Lily: Phew. December was a busy month! D8

Erika: It's so cold!

Anna: Then turn on the heater!

Erika: Do it for me?

Anna: For something in exchange, maybe.

Stephanie: I'll do it!

Daniel: We would like to thank: Alias Midnight, FF4Life, Shivafan, Snoara, and Tannerdarko for reviewing last chapter. Thanks peeps.

Rosalina: On with the chapter!


It was the middle of the night, by Nicole's watch. She had awoken only an hour ago to find Balthier poking at the fire. Wide awake, Nicole decided she would take care of the rest of the night watching while Balthier got some sleep. The man didn't complain…much. But Nicole was persistent and he eventually gave into her demands, which is something she found completely hilarious and out of character of Balthier.

Now it was Nicole who was poking at the fire. She picked up a small piece of wood and threw it in. She sighed. Turning her head slightly to the left, she caught sight of Balthier sleeping with a peaceful expression. He used his right arm as a pillow for his head, while his left was outstretched across his stomach. One leg was slightly propped up, while the other lied flat on the ground. Nicole softly smiled.

"I'm sorry for ever leaving you…" Nicole whispered lightly. She didn't want to wake him up. "I'm really sorry… For just leaving when you told me to wait. And I'm sorry that things have been messy between the two of us since the others and I came back." She looked back at the fire, her eyelids drooping slightly. "I'm not sure what to do about us anymore." She chuckled and shook her head. "I'm acting like we've been together or something. Sheesh," rolling her eyes, Nicole looked back at Balthier. "Sleep well."

She released another sigh this time, but a longer one. She poked at the fire again; her only entertainment while everyone else slept the night away. She yawned as she stretched her limbs.

"Nicole!"

Nicole jumped. She spun around in her spot swiftly, looking in all directions.

"Who-?"

"Nicole, over here!"

She moved in her spot, now on her knees, and looked to the right. Her eyes widened. "T-Trevor?"

Trevor smiled. "Nicole, quick! Follow me! I must show you something." He urged her to follow with motions, and then ran off. Nicole shot up. Her legs moved forward slightly before stopping.

"T-Trevor… H-how…" she managed to stutter out.

Finally, Nicole glanced one more time at Balthier before following Trevor.


Rosalina bolted upward. The blanket half covered her and Fran (Llyud insisted he did not need it covering him) slid off to the side. Rosalina had a bad feeling. Something or someone was nearby, but she couldn't tell who. Quietly and slowly, Rosalina crept out of the tent. The light illuminating from the fire lit the area. She scanned around, but found no trace of an intruder. She began to feel a little more relieved; however she still could not shake off the bad feeling.

Just when Rosalina went to turn and head back inside the tent she shared with Fran and Llyud, she noticed something. Someone, as in Nicole, was missing.

But not only Nicole.

Balthier was gone as well.

"Dammit…" Rosalina cursed. "I have to get Fantasy!"


"Stairs?" Nicole stared down at the stairway that led deeper down and further into the darkness. She was near the Galbana. "Trevor" had taken her all the way back and vanished down the stairs. Nicole sighed. "Stairs that lead down to more darkness. No thank you." She spun her heel, and began to casually make her way back to camp. "Damn bullshit if he expects me to go down there… Not like I'm afraid of the dark or anything…" she slowly turned her head a bit. "OHMYSWEETBABYMONKEYS! Walk faster, walk faster…" Nicole sped up a bit, her heart nervously racing.

"Nicole!"

Nicole halted in place. She turned slightly. "Trevor?"

Trevor was frowning deeply at her. "Nicole… I need your help. Please… follow me." He motioned to the stairs and took a step down. He looked back at Nicole. "Please…"

"W-What do you need help with, exactly?" Nicole skeptically asked.

Trevor looked like he was just about to drop to his knees and start begging. The pleading look in his eyes made Nicole take a step forward.

"Please…" he repeated before disappearing.

"Trevor!" Nicole called out. She received no answer, however. She cautiously glanced at the stairs once more. "Trevor…" she clenched her hands into balls. "What is it you need help with? Is it…even really you?" Hesitantly, Nicole walked forward. "I guess I'll just have to see for myself won't I?"


Rosalina and Fantasy raced forward, backtracking the way they had once come from. Daniel hung back with the others, who still slept. He was told what was going on and decided he would come up with an simple explanation that he could tell the others so they wouldn't worry too much about Rosalina, Fantasy, Nicole and possibly Balthier just up and suddenly disappearing on them like that during such an important time.

