Disclaimer: I do not own FFX nor FFXII

Author's notes: Thank you for the reviews:D


Chapter 29: A Sphere in the Woods

Everyone was quiet as they entered Macalania woods. Balthier couldn't bring himself to fully look at the trees around them, and how they glittered and sparkled. He just wasn't in the mood to notice such things. They were making their way along a thick tree branch that served as a path through the woods. Fran had been right, there were many fiends in the area, and most had something in common, they were weak to fire. Most of the fiends were fairly weak, but one kind wasn't, Chimeras. They were large fiends that were both physically and magically strong. Though, it did have a weakness, it may have appeared tough, but it didn't take physical damage well. Which suited Balthier, Auron, Vaan and Basch well. Balthier was glad they stood up well to fights; he needed a few good ones to let off some steam.

It took them a fairly long time to cross the woods, and they stopped a few times to catch their breath and mend their minor wounds. Despite the amount of fiends, the woods were surprisingly peaceful. And he noticed that even though fiends attacked them, they weren't as ferocious as some they had encountered earlier along their trip. As they continued along their way, the woods were getting colder and colder. Fran explained that before they reached Macalania Temple, they would have to cross the frozen Lake Macalaina.

They now neared the end of the woods, it was considerably colder here, and Balthier could see snow and ice when he looked ahead to the path in front of them. He could also see the top of a Travel Agency. Rin seems to have a liking for odd locations. Not that I'm complaining. Auron stood by some large branches.

"Wait." He said to the others, everyone stopped and looked at him. "It's here, somewhere."

"What's here?" Ashe asked.

"Something you should see."

He lifted his sword onto his shoulder and looked at the branches. He started to cut through them, his sword easily cutting through the frost covered branches. He easily cleared a path to what lay on the other side. Auron walked through, and everyone exchanged glances and followed him. It was a small spring, a tree with large spheres in it stood out of the water as water flowed by it. Auron stood looking at the tree, his sword still on his shoulder. Balthier and Ashe stood on either side, Balthier crossed his arms.

"What is this place?" Ashe asked as she looked around.

"This is what spheres are made out of. It absorbs and preserves peoples memories."

The water in front of the tree began to bubble and gurgle. A large, amount of a gel-like substance came out of the water and floated in front of them as a sphere, it appeared to have a small core on the inside of it. Balthier looked at Auron, who was completely unphased by its arrival.

"Fiends are also attracted to this place." Auron looked at the floating fiend as it approached them. "Be wary, only magics can harm it, and it can change its weakness. And it has powerful magics of its own." He looked over at Ashe who nodded.

Balthier just sighed, it didn't surprise him that this would provide a challenge. Ashe quickly cast nullifying magics. Basch, Vaan, Balthier and Auron stood back, they weren't going to waste their strength trying to damage it, they would only provide defence for their two spell casters. The large fiend cast a firaga spell at Ashe, it was nullified by her nulfire spell. Fran cast the opposite Blizzara. The gel-fiend quivered, then its core appeared to change colour, from red to yellow. Fran noticed and had a feeling what it was planning. She cast a watera spell. It quivered and shifted again, this time it was a blue colour. Fran hesitated, she wasn't sure if blue would represent water, or blizzard. Though she didn't have to wonder long, it cast waterga, at Auron. Which was quickly absorbed by the blue sphere that had been circling Auron. Thankfully it isn't too bright. Balthier thought. The sphere now had a white core, Fran cast Fira, it quivered again, changing its core from white to yellow. Before Fran could cast watera, it made itself a large pillar. It hovered over Fran and shot down towards her, the Vierra jumped out of the way. She wasn't going to allow herself to be beaten that easily. She cast a watera spell at it as it shifted back it is gel-like state, it quivered and started to sink back down into the water, pyreflies coming out of the water. Fran stood up and dusted herself off.

"That was easier than I had expected." Basch said, smirking.

Fran looked at him, she glared, though she was smirking, Basch just smiled at her, he was leaning on his spear. Auron walked towards where the fiend had disappeared and picked something out of the water and walked back to them.

"Is that what we came here for?" Penelo asked excitedly as she looked at the sphere.

Auron nodded. Everyone huddled around the sphere as it began to play. Balthier couldn't believe his eyes when it started playing. So… Auron was telling the truth.

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Cidolfus Demon Bunansa stood there along with Auron, lord Raminas must've been the one holding the sphere. Auron was much younger, and Balthier's father looked the same as he had when they fought on the top floor of the Pharos lighthouse. They were standing in the very same spring that they stood now.

"Auron? Could you stand closer to Cid?" Raminas' voice said.

Auron sighed. "We don't have time for this."

