Author's note: This chapter makes up for those Fran lovers!!! J Hopes you likes it. As for the rest… well I hope I haven't missed any mistakes or spellings etc….though there have been few in the past chapters! Reading back on this one, I know I have used description more. But please be aware, I've finished this at 2.34 in the morning!!! I guess I'm tired and really desperate to get this chapter on! I am also hoping Balthier lovers will like this chapter. But….as usual…always…Basch.

Final Fantasy 12

TRUE FEELINGS

NEED

Golomore Jungle

Life was given to her with a song. She heard it and knew that she was loved. Though, she couldn't breathe. There was no air here, just dirt and earth clogging up her nose and mouth. She struggled with her arms and legs and found that she was surrounded and covered by the earth.

"Dig up. Dig yourself up…"

The voices were all as one, singing and commanding, so she obeyed. With all her might, she scrambled and pulled up, to where the singing was loudest. It became more intense and beautiful as she did so, until that final moment, her hand broke through the surface and felt air on her skin. There was a root, right by her hand which she used to pull the rest of her up.

She coughed, spitting out leaves and soil, but the intake of sweet nectar air was an amazing rush, seeing for the first time, wondrous greens of the wood, mixed with deep blues and browns. Silver light shimmered through the canopies and etched thousands of strands on the bark of the tree she now sat beneath. Naked and just born. A Viera.

Though only new, she had the appearance of a five year old child, yet this was no Hume. Her skin was dark from the soaked soil, her hair a brilliant white silver. So too did the other child looking down at her. The Viera girl was a little older and she was clean and beautifully dressed in delicate silk layers of white.

"Hello."

The singing changed only for a second, telling her to trust this girl. Everything in the notes, the voices and sweet melodies told all she ever needed to know about her world. She was told that this was her sister.

"Jote." The girl held out her hand and helped the newborn to her feet. Surrounding her were others, grownups, tall Viera women of tremendous magnificence and mythic elegance. They were like angels…

"The wood says the Viera were once." said the girl called Jote gently picking the leaves from her sister's hair. "Golomore had made us for the gods. Connected us all to the mist and to this very earth. Now…we belong to the Wood. This is who we are. Do you understand?"

Everything was so clear. She looked at the grownups, none of whom had come over to greet her, but she noted they smiled gently in acknowledgement.

"You hear them?" asked Jote.

The newborn smiled. She held out her arms to the breaking sunlight, her hands grabbing at the spores and specs drifting lazily through the air. Her red eyes watched as they all swirled in erratic motions around her head, the music and voices of her creators lulling so sweetly in her ears.

"Yes. It's so beautiful…I don't want it to stop. Ever."

"It won't. The wood loves us all and will continue to do this all our long lives. It is eternal, this bond will never break."

"I know."

"Then come with me. We'll get you cleaned up and you can start to enjoy your life….?"

"Your name is Fran."

She liked that name and took hold of her sister's hand.

"I am Fran."

No. She was never going to leave here. She was quite adamant about that.

Nalbina Fortress 704

How could any man stay sane in this place? The black sky above lit up from crackling weapons fire and fiery explosions rained down upon the sea of battle below. Bodies were packed close together during combat, bodies quickly fell because of it. There was not a single place in this fortress that a person could move or manoeuvre well. The dead cluttered up the ground and those still fighting refused to budge.

His Chocobo had nowhere to run, it was panicking as the imperials swarmed in around it, but it drew strength from its rider. If he had any left.

Nalbina was overrun, many of his comrades lay dead…Jarve…the man who had changed his life, who had given him this glorious and honourable path…was dead. Now so too would Rassler, if he didn't escape.

"Steady, girl." He whispered his most soothing words to his Chocobo. "We'll get him back."

Rassler wasn't moving, he was losing a lot of blood but Basch was adamant that he would save Rassler's life. He wouldn't let her down. He uttered a prayer for the prince, for him and all his men, but still nothing offered a way out.

Then just when Basch thought he would be slain, one of the bigger sky ships above was destroyed. The explosion rocked the air and ground, causing everyone to look up in terror, for the falling fireball stopped the fighting for the briefest of seconds. Basch turned his head and like everyone, watched to see where the burning shell would land.

It was going to be close, Basch saw the trajectory of the wrecking fireball was heading to just below the bridge. When it hit, it hit with an almighty boom and the air was scorched, the heat wave flew out with such force, Basch had to do everything he could to keep himself and the Chocobo still standing. Many had fallen, left at the mercy for those stronger to cut them down, many had caught the flames and burnt to ashes, but Basch uttered his thanks to what ever deities spared him. Again. The imperials that were on the bridge with him, closed in around him. Basch whispered once more to his mount's ear.

