Read on.

Chapter Twenty

The Skycity of Bhujerba
Year 706 of the Old Valendian Calendar

Balthier could barely believe it as the Atomos sailed out of the Leviathan's hanger and into the night sky. They were all alive, even Vossler. The wounded knight sat slumped against the wall in the back of the cockpit, Ashe kneeling next to him. Fran was at his other side, working to heal his lingering injuries. The only seat in that Atomos was the pilot seat, and Balthier occupied that. He hated driving this thing. It was just like Fran's hoverbike, powered by an electrical system rather than a skystone. Such a system carried very little power, barely enough to get them back to Bhujerba's aerodrome, but it was much cheaper than the average glossair engine. The skiff was only designed to travel between ships in the fleet, so it made sense they'd use the cheaper method to build them. But piloting some zombie-type craft that moved and flew like a normal airship, if a bit rougher, but just wasn't alive, made Balthier's skin crawl. He shoved away the uncomfortable feeling, unwilling to let it ruin the delight of their escape.
"Hey, Penelo," Vaan asked, breaking the silence. "What was that thing you used on Ghis?"
"What?" Penelo turned to Vaan. She seemed like she was miles away. "Oh, that? I have no idea. I didn't do anything, it just… happened, I guess." Penelo reached into her pocket and pulled out the nethicite. The stone was devoid of any glow, now, its deep blue surface glittering in the moonlight from outside. "Larsa gave me this. I thought it was just… I don't know. I didn't expect it to do that!"
"Wait…" Vaan narrowed his eyes at the stone. "That's the thing he had in the cave. What'd he call it again?"
Balthier glanced away from the windshield, letting his eyes rest briefly on the nethicite. The stone was completely silent now, slumbering after its meal. Balthier let out a sigh and turned his eyes back to the sky.
"Nethicite," he replied. The word was bitter in his mouth.
"But what is it?" Vaan asked, his eyes fixed on Penelo's stone. "I mean, you saw what it did to that Judge!"
Balthier didn't reply. He knew what nethicite could do, but as to what it was, he had no answer. Even if he did know, Balthier didn't want to drag all the others into his plans.
"We're headed back to Bhujerba, right?" Vossler's voice interrupted the conversation. He stood shakily to his feet, leaning one hand against the wall. Blood still stained his armor, but evidently his wounds were all healed.
"That's as far as this bucket of bolts will take us," Balthier replied.
"Once we get there, we head straight to Ondore's manor," Vossler said. "The princess should be safe there."
"Vossler," Ashe began. "What about the-"
"Not here," Vossler cut her off.
Ashe didn't reply, her gaze falling to the ground. Balthier pulled his full attention back to driving, rather than worrying about whatever Vossler, Ashe and their resistance was scheming up. They were nearly to the aerodrome, and he needed to focus on docking unnoticed.

…

The party managed to dock in the aerodrome undetected and slip out into Bhujerba's night. Vossler led them to another entrance to that same hidden passageway that had brought them to Ondore's estate the previous day, and they easily slipped inside. Some guards found them and said that "their arrival was expected." With that, they were led to Ondore's meeting room up on the top floor, the same room Balthier, Fran, Basch, and Vaan had gone less than a day before. It felt like forever ago now. The double doors swung open, and the two guards led the party inside.
"Uncle Halim!" Ashe said as they entered.
Ondore greeted her with a smile. "Ashe!" he said. "I am glad to see you are well." Ondore turned to the guards. "You may leave us, now." The guards bowed and exited the room, closing the double doors behind them. "Vossler." Ondore nodded to the knight. "You did a fine job. And you as well, Basch. I thank you both for your valent effort in bringing Lady Ashe back safely."
Balthier wanted quite badly to point out the fact that he and the others had also done their share of rescuing, and not entire of their own free will. He did, however, manage to keep his mouth shut.
"Uncle," Ashe said, "the Empire has the Dusk Shard! What-"
"Princess, we'll discuss such things in the morning. For now-" Ondore rested a hand on Ashe's shoulder. "-you must be exhausted. You may all stay here tonight, if you wish. There's room enough."
"We thank you, Marquis," Basch replied. Balthier might have interjected with something clever or expressed the tinge of annoyance he felt at Basch speaking for all of them, but it had been a long night. As much as he loathed to admit it, Balthier was exhausted.
"Very well. I'll have my guards escort you to your rooms," Ondore said. He turned to Ashe. "Don't worry, princess," he said in a hushed tone. "Everything will be fine."
"I…" Ashe let out a sigh. "I hope so."

