Author's Note: HEY!!!!!!!! I FINALLY updated!!! It has almost been like two months! I'm sorry... :( This chapter is nothing special in my opinion but I wrote it anyways, it goes with my story so. I'm sorry it took so long, mostly to type it out, because I'm still nursing a injured arm and wrist. But I'm hoping that the next chapter will come out a bit sooner than what this one did :) Anyways, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed, you are awesome! And to those who find the time to read and lose the time to review... well... I guess thanks for at least looking at it and bringing my hit count up to 1900 plus:) Wow, I never would have thought! Ok, enough of me... Read, Enjoy and most importantly Review! (Flames not accepted)
landis icelilly
Sita SilverBreeze: I updated, so now you can spare me my pitiful excuse for a life :) lol!
Disclm: I forgot this little tidbit on my last chapter but I'm pretty sure that everyone knows the drill. I own nothing of Final Fantasy XII or Square Enix. I am soo poor right now that I can't even afford my own toilet paper:P
"They're the thieves that stole into the place!" declared a Lowtown residence as he observed the spectacle before him.
"Is that the commotion last night was about?" questioned another.
"I hope they get what's coming to them!"
In a state of melancholy, Ashe stood slightly slouched and had chosen to stare glumly at the thick rectangular plates they had called handcuffs, locked to her wrists, which hung helplessly in front of her waist. They weren't doing much to ease the pain that was now throbbing from her shoulder and the deep cut in her palm that she had been nursing- since some of the stitches were most likely ripped out from battle anyway.
Shortly after Vayne's exit of the Overflow Cloaca, the four members had been slapped with iron cuffs and roughly shoved up the steps into Lowtown's Storehouse and out into the public's eye. They were forced into a lineup as if they were puppets in a small sideshow and had been surrounded by the statue-like guards, as they barely moved an inch awaiting their orders, and the onlookers that were speckled all about.
"They think me some common thief," Ashe quietly said, her words filled with despair at the thought of her people not being able to recognize her, which, she quickly reminded herself, was not all that bad.
Hearing her desolate comment, Balthier stealthily shuffled his way back to stand next to her, choosing to clarify the situation.
"Better than a common assassin," replied his smooth, silky tone as his breath slightly brushed her ear from the closeness.
Ashe felt completely vulnerable, though she would never let her guise show it, standing there on display, chained like some ordinary pilferer and charged for crimes she did not commit. She wished that her elite guards were here to wash away this Archadian rabble; she wished, as much as she would hate to admit to him of her being ignorant to his warnings, that Vossler would just come galloping around that dark corner, to feed a plate of steel to the Lord Consul himself. And then later, he would probably verbally assault her for being shallow and moronic in her ways causing him to feel triumphant over actually proving a point to her.
But it wasn't until now that the flash of a distant memory flew through her thoughts and she greatly desired the company of her late guardian, her childhood friend and, towards the end just before those final days of his honorable life, her lustful fantasy.
The late Captain Basch Fon Ronsenburg was her true knight in shining armor; he had saved her many times from her foolish and naïve stunts keeping her safe from itchy fingers within Rabanastre's city limits, who wanted nothing more than to either kidnap her or slit her throat, or so he had portrayed all that time.
In this far off dream that she had experienced sometime ago in her life, wanting desperately to leave it behind, was the unforgettable request of a promise to always protect her, to always keep her from harm and most importantly, to always be by her side regardless of war or peace. Until this moment, she had forced herself to bury the recollection of when he finally gave his shy but trustworthy devotion to her, vowing to never fail even if it meant risking his life for her. She had been only seven when this dauntless oath was brought forth to the page and though he may not have taken the true meaning of it seriously… she had, never neglecting its undeniable meaning. But Ashe, in light of the situation that had happened, needed to ignore this heart filled promise, ultimately throwing it into the pits of hell where her once honest and valiant knight had been sent after the gallows as he was put to his death for high treason and the death of the King. For the death of her father.
As much as she tried, needed and should have, Ashe had never wanted to truly forget him or that promise. Deep down in what was left of her fragmented heart, underneath her burning hatred and anguish for the man was the tightly chained up piece inside that screamed for release. That begged to not be ignore. It cried to her that he was still alive somewhere and tricked her to think that he, too, would come running around that bend behind Vossler, sweeping her under his wing, saving her from everything.
