Really long chapter today, but worth every moment it takes to read it! I'd suggest listening to BURN, the opening of Tales of Berseria during the battle at the end. You can probably find it on Youtube, or you can go to a website called Video Game Music, which is where I found it. I tried to leave a link there, but apparently FanFiction doesn't allow links. And yes, that song is where this whole act got its name.
Any ways, enjoy! And try not to have a heart attack. I nearly did while writing this.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The Tomb of Raithwall
Year 706 of the Old Valendian Calendar

After several hours' wanderings, Balthier, Vossler, and Ashe found their way back to the others. They'd traveled for a long time that day, and though they were very near the exit, they camped for the night in the tomb. That next day, after only a short time of walking, they made their way to the entry room. They managed not to set off the squishing wall-mechanism again and made it back up the stairs to the warp.
"Here we are," Balthier said, in generally a good mood. They had the Dawn Shard and were on their way back; what could go wrong now? "We ready to see sunlight again?"
"Oh, yeah," Vaan said with a chuckle. "I've had enough of this place."
"It's time, isn't it?" Vossler said, surprisingly dismal.
"This thing won't send us straight back to Rabanastre, you know," Balthier said, ignoring Vossler's gloominess. "We'll still have to walk across all of Jagd Yensa again."
"Oh, yes. We will," Vossler replied.
"Oh, think, Vossler!" Ashe said, smiling. "We're so close! We'll have our Dalmasca back!"
Vossler didn't respond to her. "Come on," he said, nodding towards the controls. "Let's get going."
Still confused by Vossler's attitude, Balthier proceeded to activate the warp. Its golden light swathed around them all for a moment, then they stood in the daylight again. The sun was blinding at first. Balthier gazed up into the wide blue sky, absent for so long, with a smile, but what he saw erased it entirely.
A fleet filled the sky. Impossible, since airships couldn't fly in jagd skies, but there it was. A dreadnaught surrounded by a massive fleet filled the sky over Raithwall's Tomb. Three smaller transports were parked in the valley surrounding the tomb, soldiers in Archadian armor all around. Six knights standing around the warp drew their swords, instantly surrounding the newly-arrived party of travelers. One knight grabbed Balthier's arm, holding his sword out in front of him. Balthier froze, partly from shock and partly because the knight shouted, "don't move!" The knight pulled Balthier's rifle from its holster and tossed it away. The rest of the knights held the others in similar fashion, stripping their weapons and keeping them in place with threatening blades.
Up the steps of Raithwall's Tomb approached a Judge in full armor. Each Archadian Judge had their own specially crafted armor, and Balthier recognized this one; Judge Ghis, commander of the dreadnaught Leviathan and Archadia's eighth fleet. Apparently, his bout with Penelo's nethicite hadn't finished him off.
Ghis clapped as he ascended the steps, each strike resounding through the otherwise silent air.
"Captain Vossler Azelas!" Ghis called as he crested the steps. "Congratulations! I admit I was skeptical of our little deal, but you've kept it to the letter! Well done!"
All eyes turned to Vossler. He stood, sword secularly in its sheath on his back, untouched by the guards. Balthier got a terrible sinking feeling.
"Vossler?" Ashe said, eyes wide and voice shaking. "Vossler, what's going on?"
Vossler let out a sigh. He bore that tired look of his Balthier had never understood before.
"I'm sorry, Highness."
"Captain Azelas has graciously agreed to aid Archadia in our goals, a choice I greatly respect," Ghis said.
"What?" Ashe stared at Vossler, eyes wide with horror. She opened her mouth to say more, but nothing came out. Vossler looked away, not meeting her gaze.
"Bring them," Ghis said, turning to walk down the stairway. "We can continue this in the comfort of my flagship."
The knights shoved the party forward to follow Judge Ghis. Ashe's eyes were wide and blank with shock, and she stumbled forward limply at the knight's push. Vossler followed at the rear, head held high but conflict warring in his eyes. Balthier wasn't sure what to think; should he have seen this coming? But after everything Vossler had said, everything he'd done… How? Amid a simmering sea of indignation, that was the one question Balthier could raise. How? How could Vossler bear to do this to Ashe?

One of the transports brought Ghis, his captives, and several knights as guards back up to the Leviathan. In the hanger, the knights clapped handcuffs on every member of their party, save Vossler, who was speaking with Ghis out of Balthier's hearing range. Neither man seemed very happy. One knight secured large, blocky handcuffs around Balthier's wrists, and was also smart enough to search him and remove all his hidden lockpicks. As they marched through the hallways towards the Leviathan's bridge, Balthier noticed Penelo fumble Larsa's piece of manufactured nethicite from her pocket and cradle it in her bound hands. A good-luck charm, he'd said… It'd take an awful lot of good luck to get them out of this, and besides, those stones had only ever been bad news.
"Welcome to my dreadnaught Leviathan!" Ghis called, raising his hands in gesture to their surrounding as they entered the bridge. Pilots and technicians worked all around at controls and stations to keep the grand ship running. Through the massive windshield, airships thronged the sky. "Thanks to the joint work of Archadia's finest minds," Ghis continued, "she, and my whole eighth fleet, are equipped with shielding that allows us safe passage through jagd skies. Impressive, isn't it?"
