Author's Note:

Previously on Calamity of the Serene Basch cannot remember whether the night before was a dream or not. Either way, he is becoming wildly attracted to Ashe. Penelo tells the group she heard news that Ayon has declared himself absolute ruler in Ashe's absence, that Al-Cid is by his side, and had black eyes. Fearful that Ayon is now soulless, Ashe wishes to return to Dalmasca and stop him. Everyone objects, but nobody can think of another plan. It is decided that in the morning, Basch and Ashe will travel to Dalmasca. While selecting chocobo's for their journey, they flirt relentlessly, and Ashe tells Basch that if he dies, than she will die. They end up kissing, and find themselves completely enamored with each other.

FOR THIS CHAPTER, PLEASE GO BACK AND REFER TO THE LAST SECTION OF CHAPTER FOURTEEN, WHERE ASHE AND BASCH DISCOVER VOLI'S PURPOSE (IF YOU CANNOT REMEMBER).

( C A L A M I T Y-of the-S E R E N E )

Chapter Twenty-One: The Torturous Decision

"Do you think they're okay?"

Vaan turned his head sharply at Penelo's question and frowned deeply. It had been almost three full days since Basch and Ashe had made the journey to Dalmascan lands, and there was still no word of them. Penelo was obviously worried sick; it was all she talked about the entire time they were gone.

"I'm sure they're fine," Vaan tried to reassure her as he took a spoonful of his soup and put it into his mouth.

Penelo had not yet touched her dinner. "But then why haven't they written to us?"

Larsa raised an eyebrow in her direction. "We have been over this before, Penelo. It will take them at least three days for travel alone. Do not expect to hear from them for another three days."

Like a stubborn child, she folded her arms across her chest and frowned down at her plate. "I don't want to wait that long. I think I'll go mad."

With a sweet smile, Larsa rested his elbows on the table. "Why don't I take your mind off it?"

She glanced up at him, startled. "What do you mean?"

Yeah, Vaan thought, casting an annoyed glare towards the suave younger man. What the hell do you have up your sleeve now?

"Tomorrow night," Larsa said smoothly. "I wish to take you to dine at Balfonheim's most lovely restaurant. I promise that I will make you forget all these hardships."

She looked pleasantly surprised by his generous offer. "That is very sweet of you, Larsa."

What? No!

Larsa's eyes flickered momentarily to Vaan, and Vaan bit his tongue firmly. Is he challenging me?

"Um," Vaan began, and both Penelo and Larsa turned to look at him. "Can that dinner wait another night? I had something planned for Penelo tomorrow."

Penelo raised an eyebrow, and looked greatly suspicious. Vaan was not usually the romantic type that liked to plan surprises. "You do?"

"Yeah," he continued. "It was supposed to be a surprise, but I guess this'll have to do." He rolled his eyes as if Larsa had ruined everything. "I talked to the owner of the theater down the street. He's looking for a dancer for tomorrow night's show. I told him you were a wonderful dancer, and he wants you to be the star dancer for tomorrow."

She released a surprised, little gasp. "You did no such thing!"

His heart skipped a beat. "Oh, I thought it would make you happy?"

From across the small table, he saw Larsa trying to suppress his smirk.

Without warning, a wide grin formed over her pretty face, and she clapped her hands together. "Vaan! That's the nicest thing you've ever done for me!"

"It is?"

"Oh, yes!" She released an excited giggle. "It shows that you really do care about me."

Vaan saw his chance, and he took it. "Well, yeah, of course. I mean, anybody can buy you expensive things-" he flickered his eyes toward Larsa, just as the other man had done to him just minutes ago. "-But it takes a real friend to give you something that they know you'd actually care about."

Take that, Larsa! I bet you didn't even know she likes to dance, did you?

Penelo hesitated. She had obviously caught the sound of triumph in Vaan's voice. Vaan forced himself to push his excitement down. You gotta be more careful, or else Penelo will think that this is a pissing contest between you and Larsa.

To prove to her that he wasn't just trying to 'one-up' Larsa, Vaan made a self-sacrifice on his part. "You know what? Larsa, why don't you take Penelo out to an early dinner? That way your plans aren't ruined, you know, but she still can dance at the theater."

