Author's Notes: wow, long time no see, but I have finally managed to complete this chapter! I am working on two more stories for this fandom at the same time, and adding work and plans for the future, everything in my life turned to be pretty hectic now

I want to say many, many thanks to the brilliant writer Landis Icelilly (and a big hug, you know why), for beta-ing this story for me too from now on :) I feel much more confident regarding my writing now, that I have her help! :D By the way, I just started editing this story from the start, grammar wise and also formatting chapters to look more neat to your eyes. I am now currently looking over chapter 9 :)

Regarding this chapter (and this story) I just want to add that, unlike the game in which every character can learn all the spells from the license board, in here and my other stories I like to see every character specialise in one or two class of magicks (green, white, etc). I am not telling that they cannot learn all the classes eventually, only that they are probably more skilled in some particular ones and less in others. And even within classes, I can imagine they would have their own preferences. Instead of babbling examples here and confuse you all, I rather let the story speaks for itself ;)

Thanks to everyone who patiently waited for so long for the following installment; you know who you are, and I hope you are still with me :)

.: LOCKED IN MY HEART :.

Chapter XV

- Waltz of Resplendence -

The high-pitched scream released by Penelo was promptly cut by Vaan, who clamped his left hand over her mouth while the right drew out the Zodiac Spear. Ashe and Reddas promptly unsheathed their weapons as well, without daring to divert their eyes from the beast standing tall and proud in front of them, eyes darting from one to another, a deep bestial growl escaping from his mouth.

"This Esper…" Penelo muttered, drawing her Masamune while casing her fears, "… it's the one Fran was talking about. The one I should take."

Ashe glanced at her from the corner of her eye and nodded in agreement, while Vaan added: "I'll watch your back."

"Let us not keep him in wait then," Reddas said with an audacity that Hashmal did not take well, leading the others as he marched over to the Esper.

Vaan was the first to see it coming.

"Look out!!" he shouted out warningly as the Esper lunged towards the group, forcing them to disperse along the dais. The platform swayed dangerously with an ominous shriek, like a frail piece of wood at the mercy of raging waves, almost throwing everyone off balance amidst the cries of surprise.

Hastily pulling himself together from such an unexpected attack, Vaan cast a quick look over his surroundings and darted towards Penelo, ducking below Hashmal's sweeping blade-arm as he did so. He quickly registered that his partner was unharmed, before both hurtled over to the Esper, who had focused his attention onto Reddas.

The pirate and Ashe were trying to pierce their opponent's flesh; Vaan joined them in this struggle, while Penelo chanted Dispel over the foe, soon followed by a combo of curative spells cast over her allies. Reddas realized they were all unintentionally yet imprudently assembling together, being that way an easy target for the Esper.

"Scatter!" he cried out above the enraged roar of the beast yet, this warning came too late, as Hashmal's giant arms swept irately towards them. Reddas managed to block one arm, Vaan quickly ducked beneath another, but Ashe had not been so fortunate: failing to block the arm Vaan avoided, it caught her by the waist and sent her flying across the dais to hit the dais' balustrade at the edge, the back of her neck knocking the iron bars with a sickening thud.

"Ashe!!" Penelo cried out.

The princess grunted faintly as her face contorted into a grimace, her vision growing blurry by the second. She was now hardly able to discern Reddas and Vaan now shielding Penelo from Hashmal sudden interest in the latter; their commanding voices echoed skywards as the pirate swiftly crossed his double swords above his own head to block another incoming blow, while Vaan stabbed the Esper's side. Meanwhile, Penelo was trying to reach her, but Hashmal kept blocking the young woman from doing so, regardless of Vaan's attempts to lure him into his own direction.

Feeling unbearably powerless at all this and quite lightheaded by the blow, Ashe instinctively touched the back of her sore head only to feel something warm and clammy in the palm of her hand.

It was when she saw a strange blue light wrap her, of an unknown source, bringing her a familiar sensation that her now unsteady mind failed to recognize. Everything happened too fast for her to consider, as the fleeting blue glow faded off as soon as it had appeared. However, the feeling it left behind was comforting and even, like an invisible shield surrounding and protecting her. But considering the current predicament she and her allies were facing, she dismissed the wonderfully cradling effect of such spell - though in different conditions she would have gladly given herself to it - and gripped hard the hilt of her Tournesol. She then tried to get up on her feet to aid her comrades, only to lose her step once more as the dais jerked violently again, making everyone lose their balance around her as well.