Ghis's face was entirely hidden by his helmet, but Balthier imagined he looked very smug underneath, like a cat toying with his prey before devouring it.
"I assume you didn't bring us up here just to brag about your fleet," Balthier said. "Can we please get to the point?"
"Very well," Ghis said, growing instantly serious. "Give me the nethicite."
"Wait… nethicite?" Penelo looked down at the small, blue crystal she held.
"Not that!" Ghis snapped. "That is merely a base imitation! Archadia's a hundred more like it! I want the real nethicite. Princess, hand it over, or I shall be forced to take drastic measures." Ghis's hand played along the hilt of his sword.
"I… I don't know what you mean!" Ashe said. "I don't have any nethicite! I don't even know what that is!"
"Captain Azelas?" Ghis said, turning to Vossler with that catlike pleasure. "Perhaps you would like to tell her?"
Vossler set Ghis with a smoldering glare but made no move or objection. Guilt, warring with frustration and helplessness tore across his face. Good, Balthier thought. Serves him right.
"He means the Dawn Shard, Highness," Vossler said at last. "That's the nethicite. That's what Archadia wants."
"What?" Ashe said, eyes wide.
"Now, hand it over quick, dear," Ghis said. In a single, fluid motion he drew his sword, the long, ornate blade flashing in the morning sun. "Or else, your friends' heads will roll one by one. What will it be, princess?"
"I… I…" Ashe stammered. Her gaze danced from Ghis's sword to her companions, torn.
"I think perhaps we'll start with… him." Ghis swung his sword around to place its edge against Balthier's neck.
"Ashe, don't," Balthier said, though Ghis's blade pressed harder. He had to keep that nethicite out of Archadia's hands. If he let them have it, it would make this entire journey pointless. It would mean he failed again.
"But… but I can't… I can't just…" After a few helpless moments, Ashe reached into the folds of her clothing, fumbling to pull out the Dawn Shard with her hands bound. The stone rested in her hands, a quiet, inner light flickering in its depths. Balthier managed to catch Vossler's gaze and send him a glare; Vossler looked away.
"Very good, now hand it over," Ghis said as Ashe hesitated. He held out one hand to receive the stone, with the other pressing his sword harder against Balthier's neck, cutting into his flesh with an icy sting. He cringed.
Ashe held out the stone, and, after several moments, dropped it into Ghis's open palm. No, not again. Not again.
Ghis withdrew his sword, and Balthier felt warm blood trickling down his collarbone. Ghis held the Dawn Shard tightly in one hand. A sickening laugh echoed from his helmet.
"Very good, princess. I knew you could do it. One more piece of nethicite to add to Lord Vayne's stash."
"Vayne's nethicite?" Balthier said, frowning. "Whatever happened to Emperor Gramis? What about the imperial council?" Or Dr. Cid? Didn't Balthier's father have the nethicite?
"Emperor Gramis is a sickly old fool," Ghis snapped. "And the imperial council is a mass of bumbling buffoons. Vayne is the hope of Archadia's future."
"Then where is he?" Balthier asked dryly. "Cowering in Archades' heights while his henchmen do his dirty work?"
"Say what you like," Ghis replied, "but Archadia's full power will soon belong to Vayne. Or whoever holds this nethicite…"
Ghis held the stone closer to his face, its soft rays illuminating the shadows behind his visor.
"You." Ghis signaled to one of the nearby knights. He held out the Dawn Shard. "Take this down to the engine room and have our engineers test it. I want to know how much power this thing can truly put out."
"But… sir," the knight stammered. "Aren't we to take the stone directly to Lord Vayne?"
"I wouldn't dare return to our master with a stone yet unproven," Ghis replied. The knight nodded, took the nethicite, then disappeared through the door. Ghis turned to the rest of his squad. "Take these prisoners to the detention block. And Captain Azelas?" Ghis turned to Vossler. "You shall accompany them. Show me the depths of your loyalty to Archadia."
Vossler fixed that burning glare on Ghis, then turned and strode towards the door.
"Come on, then," he said. "Let's get this over with."

The group of armed guards, along with Vossler, led Balthier, Fran, Vaan, Penelo, and Ashe down the corridors of the Leviathan. They marched them single file, guards on either side of the train of bound prisoners. Vossler took the lead, and Balthier found himself walking just behind the traitorous knight. Balthier couldn't believe they'd lost the Dawn Shard, the one thing he'd been trying to prevent. He couldn't believe they'd been captured by the Empire, and most of all, he couldn't believe Vossler would turn his sword on Princess Ashe, the woman he claimed to love. Of this sea of frustration and resentment, he really only had one target to vent it at.
"Well done, Vossler," Balthier said, spitting venom at Vossler's turned back. "Not even I saw that one coming. So much for doing anything for Princess Ashe."
