The beginning, in which we are introduced to our dynamic duo, and receive a little background on the world they live in.

The purpose of this fic is to describe the events of Tales of Vesperia from Judith's perspective, from the point at which she first makes an appearance in the game. I'll also be getting creative with her backstory, based on what little information the game gives you through it's sub-events.

Sometimes the dialog will follow what's in the game directly, other times I'll be making it up, whichever is more interesting.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Story's mine, characters aren't.

Chapter 1

We're getting closer, Ba'ul grumbled.

Judith checked the latches on her armor and scanned the plains below as Ba'ul soared by, looking for signs of the blastia. They had flown over this area several times before and Ba'ul had never felt an aer disturbance, so she assumed it was being carried by someone. She hoped they would give it up without a fight; although she enjoyed battle, fighting innocent people wasn't really high on her list of favorite things to do. It's not their fault their blastia is a Hermes model...

Over there, Ba'ul warned her again through her telepathic abilities. She felt his mental nudge pointing north and immediately her heart sunk as she saw the white rings of a barrier hanging over the area known as Ehmead Hill.

That definitely wasn't there before, which probably means...she hated to destroy a barrier blastia, but leaving it intact was an even worse alternative. If the barrier came down the monsters could be handled by the Imperial Knights. If the blastia were to remain, however, the Hermes formula would consume too much of the surrounding aer, causing irreparable damage to surrounding environment.

It is time, Ba'ul said. Hold on to me.

"Don't worry Ba'ul, I'm ready," Judith reassured her friend, giving him a gentle pat on the side. "Come in from the north and I'll make this quick." She readied her favourite spear.

Ba'ul trumpeted his acknowledgment as he traded altitude for speed, racing towards the location where he sensed the aer disturbance, and the Hermes blastia.

Ehmead Hill was a rather well-traveled area, serving as the only pass through the mountain range that separated the port of Capua Nor from the rest of the Illycian continent. Since it was such an important trade route Judith supposed it did make sense to place a barrier blastia there, as almost all goods shipped from the Tolbyccian continent had to pass through Ehmead Hill.

If only they hadn't used a Hermes model...but no one alive today would understand the difference between a regular blastia and a Hermes blastia. While both devices consumed aer to function, the Hermes model consumed aer in vastly larger quantities in exchange for a significant boost in output. However, the increased aer consumption caused the aer krene, naturally occurring springs of aer, to overcompensate for the loss and produce dangerously high volumes of aer. The result was an imbalance in the aer around the blastia that contained the Hermes formula which would then spread to surrounding areas. Such massive fluctuations in the aer density of a region would cause dramatic and sweeping change to everything on the planet, from regional climates to human metabolism. If left unchecked, it would eventually result in the world becoming uninhabitable after everything in the world died from excessive aer exposure.

Which was one reason why she had made a vow with Ba'ul to search out all the Hermes blastia in the world and destroy them before that could happen. Even if it took them their entire lives.

As they sped closer to the hill Judith was able to pick out figures walking across the path - probably merchants. A few members of the Imperial Knights were patrolling the hill as well, their silver armor shining brightly in the afternoon sun. Their plate was designed similar to hers, but where theirs was silver with rounded edges, hers was a dull grey with a pointed helmet and fluted shoulder-guards.

Here we go, Ba'ul's voice echoed through her mind again as they approached the target.

She could see the blastia clearly now; it looked like an enormous jewel, gleaming all the colours of the rainbow as it reflected the afternoon sun's rays. Slightly larger than her head, the blastia core was set into a pillar-shaped body, which stood over the trail like a sentinel.

This is going to be too easy, Judith thought, disappointed. No fun at all.

"Don't even bother slowing down Ba'ul, just fly alongside it."

Judith focused all her concentration on the blastia as she readied her spear, waiting for Ba'ul to close in. It wasn't a hard shot to make, but she really didn't want to miss - that would mean she'd have to fight off the Imperial Knights patrolling the hill to reach the blastia. Most of the knights were too easy and boring to bother wasting her time fighting them.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she subconsciously noted the travelers begin to notice Ba'ul's approach and point, drawing the attention of yet more others, but it didn't phase her. Her concentration was solely on the spear in her hand and the blastia on the ground, coming towards her at an alarming rate.

As Ba'ul's speed increased, time seemed to unfold slower in Judith's mind. She felt the tops of the trees skim by beneath Ba'ul's belly as they approached their target. Fifty yards became thirty, thirty quickly became twenty, twenty was fifteen, ten...

She struck the side of the blastia body with her spear as hard as she could as Ba'ul soared by. A sickening crack filled the air as the blastia core shattered and the body blew apart into hundreds of tiny fragments, spreading across the breadth of the path.

