Final Fantasy XII OC Story

Chapter 10

After being among the guards for a short while, the Imperials that picked us up from the Tomb of Raithwal brought us back to Judge Ghis on the Dreadnought Leviathan. As we entered his room and stopped in front of him, he began to speak to us. "Such a tremendous honor to again be graced with your presence, majesty. You left us with such a great dispatch upon our last encounter that I must confess, I had begun to worry that we may have given some cause for offense."

"Such a heartfelt display of remorse. Now what is it you want?"

"I want you to give me the Nethicite."

"The Nethicite?" I spoke out as I held up my necklace. "That is a base imitation. We seek Raithwall's legacy. The ancient relics of the Dynast-King: deifacted Nethicite. Did you not tell them, Captain Azelas?" Ashe gasped as Vossler walked up to her and spoke. "Majesty, he speaks of the Dawn Shard. That is the Nethicite."

"Are you mad, Vossler?" Basch walked up to Vossler in confusion. "If we are to save Dalmasca, we must accept the truth. I will fight this profitless battle no more!"

"Captain Azelas has struck a wise bargain. In return for the Dawn Shard the Empire will permit Lady Ashe to reclaim her throne, and the kingdom of Dalmasca will be restored. Think on it. An entire kingdom for a stone. You must admit, its far more than a fair exchange."

"And when all is said and done, your master will have yet another pet." Balthier said as the Judge continued his talk to Ashe. "Lady Ashe, let us take him for the people of Dalmasca. Your majesty wallows in indecision on peril of their heads!" Once the Judge was done talking he took out his sword and held it to Balthier's throat. "And his shall be the first to fall."

"Well, at least your sword is to the point." Ashe sighed as she stepped forward, and handed out the Dawn Shard to Judge Ghis. The Judge sheathed his sword once again and eagerly took the stone. "To think the relics of the Dynast-King were deifacted Nethicite. Doctor Cid will be beside himself."

"What did you say?" Judge Ghis held up the Dawn Shard as he ignored Balthier and spoke to Vossler. "Captain Azelas, take them to Shiva. They should have leave to return to Rabanastre soon." Vossler nodded as he and a few more Imperials escorted us towards the nearby hanger.

During our walk, Vossler continued to speak to Ashe about his plans. "When we return to Dalmasca, we can announce that you are alive and well. I will then continue our negotiations with the Empire. I believe Larsa is the key. He'll listen to us. We should trust him."

"Who are you, Vossler, to talk of trust?" Vossler sighed as he looked down to the floor and whispered. "A son of Dalmasca.."

While we were waiting at the hanger for a small cruiser to pick us up, I suddenly felt an enormous pain within my head. My mind felt like it was on fire! I couldn't take it anymore and covered my ears as I hear a weird cry of pain coming from the direction of the shard. What was happening to it? Why was I feeling this pain? I felt Vaan put a hand on my shoulder and speak to me, but I couldn't make out his words. I could hardly even move! As I closed my eyes I could hear an alarm go off in the ship, what was going on? As I could finally make out the voice around me again, I looked around and heard Penelo talking about Fran, Who apparently went berserk against the guards. "What's wrong with her?" I could see Balthier smirk as he responded. "I always knew Fran didn't take well to being tied up. I just never knew how much. How about you?" He asked Ashe as she smiled and responded. "I like Fran's idea. Let's get out of here!" As we were running towards the door, Vossler stopped us and yelled out. "No further! Sky pirates! The future of Dalmasca will not be stolen!" Basch sighed as he walked up to Vossler as he spoke to him. "Why do this, Basch? This struggle is futile. You must know where it leads!"

"I do know. All too well!" As they finished talking Vossler charged Basch and the fight began. During the fight we had to continuously dispatch of Imperial patrol walking in, hoping they did not bring in anymore of them. After a few minutes the fight was over and Vossler fell down to his knees. As I held onto Vaan for support, we walked over to one of the empty cruisers nearby. While we were walking Balthier yelled out for Ashe to come, as she was watching Basch and Vossler speak one last time. "All I have done- I've ever thought of Dalmasca first."

"I know you did. I would never gainsay your loyalty."

"Look on what my haste has wrought. Did I act too quick? Or was your return too late? I can serve her no more, you must take up my charge." Basch nodded as he ran over to us, entering the ship. Ashe looked quite sad to leave him behind as Balthier started the cruisers engine, and flew us out of there.

During the flight, I could still feel the Dawn shards cries as we flew further and further away from it. And as we looked out of the window we could see a huge explosion, obliterating the entire 13th fleet. Was that all the stone's work? The ship started to shake as the fires of the explosion neared us, so I held on to my seat as tight as I could, just to keep sitting. "This might get a little dicey!" I heard Balthier speak as Fran talked about the cause of the explosion. "The Mist, It manifests now." I could see Balthier starting to freak out as he responded. "Is that what you call this?" When we were finally out of the fire's we could see a bright light emanating from the spot where the fleet should have been. "What's that?" Everyone looked at the spot outside as I spoke my mind. Ashe gasped as she saw it moving towards us and spoke. "I think it's the Dawn Shard." Balthier smirked at her respond and spoke. "Then what are we waiting for?