"This is for her, can't you see?" Vossler said, looking over his shoulder at Balthier. His face was a storm of pain. "This war, this struggle… it was doomed from the start. Ashe… When the Empire captured her, I realized…" Vossler sigh, shaking his head, jaw clenched. "I rushed off blindly to rescue her. It worked, but… She's in danger. We're all in danger. We cannot beat Archadia. I've fought this battle for years, and I know that. I've tried to keep Ashe as safe as I can, but it won't work. And Ashe… all she talks about is revenge. This war is killing her in more ways than one, and I can't just watch! I love Dalmasca, but if this is what it takes to save Ashe, I don't care what it costs! My country, my honor…"
"Everyone else's lives," Balthier picked up. Vossler glared at him, but his gaze was fraught with guilt.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," he said, shaking his head. "I only wanted…" Vossler closed his eyes, clenching his jaw. "Argh! I don't… I just… I can't let her get hurt!"
"And you think the Empire will let her live?" Balthier said. "What's stopping them from killing her now?"
"That was our deal," Vossler replied. "I give them their precious nethicite, and Princess Ashe is instated as ruler of the Dalmascan province, under Archadia."
"And what makes you think they'll keep it?" Balthier scoffed. "Vayne Solidor hardly strikes me as an honest man."
"It's not that simple," Vossler replied. "They were following us, Balthier. I wasn't going to let Ashe go, but…" He closed his eyes in bitter recollection. "Members of the resistance approached me. Spies. They'd gotten wind of her plan, to retrieve the Dawn Shard. I don't know how they knew, about that or the Shard, but they did. They said… they were worried they couldn't get into Raithwall's tomb without someone of royal blood, but they weren't afraid to try, either. It was go and bring the Dawn Shard out or they killed her there and then. They had soldiers following us secretly all the way up to the tomb. There was nothing I could do!"
"Then what's stopping you now?" Balthier said. "You have your sword. Why not get us all out of here?
"Because I can't go back to that!" Vossler all but shouted. "I can't… I can't let Ashe live in constant danger. I can't risk this happening again!"
"Then don't go back to the resistance," Balthier said. "Do something else, but not this. Have you seen Ashe? Do you know what you're doing to her?"
Both men glanced back at Ashe who took up the back of the line, stumbling along, staring listlessly at the ground.
"I… I have to do this," Vossler said, hesitation hardening into stony resolve. "I can't go back now. Ashe will come along; she'll understand! And then maybe, finally…"
"Captain Azelas!" An Archadian knight ran from down the corridor up to Vossler. "Judge Ghis wishes to speak with you. He's down in the engine room. You are to go at once."
Vossler let out a tired sigh. "Can't he make up his mind?" he mumbled, then turned to the knight. "I'm coming, don't worry."
Vossler started off down the corridor in the direction the knight had come from, and the knight assumed his position at the front of the line.
"Come on then!" the knight called to his fellows. "Let's get moving!"
As they continued on their way, Balthier watched Vossler disappear around the bend behind them. He wasn't sure what to think. If Vossler wouldn't help them, he'd just have to come up with some plan on his own.

…

"Ah! Azelas! Good to see you!" Ghis said, turning to meet Vossler as he entered the room. Vossler was in no mood for the Judge's games.
"What is it, Ghis?" he said. "You wanted to see me?"
"That's Judge Ghis to you," Ghis replied. "And yes, I did. I'm impressed; you didn't help your friends escape. Well, now that you've proven your loyalty, I want you to see this."
Beckoning with one hand, Ghis walked farther into the mass of wires, pipes, and thrumming machinery that composed the Leviathan's engine room. A handful of scientists crowded around the largest mass of metal and wires, fiddling with instruments and tools that were far beyond Vossler's understanding.
"What is this?" Vossler asked.
"The engines," Ghis replied. "We're testing the stone against the input of myst from the Leviathan's skystone. From here, we'll be able to gage how much destructive force this stone truly holds."
"Why do you care? Can't Vayne do that?" Vossler asked. "And why am I here?"
"Ah, well, I don't trust you that much," Ghis replied. "You didn't release your friends first thing, and that bolsters my trust, but I'd still prefer to have you where I can see you."
The metal device the scientists tinkered with suddenly let out a high-pitched hum, purplish, daybreak light pouring from a small glass window.
"Is it working?" Ghis asked, marching up to the window.
"Something's wrong," one of the scientists said. "The power output's beyond anything we imagined. It's growing at a far quicker pace than we initially thought; I'm not sure if we can contain it."
"Oh, you're smart; you'll get it under control," Ghis said, peering eagerly into the glass.
"Don't you think we should stop?" the scientist asked.
"No, no, carry on," Ghis said, waving a hand dismissively. He pulled away from the glass and marched back towards the exit.
"But… this is far too dangerous. At least, in my opinion," the scientist said, clearly nervous. "I'll follow your orders, sir, but I strongly suggest calling this off."
Ghis sighed. "I said carry on. Don't contradict me again."
"Well, yes, of course, but I'll sound the alarm if things get out of hand!" the scientist called as Ghis walked away. "If that happens, evacuate everyone, alright?"
