Chapter 9: Here you go. Hints of Balthier/Serah and beginning to push that Ashe/Lightning ship. That ship will sail, I promise.


Chapter: The Knight.

An hour after the escape from the Leviathan, with no evidence of anyone tracking them they landed safely in Bhujerba. Since the skycity appeared as a neutral location the empire wouldn't approach them for the time being according to Balthier. Regardless the port authorities confiscated the ship for being Archadian. Balthier didn't appear too disheartened losing an airship.

"Sorry about the airship," Balthier said to Lightning as they walked into the aerodome. "Always hard losing your first girl."

"Please, spare me," Lightning responded exasperated. "Remind me who had to hold your hand since you couldn't fly?"

Balthier was about to fire back with his own retort with Serah came up to him holding the handkerchief he had given her. "Balthier, your handkerchief. I thought you might want it back."

With a smile Balthier took the handkerchief. "I shall wear it close to my heart," he said with a small bow.

Serah seemed a bit charmed by how smooth appeared. "So you're a sky pirate? What's that like? Do you get to see exotic places and find rare treasures?"

"I suppose I could tell you," Balthier replied as he stood up straight from his bow. "But maybe you'd like to see for yourself one day."

'You still have a fiancé you know,' Lightning thought to herself before turning to Ashe who had been talking to Basch and Vossler.

"Pehaps you forget all that Ondore has wrought," Ashe said as Lightning joined their conversation.

" I do not forget, Majesty," Basch said. "It was by his counsel, dangerous though it may have been, that we were able to free you. You must meet with him, Your Highness, and give ear to his words. He may act in league with the Empire but his heart is not."

"It is as he says," Vossler agreed. " I ought not have kept Ondore at so great a distance for so long a time. I have played the fool."

"You were only being cautious," Ashe tried to comfort.

"Majesty, I would ask you for some time," he continued. All business it seemed. "On our own, we struggle in vain to restore Dalmasca. I must search out some other way. Until I should find it, I would have Basch remain at your side. Doubt him you may, but I measure his loyalty to Dalmasca no less than my own."

"I know you would not speak so lightly. Very well."

Vossler turned his attention to Lightning. "You're not a pirate, I can see that. By the way you fight you seem a capable warrior. You have protected Her Majesty and for that I thank you. But I must ask; what are your intentions?"

"Why ask?" Lightning asked in return

"Her Majesty needs protection. Basch is a loyal man with a strong arm, but two blades are better than one. But for me to ask that of you I must know where you stand."

Lightning paused a moment to think about the question. 'What am I doing?' Lightning asked herself. 'I suppose it's to return home but as of now I have no way to do that.' She crossed her arms as she looked between the three. 'I have my sister, and Mog, but no leads. I suppose for now my best move is to stay with this group. With Ashe being royalty, surely something should come along.'

"About a year ago I was dismissed from my service," Lightning finally said. "With nothing to fight for , my sister and I found ourselves here. Even though I'm the warrior and she's an innocent bystander. More specifically, we ended up in your situation." She turned to face Vossler. "Where do I stand? I have no position. Neutral. However even I can see that your kingdom was taken from you wrongfully. If Ashe wants me by her side, I'll join your ranks with the promise of being her left hand while Basch becomes her right."

Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Vossler said. "Then both of you keep her well. Go to Ondore, and there away my return." Vossler left the aerodome a moment later

"Lightning isn't it?" Ashe asked. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring in others like this. I have such a large target on my back. Are you sure you want this? Knowing how much of a burden I can be."

"Don't worry about it," Lightning reassured. "Fighting with hope for something you believe in is a good enough reason for me to join your cause. Besides, are you sure I won't 'interrupt' you?"

For the first time since she met Ashe, a small smile and laugh came from the princess. "It's been awhile since I had reason to smile. I don't forget kindness. I will repay you after all of this is over. For now, let us head to the manor."

Hours later at Ondore's estate, the guards had let the party in and escorted them up to a waiting room. The same one that he had most of them arrested in. But there was no tension despite what had transpired before. Everyone knew that it had been a ruse to retrieve the Princess from imperial hands. Ondore was sitting at the end of the table, hands together with elbows on the table.

