The Sky Pirate's Apprentice - Chapter 3
It's supposed to be long, so I made this chapter short (I'm still arranging/edit/correction...everything before updated). Also, *AAAARGHHHH!!!!* I hate cliffhangers! I hope you enjoy this story and I will added for the upcoming chapter before or after my X-mas, it's going to be good.
Title - The Sky Pirate's Apprentice - City of Sacrifice
Rating - T (M for future chapters)
Characters - Balthier and OC character
Story - Set in post-game two years later between FFXII and Revenant Wings.
Summary - A partner's illness, a vicious foe, a sinister plot and a cursed stone. It's up for the leading man and his new recruit who may not be what it seems.
Disclaimer - This fic is my idea. All Final Fantasy XII characters/plot belong to SquareEnix.
Author's Note - This is for katmillia, first_seventhe, worbeest , phoenixblaze, deadlybeauty32, rouxroux, ensignbucket, Refi-Lewise, sapereaude13, Tora Glory, Ashe83, DarkBeliverAnge, Izzy Lawliet, tashachan28...and the beloved balthier_ashe fans and staff. WHEW!
It was mid dawn as the Strahl finally reached the Necrohol of Cieloáh, Balthier steered the wheel slowly to find the same spot to land nearby. Liam was on the passenger's seat stood up to the window to look over the lost city, he'd never seen like any other remarkable and mysterious sites around Ivalice.
Cieloáh was a ruined city that lays off the northeast of the tiny island forty miles at the Temple of Nelveska. The city was composed of a series of small islands linked by the network of canals. It supposed to be a beautiful eternal city for more than a centuries ago where the residence of nobility, most of them were priests and commoners. But now, the city was a haunting place of dark elementals, entites and undead creatures and it's surrounded by Mist.
The Strahl found the same grassy spot next to the ruins where Balthier and Fran came the first and yet fatal time. She lowered down slowly as Balthier placed the airship in hover to land.
They climbed out from the airship and made their way to the wooden bridge across the shallow, sediment-choked canals that surround the islets of Cieloáh.
'Are you armed?' Balthier asked in waiting, as he pulls out his shotgun from his holster and place it on his shoulder.
'I'm armed, sir.' said Liam as he raises his katana from his belt.
'Call me Balthier from now on, Liam.'
'Okay, Mr. Balthier.' he forced a smiled and swallowed.
Ho-boy! Balthier thought himself irrationally as they moved slowly in eerie silence.
They walked in a half miles to the ruined city and finally approached through a ruined gate as Liam looked in awe. It was a huge, double walled encloses towers above them. It's fifty foot high ramparts glittering with sunlight refracted by crystals in the eight-million-year-old basalt. They went to the center of the temple, which protrude in a graceful, almost pagoda-like overhang-and the reason something it's architects were from the Pharos.
Liam looked up and turned around as he saw a mass of fog-like any other. 'This place...they're Mist?'
'Yes, they are.' Balthier said as he nods his head. He moves slowly to opened entrance to the temple.
Liam was walking slowly as he was still looking around the surrounded Mist, but he tripped suddenly by a small rock as Balthier caught the boy's hand.
In a sudden pause of his face, Balthier jumped his mind back long ago at the Phon Coast where he first caught on Ashe's hand before she fell on the sand. She look up at him as their eyes met in silence, gazed heavily with significance and such warmth. He could feel the softness of her skin and the warm sensation racing on his, concentrate his mind in memory as long as his fondness of his soul captures her.
But it's the same sensation on Liam's that Balthier disturbs himself.
'Balthier?
He didn't pay attention and it just stood there in silence.
'Hello. Are you okay?'
His eyes blinked into confusion. 'Huh?'
'You can let go my hand please.'
'Oh, sorry.' He shrugged with an embarrassed look as he let his hand go from his. He shook his head in frustration and utterly puzzled. Liam said nothing as he stood up his feet and picking up his katana on the ground.
What in Ivalice I am doing! He let go in his silly mind as he look back to the entrance. 'The city no longer exist after the Great War and then famine long ago. All of the resident died here.'
'Those poor souls.' Liam said slowly as he stood next to him. 'Why didn't they leave?'
'It's their sanctuary. No one leaves to the new world as long as they pleased. They remains to stay here for good and pray themselves before the bitter end.'
They stood silence as their heads turned around until a single elemental prowling around the ruined empty streets.
'Now stay close to me.' He was ready as he loaded his gun. 'Those bloody creatures around the area are so tricky what it seems.'
