Chapter 17 The will to go on
"Well I for one am humbled by this experience." Said Balthier as the Atomos soared out of the ship's hanger. "Of all things to save our skins it was a young girl's good fortune and her majesty's abysmal piloting skills."
A shoe hit him in the face from across the overly crowded cabin.
"Stop shoving me Penelo!" Complained Vaan.
"You were on me!" Penelo whined.
"Um, if you don't mind." Muttered Basch, extracting his leg from the pair of them.
"You should be resting." Vossler repremanded him.
"Look who's talking." Basch retorted. This conversation continued for a while until Fran leant back from the controls and glared so fiercely at them they all stopped. Penelo was the first to break the silence.
"Can't we go any faster." Fran smiled reasuringly.
"Not yet." She said kindly as Archadian fighters rocketed past. "If we go any faster, they'll be onto us." Balthier raised an eyebrow.
"My dear, do you know you're the first human I ever met whom Fran has warmed up to so quickly." Penelo grinned sheepishly, Fran scowled at her partner.
"I have merely taken an interest in her is all." She said wryly.
After an hour or so of flying they once again caught sight of Bhujerba.
"What, we're going here again?" Vaan complained. "I thought we were heading for Rabanastre." Balthier looked at him incredulously.
"What, in this thing? Besides I'm not leaving the Strahl to the mercy of Ba'gamnan." Vaan shrugged.
"Ah well, so it's into the Strahl and on to Rabanastre?" He said hopefully.
"I'm afraid not." Ashe grimaced. "I have some buisness with the marquis." Vaan looked bemused.
"You do know he turned us over to the Empire don't you?" The princess nodded.
"That's why I need to see him."
Back in the palace of Bhujerba, the marquis didn't look too surprised to see them again. On the contrary, the guards at the gate said they were expected as guests of honour. Something to which Balthier took full advantage of, within the hour he had annoyed every servant in the place. Finally they filed into the study and regailed the events of the fleet to an eager ear.
"When Vossler learned my father had been killed," Explained Ashe. "He fled with his men during the treaty signing incident. At that time he returned to Rabanastre to aid my escape before Vayne's reach grew too long."
"It was then when I remembered something the king told me before the battle." Basch continued. "He told me the location of the dusk shard and had given me strict instructions to give it to the princess when she was ready."
"At which time I believe I was in Rozaria, enjoying spectacular quisine and culture." Balthier added. All glared at him. "And some minor engine trouble." He finished.
"So I was imprisoned for two years as leverage against you." The knight went on. "Until three prisoners freed me, I quickly went about two tasks. To find the princess, and to give her the dusk shard."
"But he didn't know that I got there first." Vaan interrupted. "I'd stolen the stone just a day earlier during the attack on the palace, but I didn't know what it was. I was just with these people..."
"To rescue me, who had been kidnapped by bangaa bounty hunters who saw me with him." Said Penelo pointing at Balthier.
"Well there you have it." The pirate finished. "The whole story."
"We were hoping, since the Empire is hurting you too, you would protect me." Ashe finished, rather feebly. The marquis looked thoughtful.
"Although its what I want to do," He began carefully. "When I announced your death, I must have sounded like a model citizen of the Empire."
Ashe hung her head. "It was Vayne's idea, you see." The old man continued. "At the time I could not percieve his reasons but now it is clear, he meant to drive a wedge between us."
"Halim, we are past all this." The princess pleaded. "Bhujerba must stand with us, we can stop Vayne." The old man sighed, and for the first time since they had met him looked his age.
"I once knew a girl who's only wish was to be carried in her uncle's arms." He said wearily surveying the princess. "Your majesty is a woman grown now." A smile grew on Ashe's face.
"Then Bhujerba will aid me?" She asked hopefully.
"Suppose for a moment you were to defeat Vayne, what then?" asked the marquis sharply. "You cannot simply rebuild your kingdom, with the only proof of your birthright stolen." Ashe looked taken aback by this.
"I could talk to the Gran Kiltias..." She began but the marquis interupted.
"The Gran Kiltias on mount Bur Omisace cannot and will not recognise you as the rightful heir without it." He looked sadly at her. "A princess you may be, but without proof of your identity you are powerless." He thought for a moment. "You will stay here with me, we do nothing till the time is right." Ashe looked at the old man in disbelief.
"I cannot just wait." She demanded.
"Then what does her majesty prpose we do?" Snapped Ondore. Tears started streaking down Ashe's cheeks.
"Uncle Halim." She begged.