Suddenly Hashmal lost interest with Penelo and decided to pursue Vaan and Reddas instead, whose weapons delivered accurate and incessant blows into their mark. Promptly taking this opportunity, the girl darted towards Ashe, dropping into a kneeling position next to her and beginning to cast Curaga over the princess.

"How are you?" Penelo asked, her voice barely audible through Hashmal's deafening roars, and both would certainly laugh at the discomfiture of such a question considering the circumstances if they were safe and sound to do so. The caring eyes of the younger woman then caught the shade of a dark red spot at the back of Ashe's neck.

"You're bleeding!" She said, trying to get a better look while summoning again her white magick, but Ashe interrupted her by gripping her wrist.

"Don't… worry," she said, shoving away her odd desire to close her eyes and sleep under the appeasing effect of a healing spell, "we must –"

It was when Ashe saw it again, with more attentive eyes this time: a beautiful blue light came from nowhere and stretched over Penelo's body instead, like a protective blanket; taken off guard, the girl looked down her own body and then to Ashe again in utter bewilderment.

"This Protectga…" she asked, "it wasn't you, was it?"

Ashe shook her head, acknowledging at once that Penelo's deduction about the spell's identity was right. It was indeed the Protectgaspell that both she and Penelo proposed to be trained, and had yet to master; a powerful spell such as this one required immense knowledge, vast experience and a wild and truthful desire to protect the ones the spell was meant to. Ashe and Penelo shifted a glance at Vaan and Reddas, just in time to catch the glimpse of another flicker of light darting from somewhere far away and below them, and submerging the two men in an unseen layer. Locked in combat with the Esper, none of them seemed to notice it though.

Penelo then instinctively looked over the balustrade and downwards, to the direction where they assumed the spell had come from.

"Where do you think –"

"We'll discuss that later," Ashe cut in dryly, gripping hard Tournesol's hilt and urging Penelo to get on her feet along with her. A rush of adrenaline agitated her blood and uncloaked her senses as she added: "He's coming this way."

Penelo looked round and saw what she meant: Hashmal was not attacking any further. Instead, he was striding his way towards the border where Ashe and Penelo stood, each of his thundering steps shaking the dais. The swiftness in which the Esper covered the distance between them did not allowed either Ashe or Penelo to flee. Cornered, Penelo mimicked Ashe and enclosed her fingers around the hilt of her Masamune, ready to attack, not quite ready to perish. But when they then looked upwards in a fairly well-hidden dread, and followed Hashmal's arm raising high and slowly upwards, both realised that they possessed no strength to block the impeding blow that was meant to finish both of them in a single swift move.

Still, they raised their weapons, and waited, unwilling to lay down their arms.

As Vaan noticed the current mess both his allies were in, he did not vacillate: for his forthright and daring nature always motioned him to act first and assume the consequences later - especially in anything regarding the safeguarding of the one who needed him as much as he, he realised, needed her.

"Penelo! Thanks for the Protectga!"

"But it was not me who – Vaan, what are you doing?!"

Penelo cried out her friend's name in utter terror, when she saw her partner dash to stand in front of her and Ashe to meet Hashmal's descending blade.

Though he had always been a man with the remarkable ability to keep his equanimity in the most dire of times, Basch was now in a state of pure madness: as soon as Penelo released her first frantic cry, he had ran his way round the huge central pit of the Pharos to meet whatever was happening above him, though he had already guessed. Looking far upwards, he saw the dais motionless between two levels, yet swaying in a hazardous way, while the towering figure of an Esper stood tall and menacing on the platform.

It was when he saw Ashe being tossed along the dais to viciously meet the balustrade that his mind went berserk, as he closed his fists in an enraged state for being unable to reach her at all. And though he used to keep a focused mind at all times, a most foolish and bold idea crossed his mind: he didn't think twice about it and brought his hand to his forehead, as he summoned his magic power to his mind and Ashe to his heart.

"Basch, you can't -"

Fran's warning words fell lost outside the mist walls wrapping around him.

