Author's Note: Ok, I have somethings to say. First I'm going to say I'm sorry like a million times for the month long wait for this update. My life has been... well lets just put it as insane... lately. I will say it now that I am sorry for any and all errors... I have spent the past two days typing this with only one hand. It's kind of hard to type let alone fast with about a 100 stitches tattooing your forearm. It sucks... I'm also blaming my errors on the week's worth of painkillers, the 20 or so cups of coffee and the lack of being able to keep down food. I also think I just ripped a stitch out trying to type this with two hands... ouch!

To Sita Silver-Breeze: I wish you the best of luck and I thank you tremdously for your support and listening to me:) I greatly admire your work and so when you presistently argue with me (lol) about how much better my work is than yours, I feel ecstatically flattered! But I still think your writing is FAR better than mine:D

To Earisu & Laguna's twin sister: I thank you two also for being such great supporters and reading/reviewing thus far! I always love to read them... they give me the motivation I need!

Lastly I would like to mention the fact that this story has reached 1400+ hits and I somehow only managed to receive TWO reviews for the last chapter!!! I know I'm asking for a lot but come on! Give a crippled writer a break and review... PLEASE!!! I'll review your story if you review mine:D But I do send my thanks to those that do read and review and to those who only read... I'm greatful to know that you are at least reading this! Ok enough of my naive whining and on with the SUPER LONG 10,000+ word chapter!! By the Gods this took me forever to write! Enjoy!

landis icelilly

Patiently, in a ten by twelve foot room, Ashe fiercely paced the stony floor in anticipation for why she had been so rudely sought after. She was strung out enough as it was that night and she honestly didn't need anything else to add to it. She knew not why her presence was needed and it irked her to think that whenever she had a chance to unwind or blow off some steam, she couldn't. There always had to be something that got in the way and tonight would be one of them.

She cursed silently to herself about Vossler's little stunt and how it was one of many that he would pull just so that she didn't forget that she wasn't in that much control now, that one little slip up could cost them a greater disaster than now. His constant surveillance made her feel caged and violated because she had little to no privacy or time to herself.

Inevitably chained to his unwavering eye by an invisible leash that could only be stealthily slipped from in the dark hours of twilight.

Such a night was one of those escapes except Vossler had found another means of tightening the reins on her, she had thought to herself. All she had hoped and wished for, her childhood dreams of being free and disimprisoned from the chokehold of her royal stature, if only for a day she would bargain, were never within arms reach. She was an untamed Firemane that was to be sure, but was unfortunately born into the blasted fetters and reins of her aristocratic family heritage, pushed to and fro between embroidery and etiquette lessons to social banquettes and grand balls where she performed the well behaved puppet for her mother and father. It didn't matter how far she tried to run or where she tried to hide from this colossal burden. It didn't matter what corridor she avoided and what corner she did turn, it was always there, waiting to smack her dead in the face with the reminder of her destiny. She could not and would never be able to escape the crushing, bone breaking clamps that constricted her to the throne.

But Ashe knew her pleas and complaints were useless to anyone's ears, mainly her own, because as much as she wanted to throw away her crown for her freedom she couldn't bare seeing her family's kingdom tossed out to the streets with it. She was the last of her royal bloodline, the dynast-king's blood coursed her veins and she was like a diamond in the ruff, more valuable than gil itself. She couldn't disgrace her majestic lineage; it would only break her heart more knowing that she gave up everything, her lands, her people, but mostly her hope of ever bringing liberation to Dalmasca.

She would always berate herself; sometimes screaming, for thinking the way she did about her situation; she had a duty to perform to her country just like Vossler and his men had an obligation to protect her and her people. They gladly took their oaths knowing the consistent strain of the heavy burdens they would endure, something she greatly admired in them. Their unwavering strength and the constant belief of hope bringing them through every obstacle the Gods smothered the poor souls in was a trait that she seriously lacked. She could feel her hope drain from her heart daily, she could feel every single ounce of strength that remained inside waver, but she knew that her people and her soldiers wouldn't believe in a pessimistic Princess, let alone a Queen.

That is why for two achingly long years, Ashe had carefully sculpted and crafted the perfect mask, one of pure strength and determination with no cracks or chips to weaken her faith in the circumstances. For two long years she had worn this beautiful façade without falter, gaining respect and admiration from her comrades, but recently she was beginning to sense the slight crumbling of her guise around the edges. Soon it would shatter, without the slightest warning and everything she fought so hard to withhold from the piercing gazes would be spilled onto the floor in front of her, no longer a secret. That day would come, she knew, but Ashe seriously hoped it wasn't anytime soon.

That is also why, for those two grating years, that she sought out for a release of her own pent up frustrations, something to prevent her shell from further cracking. An outlet where she could channel all the anger and sorrow that threatened to break her on an hourly bases and put it toward a better use such as broadening her swordsmanship or strengthening her battle strategies to her advantage. Her weary heart was in need of a distraction from her own chronic worrying and ceaseless anxiety for it might have became nothing more than a shredded piece of crimson silk that blew helplessly in the Dalmascan breeze with no reason or rhyme anymore.

The answer to her problems resulted in her twilight excursions to the Garamsythe Waterways where she could be free, if only for a few hours, from the nagging chatter of her squadrons and her guardian's habitual griping about what she was being ignorant of.

This idea of hers had worked out perfectly… until tonight.

Vossler seemed to have been itching for a way to keep her under check, especially after the trouble she had blatantly stumbled into this eve and this had been why, she remembered, that poor guard had been aimlessly searching the sewer ways.

She had been hiding behind that cold wet pillar fearing that an Imperial had heard her exchanges between the Malboros and chose to seek the noise out. But to her relief, he was the exact opposite of an Imperial, he was a member of the Resistance fleet but her realization had came too late for the mostly tall and lanky soldier had been brutally slung up against the wall before she could stop her advance. The back of his head had violently hit the stone and rendered him unconscious as he slid off the impediment into a heap at her metal boots.

Cursing Vossler's name, she had checked the condition of the knocked out soldier and with a steady brisk walk, she drug the limp body by his ankles, back the trail she had traveled to enter the Waterway, to the hideout in Lowtown.

