Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII. Everything therein belongs to Square-Enix. No profit is being made with this work.

The Song of Dalmasca

First Movement: Serenade

The sun's gentle rays caressed her face. She heard the soft chirping of flittering doves above; their song painted a smile across her lips. She rode atop a grand platform pulled by several golden, fine-feathered chocobos that were raised for such occasions. Their ornamental harnesses glistened in the sun.

Before the carriage, many races marched in her honor. In the front, a lone Nu Mou held flags in both hands. A band of short, furry Moogles followed behind, playing woodwinds as the swine-like Seeq made their way after them, beating on drums and blowing into trumpets. People lined the streets, cheering and whistling as her carriage continued towards the chapel entrance.

The celebratory music amplified the atmosphere tenfold. Emotions were evoked within her, and she hoped they carried over throughout the crowds.

Happiness. Prosperity. Hope. These were things she wished for her people.

It was a joyous day. Princess Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca and Lord Rasler Heios, the Prince of Nabradia who stood at her side, were to wed.

The Princess knew that much of the public viewed the marriage as one of convenience and necessity. Political tensions bloomed throughout Ivalice, their roots held fast by the advancing forces of Archadia, a nation bent on domination. A marriage between the daughter of Dalamasca's king and the son of Nabradia's would secure another ally in the coming battles. Many doubted any underlying notion of love between the two, but she cared not for their gossip.

She turned towards Rasler. There was love. That was perhaps the one thing she felt sure of in her life in that moment. She loved him. She felt it in the way he held her hand. She could see it in the way his eyes lit up before they kissed. She felt it in the way they touched and in the way her heart beat against her chest as their moment neared.

And she felt that all of that was enough for her.

She smiled.

-
A bit different than the normal things I put forward, this is going to be a collection of short one-shots illustrating the opening scenes of the game, leading from the Princess' wedding up until the disastrous outcome of the Battle of Nalbina Fortress. Each story is presented as a portion – or movement - of the overall project that I've titled The Song of Dalmasca. I think it fits, as these events really shape what Dalmasca represents in the game itself. Depending on how all of this goes, I'm looking at writing a Final Fantasy XII novelization opposite of my Final Fantasy X one. So, we'll see where this all leads.

This first one-shot outlines the wedding parade for Ashe and Rasler. I saw it as a serenade because it's mapping out the feelings before their official union and it reminded me, somehow, of a man serenading a flattered woman from outside her window, what with all the music and celebration and her standing at Rasler's side.

Yeah, it's short and to the point, but I didn't want to really show anymore than this in the opening part. The goal of this is to just sort of paint a picture of emotion.

Until the next movement.