I do not own Final Fantasy XI or any other copyrights such as Square Enix. Characters are of my own designed base on myself and on friends.

I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please read and review. All criticism good and bad is welcome.

To Fight On

Matt sat in his room thinking about the events that have happened over the past few days. He met Pso, Yam, and Dark, what should have been a happy time turned out to be a rather emotionally painful time. Toph was taken hostage and sent to be kept by the anticans. Alone the anticans aren't that strong… but, they live in a hive. This would be difficult. On top of all of that, he ran across Sozu in the temple. Sozu's information was invaluable. After returning with the information, Yam told him something that had kept him thinking. She was in love with him. On the outside Matt was always in control of the situation. If things looked bad, it was because he wanted them to. However, on the inside there was such turmoil. Emotions were clashing, nothing was clear or in control on the inside. Things had to be so complicated. If it was just rescuing Toph it would be so simple.

A knock at the door.

"Hey there, busy?" Yamaroo peeked in seeing him deep in thought. "I can come back."

"No no, I was just thinking about stuff. I am not sure what, I am so confused."

"Want to talk about it?" She said taking his hand in hers.

"Nah, that's okay, I am not even sure what I would talk about. We have things to plan anyway." He smiled and squeezed her hand gently. "I am hoping my messege got out from Jeuno, then things will get a lot easier."

"What messege?"

At that moment laughter could be heard outside. It was one of the guards. Only one person can make people laugh where ever she goes.

"… and then the Elvaan said something about pride… of course that is when I was just waking up. It seems I failed my paladin test… again."

Voices faded in, a Mithra was telling the story, the guard laughing the whole time.

"That messege." Matt smiled and went to the door. "Kitt you foolish cat, how have you been!"

"MG! You know me, just doing random things. So um… what's the urgency?" Kitts face got serious suddenly. The guard realizing this retreated back to his post.

"Enjoy yourself for a while, I am hoping a few more people show up today. Then everything will be explained." Matt smiled at the mithra and let out a chuckle. "You still following the path of the samurai? Carrying around that overgrown butter knife and all that meditation stuff?"

"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way. Who is that in there with you, some exotic lover, an apprentice, the laundry man?" Kitt looked in the room. "Oh Yam! How are you doing, it has been a while." Kitt smiled and winked at Matt. "I will leave you two to whatever you were doing before. I will be out rabble rousing like normal."

Matt sighed. "Heh, Kitt was the first one here, not really surprising. So Yam, what did you want to talk about?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to see you." She smiled at him blushing. "Nothing wrong with that is there?"

"Nothing at all, hey depending on who shows up, lets have a dinner party tonight! How about that?"

Yamaroo smiled and stood next to him. "Sounds like a good plan. Who else do you expect to come?"

"Ahh that is a surprise. You will see eventually." Grinning Matt walked back to the bed and sat down. "I am a bit tired, need a nap, and after that. I want to show you some things here in Norg."

"Alright" Yam walked over to the bed and gently kissed Matt on the cheek then left shyly waving good bye.

Matt drifted off into a light sleep. Images of wars across the land passed through his dreams. Fires burned in all of the cities. Dead lay everywhere. He dreamed of "her" his first love. Even now her name eluded him. The images got clearer. Like they were real almost. He saw the man of shadows. His back was turned, laughing. As he turned to look at Matt… He woke up.

"Shit! That was too real. Far too real."

Someone knocked on the door and then just strode in.

"Wake up you lazy fool! I am here to save you once again." The man clad in a strange armor that even Matt had never seen before said. "Well, are you going to say hi or just sit there in awe of this ancient armor I found?"

"Mertron? Is it really you?"

"Damn strait. Now are you going to explain what is going on, or am I going to have to wait around all day?"

"Well, wait around all day, when more people come I will explain everything. And what is that armor?"

"I am not really sure, but it was found in the Dynamis. That strange world that is a copy of ours pretty much. Found it there."

"Wow, it must be something special then. Congratulations on that."

"I saw Kitt around, is there anyone else here?"

"Me Kitt and Yam are the only ones so far. I hope you are ready for some fun. We will have plenty later."

"I see, well I am off to do something until it is time. Catch you later." Mert walked out with a wave.

Matt walked out his door and down to the waterside. After looking around a bit and not seeing what he was looking for he headed up a small tunnel to the auction house. It was quite the auction house. Anything and everything needed for the daily adventures. Also "special" products that might be needed for other things. Not seeing anything here either he headed to talk to Ryoma.