"Sorry, my lady, but we need to learn how to fly."

He pulled hard on the reigns and dug his heels into the Chocobo's side. She squawked in understanding and leapt as high she could, flapping her wings. Almost as if the creature was crazed, it jarred up and forward, over some of the imperial's heads. When she landed, her clawed feet landed on men, crushing them, forcing others to move as this startled armoured bird screamed through them. Basch urged her on and he swapped over his weapons, now with his bow on his back, he had a free hand to use his sword. Basch cut through those who got too near with a guttural cry and those who got in the Chocobo's way, were trampled and crushed as Basch neither allowed her to slow or stop for anything.

The ride became a blur. Everything around him was muffled except his laboured breathing, the deep heavy exhales were all he could hear in his ears, the pain in his groin from the saddle numbed, his vision saw only brief flashes of anything before him. There was nothing that seemed clear, except he had to get Rassler back to her.

"Don't die. Please don't die. I can't bare to see her cry again. She needs you…she loves you…I can't and won't see her go through such anguish…I need you to make it, my lord."

There was no one to hear the plea this time. Basch didn't know that the prince was already dead and behind him, so was the fortress. All was lost.

Ridorana Cataract - Year 707

It started here. The moment the sword had destroyed the Cryst, the events that followed began to lift the spells. The magic, the mist, seeped out and sought it's origins. Deep within the city of Giruvegan, it found them all. The great crystal and beyond, it reached, and gently touched upon the five beings that it had been a part of. That was then.

Now, the Cryst lay in pieces, small tiny shards, that were barely able to contain any power, were like dust specs on the tallest floor of this far outpost. The power was replaced.

No words, feelings, of two of the oldest beings came here. They had no eyes but they could see, they had no ears but they heard. They understood and they feared.

"Had we been so wrong?"

"Very. This place was a gift to Her…yet she threw it away. We all suffered."

"We will…this world will. Everything in it will perish. There is nothing we can do."

"Is there? Can we lift the barriers of the Keeper? Will He be able to stop Her?"

"He is not where he should be. None of them are."

"That is not possible!"

"Humes. They are responsible. I was mistaken to make them so…adaptable."

They reached out, they thought of the mistakes they had made so many millions of years ago, and they knew of only one choice left. A few of those who had been banished were right, the war should never have happened.

Was it possible for these beings to smile when they have no lips or mouth? There was happiness, a sense of pride as parents would for their child achieving a great goal.

"The Keeper. He is safe. I have never known that they could merge with Humes, but for one so perfect. It is fated. We made him strong, but could it possibly be that he is something new now? Stronger?"

"He has a chance. The High Seraph is free, that is all that concerns him, she was the only one he ever wanted."

"Can you also feel the desires they both long to show? We should never have opposed this!!"

"I feel it. I feel it hundred times over. The First kept everything from us for too long. We must act now, find the others and find the Keeper and his companion. Before the First destroys Ivalice."

This was not going to be an easy task. For only one could defeat the First being ever to exist. He was naught but a child and children never did what they were told.

Nalbina Fortress- Year 707

The Imperial assault on the fortress was nothing compared to the wreckage that was now exploding it's corridors and walls. As he walked on, with thick trails of black smoke and dust snaking around his body, a powerful force soared ahead of him like a whirlwind, ripping the walls and floors up as if they were but sand on a beach. The Imperials and Judges were the same, nothing to his awesome power that they could halt. He walked past debris and carnage until he found his goal. The whirling screeching power waned only for a little as the door flew open and off it's hinges.

She lay, sleeping and oblivious to the destruction, on a bed of white, wearing a pale peach night dress, her mouse blonde hair spread all over the pillow. Her hands rested on her chest with fingers interlaced and a look of serenity displayed on her beautiful features. Through his eyes, He saw the Hume woman bathed with a white glow. He had come to accept his own limited Hume form, it was something different to what he had endured. Yet now, seeing this woman lying sleeping before him, a mere shadow of the beauty of the being He had known, He had to admit this Hume creature was exquisite and worthy.

