A/N: Warning: Chapter 16, the one after this, is from another's pov. All who have played the game may be able to guess who. If you haven't, play it. You'll guess. or be told. soon enough.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------

We run down the hallway, as an alarm goes off! Guards tear around the corner, bent on putting out the fire and rescuing us. We both stop dead in our tracks as a fleet of knights comes around the corner. I dart to the right wall, Catalina to the left wall, and hope they don't trip over our feet. One knight cautiously opens the door and is engulfed in a roaring flame. Ouch. That knight won't breathe another breath. The knights remaining close the door in an effort to slow the fire and start to evacuate the citizens. I shoot a glance at Catalina. That won't do. I go to the other end of the hallway quickly and leave. Just outside is a switch. I press this and the gate closes, leaving this side of the hallway blocked. I watch as they turn, confused, to try and get out the other side. That side closes just as quickly. We'll meet up at camp later. I peel off- and stop short. The.... princess... of Lindblum has awakened. She'd also brought some friends. The King and Queen of Alexandria. I press myself against the wall and pray they don't notice me in the shadows. "Fire" breathes the princess, rushing forward and opening the gate. The remaining guards tumble out as the black mage rushes forward. A water spell crashes down on the fire, but doesn't extinguish it. Instead, it just gets bigger, as if feeding on the magic. Wonderful. "Awaiting orders. "Maim." one of the guards state. "Evacuate the citizens. Hurry. There's not much time." That princess isn't one of those selfish types, that's for sure.

The guards rush off. "Who could've done this?" asks the queen. Poor moron. Unaware of demise soon to come. The party turns around and starts to leave. I hold my breath. Only a few more steps and they'll be in the next hall. But the mage... he is different from the others. He looks at the wall I am pressed against and seems to notice there is too much shadow in my nook. He stops in his tracks. The others continue for a few steps before stopping as well. "Vivi, hurry. We've got to get out." He continues to stare. "What is it, Vivi?" asks the queen from Alexandria. "Too much shadow. In this brightness everything should be lit up." Shit. This could be bad. Now they're all staring at me. I can't move without them noticing. This could be bad. But that isn't what makes me nervous. The kings eyes I stare into are ones I faintly remember, that comfort me somehow. "If there is anyone there, please come out. Otherwise we will be forced to check. That could result in serious harm." Don't they notice the fire creeping ever closer, the intense heat? Don't they feel fear? The king walks over, unsheathing... a dagger? I thought he'd have a sword. He comes over. oh no. He's going to poke it into me. Abandoning the hiding plan I jump away, the shadows following. He chuckles. "So here's our murderer. Why don't you come out and make it easier on yourself." Thinking fast, I back towards a window. Before they have time to react, I leap. Glass litters my costume and tears a hole in one side. It can be repaired, so I don't worry about it. I twist around and see them in the window behind me. A guard comes and states, "All citizens still alive have been evacuated. Damage is" I fall out of hearing range and twist myself around again. The ground outside the castle soon looms beneath me. I land, not making a sound. The grass barely ripples under my feet. That accomplished, I run to the forest. I won't have to deal with anything tonight. They'll be to busy finding who died, who was left orphaned. I turn around right before Lindblum's out of sight, and I could swear I saw a pare of eyes in the darkness, staring strait at me. I shiver and head into the forest, leaving those searching eyes far behind.

I arrive at our campsite, feeling perfectly fine. I cast dispel, and glance at my. rip. It'll have to be sewn securely, as it ripped until I can see my real skin. Tearing off a thread from the tent Catalina went back and got, I marvel at the contrast of colors from my costume to my real skin. Compared to my light tan, the costume is as brown as mud. I count the layers of durable cloth as I sow. Eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, finally. I think as I reach the last layer. It's a wonder I'm not hot, but then again I learned how to regulate body heat years ago, or at least keeping myself cool. It comes automatically now. I breathe a sigh and curl against a tree in a light sleep, feeling fairly secure. I keep my daggers handy, though. Just in case.

