Author's Note:
Hello! Thanks for taking interest in my story. This is after the end of XII, and doesn't take into consideration any sequels.
As much as I crave the AshexBalthier pairing, I adore BaschxAshe as well... So, why not make a love triangle between the three? The final pairing at the end of this will be... well, you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? XD
This story is currently rated T, but will most likely be shifted over to rated M in the future. Be warned. There will be sexual situations, violence, and character deaths.
C A R N I V O R E
Chapter One: The Savior
It'll take time, but in a while
You're gonna be mine and I know it,
We'll do it in style
-Sunshine Superman
Ashe's lower lip began to tingle. Instinctively, she released it from underneath her teeth. She tasted blood, and a slow smile formed over her mouth.
I bit my lip so hard I bled, she thought wildly. That is what he does to me. Soon. Be patient. He will be here soon.
The idea of seeing him again drove her mad. She had known him for as long as she could remember. He had watched over her, taught her, talked to her. He had been her schoolgirl crush. She used to have innocent, childish dreams about him.
And then he murdered her father. Or, so she had thought.
When they had met again, she hated him something fierce. Her foolish crush on him never returned.
But if that was true, why was her heart pounding so urgently inside her chest?
In her hand she held a short, simple letter that had arrived for her that afternoon. The contents read: Your Majesty. We will come for you soon. Be warned! -Balthier and Fran
She smiled as she reread the letter. A visit from the sky pirates thrilled her equally as much as seeing the Judge.
She stood from her plush bed and moved across the room to her vanity table. Placing her palms firmly against the desk, she leaned forward and stared at herself hard in the mirror. Her reflection gazed back at her, and she felt shivers slide down her spine. Her blonde hair hung loosely on her shoulders; her pale skin smooth and flawless. She flashed a smile at herself, confident in her stern beauty and personality. Still, she was nervous. She hadn't seen him in, oh, how long had it been again?
Two years.
Two long, blissful years.
She had grown more carefree in that amount of time, in both her looks and attitude. Her usual shoulder length hair now cascaded in light waves down to her breasts. Her thin frame had filled out slightly, but the tiny bit of extra weight only accentuated her hour-glass figure. Her face, once worn with despair, was now filled with life and pleasure.
She was happy.
She had been Queen for nearly a year and a half, and was now twenty-one years of age, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. After all, she had worked tremendously hard to make it where she was, and thought it foolish to not embrace her position. The parties, the people, the power. It was all so invigorating.
Yet life as Queen was not all fun and games. She continued to work hard. She had completely restored Dalmasca, managed to lower taxes, and still had enough wealth to give her people what they wanted. Her life was busy, but that was the way she wanted it.
After all, she was never good at just sitting and doing nothing.
Her blue eyes traveled from her face down to her neck. Her wedding ring to Rasler hung around a silver chain. When Balthier had sent it back to her last year, she had fashioned it to a necklace. She swore she would never take it off again- that it would grace her neck forever. To remind of her of how she had felt- the pain, the loss- so she would remember the sacrifices people had made.
A light knock sounded on her closed bedroom door. She knew what it meant. She pulled back away from the mirror, fingering the ring carefully between her fingers.
He is here, finally, she thought, feeling dizzy from anticipation. After two years, we can see each other at last.
Turning, she moved swiftly towards to door.
Two years, and she would finally get to see Basch Fon Ronsenberg again.
He found the garden that rested behind Rabanastre's grand castle to be quite beautiful; more beautiful than he had ever remembered. His eyes were greeted by many varieties of flowers, most of which he didn't know the name of, after all he had never been good at learning more trivial information. He wondered if the Queen had the garden redone after her coronation, but then quickly decided that his amazement was due to the fact that he had been absent for two years.
Placing his hands behind his armored back, he watched the flowers sway gently in the warm breeze. It was sweltering out- one of the warmest days of the season- and his Judge outfit and helmet only amplified the sultry temperature. He could feel the beads of sweat beginning to form on his skin, and casually wondered how much longer he would have to wait for her. Patience, however, was one of his strongest suits, and therefore he didn't mind waiting. Besides, it gave him time to collect his thoughts.
He was nervous to see her again.
The last time they had been parted for two years, she had cursed his name. She had hit him and hated him.
"After what you've done! How dare you! You're supposed to be dead!"
He twitched involuntarily at the memory. It had been so ironic- the two of them were said to be dead, yet when they found each other alive, he had been ecstatic and she had been outraged. Still, she had looked past his murderous rumors and learned to trust him again. She had forgiven him for failing her and allowing her husband and father to die. And that gave Basch more pleasure than he knew possible.
The sound light footsteps filled his ears. He turned quickly, already knowing who it was that approached him. The hastily setting sun lit up her entire body. Her eyes lit up like bright diamonds when she saw him.
