A/N: I really need to stop this. Another self insert? Can you say, addiction? Well, it was either FFXII or Shadow of the Colossus…how would that one even work, anyways?

Oh, by the way, I hit another minor road block in ToM, so I'm putting that off for a while longer. Hopefully this will appease your probably impatience with me.

Disclaimer: I don't own the sexy sky pirate named Balthier, the adorable Larsa Solidor, or anyone else in that game.

BTW, I'm starting this during my first play through of the game, and have not seen the ending. Please no spoilers.

Fantasy is Reality

"No! NO! DON'T KILL THE BABY!" I screamed as the black chocobo pecked Larsa nearly to death. Just as Balthier fired his crossbow and finished off the offending bird, the other remaining chocobo finished the job. "Darnit. He killed my baby." I had Ashe cast Raise, bringing the adorable kid back to life so he could hi-potion himself to health again.

I grumbled to myself as the screen flickered slightly darker, and the sound became quiet. That was the fifth time it had done it within two minutes. Leaning forward, I smacked the side of the television, causing it to return to normal. Just as I was leaning back into the butterfly chair, the screen blacked out. That was new.

"No!" I shouted. "Dude, no!" I smacked my hand against the side of the screen repeatedly, growing desperate when nothing was happening. "Duuuuuuude!"

I fell back, groaning in defeat. Again, a surprise: the TV fixed itself. The problem being, it was on the start screen, and New Game was the only option. I yelped, reaching to reset the PS2 to see if the memory card's data had been completely destroyed, but even as I hit the button over and over, panicking (I was borrowing the PS2 and memory card from my sister's boyfriend), the screen flashed a brighter color than it should have, and it became white. At this point I stopped playing with the button and tried to run for the door, thinking the TV was going to explode, but my hand barely got to the wall so I could launch myself out faster when the entire room went white, and I was floating.

After what seemed an eternity of the whiteness, and after I had stopped panicking, I heard a voice.

"People of Rabanastre. Is it with hatred that you look upon your Consul? With hatred, you look upon the Empire?"

I frowned. That…was Vayne Solidor…right? I heard people shouting back at him, sounding angry.

"There was little point in asking. But know this: I harbor no idle hopes of frustrating that hatred. Nor shall I ask your fealty. That is the due of your fallen kind and rightly…"

The voice faded, and I suddenly became aware of the face that I was falling, in the direction I was facing away from.

"!" I screeched, flailing as I saw the first cloud pass me by. Realizing what was happening, I began to laugh hysterically at the fact that I FINALLY got to do something cool with my life, before starting to scream again. I hadn't even beaten the game yet.

About a second after Vayne's voice finally reached my ears once more, I heard screams, and then…

I stopped moving. I had landed.

On a person.

I choked on a breath of air, rolling off the poor guy or girl sluggishly as I stammered apologies.

There was a rushing, clunking sound, and I felt my paranoia spring up as a bunch of people wearing suits of armor—imperials—surrounded us, some rushing forward, though none of their words were making sense as I struggled to my knees, only to be hauled up by one of those imperials.

"You! How dare you-"

I screamed, trying to pull my arm away, but to no avail. The man was too strong, and I was looking death in the eye, I just knew it…

"Release the lady!" a voice behind me commanded. It took me a moment to register that he was behind me, of course, and by the time I had my head turned, the guard had let my arm go and all the ones who had surrounded us were backing up. I ended up falling to the ground once more, but that hardly bothered me.

Taking note of the waving brown hair and the features (though he looked ruffled up a bit, and I realized I had fallen on him and actually felt a bit guilty for the lying jerk), I opened my mouth to blurt "Vayne," but he spoke first.

"Is milady hurt?" he asked, getting down on one knee as he extended a hand.

Okay, think, how do you address an asshole in front of a crowd of people who will kill you at a moment's command?

"No, Your Majesty."

Mental Self-Punch!

He took my hand—I realized I had reached partially towards his without realizing it, and stood up, bringing me with him. Looking around, I almost became sick. People were staring at me. At him. At us.

It took everything I had to stand up once I (politely and discreetly) removed my hand from Vayne's.

Now, how to explain my falling from the sky…?

Needless to say, people were now gazing at me with awe. I wondered if there were any airships I could blame my falling on? I looked up. Nope. Not one.

Vayne started to say something, and I started to listen, but my focus immediately shifted to two people in the back of the crowd.

Upon squinting, I recognized them vaguely.

Vaan and Penelo.

Short, yes, but sweet, in my opinion. Perfect for stopping if I decide not to continue.