Final Fantasy 12
TRUE FEELINGS
EXHALE
"The mist, it is absorbed into us. It channels through us, changes us. When the Quickening starts, it becomes a powerful force of magic. Tap into it. Control it and you can become mighty. Abuse it and you will fall into ruin."
Rabanastre: Year: 707
Basch sighed, frustrated but not angry. It wasn't Danver's fault that he had lived such a sheltered life in his father's mansion on Bhujerba, but Basch did wonder why everyone, including Ashe herself, had agreed for him to be her suitor. He was no Rassler.
"Very well…can you at least ride a Chocobo?" asked Basch as he pointed towards the stables.
Danver screwed his face up.
"Do we have to? They make me sneeze a lot."
"We'll stick plugs up your nose…will that help?" asked Balthier, who couldn't stop grinning.
"You are so impertinent!" sneered the noble youth.
"WE are wasting time!!" Basch snapped suddenly. "Take these remedies for your allergies. We're going by Chocobo to traverse the plains."
When three very beautiful yellow Chocobos were brought up from the stables, Basch began to pack up the saddlebags. Basch also threw to Danver and Balthier two rather drab looking cloaks, both of the men, who prided themselves on looking dapper and pristine, did not take too kindly to these.
"A Viking coat?" asked Balthier shaking his head. "In this state? Gabranth….where did you get this one? It's thread bare! This coat is supposed to be immune to water spells! This is so full of holes it wouldn't keep out the weather!"
"It still works." said Basch. "The magics have not faded."
"Have you noticed how you have got one that's in much better shape?" asked Danver. "It looks brand new."
Basch pulled the straps on the saddlebags, making sure they were tightly closed. He was quite bulky in his Judge armour, always a menacing figure before anyone, but the brand new Viking coat wrapped around his shoulders made him look a little less intimidating. However Danver didn't like the eyeless gaze from the horned helm. Basch patted the Chocobo and rubbed it's nose, before mounting it with ease. The huge bird creature staggered a little under his weight, but the reassuring strokes on its feathers, calmed it down.
"When you've quite finished complaining." said Basch. "We've got a long way to go."
Balthier mounted his own Chocobo, which was a little more rowdy and quite agitated, stamping it's claws and whining loudly. Balthier leaned down close and sniffed it.
"Oh great, Gabranth….this one is in heat! It stinks!"
"Change it if you wish." replied Basch. "I'm not waiting for either of you. I'm not wasting any more time."
With a brisk command to the Chocobo, Basch rode off and out of city's grounds. Balthier thought this was going to be fun…okay it was a search and/or rescue of the Queen….but it was supposed to be fun all the same. His Chocobo was quite frisky, making it difficult to reign, but Balthier would cope, unlike Danver. The young suitor had mounted his own bird and he looked very uncomfortable trying to control it.
"Judge Gabranth is taking this very seriously." said Danver, as he still struggled to fit more snugly in the saddle. "I know this is a dire situation, Ashe's life is in danger…but he seems…quite determined. He hardly knows her…why take all this risk?"
Hardly knows her? Balthier didn't want to say what he and the others knew, but Basch was the one person who knew Queen Ashe more than any of them. He probably cared a little too much. But of course, Danver didn't know that he was Basch.
"He's just doing his duty. If you truly love her majesty, then you would do the same. Let's go. Keep up, if you can." said the Sky Pirate, wrapping his own hole ridden cloak around his shoulders.
After a few attempts, Balthier managed to get his heat lusting Chocobo to start running, when he was satisfied that Danver was following, he allowed the creature to pick up speed. They had to catch up to Basch, before he too did something a little too…rash.
Rabanastre: Year: 698
It had been months since she had seen any of her protectors. Ashe was left with Arla to follow her around the palace and it was with her lady-in-waiting that she shared her boredom. Of course there were the usual lady things to do, sewing, painting, playing the piano…but Ashe was not keen on any of them. She took to walking aimlessly through the palace, the idea of even going into town to do some shopping had lost its appeal.
Everything was so dull. She had explored everywhere she knew, not even a bickering fight between some servants had caused her boredom to wane. Her father spent a little bit of time with her, but she knew he was busy, especially with affairs of the state and the never ending battles to keep Dalmasca safe.
Yet it was in the early afternoon, when Ashe was sitting in the gardens, that a very crafty and wild idea popped into her head. She looked to Arla, who was engrossed in her stitching work, and tried to figure how to slip away. There was no way that Arla would allow her to do this, but that wasn't going to stop the young princess.
She waited until Arla was starting to nod off, for the heat of the Dalmascan summers would make anyone drowsy if they stayed sitting for too long. When the princess was satisfied that Arla wouldn't notice her leave, Ashe got up from the bench and headed through the gardens and back to the palace. She went straight for the kitchens and from there, it would be easy enough to get to where she wanted.
