Chapter Thirty-Six: History's Chains
Author's Note: Hey readers! I'm so sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter out. After starting college back in August and then having a baby, I was pretty busy with life! However, I am back on track! After this chapter, there will only be FOUR more chapters. I repeat, FOUR! I just want to thank all of my readers for making this possible, because I know for sure that this journey of a story would never have come this far if it weren't for all of you out there. I can't believe that this seven year project is finally coming to a close. THANK YOU!
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII or any FFXII characters. I do, however, own my OC (Celeste von Valen).
Upon being whisked away to the Second Ascent, I found myself facing the roiling mist once again. "Where to go from here," I quietly asked myself as the group moved toward the carven pillars that stood before us. "This pillar on the left mentions deifacted jewels. Do you think it means the Magicites?" Vaan mused as he turned to Balthier. "I do believe so," the Sky Pirate responded. I turned to my left, and then to the right. I couldn't remember which way to go. "So, which direction should we head?" I inquired. All my comrades looked around before they all managed to shuffle in the same direction. "Left it is, then," I said out loud.
A few feet ahead of us stood another pillar, but this one was engraved with the word "knowledge" above the center. I touched it, and the top lit up a dark shade of magenta. The diamond piece levitated above the altar, and flew into the mist before imploding. I heard a noise behind me by the door, and I turned to see a symbol alit on the stone entrance. "Let us see what is behind door number one!" I exclaimed as I started towards the entry. Our group rounded the corner, and shortly came to a flight of stairs. "If it's not riddles and doors, then it is stairs," I mumbled as we traversed up the stairway and to the 61st floor. There were mostly Crusaders and Abaddons about, with the occasional Reaver roaming around. The worst part about the Pharos, in my honest opinion, was the fact that literally everything looked the same.
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Just as the First Ascent had like 40 flights of identical stairways, the Second Ascent had numerous hallways and rooms that looked indistinguishable from one another. "Quite frankly, I'm rather tired of all this running about. I'll be glad when I can sit back on the beach at the Phon Coast and drink from dawn until dusk," I told Penelo as we arrived on the 65th floor. "Vaan will more than likely have his airship by then. I imagine he and I will be sailing all around Ivalice together," She responded excitedly. My thoughts flitted to the ending movie, where Penelo and Vaan did in fact have their own ship. It was cute to think that I would get to see all of that for real. After climbing up a few sparingly placed staircases, we arrived at an ancient door. "It's got an inscription. Uh, let's see… 'Ahead the watcher waits, third of three,'" I turned to the group, "Well, we found our last obstacle," I turned back to the door, "Ye who crave wealth, return whence you came." I tapped my chin. "Good thing we aren't here for the riches. Seeing as we haven't found a single thing since we entered this place," I nudged Vaan as we pushed open the door together.
A white blinding light shone through the entrance, and we were immediately transported into what looked like a snowy mountain pass. A fierce-looking white tiger on two legs roared in our direction. I gulped back my fear and assumed my battle stance, "This might get a little dicey, my friends." They all glanced at me before they took their usual positions. Reddas, of course, did his own thing while the rest of us tried to keep our heads above water. While hacking away at Fenrir, I caught Balthier sneaking a peek at me. 'Now is not the time to play head games,' I told myself. I tried to stay focused on the fight, but I found my eyes continually wondering over to my male counterpart. We finished the fight fairly quick, and when Fenrir fell in defeat, the illusion dissipated in what looked like a ripple effect. When the snowy mountains dissolved, the room returned to the bleak grey stones that lined the walls and floors throughout the entirety of the Pharos. A door was just before us, but I hesitated to enter through it. The much-anticipated battle between us and Cid was vastly approaching. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply to calm myself, but when I opened them back up, I found another pair staring back at me.
They were a very familiar pair, and I don't think anything in the world could have made my heart beat any faster than it was at that very moment. "Are you okay?" The Sky Pirate murmured to me as he gazed at me. "I'm just nervous, I suppose. I feel like everything is just unraveling all at once, and I'm caught in the thread," I told him. There was a warm hand suddenly upon mine, and Balthier gave me a reassuring squeeze. "Whatever happens, just know that I plan on joining you on the beach for that drink," He muttered to me. I was caught off guard by his abrupt forwardness, but I found it very comforting. Maybe he was finally coming around? I was half-tempted to raise my eyebrow in doubt, but I didn't want to ruin the good moment that we had going.
