Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot and that's not a lot. So I'll end this rhythm and save us all a lot time.
Summary: She was supposed to be dead, but she lived. A witch, an outsider, casted out of her world for being 'impure' with a power that the world hasn't seen in eons. And it draws her into another war, only this time there is no escaping fate.
Fandom: Final Fantasy 12, slightly crossed with Harry Potter.
(Warning, while this is lightly crossed over with Harry Potter, no main characters will be anything more than possible mentions by the OC and will not have an active roll in this story.)
Pairings: Eventual BalthierOc VaanPenelo Ashe? Fran? Basch?
Warnings: Mentions of torture, blood, gore, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sexual innuendoes and dirty comedy and foul language. And anything else I forgot to mention.
Thanks you all, ThroughtheMirrorDarkly, KingoftheJuengel, Arrowhead Sn, and JakDaxPeaceMaker for the favs! I really appreciate it. And thanks for all the reviews! I'm so glad for all the support and warm welcome. :D
"Talking"
Thoughts
CHAPTER TWO
"Once More With Feeling"
The day worn on and when the Empire's festivities became too much for her taste, Sky booked it towards the Southgate. There was a small village where she would purchase herbs. They were similar enough to the ones used in certain potions and things she created…of course, she found that out after several explosion. One explosion turned Vaan's face blue for a week. He didn't talk to her for a while.
She cut down a couple of hyenas. She hissed, looking down at the claw mark on her thigh. Glaring at their carcasses and taking what she could to sell for gil later, she made her way into the village. She smiled at the kids as they waved at her happily and she waved back at them, stopping short at seeing Penelo.
Penelo laughed. "You know, if I was paranoid, I'd think you were following me."
"You know, if one paid attention," Sky smirked, "they'd think that my sarcasm is rubbing off on you." Her smirked faded, as she tilted her head considering the young girl. "What'cha up to Penelo?"
The girl's shoulder shrugged, but there was a tension there. Sky crossed her arms, letting the blonde know that she wasn't fooling anyone with her calm act. Penelo finally sighed, "I needed to get out of there. With nothing to distract me, all I could think about was that…man…"
Sky understood. Vayne was Empire, the Empire had taken so much especially from the children of Rabanastre and Penelo was one of the few who suffered the worst. One of the young girl's asked if Sky and Penelo would like to play ball with them. Sky was grateful for the distraction the game gave to Penelo and felt her own tension ease as they laughed when the kids beat them fair and square. Penelo froze in place, after she gave the little girl a hug and said, "Is that Vaan?"
Sky turned and sure enough Vaan was talking with Masuya. She glanced at Penelo, commenting, "Now I feel like I'm being followed."
Penelo laughed, then nodded. "Vaan's coming over here."
"Penelo? Sky? What are you doing here?" Vaan asked, looking between the two of them.
Grinning broadly, Sky saw her chance to poke fun at the young man and put on a serious expression. "Fine, Vaan, you caught us red handed." She held up her hands in mock surrender.
Penelo turned to her in confusion and Vaan's eyebrows rose into his hairline. Sky continued as if really distraught, "You see, Penelo and I…we've been meeting out here in secrets. We just couldn't fight it any longer." She grabbed the younger girl's hand into her own and Penelo sent her a look that said 'Hurry up and make your joke'. Tilting her head so Vaan couldn't see, Sky winked. Turning back to their friends, Sky said seriously, "We're in madly love. We hope we have you're blessing."
Vaan and Penelo's mouth both dropped open in horror as they both stared at her with the exact same look on their faces it. Sky couldn't hold up the act any longer and fell into peels of laughter. "Oh…my…goodness…you're expressions…" she whispered, savoring the image, "priceless."
"Sky," Penelo jerked her hands free and slapped her friend on the arm. "That's not funny." Her stern expression melted into a smirk. "You broke Vaan."
Sky stopped laughing to look at the reddening boy who was still froze in place. "Ah, have no fear Vaan," she told him, dramatically. "I have no designs on your gir-ouch! What was that for?" Sky demanded looking at Penelo who had slapped the back of her head.
Penelo ignored Sky's outrage and turned to Vaan. "Well, one thing is for sure. You're up to no good."
"What?" Vaan tried to look innocent, but Sky didn't buy it for one second. "I'm being good."