"Nonsense," Ghis said as he walked away. "There will be no need. Come, now, Azelas; there are matters we must discuss." Vossler let out a sigh; he didn't have much choice but to follow.

…

"Something's… wrong," Fran's voice pulled Balthier from deep thought. She walked just behind him in their train, and he could hear her breathing heavily.
"Fran, what is it?" Balthier said, glancing over his shoulder at her. What more can go wrong?
"The myst... something is happening…" Fran frowned, closing her eyes. "It's sparking. Gathering… The stone… I remember… from before, with the Red Fangs. This isn't good. It's waking."
"Ghis said something about testing it," Balthier said, thinking hard over what he knew of nethicite. "He hardly struck me as a scientist; I didn't think he'd get any results. But if they have gotten the nethicite active…" The image of Nabudis, ruined and soaked in seething myst, flashed in Balthier's mind.
"This is greater than… anything I've seen from it," Fran said between labored breaths. "We must leave this place."
"Easier said than done," Balthier replied with a scoff. He quickly assessed their situation; the prisoners all walked in a line, one guard at the front and one in the back, two along each side. They were all handcuffed with no weapons, and Balthier didn't even have his lockpicks. An escape would be difficult at best.
"We… have to… try." Fran was breathing harder now. She broke off with a whimper, hanging her head and raising her bound hands to press against her temples.
"What's wrong with her?" one of the guards said.
"I don't know," Balthier replied. "Can we stop and rest a moment?"
"Nice try," the guards said with a scoff. He jabbed a figure at Fran. "Keep her moving."
"It's… burning…" Fran let out a gasp and dropped to her knees, stopping the whole procession.
"Fran?" Balthier knelt beside her. She buried her face in her hands, gasping in breaths. He'd never seen her like this.
"Get up!" the guard shouted. Everyone had stopped. Balthier noticed another Archadian knight marching down the corridor, but many such had passed them, so he paid it no mind.
"What's the problem?" the guard at front called. "We have to hurry. I don't have time for delays."
"I don't know," the other guard replied. "But don't worry, I've got her."
As the guard reached to grab her, Fran's whimpered groaning exploded into a cry of pain. She jerked her hands, snapping the handcuffs in a sudden fit of feral strength. With a wild scream, she flung a kick, hitting the guard square in the face. He flew backward, helmet sailing off and striking the far wall. Fran collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.
"Fran!" Balthier reached a hand towards her, but she recoiled, holding her head in her hands and mumbling incoherently.
"Hold her down!" the leading guard shouted. Two more of their six guards moved in to replace the one Fran had incapacitated. They bent to reach for her, hesitantly. The knight Balthier had spotted earlier came up behind the two of them.
"Do you need help?" he asked. His voice sounded familiar…
Not waiting for a response, the knight grabbed the two guards' heads and smashed them together, their helmets striking with a resounding clang. The lead guard let out some rather colorful exclamations of surprise, then, drawing his sword, charged the newcomer. Balthier had no idea what was going on, but this man seemed to be working in their favor. Balthier stuck out one leg, tripping the guard as he raced by. He stumbled, tumbling forward where the mysterious knight's fist met his face with immense force. One of the remaining guards rushed the knight, striking with his blade. The knight drew his sword, blocking the blow and swinging back around for a precise kill strike. The other guard got too close to Fran, and she, still in a frenzy, lashed out again. Another powerful kick sent the guard flying, unconscious, into the wall. Fran collapsed back to the ground breathing hard.
"Fran, are you alright?" Balthier said, kneeling at her side. She nodded slowly.
"I…" She sucked in a breath, eyes closed, sweat collecting around her face. "It grows hotter still…"
The immediate danger was over, but they still had to deal with this mysterious newcomer. Reluctantly leaving Fran, still clearly in pain, Balthier rose to face the knight.
"Look, I'm terribly grateful for your help," Balthier said, "but-"
"Yes, I'm sorry I couldn't make my entrance sooner," the knight said, cutting him off. He reached up and pulled off his helmet, revealing a face Balthier did recognize.
"Captain Basch!" Ashe cried, letting out a gasp.
"Basch?" Balthier frowned in confusion. "What on Ivalice are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be leading the resistance?"
Basch let out a heavy sigh. "The resistance is no more."
"What…? What do you mean?" Ashe asked, that all-too familiar look of horror filling her eyes.
"Not a day after you left, an army of imperial knights flooded our main base. They had spies in our ranks, and knew everywhere we hid. Many were killed. Some of us escaped through the tunnels, and made our way to Bhujerba, to Ondore. He has agreed to help us begin again, but… It will take time and effort."
"What about Hasta?" Ashe asked after a few moments of shocked silence. "Is she alright?"
"She led the imperials to us," was Basch's simple reply. Ashe was completely silent.
"During the raid on our base," Basch continued, oblivious to the princess's shock, "they boasted of how they would soon have you and the Dawn Shard, Highness. I came and infiltrated their ranks that I might rescue you."