"And why not?" Cid replied looking at Auron. "This quest may be of great importance, but it is also important to rest and take a leisurely break once in a while." Cid said to Auron.

Raminas chuckled and everything shook. "He's right you know, Auron. It would do you some good to lighten up."

Auron sighed and walked closer to Raminas.

"We should be on our way, my lord. You know how important this is." He pleaded.

"I suppose you're right Auron."

Cid walked over to them.

"Here, let me take this contraption for a while." He said while he pointed to the sphere.

Everything shook again as the sphere was passed from Raminas to Cid. Now in the frame was a cheerful looking Raminas, he wore a red and white robe, and a headdress on his head. Auron wasn't looking any happier as he started to walk away from the two and out of the frame. Raminas started to follow Auron, and Cid as well. Raminas and Auron walked ahead, and were talking quietly.

"Why did you bring him along anyway?" Auron whispered to Raminas.

"Well, he did look lost, and looked like he needed help. Besides, he has been keeping this trip entertaining, has he not?" Raminas replied, chuckling slightly.

Auron just sighed and the sphere went black.

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"Is that it?" Penelo said, looking at the sphere.

"I guess so." Vaan said too.

Everyone stood up and away from the sphere. Balthier was till looking at it, he couldn't believe what he had just seen, and yet, he knew it had to be true. Ashe to was still staring at the sphere, she had a small smile on her lips. She enjoyed the chance to see her father on a small part of his pilgrimage, and that it had been a joyous one for him. I miss you father. But I have to be strong. She thought to herself.

"So, that other man was lord Raminas's other guardian?" Vaan asked.

"I think I see why no one knew his name." Basch said.

Auron chuckled.

"Believe it or not it was out of respect." Auron said, he looked at Balthier. "Cid had wanted us to record the pilgrimage, so his son could see how he used to be. What he meant by that, I never knew."

Balthier smirked slightly, remembering the days before his father had become absorbed by the nethicite. He stood straight and put a hand on his hip. Ashe looked at Balthier, thinking of Cid at the same time. They look a lot alike… He never mentioned his father before… I wonder what happened? She thought. Balthier noticed Ashe was looking at him and looked over. She offered him a warm smile; it was nice to see her smile again. Balthier felt himself smile, despite how he felt.

No one else seemed to have notice the resemblance between Cid and Balthier. One by one they started to walk back out of the area, and started to make their way to the frigid Lake Macalania. Soon only Auron, Ashe and Balthier stood there.

"Did he ever mention to you how he arrived in Spira?" Balthier asked Auron.

"He did." Auron looked Balthier in the eye. "He mentioned something from his world and brought him here, just after he had been killed."

"I see." Balthier looked away.

Auron decided to give him some time to think things over and walked towards the others. Ashe stood watching Balthier, he looked sad.

"What happened to your father?" She asked.

Balthier sighed. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell her now, but he also felt that this may be his only chance… So he began his tale. He didn't go into much detail on nethicite, since that would make this at least twice as long. He did however explain about how his father had lost himself to it, doing everything he could to get closer to it, to understand it more, all with the help of Venat. He briefly explained him as well. He then went on to explain, in small detail, what had happened throughout his and his comrades journey over Ivalice and what had happened to his father in the Pharos at Ridoranna. Ashe listened patiently and silently. When Balthier finished he sighed heavily. And Ashe just looked at him.

"It must've been horrible." She said, she looked at the sphere she now held in her hands, thinking of her father.

Balthier still remained quiet, even though he felt slightly better after telling her about his father, there was still something else that was bothering him.

"Why?" He asked.

Ashe looked at him, she looked confused.

"Why are you marrying him?" He clarified.

Ashe looked at him and sighed.

"I can't tell you." She said quietly.

"Why not?" He was trying his best to hide the anger from his voice.

She looked up at him, she looked like she wanted to tell him, her eyes seemed to try to tell what she could not with words.

"You have to trust me." She managed to whisper, her eyes pleading with him to understand.

Balthier wasn't sure how to respond. Looking at her, he could tell that she wasn't comfortable with the situation, in fact, she still looked scared and worried. It made him worry. She had always been smiling before they had entered Guadosalam, and now she barely did. And when she did it looked forced. He started to hate Seymour more for causing this much fear and discomfort in her. Balthier felt his feet bringing her closer to her. He placed his hands on both her shoulders, she looked up into his eyes.

"I do." He managed to say.

She looked more at ease and smiled briefly.

"We should rejoin the others." She said as she began to walk away, Balthier having let go of her shoulders.

"Indeed." Balthier said and walked to her, they walked out of the area together.


Author's Notes: I'm not entirely sure I like this chapter how it is, but I'm going to upload it anyways.