Where a normal spear would have shattered from the impact, Judith's spear was special. Not only did it house powerful magic, but it was a symbol of the pact she had made with Ba'ul to carry out their mission. She knew just how strong it was - there was nothing in the entire world that it couldn't pierce, including blastia.

Ba'ul circled back around and headed towards the blastia at a higher altitude to make sure they had completed their job. Just damaging the blastia wouldn't be enough - they had to make sure it was beyond repair. People were gathering around the ruins of the blastia as Ba'ul flew by, receiving a few more pointed fingers and even a scream.

"Look Ba'ul, we're famous," Judith said with a grin as she glimpsed briefly at the blastia. Her spear had cleaved straight through the middle of the body, shattering the core into several pieces. The crowd gathering below was torn between staring at the shattered blastia and the figure riding a beast through the skies. "We certainly made a mess this time, didn't we?" Judith said.

We should leave before mages arrive.

"Agreed. Take us somewhere safe Ba'ul, away from here."

The pair flew off into the afternoon sky without a thought or regret for the chaos they left behind.

Later that evening, after the sun had set and the moon was beginning its skyward journey, Ba'ul contacted Judith mentally, clearly distressed.

"What's wrong, Ba'ul?" She asked.

There is another aer imbalance down below. I can feel it somewhere in that human town. He gave her a mental nudge northward.

"Capua Nor? But you've never felt anything there before."

I just discovered it now. It was not there earlier today.

"It must have just been activated. That's odd though, blastia are usually assembled at Zaphias or Aspio before being shipped to their destination, so why would they-"

Down, quickly! Ba'ul interrupted her train of thought.

Judith was served well by her experience and quick reflexes as she was blasted by a fierce gust of air, nearly losing her seat on Ba'ul's back. The blast was followed shortly afterward by sheets of rain; a storm had materialized out of nowhere, and a fierce one, at that.

I am not sure where this wind is coming from, but it does not blow right, Ba'ul said as lightning flashed in the distance, the peal of thunder reaching their ears a moment later.

We should find someplace to camp and wait out the storm, Judith responded mentally, not trusting Ba'ul to be able to hear her in the turbulent weather. It was too dangerous to fly in a thunderstorm, both for her and Ba'ul. She made sure that Ba'ul could feel her worry.

Yes, this storm is not right. It should not be here. Ba'ul was silent a moment as he lost himself in thought, then continued. There are a number of small caves in a plateau to the east of the human town. We can stay there undetected and out of the rain.

Fly swiftly, Ba'ul, Judith responded with a tinge of worry in her voice, then huddled as close to his body as possible to try and keep her seat. He responded with a good-natured rumble, as close to a chuckle as Ba'ul could ever get.

Do you not trust me to fly you safely through one measly little thunderstorm? Ba'ul tried to sound hurt, but failed.

No, it's that I feel like a giant lightning rod sitting up here in this armor. And if I get hit, I'm making sure I take you down with me!

"Are you sure you'll be okay outside? We could find a larger cave..." Judith asked as Ba'ul positioned his snakelike bulk across the entrance to the small cavern.

I am fine. The water does not bother me as it does you. I will keep watch for the evening. You should get some sleep. My body will keep the water outside, so you may lie down without fear of waking up soaking wet.

"All right, as long as you aren't uncomfortable." There was no use arguing with Ba'ul once he started talking like that.

Judith wasted no time in stripping off her armor. While it was useful for protection and concealing her identity, it wasn't very comfortable. She had grown used to it over the years, but she still preferred to fight unhindered in her own clothes - her fighting style favored lightweight and mobility.

Removing the armor in parts, she placed each segment carefully against the cavern wall to dry off. She'd have wiped them down with a cloth if she had one, but all she had was her sleeping blankets. It was doubtful that the armor would rust anyway, so she didn't worry about it. She also took off her travel pack, located safely between her armor and clothing while she rode Ba'ul, and set it aside for later.

Her clothes were also soaked, but unfortunately she had no wood for a fire, nor was she likely to find any outside in this weather. She stripped to her bottom layer, wringing out all the water she could from each piece of clothing before placing it neatly on the floor of the cavern to air dry overnight; that would have to do. She then returned to the travel pack, pulling out some rations and a small teacup. Making a quick dinner of hard bread, fruit, and rainwater, she returned the cup to her bag, then stepped out into the rain.

What are you doing? Ba'ul inquired.

"There's nothing worse than going to bed without a shower," Judith replied with an exasperated sigh, as though the answer was obvious. Ba'ul simply exhaled a blast of air in response and rolled his massive red eyes.

