Calamity of the Serene
Brief Summary: As death slowly devours all of Dalmasca, Ashe is given a rare opportunity to save her kingdom. However, the consequences of her choice would unknowingly create an evil so great that all of Ivalice is placed into danger. Focused mostly around BaschxAshe, this story also contains a VaanxPeneloxLarsa triangle. There is also other pairings, but I will not post them here for fear of spoiling the plot.
WARNING: Contains graphic violence, sexual situations, and character deaths. Please don't read this if you can't handle any of that!
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the plot of this story and any original characters. Final Fantasy XII belongs to Square-Enix.
Author's Note: This story takes place six years after Vayne's death in Final Fantasy XII, and does NOT take into consideration any sequels. Therefore, Ashe is 25, Basch is 42 (gasp!), Vaan and Penelo are 23, Larsa is 18, and Balthier is 28. Fran probably looks exactly the same, damn her.
( C A L A M I T Y-of the-S E R E N E )
Prologue: Varra's Plague
The plague that wrought Dalmasca started as any great disease might begin: with no signs or symptoms. Airborne and invisible, researchers would later suggest that the plague came from the endless amounts of sands that surrounded Rabanastre. The plague seemed to have come from Rozarria's direction, but the larger kingdom had been spared, therefore creating much suspicion from the Dalmascan people.
It hit Rabanastre's children first but was thought of as a simple common cold. Sneezing and severe coughing were the only problems first shown, and local Healers prescribed rest and warm liquids to fend off the illness. Yet when coughing and sneezing turned into vomiting and bleeding through the pores of the skin, Dalmasca could no longer deny the growing problem.
A six-year-old blonde Hume girl by the name of Varra was the first to succumb to the plague. Her frantic mother brought her to the Rabanastre palace and begged entry, but was denied access to the gifted royal Healer's for fear that the plague would infect the inhabitants inside the castle. Varra died on the front palace steps, bleeding from her mouth and convulsing in her mother's arms as hundreds of onlookers watched the horrific scene. Researchers claimed Varra's body shortly after her death in order to dissect and study this new illness, and the disease was from then on known as The Varran Plague.
After Varra's death, hundreds of young children across the city began to die. With researchers struggling to develop a cure and failing at the task, the Queen of Dalmasca was left with no choice but to declare her kingdom in a state of emergency and seek outside aide. Even though Dalmasca was allied with Rozarria and Archadia and they both agreed to help, few souls dared journey to Dalmascan lands, especially when a couple of adult's began to show symptoms of the Varran Plague.
Many tried to flee the city, but the refugee's were turned away from other towns and countries in fear that the disease would spread.
The Queen sent her own personal Healers outside of the palace walls and into the city in order to help her people, but the disease would not be stopped. Six months after Varra had perished, about fifty percent of citizens under the age of twelve died, and riots broke out across the city. A great deal of murders began to take place, the victims mostly the suffering children. People assumed that if the infected were killed, then perhaps the disease could no longer spread.
Hundreds of pacifist people lined the steps outside the palace, simply waiting for a cure to be released to them.
The twenty-five year old Queen could do nothing more but stand on her balcony which overlooked the city, clutching a clean piece of cloth over her mouth and nose, and watch as her people suffered.
Unbeknownst to her, another Hume watched the slow deaths of the Rabanastre citizens. Yet where the Queen felt sorrow and fear, this Hume felt joy and pleasure. The cause of the Varran Plague was partly his doing, and seeing the death and destruction of thousands filled his empty heart with more satisfaction than he had ever known possible.
Every time a child breathed its last breath, he was granted more power, and in secret he plotted how to spread the wave of death upon all of Ivalice.
Chapter One: Service to Humanity
Deep inside the heart of the Archades' palace, Penelo slipped her hand into Vaan's and squeezed it tightly. He glanced down and over towards her, and she gave him a comforting yet frightened smile. The corners of his mouth pulled upwards as well, but the gesture was so forced that it meant nothing. The two twenty-three year old street rats were scared, but their pride kept them from letting their fear known. After all, they were in the presence of an Emperor, and therefore erratic emotions had to be controlled.
