Author's Note: Here's another one. I'm making a lot of these this time around. This is just for those who were curious to all the Star Wars references I mentioned. The main part is the escape plan, which was exactly what Han and Luke did with Chewbacca in the first movie (when Vivli said she got her idea from a book, it was a little inside joke. In my head, she had in fact read 'Star Wars', since it can't have been a movie in Vana'diel). Many lines were lifted as well. You may have noticed 'I have a bad feeling about this' a few chapters back. This time there were; 'We're gonna have company!', 'This is some rescue', 'Perhaps you'd like it better back in your cell, your highness', and 'She's loose' (which was 'It's loose' in Star Wars, referring to Chewie). And the start of the 'Prisoner transfer…' line was based off Star Wars as well. So pretty much, it was a huge rip off. I wonder if anybody spotted them all….

PART VIII

The heroes bore blank expressions. They moved their heads from the orb on the table, to the smiling (yet somehow weary) face of Olose.

"How did you get that?" Voldos asked in disbelief.

"Simple. I was there." Olose answered. He took a deep sigh. He hadn't wanted to explain, but knew now he'd have to.

"What do you mean, you were there?" Vivli questioned, feeling very confused. "You didn't say hello or anything." Bootus sniggered at Vivli saying this.

"I was there. I saved you and Dedji, in fact." Olose smiled.

"You didn't." Dedji shot. She then paused. "Unless you're- No. That's not possible."

"I'm afraid it is." Olose answered. "There's no easy way to say this. I'm a werewolf."

Silence fell over the table.

"But, you're a decent man. Werewolves are evil. They have no souls or-" Vivli started ranting in disbelief.

"No." Olose interrupted. "Werewolves are not evil. Uncontrollable at first, but not evil."

"That's how that wound healed!" The white mage guessed.

"Yes. As a werewolf, I regenerate. Only silver can physically harm me. Any dead cells regenerate. Hence, I have been alive for six hundred and fifteen years." There was a long pause. That's some age difference thought Vivli.

"You're six hundred years old?" Zinkata exclaimed in disbelief.

"Six hundred and fifteen." Olose corrected. "The last surviving werewolf in the whole of Vana'diel, that I know of. Over those six hundred years I learnt to control myself in my werewolf form, hence why I didn't attack you last night."

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

"It's not exactly something I bring up. 'Hi, my name's Olose and I'm a werewolf.' Doesn't happen." He smiled sarcastically. "All that matters is that you have your orb now. We need to figure out what to do with it."

"Let's smash it." Bootus told the group.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you." Olose warned. "As you've probably figured, over six hundred years I've got around. I've seen a lot." He paused. "I've encountered souls in objects before. Smashing them often releases the soul. If there's something relating to Chaos within, we don't want to be doing that."

"So what do we do?" Bootus asked. "Stare at it? Pretend to be fortune tellers and make money with it?"

"That's not a bad idea." Zinkata said in thought.

"I think we should research it carefully before we make a decision." Olose suggested. Vivli got up and wondered out of the room.

It had been too much. She had just found out she had a sister, discovered she was in fact part of a dead chain of mithran royalty, discovered one of her friends was a six hundred year old werewolf and just found that they don't know what to do with the orb they had captured. She, in simple terms, felt very stressed. She sighed and looked out over Mhaura. It was quiet, and that was useful because it meant she could think peacefully. Until Arcane walked up behind her.

"Hello, Vivli." She said a little awkwardly. Vivli turned around.

"Urm. Hello." She replied, suddenly finding herself with a complete lack of things to say.

"Arrrrrre you okay?" Arcane asked. She sounded very caring.

"I'm a little stressed." Vivli confessed. "Very confused. A lot has happened. A lot."

"I can underrrrrstand." Arcane said in response. "I'm sorrrrrrrry we werrrrrrre never therrrrrrre for you." She added after a long pause. "It must have been awful growing up alone."

"I wasn't alone." Vivli pointed out. "I was protected, raised, all by one man. Like a brother and a father at the same time."

"You'll have to intrrrrrroduce us so I can thank him perrrrrrrsonally." Arcane smiled.

"I can't. He's dead." Vivli found herself being fairly blunt. "Murdered by the Demon Lord Chaos right in front of me." Vivli was surprised by her own self control. She had that memory lodged in her head, and her brain was replaying it before her.

"Come on! You heard him! We have to go!"

"FIOREL!"

"Remember, your big brother loves you."

"And your little sister loves you."