The two halted, now in front of the Galbana.

"Dead end?" Fantasy blinked.

Rosalina shook her head. "No." she walked forward a bit. "The two of them must've disappeared around here somewhere. Janelle's just hiding the pathway."

"But why Balthier?" Fantasy questioned.

"I think all Balthier did was follow Nicole." Rosalina replied. She examined the edge near the ship, looking down to only find darkness.

"Why did Master go?" Fantasy huffed.

"Janelle probably took the form of something or someone important. Nicole was probably still really tired. Kind of like me, when I'm tired I don't exactly think straight either." Rosalina sighed, standing up from her once crouched position. "Janelle's doing a good job at hiding the pathway. Fantasy, I think it's time to use a little of your magic."

Fantasy nodded. "Right away," Fantasy snapped his fingers, and what appeared was a deep red colored dust like magick that swiveled around in the air. The two waited for it to make a move. Any move. And soon it did. It began to lead them somewhere. Not too far away from the ship, but still not exactly close. The magick began to lower further down and then stopped mid-air.

"Is it wrong?" Rosalina asked.

Fantasy shook his head. "No. Don't you see? There is something here? Janelle is covering it up well, though. Let me see what I can do." Fantasy lifted his hand and reached out forward. Rosalina was shocked when he saw his hand could not go out any further, and that something in front of them pulsed.

"What is it?"

"A barrier,"

Rosalina eyed him. "Your Master X sure thought of a lot of things to give you guys."

Fantasy smirked. "He just wanted us to be prepared."

Rosalina shrugged. She turned back to the barrier. "So, can you bring it down?"

"Easily. Janelle has either weakened or this is her weakest magick. Just give me one second." One second was all Fantasy needed to bring down the barrier. Stairs that seemed to never end appeared before them, lighting up a new pathway.

Both of them crouched down, examining the stairs.

"Glass,"

"And a glowing affect to them!"

Rosalina stood up, smirking. "Nifty."


"Listen, the point is we have to continue on with just us now. It's not my fault Nicole and Balthier decided to run away together! Yes, yes. Fantasy and Rosalina went to look for them, but odds are the two have already been eaten. …Eaten by Bigfoot. Did you not know about the existence of Bigfoot here? Vaan. VAAN. Shut up. You're not helping. Of course you know what Bigfoot is! He exists here! …You were kept in a cave all your life, weren't you? Penelo, get back in the kitchen. Take Filo with you. Leave Fran here. Because I need something nice to look at. No that wasn't an insult! Actually – yeah… It was."

Daniel blinked. He stopped his pacing and grabbed two handfuls of his hair. "Dear Lord they're starting to affect me! What in Lemurés am I becoming?" He dropped to his knees and began to hit his head repeatedly on the ground. "I'm going crazy…"

"Dude, you went crazy eleven years ago."

Daniel lifted his head in time to see Conway sit down. He threw his hand over his mouth as he yawned.

"Nah, I was a pretty chill dude last year. Something went wrong ever since then, though." Daniel replied, taking a seat next to Conway.

"Right…" Conway grinned. "So what's got you all worked up?"

"Er… push ups!"

"…Push ups?"

"Push ups."

"Cool story bro."

"Best one yet."

"So the real story?"

"…Balthier and Nicole ran away together."

"WHAT?"

"Have you not noticed that we are by ourselves?"

Conway grabbed Daniel by the front collar of his shirt. "My. Little. Sister. Ran. Away. With. WHO?" and with each word, Conway viciously shook Daniel.

"Balthier," Daniel bluntly replied.

"WHAT? ! ? !"

"Oh, he'll take good care of her!"

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Conway harshly released Daniel with a jerk. Daniel caught himself with his hands. Conway stood up and began to storm off. "WHERE? WHICH WAY?" Daniel jumped up and ran over to Conway, stopping the majorly pissed off older brother from murdering innocent people. Conway thrashed around; trying to free himself from Daniel, but the latter kept a tight grip on his arms.

"Calm down!"

"What in all Ivalice is going on out here? !"

Daniel whipped his head around. "Go back to your cave Vaan- I mean, tent!"

"Huh?"

"LET ME GO THIS INSTANT!"

"SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!"

Everyone froze in place. Next to Vaan's tent stood an extremely red in the face girl who went by the name of Erika. She looked at all three of them, hair in a messy ponytail. Erika angrily stomped over to Conway just as everyone else came out of their tents. Erika grabbed Conway by his hair before throwing him down to the ground and repeatedly stomping on him.