"In Rabanastre, too?" Ashe whispered, face still blank with shock. "I can't believe it. And Vossler…"
Basch let out a sigh. "I trained Vossler myself, Highness. That he would do this… But he always was too passionate, too reckless. I warned him not to let in interfere with his judgement, but…"
"We have to leave," Balthier said, eying Fran. "You know the way to the hanger, captain?"
"A docking port for their military fighters is near here," Basch replied, nodding. "We should move before they realize we've escaped."
Basch knelt beside one of the fallen guards and rose again with a key. He unlocked Balthier's handcuffs, then moved down the line releasing them one by one. Vaan, Penelo, and Ashe all shed their bonds.
"Here are your weapons," Basch said, crouching down beside another fallen guard. He tossed Balthier's rifle at him, then handed out the others' weapons.
"Fran," Balthier said, standing over his Viera partner. "Are you alright? Can you walk?"
One hand against the wall, Fran pulled herself up to sit, then stand.
"I… I am… well enough," she said between labored breaths. "We have to… hurry…"
"Do you need help?" Balthier asked, moving in to support her. Fran shrunk back, shaking her head.
"No. I'm… I can walk," she wheezed.
"Alright," Balthier sighed. He turned to the others. "Let's go then. No use hanging around. Ashe? You alright?"
Ashe nodded slowly, the blank horror in her eyes hardening to resolve. She held her sword out, clenching it in her fist.
"Yes. Let's go."

…

"It's just through here," Basch said, shoving open a door at the end of the passageway. They'd come down several hallways, and Balthier was surprised they hadn't run into any guards yet; no doubt they were right behind them. Fran was still stumbling along, saying nothing and breathing hard, letting out a whimper every now and then
"This leads to a central axis," Basch said, advancing through the door. "From there, it branches off to all parts of the ship. The largest passage leads to the hanger. We must-"
Basch broke off at the sight that awaited, and everyone stopped short.
"Oh, no," Balthier breathed. He stepped out in front of Basch to face the sight head on.
There, in a massive, round room, stood Vossler, backed by a legion of imperial knights. Vossler stepped out to the front to face the party of six, his eyes fixed solely on Ashe.
"Highness!" Vossler called, his hard, resolute face painted with desperation. "Please, listen to me! This is the only way. I don't want to do anything I'll regret here, so please, come with me now. Just-"
"No!" Ashe shouted back, hold her sword like a shield between herself and Vossler. "I can't help Archadia! How could you even think that?"
"Just listen to me! Ashe! Things won't be like they were before, no, but they'll be better than now! By ruling under Vayne, you can make life better for the people of Dalmasca! You… We, Ashe! We can help! We'll make this work. Please, Ashe, come with me! This is the only way! I'm begging you! Please!"
Ashe shook her head, tears glittering in her blue eyes. "No! Never! I'll never help the Empire! And I'll never help you! Forget it, Vossler!"
The pain marking Ashe's face was unbearable, but nothing like agony that streaked, silent and stony, across Vossler's face, betrayed only by the faintest twitch of the eye. He stood there silent for several moments, then reached back, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"If that's how you feel…" he said, drawing the blade, "then this ends right here. Right now." He signaled to the gathered troops with one hand. "Try not to kill them. But if you have to… Don't hesitate."
"Vossler…" Balthier could barely believe what he was hearing. "You're not really going to do this, are you?"
Vossler's face was hard as stone. "Watch me."
…

Vossler and his army were on them in a moment. The flood of knights surrounded the small party like a tidal wave, cutting them off from each other as well as any escape routes. Balthier managed to say with Vaan and Penelo, but lost sight of Ashe, Basch, and Fran. From somewhere in the battlefield, Balthier heard a feral scream that sounded like Fran, followed by shouts from several soldiers; apparently, the myst finally got to her. Balthier spotted Basch once, but, still dressed in his imperial armor as a disguise, the captain soon blended into the background. Balthier couldn't see Ashe, or Vossler, a fact that disturbed him greatly. But there was no time to worry about that.
This wasn't really the territory for fighting with a rifle, so Balthier used his mostly as a pole, firing shots as targets presented themselves. He tried his best to stay with Vaan and Penelo, but it wasn't easy.
"Watch out!" Vaan shouted. By his warning Balthier leapt aside just as a knight brought down his sword in an overhead blow. Balthier swung his rifle around, hitting the knight square in the face and sending his stumbling away. He'd have offered Vaan thanks, but now was not the time. Vaan twisted around, blocking a strike from another knight with his sword. Penelo came up behind the man and, using her staff, whisked his feet out from under him. Vaan jumped back before the man could find his feet, passed Balthier. Penelo stood over the man moment, then looked up at Vaan. Her eyes widened with horror.
"Vaan! Look out!" she screamed, but too late. A massive, familiar sword, blade wide and shining, swept downward in an overhead strike, sinking its steel edge deep into Vaan's collarbone from behind. Vaan let out a yelp, and, eyes bulging, and Penelo let out a shriek.
"Vaan!" Balthier rushed his side, but too late. The sword wrenched back, barely leaving Vaan's arm attached. Vaan toppled forward, and Penelo rushed to catch him. She helped lower him to the ground, then, tears in her eyes and fighting sobs, she held her hands over the terrible wound and let her healing magic flow. The white light barely made a dent amid the mass of blood and gore. Balthier turned to face the inflictor of that deadly blow. He had very little pity left for the man.