Neither did Penelo. "Hmm. Is that right? So then you wouldn't mind if we, say, tagged along, would you?" The Dalmascan girl ignored Sky's 'when did I agree to this' and continued on unperturbed, "Oh, don't worry. Migelo's busy with preparations for the fete up at the palace. Why, I'm free for the rest of the day."
Vaan looked between the two girls and realized he isn't going to be able to convince the otherwise and sighing agreed. Penelo grabbed his arm dragging him out of the village, "Then let's go!"
Sky followed behind, laughing all the way.
She stopped laughing.
There was nothing to laugh about anymore. Why? Because Vaan was an idiot. Sky came to the conclusion when the hyena pounced onto her, knocking her into the ground. Hissing, dodging as it went to take a piece out of her and she brought a dagger across it's face. It reared back with a painful growl right into Penelo's spear.
It was simple. Get to Jinn boy, who was supposed to be south of the village according to the other village boy who had ran back to the village distract for his injured buddy.
Getting there? Not so much.
While the Dry Plains were much more safer than they were in the rain season, it still was trying. Especially when Vaan decided to take on a werewolf, who in turn put the smack down on him. Literally, the werewolf gave him the werewolves' version of a bitch slap and they had to flee carrying him. Unfortunately in the haste, they ended up smack in the middle of five hyenas. Sky swiftly buried the blade into the hyena's stomach and kicked him off of her. She pushed herself to her feet and ran to aid Penelo who was guarding the still unconscious Vaan.
Penelo twirled the spear in her hands, slashing the two hyena that went to pounce. They whimpered drawing back like they were hurt puppies. Sky tried to stay close, but the hyena kept forcing her further and further away. Stabbing one, flinching as the blood covered her arm, she missed the hyena behind her.
The next thing she knew was a fiery, white hot pain in her leg. The hyena had buried its sharp teeth right into her calf and didn't let go. Sky gave a cry of pain, collapsing to the ground. Her dagger falling on the ground. She bit her lip trying to fight the pain, she reached for her weapon when the hyena started pulling her back. A scream burn in her throat, feeling the tendons and flesh being ripped and the painfully loud pop as her bones cracked.
Penelo looked torn, and frightened.
"Stay…where you…are…" Sky barely managed to get out, her teeth so tightly clenched together she'd thought they'd shattered. Her nostrils flare as she drew in a shaky breath. Sky felt her heart thunder in her chest as she watched those jaws loll open.
My…what big teeth you have…Sky thought darkly as the hyena stared to pull harder. Tears of pain rolled down her cheeks while panic and fear built in her chest, as the real possibility she was going to die filled her with a cold and empty feeling. Penelo had tears in her eyes and started forward, only to leap back when the last hyena turned and leaped at her.
Sky's fingers buried them into the ground, trying to hold on while a woozy feeling washed over her as the something warm, wet, and metallic ran down her leg. Blood. It was gushing out of her leg. She wished she could get her wand out, but if she let go of the ground, she'd be hyena meat.
"Ahh!" Penelo was pinned the ground. The hyena on top of her, opened its jaw and snapped. Penelo jerked her head out of the way.
Sky's blood turned icy and she watched one of the hyenas that had started towards her, change direction towards Vaan. Penelo let out another yelp, the hyena's teeth too close to its mark this time. Sky's fear and panic and now anger, shifted turning into something electric and crackled in the air like lightning. Her hair turned blue and the wind picked up.
Suddenly as if burned, the hyena let her go and the other yelped, running away. The two hyenas that attacked her friends paused and looked at her warily. Sky gripped her anger and the air shifted once more sent them sprinting away with their tails between their legs. Once they were dots in the distance, Sky slumped to the ground exhausted.
Accidental magic…thank heavens for it…
Penelo pushed herself off the ground, and rushed to Sky's side, "Oh, gods, Sky…you're leg…"
Sky wasn't sure she wanted to know. The green hue to Penelo's face said enough. A groan made both girls turned and Vaan pushed himself off the ground, "What did I miss?"
Sky glowered and Penelo looked unimpressed. Vaan's eyes widened as he took in Sky's wound and pushed himself up, starting to rummage through his bag. He found a potion and held it out towards Sky, who pushed herself up into a sitting position.
"Drink." Vaan ordered.