As she watched Lara Solidor scan over various papers before him on his cluttered desk, Penelo wondered why he had called her and Vaan to meet with him in the first place. After all, she had only seen him once in the last six years, and at this point assumed he had forgotten about her. He had stopped returning her monthly letters to him about two years ago, and his blatant neglect in turn ceased her writing as well. It was a strange thing, she had forced him completely from her mind, yet seeing him again had stirred up a whole slew of new emotions.
Especially since he had grown and changed physically so much in the last six years.
When he had met them at the entranceway to his palace, Penelo had halted in her tracks and gasped loudly- something she now regretted. Larsa had smirked at her initial surprise, seeming to know exactly why she was so taken aback: he resembled his brother Vayne quite well. When they first met when he was twelve years old, Penelo could clearly remember being able to see over his head. Now he towered over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and toned arms. Yet where his brother Vane had been muscular to the point of intimidating, Larsa remained lanky and thin. His facial structure resembled that of Vayne as well: high cheekbones and a strong nose and jaw had been attractive on Vayne, and Penelo was glad to see that Larsa had also inherited such eye-catching traits. Larsa's dark hair, Penelo quickly noticed, was styled exactly the same as it had been when he was younger. He swept his bangs from his left eye with a white-gloved hand before presenting them with a bow so low that Penelo wondered how a man could be so flexible.
Vaan and Penelo, ever the commoners, had forgotten to bow back. It hadn't mattered to Larsa, though, for he gave them a stern smile before leading them to his private office in the center of the castle.
As for now, Penelo twisted a strand of blonde hair between the index finger on her left hand while her right tightened its grip on Vaan's sweaty hand. Larsa had escorted them into the room and then wordlessly gone to his desk and begun to work. The two childhood friends didn't know what to do, so they sat awkwardly on a blood red couch that rested before Larsa's desk.
Their was a loud knock on the doors to Larsa's office followed by a stern looking Judge entering the room. Vaan and Penelo glanced up sharply, and Penelo instantly recognized the intricate helmet; Gabranth, or namely Basch, resided underneath the heavy armor. He closed the heavy doors behind him and then nodded in their direction before approaching the busy Emperor.
Standing beside Larsa's desk, Basch clasped his gloved hands behind his back and cleared his throat. "My Lord."
Larsa finally glanced up, and the smirk that formed on his face when he glanced towards Basch perplexed Penelo. Lord Larsa, she thought, seems so much more smug now.
Yet she was relieved when he turned to acknowledge their presence once again. With a wave of his hand, he motioned for them to stand and approach his desk. They complied, and Penelo released Vaan's hand.
"Forgive me," Larsa explained, his voice deeper yet sounding so similar to what Penelo remembered. "I am chest deep in work, you see. Penelo, Vaan- please allow me to explain why I have invited you here. I am to understand that you have been traveling Ivalice as of late, correct?"
The pair nodded in union but did not speak.
"Then it is fortunate you have not been in Dalmasca during these times of catastrophe," he continued, and Penelo forced herself not to wince when he mentioned the Varran Plague. The topic was a sore one for both her and Vaan, for they had many friends residing in Rabanastre, and it was unknown whether their friends lived or had died.
"Thus far I have been unable to publicly extend Archadia's arms out to aide Dalmasca, and for that I am shamed. However, I have had my researchers working in Draklor for possible cures to Dalmasca's ailment and I believe I have succeeded in my efforts."
"So ship over the cure, then," Vaan exclaimed, overly excited at the slight opportunity that his hometown could be saved.
"If only it were that simple," Larsa stated with a shake of his head. "You see, should I send my army out to Rabanastre, they would surely be attacked by civilians desperate for a cure. I cannot allow this kind of violence; enough death has already occurred."