…

Ashe couldn't sleep. Even though she was exhausted, her mind wouldn't rest. So she wandered the halls of Ondore's manor, mulling over the ancient legends of her family and King Raithwall. In order to restore Dalmasca and claim her right to be queen, Ashe needed proof of her royal lineage. The Dusk Shard was the Empire's, now, but perhaps…
Ashe found a hallway with a tall window on one wall and stopped there. She stared out the window at the beautiful half-moon, awash with ethereal silver light. The half-circle rested high in the sky, indicating that it was somewhere around midnight. Stars swirled around it, decorating the inky tapestry of the sky like tiny diamonds, clear and bright, tiny yet oh-so beautiful. Ashe let out a sigh; it had been a long time since anything in her life had been so simple and wonderful.
"Ashe? Even after your long day, you can't sleep?"
"Uncle Halim?" Ashe turned at Ondore's voice. He stood behind her, still dressed in his elaborate orange and white robe. While he wasn't her uncle by blood, Bhujerba's Marquis had been a very close friend of Ashe's father, the king, and Ashe had grown up thinking of him as family. She hadn't seen him since before the war, and she was overjoyed at their reunion. However, it was hardly in pleasant circumstances.
"What are you doing up?" Ondore asked. "You really should get some rest, Ashe."
Ashe let out a sigh. "But, uncle… What are we going to do? About the Dusk Shard?"
"I'm certain the resistance will do all they can to retrieve it," Ondore said, walking up to stand beside Ashe at the window. "However, it may be that it is lost forever."
"Then… what about the Dawn Shard?" Ashe asked. "Raithwall's legend talks about it. With that, we wouldn't need the Dusk Shard! I've been thinking… I could go to find it! And then-"
"On you own?" Ondore asked, more than a little shocked. "Ashe, if the legends are even true, the Dawn Shard lies in Raithwall's tome, deep within Jagd Yensa. The jagd is filled with foul beasts, the tome full of traps, and with the Empire after you as well… You really believe you can get there and back all on your own?"
"Well… Maybe Hasta could come with me," Ashe said. "Or Vossler. But we need that stone! If-"
"Ashe," Ondore lowered his voice. "Your safety is more important than anything else, as far as Dalmasca is concerned. Vossler, Basch and I have decided you will remain here, at my manor, for the time being. It is the only way to ensure no harm comes to you."
"What?" Ashe couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But… But I can handle myself in the field! I can! I don't need to be protected! I want to do my part!"
"Ashe, this is your part," Ondore said. "Wait here safely and give the people hope. As long as they know the princess leads them, the resistance will keep fighting. And when the time is right, you will take your throne, and all will be well."
"But, I…" Ashe trailed off, struggling for the rights words to say what had troubled her for years. "I can't lead! Vossler and the others, they all tell the resistance what to do! The only help I can offer is on the field. Uncle Halim, I… What did I ever do to earn that sort of respect?"
"You were born to a king," Ondore replied. "That is how things work in this world. Ashe, you have your role to play, and we all rely on you playing it well."
Ashe didn't reply. She stared at the floor with no words to express the frustration she felt. Ondore placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Get some rest, Ashe," he said. "Things will all be clearer in the morning."
Ashe nodded slowly, then turned to head to her room. An idea was forming in her head, a reckless and dangerous one. As soon as she was around the corner, she glanced back once to make sure Ondore wasn't following her, then headed towards the staircase. The thought that she could sit there and watch as her people fought made Ashe sick. So, no matter how dangerous or foolhardy it was, Ashe resolved then and there what she would do, and she wouldn't let anyone stop her.

…

Even after a long day, Balthier couldn't sleep. He lay there for hours, tossing and turning on the unfamiliar bed in one of Ondore's many guest chambers. Every time he closed his eyes, the only thing he could see was the nethicite, either the Dusk Shard's harsh light, like the glow of a distant inferno, or the cold, piercing light of that manufactured nethicite. Manufactured nethicite… That thought was chilling indeed. If his father had somehow managed to make more of the nethicite, then who knew what he'd do with it? And Lord Larsa had had a piece of it, so that meant there was some connection to Archadia's higher authorities, as well. Dr. Cid may very well not be alone in his schemes.
The nethicite's intense power had stirred another memory in Balthier's mind, one he had almost succeeded in blocking out: that ghostly creature that had waited within the first piece of nethicite. With everything going on in Archadia with the nethicite and the war at the time, that inexplicable encounter had been the last thing on Ffamran mind. He'd managed not to think about it over the years, and it hadn't even entered his mind as he considered going back to resolve the nethicite affair. It was obvious the two were related, and Balthier couldn't ignore the mystery behind that creature. He had a feeling that, if he stuck with this, he'd find those answers whether he wanted them or not.
Eventually, Balthier's exhaustion won over, and he fell into an uneasy sleep. In his dreams, he was back in Nabudis, stumbling over the nethicite and struggling futilely against that creature. He felt its claws in his mind as clearly as the day it happened…

