Summary; It's been 2 years since the Bahamut. Larsa and Penelo are engaged, Basch is captain of the army of Rabanastre, Ashe has been repairing Rabanastre after the it has once again been freed and Balthier and Fran have returned to skypirating, searching for treasures. But what of Vaan? And what about the talks of a strange creature in the Nabreus Deadlands that has defeated every hunter that challenges it? When Balthier and Fran hear about it they immediately take the hunt, but why does the creature act so strangely, and who's the stranger that's following them?

Disclaimer; I do not own Final Fantasy 12, except as a copy of the game on my PS2.

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A breeze rustled the branches and leaves that littered the forest path, and Fran Smiled.

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Heading Home

The Viera of Eruyt Village paused as a breeze blew through their village. The leaves rustled as they listened intently to what was being said by the Jungle. Some of them looked shocked and surprised, others seemed angered, the emotions appearing on their faces would have surprised any of Ivalice's races if they had not the news, and indeed many didn't, only two people did, another Viera and a Hume skypirate, who at this moment were emerging from the ground, their arrival unnoticed save for the eyes of the creatures of Giruvegan.

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Balthier, along with Jytr followed Vaan as his enormous, lumbering form led them up around the crystal towards the exit of the ancient city, the few monsters that attacked them quickly being dispatched with a few shots of bullets and well aimed arrows, the others that lingered in the ancient chamber seemed to either be too scared, or had the sense, to avoid the creature referred to as the Myst.

"So you are the ones who defeated Vayne two years ago," Balthier mentally rolled his eyes at the way Jytr, like all other Viera, managed to make her question sound like a statement.

"Yes,"

"Along with Fran?" this time it sounded almost accusing.

"Yes, why do you dislike her so much?" they couldn't see it but they knew Vaan was listening intently to their conversation.

"She left the woods; she left her life as a Viera behind,"

"Isn't that her choice to make?"

"Yes, but…" Balthier's head snapped over to Jytr as she trailed off, surprised.

"But?"

"My sister's left the woods almost 20 years ago, I have not seen them since," Balthier doubted Jytr realised it, but a small tear was sitting in the corner of her eye.

"Then why do you not go looking for them?" Vaan's voice piped up, sounding strange coming from the giant beast he now was.

Balthier looked at him with a quirked eyebrow, "To leave the woods once is to leave and never be able to go back Vaan," Vaan grunted and shook his huge head.

"That is true, but not the only reason, my place is in the woods, I know that if we isolate ourselves completely from the outside world we will fade from history, and yet, I am scared, scared of both outcomes, I do not want to leave, but I do not want to stay,"

Balthier only just stopped in time to avoid colliding with Vaan's tail as he stopped suddenly in surprise, the sky pirate didn't blame him, a Viera admitting she was scared was a rare occurrence.

"We all fear the future Jytr, no one knows what will happen as a result of our choices, we didn't know whether we would win or lose when we fought Vayne, even Fran and I were scared of what might have happened, it is nothing to be ashamed of,"

"Just do what you feel is right," Vaan chipped in as large claw swiped away a Vivian that tried to feed on the Mist surrounding him.

Jytr looked at the pair, her face void of any emotion, "Thank you,"

"You're welcome," Vaan replied as he resumed walking, they were nearing the exit now and a pale, frosty light pierced the opening.

"We should be home soon," Balthier murmured to himself.

"What is home to you Balthier?" Jytr asked.

"…I used to say the sky was my home, but now," Balthier sighed, "I do not entirely know, only that I will know when I see it," his eyes flickered to Vaan, who was ignoring them as he rushed towards the light, eager to be outside and see the sky again with his friends, Blathier hurrying after him.

Jytr paused, watching the pair of them with quizzical eyes, "I see," she murmured to herself as she calmly went after them.

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Sorry this chapter took so long to be posted, but, like with my other stories, I haven't been able to write, hopefully I'll have another update for it soon, but anyway, Read, Enjoy and please, Review, I love hearing your comments!