Coming out from the kitchens, Ashe having managed to get the chefs to make her a quick snack, she made her way down the corridors to the laundry room. The room was hot and steamy, filled with servants busily doing a whole range of washing. But Ashe, as she was still quite small for a twelve year old, managed to go un-noticed. Where she had planed to go, she would be noticed straight away, so obviously some kind of disguise would be needed. When she got what she needed, Ashe quickly hurried back to her room and sat down in front of her dresser mirror.
It pained her to do what she did next, the scissors snipped off waist length hair until it barely even reached her shoulders. Staring back at her from the mirror, was not a princess. She looked like a boy. Which didn't exactly please her, but it would do. Then she only had to get out of her dress and into the clothes she had snatched.
"Okay." she said, pulling one of her own cloaks around the tatty three quarter length trousers and long white shirt. "I know I can do this."
The soldiers had apprentices, young boys who would train with them and later take those skills for when they became inducted fully into the army. Today, there was an extra apprentice and no one knew that he was a she or that she was really the one girl in the palace they had sworn to protect. They just didn't recognise her, and why would they when her hair was much shorter and she was as grubby as the rest of them.
Ashe was astonished. Seeing the men training was amazing, such strength screamed from them all, sweaty and full of testosterone. She had just finished cleaning out some of the Chocobo stables and Ashe was sitting by the side, holding some armour that needed polishing, but she couldn't take her eyes away from the sparing. She was joined by some of the other boys in apprenticeship who were cheering the soldiers on and clapping loudly. Ashe didn't want to make a scene herself, instead she watched carefully all the moves and stances, every detail of combat shown she had remembered. Stirring inside the young princess, was the longing to practice herself.
"Water!" a voice cried. "You boy! Open the water barrel!"
Ashe didn't respond at first, thinking it impossible that someone could be addressing her, but when a tall man stood in front of her, wearing the armour of a sergeant, she looked up nervously.
"Who me?" she stammered.
"Yes, you boy! Get the barrel open, the men are thirsty!"
"Yes sir." Ashe gave the boy sitting next to her the armour shell and hurried over to the far end of the courtyard. There was a large wooden barrel and with a rather strenuous attempt, she managed to get the lid off. Cool clear water was filled to the brim and it looked very tempting. The hard work she had done in this humid afternoon was making her very dehydrated, she was about to gather some of the water up for herself, when the soldiers quickly approached and pushed her out of the way. Like thirsty animals, they scoped water into their mouths and over their faces, relishing the cold liquid as it went down their throats and refreshed their skin. Ashe watched like the inquisitive child that she was, astounded that these men could behave in such a fashion.
"They're back! They're back! Make way!"
There was scurry of feet, orders were barked by the higher ranked soldiers and the whole yard became a crowded rush. Ashe still stood by the barrel, stunned to the spot as she didn't know what to do herself. The other boys had vanished, giving her no indication as to what job she was supposed to do. But that worry left, when the patrol of Chocobos came into the yard. The Knights were back.
There were fewer than had left, Ashe peered amongst the many metal clad men with a sickening thought in her head. What had happened to her friends, those few Knights who had come to know her so well? She couldn't bare it if any of them had died.
"Sergeant! Get these Chocobos fed and watered!" shouted Jarve. "Also, prepare the dorms…my men are tired and in need of…."
Ashe smiled as one of the Knights broke out from an attentive formation and began to peel off his heavy armour. The metal chest piece, gloves, boots and shin pads clattered on the floor. Soon after the mail shirt and trousers joined them. All that was left was a man, dressed only in his under shorts, sweating heavily and flushed from the heat, storming towards the water barrel. Everyone was astonished at the behaviour from this Knight, but Ashe couldn't stop gawping. Her mouth wouldn't shut.
She had never seen him like this. His rippling body was well muscled, but also it was covered in so many scars that she couldn't count. She watched in complete shock as he began to drink from the barrel and then splash his whole body with the water. He groaned in relief but he never faltered. Despite the fact that he had stripped nearly naked, he had maintained his proud stature and air of superior rank in front of the men. Ashe couldn't take her eyes away, seeing such a specimen of man before her, covered from the wounds of war, so strong…she was mesmerized as if by a spell.
"It had to be the commoner." joked a voice from the other Knights. "Only he wouldn't give a damn what others thought about him!"
"He's showing off." said another.
"Especially if there are any women around!"
"Rubbish! Women aren't allowed in this part of the training grounds. Leave the hero alone! He's tired and thirsty and….why aren't we doing this as well?"