The blue orb of the Protectgaspell left his hand and darted across the emptiness ahead, meeting with an almost unconscious Ashe further above. Never blinking nor leaving his eyes off her distant form, he assured the spell had connected before daring to release a worn-out exhale of air. Like everyone else, he knew too well that this process was life-threatening, for even the most skilled magick caster needed an extreme spirit to cast such spell across such a great distance. However, all that he needed to feel was this desire to protect her, to motion him to give his life on this spell if it could save hers. And though waning, he effectively repeated the process when he spotted Penelo, the strength of Protectgasuccessfully connecting with Vaan and Reddas as well. Meanwhile, Balthier had his Fomalhautloaded and aimed at Hashmal, yet he feared either to hit one of the others or infuriate the Esper even further.

As soon as the last flicker of blue light left Basch's hand, he felt a firm hand seizing his out stretched arm.

"That is enough," Fran said evenly, "if you wear yourself out now, you can help them no further."

Both diverted their eyes to the dais, in time to witness with holding breaths Vaan placing himself in front of Hashmal to shield both Ashe and Penelo. He then gave a stressful look at Fran.

"Guide me to the stairs!" he demanded, fright playing in his eyes, like they always did each time Ashe landed before harm's way, yet this time he was not there to defend her. "We must reach them at once!"

Fran only gave a quick nod in return and both set off in a race.

Balthier raised a curious eyebrow at this. "Glad to know my opinion is still valued around here," he grumbled sarcastically, following them with Fomalhaut still ready to fire.

Fran led the way as they turned back the way they had come from, running her fingers along the wall by her left as she went.

"Here!" She said as she suddenly stopped and faced the wall, and not a moment too soon Basch lifted the Excalibur and brutally hit the stone thrice, showering splinters over them all. As that portion of damaged wall collapsed to grant them passage, the group stormed upwards the newly found set of stairs, the wind whistling in their ears as they push their way onto the heights.

"Vaan!!"

As Hashmal's arm descended, Vaan held the spear over his head with both hands, and the Esper's blade met the spear with a rumbling metallic sound. The Protectgaspell that had been mysteriously cast over them spared the three comrades from a nearly certain defeat, though Vaan almost bent down under the crushing weight of Hashmal's hefty arm. Ashe and Penelo promptly made a stand at each side of the young man, raising their own weapons and joining him at this struggle of arm against blades, the grinding rattle of steel against steel echoing through the halls; however, the Esper's strength was unearthly dominant, and the three were weakening under his arm.

"We can't hold on much longer!" Vaan yelled between growls, as he tried in vain to push Hashmal away.

"We must!" Ashe cut back, her knuckles growing white as she held hard her grip, the blade being the only wall between her head and the razor edge of the beast's blade.

"Hold on!" Reddas voice reached them from somewhere behind the Esper.

Not a moment too soon, they heard the odd sound of blade-cut air; the next instant, Hashmal jolted upwards as he released an agonizing and brutal howl, drawing back his arm; suddenly free from the crushing pressure, the three allies almost stumbled forwards, yet they quickly recovered their balance to seize this opportunity to strike back, rather than trying to figure out the reason behind the Esper's unexpected behaviour. The beast kept wailing in agony as he quickly turned around to meet Reddas holding only one of his two blades: the other was firmly carved in the Esper's bleeding back.

"That was a close one," Vaan panted. But he and the others knew that the battle was far from over.

It was when Hashmal released his most inhuman roar and unleashed his wrath that the dais trembled like it never did before, as Roxxorreverberated across the halls of the Pharos.

"And what do you think you can do when you reach them?" Balthier cried out as they darted upwards yet another set of slippery stairs, "act all recklessly brave and gallant and jump across the waterfall to land on the dais below?"

"If I need to!!" Basch roared back edgily without even bothering to look behind, punctually cleaning the path ahead as he went.

Fran did not say a word, for she knew it would fall on deaf ears. She followed Basch, her bow loaded and ready in her hand, while Balthier covered them by shooting back at every incoming fiend who dared to follow them.

