Final Fantasy XII

Disclaimer: I don't claim to own Final Fantasy 12 or any other game by Squaresoft.

A Man From Nabudis

By: Mage-Alia

Chapter 3: Consul's March

Summary: Prince Rasler was said to have died, the night Nalbina Fortress fell under the Archadian attack, but it was all part of a carefully prepared design. Now months after his supposed death he meets a young street rat named Vaan and it's from there that their adventure begins.

AU, Main Pairing Vaan/Rasler, Mild Ashe Bashing, implied past Basch/Rasler.

-Year 706 Old Valendian

-Two years after the fall of Dalmasca

"Vaan! Hurry it up or they'll find us!" Kytes stood in the raised gallery above the overflow cloaca of the Gramscythe waterway, leaning out precariously from the top of the railing where he'd climbed to get a better view of the floor below.

"I know, I know! Just a little more. You keep an eye out for me up there Kytes!" The blonde snapped, slightly irritated at being disturbed so close to finishing his task.

"Okay, there are One… Two… Three, there's three of them left, time to clean house" Vaan swiped a hand across his face, whiping it clear of sweat before he settled into a stance, blade held out before him. Rats usually swarmed around the sewers, and this part of the Gramscythe waterway in particular, but the blonde had spent a long hard night clearing the Dire Rats from the area. He was tired, but the pile of harvested parts ready to sell in the market was more than enough motivation to finish the job.

That and once he had finished this, Rale was going to take him on a hunt.

It had been two years, since the man had walked through the east gate into Lowtown, and promptly dragged him into a whole other world. Not in his wildest dreams would he have even begun to imagine the sort of things Rale had told him. It had been a hard thing to stomach, knowing that the last living Ruler of Rabanastre was your best friend, and for the longest time Vaan had rebelled at the idea, convinced that Rale had been lying to him, but in the end, the things he'd known and the places he'd shown him all indicated that he was the real Prince Rasler.

Though he wasn't one to tell of that fact anymore.

After Vaan had got over his initial disbelief Rale had become an invaluable Ally. Life on the streets wasn't easy of course, and with the twenty odd kids he looked out for it was a miracle he hadn't been hauled in by the Imperial Guards that still swarmed about the city, but it wasn't like he was a snot nosed brat anymore. Sure, Rale pointed out on more than one occasion that he was reckless and immature but he'd done some growing up, enough to recognize what was really important.

Vaan burst into a flurry of movement as one of the rats moved into range and brought his sword down across its neck, severing the head as the other two rats ran frantically in the other direction, having smelled blood. The blonde gave chase with a grin, dashing through the ankle high water to slice off the next one's tail. It gave a loud squeal before he put it out of its misery and he turned his attention to the third. It had raced up to the next level and Vaan started up the stairs on the other side of the balcony, cutting it off before it could escape down one of the rat holes that where littered about the area.

He'd only just finished cleaning up the kills when Kytes came back down from his lookout post and jumped back atop the railing.

"Wow, Vaan! You got 'em all yourself? Guess I know who to call when something big comes along!" His feet dangled over the side and he jumped down from the edge as Vaan climbed the stairs, carrying a large rucksack with the loot.

"Hey, it's good practice for the Desert. I'm ready for anything now." The older of the pair said amiably as he ushered Kytes toward the door. "But that's enough for today. You should get back to Migelo's place, Kytes. Aren't you running errands for him again?"

The boy's eyes widened in shock as he realized what he'd done. "Oops! Heh, I totally forgot!" He half turned and looked up into Vaan's face. "You should come, Vaan. He's busy today. Might have some work for you to do, too."

Miggelo was a Banga, one of the most successful merchants in the East End of Rabanastre and the owner of the warehouse they broke into as a matter of habit every other day. Years ago he'd taken on Penelo, another street kid, as a runner and ever since he'd been slowly employing more to do the odd jobs he needed done in the city. Street kids knew the underbelly of the city better than anyone and with an ability to get anywhere at anytime, they made very good messengers and delivery runners when you could keep their attention long enough, but the Merchant was more than happy to pay them in food and clothes, especially when pickings where slim everywhere else.