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Once we were on the 66th floor, we found the parallel Altar of Knowledge and deactivated. Immediately, we heard a noise across the room and I found that we had prompted the lift that would get us to the 67th floor. The lift rose up from the bottom of the Mist, and we all clambered onto it before the safety gate closed behind us. Up we went, into the unknown abyss of what lied before us in the Third Ascent. After stepping off the lift, we found a lonely Way Stone that was surely our ticket onward. "Now or never," I said to my comrades as we gathered around it, "We can only go up from here." We were transported up thirteen floors to the Mete of Dynasty, or the Third Ascent.
Now, we would have to traverse through the two flights of the Spire Ravel to get to where we needed to be. Easy, right? Wrong. We kept bumping into those Purobolos bombs. They would randomly explode if they inhaled too much oxygen, and those blasts could get deadly. I quickly formed an aero magick chain, and barreled through them. When the dust had settled, I found myself surrounded by colored Way Stones. I wasn't sure which one to take, so I consulted the carven pillar that was by our arrival spot. "To seal of night look first," I mumbled mostly to myself. I looked around in confusion. "Night, what does it mean by night? Color? The closest thing to night that I see here is black. That must be it… I guess I'll find out if that is the right choice or not," I trudged over to the black sigil, and waited for my group to catch on. "Found our way already, have you?" Basch asked. I nodded. "I do believe so," I answered.
From the black sigil to the end of the first flight, I racked my brain for the next move. We had to progress, but I had to remember which color sigil it was. I started mumbling under my breath; trying to recall the little rhyme I had invented to recollect the way. "Green is not a fiend, and the rest is not the best," I whispered to myself. The rest of the group watched me as I led us around the platform. We took the Green Sigil to the next area, where I promptly tried to figure out what I was doing. "I'm not sure where to go… I think red?" We were zapped to a different platform, which I didn't recognize. "Let's try this again," I said as I retouched the stone. This time, we were sent to another platform. "This isn't where we started, but okay…" I glanced around before I noticed a carven pillar.
Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, the memories struck me. I knew where to go from here, and I quickly led my team down the hall to the façade that waited at the end. I broke down the illusion with a single swing of my sword, and found the colorless Way Stone looming before us. It transported us to the last platform, where we hitched a ride on another lift. Above us, rays of yellow light came together and formed a sphere that bolted upwards. I gazed in amazement at it, before suddenly realizing that a battle was about to occur. Hashmal, Bringer of Order. We all stepped out of the lift, one by one like marching soldiers. As soon as Reddas put one foot out of the gate, the Esper jumped from the Mist like it was coming out of a tidal wave.
I trained my focus on my memory, trying to figure out the best strategy for this fight. "Fran, Dispel," I shouted to the Viera. "Ashe, Protectga. Penelo, Shellga! I'll cast Float! Then we all need to use Haste!" Within seconds, our Magicks were active and each one of us was protected from the attacks of the Esper. The "Magicks-first Offense-later" strategy worked so well, in fact, that Hashmal was out of the fight before I was even able to worry it. This caused me to feel some surprise, since I always had trouble with the more powerful Espers. Now that I had been in Ivalice for a while, I found that strategies were extremely important the further in the game you are. Running into a fight with guns blazing is like playing roulette with a nearly full chamber. There was almost a zero chance of coming out unscathed. The yellow Esper card floated right where Hashmal had just been standing, and I looked over at Ashe. "It's your turn, Princess," I told her. She reached for the card, and it began spinning in her palm before finally resting against her skin.
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"The Din of the Mist grows greater," Fran told us as we marched towards our destination. "The Sun-Cryst must be near," Basch replied. I heard Penelo speak up from behind me, "I wonder if she'll really do it; take revenge against the Empire. I mean, I know how she must feel. It's hard losing someone you care about." "Something we've all got in common," Vaan responded. "But, you know, no matter how hard we try, we can't change the past. There's nothing that can bring them back. Still, sometimes, when I close my eyes… I can see them so clearly," Penelo said. "Illusions of the past. You think to have cast them off, only to find them years later, unwearying, unrelenting. The past can bind a man as surely as irons," Reddas pronounced, "Cut the true path. But will she?" We all watched as Ashe stared out over the platform ledge.