Ashe finally broke the silence. "When Vossler learned my father had been killed the night of the treaty-signing he returned to Rabanastre to aid my escape. There was still time before Vayne's reach extended too far. We thought that you could protect me."

"However," Ondore continued her line of though, "when I then made the announcement that you had taken your own life.. I must have seemed a model citizen of the Empire. The announcement, you see was Vayne's suggestion. Of course.. at the time I was reluctant, but I could not perceive his reasons. Now it is clear: he meant to drive a wedge between us."

"Halim we are past all this. Bhujerba must stand with us. We can stopVayne."

Ondore let out a sigh as he stood up from his chair. He gripped his cane for support as he stood, looking at the princess. "I once knew a girl whose only wish was to be carried in her uncle's arms. Your Majesty is a woman grown now."

"Then Bujerba will aid me?" Ashe asked. Her tone suggested all business, and didn't really want to reminisce.

"Suppose for a moment you were to defeat Vayne," Ondore said quickly. "What then?" You cannot simply rebuild your kingdom with the only proof of your birthright stolen. Without that the Gran Kiltias on Bur-Omisace cannot and will not recognize your majesty as the rightful heir without it. You may yet be a princess, but without proof of your identity, you are powerless. You will remain with me. We do nothing till the time is right."

"I cannot just wait!"

"Then what does Your Majesty propose we do?" Ondore's tone more agitated.

"Uncle Halim..."

"Incidentally, what is the going rate for rescuing princesses these days?" Balthier piped in. "Food would be a start- the good stuff, mind you."

"This can be arranged though it will take some time," Ondore replied, relieved to have a more relaxed conversation. Ashe had silently turned around and began walking away, looking dejected that her uncle wouldn't help.

"Time enough for a bath, I hope," Balthier continued as Ashe walked out. "Dirty business, you know. Ah, best bring a change of clothes too."

Lightning left the room with Balthier and the Marquis still talking about the compensation. She expected to see Ashe heading to the quarters that the guards had pointed to earlier. But a quick glance could see that no one had been here yet. Catching something in her peripheral vision she noticed Ashe walking out of the estate and into town by herself.

'What is she doing?' Lightning asked herself as she hurried out of the estate to catch up to her.

Ashe made her way discreetly into the town and back into the aerodome. The security here was fairly light. She entered the hangar where Balthier had stationed the Strahl. Seeing that no one was around to stop her she opened the hatch to the airship and walked inside. Planting herself in the front she began fiddling with the controls, trying to find the right one to ignite the engines.

"What exactly are you planning?" Lightning asked from behind, startling Ashe. "This is Balthier's ship you know. Call me crazy but I don't think sky pirates take it well when their ships are stolen."

"I'm going to retrieve the Dawn Shard," Ashe responded as she continue to try and make the airship start. "It's the proof that I need. I know where it's hidden. I'll return his airship later."

"Going it alone? Didn't Basch and I promise to keep you safe?"

Giving up on the controls for the moment, Ashe turned herself around to face Lightning. "This is something that I have to do. Not only for myself but for all those who have fallen. I will not be made to hide! I'll fight alone, if I must."

"You don't need to fight alone when you have Basch," Lightning corrected as she stepped closer until she was at Ashe's side. "I swore an oath earlier as well. What are you trying to accomplish?"

"I'm trying to concentrate!" Ashe said flustered as she stood up, a foot or two away from Lightning. It wasn't intimidating her however. Lightning stood her ground. "Why stay with me anyway? I said earlier if this is too much of a burden then I'd understand why you left."

"Because I know what it's like," Lightning replied without pause. "To lose the most precious thing that you have. Going to any means in getting it back. Punishing others for your mistakes, not waiting around for someone to give you an answer, even leaving others behind. It's lonely and painful. But it doesn't need to be when you can have others carry on with you. I'm not going anywhere. You leave, you're taking me and Basch with you. You'll just have to deal with it."

"What about your sister?" Ashe asked.