The atmosphere became a lot more lighter, despite the heavy humidity still sticking in the air. The other knights joined the "commoner" at the barrel, taking a hard earned release from battle. Ashe still couldn't move. What was she supposed to do? Run? Laugh? Or what she was so obviously doing already, blushing with complete embarrassment.
"You did it again, Basch." said Jarve, as Basch finally sat down, in front of Ashe with his back to her. "It was a true victory and I'm certain you'll be promoted for this."
"I did it not for myself." Basch replied, running a hand through his drenched hair. "But I don't see the loss of some of our friends as a victory. They died defending Dalmasca, which any of us would gladly do. But their loss still pains me…"
"As it does us all." replied Jarve, the smile of victory fading into a sorrowful frown of remorse. "If the King permits it, we shall go to the Sandsea tonight and drink to our fallen comrades."
"You know I will gladly come along but…"
"I know. I am pleased that you are no longer that guilt ridden sixteen year old drunk I met back in Bhujerba. You have come farther than I ever expected. A fine young man. You have the makings of great Captain."
"No longer guilt ridden?" Basch allowed a weak smile to form on his broad face. "I am feeling guilt every day….perhaps drinking is not the best way to slay it."
"Strong as ever, Basch. But I hate having to keep ordering you to rest. Which I will do so."
"And as ever, Vossler will make sure I carry that order out."
Jarve patted Basch on the back and signalled for Vossler to come over. Ashe almost screamed once again, for her other protector had stripped from the waist upwards and was just as battle scared as Basch was. Both men, in the young princess' eyes, had changed radically and Ashe didn't exactly feel right in her sudden feelings for them both. Perhaps this idea of hers wasn't as good as she thought it would be.
"Let me guess." said Vossler. "He is disobeying an order to go and get some rest and medical attention? Is that right, sir?"
Jarve nodded.
"I shall take my leave of you. Make sure he carries out my order, Vossler. Also…make him put some clothes on."
"Aye, sir."
Jarve left the two friends alone, the older man going back over to some of the Chocobos and tending to the birds. Basch rose from his seated position and then both he and Vossler walked off towards the barracks. Vossler paused and called out to Ashe.
"Can you pick up Basch's armour for us, lad? Bring it back to his room?"
Ashe didn't dare say anything, for one word would alert the men to who she really was, so instead she scurried over to where Basch's clothes lay on the floor and attempted to pick up the bulky chest piece. It was so heavy, Ashe just couldn't imagine how he could bare wearing it, let alone fighting in battle with it on. She tried the chest piece again, just managing to keep it locked in her arms, but she couldn't carry all the others.
"I'll take some of it, for you." Basch's deep soothing voice sounded in front of her and Ashe thanked the gods that her face was hidden behind the bulking piece of metal. She could just about see round it, following the two men, admiring them even more. They were the strongest men she knew, they were her protectors and Knights of Dalmasca. No one could ever defeat them.
The home barracks and dormitories of Raminas' army was away from the palace, further than Ashe ever thought. She was struggling so much with the armour in her hands, but seeing (what she could) a whole new quarter was a wonderful experience for the young royal. This was the domain of the men, the strength for her father's kingdom, they resided here, (some of it a little more squalid than Ashe thought possible), waiting to go into battle. Knights of the Order would normally have a residence in the palace, Ashe knew that Vossler had such a room, but as she walked through the main barracks, she wondered why Basch would remain with the others. They had called him the commoner, he was no noble from a wealthy family, perhaps he preferred to be here near the men under his command.
There were no women here, for the men did everything themselves, or rather they had some of the apprentices to help. There was laundry hanging up, pots on open fires with food cooking, Ashe even saw some soldiers sewing some of their under garments or mending armour. She had other people to cook her food, make her clothes and repair them, she was a lot more fortunate than these men.
Eventually, she was lead into one of the small rooms ahead of the main barracks. Vossler and Basch were talking in deep whispering tones together, so she quickly placed the armour on the floor and looked around. It was a lot more simple than she had imagined.
Basch's room contained one single bed, tucked away in the corner, perfectly made and tucked that it would need immense strength just to pull the sheets back. A night stand stood next to the bed, on top of which was a candle almost burnt away, leaving hardened wax over the surface. A sheet of writing paper, an ink scribe and pot of ink, as well as a small vase also stood on the nightstand. In that vase was a single pale orange Landis Asheila, the only decoration or presence of vibrant colour anywhere in the room.
On the other side was a chair and a basic construct of a wardrobe, where his clothes and some of his armour were kept safe. That was it. No other personal items or pictures, there were no signs of Basch even having a hobby. It was plain and everything had its place and were in order.
Ashe couldn't believe it and her "plan" was completely foiled when her mouth opened and words spouted out before she could think.
"THIS is where you live?!!"