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"So this is the Sun-Cryst," Reddas exclaimed when we reached the very top of the Pharos. Ashe approached the glowing object, "King Raithwall stood here, with this sword he cut the Sun-Cryst… and took its power in his hand." Vaan walked up to her, "But you're going to use the sword to destroy the Sun-Cryst. Aren't you, Ashe?" The Princess smiled and lightly laughed, "Don't interrupt me, Vaan." I grunted in amusement at those two. Ashe took a deep breath, and the sword lit up a bright blue. I glanced outside to see storm clouds and orange rays of light swirling every which way, and suddenly a pulse blasted away from us. When I turned back, the Sun-Cryst had broken away from the webs it hid in and was levitating before us. Ashe gasped, and Rasler's apparition blinked into sight. This time, the Princess and I were not the only ones to see him. "Lord Rasler?!" Basch cried out. Ashe stared her late husband down. "You want revenge? You would have me use the stone?!" Rasler held out his hand to Ashe, but she continued to question him. "You would have me destroy the Empire? Is this my duty? Is this what you want? I cannot!"
I heard a voice from behind us call out, "Why do you hesitate? Take what is yours! The Cryst is a blade. It is meant for you! Wield it! Avenge your father!" Ashe stared angrily at the judge would rounded the pillar. "Yes, it was I who wore Basch's face-who cut down the Life of Dalmasca. Lady Ashe! Your father's murderer is here!" I clenched my fist as Gabranth walked closer and closer towards us. Balthier put his arm up in front of me, but I stood my ground and angrily watched as Ashe confronted Basch's brother. "You?!" She cried out. "And Reks!" Vaan exclaimed just as angrily. "I slew your king. I slew your country! Do these deeds not demand vengeance?" Gabranth inquired as he joined his swords together at the hilts. Ashe dropped the Sword of Kings, and raised the Treaty Sword in its stead. "Yes, good," Gabranth called out, "Find your wrath! Take up your sword! Fight, and serve those who died before you!" I yelled for Vaan to duck, but Gabranth had already taken a swing.
I screamed and shut my eyes, blinding myself with hot tears. There was a loud clink of metal, as Reddas blocked the hit at the very last second. "A Judge Magister there was… Two years past, he took the Midlight Shard and used it not knowing what he did. And Nabudis was blown away. Cid ordered this of him to learn the Nethicite's true power. That man swore such power would never be used again. He forsook his Judicer's Plate, and his name." Reddas and Gabranth pushed away from each other. "Judge Zecht!" Gabranth exclaimed. "It's been too long, Gabranth," Reddas said as he stared down the Judge, "Reach out your hand, Lady Ashe. But that which you must grasp is beyond revenge, something greater than despair. Something beyond our reach. Try as we might, Gabranth, history's chains bind us too tightly!" The two men ran at each other, and sparks flew from where their blades clashed. "No, we cannot escape the past. This man is living proof," Gabranth yelled as he pointed to Reddas, "What is your past, Daughter of Dalmasca? Did you not swear revenge? Do the dead not demand it?!" I stared at Ashe, hoping she would block out his words and see the path before her. Instead, she looked to Rasler.
I clung to Balthier's arm as I tried to push past him. Vaan picked up one of Reddas's swords, and glared Gabranth down. He was outnumbered, by far. Ashe turned to Vaan, and the two of them just looked at each other. As if they were reading each other's mind, or silently communicate. When Ashe broke the eye contact, she once again turned to Rasler. His arms were now open, wanting Ashe to embrace him. "Rasler, My Prince. Our time was short. Yet I know this: You were not the kind to take base revenge!" I gasped as Ashe swung her sword through the apparition of Rasler, causing him to stare in disbelieve as he began to dissipate.
Ashe steadily held her ground. "The Rasler I knew is gone," She cried out. Rasler's apparition continued to look down at itself as the illusion broke down. "You are our saint, Ashelia B'Nargin. You must use the Nethicite. You must be the one to straighten history's weave!" Rasler disappeared with a flash of light. "I am no false saint for you to use," Ashe exclaimed. The tip of the treaty sword hit the ground. "In all Dalmasca's history, not once did we rely on the Dusk Shard. Our people resolved never to use it, though their need might be dire. That was the Dalmasca I wanted back," Ashe dropped the sword completely, "To use the stone now would be to betray that. I will destroy the Sun-Cryst! I will discard the stone!" I rejoiced, but only for a minute. "You claim no need of power? What of your broken kingdom's shame," Gabranth pointed his finger at Ashe accusingly, "The dead demand justice!"