"Aw, how touching. Can I kill you now?"

"Give it your best shot."

She hadn't seen him die. That was a lie. She had heard him scream. But she had been running away at the time. Fiorel, the person she owed most to in the world, sacrificed himself for her and the fate of the world. Arcane could see the painful look on her daughter's face.

"I'm sorrrrrrrry." Arcane said quietly. "I'm sorrrrrrry we weren't therrrrre for you. I'm sorrrrrrrrry we couldn't help you." She offered her daughter a hug. Vivli accepted it, finding it incredibly comforting.

What she was unaware of was that Bootus, Zinkata, Voldos and Dedji were watching out the bar window.

"Seems like they're getting on." Zinkata commented.

"She certainly needs it." Voldos said.

"Bah. Just because she's a wuss, you all feel sorry for her." Bootus muttered. Dedji sniggered a little.

"It is nice they get along." She said. "I barely know her, but it's nice to see her happy."

"I know how you feel." Zinkata input. "Vivli's not far from a little sister for any of us, after all. She's part of the group, youngest, weakest, needs us the most. And after what we've been through, we're pretty much like family."

"I'm related to Voldos?" Bootus exclaimed. "Sweet Chaos! It's a nightmare beyond my greatest fears!" Voldos shot Bootus an unamused look.

"You're not funny." Voldos commented, and this caused Bootus to snigger. He decided to change this subject. "Besides, I don't understand why everybody keeps saying Vivli's weak."

"Because she's got the physical ability of a six year old girl?" Bootus suggested.

"I know some six yearrrrr olds that would beat the crrrrrrap out of herrrrr." Dedji input, causing Bootus to laugh.

"But mentally, it's unbelievable she's still going. Think about it. She's had her brother murdered-" Voldos began, but Dedji cut him off.

"She has a brother?"

"Urm. Brother figure murdered. Twice by what we knew at the time. Her friend betrayed her. Then when she turned back to the light and wanted forgiveness, she was murdered, in front of Vivli, before Vivli got the chance to forgive her. Factor into that the fact that she had to carry the weight of the world, fight the most evil creature in all creation, go back in time, take part in a war, discover her parents had been kidnapped and the stress of finding out who she really is, and you can forgive her for crying occasionally and being a little upset." Voldos himself was surprised as the list grew and grew.

"We did most of that stuff, as well." Bootus pointed out.

"Yeah, and I bet you cry to yourself all the time." Voldos said with a smirk.

"Dearrrrr Altana, that is a lot to go through." Dedji sighed.

"I mean, we're all experienced warriors and adventurers, but Vivli never was." Voldos added for further explanation.

"You defend herrrrr like she's parrrrt of yourrrrr family too." Dedji laughed. "Guess she neverrrr rrrrrreally needed us anyway."

"I feel like we're in a fairy tale." Bootus commented. "Is this the moral? The bit that makes kids go 'oh, she had a family all along because she had friends'?"

"Werrrrre you born a sarrrrrcastic gimp or did it develop?" Dedji inquired. Voldos and Zinkata laughed. Olose wondered over and joined the group.

"So, what's the plan?" Olose inquired, sitting down.

"Don't really have one." Zinkata admitted. "The orb is safe in our protection. What concerns me is who's after it. I mean, if it contains the soul of a fiend, who is trying to free it?"

"As long as it's not Chaos, I don't care." Voldos said with a laugh.

"We don't have to worry about Chaos." Olose smirked. "He's gone. But something is hunting the orb, and I want to know what."

"You're not alone there." Zinkata said. "But how do we find out?"

"I don't know." Olose confessed. "I imagine that if we wait, it will reveal itself soon enough."

A smile was fixed on Vivli's face as she wondered into the bar. She walked quickly to the table, clearly being very happy.

"Hey guys!" She called. "We thought of anything?"

"You seem worryingly happy. I don't think it's natural." Voldos commented.

"Why not? I can be happy. Everything's finally sorted out." She smiled brightly. She then paused, and the smile faded. "Actually, everything is so sorted out, I was wondering if I could go back to Kazham. Spend some time with my parents." She suggested it as tactfully as she could. All three of the adventurers (yes, even Bootus) looked a little taken back by this.

"You want to leave the group?" Zinkata asked, a little surprised, and to be honest, a little hurt.

"No. No." She quickly said. "I just want to spend a bit of time getting to know my parents, my sister, my home. I'll contact you guys every day by linkshell, then rejoin up later."