Sky didn't dispute it this time and took the glass bottle gently, hissing as Penelo held the flesh of her leg together tightly. "Bottoms up," she said, before downing the bland liquid.
She forced down the urge to gag, focusing on the refreshing cool that trickled out through her body making her feel brand new. Like she was invincible. She rarely used potions for this reason, the feeling could be very addicting. The first time she used a potion, she asked Migelo about this affect. Surprise, surprise, he didn't know a thing about such a side effect.
Sky felt even more of a freak.
"I'm so sorry," Vaan apologized, his voice shaking. Penelo accepted the apology quietly while Sky wiped the blood off her leg with a cloth.
"Vaan, wasn't Jinn supposed to be somewhere to the south of the village?" Penelo finally asked, satisfied with the healing.
Sky stretched out her leg, testing it. It was sore as hell, but intact which something she was severely grateful for. Rising to her feet, she added, "Then he should be nearby. And this time," she remarked dryly, "no messing with the werewolves."
Vaan tried to grin sheepishly, but it was marred by guilt. They trio continued on there way with Vaan repeating his apology every ten steps. Their luck was improved this time, the stone monster they had to pass was asleep and the only thing other than that, was the playful bunny fiends.
"Hey, look!" Penelo pointed.
There sitting by a large black stone, was a young boy. The three quickened their pace and when they got right in front of him, Sky asked, tiredly, "Are you Jinn?"
The boy raised his head, eyeing them.
"Yeah, my name's Jinn... What's it to ya?" Jinn answered slowly. They explained why they were here thought why Vaan wanted a shiny rock was lost on Sky. "Masyua wants me to come back to the village, huh? Hmm, that could be a problem. Let's see... maybe my leg's better now."
He tried to stand up, and crouched back down quickly, hissing in pain.
"Nope, no good-still hurts. I tripped running from some monsters...guess I pulled something." Jinn explained. "I'm never gonna get any sunstones made like this. I just needed to make one more to be finished for today. I didn't want to head back short, so I thought I'd give my leg a rest and try again. Why are you out here looking for me, anyhow?"
"Masyua sent us after you," Sky said, kneeling down by the boy. Holding out her hands, she added nodding towards his leg, "May I?"
Jinn leaned back and let her see the ankle. It was swollen and bruise and Sky mentally went over all the medical spells she knew for they had no potions left thanks to their earlier skirmish and potions were terrible unreliable at what they would heal. She had been extra lucky today that her leg was in one piece.
Jinn looked at Vaan, "So you need a sunstone, huh? Well, if Masyua doesn't mind, I'll give you a shadestone. But I'm still not sure I can walk yet-you'll have to turn it into a sunstone, okay? Don't worry, I'll tell you how. You do know that we use dark crystals and shadestones to make sunstones, right?"
"There's your shadestone." Jinn handed Vaan the stone who took it eagerly. "As for the dark crystals, you'll find them all over Giza Plains. This stone right here beside me is one of the smaller ones. The bigger crystals have something inside that soaks up sunlight and shines really bright. See that one over there?"
Sky looked up from the ankle and looked in the distance and felt her eyes widened. It was a stone, towering about twenty feet tall and was shimmering with golden rays, glossing like the sun. She had never seen those before. "Wow."
Jinn explained quickly how to make a sunstone and showed the marks of the map, Vaan and Penelo made to leave when Vaan realized Sky wasn't following. He turned and saw her studying Jinn's wound intently. "Sky, you're not following?"
She looked up and shook her head. "I need a moment to rest. That fight took a lot out of me." She continued on while Vaan looked down, guiltily, "Besides I'm going to tend to Jinn's wound so when you guys get your stone, we'll be able to go back to the village."
The two blondes said bye before rushing off and Sky watched them go and once they were out of sight, she turned to look at Jinn seriously. "I'm going to heal you, and if you tell anyone how," Sky warned, her eyes narrowed into slits, "I will curse you with pink hair. Forever."
Jinn's eyes widened not sure how to take the threat then watched her slip a stick out of her sleeve that conveniently concealed her wand holder. "A piece of metal? You're going to heal me with a piece of metal?"
Yes. Her wand was metal. It wasn't exactly normal. It had been special made, she knew for some inane reason. Specially made so it wouldn't be broken or snapped(1). She sent Jinn a tiny glare, but put the tip of the stick on his ankle. "Sarcirent (Mend)."