He didn't quite approve of their stealing, so paying them to work was his way of preventing that to a point. Vaan hadn't really been one to care though, he rarely, if ever, went to see Migelo if he could help it. Besides if he needed something he could always ask Rale for help. The white haired man was about the closest thing he had to family.

"I got other "Work" to do." Vaan told Kytes, one armored hand falling to ruffle the boy's hair. "Hey, lock this place up for me will you? If Migelo finds out we've been down here, he'll tan our hides." Kytes nodded and took to the stairs as fast as he could to keep pace with Vaan's longer stride as they climbed higher into the world that was Lowtown.

The Bazzar.

It was the one place where you could find absolutely anything in Rabanastre. It was a seasonal market where merchants would set up shop. Fresh fruits and vegetables, trinkets, clothes, beads and jewelry, if it could be made, it was here…. Somewhere.

Vaan made his way down the main terrace of the market that overlooked Lowtown and took a bite out of the fruit in his hand, hearing the gil that jingled in his pocket as he did so. He'd just finished selling everything he'd managed to get out of the rats. It wasn't much to the average merchant, but some still took the rat pelts and used them in the occasional clothing. Still for someone who didn't have all that much to begin with it was enough.

He was half way down the terrace when he found a familiar scene playing out before his eyes. Imperial soldiers stood over a fruit vendor. Vaan knew these ones, they usually pulled duty at the Sandsea Tavern and got drunk, usually starting any brawl that happened there. Tomaj, the owner had complained more than once to their commanders, but his complaints where ignored. The man hadn't liked them being there, but there was little he could do if he didn't want to get bundled off to Nalbina.

"Huh? What'd you say?" One of the soldiers was leaning over the table, leering at the stall owner, a quivering old man who flinched slightly at the growl in his tone.

"Sir, you haven't paid, and-"

The solider wasn't going to stand for it and Vaan could smell the alcohol on his breath all the way from down the street as he reached over, leaning on the table and crushing some of the fruit on display as he pulled the man over by the front of his shirt.

"What? Haven't paid?" He let out a harsh bark of laughter as the merchant quaked.

"On second thought, please, sir. Take it. It's a gift." He waved at the bag of fruit in the soldier's hand and everything about him screamed that he just wanted the solider to go away and leave him alone. Fortunately, the second Imperial saved him, if only because he was getting bored.

"Leave the poor sod be, we don't want trouble today." The first solider scowled and shoved the merchant roughly back into the stall.

"Your luck, Peddler." He snarled and turned to leave. The merchant was nearly in tears as he regarded what was left of the fruit in his stall and Vaan decided that something had to be done about it. A few of the people who frequented the market noticed when he took off down the street at a jog. Their looks turned to interest when he bowled into them and kept on running.

"Oops! Sorry!" Vaan's lighthearted and insincere apology was thrown over his shoulder at the pair of imperials as he ran.

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, CHURL!" The more sober of the pair yelled out after him, before the second joined in…

"What? My Pouch! It's gone!" They finally realized what had occurred.

"THE BOY!"

They gave chase, fully intending to hunt him down and lock him away, but the idea was destroyed even before they reached the end of the bazaar. People crowded along the lanes of stalls in a sudden crush that halted the soldiers and swept them off in the other direction. Vaan couldn't help but laugh from his distant vantage point and jumped when a hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"That, Vaan, was extremely reckless." Relaxing at the voice, Vaan through a grin back at Rale and held up the Imperial's wallet.

