The War is Over

We had returned to the Strahl without Grace and Balthier and Fran were already at the controls, starting up the Airship, before we had all gotten on. Larsa and Gabranth were with us but the Judge Magister was heavily injured. He was going to die soon and we all knew it.

"Can we fly?" Balthier asked.

"No fuel goes to the Glossair engines," Fran answered.

"Damn," The Sky Pirate looked at Vaan and stood up. "Vaan, you're in charge. I'm checking out the engine room. Fran, with me."

"Look! Bahamut's Glossair rings are stopping!" Ashe exclaimed. Balthier seemed to be coming up with a plan but was saying nothing on it as Vaan got into pilot's seat, Fran allowing Penelo to take hers.

"Vaan, as soon as the Strahl's rings move, you take off, understood?" Vaan nodded. "You can fly her, just do it like I told you."

"Penelo, watch for interference from Bahamut's Skystones," Fran told the girl. "The Strahl's a fickle girl, you keep her working for us." The girl nodded and set out to work. Balthier and Fran left to check the engine rooms. I stood behind Vaan and watched as he worked the controls.

"Can you put up contact with all Airships?" Lucifer asked. "We'll need to contact everyone to stop them from battering each other."

"The Resistance would surely listen but how could we stop Archadia?" Ashe asked. Lucifer plucked the radio from its stand and looked to Basch and Larsa as they entered.

"Gabranth, please yell Archadia to stop," The blonde said. Basch took the radio and activated it, using the voice of his brother. Vaan had already activated the Strahl and we had started to fly away from the Bahamut.

"This is Judge Magister Gabranth," He started. "All quarters cease fire. I repeat: All units of the Archadian army hold your fire. The battle is over. As of this moment we have signed a cease-fire with Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca, Her Royal Mejesty." He then handed the radio to Larsa, who used his own voice to speak with the Empire.

"Attention. This is Larsa Ferrinas Solidor," He said. "My brother Vayne has died honourably in battle. The Imperial Fleet in under my command." He passed the radio to Ashe, who would speak mainly to the Resistance but Archadia would still hear.

"This is Ashelia Dalmasca," She started. "I can confirm what Judge Magister Gabranth and Larsa Solidor have said here. Please stand down your attack. The war is over. Ivalice looks to the horizon. A new day has dawned. We are free." There was a sense of relief that washed over the entire Strahl. This could finally stop.

"Vaan! The Bahamut!" Penelo exclaimed. The Sky Fortress was heading in the direction of Rabanastre. A message was coming through on the radios and Vaan took it.

"this is Judge Zargabaath, Captain of the Alexander, flagship of the Twelfth Fleet of the Archadian Army," He began. Zargabaath was a bit of a mouthful to say. "I am addressing all units in Rabanastre's airspace. The Bahamut must not be allowed to fall on Rabanastre. Should she fall, the city will be obliterated. We are preparing to ram her. All units concentrate on the Alexander's remains once Bahamut it clear of the city!"

"They're insane," Janos said. Another message started to come alive on the radio.

"A little hasty, aren't we? I think it's a bit too early to be throwing our lives away just yet," Balthier stepped in. Wait, why was Balthier on the radio?

"What? Balthier where are you?" Vaan asked.

"Ah, Vaan," Balthier replied, avoiding the question. "I see you got away. The Strahl's a fine Airship no?" A pause as he was doing something. "Oh, Marquis? Do me a favour and stop that fool of a Judge from ramming me, would you? I'm just getting somewhere with these Glossair rings. Be a shame to be rammed before I fix them, eh?"

"Balthier? You're on the Bahamut?" I said. "You've not got enough time to fix the Glossair rings! Get out of there!"

"What happened, Reina? You used to have such faith in me," I could almost see the smirk on Balthier's face.

"Listen to me Balthier, get out of the Bahamur immediately!" Ashe ordered desperately. "Please Balthier! You mustn't die!"

"Princess, you haven't forgotten my role in this story, have you?" Balthier asked. "I'm the Leading Man. Do you know what they say about the Leading Man? He never dies." I looked at the Bahamut and noticed the Glossair rings coming to life. He must have done it.

"Balthier! Please get out of there!" Ashe called.

"Balthier you and Fran better get out of there," I said.

"Oh don't worry about that," Balthier answered. "Vaan, the Strahl's in your hands. You be careful with her. If I see one scratch on her when I get back..."

"Roger that, we'll be waiting for you," Vaan said. Ashe looked devastated, thinking the Sky Pirates would not get out of the Bahamut in time as it flew away from Rabanastre, crashing into the desert some distance away from the city. We stood in silence, hoping they had gotten away in time before it had crashed.

"What happens now?" I asked.

"What happens is that we speak to Ondore about Ashe's ascension, and make an official cease-fire with the Empire," Lucifer explained. "After that, it's your own decision. We'll all have to go our separate ways once we hit the ground." That was true. Our journey was over now, we had nowhere else to go or any more Empires to stop.

"Perhaps you could join me in going to Rozarria?" Janos offered. That actually sounded nice, going back there. No doubt he would need to help Al-Cid stop the Rozarrians from acting at all, as some may be unbelieving that the war is over so quickly. I nodded to him, accepting his offer of going to Rozarria with him.

I would still like to return to Dalmasca one day, I still had the Clan after all. It would be nice to see everyone again, Balthier, Fran and Grace included. I could only hope she hadn't been incinerated by the Mist, I could only hope.