Basch kept swinging his sword with unwavering determination as he dashed his way forward. His terror for Ashe was paramount, as his powerlessness to protect her had become unbearably clear, especially now that she needed him the most. His mind was blank, and it hadn't occurred to him that Vaan and Reddas were there to protect her too; for the only image he retained was the pain creeping up her face as she hit the iron bars of the dais. And he cursed himself each time his swordmet another foe fool enough to stand between him and her, because time was slipping away from him and he should not be here but there with her -

"Look out!" Fran shouted out, as they felt the ground shaking under their feet, almost throwing everyone off to the floor and down the stairs. Basch, now leading the way, quickly recovered his balance and, dismissing the rumbling of the earth, kept running steadfastly, being soon followed by the sky pirates.

As the Float spell Ashe had cast over them all wore off, the third Roxxor readily tossed everyone to the ground.

"I am tired of this!!" Vaan barked, being the first to stand up on his feet. He raced boldly towards Hashmal, releasing a war cry as he went.

"Take this!!" he bellowed as he delivered a firm blow; however, the spear rebounded back with an odd sound of clashed steel, instead of slicing muscle and ripping flesh as he expected. He repeated the attack in vain and obtained the same dismaying result: Hashmal was not being affected at all.

"I can't strike him!!" he shouted out at the others who joined him, as he and Ashe unleashed a combo of attacks that turned to be as ineffective as the first two. Hashmal swung his arms towards them yet again, but everyone had by now learned how to read his attack pattern, and they quickly ducked beneath.

"He is wearing some kind of invisible shield!!" the princess stated, as she straightened back and tried again to break in Hashmal's defences.

"Swords and blades will do naught now!!" Reddas yelled back, ceasing his own restless combos, "He convened a Perfect Defence, this being a sign that he is indeed weakening!

"Then I'll take him down with Magicks!" Penelo settled. Now and then she chanced a glance at Ashe, who was growing bizarrely paler by the second: Curagawas not managing to counterattack this strange condition by healing her, much to their misunderstanding. Nevertheless, the princess was enduring the battle as well as everyone else, until she realized that, like Vaan and Reddas, she was not succeeding in striking the Esper any longer. She stopped her attack pattern as well, and motioned Penelo to step in.

The younger woman then started to conjure a powerful Aeroga, while her partners switched stances and positions to defend her from Hashmal, rather than attacking the beast. The gush of winds that were arising from within the girl were refreshing but unendurably frosty, and Hashmal roared in pain each time the wind spell connected with him; Penelo kept her eyes closed and repeated the spell over and over again, shielded by the others.

Though his perfect shield had not faded off, Hashmal seemed to have grown exhausted and drained from his former strength and power: his attack patterns were more random and unfocused. However, Aerogawas not being as effective as Penelo would so like it to be, and the process was running dreadfully slow. On the other side, Hashmal, out of despair, seemed to prepare his most powerful spell.

"Penelo!!" Vaan shouted out. "He's up to no good! I think it's time to do serious damage and finish this now!!"

"All right!!" Penelo yelled back. "Stand back!"

"What? Why?!"

"Go! You too, Vaan!! Trust me!"

At her words, Reddas and Ashe promptly stepped aside and left Penelo alone, standing before Hashmal. The older pirate had to drag Vaan along, for he seemed most reluctant in leaving Penelo on her own and unguarded, even if he had been the one to suggest a more daring approach.

Vaan was about to call her, when Penelo glanced at him. Her eyes were determined, her stance was indomitable.

"We can win this!" Her tone was assertive, even though she was smiling. And before diverting her eyes back to the giant in front of her, she winked at Vaan.

His jaw dropped considerably.

No one left their eyes off Penelo, especially the young pirate. It was then when he suddenly sensed and welcomed the already familiar feeling of ancient magicks being summoned and enveloping them. It had always been a thrilling sensation, of might and wonder, each time being unique and otherworldly; Vaan watched in awe the Mist starting to gather, converging and swirling, flickering and floating in a stunning colourful glow as it twirled around Hashmal and Penelo, faster and faster, growing in size and supremacy.

Vaan was fascinated: he had never seen before Penelo looking as terrifying, but also as beautiful and resplendent as she looked right now.

Hashmal began to cast his Quakeja spell.

And that's when Penelo began to dance.

"A blind alley!"

"Step back!"

"I wonder, in all honesty, what the point of building stairs and walling them in is."