"What. The. Hell. Is. Your. Problem? People. Are. Trying. To. SLEEP!" with each word, she stomped on him.

"You know, they're more alike than they would like to think." Daniel said to no one in particular. He just felt like he needed to state that fact.

"BUT ERIKA! NICOLE HAS- PLEASE DON'T STOMP ON MY BALLS!"

"I'M STOMPING ON THEM!"

"NO WAI-ARSJHUWEIFBEB!"

"Did Conway just speak some sort of language that was invented in your guys' time?" Vaan questioned.

"Yeah – it's called gibberish. We can speak it, but no one understands it." Anna retorted.

"Your time has thought of many strange things…" Ashe stated.

"Believe me…it has." Anna nodded.

"PLEASE SPARE ME!"

"WHAT'S THERE TO SPARE?"

"ME BEING ABLE TO REPRODUCE ONE DAY!"

"ALL THE MORE REASON TO STOMP ON THEM!"

"SOMEONE STOP HER!" Conway cried out to his friends.

Basch ran up and pulled Erika away. Erika didn't bother to thrash around like she normally would; instead she started to cuddle up next to Basch.

"They are gone."

Silence ensued when Fran spoke up.

"Fran, who are you talking about?" Penelo curiously inquired.

"Isn't it obvious? The four people who are not present." Fran replied.

Everyone glanced around.

"OHMYLORD!" Erika screeched. "COLEY IS MISSING!"

Everyone gave her a dull look.

"Oh…and so are Fantasy, Balthier and Rosalina."

They continued the stare.

"I SAID THE OTHERS NAMES! QUIT LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!" She flailed her arms about.

"About that…" Daniel spoke first.

"BALTHIER AND NICOLE RAN AWAY TOGETHER!" Conway jumped in.

"WHAT?"


"Where exactly are you going…?" Balthier muttered to himself as he carefully followed after Nicole. He hadn't been asleep when a voice called out to Nicole, and Nicole called back out to the voice. Trevor… "Though I am sure he was killed." Balthier thought to himself.

The stairs finally ended. Nicole stopped at the last one, hesitant to step off them. Balthier could tell she was having second thoughts about all of this. She was most likely thinking about how she should go back and bring someone with her, but after coming so far, Nicole figured there was no turning back now.

Balthier wasn't going to let anything happen to her though. He would make sure of it.

Nicole finally stepped off onto the black abyss like floor after what seemed like an eternity of just standing on the last step. She continued forward, hands now clenched into two tight balls. Lighting sparked around them. She was preparing herself for any danger to come, Balthier could tell.

"At least she's being cautious." Balthier told himself. She was thinking of her safety for once. Normally she was the type to just throw herself into danger-much like another person within the group (cougherikacough)-, but after a year, she grew and began to think of herself. Balthier knew that much when he first saw.

They all changed. The Gamers, that is. Less childish, slightly more mature. All grew in more ways than one.

They weren't the only ones who changed, though. Balthier could tell Vaan changed too. Penelo, Ashe and even Basch changed as well.

Everyone around Balthier was changing.

A loud thumping sound brought Balthier back to reality. Lying on the floor face down before him was Nicole. She groaned. "Ow… That hurt…"

"She's still as clumsy as ever…" Balthier chuckled inwardly.

Nicole stood back up and continued forward.

"And still stubborn…" He also noted.

"Trevor! Where are you? ! Does this even lead to anywhere? !" Nicole began to shout, obviously frustrated and fed up with just walking in complete darkness for so long now, nothing ever changing. "If something doesn't change soon I'm leaving!" She continued to look around the place, crossing her arms and huffing. "Honestly, what was I thinking…? I'm turning around."

It was time to reveal himself, Balthier supposed. He was sure that Nicole wasn't going to like how Balthier just followed her down here, but that didn't really matter to him right now. It was all for her sake, after all. To keep her safe after she did such a foolish act of just leaving on her own. Balthier would scold her later. But right now it was time to get the hell out of this place.

Nicole went to turn around, but stopped mid-way when she noticed a small light just up ahead. She blinked her eyes and curiosity began to take over her.

"What…?" she opened her mouth to say more, but closed it instead. Nicole's brain told her to move; her legs didn't. They were being stubborn. Finally, she was able to budge them and made a run for it towards the light.

"Wait – Nicole!" Balthier called out. A gust of wind held Balthier back from following after the young girl and out appeared Rosalina and Fantasy.