"Hey there you dirty, cheating, son of a sahagin, have you seen Yamaroo around?"

"Ahhh so you finally know. Good for you, you indignant pup. Yeah I seen her going up to Lions room. Those two are up to something, but I am sure a strapping youngster like yourself can handle it." Ryoma grinned ear to ear. "When is the date boy? And am I invited?"

"I am not sure, and of course not… respectable people will be there. Besides…" Matt sighed, "… I am not sure about my own feelings yet."

"I am though, just go for it lad. Trust me, I know everything."

"Yeah I know, but still. I want to be sure of how I feel. Emotions, they should have died a long time ago. At least that is what ninja training taught me."
"Boy, if you think emotions can be killed that easily you are very very naïve. What ninja do you know that is completely emotionless? None."

"Yeah, I suppose so. Well I better get off to find Yam, Lion might be corrupting her."

Matt walked up to the area of Norg where the residents lived. The small rooms lined the hallways, and at the end of the hallways was Gilgimesh's room. To the right Lions, Gilgimesh's daughter. Knocking once and waiting Matt gathered his thoughts.

When the door opened Lion stood there hands on her hips and a smirk on her face.

"I thought you weren't interested in me." She said.

"I'm not, I wanted to talk to Yam, and a reliable source said she was here."

"Damn that Ryoma… Fine come in."

Walking in Matt saw Yam, dressed much like Lion. A yellowish clothing barely enough to cover the necessary parts. Topped off with a headband. Chuckling slightly and taking a seat he said.

"I knew Lion would corrupt you, but it looks good. Want to go for a walk?"

"I would love to." Yam said blushing.

"Remember what I told you earlier." Lion tried whispering as the door was closed behind Matt and Yamaroo.

"I won't even ask… it is most likely some scheme to help her burn time."

Yam giggled at that remark. "Maybe, but I am sure you can find out eventually. I mean, she is one of your good friends isn't she? You should know how she thinks."

"Yeah she is, which is why I worry about what she told you earlier. I may not know the details, but I know it will be… interesting, for her at least."

The two walked around Norg, admiring the water and the structure of the cave. They eventually made their way outside the gate. Crabs were scurrying around their feet as they passed. An occasional groan from the undead could be heard in the distance, but neither feared them. They were just lost souls looking for a body weak enough to consume. Going down some corridors Matt led on. They passed a pond where a few brave souls were fishing while bats flew around them. Continuing down, Yam looked in amazement as a beautiful waterfall was feeding a shallow pond.

"I never thought anything could look so beautiful down here."

"I used to come down here to train and study, this place is amazing. Especially when no one else is around."

Matt walked to the waterfall and sat underneath it. The cool water flowed over him, seeming to wash away all of his troubles. Yam soon joined him underneath the water, sitting down and leaning against his arm. They just sat there staring in awe at the hidden beauty of Sea Serpent Grotto, relaxing and enjoying each other's company. A perfect silence.

"Matt? I have been wanting to ask you something, about our future."

"Hmm?" Matt was still in a daze for the most part staring ahead at the shimmering pool of water that the falls fed. When he finally turned to look at her their lips met in a gentle kiss. The moment in time was frozen it seemed, but things always have a way or going sour fast.

Matt snapped out of his love-induced haze and jumped to his feet drawing his katanas. Something was coming, and fast. More than one now. The sound of clumsy running. Something defiantly wasn't right now. Matt looked around; the echoes were making it difficult to hear which direction they were coming from.

"We need to get back to Norg now. Come on follow me."

With that he took off walking fast instead of running. Running would only leave Yam behind, and that is something he didn't want to do… ever. They hurried past the pond; the adventurers that were fishing were gone. Stopping to examine the ground where one was standing a while before Matt suddenly backed away and looked around.

"Sahagins were here. Their residue is on the ground here, along with hume blood."

Continuing up the winding paths of Sea Serpent Grotto Matt kept looking back over his shoulder. Keeping Yam in front of him, always looking back. He suddenly stopped and turned.

"Yam, do you remember the way back to Norg? Through the hidden door and up to the torches. Go now. I have to stay here for a few minutes."

"I want to stay with you, I can help. I…"

"I know you can help, but you need to tell the people there, tell them that the sahagins are coming… in force. Together I don't think we can take them all, but if you get people from Norg to help us, we can push them back."

"Ok, I understand." With that Yam ran off down the path to Norg. Matt looked back after her for a second hoping that he could hold off what was behind them. If not… well if not, at least they could bury him at sea when they came and found his body.