Another wall section fell to pieces; the knight and both sky pirates emerged out from behind the debris, and dashed inwards a small hall.

And the most fascinating sight lay right before their eyes.

Basch, Fran and Balthier froze in their tracks, past the middle of the hall, eyes locked with the dais of ascendance that was stopped beyond and slightly below the railing. On the platform, Hashmal stood at the left side, panting and wheezing weakly, slightly bent over, his giant armoured arms crossed in front of his body in a protective stance; at the right side, Reddas, Vaan and Ashe stood frozen, visibly worn out from the fight, their eyes locked with the small figure standing right in the middle of the pulpit.

In the stage, Penelo danced, like no one had ever seen her dancing. The Pharos was silent, the rumble of the cascading water being muffled by the sound of the higher power called upon the dancer. It was wintry and windy as snow descended around Penelo, as she whirled and whirled and whirled even faster in her spot, the world around her becoming colder and colder with every swirl she took.

"Look!" Fran muttered in a low voice, pointing out to the Esper.

Hashmal – in fact, everyone - was so hypnotized by her dance, that he did not notice he was being gradually covered by layers over layers of sheer ice. His arms were not raised in a defensive stance any longer; instead, they fell limply at his sides in defeat. The Esper seemed to care no longer of his doomed destiny, for he was doing nothing at all to prevent his own frosty immuring.

Penelo kept dancing and spiralling, until the last sheet of ice enveloped the scion.

Suddenly, she stopped, arms outstretched; the world literally and unnaturally froze with her. The flakes stood still in mid-air, motionless as every onlooker that had seen her dance. Vaan dismissed the mysterious chill creeping over him, as his eyes kept locked onto his friend. Mesmerised, he followed her every footstep as she walked over to the giant wall trapping Hashmal.

When she reached it, she stretched out her right arm, and touched it.

She then turned her back to it, bringing her hand to her mouth, and closed her eyes in a pray.

The ice sheet broke with a loud shatter, bringing such pain to Hashmal that all his body jerked, as he released a long, cutting roar of pain. Penelo stood still, eyes shut and unmoving as the beast grimaced in defeat. But when his legs gave under him, forcing him to drop to both knees in pain, the girl turned around again to face the fallen Esper.

Silence fell around and upon them.

She slowly covered the small distance between her and Hashmal. Her face was sad, desolate as he looked at her with eyes that held wrath no longer. Everyone stared at this vision of greatness, of the giant who fell before the might of a small young woman.

"… I'm sorry..."

The mutter of an apology barely slipped from her mouth but everyone heard it.

And with this, Hashmal closed his eyes and slightly curtsied to her, before vanishing into emptiness while leaving behind something for her. Penelo stared to the bright yellow gem that had materialized in front and above her, knowing its glyph enclosed the powers the Bringer of Order had left for her to master. She quickly recalled the glimmer of enthusiasm in Vaan's eyes when he took hold of the stone left by Chaos, in Nabudis, only three days ago: strangely, she was not sharing the same fervent spirit right now.

Indeed, when she reached the gem and enclosed it deferentially in her hand, she wondered if her life would ever be the same again.

(…)

The few moments that followed Hashmal's defeat had passed in a rush and a haze for everyone. Vaan dashed towards Penelo, unexpectedly holding her by the waist - under her amiably astonished look - to lift her off her feet, both swirling on the spot.

"That was awesome, Penelo!"

"You really think so?"

"One day you'll be as great as me!" he teased.

"Oh, shove off!" She merrily replied, between heartily laughs.

Vaan laughed with her. In each other's arms, they kept spinning clumsily, amidst vibrant glee and cheerful words.

Then, it had happened all of a sudden: they did not remember when they had stopped twirling, when they had stopped laughing, from where this awkwardness that abruptly fell upon them both had come. The next moment had simply found the couple staring liberally at each other, their former smiles replaced by mouths slightly agapes.

Penelo's heart started to beat even faster than when she was before Hashmal, in the moment Vaan's gaze fell onto her lips. And neither of them seemed to notice – much less care - that they were not alone in the small dais, when the young man pulled Penelo an inch closer, while thinking daringly that it was now or never.

Clunk!

