PART XVII

"Now Zinkata, let's settle this, one on one, as it should have been."

"We were friends. You threw that down the drain and sold yourself out! I wouldn't trade this battle for the world."

"Oh, please, you were only my ally because I needed you to steal the crown of Uggalepih, it was all planned. He came to me in a dream, you see, when I was a young boy. The rest was careful planning. I had known for decades that only you could pull it off. It was your destiny. Your destiny. Now Uggalepih is resurrected and the world is his!"

"Like hell!"

"You cannot defeat me. Surrender. Maybe I wont kill you."

That battle had only occurred a few days ago. It felt like a lifetime. The fact that Zinkata had ever trusted that man was sickening. He glanced at Vivli, who was sat opposite, digging through a bag for some pieces of paper she found she had said could help their search. She looked so small and weak, yet had easily crushed Signot. If he let the truth be known, he was quite angry at her for that. She had killed the one enemy he would have done anything to have a final shot at. Of course, he knew in a quest as vital as theirs, this was petty and never brought it up.

"Found it!" Vivli beamed, pulling out a map.

"It's a map of Vana'diel Li. I have one too." Zinkata replied blankly, pulling himself out of his thoughts.

"But look at this!" She pulled out a much more unfamiliar map.

"Where the hell is that?" Zinkata asked, taking a closer look.

"It's an old map of Gaia." She replied, smiling at her own achievement. Most of the heated emotions from the conversation beforehand had faded from her body.

"Perhaps you had better get the others before explaining this." Zinkata suggested.

The four were now gathered around a small table in the tavern. This looked highly comical, as you might imagine, with Bootus squeezed awkwardly into a small chair, Voldos slumped in another and Zinkata looking embarrassed. And of course, all three were looking down on Vivli, who was attempting to explain something to them. The size difference alone made other bar patrons snigger. And made Vivli nervous as she stared at the faces looking down on her.

"Right, so this is a map of Gaia, right?" Vivli pointed to it. "And this is Vana'diel." She pointed to that.

"By the gods! You're a genius!" Exclaimed Bootus.

"Be quiet!" Vivli snapped. "Right, if we overlay them, we can find the geographical positions of Gaia in our own world today." The others nodded. "And according to a book I found, the Light Warriors visited the land of the elves after their quest."

"Elvaans." Voldos corrected. "We're not called elves. We don't hand out presents and dance around like little pixies."

"Firstly, that's elfs. Secondly, they were called elves. Elvaans are an evolutionary result. For starters, your necks are gigantic now." Everybody else at the table sniggered. Voldos subconsciously reached for his neck.

"It's not." He whimpered.

"Anyway, according to the map, the old land of Elfland-"

"Creative name." Bootus interjected.

"Shut up!" Vivli cried. "As I was saying, the old land of Elfland was built where Bastok is now."

"So we go to Bastok and ask for rumours about the crystal positions?" Zinkata guessed.

"No, we go to Windurst." Vivli beamed a smile.

"Did Chaos drop you on your head or something?" The galka inquired.

"Are short memory spans a symptom of the thin air you must get all the way up there?" Vivli countered. Voldos sniggered.

"Oh come on, that wasn't funny! I was funny!" Bootus protested.

"Need I remind you the President of Bastok sent us on a mission. A mission that if we do not complete, he'll have our heads instead of offering us help." Vivli was enjoying being in a position of power, even if she was a little intimidated by the collected adventurers staring down on her.

"So, what do we do?" Voldos asked.

"Simple. We go to Windurst, talk to the High Priestess. She'll get the higher authorities to say we offered aid by doing what we're doing anyway. And she can fill us in on any information the President may want to hear." The others paused.

"Sounds easy." Zinkata said with a nod.

"Let's get to the chocobo stables then." Voldos muttered.

"We have licences?" Vivli inquired.

"The Grand Duke filled them out for us." Zinkata passed her a slip of paper.

"Race you there!" Bootus bolted out of the tavern before the others could say anything. Voldos and Zinkata glanced at each other before running after him.

"And they say I'm childish." Vivli said to nobody, getting up and walking. She knew she didn't stand a chance of catching them up anyway.

"What took you so long?" Was Bootus's friendly greeting to the mithra. "You missed my victory!"

"Don't lie!" Zinkata snapped. "I beat you by a good second!"

"Oh please, we said to the chocobo stables, not to the chocobo!" Vivli laughed as Bootus talked. This was the kind of light hearted relief they were all in need of.

"Shall we get going?" Voldos was slightly embarrassed by their behaviour, especially in front of the female elvaan who seemed to be running the stable. They all walked up to the young woman, paid their gil and went about picking their chocobos.