She abruptly berated herself for her train of thought. Who was she kidding! He was dead. He was a traitor. A kingslayer and a murderer that had only seen things for himself. He had faked loyalty and honor straight to her face. Surely a man as kind and gentle as he could not be capable of the thoughtless murder of her father, but it was all a grand façade that crashed down on her one night and she could never be the same.
Knocking her out of her reverie, the Imperial Captain standing angled behind, harshly shoved a gloved hand into her back just between the shoulder blades causing her to take in a startled gasp of air as she was forced to walk in front of the guard. The others were made to remain as she was involuntarily separated from her new companions.
Without full evaluation, she quickly hollered over her shoulder to the Captain that once again jostled her back as she tried to return the favor for her three rescuers. It wouldn't hurt to try.
"These people have done nothing! Release them!"
But the order was overlooked as Ashe continued to be escorted out of the corridor.
"What are you doing?" broke Vaan's perplexed plea.
Annoyed at the boy's ignorance for her efforts, she snapped her head around to glare at him in resentment and bitterly reprimanded, "Don't interrupt me, I'm thinking!"
Turning her head back around to commence walking again, she was blessed with another sharp blow to her back but this time it was a lot harder and by a different soldier. She held her head high and unfazed by the negligent handling, trudging defiantly by her enemy, who stood silently off in the corner, closely observing her figure making sure he had the right person in his grasp before he would choose to speak. Just as soon as she passed him, she could hear the metallic jingle of his footsteps start almost immediately behind her, clinking and thudding with confidence and purpose making sure to follow at a slight distance as she was shown the exit out of Lowtown.
Upon reaching the flight of steps and the gates leading out, Ashe could hear the panicked cries of a young girl in the distance from which she had just came, giving her reason to slow her pace.
"Wait!" the girl pleaded.
"He didn't know what he was doing! You have to let him go! You have to!"
She sounded desperate in her attempts and Ashe figured that the guards were holding her back.
"Penelo!" Vaan's immature melody filled the halls, "Sorry. That dinner'll have to wait."
"I told you!"
It was swollen with such pain and heartbreak as it echoed off the walls and into Ashe's ears.
The rest happened so fast as she next heard Balthier's snide remarks about his abusive treatment when the Imperials began to usher the rest down the same course. When they had rounded the corner she witnessed Vaan holding the back of his head tightly and swaying back and forth, unstable, as he walked.
The guards must not have like his altercation, thinking it to be some form of a stall.
Instantly, she felt sorry for her acquaintances and regretting the fact that she had needed their help to get away from these chains that she ironically ran right into but unknowingly brought them along for the ride as well. She had been selfish to take advantage of them and possibly screwing up their, otherwise, shackle-free lives.
As they walked, Balthier lifted his cocky gaze up to meet her own but instead of the cocksure attitude that he possessed; hers was only glazed over with an abandoned hardness to it, offering him a nostalgic apology but never bring it to words. She watched as his head barely nodded once in acknowledgement before she heard a gruff voice next to her order for her to move along and then a concentrated blow came as a metal gauntlet crashed into the back side of her head making her vision become blurred.
The burning sensation was intense and added to the already pulsating migraine that she had from the previous night. Falling to her knees, she quickly grasped the back of her head and forced the essence of vomit that was threatening to leave her body, from appearing. She tried hard to stop the spinning inside of her head with haste but was abruptly yanked up off the floor and this time, was grabbed by the bicep and was drug the rest of the way out.
Location: Unknown…
Heartbeat pounds were all she could hear or feel at that second, reverberating constantly in her skull and quivering out through her fingertips. An eye cracked open then instantly wrenched itself shut when the pain worsened from the ardent light that stabbed in. Next came an anemic groan, which exited from a pair of split lips as her senses lethargically returned and she began to fight off her ever-growing misery.
'Where in Ivalice am I?'
When Ashe was finally able to handle the blazing illumination through half lidded eyes, realization dawned on her about her predicament.
The metal floor was cold and her battered body ached of something terrible, positioned and slouched uncomfortably, like a rag doll, up against the steel wall with legs spread in a V and arms helplessly draped at her sides. Everything felt numb but all at the same instance, felt excruciating as the blood continued to pulse onward through the veins. Her sight was blurred and her focus was groggy, had she been drugged? Or had she just been knocked out?
'What happened to me?'What about that of her new acquaintances? Where they going through this torture as well?
'Where is everyone?'Her inquiries would remain unanswered for now and so would the many other questions that floated inside her mind at this moment.