"Balthier?"
The image of Nabudis's destruction wavered, blending eerily with the shadowy walls of some unadorned bedchamber. Balthier was dimly aware that the scene from his memory wasn't real, and he struggled to pull himself from the beckoning dreamscape.
"Balthier! Can you even hear me?"
The voice was distant, but Balthier could hear it in his mind. Still shaking off sleep, it took him a few moments to recognize it.
"Strahl? What are you doing?"
"Oh, you can! Good." Strahl sighed with relief. "You've gotta be halfway across the city! You know how hard it is to make contact from this far away?"
"Wait, what's going on?" Balthier asked. He was fully awake now. "What's so important you had to reach me?"
"It's that princess you thought was so pretty!" Strahl said. "She's trying to steal me!"
"Hold on a moment," Balthier said. "First, how do you even know about her? And second, I don't believe I ever said anything like that."
"I just skimmed the story out of your thoughts," Strahl replied. "It's easy enough. I do it all the time. And as for you thinking she was pretty, you didn't say it, you just thought it."
"I don't recall thinking it, either," Balthier said.
"It was subconscious," Strahl said.
Balthier sighed. "She's trying to steal you, right?"
"Yeah," Strahl replied. "But she won't get anywhere, don't worry. That girl hasn't got a clue how to fly and airship. I'm just worried she'll get me off the ground and forget to open the hanger roof first. That could be painful."
"How did she even get in there?" Balthier asked.
"You left my door unlocked," Strahl replied.
"And you didn't think to tell me?"
"Well, you do it all the time," Strahl said. "No one's ever tried to steal me before, so I figured it wouldn't happen this time, either."
Balthier sighed, shaking his head. "Just hold on. I'll be right there." Balthier threw off the covers and swung his legs off the bed. He hurried to dress, then started the task of finding his way out of Ondore's mansion. It wasn't as hard as he expected, and soon Balthier was striding down the streets of Bhujerba, illuminated only by the gentle light of the moon and stars. From the moon's position, Balthier guessed it was past midnight. After clearing a few blocks, he reached out to Strahl again. Making contact form that far away, even with Strahl, was difficult, but their connection was sure and easy enough to follow. Balthier wondered for the thousandth time why that was, and he found no answer.
"Strahl, how are things?" he asked. "Ashe hasn't managed to get anything working yet, right?"
"Yeah, she's hopeless," Strahl replied. "Vaan found her and they're arguing now."
"Wait, Vaan's there, too?" Balthier said. "What's he doing there?"
"He was just looking around," Strahl replied. "What's harm in that? You know how he feels about airships and sky pirates."
Balthier sighed. "I can't believe this. When I get there…"
"Oh, calm down," Strahl said. "First you flip out at Larsa, now this- What's wrong with you?"
"Does everything have to be a life lesson with you?" Balthier said.
Strahl sighed. "Oh, don't worry, I understand. You can't stand the thought of being without my wonderful presence-"
"Oh, no melodramatics either, please."
"No life lessons, no melodramatics." Strahl let out a blustery sigh. "Well, if you don't want that, what do you want?"
Balthier sighed. "You know, I've been asking myself that for a long time."
"Stop the nethicite, end you father's plans, put Archadia back in its place," Strahl said. "Isn't that it?"
"I barely know what the nethicite is or what it does," Balthier said. "I don't know what my father or Archadia is planning, or if those two things are the same. All I know is that nethicite is dangerous, my father is dangerous, and there's an exasperating little princess desperate to save her kingdom trying to steal my airship."
"Now that we have all the facts, the next course of action should be clear, right?" Strahl said. Her thoughts billowed with that bright, 'everything will work out' smile of hers.
Balthier sighed. "You'd think so. But before I can do anything, I think the first thing I need to know is what nethicite is and how it works. Only now Archadia has the Dusk Shard, and the only piece of nethicite around is the manufactured bit Vaan's little sister has. I don't want to drag them into this, and besides, that piece felt… different somehow. I don't think Archadia's perfected this manufacture yet. At least, I can hope so."
"So… we need to find more of the stuff, huh?" Strahl said.
"Oh…" Balthier sighed, shaking his head to clear out the confused thoughts. "All I know right now is that I don't want little Ashe crashing you into the aerodrome roof."
"I second that," Strahl said with a laugh.