Both men turned suddenly, the looks of astonishment couldn't even begin to show how they truly felt at seeing their King's daughter in one of their private rooms. Basch lunged immediately for the blanket on his bed, yanking it off and wrapping it around his body.
"Princess?!!!" Vossler cried, looking at the twelve year old with a mixture of anger, surprise and embarrassment. "WHAT are you doing here?!"
Ashe couldn't answer. Once again, she reverted back to staring at the two Knights in their state of undress. Her cheeks were burning, her emotions were screaming at her in a way she couldn't understand and her mind was trying to be reasonable, trying to tell her that she was alone with two near naked men, old enough to be her father. Not a good place to be.
She had to turn away, run and hope that neither of them would ever bring this up, but that would not happen. Her feet couldn't move, her heart was pounding so hard that she thought it would burst through her chest.
"Princess!" barked Vossler. "Women are not allowed here, especially you, Highness! Return to the palace immediately!"
Ashe looked towards Basch, who had remained silent. The look on his face only showed that he too wished for the princess to obey Vossler's order. He had pulled the blanket over him as much as possible to hide his form from her, but even that cover wasn't alleviating his embarrassment.
"I can't." she said. "I'm in trouble…aren't I?"
"If you are found in here with us….YES!" Vossler was fuming. "Please, your Highness, leave…if the King finds out you have been here, we will be in trouble as well."
"I won't let that happen!" she cried back, still looking to Basch and hoping he would say something, anything to make her feel better. "I was bored! I wanted to see how the soldiers trained! I want to learn how to fight, like my brothers! I want to be more than just a Royal Princess who sits around and paints or does embroidery! You can show me! You two can teach me to become more than just a spoilt noble girl!"
"You are a LADY!" said Vossler, the tone of his voice not diminishing from the fury and fear he was feeling. "This is no place for you! Fighting is an ugly thing, not for someone such as yourself! Now, again I ask you to go!"
"Basch?!" The princess looked to the silent blonde haired man, the hope and pleading crying from her eyes. "Say something! Please! Say anything!"
There was silence, except Vossler's disgruntled and angry grunts of disgust. Basch bowed his head, refusing to make eye contact with Ashe, the action of one deeply shamed and very disappointed.
"You've cut your hair, princess." he murmured. "A pity."
"Is THAT all?!" screamed Ashe, finding herself no longer scared or afraid. What she had just disclosed to the two Knights, she had truly felt. She needed to be so much more than just a royal lady, for seeing the men train, knowing they would all gladly help defend Dalmasca, made her wish, more than anything, that she too could help keep her home safe. "Tell me now, why I can't learn to wield a sword and keep Dalmasca safe like the men! I can do so much more! I can BECOME so much more! I know this!"
"That decision is not for us to decide!" Vossler replied.
"No! It's not!" Ashe shouted. "It's MINE! As daughter of King Raminas, descendent of the Dynast-King…I order you to teach me how to fight!"
"I cannot." said Vossler. "The King would not approve."
"Have we asked him?"
Ashe knew that it would be her favourite Knight who would eventually see reason. Vossler couldn't have been more dumbfounded at his friend's words. With a fierce scowl on his face, the older man grabbed Basch's bare arm and whispered low into his ear.
"Basch…you forget your position! You are not Captain yet! We were ordered to keep the princess safe from harm…you would have us train her to do battle? Do you forget what happened to her brothers?! They all died! All of them and there was nothing we could do to save them! I will NOT put Princess Ashe in a position where she would end up like them! The King would agree!"
"Princess Asheila is not weak." said Basch plainly. "Nor would I encourage her to go into battle. YET, I would like to believe that she could defend herself. Anything could happen, Vossler…I have not forgotten Valien, Ronnah or the others….never would their memories fade from my mind. If you and I do train her ladyship, it will be so she can at least know to keep herself safe! Asheila would benefit from such knowledge. When the King asks for our presence, we can put this proposal to him."
"You think he will agree?" Vossler shook his head. "For I do not."
"There is no harm in asking….Captain."
"You will ask him then. I will agree once his grace has given his blessing."
"Of course."
The two men then looked back to the young princess. Ashe had been listening, their whispers were all too easy to hear. She stood tall and straight, beaming one of the most cheekiest grins she could muster. If it were Basch to ask her father about combat training, then she knew that the King couldn't refuse. Basch had a tendency to always get her father's approval. It seemed he could do nothing wrong.
"Your highness…." Basch sighed. He knew that she had once again gotten her own way. "Could you please…leave?"
"But what am I going to say on where I have been?!" Realisation dawned on the princess as her fingers touched her badly cropped hair. "What is Arla going to say?!!!"
"We shall attend to that as well." replied Vossler, though his words sounded as if he too dreaded dealing with the consequences of Ashe's little adventure. "Now, do as we say."