Upon nearing the hidden facility, she had seen a six-foot bulky figure impetuously pacing the grounds out front. It was Vossler, looking slightly disgruntled when he had looked up to acknowledge her approaching presence. He had given her a hasty once over and quickly morphed his peeved look into something resembling an ironic amusement when she had pulled the unconscious body in front of him and dropped it at his feet.

She had continued to walk past him but stated over her shoulder perturbed, "I would have hired someone more challenging, Captain."

This had only warranted an amused snort from him followed by the strict instructions to wait in the Briefing Room, which she had stubbornly obeyed.

After pacing the parameters of the small room for over a half hour, Ashe finally decided to rest her tired aching legs from the distressful march and took the opportunity to examine the shabby chamber. It really didn't have much of a regal or classy feel to it; rather, it was the complete contrary of the palace's Military quarters. Within the palace, there had been a grand display of golden-framed priceless works of art and multiple streams of blue velvet banners against a cream background. There had been finely cultured black marbled floors that were polished on a daily bases, regardless of the room's usage, that glistened in the light sparkling from the exquisite crystal chandelier. Its positioning had been crucial to the effectiveness of the military briefings and debriefings with its place directly above the holographic fourth scale diagram of Ivalice that projected upon the sturdy Feywood table, which had been conveniently placed in the center of the large spacious room.

She missed being in those luxuries even though she was never involved in the tactical side of maintaining a kingdom, but nonetheless she still craved for the comfort of being home.

But this place she aimlessly paced in now was not homey at all, it only bore the marred and blemished plaster walls with nothing about them but the tacky white paste reminding her vaguely of oatmeal after it had sat out for too long and had gotten cold and glue-like. The floors here were dirty and had been caked with so much dried mud that she couldn't even distinguish whether it was created with stone or nothing at all. And much to her displeasure, the lighting wasn't even strong enough to illuminate the entire room, only just enough of the rays were able to fully encompass the small rectangular table that was situated slightly off center of the doorway. But to her surprise, when she applied her full body's weight as she leaned against the counter, the worn and water marked piece did not collapse at the pressure, even though it looked as if it were to crumble at any moment. So she chose to prop herself up against the cold wood as she continued to wait, growing increasingly impatient by the second.

Thankfully it wasn't too much longer before she was greeted with the appearance of a refreshed but fuming Vossler as he stormed through the doorway, causing Ashe to quickly snap her head in his direction when the door mildly slammed shut.

"Where in the hell were you?! We are in a state of emergency here and you act as if naught matters to you!" he roared as he pointed the piece of rolled up parchment in his hand accusingly at her.

"Voss—," she tried calmly but he was too infuriated to let her get in edgewise. He had to get everything that was angering him off his chest right now before he did something unthinkable and regret it later, even though he was already doing something that was unimaginable and he would ultimately regret his actions afterwards.

"No!"

'What?!' She was livid now, as her stormy blue eyes grew wide.

"What possessed you to leave your quarters at an hour like this?! And why are you soaked in blood?! Where have you been?!" Vossler raved as he used his arms to emphasize his argument.

'Is he telling me, Princess Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca, NO?! Did I seriously hear him right? He told me fucking NO!'

Her blood began to boil as he continued his verbal onslaught oblivious to her reactions.

"Vo—"

He held up his hand to silence her this time but the meaning behind it was still just the same as her infuriation finally bubbled over.

'That's fucking IT!' She screamed mentally as she stiffened her whole body.

Quickly, she stormed up into Vossler's face, swinging her right hand wide and sending it back across his left cheek with the force of a ton of bricks, snapping his head brutally to the right. He held it there, instantly realizing his career-threatening mistake by over stepping his bounds, letting the burning sensation throb through the flesh and tissue as he berated himself for his absurd choice of action. He could feel the amount of tension and anger that was coursing through her veins as it easily radiated off her body and into the now stuffy room.

Her breaths came out in short hasty huffs when she fumed in front of him, feeling the exhale brushing the exposed skin of his left arm.

"You will not disgrace me to my face again, Captain!"

The words left her lips like daggers, sharp and dangerous, as the rest of her features contorted into disgust for the soldier. She patiently waited for his response as her steadfast gaze remained on him. She quickly noticed the sorrowful look creeping upon his face but he only kept it visible to her for mere seconds before the stoic mask was hastily plastered over to replace it.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke in an emotionless tone, "I have received grave news. One of our spies has intercepted a letter, earlier this morning, which was sent from the Archadian Emperor himself reporting the departure of his son, Vayne Carudas Solidor. His destination is intended to be Dalmasca, well Rabanastre to be more precise. Furthermore, in two days time, he plans on hosting a fete honoring his arrival and self election to be Dalmasca's Consul," Vossler finished as he slowly turned his now bruised face toward the Princess who was very much intrigued with this new turn of events.

She slowly crossed her arms, letting them come to rest just above her chest as she pondered about the situation.

"A fete, you say? He is rather the cocky bastard if he thinks he can celebrate this early in the game," she retorted in a mumbling tone, instantly forgetting the painful throb in her hand form her actions seconds earlier.

A thoughtful expression covered her as she contemplated the best scenarios that would give them a greater advantage and kick Vayne off his royal perch at the same time.

"What is your course of action," she blurted out into the room, never turning to face him.

"We ambush them. We advance through the courtyard and attack just after the introduction of the fete," he replied in a monotone, still devoid of any emotion.

"Good. Brief the rest of the squadrons and I shall consort with you later on the final details," she regally stated as she began her march toward the exit.

"A word, please?" Vossler asked quietly knowing that what he was going to ask of her would be chewed up and bitterly spat back into his face, like everything else he had suggested her to do.

"Yes?" she stopped in mid step and turned to face him with an eyebrow slightly raised.

Taking a deep breath he continued, "Might I suggest your absences in this plan?"

Her eyes began to narrow into slits, "What are you trying to propose, Vossler?"

"You are an important key to this whole operation. If you should participate and be killed or taken captive, then this plight of ours is meaningless. Let us fight for you until the time comes for you to rightfully take up your crown and perform your Queenly duties."