The frail heart was booming in this boned and caged chest with every step he made closer to the bed. His hands were moist and hot, the fragile shell was dripping with perspiration, as he gently scooped her up in his arms and wrapped the silk sheets around her form. His hold was tight and strong, pressing her delicate body to his chest. A million and more years of being unable to drown in the love he held for the Holy angel, was now combined with a forbidden and aching from this Hume man. He and his host wanted nothing more than to keep her safe and protect her, yet the lust to kill and destroy was dowsed by this Hume. How could a being of such limited existence hold such a sway over him? How could he not just burst from this cage and embrace his anger? The Hume once again provided him with the answers. He had passions that outraged even His own, but he was still able to make a rational choice.

"Take her out of here! Take her away from Nalbina! Head for the Babbling Vale. Take her to Mosphoran!"

Did he plan to rest? At a time like this? No. Already, Zodiark could sense the Gods. He heard a warning from them, a plea to stay calm and do as they willed. Fuck them. They put him in his hell and made him what he had become. He would do what he wanted.

"Then go on to Giruvegan."

The Hume feelings stenched within him, but the thoughts of this lower being normally would have disgusted him and he would have considered them irrelevant. No, there was a sense, honour and purpose to these thoughts. It was for her protection, for her life and their love.

He turned to the broken doorway, carrying her limp form in his arms. There was the sound of wailing sirens, but the blackness was back, shrouding them like a shawl and covering them both in a protective darkness. He stormed from this room with great strides and obliterated all the soldiers in his path with a mere thought. Through the fortress, down to the battered town that surrounded those crumpled walls, no one was left standing.

She never stirred, there wasn't even a fraction of movement from her form when He held her and carried her through the crumpled wreckage and crap. The surrounding town of misfits and bums, could only run away from the strange couple or else they too perish in the swirling mayhem. The heat raged through, the naked man marched on, shielding the treasure for fear a single scratch would harm her soft skin. Destruction was left in his wake.

Bhujerba Year 707

The Strahl had been sitting in the aerodrome for almost half an hour and still Fran made no move from her seat. She starred out of the front window, entranced with an empty hollow gaze in her eyes with her hands in her lap, the long claws twitching and shaking.

Balthier could do nothing to bring her out of this stupor, no touch of his hand on her hair or a soft uttered word could get a response. Fran was never one for talking much, but this silence was worrying. He badly wanted to know what she was thinking, to have her console in him her fears and allow him to help, but there was nothing. No tears or smiles, only the occasional deep heavy sigh which was breathed as if the very act hurt her.

"Do you think she'll eat something?" asked Penelo when Balthier noted the young woman at the door to the cockpit. "I mean…she can eat now…can't she?"

"I would imagine so. I've only ever seen her drink…but I think now she's been changed, she might very well need to eat. She's still pale."

"Some food will probably make her feel better. I'll get something from supplies."

Balthier offered a smile to the young girl, before turning his attention back to his partner. He recalled the moment he met her, barely a man himself, so awed and amazed at this creature, that he refused to stop following her.

"Leave me be, Hume."

"No. I won't. Not until you have dinner with me."

"I don't eat."

"Have a drink then! Just one? There's a little pub just down the street from here, they have a pool table!"

"Be gone, BOY!"

"Just one drink! I'll pay! Then I'll leave you alone. Promise."

"One drink and you will leave me alone?"

"Definitely….absolutely…most certainly. Well…probably."

Though he never did. The one drink, with a beautiful and elegant Viera had changed his life and resulted in receiving an angry strike from Fran when he persisted on following her around the city. He still had the scar on his back.

He had never fully understood her, he didn't try to, instead allowing Fran to reveal what she wanted when she was ready. When she had agreed to join with him as a Sky Pirate, Balthier was more than elated (but he never showed it.) There was a lot of things he wanted to share with her, but their relationship was one that neither of them seemed to be too pressed to take any further. If indeed she felt about him the way he did for her. There was no chance of any sexual contact, Viera had no reproductive organs, with the obvious revealing exceptions, and the subject of sex was only ever brought up once. It wasn't anything Fran was familiar with or inclined to do.

However, for Balthier, it had been different. Never in all his wildest dreams did he think he would be so close to such an ethereal creature such as her, let alone to fall in love with one. The moment on the Bahumut, there had been affection in her eyes as he held her. As he took her into the Golomore jungle, her arms around him felt to be a sign that there was a return of those feelings, but she never said. Neither of them ever said. Instead, Balthier had been forced to put on a show throughout their friendship, a pretence as if he didn't really care that he couldn't be with her. An act of a roguish Sky Pirate. All for her.

"Fran…talk to me, girl. Let me help."

He reached out and took her hands in both of his and tried to stop the shaking. What could he do to help when her Creators had forsaken her so? He couldn't even begin to imagine what being cut off from the wood had done to her. Though he hoped she would talk, say something. Even look at him.