Shifting slightly, she tried to move an arm so that she may wipe the wild strands of golden hair out of her face but cried in agony when it hurt too bad to even twitch a finger.
Another groan, this time in frustration, filled the air when a second attempt to move a limb failed horribly in anguish. There was nothing she could do that wouldn't bring about the burn, absolutely nothing.
And to make matters worse, she was unarmed, all her prized weapons missing from their places making retaliation pointless even if she could function properly.
Laying a head back against the wall in exhaustion and defeat, Ashe reluctantly granted her wasted form a rest as she dozed off into unconsciousness again, to await her fate.
The Nalbina Dungeons…
A stale musky air hung about the prison walls and throughout the cell bars of Basch's cage, nothing that he wasn't already used to since his two years of residency had built him up to it.
Silence, he had learned, was the norm around this part of the day… or was it night?
Who the fuck knew down here?!
There were no holes or windows to the outside world for daylight or moonlight to sneak in. There weren't any of the incompetent Judges or Imperials that would talk to him either. So day was night and night was day to him anymore, it didn't matter that much below ground. He slept when he pleased anyway.
Shouts and cries were erupting from beyond the magic sealed archway leading into the Black Watch and from what Basch could scarcely make out, some of the newly admitted prisoners were causing a ruckus. Probably trying to pick a fight with one of the slimy, grotesque jail Seeqs in an attempt to escape, not a wise choice since he was well versed on the issue.
Obviously with nothing better to do and out of boredom, he entertained his ears with the distance activity until it suddenly died down into quietness again. It was odd, but what wasn't down here?
Abrupt metallic chatter broke through the lull and his mental griping and piqued an interest in him to eavesdrop on the commotion.
"What did you call me? Say that again!" snarled the rich Arcadian accent, unmistakably a hotheaded Imperial.
"What, you couldn't hear?" retorted the agitator with the gruff tone of a Bangaa as Basch recollected from his travels and experiences around the race.
"I merely said that the lot of you are incompetent fools. If you've the sky pirate in your hands, where is he?" the Bangaa demanded sounding rather annoyed.
"You'd have done better, Ba'Gamnan. By your own words, it was the Imperial Army who caught this sky pirate of yours. We've done your job for you! We don't require the assistance of filthy headhunters. The Empire will restore order here."
"Eh? What's that you say now? Maybe I'll whet my blade on you… before I kill Balthier!" threatened the angered beast, but the voice that boomed next in reprimand would be enough to stop everything. Even Basch's own delirious ramblings, as his twin's muffled words echoed clearly through the halls.
"That's enough, Ba'Gamnan!"
Dead air swallowed the vocal sounds once again and then the far away 'clink' and 'clack' welled into his ringing ears as the Judge Magister began to advance to his intended mark.
"The Emperor is willing to overlook race for his more talented servants. However, those that do not show respect will receive none in kind."
"Your honor—"
Basch cringed for the poor sod and laughed at his stupidity for making a bad choice in manners as the Bangaa tried to get a word in edgewise. Interrupting Noah was very similar to lighting yourself on fire, you just didn't do it unless you really wanted to seriously get hurt or die a miserable death. He had done it on a few occasions, knowing all to well his short temper, just for the fun of it and in reward, getting his own ass kicked when they had been younger. As years rolled on, Basch had become more of the dominating one in strength compared to his brother but Noah still liked to challenge that fact, feeling belittled by the other blonde's traits.
Quickly, the Judge Magister interjected, "You travel freely through our lands because the Emperor wills it. Am I correct?"
A heavy hesitance impeded before the headhunter answered him.
"Bah!"
Next, repetitive jingles floated through the mist infused fog signaling his brother's progress and that of his faithful hounds following mere inches from his heels. He strained to hear what was discussed further but was disappointed when the voices came to him jarred and mumbled into one long incoherent mess. Minutes passed, forced to anxiously listen to the annoying prance that came closer and closer to his cage. Noah was coming to see him and Basch wagered that it wouldn't be a pleasant visit since the result of their last conversation went to hell in a hand basket and he was in no mood to deal with him now.
'What now…' he contemplated releasing an irritated sigh. Could his life possibly get any worse than it already was?"AMARULSIVADUSHKU…" chanted the Imperial Mage equipped to his brother's arsenal of fools, as the door's binding magics lit up in dissipation of the barrier.