I wake up. I feel the smooth tree bark on my face and am instantly alert, daggers in hand. I then hear it. A twig cracking. Within an instant I am on my feet and notice a light to my right. I turn to run, and another light faces me. I continue turning until the realization hits me: I'm surrounded. "Fire" I whisper, and aim for the prepared spot. It flares for a moment, before dying into a dull flame. In the better light I can see the army that I face. The one that came from Alexandria. Led by their general and royalty, the defect by the generals' side. "Give up. We have you surrounded." Shouts the general, "Resistance is futile. You'll be captured anyway. Surrendering only saves you from pain." Idiot. As if I'd come quietly. "What do you think I am, an idiot? I'm not going anywhere." I shout. The soldier I beat up shouts out, "You're the one I fought. You think your speed can help? You're wrong." I smirk, catching her off guard. I catch sight of a figure in the trees. Catalina. She made it. I give the slightest tilt of my head, telling her not to help. We can't risk both of us getting caught. I then smile wider, a broad grin. My hard teeth flash in the night. "Why are you smiling? Do you think you can win or escape? If you do you shall be sorely wrong. We have four of the people who saved the world fourteen years ago on our side. Your opponents." I frown, a bit unsure about fighting the ones who took down my Uncle so many years ago, but it seems I don't have a choice. I smile once more. "I seem to think four on one is a bit unfair. You think it takes that many to be sure of my capture? It's flattering. Bring it on."

No sooner than I finished my speech did the King and Queen of Alexandria step forward, their weapons at the ready. Behind me I hear the rustle of leaves, and turn to see Lindblums Princess and the defect walk forward. The princess is. armed with a flute?! I know the spells Catalina can do with a flute, this could be dangerous. I mustn't let my guard down. That can lead to my demise. I hear a twig snap behind me, and jump not a second to soon, as the King rushes below me, daggers taking a swipe. I spin in midair and slash him around the face leaving bloody trails. One knife catches his elbow and I hear a satisfying crack. As I land I dart to the right and narrowly avoid. an eidolen. Predictable, though I did not think she would risk Bahamut. I dart to the right to avoid flare- and run smack into a holy move. I scream from pain and rage as I'm engulfed in a blue light, and fall back to earth on my back. I get up immediately and use my own holy attack on the princess. I then survey the damage I've done. The king is bleeding from cuts and has a broken arm. The princess is looking winded, as if completely covered with bruises. The other two are still fit, but that can be changed. All of a sudden I hear a sharp crack, and feel an immense pain in the top of my head. My knees bend involuntarily, and I fall to the ground.

I maintain consciousness, and keep my eyes open, breathing steady. I'm furious at myself. I should've paid more attention to the soldiers I wasn't fighting. Thanks to my inattentiveness I lost. I concentrate on bending my arms, bringing them under me, pushing, trying to get up. With a sharp gasp of pain I fall back again, unable to move. A long flow of curses flow from my lips, telling Catalina not to interfere. The queen speaks, "We warned you." I take a deep breath and try once more to get up. I fail again. Someone walks over to me, rolls me over with their foot. The king. He looks at me, utter disgust written on his face. "You must have a hard head. Otherwise you'd be bleeding by now. Were you the one who set the fire?" I refuse to answer him with even a nod. He continues anyway. "The fire injured many people, but did nothing lethal. Lindblum is now in shreds. The people are staying at Alexandria until Lindblum is rebuilt." I open my lips and begin to whisper a spell. The queen immediately silences me. "I must admit, for a child you put up quite a fight. It takes someone with strength to stay awake with a stone lodged in the top of your head. To bad you don't use it wisely." States the general, walking over. She takes a chain from her back and ties me up with it, despite my struggles. The knots are good, it would take an hour of struggling at full strength to get through them. She leans over and picks me up, carrying me to the airship outside the forest. She takes me inside. The invincible. the legendary airship. I notice no passengers from Lindblum are there, on the off chance I escape. Once on board she searches me, discarding my many knives. The food she examines and, realizing it isn't a weapon of any sort, tucks back into my pocket. When she comes upon the sleeping weed she piles it in a corner. When the. heroes. come on board they inspect the weapons, and grab some weed. Taking it they jam open my mouth and force it down. Blackness soon swallows me, and I collapse into sleep.