She briskly rinsed the day's dust and dirt off, then untied her hair and let it fall down to her waist, giving it a thorough rinse. After letting the fresh rainwater wash over her for a few more moments she returned to the cave to shake herself somewhat dry. Ba'ul let out a deep rumble.

"What is it this time?"

Every time you do that it reminds me of a dog. Which puts me in mind of another comparison that I would be wise not to mention.

"Coming from you I take that as a compliment, you silly beast." She reached down into her pack and pulled out a hair brush. "Now if you aren't going to use it, lend me that tail of yours."

As you command, milady. The mental response was so full of mock sincerity Judith couldn't help but laugh as he uncoiled the requested appendage. She quickly pressed up against his warm body as Ba'ul pulled his tail back in around her like a blanket.

Judith took a few minutes to brush her hair out and give her antennae a quick once-over as well. Krityan antennae were essentially long tufts of very fine hairs that grew from two spots just behind the ears. They were capable of detecting very minute changes in the surrounding environment, often serving as a sixth sense of sorts. They also served as an outlet for a Krityan's telepathic powers, called the nageeg. While not essential by any means, it was awkward and disorienting for a Krityan to lose their antennae; it would be like a right-handed person trying to do everything with their left hand.

Antennae also took a very long time to grow back; the longer the hairs of an antennae were, the more effective it was. Most adult Krityan antennae reached somewhere around the knees; Judith was no exception. Should anything happen to them it would take a very long time for that much hair to grow back.

Most Krityans these days simply enjoyed the enhanced mental acuity their antennae provided them - thus why most of her race that spent their time among humans were considered scholars. However, Judith spent most of her time in battle, so she always made sure to keep her antennae in good shape. They frequently gave her an edge during combat, allowing her to keep track of enemies on the battlefield that were outside her field of vision. Combined with the fact that Krityan eyes and ears were also more sensitive than that of the average human, few warriors could match the awareness of a trained Krityan warrior in combat.

However, in the end, it all came down to personal hygiene. Judith was proud of the fact that despite living out of a travel pack for eight years, she always managed to take care of her body and keep herself clean. She hated feeling dirty.

Tossing her brush on top of her pack - she'd put it away in the morning - Judith let out a sigh of contentment. "Good night, Ba'ul," she said as she snuggled against her friend, protected from the chill of the evening by his massive tail. Then she whispered quietly, as she had so very often for the past ten years, "thank you."

Good night, little one.

Judith's eyes snapped open as she panted heavily, her heart beating as though it would burst through her chest.

Just a dream, she told herself, it was just a dream. But...it felt so real...she could still feel the heat of the fires on her face, the screaming as people panicked, trying to escape the city as it burned...

She quickly got a grip on her emotions as she felt the reassuring warmth of Ba'ul beside her, his slow, rhythmic breathing helping to calm her own.

You are awake, came Ba'ul's thought. You did not sleep long. Did you dream?

"Yes, Ba'ul, I dreamed." Ba'ul always wanted to know about her dreams; they fascinated him, for as he told Judith, Ba'ul did not dream. Sometimes she told him about her dreams to sate his curiosity.

Tonight was not one of those nights.

"They were not nice dreams, so I woke up," was all she said.

Judith listened carefully to the sounds of the night, her pointed ears twitching back and forth a few times. She could no longer hear the sounds of rainfall outside. "When did it stop raining?" she asked her friend.

No more than two hours after you fell asleep. The storm continues, but it has blown northward. The human town will be shrouded in rain and clouds for many hours yet, but it has left us alone.

"Good, then we can investigate the Hermes blastia you felt tomorrow." What Judith needed now was something to distract herself. She quietly asked Ba'ul, "I'd like to see the stars. Do you mind?"

Of course not. I myself enjoy seeing the stars. They are very pretty. I am glad that you enjoy seeing them too. Judith stood as Ba'ul rearranged his body so that the curl of his tail was outside the cavern mouth. The night air was cold against her bare skin so she quickly sat back down and pressed against his warm scales again, hugging her knees to her chest for warmth and comfort.

The night sky was clear following the end of the storm, and thousands of lights twinkled in the heavens above. Over the past ten years Judith had spent most of her nights outside with Ba'ul staring at the same night sky, but no matter how many times she saw it she was always amazed by how many lights there were. Some were constant and familiar, like Brave Vesperia, the brightest star in the sky, a shining beacon to guide lost adventurers. Most of them, however, she could never recognize, having never been much of a stargazer. She could barely remember the few that her father had told her about, back in the days when they would travel the world as he researched new technologies trying to make the world better, before...