Jinn hissed, the foot shifting back into place and slowly the bruises melted away leaving unblemished skin. Jinn's eyes widened comically and he gave a shout of, "Whoa!"
Sky smiled slightly. Jinn looked at her in awe, "How did you do that?"
"Trade secret," Sky smiled mysteriously.
After a few moments, Sky got tired of the silence and slipped her sketchbook and pencil smirking at Jinn's widened eyed expression at the Tardis. She flipped open the book and placed the pencil to the paper. Inside she tried to summon some image, something on the edge of her conscious and let the pencil move as if it had a mind of it's own. She could almost recall the image she wished to draw, almost completely in her grasp. A magical castle like place with a lake, playing toss with a giant squid and she was happy…was it a memory? An actual good memory? The thought stunned Sky.
"Hey!"
Sky jolted, the memory slipping from her grasp. Running towards her and Jinn, were the two blondes. Vaan holding a sunstone victoriously in his hand. Sky laughed as he proudly presented to Jinn. Jinn's eyebrow rose in surprise and he said, "It's good."
Vaan did a little dance, to which Penelo just shook her head and Sky smiled. Jinn rose to his feet, shaking his good foot. He looked at Sky, shyly and said, "Thanks."
"Your welcome," Sky nodded.
"You know, you never did tell us how you got hurt," Penelo pointed out.
The little boy ducked his head, sheepishly. "It was contest. Masyua's always warning us to stay away from the werewolves, right? Well, a bunch of us decided we'd see who's the bravest. It started out as a lark, but Tott said that none of us kids living on the plains should be scared of monsters... I guess I got carried away."
"How interesting," Sky said, sardonically. "Who would have guessed that Vaan has the mind of a ten year old?"
"I do not!" Vaan said, offended.
At the same time, Jinn said, offended, "I'm eleven."
"Fine…you don't act like a ten year old," Sky corrected with a grin. "You act like an eleven year old."
"Shouldn't we be heading back to the village?" Penelo asked through her laughter.
"Don't let any of the grown-ups know about the contest, okay?" Jinn kicked up some dirt before looking up at them. "And speaking of heading back to the village…I'll race ya-try and keep up!"
"Hey!" Vaan shouted, laughing.
"Wait up!" Penelo called. Sky shook her head, taking off after the boy and the two blonde scrambled after.
"Jinn is a good boy, but how his mind wanders!" Masyua said, her smile was tired, but relieved. "He never thinks of the worry it causes me! I'm sorry if he was any trouble. Please, take these with my thanks!"
Vaan split the gil with Penelo, Sky stated she didn't need any, and put the potions and teleport stones in his bag.
"Jinn gave you a sunstone, yes? I hope it may be of some help to you."
The trio made their way out of the village, Sky carrying the basket of herbs she wanted and Vaan wrinkled his nose after smelling one. "What do you want with a bunch of smelly stuff?"
Sky rolled her eyes. "Maybe I thinking of making potpourri."
"Pooperri?" Vaan butchered the word.
Sky snorted, trying not the laugh.
"Hey, Vaan?" Penelo's tone was quiet and soft.
"Hmm?" Vaan turned to his blond friend and Sky looked at Penelo's face, seeing her serious about something.
"It's been a long time since we did anything together. Too long. I had a really good time." Penelo smiled at him, causing Vaan to smile back. "Well, I should probably get back to the store. Actually, I was kind of supposed to be watching the place for Migelo." She looked a little timid. "And, Vaan…try to stay out of trouble. For me? I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here. If something happened to you."
Sky fought down a squeal, watching them intently. This was better than a soap opera. Oh, how she wished for popcorn.
Vaan promised her, "I'm not going anywhere. Okay?"
All the seriousness, all the tension on Penelo's face faded into a radiant smile filled with happiness. "That's what I wanted to hear. See ya later. Bye Sky."
"Bye," Sky waved after the girl.
Vaan watched her, guilt covering his face. "Sorry, Penelo."
Sky turned towards him swiftly and narrowed her eyes. "Sorry, Penelo?" The blond boy jumped, turning startled eyes on her. Apparently he had forgotten she was there. Sky took a threatening step towards him. "Vaan, what are you up to?"