"Leave? Really?"
"Yes. You can't be in here."
"I'll…wait outside?"
"That would be best."
"You won't get into trouble, will you? Vossler? Basch?"
"If you step outside then we won't." The patience was wearing thin on Vossler.
"I don't have to…if you are worried that I'll see more of your…." Ashe cleared her throat. "Your…well you…then I could just turn around. I won't look. I promise."
"Princess…." Vossler couldn't keep his annoyance in check. "Just wait for us out side and we will take you back to the palace!"
"I won't look!"
Ashe bit her lip. Basch was remaining silent and uncomfortable as ever in his current state, but she could see in his eyes that he knew she was once again, teasing them both, wanting the reaction she was getting from Vossler.
"It is not a question of you looking or not…the mere fact that you are in here with us is….!"
"You've got nothing to be ashamed of!"
"Highness! PLEASE…Wait…Outside!
Ashe ran from Basch's room, her hand smothering over her face. Though she wasn't quite sure if it was to cover up her laughs or her own flushing red cheeks, brought on by feelings she knew she shouldn't have. Was it what Arla had told her, about growing up? Fascination with boys and men?
Ashe frowned and sat on a bench outside Basch's quarters. She had never been interested in boys, thought them stupid and insensitive…but how stupid did she feel by getting some silly…crush? Especially towards her protectors.
"You are being childish." she muttered to herself. "Stop it now! Stop it now I tell you!"
It wouldn't stop. The childhood crush would never fade.
Sandsea: Year 698
The Sandsea had never had such esteemed patrons. It was about eight in the evening, when the door opened and all inside watched as a group of ten men, in Royal Dalmascan Grand armour, walked in. The owner of the Sandsea was in shock, for to have the Knights of the King to walk into his establishment, was the highest honour of all.
The owner scurried from one of the tables and straight to the bar. The Knights in question were solemn, but not depressed , conversing in low conversations. Sark was just like everyone else in Rabanastre, he kept up with news of the wars outside and what the soldiers did to keep them all safe and he viewed these Knights in high regard. For them to come into his bar, was Sark's highest wish and he knew exactly what to serve them. He had been saving the best wines in his cellar for such a clientele, so he grabbed as many bottles as he could and handed them to his best bar maid. This stock was only for the King's Knights…the best for the elite.
Sark watched as the majority of the Knights accepted such a fine service, large goblets filled with deep purple grape wine were raised in a toast. Names of many men, fallen in battle were called out by their General…every name heard by all in the tavern. Everyone respected this moment and joined in raising their drinks and remembering those who had fought for them all. Yet there was one knight who had kept his drinking to a minimum. The wine was only inches filled at the bottom of his glass and all he could do was sip tiny slurps. A man deciding to stay sober from the rest of his entourage.
Sark hopped down from his stool and approached the lonesome knight. The man in question had his large hands wrapped around the goblet of wine and his eyes just starred into the contents below. His form was so stiff and straight, not allowing himself to feel a single moment's comfort. Sark knew a lonely soul when he saw one and this Knight was so alone, even though he was still surrounded by his "friends."
The knight didn't even notice Sark standing there, until the bobbing blue fluff ball high above Sark's head nearly flopped down into his goblet.
"I am fine." Basch said. "I do not need more."
"Indeed, Captain, kupo!" The little Moogle squeaked, his purring voice high pitched and too enthusiastic. Sark bobbed round Basch and dragged with all his might a chair from the next table. With a little effort, the Moogle managed to scramble up onto the chair and look the Knight straight in the eye.
"You might need company, yes?" asked the tiny feline creature, giving his little pink nose a quick scratch.
"I require solitude." replied Basch, eventually taking another sip from his wine. Sark laughed, which was quite an endearing sound.
"You've come to the wrong place, Captain, kupo!" Sark said. "This is the main tavern in all of Rabanastre! It is always busy. It makes me wonder why you came here if you wanted to be alone."
"I came to honour my fallen comrades."
"Yet you stay away from the ones who survived as you did? Kupo!"
"I have changed. I came back from our last clash a hero."
"A hero, kupo?! That is no reason to be sad!"
"I did something no one else had seen. I had not thought myself…..able to do so. Not for many years."
"Kupo?!" Sark was intrigued. He quickly signalled his hume bar woman to bring him a drink. This was going to be interesting. "Tell me your tale, Captain. Maybe I can help?"
"If you know how to help me, then you are lost in such a place like this."
"Moogles were thought to be mythical creatures, Kupo. We've been in Ivalice longer than all other races here. We have our own magics…mine tends to be making alcoholic beverages…and listening! You'll be surprised what listening can help with. Kupo!"
"You think you're older than the Viera?"
"Me personally? No. Moogles….oh yes. But we're not as reclusive that those…..saintly creatures. KU-PO!"
