SORRY FOR THE ONE CHAPTER UPDATE THIS WEEK. I HAVE PLENTY OF CHAPTERS TO SPARE, BUT I'M CURRENTLY TAKING MY FINAL EXAMS FOR MY FINAL YEAR OF HIGHSCHOOL, SO... I THOUGHT I MIGHT TRY FOR ONCE TO NOT FUDGE MY GRADES UP. I SADLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO EDIT TWO. ENOUGH SAID, ONTO THE TRASH!
"Such a tremendous honor to again be graced with your presence, Majesty." Judge Ghis turns to face us, his silver hair pulled away from his face and out to the sides like a carnival actor's might be. Clown is a fitting name for any dog of House Solidor. His voice is so obviously mocking, my chest goes tight and my lungs refuse to take in air merely out of pure frustration and disgust. "You left us with such a great dispatch upon our last encounter that I must confess I had begun to worry that we may have given Your Majesty some cause for offense."
"Such a heartfelt display of remorse," Ashe bites back, unfazed by his honeyed words. "Now what is it you want?"
"I want you to give me the nethicite." The Judge takes a step closer, his steel armor clinking and grinding with his every movement.
"The nethicite?" Penelo repeats, clutching Larsa's blue stone tightly behind her back. The Judge swivels toward her.
"That is a base imitation!" he cries. "We seek Raithwall's legacy, the ancient relics of the Dynast-King: deifacted nethicite." His face falls into a smug smile at the silence, his dark eyes turning to Vossler. "Did you not tell them, Captain Azelas?" My jaw clenches and I scowl at the knight to my left, my nails digging into my palms and leaving behind scarlet crescents. Vossler steps forward, Ashe's eyes sliding shut in exhaustion as he speaks. I should have suspected a betrayal from a man so insistent on our actions.
"Majesty, he speaks of the Dawn Shard. That is the nethicite." Ashe and Basch swivel to face him, rage burning across the latter's normally calm features.
"Are you mad, Vossler?" Basch demands.
"If we are to save Dalmasca, we must accept the truth," Vossler counters, scowling at the blonde. "I will fight this profitless battle no more!"
"Captain Azelas has struck a wise bargain," Ghis continues, head tilting in the most insulting of ways. "In return for the Dawn Shard the Empire will permit Lady Ashe to reclaim her throne and the Kingdom of Dalmasca will be restored. Think on it." Ghis straightens, his beady eyes falling on mine and staying there; the fists at my sides tighten and my knuckles burn a hot white. "An entire kingdom for a stone. You must admit, 'tis more than a fair exchange."
"And when all is said and done, your master will have another pet," Balthier speaks up sharply, though he keeps his voice as smooth as always. Ghis stares at the pirate in distasteful silence before turning back to the princess.
"Lady Ashe, let us take him for the people of Dalmasca. Your Majesty wallows in indecision on peril of their heads!" He swings his sword outward, stopping just at a glowering, unflinching Balthier's throat. "And his shall be the first to fall."
"Well, at least your sword is to the point," Balthier replies with a scowl. I bite down hard on my cheek, feeling hot blood flow into my mouth before my anger takes over.
"Stop this!" I snap, breaking past Basch and Fran. "Forget him, I've your master and half the Empire after my head. Take me as one of your silly prices for peace."
"You forget," Ghis sniffs, smug as ever. "My master is yours. He was before, he is now, and he always will be." An armored hand shoots upward and clutches my throat just tight enough to cause discomfort. "You're merely a lost playing card, my dear."
"Fortunately, I'm no longer one of his chained dogs," I spit, glaring up into his dull eyes. "I doubt you could say the same for yourself."
There's a long pause as tension builds. Finally, just as I prepare to lunge at the Judge and rip him to pieces on my own, Ashe steps forth, holding out the Dawn Shard. I take a breath to protest only to have Ghis grip my throat harder and prevent any words from leaving. He sheathes his sword as I hold my breath, willing myself not to choke.
Moments later, he holds the Shard in the palm of his hand. Ashe winces, tearing her eyes away from the greedy man. Ghis loosens his grip with a final shove; I gasp for air as he steps back, marveling at his newest prey. I catch a glimpse of Balthier glancing both at me and Ashe, the slightest hint of confusion in his eyes. Call it a mix of the purest hatred in Hades and the cost of a debt I owe you from Rabanastre.
"To think the relics of the Dynast-King were deifacted nethicite," the Judge muses. "Doctor Cid will be beside himself." Balthier's eyes flash with an unrecognizable reaction and his brows draw together at the mention of the scientist's name, staring hard at the Judge.