Voldos and Zinkata skilfully jumped on. Bootus climbed on, and the chocobo struggled under his massive weight. Vivli tried to climb up, found herself too short, and fell.

"Maybe you'd take this one, ma'am." The elvaan woman said politely, pointing to a much smaller chocobo. Vivli climbed onto it much easier.

"Thanks." She said sheepishly, a little embarrassed.

"Ha, you even have to have a midget chocobo!" Bootus exclaimed.

"I'm not that short!" Vivli cried as the chocobo lurched forwards uneasily.

"Yes you are!" Came a reply in unison.

"There are lots of mithra my height!" She protested as they exited the stables and rode into the ruins outside of Jeuno.

"And they're all short as well!" Bootus pointed out. "Not to mention you're damn near anorexic."

"What?" Vivli exclaimed.

"You are." Bootus stated. "Look at this." He held out his massive arm (which made Vivli jealous of just how well he could ride a chocobo one handed). "You're about the width of my arm."

"Well, if you weren't so fat, that wouldn't be a problem." She countered.

"It's all muscle!" Bootus yelled.

"Ha. At least I can claim I'm all muscle and it be accurate." Vivli taunted.

"You're not though. You're just fur and bones." Zinkata butted in.

"Where did that come from? Why does everybody consider mithra furry? We have furry ears. We have furry tails. Other than that, we're just like everybody else." Vivli protested.

"Nice change of subject, bone sack." Bootus said with a laugh.

"Hey, that was mean!" Vivli cried.

"That was the idea." Bootus laughed again. Vivli grumbled.

Sadly this sort of conversation continued all the way to Windurst with Vivli and Bootus mocking each other continuously. Zinkata would occasionally butt in, but Voldos remained silent. He didn't want to get involved. He thought up a couple of witty comments, but through great restraint, kept them to himself.

The city of Windurst fell into view on the horizon, much to the relief of the elvaan.

"I'm not saying white magic is useless. I'm saying White Mages are!" Cried the galka. Their arguments had moved on somewhat.

"What? How can you say that? We're the staple force for any party!" Vivli yelled equally loudly.

"Doing what? You're too weak to defend yourselves, so you just leech off us." Bootus pointed out.

"We do not 'leech'. And not all White Mages are weak!" Vivli sounded like she was genuinely offended for once. That was the tone she was going for. She hoped it would make the galka shut up.

"Sorry, it's difficult to remember that when you're the only White Mage I know." Bootus laughed. Vivli let out an angry grumble.

"Kweh!" Cried the chocobo, sounding as fed up as Voldos felt.

"You obtained another shard?" The High Priestess seemed surprised.

"It was in the hands of Jeuno. It wasn't easy to get." Zinkata explained.

"High Priestess," Vivli began, "I need to know. Did you know Uggalepih was Chaos?"

"We were aware." The Priestess replied.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Vivli cried.

"Would it have mattered? It is but a name." Vivli went to reply, but a hand on her shoulder from Voldos made her reconsider.

"We need Windurst to confirm we offered aid so we can continue the search for the crystal shards in Bastok." Zinkata explained.

"Shouldn't be hard to get. The fate of the world rests on this after all." She paused. "It is typical of the President of Bastok to insist you complete your missions, isn't it?" Bootus stirred awkwardly, he didn't like hearing bad words against his home nation.

"Thank you." Zinkata said quickly, before the galka could protest. "As soon as we have confirmation we'll be on our way."

"Not quite so fast. I have a request from the Star Sybil. She wants to see Vivli." Vivli jumped as she heard this. The Star Sybil was a tarutaru that the people of Windurst believed was a resurrected Goddess. Seeing her was the same as seeing the Grand Duke, except this was the ruler of Vivli's home.

"I can't meet the Star Sybil!" Vivli cried. "I'm just a mage. I don't-"

"She requested it. I'd advise you accept." The Priestess told Vivli. Vivli sighed. She didn't really have a choice.

The tiny mithra stood alone in Heaven's Tower, the gigantic tree in which the Star Sybil resided. She walked nervously through the gigantic doors, seeing the small tarutaru sat in a large throne.

"Ah. Miss Vivli. The Light Warrior." Came the greeting. Vivli dropped to one knee. Unlike the Grand Duke, there had been no formal tradition, and she was still in her robe.

"Star Sybil. It's an honour to meet you." She stammered.

"Rise." Came the instruction. Vivli did so. "So you are the one who will save our world?" The Star Sybil inquired.

"I've been told. I don't know-" Vivli began.

