Exit Stage Right

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII and any of its characters, places and all of the things in the game. I'm just a fan and I write only for fun.

Author's Note: Originally I was planning to make a full story of the game but I ended up making one of the scenes that I like the most in the game. But anyway, please read and review. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

Thanks to kissychan1101 for beta reading this story.


Vaan was in a secret passage in the palace , after being helped by a kind Seeq who thought he was hungry enough to sneak into the fete upstairs, and by tricking a few guards by calling them 'bucket heads'.

Well, that takes care of the secret passage. Now where's this treasure…Vaan thought, as he entered the door to the caverns under the Palace.

Vaan heard something behind him, and as he turned around, the door closed abruptly.

Hey, watch it! Guess it's not leaving me much choice…

He continued down the hallway and saw a suspicious-looking wall. It was gold-coloured and door-like, and there were many delicate carvings on it.

There's more to this wall than meets the eye, but what is it…?

He looked around and saw a small object that looked like a switch. He pressed it, and heard a mechanical click from behind it.

Vaan returned to the suspicious-looking wall and touched it, and then suddenly the wall opened, revealing a room behind it.

The moment he entered the room, he was excited by the sight of treasures. The room was literally overflowing with them. Browsing through the treasures, a switch labeled 'Goddess Magicite' caught his attention. A naïve thief, he pushed the switch and heard a rumbling sound.

He watched as a nearby goddess-statue's head parted. It revealed to Vaan a glowing chunk of magicite. He took it and held it in his hands

"Oh..." he moaned, as he admired the magicite.

Then he heard another rumbling sound.

"Quite a performance," A man said, as he entered the treasure room from the exact spot where Vaan came from: the secret door.

"Who are you?" Vaan asked.

"I play the leading man, who else?" the man replied, as he cocked his eyebrow and smiled subtly.

A Viera emerged from behind Vaan. She was about a foot taller than Vaan. Had it not been for her height and long ears, she would closely resemble a hume.

"Fran, the magicite," the man said to the Viera.

"Now, then. I'll take that," she said in a monotonous voice.

"No you won't. I found it. It's mine," Vaan said defensively.

"And then when I take it from you, it'll be mine," The man said, as the Viera walked to his side. He folded his arms, as they both waited for a response from Vaan.

Vaan was about to say something when a sudden noise distracted them.

The shouting and clanking armor of the guards caused the man and the Viera to shift their gaze a bit towards the sound. When they looked back at the statue, Vaan had already gone, and the entrance to the room was left open.

"Exit stage right," the man said as he shrugged. Vaan had left though the front door.

"The gods do not smile on us," the Viera said.

The man shrugged charmingly as he looked at the Viera, and he said "I like it better that way."