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.

Set in post-game two years later between FFXII and Revenant Wings.

Disclaimer - This story is my idea. Places and characters are my own. All Final Fantasy XII characters/plot belong to SquareEnix.

Author's note - My first fic The Love Inside still on WIP. Here's a latest fic right now.

Also, a very special thanks to DarkBelieverAnge to arranged/edit all of my fics. Thank U *hugs and cries*.

Chapter 1

The Leading Man Needs a Supporting Role

Year 708 Old Valendian

'What the hell happened out there, Balthier?' Vaan demanded as he walked long strides to keep up with Balthier, who wanted nothing more in the world than to be left alone. 'I'm glad you're not hurt.'

'Damn, you want to know what happened, don't you?' he said.

And so the two sky pirates were complaining and chatting to each other as they walked through the streets of Gallerina Marketplace at the Balfonheim Harbor. In summer, it was the busiest place in town. Any person could hear the calls of merchants selling good from weapons to magicks and technicks. There was scurrying sound of delivery boys making fast deliveries for money.

'Fran and I- we were searching for the single bloody stone.' Balthier continued. 'It was a simple job...Gods it's worse...' then his tone turned to disappointment. 'We didn't know.'

'So that means you guys been ambushed?'

Balthier sighed disgust. 'Yes.'

'Ouch!'

'We didn't know! Alright?'

'And Fran?'

He hesitates. 'I took her away from there. Those poisonous magicks were threatening her life. I didn't know what it was so I casted esuna and used antidotes, but it still doesn't work. She's at her home right now at Euryt Village. Looks like Jote found another way to cure her.'

'How long will it take?'

Two or three weeks.'

'Poor Fran.' Vaan fumed abruptly. 'So is there's a way? What are you going to tell that your customer of yours? Are you going to give up and tell him find someone else?'

'No way.' Balthier sneered. 'There's a special reward for Fran and me. He wants that stone badly.'

'So why is this stone?'

He took his breath and sighed with his mouth tightened. 'It's a wedding gift, he said.'

'So he came here to you?' Vaan chuckled and then laughed. 'That moron wanted this stone? A wedding gift?'

'This isn't funny, Vaan.' he said in annoyance.

Then he stopped walking. 'So what kind of stone was it?'

He shook his head slowly as his both hands placing casually on his hip and he stared over at the wharf.

'The Briolette of Aieval.'

'The Briolette of Aieval.' said repeatedly. 'Never heard of it.'

Balthier continued. 'It's a rare colorless stone. It was named after the fictional fairy goddess. And it's the oldest diamond on record in the world of Ivalice. During the centuries ago, the original owner named Prince Avishael of Romando presented it to his mistress as a gift–a symbol of requited secrecy and eternal love. That diamond has taken by his jealous wife and it disappeared into history without a trace. But according to Avishael's ancient secret archives at the Archadian Library, it's located somewhere in the inner temple of his wife's birthplace at the Necrohol of Cieloáh.'

Vaan whistled high and low. 'Worth a pretty penny, eh?' he said as he cupped his chin. 'I've been that place before. It's where Penelo and I went on a hunt some time ago. That tough place is a full of Mist.'

'So, how about it? Ratsbane.'

'Huh?' his eyebrows widened in surprise.

Balthier walked towards him and took a sly grin. 'A leading man needs a company, with your help of course.' he chucked and laid his hands on Vaan's shoulders, giving it a gentle squeeze. 'Let's share the money, my friend. Fifty-fifty. What do you say?'

Vaan looked a bit puzzled. 'I'd like to go, but I can't.'

'You can't?'

'I can't.'

'Vaan, I need a hand here!'

'I know...but I'm sorry, man. Kytes and I were going to the Oceana Temple. We've already planned everything. And besides, I can't postpone the plans because of the upcoming weather changes.'

Balthier scratched his head in desperate. 'Look, it's a very important hunt.' he hissed. 'He want's that stone and he need's it for his bride before his bloody wedding day!'

'So when was it?'

He raised head above and looked onward. He turned back to Vaan. 'The first day of the month.'

The youngster declared, 'That's the day of Queen Ashe's wedding.'

A jolt went through Balthier's heart gave a quick reaction as Vaan gave him a wary look. 'Balthier, are you alright?'