"Hey, he wasn't gonna pay, and he crushed half the merchants stock, I wasn't going to let him get away with it!" Rale rolled his eyes and shook his head at Vaan's childish behavior. Most thought at a glance that he was only out to survive, but he had a hidden streak of nobility that made him pull stunts like this that more often than not got him into trouble, all in the name of adventure. The white haired man held out his hand and Vaan set the pouch down in it with a faintly disgruntled look as Rale counted out enough gil to pay for all the fruit at the stall.

It didn't leave much more than 160 gil.

"I'll be giving this back to the merchant." Rale said waving a few in front of Vaan's face before they vanished into his pocket and the blonde noticed his attire for the first time.

"You're going out in the desert today?" He was wearing his hunting gear. Armored plates on one shoulder and his hip, a fairly lightweight coat that kept him covered from the sun, sturdy pants and similar leg amour to Vaan's, and a deep hood of sorts that kept out the sand rounded it off.

Rale gave him a smile, he was a hunter by trade, but that didn't mean there wasn't things he hated about it. Even though he lived in Rabanastre, he still hated the desert. Being from Nabudis originally meant he was pale, and pale usually meant burnt. Creams to prevent sunburn where expensive, usually sold to tourists from Archadia, so he covered himself from head to foot every time he had to leave the city and venture out into the deserts on either side.

"I did promise I'd take you on a hunt today, did I not?" Vaan's face lit up at the memory.

"Yes!" He cheered, earning a few amused titters from the people nearby. Rale laughed.

"There was a new bill posted today, a nice easy one for your first run." Vaan was to busy celebrating the fact to take offence to the 'easy' comment.

"I gotta go get my sword!" He exclaimed, "I see you at the Sandsea later then?" The former royal nodded and waved as he raced off.

"Midday! Don't be late!"

He'd run half way across the city before he bumped into someone else he knew. Penelo stood squarely in his path, hands on hips and frowning as she caught sight of the wallet in his hands.

"You've been stealing again?!" Penelo snatched the wallet out of his hand before he could stop her.

"Hey! That's mine!"

"What do you mean 'Yours'? What happens if they catch you? We need you to be there for us, Vaan. You're no good to anyone if you're locked away in a dungeon!"

Why did it always end up as an argument of some sort?

"Oh, what, am I the leader now? We're orphans. The first thing you learn is you gotta watch out for yourself. C'mon Penelo. You know it as well as I do." At some point in his speech he'd managed to turn around, but when he looked back he saw Penelo hunched over the pouch counting out more gil into her hand. "Hey! Give that back! What do you think you're doing?" He reached out and tried to grab the pouch back, but Penelo quickly twisted out of the way.

"I though that this money was the people of Dalmasca's property. The imperials stole it from us, so it's only fair that we take it back. It's our duty as Dalmascans. Well, wasn't that what you said?" Never let it be said that Vaan wasn't an idealist… or that Penelo wasn't manipulative 70 percent of the time.

"Yeah." Vaan admitted readily. "But I never said anything about taking it back from me!" His next lunge was successful and he grabbed the wallet, hefting it quickly to see what was left, and groaning out loud when he realized he was already another 10 gil poorer. Penelo held up the gil, her expression smug.

"This is for that bread you took the other day. Just because I help Migelo out every now and then… it doesn't mean that you get to eat for free, too, you know."

"I know that… You think I like living like this?" Vaan said that more to himself than to Penelo. While he wasn't completely unhappy with his life, there was still a big difference between Surviving, and Living. The blonde looked up as an airship sailed overhead, sailing serenely across the skies toward the Rabanastre Aerodrome. "One of these days, I'll fly an airship of my own. I'll be a sky Pirate, free to go where I will." He watched whistfully as it vanished amid the buildings but Penelo came crashing back with reality at her heels.

"Well, be careful. You'll never fly anything if you're rotting in a dungeon!" She meant well… really, she did. Penelo turned and began to walk away but stopped abruptly. "Oh, Migelo had some Errands that need doing. He wanted you to drop by his place. It might be a good idea to lend a hand!" The last word said and she was gone, vanishing into the crowded streets. Vaan kicked his feet along the stone of the street, ignoring the muffled grind of metal on rock.

