PART XII

What am I doing? Vivli thought in pure shock. She was stood in the sparring circle. A few people were gathered to watch, but not many. Nobody was interested in such a small fight. Bootus, however, was watching with glee. Lucia threw down her weapons and stood there smiling. Vivli cursed to herself.

"Do I have to do this?" She whimpered.

"It wont last long." Lucia reassured her.

"That's the problem." Vivli grumbled.

Zinkata looked at both Angel and Zanu in disbelief.

"You think Vivli is in love with me?" He gasped.

"It doesn't take a genius to notice." Angel smirked.

"Yeah, just the way she looks at you is proof enough." Zanu added.

"And what makes you two the experts on love?" Zinkata asked. Angel and Zanu just looked at each other. "Oh, right. The married thing."

"Maybe you should go and talk to her." Angel suggested. "I don't want to know what Lucia is up to, but it looks like Vivli's going to do anything she'll say."

"Why would she do that?" Zinkata asked. Zanu groaned.

"You seriously helped save the world?" He muttered. "That book. must have been her diary or something similar. Didn't you see how shocked she was?"

"And you can guess what's written in there." Angel added. Zinkata sighed.

"Well, I know what Lucia would want her to do. She's been going on about it for a while." He paused. "She wants to spar Vivli." Angel laughed.

"That hardly seems fair." She commented.

"I know. I think that's why she wants to do it." Zinkata explained. "I had better go and find her. If you're right-" He paused. "-And I'm not saying you are-" Angel sighed and Zanu rolled his eyes. "-Then Lucia is about to thrash her in combat. That's going to hurt."

Vivli nervously fidgeted as the referee for the match stepped into the circle.

"I don't want to do this." She whined.

"Aw, come on. It wont be that bad." Lucia told her.

"You may begin!" Announced the referee, stepping back. Before Vivli could react, Lucia charged her and knocked her onto the floor. The little mithra managed to scream in terror, but that was it. She found herself helplessly pinned by Lucia. Lucia knelt on Vivli's arms, making it impossible for her to move. The weight of Lucia through her knees on Vivli's small arms was causing the little mithra much pain.

"Ow! That hurts!" Vivli squirmed. "Owwwwwwwwww!"

"See? Now you're helpless." Lucia taunted. "That is what I meant when I said strength is everything. You can be as smart as you like, as respected as you like, as loved as you like, but right now, you are completely helpless." Vivli squirmed again, trying desperately to move.

"Owwwww! Get off!" She whined, her arms hurting a large amount.

"You can't make me, can you?" Lucia laughed.

"You've made your point!" She cried.

"No, Viv, I haven't." Lucia stated, sounding almost angry. "But here it comes." Zinkata came over to join the two.

"What the hell are you doing, Lucia? Get off of her!" Zinkata snapped, sounding very concerned. Lucia smiled, rising. Vivli sprang up, and ran to Zinkata as if being near him offered her protection.

"You see? You're in trouble, and you have to rely on your friends to bail you out." She paused. "But what happens if I was more dangerous?" Vivli suddenly broke away from Zinkata, and collapsed, crying.

"Viv? You okay?" Zinkata dropped down beside her, hugging her.

"Don't you think I know that?" She suddenly screamed at Lucia through her tears. "Fiorel died because of me! He died because I couldn't protect myself! And I've spent every day since regretting it! I don't need you to remind me as well!" Vivli got up, and ran off into the crowd.

"Viv! Wait!" Zinkata cried, but she was gone. He turned angrily to Lucia. "What the hell did you do that for?" He demanded.

"Look, she needs to learn she has to be able to defend herself." Lucia told the warrior.

"No, she doesn't!" Zinkata snapped. "She's a white mage and a dammed valuable member of the team!"
"Well, I didn't know somebody died because of her. I didn't realise I was opening an old wound!" Lucia protested, trying to cover up her immense feeling of guilt.

"She's saved my life as much as I've saved hers." Zinkata growled. "I owe her as much as she owes me. And look what you did to her!"
"I'm sorry. I-" Lucia was a bit shocked at Zinkata's anger. She had been trying to make the point of why she felt she was superior to girls like Vivli, but it had backfired horribly.

"Goodbye, Lucia." Zinkata stated. "I hope next time we meet you may be a bit friendlier." Zinkata turned away and marched off into the crowd, hoping to find Vivli. Lucia stood there, stung, and feeling as guilty as she ever had before.

Bootus, having watched this, decided he should talk to Lucia.

"Wow. Not even I make Vivli react like that." He said, almost impressed.

"I didn't mean to upset her." Lucia muttered quietly. "I didn't realise that-"

"It's okay." Bootus laughed. "That girl has so much wrong with her it's hard to say anything without offending her." There was a pause. "If it's any help, I think you taught her the lesson you were trying to."