He carefully laid the circumstances out for her.

He had to try. They couldn't risk a casualty that great and he had to get her to see the big picture and what her true duty was.

"Nonsense! I will not be made to hide! I can not nor will I stand aside and watch as my soldiers, my people and my kingdom, throw themselves into the devil's belly as slaves!"

"Please Amalia, I beg you to reconsider!" he implored to her with a helpless tone.

"I have made up my mind, Captain. If my people fight for my cause then I shall fight for it too. I will speak with you on this matter again in two days time. I take my leave."

Her last declaration signaled the abrupt end to the discussion as she haughtily faced the archway, showing herself out of the tiny neglected cubicle and into the not much better scenic hallway of the military base.

As the bleak darkness faded into an intensifying vivid white, Ashe slowly began to rise from the hard and chilly metal slab that she rested on, slowly wiping at her eyes to clear the blur. Rapidly a sharp pang shot through her head as she continued to sit upright and she quickly clasped her hands to her head trying to ease her pain.

Moments later, the throbbing decreased enough that she could fully open her eyes and look upon her strange surroundings with complete confusion. She scanned the metal room around her finding nothing but the steel slab she sat on and a heavy plated security door to her right. There were no windows or peepholes or anything so that she may peer out and be able to distinguish her location. The only other attribute to the room was the incredibly bright illumination that this steel box harbored, practically blinding her as it reflected off the polished walls.

'Where am I?' she asked herself.

'I don't remember leaving Lowtown. Maybe…' she considered in her head but couldn't finish the thought when the locked door to her side hissed loudly as the air seal was released and the thing slid open.

Standing there in the archway was a familiar figure but she couldn't put her finger on it as to where she had remembered this person. Slowly the messy blonde wisps of hair became visible to her under the argent light along with those unforgettable azure irises, but nothing else of his facial features could be made out for they were washed out from the lambent glare.

He remained unmoving, studying her stance and confused looks.

'Don't be afraid,' he comforted as his deep voice filled the cubicle, echoing off the structure.

'I am not afraid!' she retorted back to the unknown man.

'I know of your pain, your despair, your misery, Ashelia. You may fool everyone around you but you do not fool me or yourself.'

'You know nothing of me! How do you claim to know of my tribulations when I don't even know who you are!' she lamented as she rose to her feet but the sudden movement triggered her head to pound with piercing pain and she became unstable in her movements.

'Wait for me, Ashelia. Let me help you.'

Those were his fading words as her eyesight went black, her ears began to ring and her anguish started to pulsate throughout her entire body as she latched onto her head and collapsed to her knees, screaming in agony. Her torment grew greater and greater until suddenly when she thought she could handle it no more… it ended.

Dripping in a cold sweat, Ashe shot upright out of her thinly dressed bed, gripping the sides of her head tightly. Her nightgown was twisted and suctioned to the sweat soaked surface of her body leaving the delicate skin of her legs bare. Breathing hysterically, she was terrified that if she let go her suffering would come back in a rush putting her back into that horrible torture she had been in moments ago.

Hesitating, she swung her legs off the side of the bed and gently released the pressure of her death grip, finding that the pain did not return. With a sigh of relief, she brought one of her hands to her face and weakly ran it through her disheveled locks, pushing the stray strands out of her tired eyes.

"What was that?" she spoke into the damp air.

She shook herself of the eerie feeling that haunted her and lethargically lifted herself to her feet.

It was the morning of the fete and their planned advance. She hoped that all would go well and that nothing went array like it always seemed to do for her. Taking a deep breath, she began her daily routine, though a few hours earlier than normal and prepared herself for the events yet to come.

The Afternoon of the Fete…

"Squads 3 through 6 are in place." Ashe heard the soldier report hastily in the distance.

"They stand ready. So far the Imperials haven't noticed a thing," he finished as the soldier saluted the Captain, she no doubt could imagine, as she casually sauntered down the waterlogged pathway toward the gathering.

"Then go now and hurry the others," she heard Vossler's gruff voice quietly command, "By nightfall, we must ensure all our men are in place."

"Yes sir!" chorused the group of men as they parted and went their separate ways.

Ashe listened to the jingling footfalls of the eager soldiers as they ran off to execute their orders. Purposely, she scrapped the toes of her metal cased boots noisily along the ground as she ran her hand carelessly against the grooves in the stone slabs when she approached the intersection, warning Vossler of her presences.

Hearing her disturbance, he turned around to witness her airy but rigid prance as she drew near behind him. Her facial features were that of stone, never weathering or chipping, as she presented herself to him.

"Plans are going well, I see," she plainly stated.

"Yes. Almost everyone is in place."

"Then tell me were I am to be stationed so that I may take up my post," she requested as she toyed with the buckle securing the sheath to her body, holding the greatsword to her back.

"You will take up post next to me, just by the entrance near the Palace Cellar Stores," he informed her as he weighed her reaction.

Ashe merely nodded her head in compliance and began her swift retreat to the assigned position in silence.

This floored him because he was usually used to her bickering back to him about her displeasure in his suggestions. Something wasn't right to him but he hadn't the time to interrogate her on the subject as he jogged his way up to her withdrawing figure.

Some Hours Later…

Her laborious breathes filled her ears alongside the throbbing pounds within her head as the clanking footfalls behind magnified when she bolted down the soggy pathways in search of an escape. Catching a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw in the distance four heavily armored Imperial Soldiers rapidly advancing her coordinates as they shouted for her surrender.

"Stop right there!"

"Halt! You are under arrest!"

"Come back here!"

They all screamed at her but to no avail because she refused to be caught. She did not hide out in a bloody rat infested putrid hole for two years of her life to just throw herself willingly into the fires of hell at the first opportunity. She would make them pay for the things that they had done to her and her family. She would be sure to make them die a slow and horrible death, one similar to what they had bestowed upon her. There would be physical pain she was sure, but what would deal the final blow would be the complete and utter torment and despair that would corrupt and twist their tiny minds into knots, losing all perspective.