"Since when am I an errand boy for Migelo?"

Okay, so he helped out occasionally… but the idea of just staying and working for one person? Rale often said, no one would ever be able to tie him down in one place, he'd do what he wanted when he wanted and the gods save whoever got in his way. Vaan had just grinned it off and went back to antagonizing guards the next day.

Still, after retrieving his weaponry he wondered into the East End, the gil he'd come into over the course of the day jangling in the 'confiscated' pouch as he walked. The Dalmascan native had intended to simply walk past Migelo's store and continue on up the street, but it seemed the Banga had been waiting for him.

"Ah, Vaan! I was waiting for you to come by." Vaan slowly came to a halt and turned around to face the merchant as he moved into the bright sunlight.

"Penelo said you needed something?" He didn't sound all that enthusiastic, but if the Banga noticed it, he didn't give any sign.

"Ah! Had me some packages supposed to be arriving by courier in the morning. Perhaps he ran into some trouble out in the desert. Now I've no foodstuffs to prepare for the banquet tonight!" Somehow, knowing who the banquet was for, Vaan could quite bring himself to really care.

"I'll be busy today, I won't have time to find a missing courier."

"Busy?" The Banga chuckled completely unaware that it was the absolute truth. "I wouldn't send you out there anyway. The desert teams with trouble. I'd be sending you to an early gave, m'boy. No I've arranged for some replacement goods from Tomaj over at the Sandsea."

"So you want me to go to the Tavern to pick 'em up." Vaan said in deadpan, not really impressed.

"Actually, I asked Kytes to do that." Migelo stated. "Wouldn't you know, he's gone missing on me, too. Bah! I can't leave my shop, and I've Penelo on another Chore at the moment, you see. What I want you to do is run over to the Sandsea and fetch Kytes back. What do you say?" Vaan sighed and turned away, rolling his eyes as he went.

"Sound's wild." He let a little sarcasm color his voice as he said it and Migelo picked up on it this time.

"It's easy work." He scolded slightly. "And you'll thank me for it someday." That said he returned to the cool of the store and Vaan took a quick look at the sky, noting the sun had almost reached its zenith. He broke into a jog, running down the street. On the way he noticed the imperial soldiers locking the gates to Lowtown again, as well as Penelo, skiving off her own duties to chat with friends. She smiled at him as he passed but Vaan said nothing.

Eventually the Sandsea came into view and he gratefully slid inside the tavern. He spotted Rale at a table in the corner almost immediately, talking to Tomaj, but then he noticed Kytes staring fixedly at the notice board against the back wall and remembered the conversation just minutes before. With a slightly exasperated sigh he started toward Kytes first.

"Weren't you supposed to be doing something for Migelo?" He asked for the second time that day, making the boy jump.

"Vaan! Look! This must be what's causing it! I bet this is what's delaying the couriers in the desert!" He pointed at the bill posted on the board and Vaan took a closer look.

"Rouge Tomato?" He asked the air quietly. Eyes flicking down he noticed Tomaj's Signature at the bottom, meaning he'd been the one to post the bill. Remembering Rale's words earlier that day Vaan could only guess that this was the mark they'd be hunting, but he didn't tell Kytes that.

"Creature spotted in the Estersand." Vaan read, more for the benefit of the boy in front of him than his own. He sent a look over Kytes head as the boy began to ramble on and Rale, watching him in amusement from the corner, finally broke off his conversation with Tomaj and sent him in their direction.

"Ah, Vaan! Migelo send you, too, did he?" The innkeeper said loudly as he approached, grabbing Kytes attention away from the board and reminding him once again of his task. "He's a busy man these days, that Migelo, if I dare say so myself. I don't envy him the work though. Not a bit. It's Quite the affair throwing a banquet to welcome the imperials, eh?" He was teasing him. Tomaj knew just as well as anyone in the city just how much Vaan hated the imperials. He had more reason to hate them than most.