"You have met one?"
"Once. When I was lost on the Ozmone plains. You have, Captain, kupo?"
"Yes. I met one. This was at a time when Viera were thought as your kind once were. A myth."
"Then you are lucky, Captain kupo! Who was she?"
"Her name was Jiiryn. I saved her life. I guess she was grateful."
"How grateful, kupo?!!!" Sark giggled, nearly choking in the process.
The response from the little Moogle allowed a rare smile to come to Basch's lips, he even laughed.
"That is not open for discussion."
"Ahhh so she WAS….."
"No….I mean she told me of the Mist."
Sark nearly fell of his chair. People knew of the mist of Ivalice, the strange vapours given off by the magicite that formed naturally in some areas of the world, but none had more knowledge of it than the Viera. Or…Sark hasted to think….the Moogles. That a Viera would be willing to talk to a Hume about the Mist…it was almost as impossible as actually meeting one of the Wood-dwellers.
"Kuuu-po!" Sark was astounded. "What did this creature tell you?"
"The Quickenings." Basch replied. "She showed me the ability to tap into the power of the mist."
This time, Sark did fall off his chair. The sound of the little fluffy feline falling to the floor and squealing, caught the attention of everyone in the room. But the owner of the Sandsea hitting the bar floor was only a brief distraction, when the door of the tavern flew open and in walked a very angry woman.
She looked around at everyone, ignoring the Knights attempts to say hello and upon seeing the man helping the Moogle back on his chair, she stormed straight over to him.
"Captain Basch." His name was said with such distaste, but Basch welcomed her with a small smile.
"Lady Arla. What brings you to…"
"You are responsible. I know it!" Arla placed her hands on her hips. "You put these ideas into her majesty's head! Did you really think I would approve of such a drastic change in her?"
General Jarve walked over, he gently rested a hand on the lady's shoulder and spoke low into her ear.
"This is not the time, Milady. Nor the place. Perhaps…."
"Perhaps I should talk to her, General." said Basch, getting up from his chair and holding a hand out towards the exit. Arla was more than furious, she always was when she was in Basch's presence. Her dislike for him was well known, some suspecting her of jealousy, due to Princess Asheila's fondness for him. Arla was as hot tempered as Asheila could be, but now seeing that all eyes were on her and Basch, she opted to go outside.
Some of the tables in front of the Sandsea were filled, but Arla immediately found one tucked away in the corner of the front yard. Basch followed her and they both sat down opposite each other. Basch just simply waited for Arla to speak, but she was too busy trying to control her anger.
"Is the princess Asheila all right?" asked Basch. Arla nearly choked.
"All right? How can she be, now that she is to receive combat training! From YOU no less!!"
"Ah. You are not pleased about this?"
"About as pleased as what she has done to her hair! Captain Basch…she is only twelve years old! You cannot expect her to do such un-ladylike things as wielding swords and shooting with bows! She is to be taught diplomacy, which is vital for when she becomes Queen! Because one day she will rule Dalmasca!"
"And you don't think that being able to defend herself is something a future Queen will need to know? Lady Arla…this will be the right thing for her, Asheila will be a stronger person for it."
"As strong as Ronnah was?!!" Arla got up from her chair, throwing it back into the wall, but Basch was quicker. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back, a little too close. Arla knocked into him, her body pressing against his armour and her hands resting on his chest. She looked up at him, at his long blonde hair, his stubbled jaw and into his deep blue eyes. For a second she was lost in his handsome features, years of hating him forgotten, until she shoved him away, viciously.
"Your feelings about Ronnah were not lost on me." said Basch softly. "Yet you still blame me."
"Of course I blame you! You were there with him! YOU should have saved him!"
"I could not."
"Easy words for you to say! Right now…all I care about is Ashe! For her safety and for her future."
"As do I. I will have her be the Queen, Dalmasca has so long gone without. She will be just as her mother was…a great source of hope for this country. Asheila will not be weak!"
"Will she end up like you?" Arla sneered. "Alone and scarred? The warrior way is yours Basch, not Ashe's! I won't see her become so broken!"
"Is this how you see me?"
"Your Knightly oath….your devotion and duty gives you a purpose. You are still alone Basch Fon Ronsenberg. Fighting is all you know…why should the princess know of bloodshed too? She is now a girl of feeling, not a stone statue like yourself!"
"You think of me as stone? That I have no feelings?"
Basch couldn't argue with Arla, for she was right. He kept everything inside, all his anguish of his past, the pain of his battle scars, any feelings of love or affection…held deep within.