"Incidently," Balthier cut in. "What is the going rate for rescuing princesses these days?" Everyone in the room groaned but the marquis didn't see, bothered by the question at all.
"I'm not sure master pirate," He said pleasantly. "What would you suggest?" Balthier leaned against the table as he pondered.
"Food would be a start, the good stuff mind."
"This can be arranged, though it will take time." Balthier smiled contently.
"Time enough for a bath I hope," He continued. "Dirty buisness you know. A change of clothes wouldn't go amiss either, or a refit on my airship."
Unnoticed by everyone but Vaan, Ashe had left the room. Silently sobbing, she walked away down the corridoor with only the sound of Balthier's ever more absurd demands to comfort her.
(Balthier.)
Balthier sat in his bath, enjoying a plate of something or other, with a fresh suit awaiting him on the door and a new aerial guidance system for the Stral being fitted at this moment and wondered why he hadn't thought of heroics in the past. Doing some good old fasioned honest work was nice for a change, and as long as you picked the right job the rewards were handsome. He chuckled softly at the irony of the situation he was in, he was supposed to be the terror of the skys and here he was, treated like royalty by the marquis of Bhujerba. He lay back and recalled the tale, from that first moment he had run into the little runt and that rock. He paused. If he was looking for irony in this story that was it. Him targeting the dusk shard, was it a sign? was it a premonition of things to come? He hoisted himslef out of the bath, somehow he didn't feel like lounging anymore. He tugged the new shirt over his head, sturdy cotton with soft linings. Excellent for both appearance and travel. His leather trousers went on next, followed by his many belts and finally his armoured waistcoat. He was about to leave when he noticed an extra garment hanging up. It was a duster coat, coloured dark brown, Balthier grinned. Now at least I look the part. He reached up but was interrupted by a buzzing noise on his cuff.
"Hmm." Said Balthier to the little flashing light. "Looks like someone's paying the Strahl a midnight visit."
(Basch.)
"Do you think her majesty hates me?" Basch asked his old friend at the bar. "The way she looked at me back on the Leviathan, I should have expected it but not like that." Vossler's eyes met Basch's as they tried to focus on him. He had already had a few.
"I wouldn't worry yourself." He boomed in an unnessisarily loud voice upsetting several customers. "I don't think she ever really hated you. Really disliked maybe but never hate." Basch sighed and looked down at his mug. "You know what prison did to you Bach?" Vossler slurred. Basch shook his head. "It turned you all serious, I mean you wern't exactly mr sunshine before either but now your just a complete machine. Whatever happened to Bladelord Ronsenburg?" Basch grinned.
"Thats a name from long ago." He said sternly, Vossler laughed heartily.
"But it's how the princess remembers you."
Basch had a few mugs then left Vossler at the bar, he smiled softly. So she hadn't forgotten the past. She still remembered Bladelord Ronsenburg, who he was. With that in mind he strode as quickly as he dared in his condition back to the palace, but as he passed the gate something caught his eye. Several figures entering the Strahl, without second thought he drew his blade and went to investigate.
(Penelo and Fran)
Penelo shuffled uncomfortably, she had been told by Fran to meet her in this hallway at eight wearing something comfortable, and since all the dresses in her wardrobe looked like they could drown her, she opted for her dancers garb. On the dot of 8 Fran strode in through the north entrance, back in her usual atire.
"Do you know why I called you here?" She demanded. Penelo shook her head timidly. "Because I wish to teach you." The vierra finished simply.
Penelo blinked.
"Teach me what exactly?" She stammered, Fran raised an eyebrow.
"You mean to tell me you have no idea what you did on the leviathan? Do jets of fire erupt from your hand regularly."
"But wait." Penelo interupted. "I've tried using the words that mages use and nothing happened."
"That." Said the vierra calmly. "Is because you don't know how to access your inner energy, you thought magic was just learning words?"
Penelo shook her head. "For as long as our roads lie together I will teach you." Fran continued. "Do you want this?"
"I don't know." Penelo stuttered. "I can't just make a decision like that." Fran relaxed.
"Very well, come to me when you believe you are ready." She was interrupted by a loud buzzing on her wrist. She looked at the bracelet with annoyance. "The proximity alarm." She snapped, striding quickly towards the door. "Get your equipment and follow me." She ordered.
"Yes." Penelo whined.
(Vaan)
As Vaan sat on the wing tip of the Strahl he thought of what Balthier would think if he saw him. Probably yell at him for scratching the paintwork and denting the detailing. He looked up at the stars, funny that was. The sky here looked the same as the one over Rabanastre, he stared down at his hand, and the ring that was on it.