Penelo had come back with a sandwich for her, but Fran wouldn't even acknowledge the Hume girl, let alone attempt to take the food.

"Do you want to stay here with her?" asked Penelo. "I could go and get Basch and Ashe from town."

"A fine idea. Please. Thank you, Penelo." Balthier tore his gaze away from his partner. "But, how are you holding up? I'm sure that Larsa didn't mean to…"

"I'm okay." Penelo sighed. "Really. Larsa meant it, in a way, I guess. He's gone through a horrible experience and to think that he has to go through the rest of his life without…without his leg…I'd be angry too."

The smile was weak on her face as she had tried to convince herself that she wasn't hurt by the Emperor's words. Penelo fidgeted with her leather cuff braces, opened her mouth to say something further, but the words wouldn't come out, only a stuttering splutter escaped her lips. With all her effort, she couldn't speak further, so the young girl turned round and quickly hurried out of the cockpit, leaving Balthier with Fran. The Viera was still transfixed to some distant point outside the Strahl, but he noticed that she wasn't shaking any more.

"Fran…I'm still here, girl. I'm not going anywhere."

She finally spoke, her voice low and grieved.

"There is no more music now. They've stopped singing."

"It hurts you?"

"More than I can put into words." Her head tilted back, unshed tears building in her eyes. "From the moment of my birth I had heard it…calling me to the surface. Never have I heard such a sound since. It was a part of me. When I decided to leave the wood, it became barely more than a whisper, yet I still heard them sing. But now it's gone. I feel so empty, so dead."

"But you're not, Fran. You still live…you still breathe."

"Barely." she sighed and held Balthier's hands against her chest, where her heart would be. "I miss it, my purpose and soul aches to just hear it one more time. I want to go back, but I know I never can. I regret leaving, I regret going against the wood's wishes. I've failed my people and been punished. For three hundred years I was filled with such heavenly sounds, a purity ran through me and I am a fool to have thrown it away…what do I have left? A hume heart beats in my chest, hume blood runs through my veins and I feel Hume pain! Is there any point in living?"

Three hundred years? Balthier could not be anything but shocked by such a revelation. He had known Viera were long lived, but three hundred years? She looked as if she was probably the same age as him. How could any person live for so long, what would life be like? What had she seen and done through all those years? Balthier felt a new reverie for this being, a powerful almost worshipping devotion welled up inside him. Her haunting words of asking if she should carry on living, vexed him greatly. Did she mean to end her life?

"Don't talk like that." he said. "There is nothing wrong with being Hume."

"I'm not supposed to be Hume! Its weak, its small and pitiful! Limited and sodden with these wretched feelings!"

"HEY!" Balthier tried to act really offended by jumping to his feet. He couldn't be angry at her. "I'm Hume. Is that what you think of me?! Am I really THAT bad you can't stand being even remotely like me?! Second thoughts, that was a bad way to phrase that." He sighed heavily and raked his fingers through his hair. "Do you see me as those things, Fran? Weak? Pitiful?"

"You? Never." Her head raised slowly and those saddened eyes gazed into his. As he looked, Balthier could see just how empty she felt. There was no glimmer or spark.

"Well…thank you for that. But I won't have you speaking of dying, do you hear me? Instead, we're going to focus on making you feel better. Now…I have a few ideas…."

Balthier almost laughed out loud when he saw that quizzical eyebrow of her's rise in abhorrence as to what he would say. She probably thought he meant something typically Hume, rude or sexual. That was so like her, thinking that all this young man did was think of sex, but she was wrong. Just this once.

"I am a gentleman!" he pronounced. "I was merely suggesting that when Penelo returns from the town with Queen Ashe and Judge "I Need A Lozenge", we can take some time out on the air bike. Get the wind in your hair…experience the air of Ivalice. The sky, Fran. We belong in the sky…both of us."

"You are…sweet…Ffamran. Sometimes."

"Sometimes?!"

"But you don't understand. None of us are going to be alive for very much longer. The First is awake."

"Okay…you're going back to mysteriously creepy again. I'm afraid I'm not any good at remembering the old tales. Well…that's not true, I just never listened to my father when he babbled." Balthier took this as an opportunity to get Fran to talk more. Talk about something else other than dying. He turned the chair that Fran was sitting on around, there was an eerie squeak from it, but at least she was looking at him. He held one her hands and stroked her long slender fingers. "Why don't you tell me? What is this all about?"

