Author's Note: Another shorter chapter setting up the climax, and the second I've written from scratch today. Where the time to do that came from I have no idea! Anyway, although it is slightly shorter, hopefully its okay to read.

PART XXVI

Bootus, Zinkata and Voldos sat on the steps outside the residential area of San d'Oria. The city was strangely silent. Shock and mourning was the explanation.
"Where's Vivli?" Zinkata asked quietly.

"Crying her eyes out." Voldos explained. "She was all last night as well. I eventually left Dedji with her. I needed the break." Voldos looked around. "How's everybody else holding up?"

"Most people are just angry." Zinkata answered. "Pretty much everybody here is used to death, and they're all a lot more experienced and braver than Vivli is. They'll manage. Most want to just rush out and attack straight away."

"Sounds like brave and experienced thinking to me." Came a quiet female voice from behind them. The three turned around.

"Sorry, Viv, I didn't mean it like that." Zinkata sighed. The tiny mithra sat down with them.

"I know." She feebly tried to smile, but failed.

"Where's Dedji?" Bootus asked, deciding he had been quiet for too long.

"Andrew had something important to tell her." Vivli answered. "She's gone to talk it over with him."

"How are you holding up?" Bootus asked in a very unexpected manner.

"I'll be fine." She lied. The tears in her eyes confirmed this.

"Do you really think the other nations have been destroyed?" Voldos asked, risking to bring it up.

"No." Bootus answered. "Chaos is too sadistic. He wants this world to fade from around him and to watch it crumble. He wouldn't kill unless he has too. Conquer, yes. But not kill."
"There's a problem." Vivli spoke. She had started crying, and so frantically wiped away the tears with her robe and started to talk to try and take her mind off things. "If Chaos wants to drain the land like he's always aimed, then he needs the fiends. Something doesn't add up. Something we're missing."
"I don't think it matters anymore." Zinkata admitted. "We have to destroy Chaos. It's as simple as that."

"But how?" Bootus asked, exasperated. "Where is he?"

"Guys?" Came a voice. It was Celphie. "You might want to hear this." The four Light Warriors got up, and followed the hume.

They met up in the barracks section of the Chateau, now converted to a place to head military operations. Andrew walked up to them.

"I'm glad to see you." He said simply. "The good news is the other nations seem to still exist." He confirmed. The four let out an audible sigh of relief. "Celphie's been trying to find survivors by linkshell all night. We got nothing from anyone. Then we found this. Listen." He threw them a linkshell. Each of the four warriors held it, and listened closely.

"Three down, one to go." It was the voice of Chaos. "Rest assured, nobody is harmed. Just repressed by my Shadow Magic. They shall live to see this land rot from beneath them, unless I have to kill them. I shall take San d'Oria. And then I shall have four nations. Four nations and four Light Warriors. For each warrior that lives, I shall wipe out a nation. Either the Light Warriors die or everybody in this world does." The message ended.

"That's been playing through every linkshell." Andrew explained. The four warriors looked stunned.

"Wait, so we have a choice." Bootus tried to confirm. "Either, we die, and everybody else lives to see the world die and then themselves, or we let everybody die. Am I the only one who sees only one conclusion from this? Everybody dies?"

"Chaos wants us dead." Zinkata summarised. "Probably because he fears us."

"Yeah, we are pretty scary." Vivli said. Andrew let out a laugh, hearing this come from the harmless mithra.

"Sorry." He quickly said.

"I have an idea." Zinkata stated, holding the linkshell. "Let's see if we can't kill two birds with one stone."

"Okay, Chaos." He cried. "You got our attention. You want us to die, fine. But you'll have to do it yourself." There was a pause.

"Very well." Chaos roared in response. "I shall come for you. And we shall do final combat as before." The linkshell fell silent and Zinkata looked up.

"Is that good or bad?" Vivli asked rhetorically.

The four had gathered around a table, joined by Andrew, Celphie Prince Trion and Dedji.

"It sounds simple." Zinkata said in explanation. "Chaos comes. We fight. We win. The world is saved."

"You'rrrrrre rrrrrrelying on yourrrrr ability." Dedji pointed out. "What if Chaos wins?"

"We're just going to have to make sure he doesn't." Bootus gave in answer.

"But, he could easily kill you." Dedji said in concern.

"Look, we'll protect Vivli, okay?" Zinkata guessed why she was so worried. "I promise. She won't get hurt." Dedji still looked concerned.