"Nothing!"
"You are so lying!"
"I am not!" Vaan wiped the sweat off his forehead that had nothing to do with the desert. "Bye!"
He took off and Sky quickly chased him. "Vaan, get back here! This is an A, B conversation and no you may not C you're way out of it!"
Vaan has lost Sky somewhere in lowtown. The woman was most tenacious about getting him to tell her his plan. It would have been annoying, but he knew Sky worried about him and Penelo and felt the need to protect them. Almost to a fault. He smiled lightly and slid Old Dalan's door open. Old Dalan looked away from the wall he had been studying intently, and smirked as Vaan drew near. "Oh ho! So you've got a sunstone, have you? Hand it over, m'boy, and I'll use it to give the Crescent Stone back its magicks like I promised."
Vaan held out the sunstone and Old Dalan brought it near the Crescent stone. A purple flash wrapped around the Crescent stone, before settling into the carved design. Old Dalan nodded before handing it over to Vaan. "Now you'll be wanting to know how to sneak into the palace, eh?"
The Dalmascan boy listened carefully, wouldn't do good to mess up halfway there. "First, you go to Storehouse Five. You know the one. Two doors she has. Now the right takes Vaan Ratsbane to his territorial hunting grounds in the sewerbottom…" Vaan looked at him in surprise for a moment, not many knew he went down there often. "But that's not the way you'll go. No, you'll take the left door, down into the Garamsythe Waterway. The waterway leads to a stair, the stair to the palace cellars."
Old Dalan pointed a bony finger at him. "That's your way in. But don't go counting your gil just yet, m'boy." The old man continued, jovially. "Getting into the palace was the easy part. The way into the treasury is carefully hidden. That's where this Crescent Stone comes in. The magicks it bears can open the hidden door to the treasury, you see. Listen, Vaan , for the words I shall speak are most important, and not to be forgotten. Do you understand?"
Vaan nodded, surprised to see Old Dalan look serious. "'The signet years for sunstone's strength, to light the clouded way.' Once in the palace, you'll find the signet tile. Very important. Give to it the sun's power, and it will light your path. Very well. Oh, a warning: be aware that if you're caught... You'll spend the rest of your short life rotting in the Nalbina dungeons."
There was ripple of energy that shot through the room, making Old Dalan sit a little straighter and look over at the wall again and the hairs on Vaan's neck stand up sharply. For a moment, they didn't move nor did they even breath. Finally, Old Dalan shifted looking back at Vaan. "So look sharp, m'boy. And don't go running off before you're ready. Plans freshly hatched have a habit of tumbling from the nest... straight into the hunter's stewpot."
"Got it," Vaan assured the old man before looking around the room. He shuddered then made his way out of the home. If he had stayed just a moment longer he would have seen the wall where Old Dalan was staring, rising up in the outline of an invisible person. The invisibility faded becoming the solid figure of Sky, who glared after Vaan's retreating form.(2)
Old Dalan merely looked at the girl amused. "Interesting magicks, you've got there, m'dear."
She sent him a look over her shoulder before going to follow Vaan. "You don't know the half of it."
However Vaan's plan wasn't the only one unfolding. In the Garamsythe Waterway, trouble stirred. Several soldiers are gathered, and one ran up to the group informing them. "Squads 3 through 6 are in place. They stand ready. So far the Imperials haven't noticed a thing."
A deep, voice acknowledged. "Then go now and hurry the others. By nightfall, we must ensure all our men are in place."
Behind the group of soldier a young woman, in a hot pink micro skirt joined them.
She was angry.
No angry was not a good enough word to express the white hot feeling of rage pulsing through her. She was incensed. How could do something so stupid? Stealing a purse from a soldier is a lot different than stealing from a palace full of Imperials. She thought venomously. Did the idiot wish to be killed? Or worse?
Sky picked up her pace, clenching her fists at her sides. He promised Penelo to be careful. How could he break that? I knew it! I knew that he was up to something stupid! She turned to make her way to the Garamsythe Waterway when she caught Kytes locking the door with his tools. The little boy turned, satisfied with his work and froze upon seeing Sky's glower. Crossing her arms, she stared down at him. He leaned back slightly, stuttering out, "H-hi, Sky. D-didn't see you there."
"I gathered." Sky's tone was dry. "Vaan go down there?"