'Yes, I understand.' Liam nodded in timid. His left hand gripped tightly on the hilt.
Before they're entered, they set their Gambit modes as they cast magicks themselves on regen spells, and then Liam added protectga himself and to Balthier. The sky pirate walked slowly into the temple as the new partner following from him behind.
+-+-+-+-+-+
They went inside as they walked slowly through the central corridor. It was very dark and very steep. Balthier pulled out a pocket light from his pouch and switch it as they continued to move on. The temple had dimmed torches on the walls as they passed through the tunnel, as it seemed to go round in a spiral stairway.
'It's a long way down.' suggested Balthier.
Liam swallowed. Blood shivered his veins. 'Are you sure that stone is down there.'
'That's right.' he turned to the boy with a scornful look. 'You look tense, Liam.'
He shook his head quickly and patiently. 'No. I'm fine.' he said as he took his breath.
They continued on as they battled every single creature at the time. Liam took an easy thrust of his katana to kill the opponent. He was eager, quick and deadly as Balthier gazed to the boy's talent of skills. He's watching him sharply as the boy ducked and covered to attack against two Gargoyles. With a quick tense of temperament, he finished the last Gargoyle on a final single blow. He smiled triumphantly and nodded to Balthier as he gave a wink to Liam before they move on.
They went down below as they came to the center platform is a Way Stone. They touch the stone as they teleport to the huge ancient dome, the place was glowing it's firefly like crystals on the walls and around the whole area were spreading with Mist. The dome is a unreinforced concrete resting on a thick circular wall and they could see an opening at the top of the dome with its droplets of water came from the passage canals.
'Are we're lost?' Liam asked.
He move slowly and staring to the ancient paintings with scribbles on top of the dome. As if in reply to Balthier, a piercing horrible moaning filled around the room as he suddenly froze.
'Balthier...d-d-did you...hear that?' he replied with a stutter, nervously as Balthier signals his finger on his mouth to be silent. The sky pirate is still standing, clutching the grip of his shotgun. With an infinite calm, and stood there. Waiting and ready.
On the side of the passage emerge from the darkness, a gigantic green-like Anicient Wyrm. Unlike other wyrms, a shape between a reptile and a greater dragon with deadly web-like wings. This one is somehow as uniformed as a living nightmare.
Liam watches in horror. Terrifying as the creature screeched and growled echos straight at him and Balthier.
'So we meet again.' The sky pirate said in his contempt voice with a smirk to the creature.
The monster roared in horror as it rammed straight into them. Balthier aimed his shotgun and fired on one of the Ancient Wyrm's left face.
'Get back!' Balthier shouted at Liam as he pushed him hard and they're separate from each other as the Wyrm rammed straight against the wall.
The Wyrm crawled as he rammed into Balthier, he aimed his gun again and fired directly onto the eye of the howling monster. The Wrym's tail swung him hard and threw him down the ground.
''Balthier!' The boy cried to see the conscious pirate. He raised his arms quickly and open his hands as it's cast firaga magicks onto the Wyrm's wings into flames. The monster screamed in pain and stumbled, swatting its own face to knock away in agony.
The Wrym ran in circles a few times, then spotted Liam as he casts raise to Balthier.
'Oh, crap!' he murmured as he stance deep and drew his katana. 'I'll take over just take the shot!' then replies loudly to the pirate.
Balthier moved in stiff and stood on his knees as he cast himself on cura then he passed regan and shell to Liam, but...Blast it! He's running out of his MP.
'For Gods sake, be careful!' he shouted at him as he reloaded his gun again. 'And stay away from the spores! It will cast the status effects on you!
Liam ran towards the Wrym as he raises his sword until the monster breathes his deadly spell of foggy green spores and hit on Liam. Shit! That foolish boy wouldn't listened! Balthier enraged his name as he shoot once then twice to the monster's back. Until a surprise gaze on Balthier: Liam tumbling out from the spores after he took a deadly swing and cuts deep against the Wrym's achilles' heel.
The Ancient Wrym screams in horror as he lost its balance and collapse in a violent tremor that shook the entire floor is about to shake. The floor smashed open to pieces as Wrym fell to the chasm as Liam ran to the safer place but he lost his step, he let out a yelp and fell his lifeless body from the surface and from his master.
'Liam!' Balthier shouted out in fury as he ran to the collapsible open floor, he called his again as he can hear the echoes of Wyrm's shrieking roar. 'Gods damn it!' he said himself angrily as he found another spiral stairway below.