"Balthier! Thank goodness we found you!" Rosalina said.

"No time to waste – Nicole an ahead." Balthier said.

Fantasy stopped him. "Balthier, you mustn't go any further. It's too dangerous for you, and this is not your fight."

"Listen to Fantasy. Just turn around and head back to camp. The others will be worried."

Balthier raised a brow. "And you two? Will the others not worry about you two?"

Rosalina frowned. "Just go back. Don't worry; we won't let anything happen to her. The three of us will come back safe and sound soon – we'll finish Vaan's journey together. We'll defeat Feolthanos all together. So just wait."

It was Balthier's turn to frown. "I've been waiting for an entire year…"

"Are you saying you're starting to get tired of waiting?" Rosalina wondered.

Balthier turned around. "Don't go putting words into my mouth." He stopped a few feet away from them. "If she comes back with one scratch on her…"

Rosalina and Fantasy couldn't help but smile.

"Master will not come back harmed. We promise you that." Fantasy assured him.

"But once we get back you two better make up! I'm tired of the tension between the two of you!" Rosalina said.

Balthier waved as he left, heading back to the others who were sure to give him total hell once he showed himself.

Rosalina and Fantasy turned the opposite way.

"So she went that way, huh?" Rosalina mumbled.

"Janelle has put up another barrier." Fantasy said.

"We promised Balthier we wouldn't let any harm come to her. Let's go, Fantasy."

"Yes,"


Balthier couldn't help but grin amusedly at the rowdy scene before him. "Quite the party."

The gang went completely still when they took notice of Balthier's presence.

"Did you guys divorce already? !" Erika exclaimed, taking her foot away from Conway's private parts.

"DIVORCE? HOW DARE YOU DEFILE MY SISTER!" Conway jumped up in rage.

"Aren't you supposed to be in pain?" Stephanie innocently questioned.

"…Right… OWWWW MY BALLS!" He pummeled back down to the ground and rolled around like a dog.

"What is going on here, Balthier?" Ashe questioned.

Daniel sighed as he rubbed his temples. "Long story short… Nicole, Rosalina and Fantasy went to go fight Janelle. I'm just assuming Balthier followed Nicole but those two must've sent him back." He glanced over at older man. "Am I right?"

"More or less,"

"Good enough," Daniel shrugged.

"Wait – they went to fight Janelle alone?" Vaan spoke up.

Daniel nodded. "Yeah. I didn't like the idea at first either, but there's not much we can do. We all can't leave you guys because we're supposed to help you. So Rosalina and Fantasy volunteered to go with Nicole – she being Janelle's next victim – while the rest of us stayed here with you guys and continued on our little expedition. "

"Daniel, were you supposed to tell the truth?" Erika curiously asked.

Daniel laughed. "Oh hell no. In fact, I'm probably going to get an ass whooping from Rosalina when they come back – not that I'll really mind… - I was supposed to come up with a genius excuse. That didn't go as well as planned, though. Not like I really had any plan in mind. I'm sure if I had more time to think I would have come up with a brilliant plan that would have fooled you all." Daniel nodded confidently. "Definitely would have if I had more time to think…" He sighed, "Alas, the situation has come to this."

Filo turned to Kytes while jabbing her thumbs back towards Daniel, and she whispered, "Is it just me or is that the most he's talked since this journey started?"

"I think his ego has taken over…" Kytes whispered back.

"So… Does that mean… Balthier and Nicole didn't actually run away together?" Stephanie blinked.

"And they didn't get a divorce…" Erika blinked also.

"THEY WERE NEVER MARRIED!" Conway shouted.

"That's right. Conway brought the situation upon himself and it turned out that way." Daniel explained.

"Bullshit!" Conway exclaimed.

"Daniel…"

Daniel looked down at Vaan, who looked back at him straight in the eye.

"Even if we follow, there is no way we'll be able to find and help them is there?"

Unfortunately for Vaan, Daniel shook his head no.

Vaan sighed.

"Vaan…?" Penelo concernedly spoke.

"I'll be fine…" Vaan replied.

"They're strong enough to take care of themselves. Soon we will see them again." Basch assured the blonde.

After a moment, Vaan nodded. "You're right, Basch. Well, since we're all awake now, shall we continue?" Vaan scanned the group until his eyes fell upon Llyud, who had been silently watching this all with obviously no opinion for any of it.

"Yeah, I'm wide awake now, sadly." Anna frowned.

"Then let's pack up and hit the road!" Stephanie and Filo both smiled brightly.