'What?'

'I mean your face...er, you look–'

'It's nothing.' he turned away from him and looked to the open seas. His arms folded on his chest and silent.

Vaan moved beside him. 'You're jealous of her, huh?'

The blaze of anxiety and deep emotions arose at the thought of having to face Ashe again, because of the long ago during the civil war between two nations. From the beginning, he privately despised her because of her royal snobbery and spitefulness, then sometime later they became close. Not intimately, but slightly platonic friendship between a sky pirate and a princess. Each shared the moments of their troubled past–he lost his father because of Nethicite, and she lost her husband to defending Nabradia. They shared the moment of bond and mutual respect in the world of sorrow that seemed to never end.

But it was too late to see her again. It has been at least two years after he cheated death at the Sky Fortress Bahamut to save the city of Rabanastre. He hadn't seen her since that day, and he sent the letter and ring as payment for something that he felt he owed her. After her coronation, it was hard to get a hold of her to talk privately.

'Are you going to be okay?' Vaan asked again.

'Vaan, I'm not jealous.' he said with a suppressed laugh. 'I'm glad she's happily engaged to this Lord Raed. What's more? She's a Queen now and it's her duty to her kingdom.'

Vaan looked the expression Balthier's face and felt melancholic. He'd never seen his friend's cocky personality change after they left from the Purvama Lemurés.

'Hey, we could see her someday before the wedding.' Vaan said firmly.

His head shook lightly. 'I don't know, Vaan...' then doubt with an answer. '….in that case, we'll see her someday.'

After a long silent and hesitation, Vaan finally smiles at him. 'Hey, don't act like that. Why don't you just take time off for a while. Find a partner for you. It's easy, huh? And when you're going to see this love sick groom-to-be for the stone and get the good reward for you?'

He glanced at Vaan as he went back to his cocky self. 'As long as I have the Aieval with me.'

'Good point.' he said with a rest of his hand on Balthier's shoulder and walked away. 'I've better get going. Kytes is a very impatient brat, even if he's a sky pirate.'

'Now you two be more careful.' he called out at Vaan. 'And don't be so reckless.'

'You sound like Penelo.' Vaan rubbed his nose.

He scoffed.

'And please tell Fran to get well from me!' he called to Balthier and wave d his hand as he ran away.

'Fine then.' Balhier called out and waved his hand back at Vaan. 'Take care, you fool!'

As Vaan said goodbye and disappeared from the marketplace, Balthier looked back at the wharf.

Still deep in thought, he stood in silence again. He couldn't stop thinking of the beguiling Queen Regnant of Dalmasca. In the most overwhelming feeling in his life, it was so agonizing that he wanted to confront her again.

It was not the jealousy. It was the physical desire.

It's not kind of place to bring your family, Balthier thought in a sly humor as he's alone peacefully on his best table next to the open window at the Whitecap. He finished the last drink of ale and he ordered another one as he watched the sunset over the sea.

The barroom was crowded like most of the time. Sky pirates lounged around, sharing vulgar conversations over many cups of ale. Barmaids served the drinks in the background, while making comments to the customers so that the peace would not be disturbed. Loud music laced the background, as Gerty the moogle played on and on. It was the type of environment where a man could forget all of his normal thoughts.

Balthier stood quietly as he leaned forward on the table to rest. He folded his arms as his eyes dropped to the empty mug, then an older blonde barmaid placed a replacement in front of him.

'Here you go, luv.' The barmaid said sweetly to him. 'Drinks on the house.'

'Why thank you, dear Enora.' Balthier said in a charmed manner and a smile at her with a wink.

Enora smiled gracefully. 'So how's my dear Fran?'

'Her sister told me that Fran's recovering fine. She needs some more rest before she can move on.'

Enora frowned as she took an empty mug from Balthier's table. 'The poor girl.' she said maternally. 'I can't believe those pesky fiends are so annoying.'

He chuckled at her as he picks his mug. 'Well, it's true.'

She looked demandingly at him. 'And don't tell me you're going back there. That places smells like death!''

'How am I supposed to do without Fran, Enora?'

'You have give up, Balthier. I know these are hard times, but you need to find something else to earn your keep.'