"Uh…no…"
"Kytes this isn't the time to be lying to me," Sky informed him sharply. She resisted the urge to apologize when the boy flinched back and he looked down guiltily. "Go back to Migelo's. Now."
"But don't you need me to unloc-"
"Alohamora!" Sky pulled out her wand, pointing it at the door. Kyte's mouth dropped open as the door swung open. He looked at Sky in awe and shouted, "That was awesome."
"Thank you," she nodded. "Please keep to yourself."
"Can you teach me?" Kyte asked.
Sky paused. "I don't know."
"Oh…" Kyte looked crestfallen.
"We'll see, but later. Get to Migelo's Kyte," Sky told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "And stay inside. I have a bad feeling about tonight."
"Because of the Consul?" He asked as Sky made her way through the door.
"Among other things." The light in the Waterways were nearly nonexistent, making it haven for unsavory fiends, but it was still bright enough to keep things like zombies away. The temperature dropped around her as she made her way down the stairs, hoping Kyte took her advice and narrowed her eyes going over Old Dalan's information.
Her footsteps were impossibly loud in the enclosed waterway and she slid to a stop realizing those were not her footsteps. She quickly pressed herself into a dark corner and watched as a group of men, dressed in armor wielding swords dashed by.
"Soldiers?" She blinked in surprise. "Here?"
She looked over them carefully and realized that they weren't Imperials which only left two options. Rozzarians or Resistance. Sky was betting on the latter of the two. She cast a 'Notice Me Not' spell on herself, before slipping by them. She had to find Vaan and fast.
The doorway, Vaan found lead to the palace cellar. He blinked at the crowd and realized they must servants waiting to clean up the mess after the festivities. He moves among them easily, no one giving him so much as another look.
He froze though when he saw two Imperial soldiers guarding the stair way. One Imperial asked, "Have you gathered up all of the occasionals? ...Good. You'll be on clean-up duty when the fete's over. Wait here until we're ready for you. No one goes to the upper floor until we give the order. Step out of line and you will be punished."
The Imperial walked up the stairs leaving one lone soldier to guard the way. Vaan bit the inside of cheek, Maybe I could sneak past him. Vaan tried to appear as inconspicuous as possible, as he made his way to the front and when was a good two feet away, the soldier looked at him.
"Wait here until I've further directions for you." The soldier told him sharply.
Vaan eyed him, and the sword he carried on his side, before walking away. He needed another plan, and a Palace Servant stopped him, "Trying to go upstairs, ain't you!"
Vaan stopped turning to the seeq, flushing that his sneak attempt had been so obvious. "I know... Yer hungry! I don't blame you. An empty stomach'd make me want to crash the fete, too! No, no, no use tryin' to hide it!" The seeq stated when Vaan tried to protest. "Look here, I'll help you out. Call for the guard, then sneak around him when he moves away from the stairs."
"Thanks." Vaan said, quietly. He felt a little bad about using the seeq's kindness in such away, but he shrugged it off saying he would have time to feel bad about that later. Turning his gaze to the guard, "Hey, Bucket head!"
The soldier's head snapped his way and he started moving towards him. Vaan ducked around the pillar before going around and dashing towards the stairs.
Once through the doors, Vaan gave a sigh of relief and slumped against the wall taking a moment to calm his thundering heart. Closing his eyes, he mentally went over what Old Dalan said. It was tricky to get to the Lion Signet.
Soldiers were everywhere, but lucky for him, they were just as dumb as they looked. With a few shouts of 'Hey, Buckhead' and being quick on his feet, he finally found it.
Pulling out the stone, he lifted it near the signet causing it to flare up with a bright light. The hairs on his arm stood up from the wave of magic that flooded through the stone in his hand and he heard something shift in the distance. He went down the hall, careful not to been, seen he found it. Vaan smirked, "Well, that takes care of the secret passage. Now where's this treasure…"
The passageway closed up behind him as he stepped through. He turned around to see the way back was block and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess it's not leaving me much choice."
His eyes ran over the extravagant walls, made from stone and gold. Emblems of animals, that he couldn't place covered the paintings. It took his a few moments, of pushing on torches and stones to finally find the secret lever.
Behind him a door, shuddered to life and Vaan felt that his heart would literally beat out of his chest, it was beating so fast. He stepped in the room, and gasped.