The Viera/Hume sighed. She was just about start the long ancient story, when there was a loud cry and a terrible sounding crash. Penelo was thrown into the cockpit with such force that her feet barely skimmed across the deck. Her scream pierced high and her arms reached out to break her fall, but Balthier grabbed her before she suffered any injury. As she scrambled in his hold, Balthier noted that she was extremely angry.

"Yes…little half bunny! Why don't you tell us what this is ALL about!" came a voice from the back of the ship.

"Oh bollocks." Balthier muttered under his breath as three Bangaa strolled through the doorway, carrying weapons. Penelo had every right to be angry.

"THEY were a part of the group who attacked the Queen and myself in Giza!" she yelled. "I should have recognised their stinking breaths that very night!"

This day was just getting worse. As Penelo still fought to get out of Balthier's hold (Jeez, she's strong and mighty mad for such a little thing!), he frowned at the smell from the only recognisable group of Bangaa standing in his ship.

"What do you want Bwagi?" Balthier asked in a very bored manner. He let go of Penelo, but still touched at her fingers to keep her calm. The feisty young teen was being anything but calm, her fears and concerns of Larsa no doubt fuelling her on. "Come to dish out some pay back for dearly departed B'Gamnan? You do realise that he's Yensa food? All in little flaky bits?"

"This is going to be so sweet." replied the green skinned reptile wiping his long slobbering jaws. "For that remark, pirate, we will make your death a slow one, but not yet. We've been sent to find the King Slayer. Where is he?"

The Bangaa's two siblings edged in closer, threatening, as their weapons reached out towards the three. A long sharp blade moved from side to side, mere inches from Penelo's defiant face. She was itching to vent her anger.

"He's not here." said Balthier. "Though I am puzzled as to why you are looking for him. Someone's paying you? Or did you make an agreement? To get those good looks that were obviously forgotten to be handed out to you?"

That retort earned Balthier a fist to his face. Penelo cried out as the pirate went slamming to the floor. Fran didn't make a move. She went back to looking out of the front port.

"I see your Viera has been affected just like all the others, Balthier!" screamed Bwagi, as Balthier smeared blood from his broken nose. "On the verge of taking her life yet? Several in Bhujerba already have!"

"No!!" Penelo shook her head in horror. "Why would they be doing that?!"

"The bodies are piling up! Anguished Viera on the brink of despair…ending their lives!" Bwagi chuckled a gurgling laugh. "But, we're not here for the half bunny. We want the King slayer. We know he lives and we want to know…WHERE is Captain Basch Fon Ronsenberg?"

Balthier didn't reply. When he looked to see Fran, like the others, he too noticed the dramatic change outside. For such a bright afternoon, it was starting to look very black. They weren't storm clouds that came over the Bhujerban Aerodrome, the blue was being taken over by darkness, like oil it spilled and swept through the sky and in the distance there was rumbling. Balthier felt the anger all around him.

"She's here now." said Fran entranced. "If she doesn't get her way. We will die."

This wasn't what he needed right now. Everything had become too complicated and troublesome for his liking. All he wanted to do was see Fran well again, for the two of them to go back to the days when nothing else mattered except exploring the skies, together.

"What are we going to do?" asked Penelo softly. Balthier smiled.

There was only one other thing that seemed important.

"All right then." Balthier clapped his hands together and rubbed them gleefully. "Who wants a sandwich?!"

A foot kicked him hard in the back of the head.

Ivalice

All over the world of Ivalice, day turned into a sickened and more darker night. Ripples of thick black hatred rolled over the deserts, cities and mountains chilling the air and sucking the very mist from the ground. This was The Goddess…the First. She had no form, or none that any of the beings on Ivalice could behold. She was the beginning and She would be the end.

The Occuria. Supposedly servants to Her and her kin, but now pretenders and false gods in Her place, they would be dealt with. Yet, something made her fury seethe and fester beyond her limits.

The feeble vermin Humes. Created by her kin, though for what reason She knew not. The weak and nauseating creatures had done something that She herself had not thought possible. Those who opposed Her, were free from the prisons She had set them in, the Espers nestled in their Glyph stones, protected and safe in their owner's hands…but there were two…two who had merged with the lower beings.

Ultima. Her love…was tainted and diluted in this Hume form. It disgusted Her, it enraged and infuriated Her. Ultima will be with Her as she was meant to or else everything and everyone would die. Ivalice would be crushed. No one deserved to live.

However, even the Mightiest of beings feared something and the First had every reason to be afraid. He was just as angry as She was.

