And we're back…Hope your enjoying this story, which is still far from over…believe me. Review please because I'd really like to know what you think. I still don't own em, I just write about em. And please bear with this story as I'm not claiming it's like a best-selling novel or anything. Balthier's spells are still in italics.

And I'm Doing Just Fine

Chapter 14: Don't come back for me

There was some debate as to how to get the unconscious pirate through the Sochen Cave Palace with as little trouble as possible. It was Penelo's opinion that they rent chocobos, that way no one would have to carry Balthier, and fiends would be less likely to attack them. The problem with this of course was that they would have to do quite a bit of backtracking in order to get the chocobos, and Basch was uncertain that the chocobos would even be willing to enter the dark palace. Basch thought the simple answer would just be for him to carry the pirate, but both Fran and Ashe didn't think it a good idea to have the party's best fighter trek through the palace with arms full of unconscious sky pirate. In the end, they decided to simply build a stretcher and take turns helping to carry it.

Its construction was simple enough, but it was nearly dark by the time everything was ready to go. Vaan of course thought they should go ahead anyway, and he refused to listen to the others when they suggested they wait until morning. Basch held his ground for a while, but the boy insisted, and eventually he gave in. It took both Fran and Vaan to dress the pirate, as much as possible anyway, since they saw no point in struggling with the elaborate vest he usually wore. Vaan couldn't help but think Balthier looked smaller, more fragile, lying there without his signature vest and jewels, his hair mussed up, and his complexion too pale. It unnerved him, and he was sure the others felt the same way; it was a little frightening to see someone like Balthier so broken.

Once inside the dark palace, even Vaan wished they had waited until morning to start their journey. It was near impossible to see two feet in front of you, and he was sure he could hear some low growling and strange noises in the darkness. Their party was led by Ashe, who lit the way as best as she could with a small torch. Basch and Vaan came next with the stretcher, with Fran and Penelo bringing up the rear. The few fiends they ran into were quickly taken care of by Fran's bow or Penelo's sword, and for the first couple of hours things went smoothly. Eventually they camped, as Larsa wasn't to meet them until the following night anyway.

After getting settled, Basch examined the strange orange crystal for the millionth time.

"Still no ideas?" asked Ashe, stirring the knight from his thoughts.

"None," he muttered, "Part of me thinks this thing has something to do with what is happening to Balthier, but I've never heard of any crystal with such powers. And even if there was one, why Balthier? Why haven't the rest of us been affected?"

"There are a lot of strange things in the world we don't understand," she said, "I suppose anything is possible." She poked the fire with a twig before adding, "Do you think Larsa can help us?"

Basch sighed, "It's a stretch to think so. We've no reason to believe Larsa knows anything of such things, but we've no one else to turn to. At least he has influence with others, he might know of someone who can help."

"I've never seen such an illness before," said Ashe, "or even heard of any like it. What do you think is happening to him? You know, when he is unconscious like this."

Basch shrugged, "He's obviously in pain, and the bruises and cuts he wakes up with are real enough. Somehow someone is hurting him without actually being here to touch him, we know that much, but how…I have no idea."

"It would help if he would tell us what he can remember when he wakes up," she said, "I know he says he doesn't remember anything but his eyes tell me he's lying. I think he has a better understanding of what is happening than we think he does."

"I agree, I just usually feel too sorry for him to press the matter."

While Basch and Ashe spoke by the fire, the others tended to Balthier, who was now burning up with a fever, and still didn't seem to be any better. His stillness was unnerving, and eventually Vaan just couldn't stand by and watch anymore, so Fran suggested that he and Penelo get some sleep. She was relieved when the children agreed and settled down to sleep a small distance away. She was not used to being around so many Humes, and sometimes she wished for the days when it had been just her and Balthier, flying wherever they chose. Not that she disliked the others, but Viera were solitary creatures, and it had taken her years to even be comfortable traveling with Balthier. She could feel his energy slipping away, she could feel him dying. Whatever it was, it was eating him away from the inside out, and nothing they had done had made any difference so far. They may have lessened the pain a little for him in the beginning, but now even her remedies did nothing to help him. Something caught her eye, and she looked over to see the orange crystal glowing brightly in Basch's hand. The moment it started to glow…Balthier screamed.

