Discliamer: I don't own anything.

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Proulog

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"HELP!" Fran's ears perked up at the noise.

"Balthier, do you hear that?" The sky pirate looked at his Viera partner.

"Hear what?" he asked.

"HELP!" the voice shrieked again. That time Balthier heard it.

"Should we check it out?" Fran nodded and they headed in the voice's direction. The sight they found at the source shocked them.

Ashe pressed both her hands against the middle of the former Marquis' stomach. Blood stained her hands and his shirt. He seemed barely conscious and she seemed panicked.

"Lady Ashe?" Ashe looked up to see Fran and Balthier standing in front of her by Ondore's other side.

"Fran!" she shouted. "Balthier!"

"What happened?" Fran asked, removing Ashe's hands and examining the wound.

"We were talking a walk and we were ambushed. They had swords. Uncle Halim proteced me. He's hurt!"

"Balthier, comfort her while I take care of Ondore."

"I-I'm fine," Ondore suddenly muttered. His grey-blue eyes shifted direction to look at Balthier, who had Ashe's face buried in his shoulder. "Ashelia, are you all right?"

"Y-yes," Ashe choked, nodding.

"Ondore do not talk," Fran said, stripping him of his coat. He looked at her. "You will lose too much energy." She casted Cure but it did little even despite her skills.

Ondore closed his eyes. The wound hurt him bad. He suppressed a moan.

"Dalmasca just got its princess back," he said. "I couldn't let it lose her again."

"We must get you to your house and get doctors," Fran told him. "My magic is not working for some reason." Ondore coughed. Blood spurted out of his mouth. "And we must hurry." She looked at Balthier. "Take Ashe and find some doctors. I will take him back to his house."

Balthier nodded and took Ashe, who grabbed Ondore's coat and clutched it to her, to find some doctors.

Then, without warning, everything went black for the former Marquis.