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In this fic, I only own a copy of the game and Venier.

Now, BACK TO THE FIC!

Chapter 1: Sudden War

We were in the battle conference room of Rabanastre Palace when I heard the clanking of hurrying armour.

"If Archadia should launch an attack by both land, and air, our kingdom will stand little-" My father, King Raminas looked up as the door opened. In the doorway stood none other than Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg.

"Nabudis has fallen!" he spoke solemnly.

"Impossible!" My father exclaimed. Rasler stepped forward.

"My father?" he asked desperately. Basch shook his head,

"I know not. I am sorry." came the short reply. Rasler looked off to the side. My family's chancellor looked at my father and I.

"If Nabudis has indeed fallen... it is only a matter of time before they reach the borders of Dalmasca." Small purple figurines on our map moved forward from the Archadian area to Dalmasca.

"Secure Nalbina with all haste." My father said.

"I will go." Nodded Basch, turning and leaving. Rasler and I shared a glance and nodded at each other.

"And we will go at his side." Rasler said, I nodded my agreement. Father was about to say something to stop us, but instead nodded us permission. Promptly, Rasler and I stalked after the Captain.

We embarked to the Nalbina fortress and met the king there. Once there Raminas presented us each with our own swords. He raised the first high above Rasler's head.

"Galtea stand watch over your life." he said, before handing the blade to the man before him,

"That I be considered worthy." Rasler responded, the king bowed his head before walking towards me, holding a similar sword high above my own head.

"Gatrea save you from peril." he handed the sword to me and I took it with utmost pride,

"That I may uphold my honour." I replied.

"Go, my sons and protect our homeland. Dalmasca is ours, and ours alone." We nodded and behind my father in the shadow, was Ashe. She looked sad. We both smiled a comforting smile at her and nodded, to let her know it would be okay. Rasler turned and drew his sword, looking at the crowds of soldiers stood before him, he raised is with a warcry, and the masses responded in like.

Our transport lifted off and flew us to our destination- the battleground at the Dalmasca- Nabradia Border of Nalbina Fortress. Airships were being shot down left right and centre. Basch, Rasler and I were all riding into battle together. We saw many young men and good warriors get slain by the empire. Seeq, Hume and Bangaa alike.

"Decurion!" I called to the Chancellor

"Sir!" he responded, before getting cut down.

The three of us rushed forward, swords drawn, Basch quickly pulled out a bow and shot an Imperial Magus, Rasler moved forward and attacked the same soldier with his sword.

"The fortress is lost! We must withdraw!" Basch calls to us, still shooting at imperial soldiers left and right.

"No!" Rasler responded gruffly, "The paling still stands."

"He's right, as long as the paling stands, we may have a chance!" I called, Rasler looked up at the small wisps of blue from the paling. The voice of the sages echoed throughout the city, above all the noise.

"Shield beyond sight, ne'er failing light-" they were cut off, and the paling started to flicker, before disspating all at once, the sage's tower collapsed.

"The paling's fallen!" Rasler called,

"Then it's over." Basch said, I nodded.

"For my father..." Rasler murmured, before shouting, with his sword raised high, "For my Father!" Basch gasped as he saw the soldier on the other end of the fortress' wall ready his bow at Rasler.

"Lord Rasler!" Basch raised his own bow and shot the archer, though just a second too late, as the arrows went soaring past each other. The both arrows sought and found their intended marks, deep inside the chest of the target. Basch rushed over to Rasler, jumped onto my brother-in-law's Chocobo and ran off, in blinded rage, shock, and sadness, my chased after him, in hopes to save the husband of my sister. We were stuck on the bridge, surrounded, nowhere we could go, but then a ship high above us exploded, causing a distraction. This bought us just enough time to be able to escape. We chased forward, cutting down anyone in our way, both Basch and I knew our main objective- get Rasler to safety.

The battle was temporarily over. Both Ashe and I were stood in the same chapel we were stood in only days previously, but this time, we were mourning the loss of a great friend and ally- Prince Rasler.

"Blessings of the Great Father descend, and guide your body's return to the earth." The high priest spoke as Ashe knelt down next to Rasler's flower-strewn coffin. I put my hand on my sister's shoulder as she began to cry. "Great father, guide your spirit's return to the mother of all. There you shall find peace. Faram."

Crows flew around the battlefield, pecking here and there at dead bodies.