The others gathered around them as fast as lightning. The small crystal, still clutched in Basch's hand, was glowing brightly and emitting a low eerie humming sound. Balthier continued to scream as if his life depended on it, but his eyes never opened.

"Break it Basch!" screamed Vaan, "Just break the damn thing it's hurting him!"

Basch nodded, and placed the glowing crystal the stone floor and struck it with his sword as hard as he could…but nothing happened.

Balthier was afraid to open his eyes, afraid he would find himself back in his prison cell. He wasn't sure how long he lay there, but at some point he realized that wherever he was, it was very quiet. In fact, he could swear he heard birds chirping. He opened his eyes, and found himself staring at an elaborately painted ceiling. Sitting up cautiously, and ignoring the pain in his head, he found that he had been lying on a comfortable bed with expensive, crisp, white sheets. He knew exactly where he was, having spent the first seventeen years of his life sleeping in this bed and waking up to the beautiful painting that graced the ceiling of his room. He was unsure as to what day this was, or even how old he was in this memory or whatever the hell it was that he had been experiencing. He got out of bed, wondering if he should venture downstairs to see what was in store for him. Nothing seemed to be amiss, and Balthier wondered if it was possible that he was reliving a pleasant memory for once when he heard a gunshot ring throughout his father's house…and suddenly he knew exactly what horrible memory he was in.

The first time he'd had to go through this day he had been about five years old, and it had been this day that had also driven his father to eventual madness. He knew, as his weak legs carried him downstairs, that he would find his mother's body in the library, along with a note that asked for forgiveness. He wasn't sure why he was unable to resist letting it all play out like it had so many years ago, but somehow his legs wouldn't stop moving toward the disaster in the library no matter how hard he tried to make them. He opened the library door, trying in vain to close his eyes against the horror that lay before him. He had not been especially close to his mother, but he'd loved her dearly, and seeing her staring at him with lifeless eyes as a growing pool of blood soaked the carpet around her was too much for him to bear.

Basch stared in horror as the crystal refused to break under his sword. There was nothing any of them could do but try and calm the pirate as best they could. It was some time before the crystal stopped glowing, and Balthier simultaneously calmed down.

"Well I think that proves whatever that thing is is doing this to Balthier," panted Penelo, as she leaned back against the cave wall to catch her breath.

Basch nodded, "So it would seem. If he is calm we should get some rest, we've no idea if its power will take him again tonight and we have a long journey ahead."

"I'll take first shift," muttered Vaan, and seeing the look of despair on his face no one bothered to argue with him.

It surprised Vaan when he looked over at Balthier and found the pirate staring back at him.

"Feeling ok?" he asked, knowing the answer already but not knowing what else to say.

Balthier attempted a smile, but failed miserably, "I've been better."

"What's happening to you Balthier?," asked Vaan as he moved closer so that Balthier could lay his head in his lap.

The pirate gratefully rested his head in the boy's lap and let him stroke his hair, "I don't know."

"You need to tell me what happens when you pass out. We need to know what you see."

Balthier sighed and closed his eyes, "Vaan I really don't feel up to this right now."

"I know you don't but I need you to try."

Balthier ignored the question, "Where are we? Where are we going?"

"The Sochen Cave Palace, we're going to meet Larsa to see if he can help figure out why this crystal is doing this to you. Now answer the question."

"Crystal?"

"The one you found behind the engine. It's what is doing this to you. Now seriously Balthier you need to tell me what happens to you when you lose consciousness."

Balthier seemed to think a moment before answering, "I'm not sure. It's like I'm in a dream except I can feel pain. It's always a memory from my past but I can feel the current pounding in my head and my age doesn't seem to change. It's like I'm passing through every horrible thing that has ever happened to me, and feeling it all over again as if it were happening now."

Vaan's facial expression saddened, "I swear I'll figure out some way to help you. I'll fix this and everything will go back to normal."

Balthier managed a weak smile, "There are worse things I could go through. At least you're here when I wake up."

"I love you Balthier, just try and rest. Everything is gonna be ok."

He thought he heard Balthier whisper a fragile sounding "love you too" , but when he looked down at the pirate, the blackness had already claimed him.

To be continued…

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