Startled by the sudden noise, Vaan and Penelo hastily – and gawkily - broke apart and looked at the noise's direction: Balthier had just shut the dais' gate to set the platform in motion, when he glanced at the young couple.

"Don't mind me, just keep going," the sky pirate said to them, an insinuation of tease dripping from each of his words, "by the way, Penelo, lovely performance you made."

Balthier failed to note the sudden assassin spark in Vaan's eyes.

"Erm… thanks, Balthier," Penelo said, and in her turn, she caught Fran's eyes looking interestedly at her. With her left hand on her hip, the viera's lips were slightly curled into a smile, whose meaning Penelo could neither comprehend nor interpret.

However, someone seemed to be oblivious to these events: the dais' gate had not even begun to open to grant Basch, Balthier and Fran passage, when the knight had swiftly jumped over the railing into the platform and quickly acknowledged that everyone was well, before making his way to Ashe, who was near Reddas. Basch nodded once at the sea pirate, who replied in kind before stepping aside to give the princess and her guardian some privacy.

Relieved beyond measure, Basch stopped inches away from Ashe, resisting to an aching urgency to do exactly what Vaan did to Penelo. Not in a so exuberant way, though; he could not help but think that holding her in his arms would only be more than sufficient, before berating himself from such thoughts that, in truth, have been plaguing his mind since who knows when.

He tried hardnot to think of a certain night at the Phon Coast, but failed miserably.

"Lady Ashe, are you well?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice, while his eyes pierced hers like he was scanning her very soul in search for any injury.

"I am, Basch," she nodded, while diverting her stare from him to wipe the dust off her clothes. "Tournesol has guarded me well."

"You are pale," he noticed, before rummaging through his few belongings in search for a potion. His hand had just found one of the rare x-potions the party had found, but before he could slip the tiny black bottle out, Ashe softly placed a hand in his arm to stop him.

The dais had finally made a halt at the highest level.

"I must insist, Majesty," Basch said, though not making any move to push her hand off his arm. "I am concerned about your well-being."

"And who shall be concerned about yours, Basch?" she asked amenably, squeezing lightly his arm, before walking away from him to catch the others, as they strolled off the dais.

"No one," he thought as he followed her, glad that she did not look back to notice how taken aback he felt with her observation. "Even less you."

Balthier and Fran led the way, while Penelo, Vaan and Reddas followed; the young couple was behaving as typical as ever around everyone else, though a bit more reserved towards each other. Ashe and Basch followed behind, the knight keeping a watchful eye over the princess; for he sensed that something was amiss: she was unusually ashen.

Not soon enough, Ashe felt a sudden dizziness and lost her senses. The last thing she remembered was to fall not on solid ground, but into a pair of arms that came from behind and readily caught and lifted her.

The eternal winter in the Crystal Peak forced her to recall dark memories.

She was so certain of the future she had chosen, so aware of the path that lay ahead. She remembered the last time she saw all her companions but one, scattered along the stairways leading to a depression in the middle, where the Empyrean Way Stone to the Round of the Undying stood. She was certain They already knew of the plot she had masterminded, for they were the Entities who Knew Everything yet, much light and hope she nevertheless bore in her heart. The memories of the ones she once guided to the Heavens weighted on her soul, from a time she still heeded the Gods judgment of who shall live, who shall die and who shall reincarnate to breathe once again. And it was because of such task that she knew that, what she was about to do, was but right; she was once the Chosen, Their fist, "to let live some and crush the rest" as they had told her, and that, she learned to accept no longer, especially since the day she realized They expected her to lay down Tournesol and let her Home fall.

Her mind has been so set: she would defeat the Gods with her companions, each one with their reasons – some more dignified than others - to desire the fall of the Ones who bestowed them with a power beyond measure. And then, with peace made with her heart and with the ones who hated her, she would come back to Landis and face whatever Fate awaited her; she would burn in the pyre if that was, indeed, them – and Ian's – wish, but not without overthrowing those Occuria and delivering the free will back to Ivalice first.

And she remembered so well that chiming sound coming from the Bulkward Aeon, followed by a deep hum that echoed through the hall. Under everyone's mesmerized gaze, the bulks had tore apart to give passage to someone whose presence made everyone's heart beat with renewed hope; everyone had quickly stood in utter overwhelm at the small and dark-clad figure that walked inwards the Fire Gates, sided by two majestic black wolves, and stopped at the edge of the depression to cast down an expressive gaze at the twelve.