"You are a soldier, Captain. Your life has been your own. I can see that I will have no say in this tutoring. If Ashe is to be trained to fight, you'd better not take away anything that makes her who she is. Don't disappoint her." She went to leave, but added "Captain Basch…Asheilas' well being maybe both our duties…but I would suggest that you try to feel something for yourself."
The raven haired woman smiled gently, before her face became a stern and bitter expression once again. Basch also saw a terrible disappointment beneath that anger, yet there was nothing he could do except watch her walk away.
Giza Plans: Year: 707
The rain was so thick they could barely see their hands in front of them. It was still day, but the Giza Plains were a wash with muddy waters and the sky was black. The Chocobos were coping well with the deluge, keeping their footing as their riders battled the onslaught of fiends, but it was only Danver who was struggling. His skills with his sword were near to useless, but where he lacked in melee abilities, he made up for his techs and magics.
"More are approaching!!"
Basch heard Balthier's voice just to his right, but the warning came a little too late. From the dense rain, Basch turned and saw a hyena flying at him through the air.
"Oh Shi--!!"
The beast impacted with his Chocobo, it's fangs ripping the bird's neck apart and sending Basch straight into sludge. He landed flat on his face, but he rolled before the dead Chocobo could land on him. He was up on his feet immediately, his Zodiac clipped easily off his back and in one swift motion, the spear sliced through the hyena before it could attack him. The beast didn't even scream as it was cut in two.
There were more than just one. Balthier was taking on two more hyenas, his Tournesol also making a quick finish to the savage creatures. Basch noted two more, barely, approaching from behind the pirate, he ran as fast as he could, spinning the spear in a single hand.
"Behind you!" he cried. Balthier turned and at exactly the same time both the men beheaded one hyena each. There was a tense moment, the men waiting for more fiends to attack them, but only the endless cracking of thunder and torrential downpour continued.
"Will they EVER stop?!" cried Balthier over the rain. "These constant battles are proving to be a mighty pain! I'm soaked through! My Chocobo still insists on humping everything in sight and my BEST waist coat has got Hyena blood all over it! Gabranth, let's get to the encampment and see if they've got any better protection against this weather!"
"You go!" Basch yelled, "Take the boy with you and I'll meet you later at the Star Glaze!"
"Oh don't start this again!" Balthier sighed. Once again his Chocobo was starting to get agitated, no doubt riled and even more pumped by the battles. It's vocalizing was a call to mate, but Balthier wasn't going to let that happen any time soon. "Well…if you want to get yourself killed, fine! This intensity of rain is fine breeding for Mardus! Do you really want to tackle one of those on your own?!"
"The Queen is still out here!"
"How do you know? How do YOU know that Ashe came here? There were no leads, no clues, no giant luminous signs…nothing! For all we know, she could have just popped into town for a quick pint at the Sandsea and is right now back in her bed, well! I for one, wish to be in my bed also! If there is any kind of sense in that thick skull of yours…you will do the same."
"And leave the Queen out in all of this?! No! I will find her first!"
"Judge…" Danver called out. "You have no Chocobo, you are seriously going to search these plains alone and on foot?!"
Balthier should have known. Basch only had one goal when it came to duty and to the Queen. Ashe's safety came before his own and as the soaked knight began to take the saddlebag off his dead Chocobo, Balthier decided to leave him to take the risks. This Sky Pirate was not going to endanger his life any more than he had to.
If it was possible, the rains became worse. There was no longer any ground beneath their feet, only sloshing streams and gushing eddies of water and debris. Visibility was taken away completely, until a new sound through the booming thunder cried out.
Light, silver and electric, illuminated through the rains. The men all looked round and saw three large mists of lightening clouds, surrounded by a brilliant magical aura. Bolts of electricity sparked from their almost transparent forms as they floated through the storm, absorbing Giza's glorious thunder.
Danver started to panic, his hand reached out towards them.
"Don't do anything!" shouted Basch. "No magics…no attacks! They might still be docile and deem us unimportant!"
"BUT….!"
"Do nothing! The Elementals only attack if magic is present or they themselves are attacked!"
"We shall move round them with caution." added Balthier. "Steady as we go, gents."
Basch kept close to Danver's Chocobo, his hand resting on the bird's wing, giving the creature comfort and support as they moved around the elemental mists. Even getting near them, they could feel the power of these things. The air and aura were charged, static and heated, sending prickling tingles on the Hume's bodies. One of the elementals could sense them there and moved closer, so close that Danver was actually able to put his hands inside.
"Wow!" Danver waved his fingers amongst the heated white element, astounded that it was so warm and very inviting. There was a glimmer of intelligence that Danver could feel, emotions of bliss, contentment…feelings of power. "This is amazing! It's actually alive."
"Yes." said Balthier. "And it can become very pissed off. Take your hand out and let's go!"