"Who are we to keep you from that?" Zinkata asked rhetorically. "If it's what you want, then do it."

"Thanks." Vivli said happily, the smile returning. She sat down joining the group. "So what are we-" She corrected herself. "-you going to do with the orb?"

"We could take it to San D'Oria." Voldos suggested. "That city is more fortified than any other, and we Elvaan respect rules and regulations so no bandits would be able to operate in the city."

"San D'Oria also has the biggest library in the whole of Vana'diel." Olose explained. "I'm sure we could find something there."

"Well, Vivli is our resident researcher," Bootus said, "But she's running off with her other family!" It was a sarcastic cry, but it still upset Vivli a little.

"Sorry." She muttered. "I didn't think it was unreasonable."
"I'm joking Viv." Bootus reiterated, not liking to genuinely hurt the mithra, just annoy her. "Speaking of her family." Bootus pointed to Arcane and Cruth and they wondered over to the table.

"Hello." Arcane said politely. "Did Vivli tell you what she plans to do?"

"Yeah." Zinkata nodded in reply. "You take care of her, right?"

"Stop that!" Vivli protested. "I'm not a kid!" Zinkata chuckled. There was a sudden vibrating noise on the table.

"What the hell is that?" Dedji exclaimed. The orb was beginning to shake.

"What's it doing?" Voldos asked curiously. The orb rolled off the table and smashed to pieces on the floor. The entire group were slightly taken back. There was silence in the bar.

"Voldos. I blame you for that." It was naturally Bootus who spoke first.

"You just say that because you think I'm clumsy!" Voldos didn't present the greatest defence of all time.

"That is true." Bootus replied.

"Well, I guess that's over." Zinkata muttered. "That was easy. All we had to do was accidentally break it."

"You fool." Cruth suddenly said, turning slowly towards the warrior. "It's not over."

He began to float in the air. His eyes were glowing a bright yellow, and yellow electricity crackled around him.

"What?" Voldos exclaimed.
"Father!" Cried Dedji.

"Dad!" Vivli screamed.

"Are you so blind?" Cruth's voice sounded like a snarl, deep in tone yet monstrous in nature. "I am not the pathetic mortal you believe me to be. I am Lich! Fiend of the Earth! And I am reborn!"

"NO!" Vivli yelled.

"Yes." Countered Lich. "This body is now but a vessel. I shall see that the ground rots and this planet ends."

"Oh no you wont." The heroes raised from their seats, drawing their weapons. Voldos quickly loaded an arrow.

"No!" Vivli yelled, pushing his arms down. "You can't hurt him! That's my father!"

"We have to, Viv." Zinkata explained.

"No! There has to be a better way!" Vivli sobbed.

"Yes. Yes. Find a better way." Lich laughed. "I knew you could not bring yourself to see me perish. Not in this body. What will it be, Light Warriors? Are you going to kill her too?" Dedji angrily glared at Lich.

"You can't think you'll get away with this!" She cried. "If I have to kill my own father, I will!"

"So be it." Lich spat, and the yellow electricity surrounding him shot out, crackling around Dedji. She fell to the floor, screaming. Voldos fired an arrow, and it lodged in the shoulder of the fiend. "Oh, I feel no pain. But you are battering this body." He warned. "I shall always survive, but I cannot say the same for this being."

"Please! Stop!" Vivli cried, now in tears. "Don't hurt him!"

"Viv! We have to!" Zinkata yelled.

"Just try." Lich taunted. "My power is far beyond your pathetic skills." Arcane, who had been watching in utter disbelief until now, rose.

"You won't win!" She yelled. "We'll defeat you yet! Even if my love has to die!"

"Go!" Zinkata commanded. "Get out of here! We'll handle this!"

"What about me?" Dedji asked.

"Protect your mother! Go!" Dedji and Arcane bolted from the bar.

Lich laughed as he turned to face the four heroes.

"So, the Light Warriors are assembled at last." Lich let out a second evil laugh. "I see no crystal shards, Light Warriors. Your powers have passed. You can no longer resist me."

"Dammit, Lich!" Zinkata cried. "We killed Chaos, we can destroy you."

"No! The shards crushed Chaos." Lich laughed. "I was there. In that orb. I've waited, until they were gone. Until the crystal shards were no more. Because I knew, as soon as you defeated Chaos, I could return. You are without the power to defeat me! I had to wait, I had to spend so long within that orb, waiting until the end of the battle. And now I am back, and I shall fulfil what Chaos could not! The four fiends shall rise again!"
"NO!" Zinkata ran at Lich, and was blasted back by lightning.