Though a child, the few years he had lived endowed Zodiark with an immeasurable wisdom, which earned him the respect of all. And as he stood before everyone, he exchanged a look at her: Ultima recalled the glint in the black slit pupils of his green eyes, yet it was his childish and warm smile that flooded his small face, that gave her the certainty that they would prevail over the self-proclaimed Guardians of Ivalice.

But then, their defeat was quick and absolute: everything was over as soon as it started, though the pain she was now feeling seemed to be the result of a thousand-year war. And in her mist cage she could hear them all, her fallen comrades, fighting and screaming and bleeding and dying, and there was nothing she could do, nothing she could say. She could also feel the Occuria so near her; now that they had sealed evil, they kept manipulating Ivalice's history from the shadows of this young city Giruvegan, creating and placing in the top of a pharos at the distant Ridorana a sacred cryst – its everlasting glow a reminder to all Ivalice of their absolute power over all.

And it was so cold here… she wondered if the otherworldly green hue on her skin was only reflecting the crystal walls around her, or if it was her own being that was growing wintry – perhaps it was only due to the loss of blood from a wound on her back, a wound that glowed eerily and ached so much, but not as much as the pain she felt when she realized she would never, ever return home.

She found a bit of reprieve in the fact that, among the fallen, was also the one who deceived them all, by confiding in the Gods about the impending rebellion; inexplicably, the Gods chose to punish that woman as well. However, such also made her remember mournfully that traitor's brother, who loved his twin sister with such heart and soul and obsession that it was almost sinful.

Then, unwarily, Ian and Luke seeped into her thoughts and warmed her heart; she longed to see them once again, but knew that bearing such hope would only bring more torment. Holding in her heart the vivid images of both husband and son, she curled up her body and fell asleep again, but not without whispering a last pray. As she did so, she involuntarily lifted a hand to her chest, gripping the place where her pendant once stood.

Her soft voice fell lost in the crystal walls surrounding her, as she prayed that her son would never require summoning Phoenix.

When Ashe fluttered open her eyes and looked skywards, she felt an awkward tranquillity surround her, instead of the recklessness that often came with her awakening as of late. Yet it was an atmosphere of concern that was bestowed upon her as everyonewas huddled round her and staring back at her from above, their heads bent down and oddly shaping a close circle; Fran's long ears occasionally hit Vaan or Penelo in the face, while the latter showed a relieved face as she smiled down at her. Balthier had one eyebrow raised, and Basch had a look that stood far beyond anxiety. He drew himself even closer to her when she stirred; she realized she was sat on the cold floor, yet her back was leaned against his steady arm.

She was looking at him when he gently whispered: "How do you feel?"

"I feel fine," she answered back with the same low tone, before turning to everyone else. "What happened?"

"Good question," Vaan replied, "you just fainted all of a sudden, and nobody could heal you. Then Fran cast you a freaking weird spell -"

"It was Cleanse –"

"Yeah, whatever, and then you became just fine when Penelo cast you a couple of Curagaspells after that," Vaan finished, idly putting his hands behind his head.

As Basch helped Ashe to stand on her feet, Penelo spoke uncomfortably: "That's why I couldn't heal you back then, Ashe… you were under Disease, and I didn't notice it on time."

"It is not easy to notice, Penelo," Fran clarified, "yet if you wish, I can tell you how to do so. You show much promise in magical arts, and such skill must not lay wasted."

Penelo beamed at the kind and unpredicted offer. Ashe briefly smoothed her shirt as she followed this exchange with mild interest, before asking Fran: "I am well then, am I not?"

"As well as every one of us," the viera replied.

"Very well. Let us proceed then, time is wearing on."

Ashe motioned to lead the way, and the others promptly followed, marching behind her and over to the endless set of stairs of the Empirean Ravel. Balthier and Reddas were following Ashe closely, while Vaan and Penelo remained in the rear, both far more silent than usual.