Giruvegan Year 707

"So." Eri looked up at the darkening sky as they emerged from the ancient city. "What do you suppose we do now?"

There was a disgusted snarl on the little girl's lips and somewhere deep within those black eyes, Eri knew that this creature was seething with anger.

"I am thinking…." The voice always sounded so strange coming from the girl. Not that the child was innocent anyway, but Eri had wished she could have spoke with more feeling. "The Occuria are afraid for their very existence now that the real ones are awake. The Occuria are attempting to hold them back for a moment, with the little power they really have. It will delay things for only a short while…"

"I'm so pleased…" Eri's voice dripped with sarcasm. "But what of Basch Fon Ronsenberg? Do we know if he does indeed…"

"My kin resides inside him. Yes. Though He and Ultima have fled the fortress. It is utterly destroyed and the path to Mosphoran is lain in waste. My Kin cannot control his anger or his love…"

"I'm worried Vaya. Ultima sharing with this…Asheila….we never wanted any of this! I know more than anyone how much Ronsenberg is infatuated with the royal whelp. His feelings towards the Queen will only make Zodiark's own uncontrollable lust more difficult to temper. She is the one who can control him, and eventually Ivalice and the Gods. This wasn't the plan!"

A tiny little hand slipped into Eri's. The hold was so cold, bitterly and icy cold. There was no heat inside this child. No soul except for one, but Eri loved it all the same.

"The rumours have already started. Whispers of infidelity…Queen lying with the King Slayer….Ivalice will hear and distrust and hate will follow. But the hosting of Zodiark and Ultima prove to be a problem. We must get them back."

"They will not come back so freely."

"The Emperor of Archades. He can persuade them. The tragic loss of his leg from Golomore has put him in a fragile state, a friendly word and comfort from his dutiful "Judge" might make things go more smoothly."

"Dear Larsa. He was nothing compared to his brother. It think it might be time return to his side. What do you think?"

"That will be….nice?"

Eri allowed herself to smile. What did this girl creature know about nice? Eri looked up at the sky and a horrid creeping hate crawled over her shivering skin. Even now she could feel the First's anger.

Not that it made much difference, but Eri placed her Judge's Helm back onto her head, which was something she had tired of wearing, but she allowed herself some satisfaction and pleasure to know that soon she wouldn't have to wear it ever again. This armour was getting far too heavy for her, so when the child at her feet held out her arms to be picked up, Judge Eri sneered and walked on, though her gloved hand beckoned for the child to take it. Those icy fingers once again chilled right through to her skin.

The girl started to hum.

Rabanastre Year 697

"You requested to see me, Princess?"

Ashe looked up from her book and saw the Knight standing at the doorway. She smiled and slipped off her chair, carefully placing her book on the arm. The library was quite gloomy and dark, lit only by a few small lamps on the long wooden polished tables. There was an old dusty musk smell from the thousands of books that stood on shelves, shelves that spiralled into the domed ceiling above.

It was only a few months since the young Princess started to spend more time here, a perfect place for hiding away from her father, Arla or other pesky servants. This was her sanctuary and when she wanted to be alone, the only place she would come.

"I've noticed something about you, Sir Basch." said the ten year old, as she strolled over to a section of rather large dusty books. Basch wasn't entirely sure how to take that statement or even the "Sir." She never called him "Sir." He followed the princess to where she was now pulling out a small wrapped package from between the books. The package was wrapped in plain brown power and tied lovingly with a small white ribbon. "You get extremely distant this time every year. At first…I thought it was because of your birthday. You never celebrate it."

"Princess, I do celebrate it….in my own way."

"Your own way? Solitude for the whole day in the Westersand, doing nothing but killing wolves and fiends? It's not what most people would like to do. But…" The Princess stammered, her voice went so soft and humble. "Then I talked to father."

"Oh." Basch turned away and a screaming desire to head straight for the door suddenly swelled up inside him. He couldn't stay around for this, even if the Princess had beckoned him here. A stabbing pain tore at the inside of his chest, as he remembered all those years ago, the screaming and the pain. No. He couldn't talk to any one. Ever since Amalia had died, there had been no one. He certainly didn't want to discuss this with the girl. "I'm sorry, princess…I have other duties to attend to."

"Father said you would mention something like that." Then she pulled herself up straight, her long waist length hair flicked back behind her shoulders and her voice edged with more authority. "Stay where you are, Fon Ronsenberg! That is an order."