Balthier continued down the streets of Bhujerba, eventually reaching the aerodrome. Inside, it was easy enough to find Strahl. She sat there in her hanger, the same as usual. He could barely make out her massive form in the shadows of the hanger bay. The aerodrome was all closed up for the night, every light off.
"Strahl, I'm here," Balthier said as he pulled open her door.
"Oh, goody," Strahl said. "They're both up in the cockpit."
Balthier climbed the short stairway and stopped at the top, just before the empty doorway to the cockpit. Ashe sat in his pilot's seat, struggling with various switches and buttons on the control panel.
"But… You can't just take Balthier's ship!" Vaan said. He stood behind Ashe's seat.
"I'll bring it back," Ashe said. She pulled one leaver, then growled in frustration when nothing happened. "Oh, why doesn't this thing work?"
"I'm sure it works fine," Vaan said. "It's just… Have you ever flown an airship before?"
"Well, no…" Ashe leaned back into the captain's chair, letting out a groan. "I have to do something! The Marquis just wants me to hide away safely, and I can't do that! I have to do my part!"
"I think this is a good time for you to make your entrance," Strahl said.
"I think you're right," Balthier replied. He took a step forward into the light of cockpit. "Sorry, princess, but you're not going anywhere in my airship."
Ashe let out a gasp, sitting bolt upright. Vaan whipped around with equal surprise.
"Balthier!" It was Vaan who spoke. "W-What are you doing here?"
"This is my ship," Balthier said. "What are the two of you doing here?"
"I have to leave," Ashe said, throwing up a veil of confidence. "There's… something I need to do."
"And just like that, you think I'm going to let you fly off?" Balthier asked. Ashe faltered, finding no response. "That's what I thought," Balthier said. "Now, what exactly do you have to do so badly?"
"I… I…" Ashe fumbled for words. "I need proof of my lineage. To become queen, when this is all over. Only, now the Empire has the Dusk Shard. You saw how it glowed when I was near it, right? That relic is the only way to prove I'm descended from King Raithwall." Ashe let out a sigh, pausing a moment before continuing. "Only… It's not the only way. The legends tell of another shard, the Dawn Shard. They say it was buried with Raithwall in his tomb. If I can get that, then I can prove my right and restore Dalmasca!"
"Another shard?" Balthier asked suddenly growing interested. If there was another shard, then maybe that was nethicite as well. "Where exactly is this Raithwall's tomb?"
"Deep within Jagd Yensa," Ashe replied. "Please, I have to go! Maybe… you could take me?"
Balthier scoffed. "You do realize journeying into a jagd is about the most dangerous thing you could do, right? That's no small favor to ask." But, if the Dawn Shard was nethicite, it might do Balthier some good to see it for himself, or at least make sure it didn't fall into imperial hands.
"But I have to!" Ashe said, her eyes glowing in desperation. Balthier heaved a sigh.
"What about Ondore? And Vossler? How do they feel about this little plot of yours?"
"They… they don't understand!" Ashe closed her eyes, breathing for a moment as she tired to calm down. "They want me to sit here and stay safe, while my people are risking life and limb! I have to do this, for them! For Dalmasca! For… for everyone who's died! Balthier, please!"
Balthier sighed, conflicted. If the Dawn Shard was nethicite, then his mission would probably bring him there sooner or later. If Archadia and Vayne knew about this Dawn Shard, then if would certainly be in his best interest to retrieve it. However, though he loathed to admitting, the biggest thing swaying his decision was Ashe's pitiful, pleading eyes.
"Sorry, princess; I don't make a habit of throwing around favors." Though that didn't seem to be entirely true given recent events.
"Well, then…" Ashe stammered. "Steal me! You're a pirate, aren't you? Kidnap me! Sneak off into the night, and no one has to know. And then… the Dawn Shard isn't the only thing in Raithwall's tomb. Whatever else you find, you can have that as payment. Oh, please, Balthier, please take me!"
Balthier sighed, debating what to say.
"You're gonna take her, right?" Strahl's voice pushed into his mind.
"I'm thinking," Balthier replied, hoping that would make Strahl leave and let him decide without her opinion.
"You are going to take her," Strahl continued, ignore Balthier's subtle plea for silence. "You know you will, so just say yes. I mean, come on! What else are you gonna do next?"
"Fine," Balthier said aloud. "I hope you're ready to go, princess, because we'll be leaving very soon." He turned to Vaan, who had listened to the whole conversation in silence. "Vaan, we'll head back to Ondore's mansion. I'll get Fran, and you find that sister of yours. I'll drop the two of you off at Rabanastre on the way."
"Wait, but…" Vaan sighed. "Yeah, Penelo should go home, but I-"
"I'm sorry, but there's no room for argument," Balthier said, cutting him off. He turned and headed for the door. "Ashe, you stay here. Don't touch anything, alright? And get out of my seat."
"Oh, yes," Ashe said, standing up with nervous jitters. "Th-thank you, Balthier! I… Thank you!"
"We'll be back as soon as possible." Balthier started down the stairway. "Come on, Vaan. We don't have all night!"

