Chapter 1 Vaan

Two years later in the sewers beneath Rabanastre, a rat scurried. This was no

ordinary vermin. Through the magical substance in the tunnels known as mist it

had swelled to over twice it's size, it had become what was known as a dire rat.

However even this creature was on the run, recently something had entered the

tunnels and the light footsteps that were echoing off the wall meant it couldn't be

far behind. The rats red eyes could see it's outline in the gloom, watched it's

cautious approach, saw it raise it's one grotesque talon. The rat made a leap,

trying to escape into deeper tunnels but the beast was too quick for it. It leaped

forward and burried its weapon into the rat's belly. The rat sqealed and writhed

even though it knew there was no point, it simply lay there basking in it's misery

until the monster mercifully ended it's suffering.

Vaan stared rather smugly at the corpse, for a seventeen year old kid a good

sized dire rat can be a real threat. Not for him though, not Vaan. He sheathed

his sword into a battered leather sheath. With the fun of training over he had

to get back to work, stricktly speaking he wasn't allowed to be down here. Kytes

had already told him once to come back up. Ah well, now he could emerge as

the conquering hero. He smiled at the thought, took one last look at his kill and

walked away.

"Wow Vaan" Kytes laughed as Vaan came strolling out of the tunnels. "You got 'em

all yourself?"

Vaan stuck out his chest proudly. He decided not to mention there had only been

three from the start.

"Hey it's good practice for the desert. I'm ready for anything now." He boasted.

"Well then" Said Kytes slyly, "I know exactly who to call if something big comes along."

Vaan gulped, dire rats he could handle but what did Kytes have in mind.

"That's enough for today." He said threateningly to the boy. "Get back to Migelo's place,

shouldn't you be running errands for him today?"

Kytes looked slightly crestfallen.

"Oops, forgot." Suddenly his face lit up. "You should come too Vaan, he's busy today.

He may have a job for you too." Vaan shook his head. He was far too proud to run

errands for that crazy old man.

"I've got other work to do." He said sneakily.

Out on the streets of Rabanastre the sky was blue. The sky was nearly always blue because

it hardly ever rained there. This provided some problems concerning water but

at least the sky was blue while you died of thirst. Vaan pondered this thought as he

bit into a fruit he's swiped from a stall, his short blond hair playing about his face and his

waistcoat blowing in the breeze, sadly this was the only thing covering his torso and in

such a hot country it left a deep tanline which was frequently made fun of by his fellow orphans.

Suddenly Vaan looked up at a peddler being bullied by a pair of Archadian soldiers. A common

enough sight in a occupied city. He wasn't close enough to hear what words were

exchanged but he was going to take this chance. He threw away his fruit and began to

stroll towards them.

"What," Exclaimed the first soldier as if the peddler had commited some attrocity, "Havn't paid?"

The poor Dalmascan stammered as the soldier held him in a chokehold.

"No on second thought," He wheezed. "Take it, as a gift."

The second soldier who had taken the fruit seemed more mellow.

"Leave the poor sod alone we don't want trouble today."

His companion seemed likely to continue for a moment, then let the old man go.

"Your luck peddler." He grumbled. "But if you..." He got no further as a blond

Dalmascan teenager bumped into him on his way past. Before the soldier

could do anything he had muttered a quick apology and was already melting into the crowd.

It would be only a few seconds before the soldier realised his pouch was missing, but by

then it would be far too late.

As Vaan broke free of the crown three streets away he quickly looked behind him to

see if his pursuers had done the same. No sighn of them, though he thought he saw two

suits of armour trying to negotiate their way past a Bangaa's backside. He smirked

and turned away, only to have his precious prize snatched right out of his hand. Vaans

body instinctively followed the pouch but was stopped by an angry looking girl wearing

a yellow dancers garb and blonde pigtails. Vaan sighed as he saw the pouch in her hand.

"Hi Penelo, thats mine." He tried to take it back but was stopped again.

"What do you mean yours?" Penelo asked him indignantly. "You've been stealing again."

Vaan turned his back, there was no point arguing with her. "What happens when they catch you?"

She asked him, "We need you to be there for us Vaan. Your no good to anyone if your locked away

in a dungeon."

Vaan decided enough was enough. "Oh so I'm the leader now." He retorted. He saw Penelo's

hurt expression and softened. "We're orphans. The first thing you learn is you've got to watch out for

yourself. C'mon Penelo, you know it as well as I do." When no answer came he turned around only to

see Penelo taking his hard earned money out of the pouch. "Hey, thats mine." He snapped running over to her.

"I thought this money was the property of Dalmasca," She teased putting on a Vaan like voice.

"The Imperials stole it from us so it's only fair that we take it back. It's our duty as Dalmascans." She finished.

While Vaan was sniggering at her impression she took three gold pieces or Gil out of the pouch.

"This is for that bread you took the other day." She said sternly holding the money.

"Just because I help out Migelo now and then, doesn't mean you get to eat for free too." Her smile faltered

when she saw Vaan's fallen face.

"I know." He murmered." Do you think I enjoy living like this?" He was interupted by a shadow passing over them.

Both looked up to see a great freighter passing overhead. It's floatation rings humming gently as it blotted out the sun

for a few seconds. Vaans face seemed to regain focus. "One of these days," He said softly. "I'll fly a ship of my own.

I'll be a sky pirate, free to go where I will."

Penelo smiled fondly. "Well be careful," She said walking away. "You'll never fly anything locked in a dungeon."

She started to disappear down the highstreet when she stopped and called to him.

"Oh, Migelo has some errands he needs doing. He wanted you to drop by his place."

Vaan shrugged and Penelo scowled. "It might be a good idea to lend a hand or I wont let you eat

tonight." And with that she turned on her heel leaving Vaan speachless.