Everything went wrong. Balthier's Chocobo became immediately irate and with a piercing squawk lunged at the nearest Storm Elemental. Balthier was thrown from it's back just as it's beak found some kind of substance within the cloud. The physical blow caused the storm elemental to change suddenly. Instead of just a beautiful silver and white essence, the element and the others with it, began to glow with a fierce red and orange intensity. They were mad.
"Oh just great!!" Balthier scrambled to his feet and got his sword ready.
"Take one each!" ordered Basch. "Danver…use…."
A series of small lightening bolts shot out, impacting all three of the Humes. Danver was knocked from his Chocobo, but the electric magics didn't effect Basch or Balthier as much. The experienced fighters were already slashing the angry elements, diminishing their power little by little and receiving some blows in return. Danver was struggling in the sludge, allowing the one remaining element to attack Basch.
"Dammit boy!" yelled Balthier, as he got in a triple attack. His blade cracked again and again at some non see able physical presence within the element. "Use your bloody magics! USE your strongest ice attacks!"
Danver slipped, his footing causing him to fall back down in the mud, but he held up his hand and forced a spell through his body. He felt cold, but his hands were numbed as ice crusted over his fingers and shot out from his palm, straight towards the elements.
There might have been screams from the fiends, intense pain ripped at their cores as the ice engulfed them. The elements edged back, livid that these Humes were able to hurt them so much and they too began to attack with harsher magics. They swirled around their attackers with more speed, causing Basch and Balthier to spin. Their sword and spear couldn't hit accurately, they were disorientated and now the thunder spells impacting them from the elements were beginning to take their toll.
Danver tried again with some ice spells, but Basch noticed they weren't as powerful, the young Bhujerban had used up too many of his magics before and he was now running out. Basch decided to use his own magics, but before he could even begin the spells, the atmosphere around them altered.
He felt the mist charging around him and a completely different and resplendent storm filled the air. The rain around the elementals stopped, cutting them off from their feed and it was instead replaced by a storm they hated. Millions of white snowflakes billowed around them, freezing the air with ice and a bitter cold. But the elementals were no longer the centre of attention, it was the young blonde woman twirling round with her arms outstretched. She was like a dancer performing amongst the fallings flakes, but when she stopped, time froze. The snow stopped in mid air and the girl walked through them and right up to one elemental. She peered at it, her eyes aglow with white mist and a charming smile on her face. She held up her hand towards it, extending a single finger. That finger tapped and shattered a bubble of ice that had been around the fiend. A magical blizzard ripped through the plains, pulling apart the elemental and bringing an agony beyond its deepest comprehension.
Basch watched the mist do the girl's beckoning and for almost a year, he felt the deep magic building up inside himself. He got to his feet and remembered the teachings of a Viera he had met so long ago. A fire deep inside burned in him, a thousand burning red swords circled round him, almost on the brink of slicing his own skin. His calm, his hands poised in a serene and composed gesture, guided the mist, turning it to his will. A fire fiercer than hell itself raged all around him, the mist was on the verge of burning his very bones, the magics building a force against his command, but he was stronger.
His hands and soul guided the flame purge. In a circle the swords surrounded him, surging and pulsing with a power thought beyond the control of Humes, but Basch screamed a bellowing cry and sent the power towards the fiends.
An explosion cried out, ripping the very fabric of the elementals' being. Basch felt the heat nearly destroy him, but the mist was unpredictable. It raged as he did, releasing his power along with its own. He saw thousands of flaming swords stabbing at the centre of the Elementals, but where Basch only felt and saw fire, the mist magic was void of the burning scorch. Neutral, non elemental, a power so much stronger than he could envision rocked the very ground and air around him.
Everything became blank. He was drained of all that Ivalice's magic had stored in his body. His vision was taken and he was left with only the feeling of the pelting rains on his armour.
"Let's show you how this is done!!"
A whistle filled his ears as Basch lay on the ground. There was the sound of the sea, roaring a tidal wave before a deadly silence. The Giza plains were quiet, the rains were calmed and the storms no longer raged. Then there was a weak voice, gasping with urgency.
"It was a trap! Ambush!"
Penelo??!
"They tried to take her away! We tried to fight! Garif….helped…but I could not…."
The drains of the Quickenings was more than either Basch or Penelo could take.
Nabudis Wastelands: Year 712
He heard their cries. He thanked the gods they were still alive, but he could not get through to them. The ghosts of the past were still baring his way, mocking him, screaming at him. They could not believe his virtue, they did not think he had the power to surpass them.
"They are ours." the voices still screamed. "They are ours by RIGHT! They will spend eternity with us and know true love! Defy us and all of you will despair in hell's ruin!!"
No. His mind cried it over and over again. Never…they would be kept safe by him. It was his duty, it was his promise. He would not fail her. Not this time.