About fifteen minutes later, Balthier stood in the dark halls of Ondore's manor, in front of Fran's door, Vaan beside him.
"You know where Penelo's room is, Vaan?" Balthier asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Vaan replied. "I'll go wake her, and then… we'll meet back here?"
"Right. Now go on."
Vaan strode down the hallway, disappearing around a bend. Balthier reached up and rapped on Fran's door.
"Fran! Wake up!" Balthier kept his voice to a harsh whisper. He didn't want to wake anyone else. The noise of stirring came from within the room. Balthier waited until the door flung open, and Fran stepped out. She looked perfectly neat and awake. Balthier wondered if she had been sleeping at all.
"What is it?" Fran asked.
"We're leaving," Balthier said. "We have… a new job."
Fran cocked her head. "A job? Customers hail in the middle of the night?"
Balthier let out a chuckle. "We'll be taking Princess Ashe into Jagd Yensa. Apparently there's some relic she needs in there, and she wants the help of kidnappers to get there and back again."
Fran nodded slowly. "A relic? Like… the Dusk Shard?"
"She called it 'the Dawn Shard,'" Balthier replied. "I assume it's the same sort of stone as the other one."
In Fran's eyes, there was a glimmer of… something. Fear? Worry?
"More of it?" Fran said, so quietly Balthier could barely hear her. Balthier hadn't told her anything about the nethicite, and yet she seemed troubled by it. That was worrying.
"Fran…" Balthier chose his words carefully. "Is there… something you want to tell me?"
Fran was about to reply when another voice cut her off.
"But why are we leaving now?" It was Penelo's voice, coming from around the bend.
"I'll fill you in on the way," Vaan's voice replied. "But we gotta keep quiet. We can't get caught."
Vaan appeared around the corner leading a groggy Penelo. Penelo rubbed her eyes, then reached back to tie up her wild blond hair as she walked.
"Wait up, Vaan!" she said, jogging to keep up with him. Balthier bit back his frustration. He really wanted to hear what Fran was trying to say. However, her moment of openness was over. Balthier resolved to finish that conversation as soon as he got the chance.
"We're all here now?" Balthier asked, glancing over the two kids. They nodded. "Good. Then come on; Ashe is waiting."

…

Back in Strahl's cockpit, Balthier couldn't help but smile at what he saw. Ashe was sound asleep in the seat behind the pilot's, her soft snoring the only sound in the air. She wore the tiniest, gentle smile, with no trace of the tension and anxiety she'd held when they left her. Her hair, blond with a tinge of silvery gold, fell just past her chin, framing her face and glimmering like precious metal in the dim light. Maybe Strahl was right; she was pretty.
"Should we wake her?" Vaan asked.
"No, the poor girl's obviously exhausted," Balthier said, sitting down in the captain's seat. "I guess it's hard work being a princess. She'll wake up when we take off, anyway."
Fran took her place in the copilot's seat, and Vaan sat just behind her, Penelo behind him. She looked halfway to joining Ashe in dreamland. Balthier spared the usual 'are we all ready?' comments and just worked on flipping switches.
"And we're off?" Strahl asked.
"We're off," Balthier echoed.
"Oh, I heard you, by the way."
"Heard me what?" Balthier asked, frowning in confusion.
"Thinking about Ashe," Strahl replied, humor seeping through her words. "So I was right?"
Balthier scowled. "No comment."
Balthier pulled the last lever, and Strahl lifted slightly off the ground as the hanger roof opened. The sky stretched out above, filled with stars like shards of glowing ice. Glowing shards…
Balthier couldn't wait to get his hands on that nethicite and find out exactly what it was. Of course, he had to get to it, first. Balthier could never have imagined how hard that would be.