"Why are you unsure? It is your destiny, surely?" Vivli was interrupted before she got the chance to finish.

"But I don't look like a Light Warrior. I don't think like a Light Warrior. I don't act like a Light Warrior." She was rambling, but she felt it was time she expressed her fears.

"And just what should a Light Warrior act like?" The Star Sybil asked. Vivli paused, a bit surprised. "You are a mage, no?" The Sybil continued.

"Well, yes." She replied.

"You study White Magic. Why?" Came the next question.

"So I can help others." Vivli was confused.

"So, in your heart, you journey only to help others. Do you want to destroy Chaos?" Vivli was very confused now, but continued to answer.

"Yes."

"So you have a pure heart that only wants to assist others, and wish to destroy evil?" Inquired the Star Sybil.

"Urm, yes. I guess." Vivli replied, shuffling her feet nervously.

"Exactly like the Light Warriors." Stated the Star Sybil. "What's the difference?"

"I'm just not very brave." Vivli gulped, feeling very uneasy.

"Courage and bravery are different. You will learn this." The Star Sybil told the little mithra. "You have a final question, do you not?"

"Urm, yes." Vivli nervously said.

"Proceed." Instructed the Star Sybil.

"Chaos said that the gods weren't real. He said it was a lie. How can I continue if they aren't real?" The Star Sybil laughed.

"Of course they're real. Chaos needs only to crush your faith to crush you. Remember that." The Star Sybil turned away. "Goodbye, young Light Warrior, and good luck. We are all counting on you."

Vivli walked out of Heaven's Tower very confused. She felt a little better. At least she thought she did. Bootus, Voldos and Zinkata stood assembled, waiting.

"Well?" Asked the galka.

"Well, what?" Vivli shot back.

"What did she say to you?" Bootus continued. "You don't just see a goddess and then leave silently."

"I have no idea. I think she was trying to reassure me." Vivl replied.

"We've got a letter here saying we offered assistance, and some basic information the state of Windurst generally. It should be enough for the President." Zinkata explained.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Vivli asked. "Let's go home!"

"Home?" Zinkata inquired as they walked away.

"I can't cling to here forever." Vivli explained. "Now, let's get back to Bastok and get around to saving the world."

"I love how casually she says that." Voldos laughed.

The ride out was uneventful and they soon found themselves sat in the hold of a passenger ship bound for Seblina. The group were mostly silent. This brought back unpleasant memories.

"We've been through a lot, haven't we?" Vivli said, quite randomly.

"Yeah. We have." Zinkata replied.

"I mean, it feels like decades ago we fought the quadav in the mines, or you stole my money." Zinkata laughed at the thought.

"It's funny to think how far we've been. How much we've been through." Vivli was pondering the past.

"Yeah, yet you still always argue." Voldos pointed out.

"Hey, it's playful. Right?" Vivli said with a shrug.

"Keep telling yourself that." Bootus smirked.

"See? Like that." Vivli pointed out.

"Did you have a point to this?" Bootus asked.

"Not really. Was just thinking about it." Vivli replied.

"Think with your head, not with your mouth." Bootus advised. A robed figure looked over to them, and quickly ran out the door to the deck above.

"What was that about?" Voldos asked.

"Let's fine out." Zinkata replied, getting up.

The four ran out on deck to see clearly a figure in a large brown robe. The figure stumbled back, ending up at the bow of the ship.

"We don't want to hurt you. Who are you?" Zinkata asked, taking a cautious step towards the figure.

"You will want to hurt me." A female voice replied. "I can guarantee it." Vivli's eyes widened.

"Alexandria?" The little mithra ran in, throwing off the robe to reveal the twisted White Mage. She looked beaten. Her long black hair was knotted and ragged and her face gave the impression she hadn't rested in days.

"Wait! Please!" She stumbled back. "I'm not your enemy!"

"You would claim that." Vivli said fiercely.

"I can explain!" Alex begged.

"Yes. And why should we let you?" Vivli advanced on her.

"Can't you trust me, just for once?" Vivli froze as she heard that word.

"Trust? You would ask me to trust?" Vivli lunged at the fleeing girl, but Bootus grabbed her tail and stopped her. "OW! What the hell are you doing?" She yelled at the gigantic galka.

"While I admire the fact you're finally not being a coward, I think we should listen." Bootus advised.

"She's a liar! She lied before! She betrayed us before!" Vivli protested.

"Yes, and she's surrounded by four heavily armed adventurers." He paused, looking at Vivli. "Three heavily armed adventurers." He corrected. Vivli grumbled. "So let's hear her out, then consider the facts."

