but she doesn't cook what I like. And the fact that she puts onions on everything, but that's another topic.

I stared at my own unbitten sandwich. Even though my stomach was growling with hunger, I couldn't bring myself to eat it.

"I'm not hungry," I said, standing up and placing my sandwich on the plate "I think I need some fresh air."

As I walked away form the camp and near a clearing, I could hear Vaan asking if he could eat my sandwich. Still walking, I raised my hand and gave a thumb's up. I could vaguely hear Penelo shouting "Pig" and faint laughter from the group.

I laughed, and then cried.


"I'm not hungry; I think I need some fresh air." She said, walking towards the clearing near the camp.

I could hear the boy practically dive for her uneaten, uh, piece of food. It was amazing really, eating meat and various vegetables between two pieces of bread. Although I would have worded it differently, I agree with the boy. This piece of food was ingenious. I believed she called it the 'sandwich'. A weird name, I tell you, for there was no sand or, thank Faram, a witch inside this sandwich. Now that I think about it, what IS inside this thing? I digress.

I started at her fading silhouette. My senses tell me that all is not right with her. Earlier this morning, she was her usual self, watching the kids and lending a more than capable arm during battle. She even initiated conversation with me, which is unheard of from our introverted ally (Although said conversation was her asking me if I needed help, but who's counting?). Fran gave me a questioning stare, as if she heard every thought that went through my mind. A gave her a nod and stood up, fixed my cufflinks, and marched towards the clearing. No one seemed to notice my disappearance, for no one asked as to where I am heading, which is a good thing. I do not feel like explaining that one of our party members is a little under the weather. I walked straight to the clearing and found her perched upon a rock, eyes closed with her arms wrapped around her legs and her chin placed upon her knees. I opened my mouth, but closed it. I had forgotten what I was about to say. This woman in front of me right was so relaxed, so open and so…vulnerable, my hand instinctively reached out for her. I quickly pulled it back.

"Care to share some of your fresh air?" I asked as I sat on a rock parallel to hers. She simply nodded her head, her eyes still closed. We sat there, not saying a single word for what felt like forever when she turned around and stared at me.

"Something I could help you with?" I asked, adding my infamous smirk.

She smiled, stood up and held out her hand.

"Thank you." She said, and held out her hand even more.

I stared at her hand, and in it held a droplet of what it seems like blue magicite. I stared at it for minute, and took it. I simply looked at her, not knowing what to say. It's not everyday a woman thanks you with a rare magicte for keeping her company.

"I'll be going back now; I suggest you do the same." She whispered. She gave a smile; one I have not yet seen and started walking towards camp. And I was left there, dumbfounded. Since when have people such as myself become dumbfounded? I shook my head, waited for her to safely reach the camp, and took her advice.

"What an interesting girl." I thought to myself. I guess I was wrong to have ignored her for this long.


I headed back to camp, still trying to comprehend as to what happened at the clearing. Surely it was only my imagination that Balthier came, surely it was my imagination that Balthier came to keep me company. Surely…

"Welcome back Chrys!" Penelo greeted me. "Are you alright?" She asked politely.

"I am fine; it seems that the fresh air did wonders for my stomach ache." I lied. If I had a Gil for every time I lied, I would be a rich person.

"That's great!" She said, Vaan nodding with her.

"Too bad you missed one of Basch's stories! It was amazing! He slew the giant Wyrm with only a…" Vaan animatedly started to retell one of Basch's many adventures.

Basch…he still does not remember me, Many times, I have approached him about the matter, but he would only answer with 'I'm sorry' and avoid me altogether. I should be infuriated that he would just forget five years of friendship and what I thought was something more after being imprisoned for only two years. But sadly, I am not infuriated, not even bitter. I am not even angry that he still remembers Princess Ashe and what he has done (or not done) to his country. No, what I feel most…is sadness. Sad that maybe I was never a top priority like he was to me. Sad that maybe he never loved me as much as I loved him, that all this time, I was utterly and completely alone.

The elation I felt when Balthier came to cheer me up was gone. Basch…I tried not to think about him, for I know all too well it is him who breaks me, but I cannot stop, I just…can't. Feeling tears on the verge of falling; I excused myself and retired for the night. Again, Penelo, bless that gentle soul's heart, asked me if I was alright and I merely replied that I was tired.

Walking towards my tent, which I shared with Vaan and Penelo, it took all my inner strength to prevent the tears from falling. Once I was in the tent, I cried myself to sleep for the first time in eight years.

"Why can't I stop loving you…?"


As I headed back towards camp, I saw a retreating figure walking towards the tents. As I examined the figure closely, I discovered it was Chrys. I walked closer to get a better look. She had her head down and clenched fists. This girl managed to puzzle me yet again. Why, about ten minutes earlier, she was smiling at me and now, she looked as if she was about to cry and break apart. She entered her tent, and curiosity getting the better of me, I followed her.

I leaned towards the tent, only a mere fabric separating the two of us, when I heard a sniffle that soon turned into sobs. Reaching my hand to touch the fabric that was separating us, I heard something I wish I hadn't.

"Why can't I stop loving you…?"