"That's a great idea," Penelo gushed immediately. "Gods, Vaan, I never thought you could be so thoughtful."

Neither did I, Vaan thought to himself. But, you know, if it makes Penelo happy to spend some quality time with Larsa, than who am I to stand in her way?

Larsa was watching him carefully, and then a small smile formed across his lips. Vaan returned the smile easily- it was not a dangerous smile that was passed between them. They both recognized their situation as one of a friendly rivalry. There was nothing ill between them.

Except, however, that they were both in love with the same woman.

She pulled the hood of the cloak over her head, shielding her face from the world. She and her companion had just crossed through the fiend-filled sewers beneath Rabanastre, and Ashe frowned slightly as they made their way up the broken stairs for the secret entrance to her castle.

"So this is how Vaan could thieve my palace so easily," she said, almost bitterly.

Basch openly frowned before he pulled his own cloak over his head. "If it was not for his 'thieving,' you would not even know of this path."

She didn't bother to answer, and before they knew it, they were inside the grand Dalmascan castle. They both knew their way around, and so navigation was simple. Strangely, few guards patrolled the large halls, and this upset Ashe greatly. She decided that when she got herself back in charge, she'd have to fire a number of her men and hire better ones.

Their journey to Dalmasca had taken a long three days. The hours had passed slowly, uneventfully, and strangely calm. Basch and Ashe had talked a great deal, but there was no romance. It was like all the other times: they pretended that nothing had happened between them.

By the time they had made it to the upper section of the castle, it was nearly two in the morning. By most standards, Al-Cid and Ayon would have retired for the night, and so Basch and Ashe decided to check Ayon's rooms for him.

They weren't disappointed.

There were two sleepy looking guards outside Ayon's door, and as Basch and Ashe approached, they raised their blades immediately. However, once Ashe pulled down her hood to announce her presence, they backed down. They looked relieved to see her, though neither dared question of where she had disappeared to for the last week and a half. Naturally, they let her into her husband's rooms, and Ashe was instantly surprised to see not a single servant sat in the parlor area. Then again, she wouldn't expect to see any in her rooms either, since Al-Cid had murdered half of them. The very thought made her grind her teeth in anger.

Before Basch could stop her (she knew he'd try), she dashed for the door that led to the bedroom and threw it open.

Ayon, who had been resting in his bed, sat up with a start when she entered. Even though the room was dark, she could see the black emptiness in his eyes.

"Husband," she said coldly in greeting.

A wicked grin spread across his face and he scrambled out from his bed within a moment. His eyes flickered in the direction of his daggers, which rested on a chair across the room. He shrugged slightly, pretending as if he hadn't seen his weapons. "My dearest wife and love! Where have you been?"

His tone was sickeningly sweet, and Ashe shuddered. "Where is your brother?"

"Al-Cid? He resides in one of the guest chambers," Ayon stated kindly, and Ashe watched warily as he began to inch his way over to the chair. "Please, come to me, my love. I have missed you dearly."

As Basch moved into the room and beside her, Ayon made a disgusted face. "The Judge? Why is he here?"

Even without his soul, he cannot hide his dislike for Basch, Ashe realized slowly. He is like Al-Cid, who still called Larsa a 'little Emperor' despite his missing soul.

Basch tossed his cloak to the floor, and quickly drew his sword from its sheath. "As Judge Magister, I hereby place you under arrest."

Ashe's mind reeled. If Ayon and Al-Cid behave in such ways... by the Gods, that means...

"You have no authority here, Judge," Ayon snarled coldly, edging closer to his blades.

...That means they are not completely destroyed. Part of their old selves still reside inside their bodies.

"I would stop if I were you, Lord Ayon," Basch said slowly, moving quickly to intercept Ayon's progress to the daggers.

Yet Ayon was quicker than Basch, seeming to have gained speed and agility since his fateful encounter with Voli. He managed to grab his daggers and dance away from a lunge made by Basch. His dark eyes were fixated on Ashe, and quickly the Queen yanked out her own sword and prepared herself for whatever attack that was coming for her.