"Okay. Please. Listen." Alexandria panted. "I became a summoner, as you know. But I got greedy. I acquired all the avatars I could. But it wasn't enough. I wanted more."

"See? She admits she's greedy!" Vivli cried.

"Greed doesn't mean she's evil." Zinkata advised. Vivli grumbled again.

"I figured I could summon something more powerful. So I tried." She paused. "I got the spirit of Uggalepih. Of Chaos." She paused again. "You know how a summoner absorbs the power of the summon?" She didn't wait for an answer. "The power of Chaos was too much. He corrupted me."

"Oh, and you're free of it now?" Vivli asked sceptically.

"When you defeated me, the spirit left my body. It thinks I'm dead. I guess." She mumbled.

"And what are you doing now?" Voldos took a step forward, moving the furious Vivli back to avoid provoking an unnecessary confrontation.

"I don't know. Wondering the land." She gulped. "I was going to return to the Monastery, but I figured they wouldn't want me there."

"She's right." Vivli spat. Bootus yanked hard on her tail. "OW!" She yelped.

"Be quiet." The galka grumbled.

"I need to repent for what I've done, but I don't know how." Alexandria began to cry. Vivli watched this, and suddenly felt a change in her heart. That horrible realisation dawned on her that she may have been wrong.

"I'm sure, if you're telling the truth, you'll find a way." The mithra said painfully.

"Yeah, and if you're lying and betray us, next time we'll make sure you won't survive." Zinkata warned.

"Hold on, if you've turned back to the side of good, you can help us." Voldos said, as if having an idea. "What is Chaos planning?"
"He wants to rule Vana'diel. He's heading to the Temple of Uggalepih. His temple." Vivli's face erupted into a look of horror.

"What is it?" Zinkata asked quickly. She scrambled in her bag and pulled out her maps.

"You know the legend of how the Temple of Uggalepih came to be?" She asked, her eyes scanning rapidly over the maps.

"It was constructed by the words of the demon himself, by the very plans he laid out." Alex filled in. "At least that's what the legend says."

"They match!" Vivli gasped.

"What matches?" Snapped Bootus.

"The Temple of Uggalepih! It's the same!"

"Same as what?" Bootus was getting angrier.

"The Temple of the Fiends."

"What?" Cried Voldos.

"The Temple of the Fiends. Where the final battle with Chaos took place over a million years ago." Vivli explained.

"They must have reconstructed it." Alexandria gasped.

"Why would they have done that?" Zinkata inquired.

"I don't know. Chaos used it-" She paused. "Oh no."

"What?" Bootus shouted.

"Chaos used the Temple of the Fiends to go two thousand years into the past." Vivli's face was paralysed with shock.

"I don't get it." Voldos muttered.

"He doesn't want to take over Vana'diel." Vivli stated. "He wants Gaia."

"Gaia is a dead world. It's shifted and changed over the last million years. It no longer exists!" Cried Bootus.

"You fool!" Vivli yelled. "He's going to use the reconstructed Temple of the Fiends to go back in time! He's going to take over Gaia!"

"At least Vana'diel will remain safe." Voldos said with a shrug.
"There won't be a Vana'diel!" Vivli cried. "He'll destroy it before we exist!"

"How can we stop him?" Zinkata asked quickly.

"We do what we're planning. We gather the crystal shards, and then we go to the Temple of Uggalepih and face him."

"What if he's already gone to the past?" Voldos inquired.

"Then we follow the steps of the Light Warriors. We go too." Vivli stated.

"History likes repetition, doesn't it?" Zinkata smirked.

"I'll pray for you." Alexandria told them. "If what you say is true, then the fate of everything that was, is and ever will be again rests in your hands."

"Chaos will destroy our past, our present and our future. He's not satisfied with ruling the world. He wants to crush it and everything it ever was." Vivli explained what Alexandria had meant to the others.

"Well, then we're without options." Zinkata stated. "We have to stop him."

"Thanks for the information Alex." Vivli said softly. "I'm sorry if I misjudged you."

"Its understandable." Alex replied.

"We've arrived in Seblina!" Announced the ship's captain (who was, of course, Steve).

"I wish I could go with you, but I need to find a way to repent for my sins." She paused. "I can never cast magic again until I do. I just can't bring myself to do it."

"Goodbye Alex." Vivli said.
"Goodbye," Alex paused, "Heroes." She added with a smile.

The four found themselves stood back in Seblina.

"Well, the fate of the world depends upon us." Zinkata began. "Let's not hang around." The adventurers found themselves walking out into the dunes, knowing that they had to move as quickly as possible.