Absolute silence…

Water dripping in the distance…

A hiss… and it begins. Matt is standing ready in the narrowest part of the passage, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. The first signs of an advance are evident, a slight ripple in the puddles near his feet. Out of the shadows small figures of mottled blue and light orange appear. Some with crude spears, clubs, or just using their hands. After surveying the numbers Matt decided that it would take a miracle to kill all of these, but a miracle was always in the odds.

The first sahagin approached, and got slashed across the throat as another filled its place; it got stabbed in its scaly chest. Three more approached, and all were cut down where they stood. Taking a step back, Matt found a pouch of powder and started concentrating on it very hard. Within moments sparks rose from his hands and the closest sahagin was spasming from the electrical current. Still many more were coming. Matt started taking steps back with every slash of his katanas. Eventually the sahagins got close enough to start attacking themselves. Evading started to become a problem when the number attacking reached four sahagins. Matt had to stop attacking and start parrying with his weapons instead. When an opening came, he darted at the nearest sahagin in five quick successions. The fish like creature stood still for a second and then fell to the ground bleeding from multiple stab marks. Soon Matt found himself in a corner fending off as many sahagins as he could. Luckily only four could get to him at a time… He could keep this up until people came from Norg without a problem.

Then it hit him. A strong burst of magic that nearly knocked him to the ground. His vision blurred from the pain, and his balance started to go. The spell was a strong form of Banish. Pure white magic that is concentrated into attack form. Many more of those and he was done for and he knew it. Dashing forward to find the source, cutting down sahagins as he went, Matt would not let this mage live. Somewhere in the middle of the group of Sahagins, one larger than the rest stood staff in hand. This one seemed to be a leader of sorts. Matt dove forward and stabbed at the larger sahagin, but his katana glanced off of its skin. If this one cast banish though, it was sure to have the stoneskin spell up. Dodging to the side as random blows came at him, Matt still didn't have time to forget about the mass of scales around him. Attacking full force on the leader was his main concern. After a few minutes of rapid slashes and stabs the damage started to show. The damage however, was minimal. This one wasn't leading for nothing. It was a tough fish, and when its staff actually connected, Matt was knocked back onto the ground. He tried to get up, but he had taken too much damage. This would be the end for him. As he thought to himself.

"All of that work for nothing. All of it, just thrown out, and for reasons he didn't even know. If only he could have stood a minute longer. To keep his friends safe, to rescue the ones already taken…"

The sahagins closed around the fallen hume. He was breathing still, but it was very shallow. Closer they came. Finally over top of him looking down. One of the sahagins raised his spear for the kill shot to make sure he was on his way to being fully dead.

"And Yamaroo… what about Yam? I can't be done yet… I have one more thing I have to do for them… for her. I have to fight on."

The tip of the spear was cut off and rattled to the ground. The amazed looking sahagin was then promptly cut across its face. Using the fallen enemy as a shield Matt pushed through the crowd finally finding the exit of it. Throwing the dead body on the ground he dashed towards the Norg entrance. Rounding a corner and seeing the secret door was never such a relief to him. Looking back, nothing could be seen, but it could be felt. The mass of giant fish that were after him were now coming at full speed. Depressing the switch for the secret door while still looking back Matt turned to see a face on the other side. A look of shock turned into a look of relief. It was Mertron, he had come to help. A strong Elvaan arm reached out and grabbed him, pulling him through the door.

One look around showed how busy people had been. Pirates were setting traps and sharpening their swords. Yam and Kitt were discussing something off to the side, while Lion and the Norg guards were going over battle plans. Matt let out a sigh of relief.

"Don't feel good about yourself now, the fun is just beginning." Mertron warned. "The main cities have almost all fallen. I am sure you already know, or had a feeling. They are burning as we speak. The tenshido are doing everything they can to stop it, but one secret organization can only do so much. We need the co-operation of the leaders of the nation, but they just blame the tenshido instead. What fools. Looks like it is up to us now."

Matt walked over to Yam, but ended up getting pulled to the side by Lion on the way.

"How many are out there? I need to know right now."

"How the hell should I know? I can't count that high, it looks like all of them actually. With one real mean one too, did this to me pretty much on his own."

"This is bad… very bad."

Matt walked away and went to see Yam. When he sat down at her feet, exhausted from the minor ordeal he had just been through, she smiled.

"I am just glad you are still alive, I was worried."

"Well you know me, always an adventure."

Before any more could be said, the rock door started shaking. The sahagins were beginning their attack.

Please R&R it is much appreciated