With teeth and fists clenched, the twenty seven year old tried to calm the nightmare memories in his head. His body went rigid and stiff to attention at this demand. He didn't turn to face her, but waited for her to continue.

"I had no idea." she said, once again in a soft and sympathetic lull. "Father told me how the Imperials invaded your homeland…how the people were…killed."

"With all due respect Highness…I won't talk of this with you. I can't."

"You don't have to talk. Just…just take this. Please?"

Ashe came round to face the Knight and gently pressed the package against him. Her gaze was so sorrowful and full of remorse, Basch thought she might even cry if he didn't take it. But his hands remained clenched at his sides, unable to grasp the gift in his fingers. This wasn't right, she wasn't supposed to be doing this.

"Take it!" she shouted, her voice breaking through a gasping choke.

Eventually he did and though his hands never shook or trembled, Basch found opening the wrapping difficult and painful. The paper fell to the floor and he was left starring at a truly heart wrenching sight. A fine red silk cloth enveloped what appeared to be a piece of jewellery and when that too slipped away, Basch tried with all his might not to be overwhelmed by the sight of the Princess' gift.

It was a silver necklace and from it hung an engraved pendant in a bird shape and from the sides sprouted two upward curled wings. To some people, this would mean nothing, just a shape or random pattern, but for those who had survived, it was everything. It was the emblem of a land who had suffered. It was the symbol of Landis.

Basch could barely contain himself. A whole flood of mixing emotions came over him; pride and honour, loss and tragic remorse, guilt, regret and grief. Such awful draining grief.

Though he did not cry. No tears fell. Only a deep heavy sigh was released.

"I…I don't…I don't know what to say, Princess." he gasped. "To think I would receive something like this….from you….I'm honoured."

"It was mother's." Ashe said. "Father said that….she wanted you to have it. I want you to have it."

"The Queen's?! This was hers?!" Basch shook his head. He couldn't feel worthy for such treatment. "I cannot accept this! It was hers and should remain with her…or at the very least you should have it!"

He tried to give it back, but the ten year old pushed it away.

"No!" Ashe snapped suddenly. "You and mother were both from Landis! You knew her and she confided in you! It should be yours, I want you to have it and I won't take no for an answer!"

"But…"

"No buts, Knight! No grovelling, no excuses!! Take it!" Ashe closed Basch's hands around the pendant, her hands lingering on top of his. She smiled softly. "Wear it for me. Please?"

"Is this an order, Your Majesty?"

"No, merely a request."

"Then I shall wear it. Always."

With some difficulty, Basch hooked the necklace over his head and made sure the pendant fell behind his armour next to his chest. It was cold, but having it there, feeling it against his skin, it made his burdens and anguish a little lighter. It would always be a reminder of what he had lost and always, with each passing day, a fear to return there. The gift of her mother's necklace was more than the princess should have done, but Basch appreciated her thoughts and sentiments.

Ashe looked as if she wanted to speak again. In fact, he knew she did. With a shake of his head he answered her question before she could even ask it. He then bowed.

"If I may take my leave, princess?"

Ashe sighed and nodded, returning back to her chair and her book. Yet by the time he got to the door, she had changed her mind.

"Wait!"

Basch halted in mid stride and dutifully turned to face her.

"Princess?"

"If…" Ashe bit her lip, nervously and Basch also saw her own personal grief show in her eyes. "If you don't want to talk to me about, Landis, I understand. But…will you please stay?"

"And what would you have me do?" he asked, anxious and worried about what she would say.

"Could you tell me…" Ashe's head drooped and she starred at her fingers as they fumbled at the pages of her book. "What my mother was like?"

A gentle and weak smile came to his lips. He had not expected her to come out with this, but he welcomed it all the same.

"Aye, majesty." he said as he took up a chair next to the young girl. "I can tell you. What do you want to know?"

Ashe finally looked up at him with a fragile smile, her eyes glistening with tears as her ears longed to hear stories about her mother. The one woman she had barely known, but loved and missed so much.

"Everything."

Mosphoran Highwaste Year 707

"What the bloody hell are you talking about man?!"

She didn't recognise the voice.

"I'm telling you, whilst Nalbina and the Highwaste burned, they came right here! They're in there now! And one of them is Queen Asheila of Dalmasca!!"

"Rubbish!"

"It's true!!"

Was it? Well, of course it was. She was Asheila B'nargin Dalmasca, but she wasn't entirely sure of where she was. In fact Ashe was getting intensely angry with being knocked out, drugged or put to sleep and then having to wake up in a horrible place that she didn't recognise.