Standing on the outskirts of a small harbor town in the Estersands, on a short bridge, was Lady Ashe. What she was thinking of, I did not know. I watched her from the shore as she walked back over the bridge, returning to camp until Rasler appeared between us once more. Rasler eyed me for a split second before walking towards Ashe. I saw Ashe gasp as he stopped before her, and handed over the Dawn shard. The shard however had lost its glow, but it was still the proof she needed to proclaim her birthright. As Rasler vanished once more, I slowly walked up to Ashe probably wondering the same as her: How could we see a dead man?

After sitting at our camp for a little while, Basch spoke up as he eyed the Dawn shard. "So, it was the Dawn shard that brought down the Imperial fleet."

"You know your stuff." Balthier spoke as he walked around the room. "Destructive power of such force- I've seen it once before. Lady Ashe, you know of what I speak."

"Nabudis."

"The capital of Old Nabradia- Lord Rassler's fatherland. At the time of the invasion, a division of Imperials entered the city- there was a mighty explosion.. Friend and foe died alike. Something was there- one of the Dynast-Kings relics. The Midlight shard was in Nabradia."

"More Nethicite. Well, no wonder they invaded." Balthier leaned against the wall as he spoke to us. Ashe sighed as she picked up the Dawn shard and started speaking once more. "That ridiculous war, the trap at the treaty-signing, all this because Vayne wanted power. He must not be allowed to claim the Nethicite. The Empire must never hold it."

"Oh? They already do. The Dusk shard, most likely the Midlight shard too. Besides, can't they manufact Nethicite now?"

"Very well, then the path set before us is clear. We'll use the Dawn shard to fight them! Dalmasca does not forget kindness nor ill deed done. With sword in hand she aids her allies, sword in hand, she lays to rest her foes. This Nethicite I hold must be my sword, I will avenge those who have died. And the Empire will know remorse." After an awkward silence, Vaan spoke up saying what we were all wondering. "Do you even know how to use it?"

"I.."

"The Garif may know. The Garif people live by the old ways. Magicite lore is part of their culture. They may hear it, the cry of the Nethicite's power. Whispers of the stone's menace." Ashe eyed Fran during her speech, and once she was done, Ashe looked as determined as ever. "Dangerous though it be, what we need now is power. Should we declare Dalmasca free without means to defend our claim, the Empire would crush us. You must take me to meet with the Garif."

"They live beyond Ozmone Plain." Fran eyed Balthier as he walked up to Ashe. Ashe sighed as she spoke. "Compensation- is that what you want?"

"Straight to the point, aren't we? I like that. Compensation? How about the ring?"

"This? Isn't there something else?"

"No one's forcing you." Ashe eyed her ring warily as she took it of her finger and gave it to Balthier, it seemed to be very precious to her. "I'll give it back to you, as soon as I find something more valuable." Vaan walked up to Balthier as he spoke his mind. "What do you mean "something more valuable"?"

"Hard to say. I'll know when I find it. What is it you want, Vaan? What are you looking for?"

"Me? What am I looking for? I guess- well, I- you know.." I chuckled as I stood up from my seat on the table. "Don't worry, Vaan. I'm sure you know, it just won't come to mind right now." Vaan smiled as he walked up to me. "How 'bout you?"

"What about me?"

"What are you looking for? Why are you still traveling with us?" Why was I still with them? I didn't exactly have anywhere else to go, besides the palace that is. And I wasn't exactly looking forward to staring games with Vayne again.. "Well.. Let's just say that during my journey with you, I've found out a lot more about myself then I would have alone."

"So.. you are looking for information?"

"Not exactly. I could get all the information I want at will if only I asked the right people."

"Then why don't you?" I smiled and moved toward the door. "There would be no fun in that."

As Vaan and I left the little house we were in, Balthier and Basch spoke of the journey we would take next. "The Garif are said to dwell in Kerwon."

"So they do. We'll need to head south, past the Giza Plains."

"It is the Rains now in Giza- The wadis will be swollen with the deluge. Passage may be difficult."

"But those same waters may also lay open new routes for us."

"Regardless, we must go south, yes?" I said as they spoke, Balthier nodded and continued. "First things first. You're eager to be on your way, I know. But we should see that we're prepared before setting out." Ashe stepped in and stood in front of Balthier as she spoke. "I made my resolve two years ago. I swore to overcome any hardship I may face."

"Man cannot live by resolve alone, Princess." Ashe nodded as she made her way over to one of the little shops in the bazaar we were at. As I sat down upon a set of stairs and waited for the others to finish, I wondered how long it would take us to get to our new destination this time.