The room was filled to the brim with gold, silver and jewels all glistening in the torch, far beyond what his imagination had envisioned. Vaan started moving about like a kid in the candy, knowing he had to get something-something grand. It had to be more than just an ordinary piece of gold, that's when he accidentally touched something.
A mechanical clank echoed through the room and behind him, the face of a statue slowly opened. Vaan turned staring at the shining stone. Vaan moved towards it, and picked it up out of its place slowly.
"Quite a performance."
Vaan spun around as a door opened and a dashing man walked in. No, walked wasn't the proper would. Sauntered in was more percise, with a smirk upon his lips and his hand rest on the gun at his hip. He brushed an imaginary speck of dust off of his golden embroidered vest. His hair was short and the color of honey, with tawny eyes that stared at Vaan infinitely amused.
"Who are you?" Vaan asked, knowing the man wasn't a soldier. Maybe a noble? No, that didn't fit either. He glanced at the gun on the man's hip, and swallowed thickly.
"I play the leading man, who else?" He drawled, as if the answer was obvious. "But who I am is hardly what you should be concerning yourself with." He smirked, his eyes locking onto something behind Vaan. "Fran, the magicite."
Vaan felt something shift behind him and turned to see a white haired, ruby eyed Viera standing behind him. She was tall, taller than most men even, and her skin was was the color of chocolate. Her form lean, toned, beautiful was practically on display for the black leather and silver armor that left little to the imagination. Her bunny like ears twitched as moved over Vaan, giving impassionate stare. Her voice lithe and soft, "Now then. I'll take that."
Vaan took a step away from the veira. Fran pointed a wickedly curved nail in his direction, "Now don't be difficult."
"Difficult?" Vaan parroted, anger surged in him. "I found it! It's mine!"
The man simply replied. "And then when I take it from you, it'll be mine."
Vaan looked between them feeling nervous. He was between a rock and a hard place. The tension grew in the room, and Vaan suddenly felt the same feeling he had a Old Dalan's.
"Now that isn't fair, two on one," a female voice stated, frostily causing all the three of them to jump, though Fran and the dashing man wasn't as obvious as Vaan. Fran's ears twitched, her long nails sliding across her bow.
"There," Fran pointed, her ruby eyes narrowed on something behind Vaan. There was a light chuckle, thought it was more bitter than happy, before something invisible shifted from behind Vaan and became solid. Vaan gasped.
Sky sent him a glare, making him swallow his tongue and any comments. A million thoughts rushed through Vaan's mind. Why was Sky here? How did she find me? And how did she do that?! She glared at the man, who's eyes moved over her as if she was an interesting specimen and his lips curled upward.
"How very fascinating…"
Sky just looked over him, evenly causing Vaan to shudder. He had never seen Sky looked so emotionless. Her hair was white and lifeless and her eyes were so pale, he barely could see them. His friend then moved her gaze to the Viera who had yet to remove her hand from her bow, nor her gaze from Sky's form. Sky opened her mouth when shouts and the sounds of soldiers running filled the room. Sky grabbed Vaan's hand, and dragged him through the doorway while the two stranger towards the commotion.
The dashing man looked back and sees the door way. He looked at Fran, stating dryly, "Exit stage right."
"The gods do not smile on us." Fran informed him.
He merely shrugged, a smirk upon his lips. "Meh, I like it better that way."
"You're an idiot!" Sky thundered at him as they ran through the hallways. She was pissed. No, it was beyond the stage of pissed. She was absolutely enraged. "How could you do something as stupid as sneaking into the palace?"
Vaan winced. "Quieter, Sky. I don't think they heard you in Rozzaria!" He hissed back.
Sky sent him a glare that promised more yelling later, but she tugged his arm. "Come on, move faster! The quicker we get out of here, the better!"
The two pushed the large doors open and Sky gasped, horrified. The sounds of steel against steel clashing against each other was deafening as the stench of fire and death burnt up her nose. Vaan and her stopped halfway across the bridge, staring at the palace on fire. Her legs trembled as memories came to her mind of a very similar event and her stomach clenched, tears filling up her eyes.
"What's going on?" Vaan asked, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Sky opened her mouth to answer when a large fireblast from above shot down, the sheer force sent Vaan and Sky backwards.