He paused, pulling his lower lip into his mouth and biting down on it. Penelo frowned, not understanding. "So then why are you telling us this?"
Larsa released his lip and his face lit up brightly. "Ah, you both are the key to the success of this cure! People in Rabanastre know you and will not expect you to be carrying potential cures on your persons. A great deal is not needed, only enough to be delivered to the royal palace to be tested on those suffering from the plague. I have written Queen Ashe and she is already expecting you."
"But--" Vaan protested, obviously worried about the plan.
Larsa quickly stood and moved out from behind his desk. Striding past Basch, he approached Vaan and Penelo. He reached out and took one of their hands in each of his, squeezing down onto their flesh tightly as he looked at each of them.
"I understand the concerns you may have," he explained, once again biting his lip. "But you must do what I ask if you wish to ever see your home and friends again. I beg of you: Save Dalmasca."
Silence ensued. Realizing her mouth hung agape, Penelo quickly shut it and swallowed thickly. What Larsa was asking of them was great, and Penelo knew that should anyone find out that she and Vaan carried cures, then they would certainly be beaten to death. Yet she knew that she could not sit idly and know her friends died when she could have saved their lives. To Penelo, there was no option. She would go and if it meant dying, she would die bravely and knowing she had tried her best.
Vaan, however, looked much more ill than she. He frowned, his brow furrowed with concern. Penelo did not blame his concern, after all he had just gone from living the highlife in his new airship to being asked to give it up temporarily to go on a dangerous mission. It was a hard thing to think, but Penelo truly believed that Vaan would say no to Larsa's plea.
Vaan glanced up and met Larsa's eye, his face stern and emotionless. "Count me in."
Penelo's heart leapt in her chest and she felt incredibly pleased that Vaan had accepted. He had truly grown up, Penelo knew. But her pride toward Vaan was short-lived when she found all eyes on her, and she suddenly realized she hadn't answered.
"Of course I'll go," Penelo exclaimed. "Save Dalmasca? We've already saved Ivalice once, who says we can't do it again?"
Larsa beamed at her, and Penelo felt her own personal pride swell inside of her. The idea of an Emperor- no, an old and cherished friend- being proud of her meant a lot to her. She smiled back at the taller yet younger man, and she squeezed his hand back.
"It is settled, then," Larsa said as he released their hands and nodded. He turned and motioned towards the silent Basch. "Basch will accompany you both to Rabanastre- not dressed as a Judge, of course, but in common Dalmascan attire. Should any problems arise, he will be there to protect you or carry on your task."
Carry on the task, Penelo thought with another hard swallow. Larsa almost acts like he thinks we'll screw this up.
She ignored her pessimistic thought and turned to Basch, suddenly wishing she could look upon his face. She hadn't seen him once since Vayne's defeat, and she briefly wondered what he looked like after six long years.
"I will watch over you," Basch claimed, his rugged voice muffled beneath the mountains of metal and steel. "No harm will come to you in my presence."
His voice was full of conviction, and Penelo allowed herself to relax. After all, she knew that Larsa would never put her into a situation he didn't think she wouldn't be able to handle. Why else would he have asked them, and not some other more capable person?
"Right," Penelo said, forcing optimism from her throat. "Leave it to us!"
Basch again nodded in their direction. "We leave as soon as you are ready. I will await you in the aerodrome."
Basch saluted his Emperor and then pivoted and left the large office. Larsa then presented the pair with specific instructions: Head to the informatory down the hall- they have the potions waiting for them. Once in Rabanastre, they were to seek little contact with other persons yet not act 'weird'. They were to go as quick as possible to the palace, where the Queen would be waiting for them.
Penelo and Vaan inhaled deep breaths at the same time and cast each other nervous glances. A long trip was before them, but they knew that as long as they were together, they would survive whatever challenge awaited them.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading, please review. :) Hope this intro chapter didn't seem too boring, lots of character interaction ahead!