Ashe took a sudden turn down another watery trail hoping to throw her assailants off her tracks but seconds later proved it to be of little use when the splashing of her boots echoing loudly off the cavernous walls alerted them to her position.

Fatigue began to plague her body like someone had just thrown a fifty pound sack of potatoes on her back as she noticed exactly how near the Imperials were.

"Damn!" she cursed through an exhaled huff as she forced her legs to speed up the pace.

As a last ditch effort, she altered her course once more, praying that the four bucket heads weren't smarter than what they looked. But to her misfortune, the path she pursued this time didn't offer her an exit. Much rather the opposite… a dead end.

"Shit!" she let slip from her paling lips as the heat from her exertion flushed her checks and her breathes continued to leave in struggled gasps.

Her gaze darted over the ledge, finding the option of jumping questionable, to the metal armored dummies as they trudged, swords drawn and out stretched, closer in proximity.

The blood in her veins drew cold, almost freezing to a complete stop, when she felt the rise of panic in the pit of her stomach. She tried to pay little mind to the tightening pulls within her belly but her thoughts betrayed her as the doors flew wide open and the fear within her came parading in.

The soldiers tightly walked down the aisle, shoulder pressed against shoulder and their swords at the ready, keeping Ashe from finding an opportunity to flee.

"Now we have her!" barked one of the Imperials through the confines of his hollow helm.

Rolling her lip up as she barred her teeth in a fierce snarl, she unsheathed the Tournesol at her back and slashed it ominously through the thick sewage air toward them.

"Ooo, she's a feisty one!" the man within the armored shell to her far left sneered.

"Aww, look at that Cap'n… she wants to play!" a second one chimed in.

"I bet she'd be real good too," added another gruff voice from her right.

The adrenaline finally kicked in, her limbs beginning to tremble with anger, thawing the blood within her arteries, as the Imperial scum across from her found extreme enjoyment out of the current state.

"Spare me your pointless opinions!" Ashe growled through almost clenched teeth, positioning herself into a battle stance.

"Leave me be if you cherish your lives!" she provoked as she saw no other way out of this quarrel.

Slowly they marched forward, huddling in an arch around her, trapping Ashe on the peninsula that jutted out overlooking the flooded arena ten feet below. Surely she couldn't jump unless she wished to have some broken bones and spend her pain filled nights crying in agony plastered to the dusty Nalbina Dungeon floors. No, her only option now was to persevere and fight back with everything, every last bit of her until death ended it.

With nowhere else to step, Ashe reeled back her sword and lunged forward, charging at one of the impending soldiers with an unexpected burst of rage. Seconds flashed by as her arm brandishing the blade cut through the air and bit into the startled Imperial's abdomen rapidly bringing him down as he tumbled over the edge and into the rushing waters of the canal below.

Blood of their comrade poured from the lethal steel and mixed with the sewage water that pooled at her boots.

"Who would be next?!" she scathed with a frown as she beckoned with her free hand for them to fight her.

They gladly advanced, one carelessly taking a premature swing and sloppily connecting his sword with hers as she easily blocked his attack.

"Close ranks! Bring her down!" bellowed the Captain, or who she assumed him to be.

Suddenly out of nowhere a childish voice filled the air from behind and down below her.

"Jump down! Hurry!" it called in urgency.

She hadn't heard any sloshing or splashing footsteps or seen anyone beyond her vantage point when she previously scanned the area but where had this voice come from?

Quickly she peered over her shoulder; her sword still pointed at her enemies, and witnessed the young platinum haired boy standing below with outstretched arms waiting for her to jump.

She hadn't the time to fully inspect the boy or wager his strength and trust worthiness as she turned back to face the iron clad men who were forging within inches. She had to make a decision and fast or she would most likely become Vayne's personal play toy for all she knew.

Taking a chance, Ashe sucked in a deep breath and took off in a sprint as she propelled over the ledge and felt the weightlessness of her body envelope her as she rapidly sailed through the air. She only prayed to the Gods now that this poor boy would have enough physique to catch and support her when she came falling down.

It seemed like she was moving in slow motion as she fell through the air, finally landing safely into the boy's well-muscled arms.

"Are you alright?" the boy inquired as she was firmly held in his grasp.

But before she could muster up an answer, the guards that still lingered above hollered out to the two below.

"She's not alone!" the agitated Captain cried, motioning his men to descend the ramp opening into the lower arena Ashe now occupied, to intercept them.

A blush creped up into her cheeks, or was it the heat from her adrenaline that flushed her skin so badly? She didn't know, nor did she have the opportunity to find out as she hastily pulled out of the kid's arms and righted herself before taking in the situation.

As Ashe did so, she had failed to notice the two other figures that had been accompanying the blond. Only when they spoke their mind did she startle and realize there were others.

"Our ranks grow by the hour," stated a smooth feminine tone.

"And our troubles with them," sneered another masculine one, though this one had a silkiness to it.

The four of them engaged in battle as the remaining three Imperials stormed the group. With two sword arms, a pistol and a bow, they were no match for them as her three new partners dispatched two of the existing soldiers quickly leaving Ashe with the last.

The Imperial was rather skilled in his footwork and swordsmanship as he parried most of her onslaught, tiring her a bit and getting in some of his own jabs, which were nicely avoided too. Ashe spent the majority of their battle studying his stances, almost instantly learning his next moves, when the window opened for her.

His misguided blade swung within inches of slicing her neck cleanly open and was stopped by her hand as she gripped the extended sword arm. Without delay she slammed the soldier's elbow down into her ascending kneecap forcing him to drop his brand and cry out in agony when she heard the bone crunching sounds. She continued to still tightly hold on to the broken limb as the soldier secretly reached his other hand around his back, pulling out of the breastplate a hidden dagger.

"Look out!" someone alerted as the adversary's arm shot out from behind him flashing the menacing blade in the dull light when it came in dangerous proximity to her body. But not before she could pull her own concealed masterpiece from her retreating greave which she lodged deeply into his gut in one quick fluid movement taking not only the inquisitor by surprise but her new guest as well.