"You're wrong," Vaan uttered. Our heads swiveled to look at the blond teen. "What would change? I can't help my brother now. My brother's gone. He's dead," Vaan cried out to the Judge. "Even with power, we cannot change what has passed. What is done, is done," Ashe said as she tossed the Dusk Shard to the ground. It rolled across the stone floor until it stopped at Gabranth's feet. "Yet without power, what future can you claim? What good a kingdom you cannot defend," Gabranth queried. Basch interjected, "Then I will defend Queen and Kingdom both!" I pushed past Balthier, "And I as well!" Gabranth scoffed at me. "You scoff, but do you not see what we are willing to do? We are all putting our lives on the line! As mismatched of a group as we are, we are willing to come together to defend a country that not all of us call home. Do you not see that?! Although it may seem to be a futile fight against an enemy such as the Empire, we have come this far. We conquered many obstacles to get where we are now, and I would rather die than let you take that away from us!"
Gabranth drew his sword, "Hah! Defend? You? Basch, you failed Landis and Dalmasca! What can shame hope to keep safe?! Your shield is shattered! Your oaths poison those you would protect!" I dropped my shield to the floor, and I let it clatter. "You know nothing of protecting! You only know of desolation!" I screamed. I drew my sword, and charged towards Gabranth with both hands on the hilt. He dodged my attack, and shoved me down to the ground. "Hear me, Basch! Do not think killing the kingslayer will win you back your honor! When you abandoned home and kin, your name was forever stained with blood!" I got up quickly before he could strike. "Aye," Basch addressed him, "this stain is mine to bear. But I will bear it willingly, knowing that I did all that I could for hope!" Basch and I charged at him together, thrashing at him until he stumbled backwards in heavy breath. "So, you, too, would leave your debts unpaid?" Gabranth uttered between ragged breaths.
There was a brief moment of silence before someone interrupted, "Enough of this! I can bear no more!" I groaned. He approached us, holding the Dusk Shard, "You disappoint me, Gabranth." He shoved the Judge out of the way. "He trusted you! When you bared steel against the Princess, you foreswore your obligations to your emperor! You shame yourself and make mockery of Lord Larsa's trust! You are unfit to serve him as sword or shield. And so I release you from that service. Your presence is neither required nor welcome," Cid lectured as he walked away. Gabranth began to shake in anger, and he yelled as he raised his sword to Cid's back. "Gabranth!" Basch called out to his brother. Gabranth's attack was deflected by a misty figure, and he was suddenly thrown into the air. I gasped as I watched him hit a pillar across the room and fall hard on the ground below him. We all stared as Gabranth did not attempt to get up.
I tugged on Balthier's sleeve, grasping the silky fabric tightly in my fist. "You were only a tool of this Venat," Balthier yelled to his father as he stared him down. "How quaint! We are allies!" I scoffed, and held back the obscene remarks that were threatening to jump off the tip of my tongue. Cid didn't miss a beat, "The Occuria give men power as a master feeds his dog; it is meant to tame us. How well have you resisted their wile. By turning your back on their stones, you give us free hand to write our own history!" Ashe exclaimed, "And at what price? Dalmasca's freedom for your Nethicite?! I shall suffer you to have it. The Sun-Cryst be damned!" Cid laughed a little, "Oh, be sure that it is! For what other purpose do you think you've brought us here? But m'lady, I would have you stay your Occurian sword! The Sun-Cryst is glutted with Mist, too precious a thing must not be squandered! Let us use the stone! Finish this, Venat!" Cid threw his arm up into the air, and a ghostly shadow followed it.
Three colored lights joined together above us, and a swirling mist rapidly formed out of thin air. There was an explosion that rocked us; causing Vaan to fall forward and almost hit the ground. My hair whipped my face as I tried to grab onto Balthier's hand. I could hardly see a thing. Across the room, Cid was maniacally laughing and rambling fastly, "Shards of Nethicite! Cocoon of the Sun-Cryst! Spill forth your Mist upon this Ivalice! Let sea and sky be awash by it, that Bahamut may come and drink his fill!" We desperately fought against the wind of the Mist. "And lo! How brightly burned their lanthorn. Casts it back the shadow of Occurian design! Testament that man's history shall be His alone!" Balthier held me close to him, but stood firmly in the face of his father. "You made your Nethicite for this. You mimic your Occuria's stone for what," He raised his voice, "To become a god yourself?!" Balthier let go of my shoulders and glared his father in the eyes. "On whose shoulders better to stand than those of the would-be gods!" Cid yelled in response.