She wore a two piece, silver dress. The top was made of sturdy silver dyed leather, which clung tightly to her, and gave way to soft fabric which enclosed her breasts. The top was short, showing off a large section of her midriff. Low on her hips rested a flowing, silk skirt, which hung to the ground in which she walked. He had seen that dress depicted on her in many paintings over the past two years.
Her hair, much to his surprise, had frown noticeably longer in length and lighter in color. It flew behind her as she moved towards him. What has she been doing these past years to allow her hair to lighten so much, he wondered. Spend much time outdoors, I assume.
She came to a rest a dozen steps away from him, using her hand to shield her eyes from the harsh sun.
"Your Majesty," he said, his voice muffled from under his helmet. He swiftly lowered himself to one knee, bowing before her.
"Basch, please rise," she commanded, her voice soft and kind. She motioned with her free hand for him to stand. "We are too old of friends for such formalities."
He stood with hesitation. 'Such formalities' were all he had ever known. Through the eye holes in his helmet, he cast a respectable glance at her.
She looked as if she had aged considerably in the past two years, but in a very good way. She seemed much more womanly, and her beauty seemed to have increased tenfold. Any sorrow that had filled her face during their last journey to restore her throne had all but vanished. She looked happy, complete, and without a care in the world. She certainly now passed for a Queen quite well. Yet while he admired her newfound beauty, he did it in a virtuous way- he simply viewed her as a sister; a daughter, even.
"Please," she begged, taking a half step towards him. "Remove your helmet. I have not seen you in two years, and I wish to view your face."
Raising both hands to the sides of his head, he did as she commanded. He lowered his helmet to his side, instantly enjoying the cooler air that now surrounded his face. He turned his bright blue eyes towards her in order to witness her reaction, for he had not changed as much as she.
Her eyes seemed to scan every crevice on his strong face: his strong jaw line, his low eyebrows, the blonde hair on his chin, his scar which seemed to flow perfectly over his forehead and across his left eye. He shifted his weight uncomfortably under her stare; the look on her face gave him mixed signals. Pure wonder crossed her features, yet she looked almost sad as well.
He took a few steps towards her, unsure what to do with himself. Out came his gruff, masculine voice, "Your Majesty."
"Why have you not come to see me these past few years," she questioned, narrowing her eyes.
He nodded back to her. "Forgive me, your Majesty. The Emperor has kept me busy."
"So I see," she told him, the slightest hint of tease in her throaty voice. "Much to my displeasure, you both missed my coronation, without ever giving me a reason why."
He tilted his head slightly. "Duty, I am afraid. As to the mention of your coronation, Penelo wrote to the Emperor and explained that Fran nor Balthier attended either."
She lowered her eyes. The subject obviously pained her. "Sadly, only her and Vaan managed to be present."
"Have you seen the other two since?"
She hesitated. "I'm afraid not. Not to worry, Balthier and Fran sent me a letter today. They are coming to visit me soon."
"I see," he said with a slight smile.
"Shall we go inside? You must have brought some kind of news, after all, why else would you have come?"
I've almost forgotten.
The small smile quickly vanished from his rugged face. "I do have to talk to you about something."
"And?"
He glanced up towards the colorful sunset, squinting into the last remnants of daylight. "Let's go inside, it's best we sit during this."
She obviously didn't like the sound of that. All forms of pleasure disintegrated from her pretty face.
Motioning him to follow her, she led him down the path from the garden towards her grand, strikingly large castle. Quickly, they ascended the steep stairs and moved inside. Ashe escorted him into the parlor just inside the entrance way to the castle. They sat in the small room, taking plush red seats at opposite sides of the room. She folded her hands over her crossed legs, becoming the perfect picture of what a Queen should look like, and waited for him to speak.
He cleared his throat. "The news I bring is of the Emperor."
"Larsa?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes in confusion.
He nodded, carefully watching her puzzled expression as he spoke. "I fear he failed to wake this morning. The Healers have believe he has been poisoned. No remedies seem to be working."
Ashe looked appalled by his words and the dire scenario. She raised a hand to cover her fallen mouth, and shook her head sadly. "So I see. What shall I do?"
"If his Lordship dies," Basch told her sternly, his face a mask of stone. "Archadia will be thrown into a civil war. The country needs you- the Queen that the world is calling 'Ivalice's Savior'- to help keep peace in case the worst should occur."
She smirked at Basch, who offered a slight smile in return. "Savior? I have not heard such terms used in referring to me."
"You have given the people prosperity and peace," he explained. Then, with a nod, "You shall accompany me to Archadia?"
"Of course," she dropped her hands back down to her lap. "Nothing should make me happier than to aid my sister kingdom."
Author's Note:
Too many stories make Ashe despise being Queen. I decided to change that, and I hope you liked it. :) Also, Ashe is 21 years old, powerful and important... and she knows it (as she did in the game!)... In this story, she won't be as innocent as people believe she is! Be warned, she'll be embracing herself. In more ways than one. 0:)
I'd appreciate any reviews!