"What did you say?" the sky pirate demands, all tact long gone from his voice. A smile twitches into the corner of Ghis's lips as he holds the Shard up to the light and watches it glitter.
"Captain Azelas, take them to Shiva. They should have leave to return to Rabanastre soon."
Three guards accompany us as we turn away. I rub at my neck with a scowl, practically begging Ghis to drag me back to Archades kicking and screaming just so I can get to Vayne sooner. This Resistance is a waste of my time; I may as well turn myself in and have Vayne think he's caught me this time… right before I lop his head off before all the Empire. I wonder how Emperor Gramis would like to watch another one of his precious sons die.
Heavy cuffs are locked around my wrists and we're forced to walk two by two, Vaan and Penelo, Fran and Basch, me and Balthier, and Vossler and Ashe. I glare at the ground as we pass from one carrier ship to the massive Shiva, an imperial wonder I might marvel at any other time.
Now, we walk in silence, unable to hear the wonders the princess and her traitor knight utter back and forth. Balthier appears lost in thought, disturbed by something unknown. Perhaps he has ties to Doctor Cid, but… It seems all too unlikely that Balthier would have such relations at all. No, it must be something else. Words that sparked an unwanted memory, perhaps.
We come up close to a massive set of doors when Fran gasps, shuddering. Her slender knees buckle under her, held tightly together as she hunches over, breathless. Her clawed hands clench tightly, head hanging close to her shackles. I frown, looking around the room; we've come to a stop, even the guards unsure of what to do for the troubled viera.
"Is she…?" I start, hesitant to ask.
"Fran?" Vaan prods her gently.
"Such heat," Fran forces, squeezing her eyes shut. "The Mist—it's burning!" Her legs give in for good and she collapses to the floor. I turn to Balthier only to see him completely lost in his own world, staring hard at the floor with furrowed brows. Finally, a guard breaks past us and stops before the fallen viera.
"You, stand!" he demands. She swings her wrists out sharply, easily sending the man flying across the enclosed space of the bridge.
"Hold her down!"
Nails scraping against the steel floor, Fran hoists a leg up, pressing her heel into the ground and grimacing. Suddenly, she throws her head back and releases a blood-curdling, deafening, bone chilling scream. Filled with a sudden rage, she flies through the air, sending a sharp kick into the face of the remaining guards. Balthier seems to awaken, Penelo nudging him anxiously.
"What's wrong with her?!"
"I always knew Fran didn't take well to being tied up," the pirate replies, taking a key off a fallen body and undoing his shackles. "I just never knew how much." He turns to Ashe. "How about you?"
"I like Fran's idea. Let's get out of here!" Ashe replies, holding up her bound wrists. I huff irritably, watching Fran drag her tired body back to its feet and take a deep breath as I hold up my own cuffs.
"One of these days, you'll thank me," Balthier mutters, twisting the key into the lock of my bindings and taking his sweet time. "You tried your best, I'll give you credit for that, but I'll have you know I was never fooled. I knew you were mixed with this Imperial ramble somehow."
"You've yet to learn in what ways I ruined them," I reply, fighting a smile. He chuckles, shaking his head and pulling the loosened shackles off quickly. His green eyes flicker up to pierce mine.
"Yes, but I will, mark my words." All banter ceases as Vossler gets to his feet, upholding his sword and shouting with a gruff voice.
"You go no further!" His eyes narrow, overflowing with rage. "Sky pirates! The future of Dalmasca will not be stolen!"
Balthier hurries to check on Fran, resting a hand on her shoulder as she clutches her head. Basch draws his sword and steps forward; I dare to trace a hand along Fran's arm as she trembles against some unseen force.
"Why do this, Basch? This struggle is futile. You must know where it leads!" Vossler demands, poising his blade. Basch nods.
"I do know. All too well."
Fran blinks, shaking both touches away from her and drawing her bow. The first arrow shot lodges itself in a chink of Vossler's armor. Grunting, the captain narrows his eyes. Basch, waves Ashe back; the two stand farther away, unsure of whether or not they want to fight their crazed friend of the past. Eventually, Basch gets his own mighty blows in.
I stumble to the side as a risen guard strikes across my face with the end of his sword. Spitting the blood from my mouth, I block the next strike with the length of my spear and shove him backwards. Impatient as always, I don't hesitate to drive my weapon clean through his abdomen and kick him off the end.
The crack of Balthier's gun echoes through the chamber; Fran still seems lost to us, firing arrow after arrow at the captain as if it's his fault the Mist is burning her from the inside out. Then again… in a way, it is. He's the reason Ashe handed the Dawn Shard over—this must have something to do with that nethicite.