With a small grunt, Ashe dislodged her Platinum dagger and watched with mild amusement as the dead body clacked loudly to the waterlogged ground. Crouching down to the flowing water on the floor, she slowly swished the small sword from side to side removing any remnants of blood before she re-sheathed it into the shin plate.

She had been so consumed in her meticulous cleaning that she hadn't noticed the young boy approach her.

"Are you alright?" he repeated from before the battle.

Startled, she hastily returned to a standing position facing the about eighteen-year-old blond next to her and studied him as he expectantly looked at her for an answer this time. Her eyes scanned over him seeing nothing more than a battered and bruised Rabanastrian orphan who had seen better days in his life. His blond hair was cropped short in the back and left longer in the front, stopping just above his chin, as random sprigs haphazardly laid about the crown of his head. Bright blue adamant irises shined innocently as his carefree and naïve attitude seeped out at the seams making Ashe feel deep down like that of an old dull person who has lost everything and only waits for the grim reaper to take them, ending their misery.

She was envious of this churl and she hadn't even been properly introduced to him yet.

His clothing was plain and simple from the grey vest he wore that exposed the arms, chest and abs to his black leather trousers, which laced up the sides creating a fashionable blue and red crisscross design about the leggings. The boots adorning his feet were made of a cast iron shell, sturdy and effective, which acted also as a pair of greaves shielding his shins from injury along with his gauntlets that decorated his wrists, leaving the digits of his hand bare.

Gently clasping her hands together and bringing them up to her chest, she further approached him as the sensation of relief washed over her.

"Thank you," she genuinely professed as she released a stressed sigh of air.

The eager teen smiled kindly and began to properly introduce his entourage catching Ashe off guard seeing a most likely ill mannered waif with some actual courtesy toward others, but she didn't exactly know his upbringing to judge him so formidability either.

"I'm Vaan. And this is Balthier and-- Hey!" stopping in mid-sentence as the one so called Balthier had his back turned and was hurriedly trying to tip toe his way out of the situation.

Ashe thought him to be rather rude for dogging something so customary to everyday life. Did he think himself above all that?

Strange fellow that one was she concluded. Very flamboyant in his tastes of style as only he could pull off such bold attire. His chromed leathers were unique and one of a kind, made from a hardy dark brown leather, origin unknown, that had been stain with a rich black dye in the recesses of the eloquent artwork which had been pressed into it. It was tightly fitted to his lean body covering all of his torso and neck except the areas around his arms and the front of his throat where his lace stitched collar and blunt edged cuffs appeared in its stead. This bit of white cotton fabric constructing his blouse was the least flashy of his entire ensemble, as it lay wrinkle-free underneath the busy vest.

But the bawdiest piece of all was those pants! Almost suctioned to his limbs, the tight and definitely revealing hide accentuated practically every muscle the Hume body had to offer within the legs and buttock region. It was eye candy to women. Just the same as his vest, there were strips of the fancy scrollwork above and below the knee and also at the hem that embellished the jet-black material. He also wore a set of side bags that belted around his waist, one on each hip, as the belts crossed in the center from their slanted positions. And lastly, a pistol, she immediately recognized it to be an Altar, was cockily propped upwards upon his right shoulder, shot loaded and ready to fire at the next foe to cross his path.

Adjacent to him stood an extremely beautiful and tall Viera. Her beauty astounded Ashe as she resembled something out of her childhood fairytales with her full and height-length white tresses to her quite different fashion in protective armors. She had seen many Viera before but none were as exquisite as this one. The fancy helm that adorned her head was specially constructed for her structure as the large brown tipped ears protruded defiantly upwards through the metal which also neatly framed her eye sockets containing the intense violet orbs. These eyes complimented her features as they radiated with a wise aura showing that she was full of knowledge, wisdom and old folklore beyond Ashe's time although this Viera looked just barely in her prime.

Scantly clad in black and red leather and iron, she noted, the Viera was mostly uncovered. Her torso guarded by lightweight metals in the key areas to her survival and same went for her long and well toned legs that displayed the feminine greaves and thigh protection. Lastly, Ashe observed, was the ordinate bow that was draped over her shoulder and the small quiver of arrows that was latched onto her backside in an optimal position for her quick and deadly delivery.

Ashe was quickly shaken from her reverie when Vaan returned his attention back to her and inquired, "What's your name?"

In thought, she looked down to her still clasped hands and quickly pondered whether it be worth telling them her real name or the lie that she had become, for she did not know her saviors well and doubted that they would stay in her company for very long.

"Amalia," she answered in a daze, eyes slowly meeting his.

"Amalia, huh? Nice to meet ya!" he chirp with a primitive grin plastered on his face, warm and inviting.

Seeing Vaan's mirth only brought her heartache as she let her gaze fall upon the ground in sadness, turning her body in a semi-circle to face the rushing waterfalls across the raging rapids of the canal. There had been other soldiers with her only moments ago but in the unfortunate events that played out from their plans, Vossler had ordered for her immediate retreat into the Waterway as a means of protection. Little good that did as a small band of Imperials caught wind of her flight into the sewers and pursued her like a pack of rabid dogs, hot on her trail, as she fled like the fugitive she was.

The Gods had shined on her this night thankfully and she surely hoped that they were shining on the rest of her men fighting valiantly in her battle for liberation.

"There were others with me."

Thinking to herself and not realizing that she had voiced her thoughts out loud, Ashe was once again bewildered when her train of though had been interrupted by the soft Vieran melody.

"I'm sorry," she comforted sensing her tribulations as she discerned the young Hume standing before her though her own face remained indifferent.

"No…" Ashe whispered.

Those words seemed so final to her. They couldn't have perished! They had been through hell and back with barely a scratch! This wasn't their end, she had faith in them and they would be coming shortly in search of her. This would not be a bittersweet ending… not now.

She wrenched her lids shut forcing the painful ache in her chest to subside but the throbbing of her temples intensified ten fold. Her facial feature contorted as she winced from the pulsating impact in her head, thankfully keeping it hidden from the curious eyes of her new guests.

Suddenly she felt a burning, tugging sensation from within her chest and a deep hum that pulsated intensely into her ears as she was being summoned by some invisible means.