A blinding light erupted in the distance from the thick ivy clad gates causing Basch to immediately advert his eyes until the emanation dulled enough for him to catch a glimpse of the doors sliding open revealing the tantalizing horned helm hiding the true coward beneath its protection.
Waves of sickness over came his chilled and sallow body suddenly, a mouthful of putrid bile shooting up into his throat where he tried to hold the expulsion back but failed miserably when the yellowish green chunder evacuated from his lips.
The bodily forced clearing of his stomach had become a daily, if not hourly, ritual that could have been done without. He had felt like shit for almost a week now, head pounding so hard it should have cracked his skull wide open and vomiting unannounced night and day after every meal. He was more a skeleton than a Hume now, after dropping almost twenty pounds of his mass in nearly a week's time from not being able to retain any of his food's nutrients. Something was plaguing his insides and he desperately feared that it would swallow him whole, leaving behind his remains.
But isn't that what he wanted? To die and leave this shit hole and all the crap they brought upon him? He wouldn't be missed, that was for sure.
It was a mixed answer question, yes he could die and be released from this pain for forever but he could not and would not do so as long as he had this feeling, this nagging beat, inside of him that screamed Ashe was still alive. He wouldn't leave her behind again, not ever if he could gain a second chance.
The approach of heavy footfalls caused by the steel covered boots stopped and alerted him to the Judge Magister's presence. Strapped pointlessly inside of his cell, Basch could show his brother no ounce of strength, not even enough to lift his head, his entire body incapacitated within the metal binds from the growing illness.
Though he wasn't looking directly at his twin, he was still hanging high enough up that he could view his movements within his peripheral vision as the gaudy mask was removed.
'That short hair cut makes him look like a prick,' he thought while having to take in the sight of his kin.
As Noah's head slowly raised, he recited in a collected tone, "You have grown very thin, Basch."
'Try vomiting your life's blood every fucking hour.'
"Less than a shadow. Less than a man. Sentenced to death and yet you still live. Why?"
'Because she is still alive.'
"To silence Ondore. How many times must I say it?!" he settled to heave at the man in frustration.
It was the same damn dispute with every interrogation instructed by the Magister and it was becoming quite infuriating. Why did he care so much about his life? He was the bastard that had put him in this predicament, chains and all. Maybe Noah was trying to break him, get him to talk about anything pertaining to the Resistance or Dalmasca's next military move, something.
But Noah knew how his own brother's mind worked, it could be crushed a million times and the information locked away inside would follow him to the grave, defeating the point.
"Is that all?" Noah prodded, now he was pushing Basch's buttons.
'That little…'
His head shot up, a disgusted expression plastered upon Basch's features as he sharply retorted, "Why not ask Vayne himself. Is he not one of your masters?"
Displeasure at his brother's words showed as Noah released a bitter snort and curled his upper lip in a snarl. He would be damn if he were to let this coward in front of him get away with such a jab.
"Damn it Basch!" he blurted out before his better judgment could stay his tongue.
If Basch hadn't been so weak he would have let a smile play at his lips, utter joy filling him at the sight of still being able to get under the man's skin. At least some things hadn't changed about him.
A slight nod to clear his temper flare and then Noah continued with his assignment.
"We've caught a leader of the Insurgence. She is being brought from Rabanastre. The woman Amalia."
'Amalia… could it be…?'
He hadn't heard that name in so long and the way it cleverly dripped off Noah's lips only made it more beautiful to his ears. Intense ice blue irises snapped up to momentarily meet with the dynamic hazel ones of his twin, they told him that this tidbit was no bluff and that he knew of the Resistance's secret prize.
"Who could that be?" scoffed the Judge.
She was alive. Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca was living and hopefully well. But for how long?
A minor relief was brought to Basch as he released a sigh and lowered his gaze in thought, this changed everything, and if Vayne had his grubby palms on Ashe then it would only be a matter of time before he would try to proposition her into being his puppet. Or worse… kill her and put an end to the Dynast-King's bloodline.
He couldn't allow that to happen! He had to find a way out of this stone hell and fast. The Gods had finally answered his prayers and sent him his second chance with a bow plopped on top and he would be damned if he threw it away. He had to get to her or at least die trying this time.
Noah's sneering words bit at his ears once again, interrupting his reverie, "Such a faithful hound to cling so to a fallen Kingdom."
Even in the severity of the situation, he still had the nerve to throw in the barbs that went along with sibling rivalry, always wanting to end up on top. This was a sore subject between the two and Basch knew exactly where this exchange would go.