Turning my attention toward Vossler, I rush right in and parry his rather quick attack. Vaan dives in while he's distracted, looking for weak spots and leaping here and there as he tends to do. However, he is not nearly quick enough to miss a slash across the leg. I quickly move to push Vossler back, which is a much easier said than done. The man is a solid wall of steel. Instead of trying to overpower him, I switch my spear around to my other hand and strike the back of his knees to render him unsteady. Penelo sends out a cure spell, the green ball of light drifting through the air an enveloping its target in warm light.
Panting, Vossler hurries to catch his balance. Vaan jumps right back into the fray, flurrying around him. A ball of fire bursts beside the knight's face and I press my boot firmly into his back, pushing him forward. He stumbles onto his knees, his resolve crumbling as Fran sends a final arrow into his side. Basch pushes the tip of his blade to the captain's throat, frowning.
Groaning, Fran collapses finally. The ship bursts into alarms of all kinds, blaring critical warnings and shuddering relentlessly. Balthier stoops down and pulls Fran's arm over his shoulder, supporting her weight.
"She's going down!" I call, waving for Vaan and Penelo to hurry toward a means of escape.
"Ashe, let's go," Balthier calls over his shoulder, pulling Fran along beside him.
The princess watches the two knights wistfully. Basch sheathes his sword, listening as Vossler speaks around the gargle of blood tainting his throat, clutching his pierced side.
"All I have done—I've ever thought of Dalmasca first." He grunts, falling onto all fours with a pained wince.
"I know you do. I would ne'er gainsay your loyalty," Basch replies, his voice low and level. I would. Huffing, I hurry back to him, skidding to a stop shortly behind him. The others continue, resigned to the idea that we'll catch up.
"Look on what my haste has wrought. Did I act too quickly? Or was your return too late?"
"I think it better that you didn't act at all," I cut in, glowering at the man. "But what's my word worth? I'm only a sky pirate." I nod toward Basch sharply. "Think what you want, but don't blame him for any of your mistakes, you hear?"
"I know… I know…" Vossler coughs, crimson speckling the floor. "I cannot serve her any longer. You must take up my charge."
There's a pause and I take that moment to grip Basch's tanned arm and tug. He turns on his heels and starts running. Ashe runs just ahead of us. Taking a deep breath, I keep up easily, keeping my eyes locked on the shorter figures of Vaan and Penelo far ahead. In fact, I charge ahead, my boots pounding hard against the floor and the wind whipping my long hair out like a loose rope on a ship's smallest escape hatch.
Vaan pries open a heavy door once I reach him and we pile into the rather vertically built imperial ship. We flood the rather broad cockpit, scattering and rushing with nerves. Just as Balthier moves to set Fran down and take up the controls, I force him back.
"She's more important," I rush, flipping switches and scanning over the board. My mind processes the entire dash like one of Archadia's fancy new computers. Vaan hurries to my side.
"Can I help?"
"Only touch what I tell you to," I reply quickly, grabbing a lever and pushing the ship to shoot free from its port on the Leviathan. The lurch is less than the Strahl's, being a slightly bigger ship, but it's there all the same. Penelo winces as she stumbles into a wall and I nearly lose my footing, taking half a moment to plop into the seat behind me.
A burst of flames shoots debris and portions of burnt ship through the air behind us, narrowly missing the back of the ship. Fire and matter of all kinds rock the small ship to and fro, my knuckles white from precisely adjusting one lever and my other fingers rapidly adjusting the controls on the board before me.
"Things might get a little dicey!" Balthier calls, watching another ball of fire hurtle past us.
"I know, I know," I mutter, slapping Vaan's hand away from a series of buttons. "Vaan, now's not the time!"
"The Mist. It manifests now," Fran groans, clutching her stomach. Vaan stares at her incredulously.
"Is that what you call this?!"
Digging my teeth into my lip, I release the lever I held with a vice grip and turn on the next level of speed. In mere moments, we're free from the flames. Breathing a sigh of relief, I pull the lever back to ease the speed and the pressure on the engines a little. The massive ship that once held us captive is nothing more than a rain of fiery debris.
"What's that?" Penelo asks, her face pressed to the glass. Ashe turns back, awed.
"I think it's the Dawn Shard!"
I peer out the window, spotting quite the large globe of rippling scarlet waves of light surrounding a silver orb. The Dawn Shard indeed. Balthier chuckles, raising an eyebrow at me as Fran stumbles to her feet and into a proper chair.
"Then what are we waiting for, pilot?"
"A signal of sorts from Her Majesty," I reply, sharply increasing the speed and swiveling the ship around. Grinning, I glance back at the mildly irritating pirate. "Though, I suppose that won't explicitly happen, so I'll settle for some nagging from our leading man."