Balthier shook his head in disbelief. "Such high hopes I once had, but you ran and they with you! Alas, your return is too late. Come, Fframran. Revel in the glory of my triumph!" Balthier turned his back just in time to swoop me in his arms and duck down. Cid came at us, levitating in the air through the power of the Mist. I pulled my sword back out of its sheath, and I pushed away from Balthier towards Cid. I jabbed at him, but he dodged and moved farther away from me. I kept running closer to him, hoping to get at least one hit before he pulled out his Nethicite. But unfortunately, I was too late. From his pockets, he pulled out a piece of red Nethicite. "Behold the Manufacted Nethicite! The fruit of our power and knowledge! See what the Stone of Man is capable of! Witness its power with your own eyes! Famfrit! To me!" Cid tossed the stone behind him, and an Esper summon ring appear on the floor. "Shit," I yelled as the red stone glowed brightly. Famfrit rose from the circle, and we fought until I felt like I couldn't go on anymore.
Cid staggered back, and he attempted to raise his guns one more time, but his arms failed. His weapons fell to the floor, and Cid's body followed shortly. His Esper card separated from him, hovering just in front of where he lay. I ushered for Penelo to grab it, and she carefully approached the card. It spun around her, and then connected with her wrist and fell still. She stepped back quickly, trying not to get too close to Doctor Cid. Balthier jogged forward, despite my voiced concerns. "Balthier, please don't!" I reached for his sleeve, but found nothing but air in my palm. Venat stood in his way, but Cid waved the Occuria off. "Let him by, Venat," Cid said, "It is done." Cid managed to stand. "Ah, how I have enjoyed these six years," He told the apparition. "The pleasure was all mine," Venat replied as it moved away from Cid. Balthier got closer, and looked down to see Cid's hand bathed in a yellow light. "Was there no other way?" He asked his father solemnly. Cid shook his head, "Spend your pity elsewhere. If you are so set on running, hadn't you best be off?" A tear escape from the corner of my eye as I gazed upon the father and son duo before me. "Fool of a pirate," Cid muttered as he slowly dissolved into a heavenly light.
I rushed to Balthier's side and I grabbed his arm. "Fran," I heard Penelo cry out. "The Mist burns," Fran exclaimed, "to bursting it beats. The cocoon!" Balthier pushed me away and knelt down next to Fran. "The Sun-Cryst burst," She said, "You must run as far as you can." He looked down at her with sad eyes. "Easy, Fran," He said quietly. Fran cupped his cheek in her. I felt a boiling sensation deep in the pit of my stomach, and I felt the immense urge to retch. "Hadn't you best be off? That's what a sky pirate does. You fly, don't you?" Balthier brought his hand up to Fran's and held it. "I suppose you better hang on, then." I looked away and found Vaan and Ashe struggling to reach the Cryst with their swords. "Ashe! The sword! We have to stop it! " I tried to scream out to Vaan, but I found that my voice was lost in the tunneling wind of the Mist. Vaan and Ashe fought desperately against the typhoon , but neither could get close enough to the Cryst to destroy it. "You must quit this place," Reddas shouted, "It's reacting. I have not seen it like before! Nay, never this large! Never such threat impendent."
He raised the Sword of Kings, "For Nabudis!" I watched in horror as Reddas ran towards the Cryst. "Reddas, no!" Vaan cried out as he reached his hand out to grab our comrade. Reddas made it to the Cryst, but his body was being blown away by the immense wind. He tried once again, and this time he found his mark as he raised his sword. "I, Judge Magister, condemn you to oblivion!" The last thing I remember was a harsh scream piercing my lungs and throat as I cried out for Reddas. My body was being lifted, and I felt a shoulder hit my rib cage roughly as I was being carried away from Reddas and the Cryst. I shrieked for the person to put me down, but everything felt like it was in slow motion. The tears, the screaming, and the beating of my fists against a familiar gold plate seemed to be happening at a rate one thousand times slower than normal. There was a blinding light and a harsh sound of a landslide, and then suddenly, there was nothing at all.