"Welcoming? We should be-" Vaan started to grumble, but a quick glance at Kytes and then up at the balcony where a few imperials where lounging made him hold his tounge. "Ah, Whatever. Say, Tomaj what's this?" He pointed out the bill. The man gave him a knowing look, his eyes flickering to the corner where Rale sat watching them.

"Don't remind me." The man said, exasperated. "Got some nastiness out there in the estersand what's stopping our couriers… and that means shortages all around. Thought I'd put up a bill… offer a reward to anyone who can knock that nasty back in its place." Vaan gave him a grin.

"Now 'that's' work." He agreed happily. "Sound's ten times better than running errands for Migelo." Kytes was wonderstruck and completely unaware that Vaan had already accepted the hunt before their conversation had even began, piped up loudly.

"That's right! Vaan, you should give it a shot!" Vaan just grinned at him too and gave him a light push in the direction of the door.

"And you should be getting back to Migelo. Now, Kytes. He was waiting for you." The boy hopped from one foot to the other.

"Oh! Right, right." He said in a blur and darted through the other patrons for the door. Tomaj chuckled at his enthusiasum.

"He's a bright one." The man said aloud. "It wouldn't surprise me if he where in here trying out the hunts himself in a few years."

"Yeah," Vaan agreed. "He'll be the first ever hunter to annoy a mark to death." Tomaj laughed and waved a hand carelessly toward the corner.

"He's waiting for you by the way. He already knows the major details, and I gave him your primer before you arrived so you're all set to go, you just need this." He handed over a sheet of paper with a few official seals stamped on it. Vaan just looked at him, waiting for him to explain and the innkeeper laughed quietly.

"It's a Writ of Transit. What with the new Consul arriving today they're locking down the city to avoid a riot. It'll get you out of the Eastgate." Vaan nodded and tucked it away in his pouch.

"Thanks Tomaj." The man gave him a lopsided grin and moved on as a banga called out to him from the bar. The blonde teenager shook his head and wove around a table full of Moogles to where Rale sat and collapsed into the chair across from him.

"You haven't worn yourself out already have you?" The exile asked jokingly and Vaan rolled his eyes.

"No way! I've been looking forward to this all week! Nothing's gonna stop me from doing this now."

"Good." Rasler said firmly as he grabbed his sword from where it rested against his chair. "Because we're going to have to leave now if we want to return in time to get back into the city before the Consul shows his face." Vaan nodded and got out of his seat, following the pale man out into the bustling streets.

Penelo had moved on in the time they'd been in the Sandsea and Migelo was no longer standing outside his store so the journey to the east gate was uninterrupted for the most part, but when they finally stood before the massive portal to the city they where stopped by the imperials.

"You there! Let's see some papers, boy!" The guard seemingly in charge barked out as he singled in on Vaan. Rale just hung back slightly as he always did, never quite getting noticed or recognized. "No public Passage on account of the Lord Consul's Parade!" Vaan couldn't help but smirk, letting through a sly streak that was rarely seen these days.

"Oh Gee, that's too bad. You see, it just happens that your provisioner for the Fete tonight… he sent me to pick up a few choice morsels for the, Uh, Consul's dining pleasure. He wants 'em Quick. I got the writ of Transit right here. See? Signed: Migelo. I'd just Hate to see the consul upset because his food wasn't ready on time. And I'd sure hate to see him take it out on you." He was lying through his teeth of course. He wasn't doing anything for Migelo after all, he was just out to hunt his first mark. The Imperial looked distinctly uncomfortable, but whether that was from the armor he was wearing in the midday heat or the prospect of getting in trouble Vaan couldn't tell.

"The Lord Consul is a great man…. And not on to take offence at such trifling… matters…"

The guards at either side of the gate who had been listening to the confrontation approached and seemed to communicate silently with their leader before the man seemed to slump in his armor.