He lowered his shoulder as he lunged toward her, as if he wished to push her down. Ashe quickly spun out of the way, and swung her blade down at him in the process. The blade slashed his back as she evaded him, and he let out a frustrated groan as his aging skin was pierced.

He faced her quickly, and Ashe swore that the blackness of his eyes darkened even more. He spoke with such malice that Ashe winced. "You know you cannot escape my Lord, my wonderful Queen."

"I can," she retorted, readying her sword once more. "And I will."

Ayon's eyes flickered towards Basch, who was slowly approaching the Rozarrian. He realized that he would not survive against the two skilled warriors, yet still did not yet back down. "Do you not understand, my lady Ashe? You will be given more power than you will ever know. You can lead your country into glorious battle- you can destroy all other lands and make Dalmasca the ruling kingdom of all Ivalice!"

The historical books were right, Ashe thought darkly. Voli did come to instill violence on Ivalice.

"Join me, my dearest love," Ayon finished. "Together, we can toast to our fallen enemies and rule for all eternity."

"You are a fool," Ashe snapped grimly, her fingers tightening on her sword. "Voli is using you. Drop your weapons, Ayon. You are outnumbered and will die at my hands unless you surrender."

A look crossed over his face, as if he realized that she was right. Ayon pulled back slightly, and then pushed his hands out before him. His eyes flickered closed, and a ball of white light began to encircle his body. Ashe and Basch froze, confused by this strange spell. Neither of them knew whether or not to attack.

"I will return for you, my Lady Love," Ayon whispered, his voice seeming to echo off the walls of the large bedroom and rattle Ashe's brain. "When our numbers are greater, I will make you mine once again."

With that, the ball of energy brightened so vividly that Ashe was forced to clench her eyes tightly closed. There was a loud banging noise that seemed to come from all directions, and then an intense squeezing sensation that covered her entire body. Indeed, it felt as if four people had taken a running start and slammed into her all at the same time, and she released a pained groan and slumped down to the floor.

The light faded quickly, and Ashe slowly opened her eyes with another groan. Her whole body ached violently, and she rolled pitifully over onto her back. Glancing over, she saw Basch still standing yet slumped against the nearby wall. He was breathing heavily but looked unharmed. He lifted his head to look at her, then instantly moved in her direction.

"Majesty," he called out. "Are you alright?"

He reached his hand down toward her, she accepted it and was pulled to her feet. She rubbed at her head. "What the hell was that?"

"I know not," Basch shook his head, quickly sheathing his sword. "But he is gone. We should attempt to find him."

Ashe bent down to retrieve her sword, which had fallen from her hands during Ayon's strange magick spell. "He may have gone for Al-Cid."

Basch nodded and moved from the bedroom and into the parlor. "Then we must make haste to the guest chambers."

As the pair exited out into the hallway, Basch hurried down the hall, but Ashe stopped to speak to the guards waiting outside Ayon's door. "Did my husband emerge?"

"No, your Majesty," one of the guards responded, looking bewildered. Ashe realized she must look quite the fright: she was breathing hard, and she knew her hair was messy and her face red.

Ashe pushed her hair back with her sweaty hands. "Go immediately and send out the word: Ayon Margrace is a traitor of Dalmasca and he is to be seized on sight and imprisoned."

The two men knew better than to ask questions. With serious faces, they quickly excused themselves from her presence and dashed down the hall in the opposite direction that Basch went. Spinning on her heels, Ashe jogged speedily down the hallway after Basch.

He had been a great deal faster than her. By the time she managed to arrive at the guest chambers, she found the door to the occupied room kicked open. Moving inside, she was greeted with the image of Al-Cid on his knees, and a very stern Basch hovered above him. Basch's sword was stretched out in his strong hands, and the sharp tip was pressed dangerously close to Al-Cid's exposed throat.

As Ashe entered the room, Basch kept his eyes locked on Al-Cid, but the soulless prince glanced casually towards Ashe.

"Ah, the Lady Ashe," Al-Cid spoke cheerfully. "How good it is to see you again."

"Quiet," Ashe immediately snapped, taking a few steps towards the two men. "Or I will command him to cut your throat."

Al-Cid smiled fondly. "Now, Ashelia, is that any way to speak to your brother-in-law?"