"Huh?!" she heard Vaan's flabbergasted noise.

Rigidly she turned to his standpoint and gasped in shock when she saw the large iridescent flame-orange trinket lethargically intensify then dull its color repeatedly within his gripped hand.

"Oh, now isn't that impressive," Balthier curiously replied as he had retreated back to the other members' location.

Vaan watched as his scrutinizing brown eyes caressed their path over the benevolently stolen novelty that was tightly secured in his hand.

Frowning slightly and jerking the item to his side removing it from his field of view, the boy snapped, "Don't get any ideas. I said it's mine!"

"I'm afraid the jury's still out on that one," came the witty retort as he placed his hands cockily upon his hips and let an egotistical smirk creep onto his lips.

Instantly snapping her attention back to the boy across from her she asked incredulously knowing the course they just traveled came from underneath the palace floors, "You stole that?"

She hadn't considered the possibility that her accessories might be, in all truth, dirty thieves, even though she hadn't gave thought to why a law abiding citizen would be caravanning through a sewage plant at night either.

"Yeah!" squeaked the excited teen as his face lit up with presumptuous pride hoping to impress her.

In a stupor she let out a scornful puff of air as she leaned slightly forward, a cynical scowl sculpted into her mask as she glared at Vaan in disappointment. Of course, out of all the people that she could trust her royal life with, the Gods chose to toy with her, placing a bunch of arrogant pirates in her knights' stead.

'Bloody perfect!' she berated herself as the cold hard stone façade immediately replaced itself.

"Have you finished?" interrupted the gentle but warning tones of the Viera, "When the guards don't report in, they'll come looking for us."

"If they aren't already," Balthier swiftly added as he scanned the waterways.

"You should come with us," Vaan suggested elatedly but she eyed him with stone as he pushed, "Rather than being by yourself."

He had a point and she knew she couldn't make it out of this sludgy swamp in one piece by herself without being granted another run in with her iron plated friends but she also didn't take lightly to being forced to accept the option of siding with criminals either. She was a Princess; she couldn't mar her reputation being around the likes of them, especially ones who pilfered from her family's royal treasury.

Sighing inwardly, Ashe weighed the options and found no other way around it. They had saved her from the inescapable doom that she had almost submitted herself to and fought gallantly to protect her with their lives just as her royal knights had been trained to do. She could not ignore their actions or their bravery and reluctantly concluded that she needed this group of three to help carry out her next course of action from this point. Ashe couldn't be caught without an extra weapon arm again if she planned to keep her wits about her.

"Very well," she replied with ice as she haughtily gave them the cold shoulder and arrogantly sauntered past, swaying her hips regally before stopping at the outlet exiting the small cavern.

Behind her she heard Vaan's naïve questioning of her sudden attitude change.

"What's wrong with her?

Balthier shook his head in hopeless defeat and shuffled his weight from one foot to the other replacing his hands back a top his hips.

"You have a lot to learn before we even get started on your thievery," he reprimanded the clueless orphan.

"What's that mean?" Vaan inquired confused.

The poor boy had no concept of women or how their train of thought functioned. If he was going to become anything remotely close to a sky pirate then he would have to rapidly learn the way of the female Hume, for it was one of the key factors in the career he was wishing to partake in.

Shaking his head once more in destitute toward the boy, Balthier, Vaan and the Viera that Ashe didn't know her name yet, confidently strolled up to her whereabouts in expectance of an explanation to her abrupt change in disposition. But she didn't owe them anything. Only her gratitude to them for saving her otherwise damned existence and nothing else.

Letting her hand creep up to her chin in thought, she brought the stormy irises up to meet with her increasingly impatient onlookers.

"The situation requires I accept such help I can find," she reluctantly proposed, "Though it be from thieves."

The word 'thieves' rolled off her tongue sourly, her face contorting into that of repulsion as if she had just mistakenly sucked the juice from a lemon instead of an orange, harshly shocking her taste buds.

As if she was trying to convince herself, she conceitedly added, "I shall accompany you until we find my companions. No longer."

No longer was for sure. It was already hard enough to swallow her pride and not so willingly join this trio for her country's sake, but she had no other choice.

Ashe intently watched as the corsair turned his head to face Vaan and the Viera in a calmly satisfied manner to further elaborate to the young trainee of their spoken agreement.

"Let's think of her as a 'guest', then. Unlike Fran or myself," the pirate illustrated, gesturing a hand toward the earlier mentioned Fran and then to himself, continuing to explain, "our 'guest' probably won't be taking orders from anyone anytime soon."

Ashe scoffed in arrogance at the mention of taking orders and pulled the hand that was resting at her chin down to her chest as she crossed her arms in a huff.

'Damn right I won't take any orders!' she retorted to herself mentally, 'I'm so sick of heeding orders… and I'm suppose to be the one that's royalty!'

"And," he quickly continued, "she'll leave when she pleases. So, we keep to our affairs and she to hers."

The latter part of the statement was more directed toward the inquisitive teen since he was on a role with asking all the personal questions and just being down right nosey. Balthier let his pointed stare linger on the boy hoping that it helped to permanently cauterize the underlying definition of his speech into Vaan's not so advanced brain.

When he was confident that he understood, the rogue then shifted his sanguine brown eyes to fully take in her slightly curvy but poorly nourished figure. Ashe observed the scoundrel with a scornful expression feeling rather exposed as his eager eyes crawled up and down her body and, if they could have, underneath her clothes.

The Viera, that was now known to be Fran, sensed Ashe's growing hostility and cleared her throat loudly stirring her partner from his scandalous surveying and prodded him to hurry up and finish their exchange before they were spotted. His scrutiny had led him to believe that she was a top ranking official in some kind of movement according to her attire and to this man's quite adept knowledge, he only knew of the one Insurgence group that congregated out of the sewers. Seeing that she could be easily agitated, Balthier chose to push the topic wanting to know if his talents were still up to par.

"I doubt we'll find her wanting in valor… being such an upstanding member of the Insurgence," came the witty remark as the smug grin creped upon his smooth lips.