"Move along, boy." He said at last, stepping slightly to the side, a growl in his voice. "Wouldn't do to keep the Consul waiting. Right! Gates are closed after this!"

He shouted a command to the side and the gates where opened just enough for the pair to slip through before they where shut with a bang behind them. Vaan let out a sigh he didn't realize he'd been holding and turned to grin cockily at Rale.

"So how was that?" The white haired man gave him a droll look but it did nothing to wipe the grin off Vaan's face.

Guards: 0, Vaan: 352

Vaan wasn't a completely ordinary street rat. He was smart enough to run circles around the imperials when he felt like it…. The key factor in that sentence being, 'Felt like it'.

The desert was still and hot as they trudged out past the flagstones and into the sand. Pillars of rock that where slowly being eaten away by time stretched toward the sky and the sun shone down hard, reflecting off lose pieces of granite to blind them.

Vaan savored the taste of freedom offered beyond the walls of the city. His love for the desert was second only to the urge he felt to fly. Flying off and living as a sky pirate would mean he could do anything.

"Hey, enough daydreaming!" Rale cuffed Vaan around the back of the head and directed his attention to a pack of wolves that ran along the shade of the cliffs and the Cactuar lazing around in the sand. "We're not the only ones out here so stay on your guard." He warned him and Vaan finally focused on the task at hand.

"Alright, where to now?" He asked, scanning the horizon and Rale simply shrugged.

"It's your hunt, Vaan." The white haired man said nonchalantly, earning him a slightly dirty look from the younger of the two. "Tomaj said that the mark shouldn't be too hard to see. It's been actively harrying the travelers, so our presence alone should be enough to draw it out into the open."

"Then lets go then!" Vann turned and walked across the sand eyes darting left and right to find his prey. Rale tagged along behind, only having to help once when a few wolves wondering to close attacked them, but it wasn't long before their target came into view, meandering along the top of a nearby cliff.

"GOTCHA!" Vaan yelled out loudly and attacked. He rushed in, easily finding his footing as the sand gave way to stone at the cliff's edge and lunged for the Rouge Tomato. It gave a squeal and gnashed it's teeth, jumping back to take a bite out of Vaan's sword arm but the boy drew out of the way and made another strike, scoring a line across it's head. The mark skipped backward to the edge of the cliff and with a squeak, leapt right over the edge.

"We're going to have to go round-" Rale was going to suggest finding a safer way to follow, but Vaan was well into the spirit of the chase so, he did whatever he thought good at the time…. Which just so happened to be jumping over the cliff after it.

Rale nearly had a heart attack.

He took a moment to get over his shock and ran to the edge of the cliff to see Vaan rolling to his feet, the way Rale had taught him to recover from falls, and taking one last swing at the tomato cleanly slicing of its head.

Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding Rale sighed in exasperation and yelled down the cliff face, a smile coming, unbidden, to his face.

"RECKLESS!"

Vaan just laughed.

They took their time getting back to the city.

After they'd cleaned up what was left of the tomato and taken the head as proof Vaan had found a few Galbana lilies growing in the shade of a rock. His good mood had plummeted faster than a stone as he remembered his brother and how he'd liked the bright red flowers that only grew in the desert. Eventually he'd cheered up again at though thought of the reward waiting for them at the Sandsea and they'd set off, only to find that the line before the East gate had expanded in the time they'd been outside the walls.

Shouldering to the front they noticed the imperials holding back upset merchants as they lead a string of white chocobo's toward the gates. Rale had a chilling memory of his wedding day and shuddered as someone called out to Vaan from behind them.

"Ah VAAN!" Kytes emerged from the crowd and raced up to the blonde. Rale had to force himself not to look in case the kid got a look at his face. He had no clue that he knew Vaan, or who he even was for that matter. The boy hadn't even thought of telling anyone about their relationship, or even about his existence, even though a few people, like Penelo, suspected that Vaan was getting help from someone better off with how well he seemed to be surviving off the streets. Kytes didn't know though, because if he did, he probably would tell someone who wouldn't trust him not to be using Vaan for his own nefarious means.