"The Ifrit, eh?" Sky got up and saw the man from the treasure room had followed them. "That's quite an entrance. Impeccable timing. If I didn't know better, I'd say they were waiting all along."
Sky's eyes widened remembering the men from the sewers. Kyte, Penelo, Migelo…everyone please be safe. She silently prayed while biting her lips.
More blasts shot down and the man raised his arm over his head to avoid the dust and smoke raining down. Vaan glared at the man before grabbing Sky's upper arm and ran. Sky stumbled but only for a moment. The man's voice rough, filled with aggravation as he demanded, "Stop running!"
Yeah, right. Sky thought, sending a look of disbelief over her shoulder. However a hover bike swoops down, blocking there path causing them to slide to a halt. Sky took in sharp, panicked gasps as she glared at the viera driving.
"End of the line!" The man stated, his right eyebrow ticked upward in vexation. He held out his hand, making a 'come here' gesture, "You have something that belongs to me."
Sky turned to look at him, defiance flaring up in her eyes as she met his smug gaze. "Wanna bet?" She slipped out her wand, a jinx on her lips when a bright light shined down over the bridge and right over the man's head. The man looked up, quickly.
Sky realized why. A bomb. They are going to drop a bomb! Then the situation got even more worse when soldier's exited through the Garden Stair doors. One spotted them, "More this way!"
"Oh, sodding hell!" Sky cursed, her British accent slipping through.
The man started running towards them. "Fran! Let's move!"
Fran nodded swiftly before driving off the bridge. Sky turned to Vaan who is looking around wildly unsure of what to do, but they didn't have to wonder so much longer when the man got to them. He picked them up, one each arm and Sky had to admire the sheer strength he showed, easily carrying them to the side. Vaan struggled futilely while the man held Sky so tight, she couldn't even breath.
"Off with you!" The man tossed Vaan off the bridge, causing a scream to tear from Sky's lips and then the man jumped. Sky closed her eyes burying her face into the man's neck, who had yet to let her go and the next thing she knew, she landed on some kind of seat snug between two people. Her eyes opened, realizing they had landed on the hover bike right behind Fran.
Fran turned raising an eyebrow at her companion then at Sky who trembled feeling all the blood leaving her face. She then blinked, jolting in the vice like grip on her stomach and looked down. "Vaan!"
If he was dead, what would I tell Penelo? She'd never forgive me for letting him die! I'd never forgive me! She thought wildly, but her fears were eased when she looked down the man's arm and found him holding Vaan. The bike cut through the air, Fran trying to dodge the chaos unfolding around them and Sky watched her friend dangling, with wide eyes.
"Let go of me!" Vaan demanded.
Sky numbly stated. "Poor choice of words."
The man's lips twitched, catching her comment before he looked down at the teenager. He threatened, "Keep this up and I will!"
Sky gasped, a tingling sensation flooding her making her vaguely feel like she was drugged. She bit her lip not to giggles as magic, pure magic coursed through her veins. The feeling was building inside her like a torrent wave, and she felt faint when she couldn't seem to catch her breath. Then a terrible sound of gears grating together filled the air and the hover bike jerked.
"What's going on, Fran?" The man asked, quickly.
Fran tried to maneuver the trembling bike, and growled in frustration, "I don't know…it's not heeding me!"
The dizziness filled Sky and she found herself muttering not of her own will, "Stolen…gone…" The man looked down at Sky sharply before addressing Fran. "I don't have time for this."
Sky still feeling dazed asked, bluntly, "And she does?"
With the hover bike jerking about, the man's grip on Vaan's was loosening. Vaan cried out, "I'm slipping!"
"Not good!" The man looked down at the boy, trying to keep a hold of him. Sky felt the hover bike go into a nose drive and shouted, "Brace yourself!"
Then her world went black.
END OF CHAPTER
HOPE YOU ENJOYED! I am working on Chapter Three, and perfecting by playing the game to get it all right, it so give me some time on the next update. :D
References:
1. Wand Snapping-Snapping a wand destroys it. While the pieces may contain magics still, it cannot be properly used. This was a punishment to muggleborns to take away their witch or wizard status because of blood purity in Deathly Hallows.
2. The invisibility-It is a charm seen in Harry Potter OoP, HBP, and DH.