"She's strong," Lightning replied crossing her arms. "She was separated from me, kidnapped by bounty hunters and then held by a Judge and still walking to talk about it. I may be her big sister but she doesn't need me that much anymore."

"Lightning...I..."

"That's quite enough, you two," came the voice of Ondore from behind. But when the two ladies turned to the back of the airship Balthier appeared to be standing against the door way with a microphone in his hand.. "What do you think? A bit over the top? In my line of work, you never know when something like this might come in handy." He flipped a switch to make it sound like Ashe. "I'm trying to concentrate!" Followed by switching it to sound like Lightning. "You'll just have to deal with it."

"Little old to be playing with toys, don't you think?" Lightning remarked.

Balthier just gave a casual shrug before putting the voice changer away. "I'm leaving you with the Marquis princess."

"You can't." Ashe protested.

"Trust me you're better of staying here," Balthier said firmly as he turned around to walk out of the airship.

"Suppose you kidnapped me instead?" Ashe suggested, catching Balthier off guard. "You're a sky pirate aren't you? Then steal me. Is that so much to ask?"

"What do you have that I would want?" Balthier inquired, only turning his head slightly to acknowledge her.

"The Dynast-King's treasure," Ashe replied without a moment's hesitation. "The Dawn Shard is but one of the riches that lie waiting in King Raithwall's tomb."

Balthier found himself turning out while giving an audible whistle, clearly impressed. "King Raithwall, you say?"

"Kidnapping royalty is a serious offence," Basch said entering the scene from the back of the airship. "It won't do much to lower the bounty on your head."

"How much is the price on your head these days, I wonder?" Balthier quipped as Basch walked past him to Ashe.

"Allow me to escort you in Vossler's place," Basch offered.

"Will you be joining us?" Fran asked coming in with Serah and Mog behind her. Clearly everyone saw Ashe trying to steal the airship.

"Sounds like fun," Lightning replied with a small shrug. "I already promised Ashe I would anyway."

"Great, I'll be coming too," Serah said as she took one of the back seats.

"You sure?" Lightning asked

"Well I think we still have things to talk about. Besides, where am I suppose to go?"

"I'm coming too, kupo," Mog said energetically as he hovered himself down to Serah's lap where she embraced him.

"Guess I'm outnumbered," said Lightning with a small grin. Her way of saying she's happy Serah's coming along..

"Then it's settled," Fran said taking one of the front seats. "We should leave before the Marquis realizes she's missing. Like proper kidnappers."

Ashe moved herself out of the way for Balthier to sit down as Basch took a middle seat. Serah moved herself to the seat behind Balthier, trying to get a good look at the controls. "How fast is this ship?"

Lightning didn't hear the response as Ashe motioned for her to join her in the back for a moment. The engines began moving as Lightning headed behind with the princess. "Yes?"

"You've been here long enough to know about Judges, but do you know about Knights?" Ashe asked. Lightning shook her head no. "Well I'd be surprised if you had. It's an old tradition in Dalmasca. Bestowed upon those who would serve Dalmasca's rulers. Personal guards, who serve for life to protect those who anointed them. There hasn't been one in centuries."

"What does that have to do with me?" Lightning inquired as the ship had set off from Bhujerba.

"I'd like to offer you the Knight position," Ashe said.

"Shouldn't you be offering that to Basch or Vossler? You've known me for all of a few days compared to them."

Ashe shook her head before responding. "Basch and Vossler will already serve until their last breath. They don't need any kind of anointed position to know they have my trust. This is my way of staying I trust my life with you."

"A knight," Lightning repeated in a low tone to herself. It sounded better than being a soldier. Something that wasn't in high opinion around these parts. And there was a part of Lightning had to accept, that going home wouldn't be an option. Perhaps this would be the best she could make of herself here. "Very well. I shall be your Knight, Princess Ashe."

Ashe stepped forward and placed her right hand on Lightning's shoulder. "Normally there's a formal ceremony for these events. But that'll have to wait. For now, this will do. I, Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca, hereby declare you my Knight, the Knight of Dalmasca."