Almost instantly, Ashe regretted her decision to seek their assistance as she bit down to hold her tongue from spitting out whatever ill mannered retorts she was concocting toward the sneering scum. She could play this game of low blows too if she wanted.

Composing herself, she smoothly corrected him but let the essence of venom drip from her lips.

"Resistance."

This earned her a cockily raised brow from him as he had seen an opportunity to drag her into a game of banter but before he could open his mouth to grace her with another ingenious remark she urged, "Well, what are we waiting for?"

"Well miss Resistance, we are waiting for you to get moving," Balthier quipped but wasn't able to revel in its glory of successfully irritating the woman as the back of Fran's mildly long hand smacked hard up side the back of his head in reprimand.

"Oww! Was that necessary?" bringing a hand up to the point of impact on the back of his head.

"We haven't the time for your games," Fran answered as she moved past a pouting Balthier and a snickering Vaan to make eye contact with Ashe.

"If you are to join us then we best be off now."

Ashe nodded in apprehension and then as the Viera began to trek down the murky path leading toward the steep incline, she too started her course down the musty canal falling into a rhythmic step behind her, listening to the two men quietly bicker a few paces back.

They had only been traveling for a few minutes, mostly in silence, when they were forced to ascend another set of stone steps which Vaan immaturely whined something about his feet as they reached the top of the fifty plus stepped staircase.

"Vaan, please," came the annoyed tone of the sky pirate as he entered one of the many open-walled platforms gaining him the almost serine view of the waterfalls in front even though they were mainly contaminated with rotten food and things he'd rather not know about.

"Hey guys look!" chirped an almost ecstatic Vaan as everyone followed his voice to see what he had found.

Standing about sixty feet away by one of the rusted gates that had been growing about three different types of black mildew, stood the blonde holding up a slightly damaged, but still salvageable, leather shield that he had come by laying in the corner.

"Get back here! We need to stick together if we are going to get out of here in one piece," Balthier chided as the teen jogged back toward the center of the platform.

"Look what I found!" he boasted holding the armory into view for the others to see.

"Ahh, well isn't that nice. Looks like you found yourself a decent leather shield. It might come in handy sometime," retorted the savvy marauder.

Eager to be on her way, Ashe anxiously listened to the exchange, impatiently tapping the tip of her sword with her iron clad boot. She didn't have time for this lollygagging or goofing around, she needed to find Vossler and the others fast before Vayne ordered a military advance on her city. No doubt he would rip it to shreds in search of her valuable life so that he may find pleasure in destroying the last of her rightful dynast bloodline, paving the way for his glory. She had no chance to spare, what she had now was all she would ever have available to her.

"Are you boys finished? We need to keep a move on!" Ashe ordered annoyed.

The air in the sluiceway was becoming increasingly thick with a steamy mist and, as she had further noticed, the all around temperature was slightly increasing as tiny beads of sweat began to adorn her temples causing her to become more agitated than she previously was.

The four hastily continued their journey, encountering a few Gigantoads, Garchimacera and the occasional Ghost along the way as they finally approached the familiar Central Waterway Control.

By now the temperature was at a stifling level and the fog it was creating had become so unbearable that Ashe wasn't even able to take in a full lung of breath without choking on the heated sewage. It was proving difficult to see as well since the dirty vapor was too dense to even visualize a hand waving mere centimeters from her face.

With her eyes squinted, she tried to make out anything within the haze in the distance with no such luck. It was proving impossible as she heard the whiney complaints of Balthier in the near distance as well as the confused statements of Vaan.

"Bloody hell! This heat is causing me to chaff," he flustered pulling at the thick leather sticking uncomfortable to his thighs and grumbling streams of curses as well.

"I don't remember it being so hot or foggy down here before," Vaan stated ignoring the fussy philanderer beside him.

She didn't recall her training grounds to be in this condition either; it was mostly cool and breezy to the point of causing a chill, not a broiler.

Suddenly Fran's voice broke through the opaque ozone, though it came to her ears a bit gargled from the blinding steam, "This way, through the gate."

Next came the grinding of iron hinges protesting and the screeching of the heavy metal as it scraped along the stone floor when it was pushed open, filling the stagnant air. When the gate finally opened enough to pass through, a hurried breeze shot by catching the condensed fog as if it were a large net snagging a prized beast and pulled it into the open pit of the Overflow Cloaca, clearing the proximity around them.

"Huh? What was that?" questioned Vaan as his head franticly jerked from side to side scouring the perimeter.

"Come we must hurry. Someone might have heard the gate," Fran advocated to the others, preventing anyone from answering the inquiry, as she held the bulky door open for their passage.

Once again being able to navigate her surroundings, Ashe followed Balthier and Vaan into the Cloaca only to be smacked in the face for another round tonight… or was it morning… with the impenetrable effluvium throwing everyone, save the Viera, into a momentary coughing fit. Somehow the bodily structure of a Viera was greatly more advanced than that of a Hume's, warranting those magnified capabilities and strengths not easily reached by other species explaining for Fran's immunities to the current situation.

When Ashe was able to calm her breathing and relax her tracheal muscles enough to stop the suffocating sensation swelling within her chest, she unexpectedly felt the ground beneath her tremble and a thundering sound filled her ears. It gradually got louder, booming through out the tunnels as if a stampede of angered Slavens were going to break through the gravel walls at any second. Ashe gave a quizzical glance toward the others and saw them in just as much of a stupor as herself.

The heat that consumed the site had grown to be utterly excruciating now to the point that her delicate skin could possibly erupt into flames if she remained here any longer. But escaping was not an option anymore as an augmented burst of vapor surged through the room announcing the arrival of a rather missed guided element.

Behind the rolling waves of smog that flowed inward around the towering pillars beyond came the strange sight of a blazing molten sphere soaring exasperatingly to their coordinates. Without further hesitation, the ball of oozing lava rapidly morphed into a triple-sized stallion born of two-thousand degree flux which was entirely engulfed in red and white flames. Its mane, tail and feathers around it hooves normally would be generated of a fine coarse hair, but this was not the case as bright hot fire replaced these features, dancing wildly as it burned. Soon it sprouted six tentacles, three decorating each side of its broad neck, with massive globes of energy swirling at the tips eager to be released as the limbs swayed through the fog. It stamped its feet challengingly as the hot beast threw it head back and let out a blistering cry, hurting everyone's eardrums.