"You are no brother of mine," she sneered. "Not after your attempt to murder my friends."

Al-Cid's smile grew larger. "And after I tried to slice you open like the fat, worthless pig that you are."

At Al-Cid's less than friendly words, Basch inhaled sharply and pressed the tip of his blade harder against Al-Cid's smooth neck. In any other situation, Ashe would have been pleased by Basch's anger of Al-Cid's insult, but it was too dark of a time for any romantic glee. She had to remain level headed.

"Basch," she said smoothly. "It is okay."

Basch's upper lip twitched, and Ashe could tell he was trying to push down his anger.

"Basch," Al-Cid tried, turning his blackened eyes from Ashe to the Judge. "Let me stand, old friend. We can join forces. We can stop the Queen's rude remarks. Join me, and we can share her; take turns, even. Do you not want to get back at her for all the wrongs she has ever caused you?"

The fucking bastard, how dare he suggest to do such things to me!

"That is enough," Basch said through clenched teeth.

But Al-Cid didn't stop. "It would be fun. My brother would tell me that Ashelia is quite the savage in bed, that she apparently does this wonderfully delicious thing with her--"

Before Al-Cid could finish his words, Basch mentally lost it. His eyes narrowed into hard slits, and Ashe saw him pull the blade away from Al-Cid's throat a few inches. His sword arm tightened, and Ashe knew he was about to stab Al-Cid directly in the neck.

"Basch, no!" Ashe gasped out quickly, taking hurried steps toward him.

He paused moments before shoving the blade forward. "You would allow such slander against you, Majesty? You know he is a man of Voli. You know that if I do not kill him, than he will come after us. He will not stop until I am dead and you like him. Why would you ask me to stop?"

Because I heard him and Ayon and I know that there is still a part of them alive somewhere inside their shells. Because they were both my friends once, and I wish to save them if I can.

Despite her thoughts, Ashe doubted that there was a way to save them. Of the research she had done on Voli and the Queens and Kings he had tortured, none of them had regained their souls. They had all been nightmarish monsters to all of Ivalice until they died. And because of this, Ashe didn't dare say what was on her mind. She couldn't beg Basch to let Al-Cid go so that she could try and save him. Even if she wanted to, she knew that doing so would mean the death of her and Basch.

It was one of the hardest decision she had ever had to make.

There was no time to try and cure Al-Cid or Ayon. She had to accept the worst possible scenario: Al-Cid had to be destroyed.

This is what he would want, she tried to reassure herself. If he knew he had turned into such a hellish beast, he'd want you to kill him and put him from his misery.

"Ashelia," Basch called out, sounding exasperated. He was waiting on her; loyal to the core, he would do nothing without her approval. He would let Al-Cid go, and die at that moment, if she so wished.

Ashe snapped herself from her thoughts, and she gazed down at Al-Cid's cold and emotionless face. Them, agonizingly slowly, she turned her eyes to Basch.

"Do it," she whispered, her voice breaking. But I cannot watch it.

Barely after she finished her command, she turned and ran from the room. She stumbled into the hallway and sprinted down the hall, around the corner, and towards her own private rooms. She burst through the main door and into her parlor, where the floor had been freshly cleaned, and her maids' blood completely washed away. Al-Cid had killed those girls- he had shown them no mercy or compassion- and now he was paying the price.

Ashe was sobbing loudly as she forced her way into her bedroom. With shaking arms, she pulled herself onto her large bed, where she promptly collapsed into a pile of trembles and tears. She curled herself up into the fetal position, and released a small whimper. She told herself to breathe slowly and deeply, and within a minute she had managed to relax and stop crying.

Another long few minutes passed, and then Ashe heard a soft knock on her door. Praying it was Basch, Ashe wiped at her tear streaked face and climbed off of her bed. When she opened the door, she was greeted by the somber face of Basch.

"Ashe," he began, his voice monotoned. "We must decide what to do next."

He was referring to Al-Cid, she knew. Or what was left of him, that is. With a silent nod, Ashe followed her knight out the door.

Author's Note:

On the next episode of Calamity of the Serene: A fearful Ashe seeks safety in Basch. A letter arrives in Balfonheim, and Larsa escorts Penelo to dinner.