"We have time." She said. "Don't stand around! Get trrrraining!" She turned to Vivli. "Come with me! If my little sister has to fight a demon, I'm making sure she knows everything I do." Vivli gave the others a glance, and followed Dedji out.

"I think I may be able to assist you also." The Prince said. "Please, follow me." The remaining Light Warriors got up, confused, and followed Trion out of the room.

The three warriors followed the Prince into the armoury. He pulled on a spear, and a stone wall slid aside.

"What?" Voldos gasped.

"A secret passageway. Neat." Zinkata commented. The three walked in to a large, dark, stone room. Something glowed at the centre. A sword, radiating a light blue shine.

"I present to you the original Masamune." The Prince said proudly.

"Masamune?" Zinkata repeated. There was silence as they waited for Vivli to explain like she usually did. "Oh right, she's not here." Zinkata suddenly said. The Prince gave him a strange look.

"Yes, Masamune, the original sword that struck down Chaos a million years ago. Used by the original Light Warriors and preserved by the Goddess Altana to this day." Trion removed it, and held it out. "It fell into San d'Oria's hands by a seeming coincidence decades ago. I now see it was Altana preparing for this day. Take it. If anything can give you the upper hand against Chaos, this can."

"It's all yours Zin." Voldos said with a nod. "I'm better with a bow." Zinkata took the legendary blade in awe.

Vivli swung her little staff with a yelp.

"NO!" Dedji cried, sounding frustrated. "For Altana's sake, don't be scarrrrred of attacking! Keep your eyes open!" Vivli gulped. And swung again, instinctively shutting her eyes just before the staff hit the wooden rod Dedji was using for training. Dedji sighed heavily.

"Sorry." Vivli said quietly.

"Okay, look, let's try something else. You need to stay safe. Let's try defence." Dedji took a combat stance, and attacked slowly overhead. Vivli held up her staff in a block, stopping it. She shut her eyes again, instinctively. Dedji pushed down, and Vivli struggled weakly, collapsing under the pressure. Dedji held the pole out to her. "Eyes! Open!" She snapped.

"Sorry." Vivli said again.

"And, look, Chaos is going to be a lot stronger than me. If you can't stand up to the blow, deflect it. Hold your staff on an angle and a blow will slide away. Redirect the force, don't try and combat it."

"Okay." Vivli said with a nervous nod. Dedji attacked. Vivli held her staff to the side and Dedji's pole slid easily off it, unfortunately crushing Vivli's fingers along the way that were gripped around the staff. "OW!" The little mithra cried, dropping her staff. Dedji sighed again.

"It seems silly, doesn't it? But in a fight, you'd of just lost your fingers." Vivli went a little red from embarrassment. "Didn't they teach you any of this in the Monastery?"

"We got basic combat, but I really wasn't interested." Vivli admitted. "I used to fake illness to get out of it. I hated combat class." Dedji sighed again. "In my defence I never thought I'd have to fight the Demon Lord Chaos!" Vivli pointed out. "Twice!" She added after a while, which made Dedji snicker.

"Look, okay. You got overhead strikes." Dedji wasn't confident in the slightest Vivli was prepared, but had to rush through things. "Now what do you do if somebody attacks you with a side swing?" She asked.

"Cry?" Vivli suggested. Dedji laughed again.

"You're really bad at this." She mocked. Vivli laughed a little. They were both trying to relieve the tension of knowing such a major battle was near, and that there was a good chance they were never going to see each other again. "Right, I think the best thing to do is take up a typical fencing stance."

"What's that?" Vivli asked.

"You've never seen someone go en guard?" Dedji asked in shock. Vivli shook her head. "Right, hold the weapon in one hand." Vivli did so. "Now, hold it out in front of you." Dedji demonstrated. Vivli did so. "Watch your feet. They should be at right angles, about shoulder width apart. That means with easy steps you can rapidly move backwards and forwards."

"Why am I doing this? I'm not sword fighting." Vivli pointed out.

"No, but if your in this stance, they have to get your weapon out the way before they can hit you." Dedji explained. "This means that when you get attacked, you can easily move back while they try to get rid of your weapon." Vivli looked a little confused. "Watch." Dedji lunged at Vivli, and jumped straight into Vivli's weapon. It would have been an effective demonstration, but Vivli screamed and dropped her staff, recoiling. Dedji sighed again. "If you had kept hold of that, I'd of hit your weapon, and not you. It means I have to beat the staff aside before I can attack you. Gives you those extra moments."

"It's not going to do me much good." Vivli mumbled.