He forced a smile. 'Don't worry about me. I'll be fine and I'll find someone to assist me.'

'Any luck?'

Balthier shook his head after he finished drinking. 'Nope. I asked Rikken for help. But he didn't respond to me.'

The cheerful and motherly Enora comforted Balthier as she gave him a gentle squeeze on his shoulders. 'Cheer up, my dear boy. There's dozen of poor lads right here in Balfonheim. Maybe you should get an apprentice perhaps. Remember you taught Vaan about your sky pirating during the problems with the Empire?'

I don't have an apprentice. He remembered long ago with fellow sky pirate Reddas who sacrificed himself as he impaled the Sun Cryst at the Pharos Lighthouse. That fool asked him the same thing in a smart but annoying way.

'My darling Enora. You've softened me.' he replied casually.

'I'm just helping you in order to save your behind.'

He sighed finally as he stretched out his arms. 'Well, looks like I'm going to find a better way with or without an apprentice. If I don't find one, I'm going back there by myself.'

'Look here, Balthier.' she warned him. 'You can't go there alone! And don't you know what happened to Fran–'

He stood up from the chair and he gave a few tip of gil for her. He gave her a suave charming sky pirate-like grin. 'Enora, don't you forget the story of my life–'

She sighed in distress. 'You're the leading man.' she corrected at him. 'And the leading man never dies. But you need a supporting role.'

He chuckled as he kissed lightly on Enora's cheek. 'I'd better go–'

'Don't you ever dare call to her that!' a youth yelled from another table.

Balthier saw at the distance table there was a drunken pirate sitting and he was being harassed by a young boy who looked exactly the same age as Vaan. From his looks, Balthier suspected the boy was from the gentry class and from a foreign country or a fellow privateer. The boy wore black short breeches and a white tunic covered by a dark gray vest. His lower knee was covered in white stockings and he had black sandals. The foreigner carried a dagger, a sword and carried a pouch around his belt. His short dark hair was fringe covered above his eyebrows. Even Balthier could see the boy's features with his pale skin but he had fairly thin mustache. What kind of a strange lad was he with a thin mustache like that. Balthier thought of the boy's description.

'How dare I?' the vulgar named Druas scoffed as he turned the boy away. 'You mean that I called this sweet supposed virgin Queen a sweet whore. The Gods have been merciless on her since she lost her husband in the war, and has been spreading her legs for every–.'

'What was that?' the boy sputtered at the man in agitation.

Druas accidentally spilled his ale on his mouth and coughed. He stood up and turned toward the boy. He had a sarcastic look of his face.

'Listen, boy.' he hissed sweetly as he wiped his spilled ale on his mouth. 'Why don't you get lost. Go back to Dalmasca and tell your lovely Queen I will see her at the altar. Apologize to her for me. I'll be the one on top of her during our wedding night, so tell her-'

But his indecent teasing was interrupted when he screamed in pain from the blow in his groin. The patrons of the pub looked on in disgust at him. He collapsed onto his knees on the floor while groaning in pain.

'Sick bastard!' the boy screamed violently as the bald pirate named Cestmir moved up behind, held him cruelly and bent the boy's arms behind the boy's back. 'Let go of me, Marlboro breath!'

'That ball-kicking brat!' Druas snarled in pain as he stood up. He body almost lost his balance when he was on his feet. 'You'll pay for this boy!'

'Both of you'll be hanged for this, pirate!' the boy added deliberate to them, but his arm felt tightly on Cestmir's.

'He's a toughie, eh?' Cestmir mused as he held the boy still. 'You have to apologized to my partner, kid.'

'Go to hell!'

'Apologize!'

'Fiends! You both are monstrous fiends!'

Druas took a dagger from the boy's belt as he advanced on him. The helpless boy was yelling, his tearful eyes widen in terror.

'Hey! Don't do this!' Comyn the publican snapped at him. 'Not in my pub–'

'Shut up, you fuck!' Druas yelled at the owner and then turned back to the boy. Cestmir grabbed the boy's face and showed it to Druas. 'Now then, let's get started on that handsome face of yours. Your virgin Queen will shocked at this...now stay still–''

Druas smile cruelly as his complete concentration focused on making the boy suffer. Cestmir smiled in cruel appreciation.