The Death of Ld Rasler Heios Nabradia was but one of many Tragedies to befall the Kingdom of Dalmasca. The air of Hope that had surrounded H.R.H Princess Ashe's Wedding was now quite lost: Dalmasca had been set adrift. At the Mercy of History's restless Tides. At this Time, two Great Empires struggled for Dominion over Ivalice: Archadia in the East, Rozarria, the West. The Invasion of the Kingdom of Nabradia was Archadia's first Step in its westward March. With Lord Rasler's beloved Homeland consumed by the Hell-Fires of War, it seemed clear that Archadia would soon mete out a like Fate to Dalmasca. The Fall of the Fortress at Nalbina tolled the Destruction of the greater part of Dalmasca's Forces. A Counter-Attack was mounted by the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca, ever Brave and Faithful, but against the martial Might of the Archadian Armies, they stood little Chance of Victory. Indeed, their defeat was to be absolute. Soon thereafter, Archadia came forward, offering Terms of Peace. Or as one might rather put it- Terms of Dalmasca's Surrender. Lord Raminas. King of Dalmasca- and my Dear Friend- had no Choice but to accept these Terms. It was, thus, only with Reluctance that He set out for Nalbina Fortress- now under Archadian Occupation- to affix His Seal to the Emperor's Treaty of Peace. The King had scarce departed His Royal City of Rabanastre when the Remnants of the Order made their Return. And not a Moment too soon. For a terrible Revelation awaited them. The Treaty would be signed with Steel and Writ in Royal Blood

-Memoirs of Mqs Halim Ondore IV.

Chapter 12: Of the Fall of Kingdoms

"You there. Can you hear me?" I woke up to hear Basch's voice. I opened my eyes and sat up to find Captain Vossler Azelas and Basche stood over a new recruit.

"It's as I feared. They're slowing us down." Vossler stated

"Do not say that." Basch ordered. "Not all of us are here for love of battle. He fights to defend his homeland." Basch looked from Vossler back to the young boy who was regaining consciousness. I brushed myself off, "Your name?" the blonde captain asked.

"Reks, sir." came the reply. The boy had sandy pale blonde hair and hazel eyes "My... name's Reks."

"Good, Reks." Basch smiled slightly "You bore a few cuts, but you are still whole. Well, can you stand?" Basch helped Reks to his feet, "can you fight?" The concern in the captain's voice was not concealed, Reks nodded,

"I'm fine, sir."

"How old are you Reks?" The question was sudden and the young knight stuttered,

"Seventeen, sir."

"Young." Basch said thoughtfully. "Family?"

"My brother is all I have left, sir. He's two years younger than I. Living in Rabanastre."

Basch bowed his head slightly "So young. You're barely old enough to be a man. You shouldn't be forced to wield a sword."

"No, sir." Reks protested "I want to fight. For my homeland and for my parents."

"Time, Basch! Save the discussions for later." Captain Azelas called. I made my way next to them.

"Venier!" Basch exclaimed, "are you alright?" I nodded,

"I'm fine. Just a scratch." I replied.

"We must reach the King before they act! Or all our efforts will be in vain." Vossler added

"I'm aware of the situation." Basch brushed him off.

"We found them!" came a shout, "over there!" then six imperials stormed over to us.

"Vossler, go ahead! I will handle this rabble." Basch said, stepping forward

"Godspeed." Vossler replied, before running off with his squadron. Basch stepped forward again and drew his sword. With six quick successive strikes, the imperials fell.

"Steady Reks." Basch said, I looked at said boy and saw that his breathing was laboured "keep your wits about you and you'll make it." Reks picked up a sword from the ground as we ran forward. "We move!" Basch called back. I walked up to the gate and pushed it open. "We'll enter the fortress through this gate. We must go." Reks walked up to the gate, and Basch stopped him. "It is time. We will drive back any Imperials standing between us and the King. Dalmasca's future hangs in the balance." Reks nodded "Stay focused on the foes before you, Reks. I will watch rearward. Venier." I looked up at the captain, "Help Reks out." I nodded, anything to make sure my father is safe.

We walked through the gate saw a single imperial on the bridge. He ran towards us and without warning, Reks effortlessly cut him down.

"Captain?" Reks asked, Basch looked up at the sky as an airship flew down to us. It was an Air Cutter Remora. Reks cast a few Thunder spells on it whilst the rest of us wailed on it with our swords. I noticed it had a bar on it that had lights, it was its power meter! The more we hit it the more the meter went down. When that bar was about half gone, Basch stepped forward and the air around him went blurry, I recognized what this was. This was a Quickening. A pulsating black and green orb appeared between Basch's hands. He split it in half and then pushed it forward to unleashed a pulsing beam at the Remora. Flames started to erupt from the ship as an electronical voice came from it.