Liam you poor chap, don't die on me! Balthier's heartbeat skipped against his chest. His head felt dizzy as he reloaded his shotgun quickly, he's recovered easily and climbing down to the chasm.
To be continued...
Title - The Sky Pirate's Apprentice - City of Sacrifice
Rating - T (M for future chapters)
Characters - Balthier and OC character
Story - Set in post-game two years later between FFXII and Revenant Wings.
Summary - A partner's illness, a vicious foe, a sinister plot and a cursed stone. It's up for the leading man and his new recruit who may not be what it seems.
Disclaimer - This fic is my idea. All Final Fantasy XII characters/plot belong to SquareEnix.
Author's Note - This is for katmillia, first_seventhe, worbeest , phoenixblaze, deadlybeauty32, rouxroux, ensignbucket, Refi-Lewise, sapereaude13, Tora Glory, Ashe83, DarkBeliverAnge, Izzy Lawliet, tashachan28...and the beloved balthier_ashe fans and staff. WHEW!
It was mid dawn as the Strahl finally reached the Necrohol of Cieloáh, Balthier steered the wheel slowly to find the same spot to land nearby. Liam was on the passenger's seat stood up to the window to look over the lost city, he'd never seen like any other remarkable and mysterious sites around Ivalice.
Cieloáh was a ruined city that lays off the northeast of the tiny island forty miles at the Temple of Nelveska. The city was composed of a series of small islands linked by the network of canals. It supposed to be a beautiful eternal city for more than a centuries ago where the residence of nobility, most of them were priests and commoners. But now, the city was a haunting place of dark elementals, entites and undead creatures and it's surrounded by Mist.
The Strahl found the same grassy spot next to the ruins where Balthier and Fran came the first and yet fatal time. She lowered down slowly as Balthier placed the airship in hover to land.
They climbed out from the airship and made their way to the wooden bridge across the shallow, sediment-choked canals that surround the islets of Cieloáh.
'Are you armed?' Balthier asked in waiting, as he pulls out his shotgun from his holster and place it on his shoulder.
'I'm armed, sir.' said Liam as he raises his katana from his belt.
'Call me Balthier from now on, Liam.'
'Okay, Mr. Balthier.' he forced a smiled and swallowed.
Ho-boy! Balthier thought himself irrationally as they moved slowly in eerie silence.
They walked in a half miles to the ruined city and finally approached through a ruined gate as Liam looked in awe. It was a huge, double walled encloses towers above them. It's fifty foot high ramparts glittering with sunlight refracted by crystals in the eight-million-year-old basalt. They went to the center of the temple, which protrude in a graceful, almost pagoda-like overhang-and the reason something it's architects were from the Pharos.
Liam looked up and turned around as he saw a mass of fog-like any other. 'This place...they're Mist?'
'Yes, they are.' Balthier said as he nods his head. He moves slowly to opened entrance to the temple.
Liam was walking slowly as he was still looking around the surrounded Mist, but he tripped suddenly by a small rock as Balthier caught the boy's hand.
In a sudden pause of his face, Balthier jumped his mind back long ago at the Phon Coast where he first caught on Ashe's hand before she fell on the sand. She look up at him as their eyes met in silence, gazed heavily with significance and such warmth. He could feel the softness of her skin and the warm sensation racing on his, concentrate his mind in memory as long as his fondness of his soul captures her.
But it's the same sensation on Liam's that Balthier disturbs himself.
'Balthier?
He didn't pay attention and it just stood there in silence.
'Hello. Are you okay?'
His eyes blinked into confusion. 'Huh?'
'You can let go my hand please.'
'Oh, sorry.' He shrugged with an embarrassed look as he let his hand go from his. He shook his head in frustration and utterly puzzled. Liam said nothing as he stood up his feet and picking up his katana on the ground.
What in Ivalice I am doing! He let go in his silly mind as he look back to the entrance. 'The city no longer exist after the Great War and then famine long ago. All of the resident died here.'
'Those poor souls.' Liam said slowly as he stood next to him. 'Why didn't they leave?'
'It's their sanctuary. No one leaves to the new world as long as they pleased. They remains to stay here for good and pray themselves before the bitter end.'
They stood silence as their heads turned around until a single elemental prowling around the ruined empty streets.
'Now stay close to me.' He was ready as he loaded his gun. 'Those bloody creatures around the area are so tricky what it seems.'
'Yes, I understand.' Liam nodded in timid. His left hand gripped tightly on the hilt.