"What is that thing?!" Vaan shouted as he raised his Broadsword for battle.

"Firemane," both Fran and Balthier hurriedly answered as they too readied their ranged weapons for the confrontation.

'Firemane' Ashe repeated to herself as she took in the rare creature's beauty which she had been earlier label as. She indeed saw their point for the title. Fiery, but untamable and could burn all those around her in an instant.

"Amalia!"

Balthier's ordering voice broke her train of thought and brought her back to the present situation as she realized she was needed on the front line. Pulling her Tournesol out of its sheath, she valiantly charged the mythical horse just as it reared, kicking fiercely at the air and striking Vaan in the arm, instantly leaving a third degree burn to mar his tanned skin.

"Damn!" he cried as he clasped his sword hand over the injury.

"Keep fighting! We can bring it down quickly!" Ashe barked, taking a forceful swing at its left limb, successfully cutting the film holding the molten liquid in as it poured into the water pools around them creating more steam.

Showing his inexperience, Vaan began to tire quickly which proved to be costly as the mane suddenly stood on its hind legs, its body glowing an ardent yellow and its hooves flailing defiantly through the air, as a series of blazing pillars fusilladed out of the ground. It threw back its head once again and cried out another horrible holler as sparks erupted and showered all around from the energy spheres attached to the tentacles.

This powerful attack thankfully hadn't harmed anyone save for the poor Rabanastrian orphan who had been struck down by the onslaught's poisonous side-effects. Without wasting time, Balthier ran toward the unconscious teen and hastily dragged his limp body away from the battle so that Fran might be able to administer an antidote to cure the life-sucking ailment.

Stepping into Vaan's place to distract the Firemane long enough for Balthier to take action, Ashe hurriedly blocked a scintillate hoof aimed for the daft pirate's back with her blade as she called to him behind her.

"Hurry, I will finish this monster."

He only nodded, not that Ashe could see as her back was turned to him, continuing the fight.

Mostly dogging and ducking to avoid the creature's advances, Ashe swiftly found a small window of opportunity as the monstrosity, for a third time, elevated its head to let out its ear piercing shriek. She pulled her sword arm forward across her body and then angrily with an audible grunt, sent it in a backwards swing letting the top third of the brand slice through the thick of its neck and causing its life blood to spurt out of the massive wound. Its cries became gurgled as the molten soup frothed from the mouth and its legs began to shake and buckle under their weakened state. The boisterous creature in defeat, abruptly returned to its previous state of hard molten matter, though a bit less brilliant, and lamely blew past Fran and Balthier who had been standing by the slime infested pillars in the far back providing cover fire with their gun and bow as Ashe delivered the melee interventions.

Just as obnoxiously as it had entered, it left in pretty much the same fashion, emphatically hammering down the archways in the sewer until the sound was lost amongst the crashing waves of the waterfalls, taking with it the remainder of the ghastly heat and fog.

Turning to find the group behind her with Vaan healed and able to stand on his own again, Ashe found the victory to be bittersweet as the numerous clicks of gun safeties switching off resonated from above.

"Stand where you are!" commanded one of the Imperials a top the balcony.

With an exasperated sigh, Ashe and the rest hesitantly peered up at the twenty or more guards that grimly accessorized the platform with their exquisitely polished pistols and crossbows gleaming in the dim illumination. There would be no escape this turn, as she grumbled in rebuff, unless she wished to become some holey cheese delicacy left over from tonight's fete, which did not appeal to her in the slightest.

Out from behind one of the pistol wielding soldiers appeared, with a pompous swagger, the largely hated and feared Archadian diplomat that was the pit of her country's destruction, Vayne Carudas Solidor. His gait was calm and his expression was neutral as he held his hands behind his back in contemplation. The long tresses of his not so masculine hair fluttered about his face as the harsh stare of his sea-green eyes bore into her own as she instantly realized he knew who she was.

A snarl escaped her dry lips, feeling the hatred for this man and the pain that he and his countrymen had directly bestowed upon her, the people and her family, welled up inside of her, altering her better judgment. He was within her reach, one quick draw of her pistol and a rapidly fired bullet to the center of his forehead was all she needed. One single, precisely aimed piece of steel and gunpowder would start her force to end the war right here, right now, freeing her citizens and herself from the disaster.

With a new determination, Ashe shifted a step forward reaching for one of her stainless steel pistols at her thigh but was abruptly stopped when a warm hand clamped firmly around hers, staying her from doing something undoubtedly stupid and endangering them all, keeping the weapon forced into the holster and holding her back from advancing.

"Now is not the time," Balthier reprimanded in a low tone, not letting his grip slacken until he was sure she wouldn't try to further charge.

A sardonic huff left her mouth at her incredibly unfortunate luck and the air behind them was filled with the echoes of rattling silver plated armor that flowed into the Cloaca along with heavy footfalls as Ashe slowly glanced to her side then smoothly back to murderously glare at the bastard indifferently standing above her. The tiniest of movement was caught by observation as she witness the minor curling of one corner of his mouth in pure joy; the rest remained to be unseen underneath the overly dignified and cold façade as he calmly strolled away commanding his soldiers to shackle and bring them up to the Storehouse entrance.

Author's Note: So, how did I do?? This chapter took everything out of me... It was like pulling out my own teeth! Hmm, I hope the next one isn't going to be that tough or else I'm in trouble! I repeat myself from earlier, 10,000+ word chapter, typed with only one hand equals some errors so I'm sorry.

Is it just me or do my chapter's seem to have a pattern of going from long to longer to really short and back to long and longer again? Hmm maybe its just the heavy amounts of painkillers making the brain fuzzy ;) So I beg you... please give a cripple a break and review! It doesn't have to be long, it can be short and sweet or whatever you like. Just nothing immature thats all :)

landis icelilly