"Antlion, this is Tonberry! My engines are hit. She'll not hold much longer!"

"We receive you, Tonberry." came another voice from within "You've leave to retire. Well fought."

"My thanks, Antlion. Tonberry disengaging!" the voice came again before it flew off. We took about four steps and then we found ourselves facing more imperials. We walked in through the doors and found ourselves in a hallway.

"Vossler, where are you?" Basch asked.

"What if Captain Azelas has fallen?" Reks responded. Basch turned on him.

"Don't talk such nonsense! Vossler's laughed in the face of Death far too many times for him to stop now. Men like him don't die in places like this. We must make haste to reach the King. We will take him to safety." Basch said, walking off. Reks followed him.

"Is His Majesty unharmed?" he asked

"He'll agree to an unconditional surrender." Basch explained "They wouldn't dare touch him until the wax on his seal is dry."

"But if we arrive after he's signed the treaty-" Reks started

"Wait." Basch stopped him, we heard something and Basch urged him forward, "quickly Reks." We made a few paces before we stopped again. "Ahead we will face many imperials, but we need not fight them all. Ofttimes retreat is the wiser course. Should the need arise, run from your foes. There is no shame in fleeing a battle that serves no purpose." We made a few corners and killed a few imperials, then we found it to the stairs. We ran up the stairs and found a shining blue crystal

"What's this?" Reks asked Basch

"It's a healing crystal. Touch it and you'll be fully recovered." Came the reply "Now quick, come- we must reach His Majesty before it's too late!"

We made it up some more stair then we heard some noise behind us.

"Intruders! Don't let them escape!" the imperial guard shouted Reks stopped and looked at Basch.

"Sir! We have little time! You must go to the King!" he said, I nodded, "We'll handle these!"

"Tell my father I'm alright, Basch." I added. Basch nodded

"Fight well." he said before running off. The three guards arrived and I brandished my sword at them.

"Keep focused Reks, we'll cut through them easily." I said, slicing effortlessly through the armour of one whilst Reks hacked at another. We easily dispatched the soldiers and ran up to the throne room.

We entered the room and the sight shocked us. Our breathing suddenly got heavy and I dropped my sword and ran up to the throne.

"Father!" I shouted. I grabbed the man once known as king and checked for any sign of life.

No luck.

Reks slowly walked up behind me, looking at all the other dead bodieson the floor.

"Your Majesty..." Reks mumbled, before suddenly turning around, to find Basch in his face. "Captain, why?" he asked, his eyes wide. "Our king- what have you done?" My eyes widened even more at that, but in anger. I turned and saw Basch stare solemnly at Reks

"The King intended all along to sell Dalmasca to the Empire. His majesty was a traitor." Was all Basch said, before Reks turned, I saw the hilt of a blade protruding from his stomach.

"Captain, I-" was all that Reks could manage before he collapsed.

"My father was no traitor." I said, "You stand there, and call the man you so solemnly swore to protect a traitor when you are nought but the same? How dare you Basch!" I pulled my sword from its sheath. I felt a sudden shock to the back of my head. The last thing I heard was Basch's maniacal laughter and Reks' voice.

"Vaan..."

Pretenses of Peace left by the Wayside. The Archadian Forces resumed their Advance toward Rabanastre. Dalmasca's Doom had been decided. To make Resistance would serve no End. With this in my Thoughts, I, to the People of Dalmasca:

"Sons and Daughters of Dalmasca. I bid you lay down your Arms. Raise Songs of Prayer in their Stead. Prayer for His Majesty King Raminas, and Lord Venier, the two of them ever merciful. Men, devoted wholly to Peace.

"Prayer, too, for the noble Princess Ashe, who, wrought with Grief at her Kingdom's defeat and loss of her family, has taken her own Life."

"Know also that Capt. Basch fon Ronsenburg, for incitement of Sedition and the Assassination of H.R.M King Raminas and H.R.M Lord Venier, has been found guilty of High Treason and put to his Death.

"They who at this late Hour choose still the Sword are cut of the same Cloth as the Capt.: Traitors who would lead Dalmasca to her Ruin." Dalmasca's Surrender without Terms was soon to follow.

-Memoirs of Mqs Halim Ondore IV.

Chapter 13: The Province of Allies.

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