"That's because I haven't taught you deceptions yet. Attack me." She held out her pole in the en guard position. Vivli swung her staff at the pole. Dedji dipped the pole under the staff as it swung, meaning Vivli completely missed. The tiny mithra fell over without the expected force to stop her swing. "While your opponent won't normally fall over, it will mean he'll have to attack your staff again." Dedji explained, helping Vivli up. Vivli looked at Dedji for a moment, and embraced her.

"Goodbye, sis." She wept. "I don't think your going to be able to teach me enough to survive this in the few hours we have left."

"You're coming back, Viv." Dedji said to her. "I have Zinkata's word. He better not let me down." Vivli laughed a little. "Now stop making excuses and get back to training."

"Damn." Vivli cursed sarcastically, trying to eliminate her doubts and stop the tears flowing through humour.

"This is the greatest thing ever." Zinkata commented, still swinging Masamune around. "It weighs nothing, and cuts through everything like butter."

"I noticed." Voldos said, holding up the two halves of Zinkata's scabbard. "You just gonna carry it? It cuts through everything you put it in."

"I'll tie it to my back by the handle." Zinkata decided.

"I wish I wasn't our bowman." Voldos commented sadly.

"You two are pathetic." Bootus joked. "You all need weapons. I just need my fists!"

"And I could cut you in half with old Massyhere." Zinkata joked.

"Massy?" Voldos repeated.

"Most people nickname their teddy bears and things, he nicknames his swords." Bootus laughed.

"Does that mean you're admitting you have a teddy bear?" Voldos asked the galka.

"Of course I do." Bootus replied as if it was obvious. Voldos looked at him curiously. He pulled a little bear out of his bag. It had a faded pink bow on its ear.

"Isn't that Vivli's?" Zinkata said, looking over.

"Not anymore!" Bootus laughed.

"Oh, she is not going to be happy." Zinkata smirked.

"How long ago did you steal that?" Voldos asked curiously.

"Back in Kazham." Bootus answered. "I caught her looking for it. I think she thinks she's lost it. Too embarrassed to admit it to us I guess, but she seemed really upset."

"And that doesn't seem cruel to you at all?" Zinkata asked.

"Not in the slightest." Bootus beamed.

"And we're the heroes." Sighed Voldos.

"Oh, come on!" Bootus laughed. "It is pretty funny!"

"I KNEW IT!" Came a cry from Vivli, who ran over. "GIVE THAT BACK!"
"Give what back?" Bootus asked.

"The teddy bear!" Vivli yelled.

"What teddy bear?" Bootus said with a confused shrug.

"The one in your hand!" She yelled.

"I have a hand?" She grabbed it, and tried to tug it free. It didn't work.

"Sis? Why do you have a teddy bear?" Dedji asked.

"Don't judge me." Vivli whimpered. "Now give it here!"

"Aren't you two supposed to be training?" Zinkata inquired.

"We're on a break." Vivli sighed. "Now give it here!" She growled like a young child.

"You haven't taught her very well." Bootus remarked as she tried to fight him to get the bear. He casually pushed her on the floor.

"Ow." She mumbled. "Bootus! Give it to me!" Zinkata closed his eyes, and was surprised how easy it was to picture Vivli as a six year old child with the voice she was putting on.

"Come and get it." Bootus taunted, holding it up. And it was surprisingly easy to picture Bootus as the eleven year old brother tormenting his sister. Vivli folded her arms angrily, and waited. "Oh fine." Bootus dropped it for her to catch. She missed it, and quickly picked it up. It looked she was trying to comfort it.

"Urm, Viv, I don't think its alive." Zinkata said. Dedji laughed.

"You guys are the best stress relief everrrrrr." She said.

"We try." Bootus laughed. A sudden rumble cut them off. They all fell silent. Vivli gripped her teddy bear tightly.

"Uh oh." Zinkata sighed.

"It's him." Voldos commented. "Chaos."

Author's Note: I'd like to point out that Masamune is (or at least was in my opinion) the ultimate weapon in FF1. Any class could equip it, and you found it in the Temple of the Fiends. I don't know if FFXI has its own Masamune (hence why it says 'the original Masamune') but this refers to the original from FF1 that the Light Warriors were supposed to have picked up.

Also, I understand the whole teddy-bear sequence is kinda out of place considering the darkness of this climax, but I wanted to make sure we had one final shot of Light Warrior humour before the confrontation. Hopefully it didn't feel too out of place.