Fuming, he bitterly spat, his eyes staring daggers at his brother, "Better than throwing it away!"
The intimidating helm was returned to its resting place atop Noah's shoulders where a hollow and strangled retort broke through the material, " Throwing it away? As you threw away our homeland?"
Basch recoiled from the blatant stab to the heart, nothing more could be said as the sound of laden footfalls filled the misty air signaling the dismissal of the heavily armored Judge and his posse of Imperials. He always knew how to put Basch in his place, even if there wasn't a way, he would still find one.
He knew he was a coward for running away that night and he accepted that shame but what he couldn't tolerate was the fact that he would never receive forgiveness from anyone for his mistakes. Especially Noah. Each and every one of them was a scar on his heart just as this place was a scar on his body, ugly and dreadful upon appearance and never forgotten over time.
When the metallic clamor died down, Basch remained in thought, but not missing the pitter-patter of quieted footsteps advancing his tomb. They weren't covered with clanking armor and didn't squelch or scrap across the stone floor like all his other visitors did. No these were… different.
"Who's there?" he called, unable to exert the energy to lift his head.
Three figures sauntered just into his peripheral view, two Humes and a beautiful Viera, choosing to ignore his existence. One was a rogue, from what Basch could tell, possibly a sky pirate but the other was just a boy, too young to be flying the skies and pilfering at his age, most likely an orphan. But what was he doing here? And the Viera… well he hadn't a clue to what her purpose there was. Maybe she was the pirate's significant other or something to that effect.
"This the place?" questioned a rich, slightly Archadian, tone as they peered downward over the railing.
"This mist is flowing through this room. It must be going somewhere," replied the soft and sweet melody of the exotic creature.
"Hmm."
They were prisoners looking for a way to escape! Now was his chance, they could bust him out of these confines as well and then he would be able to save the Lady Ashe from certain peril.
"You! You're no Imperials. Please, you must get me out—" Basch pleaded as he gathered the strength he needed to raise his head up but a snappy reply cut him short.
"It's against my policy to speak with the dead. Especially when they happen to be Kingslayers."
"I did not kill him!"
"Is that so? Glad to hear it!" the pirate sarcastically dismissed finally making eye contact with him.
Ok, this was going to be a lot harder than Basch had originally pondered. He had been given a second chance alright- with a hardheaded, cocksure egotistical marauder donning a silver tongue. He wasn't very much in the mood for that right now since his own brother showed similarities, so he would try a different approach… the boy.
With desperation evident in his orison, Basch begged the blond youth before him, "Please, get me out. For the sake of Dalmasca!"
But what happened next was all a shock to him as the teenage boy propelled himself onto the metal bars of the cell, holding on tightly, with rage painted upon his features. Something Basch said had set this boy off but he wasn't sure what as the kid screamed in his face, stamping his feet madly on the cage floor.
"Dalmasca?! What do you care about Dalmasca?! Everything that's happened is because of you! Everyone that's died, every single one! Even my brother- you killed my brother!" he accused, sounds of tears shredding his voice as he sorrowfully bowed his head at the end.
"Quiet! The guards will hear!" whispered a warning.
It was already too late; rapid clatter began to echo from down the large hall as the Archadian soldiers were making a hasty return to find out what all the commotion was about.
A quick glance down the archway by the Viera settled their plan of action, "I'm dropping it!"
It all happened so fast as the hoist's brake lever was kicked free and the rusty birdcage's chain whined loose as it rapidly fell into the pitch-black hole below his feet. From the sound of it, he had a few other passengers besides the boy as well when two separate 'thumps' articulated from the dome just above his head.
The sudden and prolonged weightlessness cradled him, plummeting almost thirty stories in the mist infused darkness before the crunching and wailing noises of steel poured into the stale atmosphere.
"This isn't going to feel pleasant!" somebody cried.
That was the last thing Basch heard before the cell finally crashed at its destination, his body and the others having been violently launched from the wreckage.
Author's Note: Sorry, this was a short one but if I hadn't of ended it here then it would have become longer than the last chapter and it would have been like three months before I could get it posted! I couldn't do that now could I? Especially since Sita SilverBreeze would have murdered me if I hadn't of updated, lol :) You know I'm just kidding! Like I said before... thanks for reading and I hope you can find the time to review! Keep in mind that there is probably some errors too... I'm only hume!
landis icelilly