"All right!"


Nicole woke up feeling flushed and funky. She wasn't used to waking up to this feeling often and wasn't sure what exactly was causing this feeling in the first place. That is until she opened her eyes.

Needless to say, she screamed.

"WHY THE HECK AM I UPSIDE IN A TREE? ! ? !"

"Humans are so noisy…"

Nicole didn't want to speak. She was beginning to feel sick and felt a headache coming on.

"I do not think I will ever understand humans… Now…" In fact, Nicole didn't even have enough time to speak because before she knew it, a knife was at her throat. "Shall I just slit your throat and allow you to die quickly or slowly carve your body into a beautiful masterpiece?" Eyes similar to Fantasy's stared wide eyed at her, unblinking.

That made Nicole feel so much better.

"HOLY CRAP! GET AWAY FROM MY FACE!"

Janelle remained in the same spot much to Nicole's dismay.

"Where is Trevor?" Nicole asked in a panicked voice.

"He is dead."

"…Oh dammit. You damn bitch. DON'T USE TREVOR LIKE THAT!"

"He is dead. It does not matter anymore."

That really pissed off Nicole. "Of course it matters you cold hearted bitch! How dare you say it doesn't!"

Janelle pressed the knife against her throat further. "Silence. I am tired of hearing your whiny voice."

"Am I seriously going to die again?" Nicole cried inwardly. "You've got to be kidding me…! And it's by the slitting of the throat! I can't even stand to watch it on T.V! What a horrible way to go…"

"Get away from my Master!"

Janelle pulled away from Nicole just in time to dodge an incoming Firaga.

"Fantasy! Don't just carelessly use magick like that! You almost hit Nicole!"

"Sorry… But if I hadn't done that then Janelle wouldn't have moved! Sorry Master!"

"Ugh… Bleh… I… I don't care anymore. Just… Just get me down!" Nicole wiggled around with the feeling of all her blood already rushed into her head. She couldn't stand being upside anymore.

Rosalina smiled as she appeared on the tree branch above Nicole. "Sorry to keep you waiting. But honestly, I should just leave you there for falling into this trap!"

Nicole frowned. "The sad thing is I knew this was a trap… I have no clue why I followed." she sighed.

"Fantasy…"

The two girls looked to the right where Janelle and Fantasy were having a stare down.

"Janelle, I'm getting really tired of this." Fantasy stated.

"As I am,"

"Then just stop this!"

Janelle summoned her knives and threw them at Fantasy. "You and I both know well enough that neither of us will stop this. Not until one of us is dead. I do not plan on it being me."

"Well I don't plan on it being me either!" Fantasy exclaimed, dodging the knives.

The two were so fast that Nicole was barely even able to keep up with the battle. Rosalina watched with ease however, this being something normal for her eyes to keep up with. Nicole gave up after a while, becoming even more dizzy, and begged for Rosalina to let her down. Of course, she was still being punished so Rosalina refused. Nicole cried silently on the inside.

The extreme motion between the two creations halted when a knife pegged Fantasy in the leg, causing him to fall off balance and pummel to the ground. He flinched and groaned at the pain of the knife digging into his leg. Janelle took this moment of weakness to summon more and throw them at him. Rosalina summoned her own weapon in time to block the knives from hurting Fantasy.

Fantasy pulled the knife out of his leg, letting out a long and loud yelp of pain as he did so. Trying his best to ignore the pain, Fantasy stood up, crouching slightly. He didn't have enough time to cast a cura or any sort of healing magick as Janelle continuously summoned her knives and threw them at him every chance she could. Fantasy was starting to have a hard time dodging them.

Finally, Rosalina freed Nicole and helped her down to the ground, whereupon touching it, Nicole casted a quick Cura at Fantasy, healing him of his injury.

It was three against one. That didn't make much of a difference to Janelle, though. With her quick speed and instant reflexes, Janelle had no trouble keeping up with the three of them

And that was starting to become a problem.


Lily: Did anyone else pull their hair for falling into such a cliche trap? xD 'Cause I did.

Erika: Meh. Crappy chapter. Nextone is so much better.

Lily: I enjoyed the part with Conway and Daniel so much. xD

Daniel/Conway: Why thank you :D

Stephanie: I enjoyed Erika's!

Erika: HUZZAH!

Conway: -.- I didn't.

Anna: Of course you didn't. You weren't supposed to.

Lily: Well, review and we'll give you the better one. Until then, we're heading out to eat. CYA!