The Quadov stood scowling at Angel. It held a giant pole arm and was approaching her.

"Angel, get out of the way." Zanu yelled

She stood there and fell to her knees. The child pulled at her but she didn't move. The beast raised its weapon and prepared to strike. Images ran through Angel's mind, five years ago she sat at her parent's grave watching the moon. It shined on her face and the landscape around her.

"Will I stay her and die? Or will I go on and live?" She asked herself

She found herself walking through the plains stepping towards a small mithrian girl. She sat in between two graves. She was crying, hopelessly sobbing into her hands.

"Hey why are you crying?" She spoke to the child

She got down on her knees and crawled to her. The child looked up to her with red eyes. Angel put her arms around her and held her close.

"Shhh… don't worry there is nothing that will hurt you now."

"My… my mom and dad… why did they leave?" The child cried

"They didn't want to leave." Angel said consolingly. "But you will have to fight on to live. They fought to get you here. Use this to go on and live for them."

The child slowly stopped crying. She looked up to her and spoke

"Then what are you doing? Why are you giving in?"

Angel wiped the child's tears away.

"I wont any more."

In a flash Angel opened her eyes and took the child and rolled out of the way. Using herself as a shield she kept the child out of harms way. Angel dropped her weapon after it got lodged in a beast's corpse. All the magic she used she was completely drained. Tired she looked around for something to use for cover. Option less she got up and tried to get out of the enemies range. Due to her extensive wounds she couldn't move quickly and her left eye had been damaged. The beast raised its weapon once again.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" A voice yelled from behind it.

Zanu slashed viscously at it with his daggers. He stabbed it a good twenty times before the Quadov turned around to face the problem. As he faced Zanu he was struck with an arrow dead in the face. The thick skull soaked most of the arrow. But more were coming. Five more arrows struck the beast each blow sending him back more and more. Angel picked up the child and ran around it trying to escape its rage. She was able to get no more than ten feet away when Zanu yelled again. But it was too late. The Quadov swung its pole arm and struck Angel in the back throwing her against the wall. She hit the stone with a thud and did not get back up. The child crawled out of her grip and tried to wake her, but it was no use. Kiary and Zanu looked it absolute fright at the limp body lied motionless on the floor. Zanu vanished and reappeared at Angel's side. He picked her and called to Kiary.

"We need to get out of here. This thing is too strong for us." Zanu said

Kiary ran over and grabbed the child. The two ran out of the mines into the night sky. Crashing came after them. The huge beast charged out of the mine after them. It roared loudly and raised his weapon ready to attack the fleeing victims.

"CHARGE!"

A wall of spells swarmed the giant Quadov. It was blown backwards then a flurry of arrows screamed through the air striking the enemy. Then came the warriors. A dozen men rushed the beast not allowing it to get back up.

Zanu and Kiary got out of the way while the rest of the Shadow Riders continued to attack it. Zanu brought Angel to the mages.

"Please, she needs medical attention." Zanu spoke

"Don't worry leave her to us." Wiicloud said

She and Negative prepared their spells. A white holy light consumed the two white mages as they cast the strongest curing spells they had. Glowing bubbles surrounded Angel as life was breathed back into her body. She violently awoke and coughed hard. She looked up through her one good eye at the people that were around her. But the exhaustion knocked her out again.

"Wait what happened?" Zanu asked

"Oh she is fine. She will need a few days too rest. After taking that much damage I am surprised she made it this far." Negative spoke

Over that the battle the warriors were fighting brutally until Artimas swung his sword down hard landing the final blow killing the beast.

"Ha. Stupid beasts. Think they can defeat us!" Artimas cried

All the men and women on the field cheered in victory. A few came running back to the white mages looking for their wounded comrade.

"Angel? Where is Angel?" Ginryu called

"She is over here." Kiary called

Before the others could get to her Zanu picked her up and started running back to Bastok.

"Wait… who is that and where is he taking her?" Kadak asked

Others tried to take chase but he was out of sight quickly.

"The last thing you need right now is a bunch of people crowding around you talking to you and asking you questions." Zanu said as he dashed through North Gustaburg

"No… mother… father…" Angel spoke in her sleep

"Shhh… sleep you will need the rest."

"Please… why did you leave me…"

Zanu arrived at the gates to Bastok and took Angel to an inn. Up in her room he put her in a bed and pulled the covers up to her.

"Sleep I'll be back in the morning." Zanu said

"Don't go…" Angel said softly

Zanu paused at the door and looked back at her.

"I'll be back." Zanu said as he closed the door.

He walks out and goes to find Elnroth.

The next morning Angel wakes up in the inn confused to how she got there.

"Where am I?" she says

A knock at the door and a voice follows.

"Are you decent in there?"

She gets up and answers the door. Zanu greets her.

"Well good morning I hope you slept well."

"I'm fine. But what am I doing here?"

"I brought you here after the fight in the mines. You really should have a doctor look at that eye for you. Here you get washed up and we'll go look for one."

An hour later Angel and Zanu get to a doctor's office and leave with unpleasant news. Angel walked out with a white bandage covering her left eye.

"How long do you have to wear that?" Zanu asked

"Only for a week. But that's not the bad news. He said my eye wont get any better. So I'll be blind in one eye." Angel said

"Oh here. Before I forget." Zanu says

He digs into his pocket and gives her the green pearl she threw away.

"You might need this. Everyone will want to know how you are doing."

"I don't think they will want to talk to me."

"If they didn't care about your well being you would not be here right now."

"What do you mean?"

"After you were knocked out they all came to help you. And they ended up saving your life."

She looked into the pearl not knowing what to say. Angel took it and held it close to her.

"I am sorry." She spoke into it

"Angel is that you?" Ginryu said

"Where did you go? We were so worried." Kiary said

"Yes why didn't you listen to us? We would have helped but you needed to wait." Ziggeraut spoke

"What I had to do could not wait. I am truly sorry for the danger I put all of you in. I cannot bear thinking of any of you getting hurt again." Angel said

"What do you mean. As long as you need us all you have to do is ask." Artimas said

"I'm sorry but I must leave. For your sake I need to do something. This is good bye."

Angel held the pearl in her hand and focused on it. She threw it into the air and the pearl dematerialized by a shock of lightning.

"I have done what I needed too." She said

Angel looked at Zanu.

"To answer your question. I cannot go with you and Elnroth. I have one more thing to do."

"What's that?"

"I have to finish my promise."

Angel bowed and walked away. Before Zanu could say anything Elnroth came up behind him.

"Don't. You can't change her mind. She will come back. You'll have your chance then."

Angel ran to the port district and waited for the next air ship. Once it docked she boarded and sat on the top deck watching the shore.

"For my parents sake I will get stronger and I will not have to put others in danger for my needs."

I do not own FFXI or most of teh characters in this story. I only own the main chararacter. All other PC's and NPC's have their respected owners.