Vossler didn't wait for a moment. He brought his massive blade, now soaked in Vaan's blood, down in a similar strike aimed at Balthier. Balthier leapt backward, just barely dodging it. As the battle closed around them, Balthier lost sight of Vaan and Penelo; he could only hope for their survival, now.
"How can you do this?" Balthier said, dodging another of Vossler's strikes.
"What else can I do?!" Vossler swung his blade at Balthier, and he barely managed to block it with his rifle. The force behind the blow surprised him. Balthier knew he was no match for Vossler's sheer strength.
"What about Ashe? You said you loved her!" Balthier blocked another vicious blow, and he felt the familiar pain of his bad arm. This was not good.
"What does it matter now?" Vossler said, bringing several strikes down on Balthier's raised rifle. "You heard her! It's all over!" The last blow, fueled by frustration and despair, struck with such force that it broke Balthier's rifle in two and threw him to the ground. Vossler raised his sword, flipped it, and plunged point down for a final, decisive blow. Balthier grabbed the sword of some fallen knight lying just within reach and swung it around, barely managing to block the death blow. His bad arm screamed in protest, but Balthier couldn't let go. Come on, you've got to hold!
But it wouldn't much longer. Knowing this, Balthier took a chance and rolled away. Vossler's stab grazed his arm, but luckily, missed his heart. Balthier scrambled back to his feet just in time to block another of Vossler's relentless blows.
"Stop this!" Balthier shouted. "Think of what you're doing!"
"Stop?!" Vossler laughed, stopping his assault for a moment. "I can't go back now! This is it. One way or another, it all ends here!" Vossler thrust with his sword, and Balthier barely deflected it. Under a dozen more of Vossler's strikes, Balthier had no choice but to keep dodging, keep retreating, keep giving Vossler ground. Vossler drove him farther out of the main battle, fury fueling his every strike.
"Vossler, don't do this!" Balthier shouted, dodging another blow. "I don't want to fight you!"
"A little late for that now, isn't it?" Vossler said, striking again. "I've started down this road, and there's no going back. It's too late for anything!"
"You can't just run away!" Balthier said, blocking the blow with his sword. "There's no point in this! All this… It's not too late! Just stop!"
"What, and you think Ashe will forgive me?" Vossler laughed bitterly. "There is no trying, there is no going back. I know where I am now, Balthier, and I know where she is! There's nothing left!"
With a ferocious blow, Vossler pinned Balthier against the far wall. His sword pressed against Balthier's with immense force, and Balthier felt his bad arm about to give.
"Just give up already, won't you?" Vossler shouted. "You know this is it! You don't stand a chance!"
Balthier didn't say anything. Teeth clenched, sword about to give way, he could hardly argue. Knowing he had only a few moments left, Balthier let his eyes wander from his opponent. Across the room, apart from the main fighting and just in front of a large, open doorway, Balthier spotted five knights battling against a single opponent: a woman in a white dress, blue eyes flashing. From the doorway came Judge Ghis, charging into the fray, straight towards Princess Ashe.
And then he felt it. Deep, deep inside, stirring. Balthier felt his power, waking up. Could that be just the edge he needed? Or would it just knock him out again, like with those fish? Could he risk it? Did he have the time to debate that?
"Oh, fine!" Balthier shouted aloud, leaning into that power he'd fought for so long. He felt the energy surge through his chest and arms. Light flashed around his hands and sword. Balthier shoved back on Vossler, and, with in a blast of energy, he flew backward. Sword raised to block the surge, he planted his feet, skidding to a halt a few yards away. It actually worked, and he was still conscious! Balthier let out a laugh, delirious with relief even as he felt dark forces roiling deep inside him.
"W-What the…?" Vossler stared at Balthier with a mixture of confusion and surprise that Balthier found very satisfying at that moment. He could feel his lungs constricting but decided to ignore it.
"There're a lot of things you don't know about me, Vossler."
Balthier flew towards Vossler, sword ready. That light, filled with crackling energy, wreathed his blade as he brought it down on Vossler in an overhead strike, which he barely managed to block. The blow shoved Vossler back again. Yes, this was more like it.
"What…? What are you?" Vossler said, eyes wide as he blocked another blow. Balthier let out a bitter chuckle at that.
"I wonder."
Balthier brought his sword around in a slash. Vossler blocked it with his blade, but it did little good. A surge of power blasted out, almost against Balthier's will. The rush of energy sent Vossler flying across the room. He landed on his back a few yards away from the cluster around Ashe, his sword far away. Vossler lay there, still a few moments. Then he pushed himself up, clearly in a lot of pain, and watched in horror as Judge Ghis shoved though his subordinates, sword drawn. Balthier charged towards Ashe, intent on helping her.