Before they're entered, they set their Gambit modes as they cast magicks themselves on regen spells, and then Liam added protectga himself and to Balthier. The sky pirate walked slowly into the temple as the new partner following from him behind.
+-+-+-+-+-+
They went inside as they walked slowly through the central corridor. It was very dark and very steep. Balthier pulled out a pocket light from his pouch and switch it as they continued to move on. The temple had dimmed torches on the walls as they passed through the tunnel, as it seemed to go round in a spiral stairway.
'It's a long way down.' suggested Balthier.
Liam swallowed. Blood shivered his veins. 'Are you sure that stone is down there.'
'That's right.' he turned to the boy with a scornful look. 'You look tense, Liam.'
He shook his head quickly and patiently. 'No. I'm fine.' he said as he took his breath.
They continued on as they battled every single creature at the time. Liam took an easy thrust of his katana to kill the opponent. He was eager, quick and deadly as Balthier gazed to the boy's talent of skills. He's watching him sharply as the boy ducked and covered to attack against two Gargoyles. With a quick tense of temperament, he finished the last Gargoyle on a final single blow. He smiled triumphantly and nodded to Balthier as he gave a wink to Liam before they move on.
They went down below as they came to the center platform is a Way Stone. They touch the stone as they teleport to the huge ancient dome, the place was glowing it's firefly like crystals on the walls and around the whole area were spreading with Mist. The dome is a unreinforced concrete resting on a thick circular wall and they could see an opening at the top of the dome with its droplets of water came from the passage canals.
'Are we're lost?' Liam asked.
He move slowly and staring to the ancient paintings with scribbles on top of the dome. As if in reply to Balthier, a piercing horrible moaning filled around the room as he suddenly froze.
'Balthier...d-d-did you...hear that?' he replied with a stutter, nervously as Balthier signals his finger on his mouth to be silent. The sky pirate is still standing, clutching the grip of his shotgun. With an infinite calm, and stood there. Waiting and ready.
On the side of the passage emerge from the darkness, a gigantic green-like Anicient Wyrm. Unlike other wyrms, a shape between a reptile and a greater dragon with deadly web-like wings. This one is somehow as uniformed as a living nightmare.
Liam watches in horror. Terrifying as the creature screeched and growled echos straight at him and Balthier.
'So we meet again.' The sky pirate said in his contempt voice with a smirk to the creature.
The monster roared in horror as it rammed straight into them. Balthier aimed his shotgun and fired on one of the Ancient Wyrm's left face.
'Get back!' Balthier shouted at Liam as he pushed him hard and they're separate from each other as the Wyrm rammed straight against the wall.
The Wyrm crawled as he rammed into Balthier, he aimed his gun again and fired directly onto the eye of the howling monster. The Wrym's tail swung him hard and threw him down the ground.
''Balthier!' The boy cried to see the conscious pirate. He raised his arms quickly and open his hands as it's cast firaga magicks onto the Wyrm's wings into flames. The monster screamed in pain and stumbled, swatting its own face to knock away in agony.
The Wrym ran in circles a few times, then spotted Liam as he casts raise to Balthier.
'Oh, crap!' he murmured as he stance deep and drew his katana. 'I'll take over just take the shot!' then replies loudly to the pirate.
Balthier moved in stiff and stood on his knees as he cast himself on cura then he passed regan and shell to Liam, but...Blast it! He's running out of his MP.
'For Gods sake, be careful!' he shouted at him as he reloaded his gun again. 'And stay away from the spores! It will cast the status effects on you!
Liam ran towards the Wrym as he raises his sword until the monster breathes his deadly spell of foggy green spores and hit on Liam. Shit! That foolish boy wouldn't listened! Balthier enraged his name as he shoot once then twice to the monster's back. Until a surprise gaze on Balthier: Liam tumbling out from the spores after he took a deadly swing and cuts deep against the Wrym's achilles' heel.
The Ancient Wrym screams in horror as he lost its balance and collapse in a violent tremor that shook the entire floor is about to shake. The floor smashed open to pieces as Wrym fell to the chasm as Liam ran to the safer place but he lost his step, he let out a yelp and fell his lifeless body from the surface and from his master.
'Liam!' Balthier shouted out in fury as he ran to the collapsible open floor, he called his again as he can hear the echoes of Wyrm's shrieking roar. 'Gods damn it!' he said himself angrily as he found another spiral stairway below.
Liam you poor chap, don't die on me! Balthier's heartbeat skipped against his chest. His head felt dizzy as he reloaded his shotgun quickly, he's recovered easily and climbing down to the chasm.
To be continued...