"I guess I'm not the only one who got locked out of the city! I told Penelo about the mark you were going after, and I guess I got her worrying. So the two of us headed out here to find you. As soon as I stepped out, the guards closed the gates and things got crazy. I haven't been able to find her since." Vaan had took look away to hide a scowl and opened his mouth to respond to Kytes when a Guard pushed a nearby Hume into them.

"Stand back, there! Back! This gate's closed until the ceremony's over, do you hear?"

Vaan recovered and grumbled.

"Now what?" He was talking more to Rale than he was to Kytes as a Chocobo was lead past.

"Open the gate! All right, out of the way!" The Imperial leading it called out and the guards quickly opened the way, for the birds. Feeling slighted Vaan darted past a guard and got in front of them, making Rale palm his face in spite of himself.

"Wait a second! How come you let these Chocobos through the gate and not us?!" He questioned them and the Imperial wrangler let out a short bark of laughter.

"What of it? This here is a pedigreed Parader, boy. Cost tens of thousands of Gil, this one did. A prettier price than a hundred of you provincials would fetch. Keep your distance! We don't want the Chocobo's stinking of peasant!" Vaan puffed up indignantly.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" He all but roared out but another imperial finally shoved him out of the way.

"Step aside!"

The first soldier took advantage of the distraction.

"Right then, Move 'em in!" The Chocobo's where lead past and Rale caught sight of a splash of red on the ground around the same time as Vaan and winced. The Galbana lilies he'd brought in from the desert lay there, having been trampled by the Chocobos as they'd passed. The blonde native wasn't impressed in the least. He was downright furious.

"That does it!"

He got to his feet, and Rale was already moving to stop him from doing something really stupid when a familiar voice came from the other side of the gate.

"Ho, ho! A fine, fine Chocobo you have there. Yes! Tchita Downs stock, if I'm not mistaken." Just then Migelo shuffled through the open gates. "Change the soil, change the Chocobo. Am I right?" He asked the Imperial leading the bird as Penelo appeared from behind him, making a bee line for Vaan and Kytes. Rale sunk back into the crowd, taking advantage of the mask in his hunting gear to conceal himself.

"Yes, yes." Migelo continued. "Different soil means different bouquet, too. Take a Dalmascan Barose wine, eh?" He offered up a bottle of the said wine, holding it out like a peace offering to the lead Imperial. "It may lack the flavor and depth of some of your Archadian wines… but it has a certain strength of character. It's not bad, really, once you get used to it. Care for some, sirs? There's more than enough for all to cool their throats, of course." The Imperial on this side of the gate seemed more easily swayed than the one within and he made the command as the last of the Chocobos where taken through.

"You, let these carts through then we close this gate as ordered. My mail's choked with this sand." The order given, soldiers began to usher the people through the gate. Rale let himself be moved through, the last he saw of Vaan was Migelo telling him off for his near attack on the soldiers and for getting out there in the first place. Penelo went to grab his hand but the boy pulled away, racing through the gate, the girl giving chase as they headed in the direction of the main drag where the parade was probably already underway.

Rale followed at a distance, not quite so eager to see the man who had condemned his captain to infamy, and his life as a royal into oblivion.

A/N: ……..

Okay………

GAHHHHHHHHH!! STOP POKING ME!

Alright, after what's probably got to be my longest silence yet I've finally updated something. I've been busy lately, real busy. For starters I work… a lot and we're undermaned. Which is a total pain. I had Supernova, I Sci-Fi'ish convention I was cosplaying for as Ino Yamanaka, and now I'm working on a group of costumes for a Final Fantasy 1/ 8-Bit Theater cosplay skit.

……they totally rock!

Don't forget to review!

Cya