"Apologies, my dear," Ghis shouted as he came face-to-face with Ashe, "but there will be no prisoners today. Archadia requires you no longer!" In one swift motion, he swung his sword, whipping Ashe's from her hands. She let out a scream as Ghis pulled back his blade and thrust at the defenseless princess. Balthier was so close, just a few more steps…
And then he felt it. No longer being poured out in a desperate fight, his power frothed inside him, closing his lungs and constricting his muscles. He tried to fight it, tried so hard to push through that unstoppable force, but he could feel his steps slowing. He wouldn't make it in time. The image of that letter formed in his mind, reading the terrible news that had ruined everything. He hadn't been there. He wasn't there now. Never, never, never there!
"NO!" Balthier shouted with what little breath he had left, and another voice echoed his. Pain still etched over his face, Vossler scrambled to his feet and ran. He had no weapon, no sword, nothing but his own body to through between Ashe and Ghis's sword.
Ghis's blade buried itself deep in Vossler's abdomen, coming out on the other side soaked in bright blood, just inches from Ashe's heart.
"Oh, you fool…" Ghis said wrenching his blade out. Vossler dropped to his knees, eyes bulging, hands over the fatal wound. A piercing alarm split the air, and Ghis looked up with a start.
"Oh, no," he sighed. He glanced down at Vossler once more, then turned and rushed into the hanger.
"Vossler!" Ashe dropped to her knees at Vossler's side, staring in shock at her fallen guardian. He lay on his back gasping for breath while blood pooled underneath him.
"No. No!" Balthier hissed through shattered breaths as he finally reached them. The aftershock of his power was fading, but it was nothing compared to what he felt then. He dropped to his knees by Vossler's side opposite Ashe, because he simply couldn't find the strength to stand. Why couldn't he get there just a moment sooner?
"Ashe…" Vossler gasped between ragged breaths. "I'm… sorry…" He pulled one hand, soaked in his own blood, away from the wound and rested it against Ashe's cheek, looking up at her face through a haze of pain. "Did I… every say…? I… love you…"
Ashe said nothing. She reached up and took his hand from her face, holding it in her own as watched his dying face with dull shock. Vossler stared at her a moment longer, then, with great effort, turned his face to Balthier.
"Balthier…" he said, barely more than a whisper. "Take care of her… won't you? You… pirate…"
"I… I will." Balthier barely heard his own voice. It sounded a million miles away.
With a sigh of relief, Vossler let his head fall back, closing his eyes. He eased out a final long, pained breath, then lay still.
"Vossler?" Ashe's eyes widened as his hand went limp in hers. Her mouth hung open in silent shock, tears pooling in her eyes and streaking down her cheeks.
"Is he…? Oh, no."
That was Basch's voice. Balthier tore his gaze away from Vossler's still form to look up at the captain. Basch held Fran in his arms; she didn't look injured, but cradled her head in her hands, whimpering and mumbling, shaking all over. By Basch stood Vaan and Penelo, Vaan leaning on his sister for support. He was so soaked with blood Balthier couldn't see how bad his wound was. His face was pale and clearing in pain, but evidently he was well enough for Penelo to drag him along. Penelo's eyes widened as she saw Vossler.
"Oh, no! Is he…? Can I…?"
"Too late," Balthier said, shaking his head and rising to his feet. Too late. He'd been too late.
"Too late…" Fran whimpered. "It's… too late. It's coming! The myst… the stone… no!" She let out a scream, digging her fingers into her hair.
"We must leave now," Basch said, still staring at Vossler's body.
"Right," Balthier said, nodding. He couldn't… couldn't think about his now. They had to get off this ship, before the nethicite went ballistic. He couldn't let it sink in. Not yet. If he could help it, not ever.
"Ashe," Balthier called. The princess still crouched over Vossler's body, his hand in hers, staring at his still, pale face. "We have to go. Come on."
Ashe didn't respond. Balthier let out a sigh.
"Basch, take the others to the hanger. We'll follow."
Basch nodded, then started towards the doorway, Vaan and Penelo following. From the hanger came the sounds of ships' engines starting up as Archadian knights fled from the coming doom; hopefully, they'd be too concerned about getting away to stop the escaped prisoners. Balthier knelt down beside Ashe.
"Come on, Ashe, we have to go." She didn't seem to hear him. Balthier grabbed her by the shoulder and shook her. "Ashe! We have to leave, now!"
Ashe turned her head slowly to look at him, lifelessly blank. She blinked a few times, clarity returning a little. She turned back to Vossler, seeming to see him for the first time.
"He… Oh, no!" Ashe dropped his hand and raised hers to her face, mouth open in shock, tears overflowing again. The alarms blared all around. They couldn't wait for this. Standing, Balthier grabbed Ashe's arm, jerking her to her feet as well.
"Come on, Ashe!" he said. "We're leaving. We have to go!"
Tearing her gaze from Vossler's body, Ashe nodded. Together, they sprinted towards the hanger.

The hanger was thrumming with activity. Ships took off all around as Archadian soldiers fled the incoming disaster. Balthier spotted the Basch, Fran, Vaan, and Penelo by a small fighter jet, one of the only remaining in the hanger. Vaan sat, leaning against the fighter's side, Penelo working on him again with her healing magic. Balthier raced towards them, still holding onto Ashe's arm, mostly because he couldn't risk her lagging behind.