Right now, she was lying on a mattress camp bed, her head foggy still with drugs and she was starring up with blurred vision at the canvas of a green hued tent. It didn't tell her much, but she knew that outside, it was pitch black and the people there were worried and scared. She didn't blame them…Ashe felt the anger, it boiled inside her but she knew it wasn't her own. To her worry, she knew that it wasn't Ultima's either. The bonding with the Esper hadn't really effected her until recently, but now Ashe wished she hadn't done this. She should have just kept the stone.

Ashe closed her eyes once more, trying to ignore the after effects of the sedative and instead to listen and focus on the panicked voices outside.

"What are we going to do?! What's happening?! Is this the end of Ivalice?!"

"Everyone just calm down!!"

"How can we?! Have you seen the sky?! Can you not FEEL that rage in the air?! It's not normal! And if that is Queen Asheila in there…what is she doing?"

"This is my camp! No one goes in there until I say so!"

"But who is that man next to her?! Do you know who he is?!"

What?? Ashe's eyes snapped open and the fog on her mind lifted. She was lying down on the camp bed, flat on her back, but the arm that draped over her breasts was not her own. Ashe turned her head and almost screamed. Basch was fast asleep next to her, lying on his front and he was naked.

Fears roused in her. How and what had happened for them to be like this together? Did anything…else…happen? Ashe was frantic that the people outside already knew of her bed companion and would come to conclusions, but most of all she feared that she would let him stay like this, that she would wrap herself around him and stay close to him. She couldn't remember getting here, she didn't remember anything about going to sleep with this man…how did she get here, like this?

A scared shaking hand tried to slip off his arm from her chest, but as soon as her fingers touched him, her hand snapped back as if she had touched fire.

He was burning up. A fever drenched him and as she slipped from his grasp, she noticed more clearly that he was shaking. His whole body then began to twitch and jerk erratically, a seizure shaking his limbs uncontrollably.

"Basch!" She gasped, his name choking in her throat. She bolted up right and laid her hands on his back and head, hoping to calm his convulsions. They were getting worse. With all her might she hauled him onto his back, his eyes were white and saliva was starting to spurt from his mouth.

Panic. Sheer panic and fear gripped the young queen, she didn't know what to do, she couldn't stop it at all. Then the scream came, it finally found voice from her lips.

"HELP HIM!!! SOMEONE PLEASE! HELP HIM!!!"

Rabanastre Year…..

"You would try to kill me now? Would you put her through this?"

The blade still quivered in the intruder's hand. He couldn't do it, he couldn't take a life like this, no matter how fetid his hate had become. Yet seeing him next to her, being so close to her…it ached and riled jealousy that he never imagined he would feel.

"You took away her future…her glory." the intruder babbled through gritted teeth. "You took her away from everything! You selfish bastard! You selfish bloody bastard!!"

"Then kill me now! If you think it is the best thing to do, then put that knife through my chest and take my life. I would gladly welcome it."

He was confused. This man, who looked so happy in the arms of his lover, who appeared to have everything he had ever suffered for, was now asking for death? This man who had achieved everything with her that HE always had dreamed of.

"Do you think I like being despised? That I like being the cause of Dalmasca's unrule, just to have a few nights in her bed? That my very honour and all my vows have been discarded and thrown to the wolves?"

"You suffer. It is what you deserve."

"It is all my life was ever meant for. She only ended up sharing it. Alleviate my guilt and pain, take my putrid stinking fucking wasted life!"

Then what would become of her? All the intruder could do was turn his gaze to his sleeping goddess. So pure was she in her naked state and so heavenly sounded her slumbering breaths that he wanted to carry out her lover's wishes and take his place. But there were two others who wouldn't take kindly to such an act.

"Would the people forgive her, if I did? Would they allow her back into their trust?"

"My death might. It did in the past."

Hate screamed "DO IT!" It yelled and yelled, it steadied the knife in his hand and moved his feet towards his rival. Though it would not plunge, it would not cut deep into his naked flesh.

"I do hate you. I can't believe you went against everything you were and what you believed. You hurt too many people…you killed…took lives away, but I can't do it. You know I can't."

"I know."

The knife was ripped from his hand so quickly that he didn't realise what had happened until it was too late. There was blood, there was a sickening thud as his body fell to the floor and a groaning whisper emitted from his lips.

"I do love her…but I've been in agony for so long. Don't let Her bring me back. I don't deserve any more life."

But neither of them had known of Her powers. Neither of them knew that even in her dreams, she would never let him die.