Images from her dream thrust back into her thoughts like a slap to the face. The sudden rush of emotion was almost enough to break her composure. She could still picture her father, exactly the same as he'd been on that day ten years ago, the flames of the burning illage outlined against the night sky all around her as she held her father in her arms, his life slowly ebbing away...

No, Judith told herself sternly. I will not dwell on the past. I've done enough of that to last the rest of my life. She took a deep breath, then looked up to try and lose herself in the starry sky once again.

Many silent minutes passed as she gazed upward, feeling the soothing warmth of Ba'ul pressed against her back and across her legs. She found her thoughts drifting back to her dream and the past, despite having just berated herself for doing so.

She thought about the blastia she'd destroyed today and what might happen to the people who travelled Ehmead Hill as a result. She'd destroyed it without a second thought, feeling no remorse or pity for anyone who might suffer as a result. The Hermes blastia were a danger to the entire world and had to be destroyed, no matter the inconvenience it caused to the people that depended on them.

Judith could remember a time when she didn't feel that way, when she cared about the people who were hurt by what she was doing. The first had been the hardest, of course; a daughter's gift from her father, a wedding present. She'd had to break into the house and destroy it; as it happened, right in front of the poor girl...

"Please," the girl begged, her eyes pleading with the sinister figure in front of her that threatened her most prized possession, "that was...that was a gift from my father, please don't..."

Judith looked at the girl with sympathy as she held the small rose-coloured blastia in the palm of her hand. She had known that it would be a difficult mission when she'd accepted it, but now that she was here, with one in her hands, she found herself wavering. Did she really have to...?

"It's all I have left of him, please..."

Judith thought of her own father and the legacy he'd left for her and her resolve hardened. She took one last look at the girl, her pleading eyes filled with tears, then tossed the blastia into the air.

"And this is all I have left of mine."

She swung her spear, swift and true.

Every time after that was easier until eventually it didn't bother her at all. Where before she had nagging doubts at the back of her mind that maybe what she was doing was wrong, there was now only silence. She knew that meant that somewhere along the way she'd lost something important, some part of herself that she would never be able to get back. It was what made her feel sorrow and regret for her actions, and sympathy and compassion for the people whose lives she changed every day. Sometimes it felt like every blastia she destroyed took a piece of her along with it into the darkness beyond the world they lived in, like the darkness in the sky above.

I've changed, Judith thought to herself as she stared into the starry void. I'm a much different person now than I was when I took on this mission eight years ago. A thoughtful look crossed her face. I wonder though, have I changed for better or worse? If destroying blastia is the right thing to do, then when does it make me feel so empty inside?

She didn't let the emptiness bother her too much. She'd made a vow with Ba'ul to destroy all the Hermes blastia in the world - her spear was a symbol of that vow. As long as she carried it there was no way she could even think of giving up, no matter how she felt. So she just simply stopped caring; she would continue to destroy blastia no matter how many lives she ruined, because that was the hand life had dealt her, whether she liked it or not. Better to have no feelings at all than ones that would get in the way.

I wonder if that makes me a bad person. She yawned, unconcerned. Things would have turned out so much different if Ba'ul hadn't decided to...

As the thought trailed off, Judith felt the need to ask Ba'ul her question; the one question she had asked him repeatedly for the past ten years, and that he never really answered.

"Ba'ul?"

Yes? Came the reply.

"Why did you save me?"

A long silence always followed before Ba'ul finally gave his answer, the same answer he always gave.

Because I wanted to.

Usually it stopped there, but for some reason Judith felt that tonight she should push harder.

"Is that the only reason?"

Another long pause, followed by a simple, No.

Judith thought about the meaning of that single word for a few moments. Finally she asked, "will you ever tell me the rest?"

Someday.

She allowed herself a tiny smile. "I would like that very much." She adjusted herself to a more comfortable position and closed her eyes, content to have gotten a new answer from her companion.

As sleep started to overcome her, Judith sent one last thought to her guardian, not trusting her voice just then.

I love you, Ba'ul.

Ba'ul waited a moment before replying, go back to sleep. She already was.

A nice, long first chapter, ending with some fuzzy goodness.

Some of the descriptive passages might be sort of dull, but I was writing this story with the intention that people who haven't played Tales of Vesperia can enjoy it as much as those who have. I know it seems kind of silly to do that when I'm posting it in a ToV fanspace, but it was also sort of an exercise for me. Anyway, I promise that future chapters will have less of what you already know, and more of what you don't.

Before anyone asks, I won't be doing the entire game. I've already planned out which parts I'm doing, and believe me, it's plenty of material to work with.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed my other ToV stories, hope you enjoy this one too - it's going to be MUCH longer :).