"We can't get it open!" Penelo cried when they arrived.
"It needs a code, and we don't have it," Basch said gravely. "I imagine it's the same for all these ships."
"Let me see it," Balthier said, letting go of Ashe and rushing up to the fighter's keypad. This was one of those rare moments he was thankful for his abilities.
"What's your code?" he asked, reaching out to the fighter jet.
"3-3-8-6," the fighter replied. "Why? Who is this, anyway?"
"You normally ask those questions before you give an answer," Balthier said, jabbing in the code.
"You're those prisoners! I won't help you! I'll never betray the great Archadian Empire!"
Balthier let out a sigh. This was why he hated fighter jets. "Sorry, but you're an airship. You don't have much choice."
The door swung open with a click.
"How did you do that?" Basch asked with a frown.
"No time for that! Everyone, get in!" Balthier said, rushing through the door. Penelo helped Vaan to his feet and followed, along with Basch, Fran, and Ashe.
Up in the cockpit, Basch set Fran down against the wall. She let out another cry, curling into a ball. Hands pressed against her temples, she shook her head, sweat and tears mixing on her face in a swirl of pain.
"Fran…" Balthier stopped short at the sight of her agony. He crouched down reaching out to touch her shoulder. "Hang in there. We're getting out, alright?"
"No! Stay away!" Fran screamed, recoiling from his touch. Balthier jerked his hand away as she curled tighter, mumbling all the while, though less randomly than before. "The... The places where it warps and twists… the pathways of the… shattered myst… will speak of… ancient foes reborn…" she broke off with a whimper, pressing her hands harder against her head.
"Fran?" Balthier said, stunned by her response.
"Balthier! I can't fly this ship!" Basch shouted, shattering Balthier's confusion.
"Right." Balthier stood, nodding. The only seats on this small fighter were the pilot's and copilot's, neither claimed yet. Balthier plopped in the pilot's seat, punching buttons and yanking levers until the fighter lifted from the ground. Taking the controls, he guided it out of the hanger into open skies.
Balthier felt it before he saw it. He knew that feeling by now. Nethicite surging, releasing its great power, the same as that day at Nabudis. A great rumbling sounded behind them, from somewhere in the Leviathan's depths. Within the fighter's cockpit, Fran let out a scream and the sky around their little craft filled with golden light. Balthier couldn't risk looking back, but the heard, and felt, the immense explosion tearing the Leviathan apart behind them; they had just barely gotten out. Balthier pushed their fighter's engines to its limit to stay ahead of the wave of energy that consumed every ship in the sky behind, all the while fighting through the haze its power brought to his mind.
"W-Wait!" Vaan shouted, wincing in pain. He struggled to raise his uninjured arm and point out the window. "Look! O-Over there!"
Sailing through the sky ahead of them was something tiny and round, glowing bright as the sun.
"It's the Dawn Shard!" Ashe cried. "We… We have to get it!"
"Easier said than done," Balthier said. "We can't slow for a moment or we'll be caught in that explosion. There are usually roof hatches in ships like these, so I suppose I could steer us underneath it." He let out a sigh. "But catching it would be a dangerous job, and if whoever it is misses, we can't go back."
"I'll go," Basch said.
"Alright then," Balthier said. "We're almost there. Hurry, captain!"
Basch left the cockpit without another word, and Balthier focused on steering. He could see the Dawn Shard, and guided the fighter right under it. He could only hope Basch had caught it, and not gotten blown off in the process. Just a few moments later, Basch walked back into the cockpit, holding the Dawn Shard. It pulsed with brilliant light, the air around it rippling. Balthier felt its presence instantly. His head pulsed with pain, and he clenched his teeth to keep from crying out. The stone thrummed with power unimaginably, just like at Nabudis; at this time there was no mysterious creature waiting to leap out at him.
"It… it really is it!" Ashe rushed over to Basch, and he handed her the stone. She took the bright, glowing crystal and held it against her heart, breathing slowly.
"Good," Balthier said, still fighting off pain from the nethicite. "I think we're almost out." He risked a glance out the side to assess how close the raging myst-flames were. To his relief, they'd left the surge of power behind. "Actually, I think we are."
"It is… cooling…" came Fran's tired voice. She sat in her corner, leaning her head wearily against her knees.
"You mean we… made it?" Vaan said, still panting, face twisted in pain as Penelo worked on his arm.
"We did," Balthier said. "I can't say the same for Archadia's eighth fleet." Behind them, a roiling mass of myst encompassed the area over Raithwall's Tomb, where the great Archadian fleet had once hovered. They were all gone now. Destroyed by nethicite's terrible power.
"Take us to Rabanastre," Basch said. "The Archadians have just made a clean sweep of the city and won't think to look for resistance there. The princess will be safest there."
Balthier nodded. "Alright." He made a few adjustments to set their course east, back across the Yensa Sandsea, towards the city they departed from.

End Part Two, Act Two: Burn