In the middle of the formation, Fran exchanged a fleeting yet meaningful glimpse at Basch, before joining Balthier ahead. The knight was sure such glance was related to Penelo; though the latest developments did not met him and Fran's expectations, he felt proud nevertheless for the young girl and her last conquest. Yet, he could not help but hope that Hashmal would spare her from ancient dreams she certainly didn't ask to partake in.

"The din of the Mist grows greater," Fran cut in.

"The sun-cryst must be near," he replied.

Ashe maintained a cadenced stride upwards, barely acknowledging these words or her surroundings. In her mind, Fran's translation of ancient words rang aloud.

"Lo, seeker in days unborn. God-blade Bearer.

Know you: this tower challenges the sky.

Ware the watcher; the ward of the three waits. Soul-hungry, unsated.

He without power, want it not.

He with power, trust it not.

He with sight, heed it not.

Rend illusion, cut the true path.

In blood, Raithwall."

"May the path I choose be the true one," she thought.

Ashe did not feel the pair of blue eyes locked on her figure, following her every footstep from afar. Basch knew too well of her thoughts in this moment, and revered her for her unwavering strong-will and composed character, especially in this moment as the future of Ivalice rested solely on her hands.

Unwarily, he slowed his pace until he came to a halt, his eyes still watching her from afar. His steadfast faith on her assured him she would cut the true path, whatever it may be, ever holding Ivalice's welfare as the foremost thought in her heart. And being she his own foremost thought in turn, he swore once again, that regardless of her decision, he would never - and could never – leave her. She was far more important than anything or anyone else… and at this moment he knew that she indeed wished for him to be at her side.

And he would. Always.

"I wonder if she'll really do it, take revenge against the Empire," Penelo commented as she stopped behind Basch, voicing everyone else's hidden reservations while shaking the knight from his own. "I mean, I know how she must feel. It's hard losing someone you care about."

"Something we all got in common," Vaan noticed, as Basch resumed his stride and the young couple followed him.

"But, you know," Penelo said calmly, "no matter how hard we try, we can't change the past. There's nothing that can bring them back."

Vaan looked at her at these words, and couldn't help but think on his own fallen brother.

"Still, sometimes," the young woman carried on, "when I close my eyes... I can see them so clearly."

Reddas' strong, deep voice cut in: "Illusions of the past. You think to have cast them off, only to find them years later, unwearying, unrelenting. The past can bind a man as surely as irons."

Everyone had made a stop in a small plateau. Ashe stood at the edge, staring at the waterfall beyond, but actually paying no heed to it or anything else around her. In her mind, flashbacks of the ones who fell by standing in the way of an ever expanding Empire played: kingdoms greedily taken or destroyed, the tyranny over her people, the death of her father and husband -

And right across her and faraway, outlined in the waterfall, Rasler's face emerged, his eternal smile unseen to everyone but her. She did not smile back, nor cried: instead, she felt a brief wish to have known more of this gentle man who, like her, willingly agreed to be part of a dignified role for a greater good. In truth, she would have loved this man, if fates had indeed allowed her to do so.

Behind her, Basch stood quietly, wanting to come closer to her, yet not daring to: by feeling the turmoil in her soul, an old feeling of past failures seeped into his own. If he had not failed both father and husband, perhaps the word "revenge" would not be tainting her heart this moment. Perhaps she would be at her home this very instant, with her husband, both honouring an alliance that would foresee the most thriving future for both Nabradia and Dalmasca, instead of being left alone to face this unkind predicament and be the sole judge of every Ivalician's destiny.

"Cut the true path," Reddas spoke, "but will she?"

Author's Notes: Cliffhanger! Or not!! :P I know everyone knows what happens right after this, though I will strive to be completely original (though always following the canon plot) in the writing of the next one :) and if you like VaanxPenelo or BalthierxFran, the next chapter is for you :)

Ashe sleeps a lot in my fics. I know! She has so much on her hands already, but lady seraph keeps bugging her XD by the way, special thanks to Laguna's twin sister, for a review she left some chapters ago that touched a very important detail in this story (which is also mentioned in a sentence here, no telling which haha), but is stored for the pos-game sequel :)

And as a final note, I dedicate this chapter to everyone that has supported me, since I signed up on FF and posted this story :) ... because I realised, exactly right after updating, that tomorrow this my first fic will be one year old!! :DDD