"You cannot defeat me." Lich taunted.

"Forgetting someone?" Olose asked from behind.

Lich spun to face Olose.

"Ah, the pathetic puppy." Lich taunted. "You want to fight?"

"I'll rip you limb for limb!" Olose yelled.

"Olose! Please! No!" Vivli sobbed.

"Ah, but will you go against her wishes?" Lich asked with an evil grin. "You love her. You wouldn't harm her." Olose clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in anger. Lich's flaming yellow eyes glared down at him. "I am proficient in many spells, I warn you." Lich began. "This is a particular favourite. Silver Arrow!" Lich summoned a gleaming silver arrow, and hurled it at Olose. It tore right through his flesh and out the other side, causing a gigantic burn wound within. Olose crashed to the floor, screaming in agony. "Ah, silver. The only thing that can harm a werewolf." Laughed Lich as he looked down at Olose. Olose groaned in pain. Vivli quickly started casting a heal spell, but Lich hurled lightning at her, and she yelled in her own pain, falling to the floor.

Zinkata, Voldos and Bootus prepared themselves as fearful form of the flying Cruth, complete with yellow eyes and cracking electricity, approached them. Vivli reeled in pain, unable to move from the pure agony. Her muscles wouldn't respond. She didn't have the strength to deal with this kind of pain. She gritted her teeth, and managed to crawl, despite this. I'll show you who's weak she thought angrily. She began to cast a spell.

Bootus was flung to the ground. Voldos leapt at Lich, and was blasted back by a lightning bolt. Zinkata ran forwards with a sword, driving it into Lich's leg. Lich shattered the sword with a wave of his hand, and threw Zinkata back.

"This flesh suffers." Lich laughed. "You are killing her father."

"Don't!" Vivli cried from the floor. "There must be a better way!" She pleaded to the heroes.

"There isn't." Olose had risen, having been healed by Vivli. He was no longer human. He had taken his werewolf form. He was gigantic, he was hunched just to fit in the bar. His twisted face growled with rage. He sprang at Lich, thrusting him out the wall and shattering the bar. Lich threw him off.

"Insect!" Lich taunted. "This is over!" The ground began to quake. All were thrown to the floor as fissures opened and rocks began to fly. Lava began to pour out into the streets. "Feel the power of the Fiend of the Earth!" Lich screamed as he disappeared in a flash of light.

Olose awoke back in human form some time later, and surveyed the devastation. Buildings were damaged, the streets were scorched, and the heroes were badly hurt. The available white mages had been healing the wounded, and this allowed the heroes to gather outside. They were all sat by the docks. Vivli was sobbing to herself. Dedji and Arcane looked extremely hurt. The others had immense images of anger on their faces.

"What's going on?" Bootus cried. "What is Lich playing at?"

"There was an attack in San D'Oria lately." Olose began to explain. "The orcish population was wiped out. Every last body was stolen. Lich must be planning to resurrect them as an army of undead warriors."

"Can we defeat them?" Zinkata asked the obvious question.

"No." Vivli sobbed. "Lich is the master of the undead. They wont die no matter what we do. Our armies won't stand a chance."

"And you didn't let us finish him!" Bootus yelled angrily.

"He's my father! You can't kill him!" Vivli protested through tears.

"This isn't going to get us anywhere." Arcane growled. "We need a course of action."

"I can delay him." Olose suggested. "As you saw, I can adopt my werewolf form at any point, even if it isn't a full moon. Since I'm immortal, I could take the wolf form and battle him. I may not be able to kill him, but at least it would buy us some time."

"You'd be killed in seconds." Zinkata pointed out. "He can summon silver, remember?" Olose wasn't used to being vulnerable, so fell quiet, contemplating this.

"I have an idea." Vivli said, looking up. "I can rescue my father!" She suddenly seemed to get more enthusiastic. "It's a long shot! I'll need you guys to protect me while we do it!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Bootus asked.

"Lich is possessing my father, right?" She said.

"Yes." Came the confirmation from the group.

"I can save him! It hasn't been done in decades, but I know it can be done. The monastery has done it before. It's always been the job of white mages. I know I can do it!" She wiped the tears from her eyes, thinking more carefully.

"Do what?" Bootus yelled impatiently. Vivli took a deep breath. She knew it would sound silly, but what choice did they have?

"I want to perform an exorcism."