"Reks, now what? which road do I go down?" If the ring had an answer it wasn't giving it. He'd gone through his forms and done his excersises which usually solved problems for him but that wasn't helping either. Here he had a chance to leave all of this behind and go back to Rabanastre, to Penelo, to Dalan, to Migelo. Back to Sleeping out, being poor, living humble boring lives when here he was right in the middle of an earth shattering adventure. How could he have even thought about leaving. Vaan closed his hand over the ring and smiled. He would find a way. Suddenly he heard a clatter bellow him. At first he thought it was nothing but then it came again, then a bang, then a loud curse. Sliding down off the hull Vaan went to investigate.
Ashe was very annoyed, it had taken her hours to traverse the palace in order to find an appropriate garment for what she was about to attempt. In the end she was stuck with a leather corset, a cotton shirt, a pair of leather boots and a red skirt. Not ideal but it would have to do. Next she had to sneak out of the building without any guards stopping her, one had seen her, he now lay unconcious in the pantry. And now just to top it off, Balthier's stupid ship wasn't starting. It would of course help if she knew how to fly a ship, but it had worked out last time hadn't it?
"What are you doing?" Came a voice from behind her. She whirled round, fists raised for combat. It was the urchin, that the pirate was dragging around, and she thought it couldn't get any worse. "This is Balthier's ship." He continued. She turned back to her tinkering.
"I'm going to retrieve the dawn shard, it's the proof that I need." She said haughtily. "Now get off, I'm not taking you with me boy."
"My name is Vaan!" Said the boy indignantly, "And I saved your life once." The Princess sighed, how could she explain her situation to him who had never felt the preasures of royalty.
"I know where it's hidden." She said. "I'll return his airship later." Vaan walked over and grabbed the controls from her.
"Are you crazy?!" He stammered, Ashe lost all patience.
"Look." She snapped. "I have to do this, for myself and all those who have fallen." Vaan was silenced. "I must do this alone, I will not be made to hide." She said, her voice cracking. Vaan did not let go of the controls.
"You still have Basch." He protested. "And Balthier, Fran, Vossler...and me." He finished rather lamely. She raised an eyebrow, admiring his courage. Vaan grinned. "Besides, you can't just go around stealing other people's airships." She laughed.
"I'm trying to concentrate!" She sniggered.
"That is quite enough princess!" Boomed a voice over the speakers. Vaan and Ashe both jumped, it was the marquis, but something was off about him. His voice sounded, metallic somehow. "By the door numbskulls." Came the voice again. Ashe's face fell as Balthier stepped into the room. "What do you think? A bit over the top?" He said talking into a microphone.
"When did you get that?" Asked Vaan, facinated. Balthier shrugged.
"You never know when things like this may come in handy in my line of work." He strode up to Ashe who stared back boldly. "I'm leaving you with the marquis." He said at last. Ashe looked horrified.
"No!" She yelled. "You can't!" Balthier shook his head.
"You are much better off here, trust me." He said walking away.
"Suppose you kidnapped me!" Said Ashe wildly, Balthier stopped walking. "Your a sky pirate aren't you? Then steal me." She shouted.
"I'm afraid I remain unconvinced princess." Balthier said, turning to face her. "I see no profit in this for me." Ashe grinned triumphantly.
"The dynast king's treasure." Balthier's eyes flashed.
"Treasure you say, how much?"
"The dawn shard is but one of his treasures that were buried with him."
Balthier whistled.
"I'm a little more convinced." He said.
"Kidnapping royalty is a serious offence." All the cockpit's occupants jumped as Basch strode into the room. "This won't do much to lower the bounty on your head Balthier." He advised. Balthier shrugged.
"How much is the price on your head these days, I wonder?" Basch chuckled and walked up to Ashe.
"Allow me to accompany you in Vossler's place." He said quietly.
"Will you be joining us boy?" Vaan felt a chill down his spine as Fran walked into the room behind him.
"Are you kidding?" He sneered. "You think I'm gonna stick around this place?" Penelo nodded.
"Well then I'm going too." Vaan looked taken aback.
"Penelo." He whined, but Penelo silenced him.
"Don't leave me here." She pleaded. Vaan grinned back at her.
"Never." Fran nodded curtly and joined her partner.
"Well then," She said. "We should leave before the marquis knows we're gone, like proper kidnappers."
OK, I know, I have left this fic for a while now but know this, I will not give up on it ever. I will never stop until this story is finished. And to make up for such a long absense, I promise you 5 updates Daily. That's right DAILY. After which I will stick to about once a week.