'I've have enough of that nasty and vulgar mouth of yours, Druas.' a sly Archadian voice came from behind him. 'Don't hurt the poor lad's feelings and his boyish face.'

The two men look in surprise toward Balthier who stood with poise and his arms folded on his chest. Every patron turned to him, murmured a oh dear Gods and a uh-oh word with a prayer. Gerty the Fiddler is on the top of the hanging light, swallowed nervously in a gulp with a kupo sound.

'Back off, Balthier!' You're not in my league!' Druas snapped derisively.

'I must say your bark is more worse than your bite.' Balthier said mockingly as he cocked his head in a impressive manner. 'Be a gentleman, and let the boy go.'

'Like hell I won't!'

'Temper, Druas. Temper. I just want to be nice, that's all.''

'Are you trying to be a hero, or looking for a death wish?' Cestmir added in a sneer.

Balthier smirked at Druas' partner. 'In that case, I just love the way your head would look like rotted chocobo egg to crack a shell on my fist. Awfully disgusting image, isn't it? '

A burst of laughter came from the customers stormed as Cestmir face in red of flames. 'That's it!' he beamed as he pushed the boy away and landed on the floor. 'I'll show my own fist you arrogant son of a–' he started to swing his fist first but he was caught by the boy's tricky foot as he stumbled backwards clumsily into the table along with scattering drinks and two burly men fell over.

Outrage as the first man pushed Cestmir violently as he hits his fist on his face then the second man came alone to fit him but Cestmir landed another fist as he collapse to the crowd spreading the fight itself. Druas turned to Balthier on a fight but he also caught by the boy's swinging foot as he stumbles forwards into another table. This time, an angry eye patched patron ruined his drink on his shirt as he stood up his feet pulling Druas up and punched Druas' nose on his hard fist, and he pushing him together to the other patrons.

The place erupted into storm of frenzied cries and screams of patrons and locals disperse into an all–out war themselves as the barroom brawl begins...

And they're everywhere in chaos, scattered and mayhem: every patrons–Humes and non Humes throwing each other through windows and smashing all manner of chairs, flying bottles and mugs, and tables over each other's heads as Gerty the Fiddler sighed himself stood to the hanging light, continued to play the another happy tune.

And it was madness: One local pirate tackled another pirate as they crashing into the table with spilling drinks of ale and remains of food. Another brawler lifted a frenzied Bangaa and tossed out of the front glass stained window. Then another patron, a Seeq throwing himself onto the other brawlers, as they're both screamed. And then another, this time a Hume one bashed the bottle into the other opponent's head, almost flipping backwards before crashing to the floor. And finally, a pirate's pet cub wolf–a Silver Lobo is yapping and snapping at any opponent's legs he can reach.

Even one of the barmaids using her tray to weapon to hit on of the brawler's head then to the next.

Balthier moved away as he blocked a swing from another patron and landed another fist on the other. He caught an eye of a young boy crawling on the floor, finding a way out. He finally off guard on him and picked him up on the back of the boy's vest.

'Keep your filthy hands of me, you bastard of a pirate!' the boy gasped aloud and shouted in anger. His legs swing against his but it missed. 'Let me go!'

'Watch your language, young fella.' he snapped in a sly manner. 'And you're too young to welcome here in this madhouse!'

'Like hell you do, you arrogant pig!' he yelled again. 'I said let me go or I'll–'

'Shut up! Or I'll have you hanged!' Balthier snapped him again as he drags the angry boy. They reached to exited the Whitecap, shielded away from the flying bottles and brawlers.

'Oh Gods, please!' Comyn raised his hand to pay attention pleadingly to the brawlers to stop. 'In the name of Faram, everyone stop! Stop this madness of viole–'

But the publican was knocked out by a flying mug behind his head then collapsed flat to the floor.

On Gerty the Fiddler's tune during the barroom brawls, I added the tune called 'Irish Jig' from Final Fantasy VIII soundtrack on youtube or it's one of my FF playlist on my iTunes library. Plus I made these amusing scene of a homage to a Western classic called Dodge City (you might find out also on youtube), and I can't stand all the no-holds-barred violence around there. And it's so amusing and I want add it. R&R please ^_^...KUPO!