"Zinkata rose a good point though." Lucia mumbled. "She's a white mage. She does have a job to do."

"You had your own philosophy to teach her." Bootus shrugged. "It happens."

"I just-" She paused, trying to think of a way to explain it. "I hate the fact that people like her seem to steal love from people like me. I fight. I can take care of myself. So why isn't he interested in me?"

"He? Zinkata?" Bootus asked, a little surprised, and feeling like he was caught up in a romantic novel.

"No." Laughed Lucia. "Why does everybody keep thinking that?" She paused. "His name is Andrew." There was a pause.
"Andrew?" Bootus repeated. "Sister named Celphie? About so high?" He held his hand at the appropriate height for Andrew.

"Yeah." Lucia nodded.

"Heh. Small world." Laughed Bootus.

"Maybe I should apologise to Vivli." Lucia thought.

"Let her calm down first." Bootus advised.

"So what do I do in the meantime?" Lucia asked.

"You're a dark knight right?" Bootus questioned. Lucia nodded. "I've always loved the idea of a dark knight. Care to teach me some stuff?" Lucia bent down, and picked up the sword she had removed just before her sparring match.

"If you think you can handle it." She managed a smile.

"You have no idea." Bootus taunted.

Vivli was sobbing quietly, curled up on her own bed. Everything Lucia had said seemed to be stinging her deeply, a horrible truth. Fiorel had died defending her from Chaos. She could have saved him, but failed. She had run away. That was so long ago, and they had been through so much. But what really upset her was the fear that it might happen again. It might happen to Zinkata. She couldn't stand the thought. She pulled her knees to her chest tighter, and continued to cry. She didn't know what she was going to do. She knew she couldn't learn to fight, Lucia had effectively demonstrated that. She just didn't have the build to be a warrior. Not to mention she had taken an oath to never take a life unless it was absolutely necessary. Similarly, this meant she couldn't become a black mage. She couldn't learn anything, and was useless. This simple fact made her cry even more. There was a light tapping at the door.

"Viv. Can I come in?" Zinkata asked politely from the door.

"I'd prefer if you didn't." Vivli sobbed. "I want to be on my own."

"Come on, Viv, Lucia was just being mean." He said kindly.

"She was right!" Vivli snapped. "What if it's you, next?"

"Me for what?" Zinkata asked.

"What if you die next trying to protect me?" Vivli cried. "What if you don't survive?"

"Viv, I'll always be here." Zinkata told her.

"I appeciate it." She managed to say. "But I want to be on my own." Zinkata looked a little disappointed, but Vivli was too upset to notice.

"I understand." Zinkata sighed. "I'll see you later." He walked out, and Vivli continued to cry into her pillow.

Zinkata walked out of the monastery, only to find Emilen and Voldos. Voldos was wearing lighter leather armour and looking at the new bow he had.

"What happened to you?" Zinkata asked, smirking at Voldos.

"I'm a ranger now." Smiled Voldos. "Thanks to Emilen."

"Impressive." Zinkata said. "Emilen? I guess we have a lot to talk about."

"Yeah, just about." Emilen laughed. "Want to go somewhere?"

"Guess we can talk back in my rent-a-room." Zinkata decided. "And Voldos, don't bother Vivli. She's really upset."

"Can't I join in?" Voldos asked. "I want to hear this."

"Why not?" Laughed Emilen. "Come on." The three walked towards the residential area, and Zinkata looked back sadly at the monastery.

As the trio walked through the busy streets of Windurst, they spotted Angel hurrying towards them.

"Zinkata!" She yelled. Zinkata stopped.

"What is it?" Zinkata asked.

"I saw Vivli running crying through the streets earlier. What did you say to her?" She cried, obviously thinking Zinkata had said something referring to love to her.

"Nothing." Zinkata said defensively. "It was Lucia, that dark knight. She beat her up in sparring and then said some horrible things. Dug up some old wounds. She's feeling weak and useless, and very upset." Zinkata sighed painfully. "And I can't do anything to help her." Angel paused.

"I'll go talk to her." She decided after a mere moment thinking.

"Be careful." Zinkata said quickly, obviously concerned. "She's really very upset."

"I can be tactful!" Angel cried, sounding playfully offended. "Besides, I have a gift for her that might cheer her up."

"I hope you do." Zinkata sighed as Angel walked off, smiling.

Zinkata shook his head, and the three continued, soon arriving at the warrior's rent-a-room. The trio each grabbed a chair, and gathered around to talk.

"So, what can we really discuss?" Zinkata asked.

"No memories of your father or past at all?" Emilen asked hopefully. Zinkata shook his head.

"According to Signot, I just showed up, mumbling my name." Zinkata paused with a laugh. "I don't even know my surname."

"It's Roth." Emilen told him. "Zinkata Roth."

"You so sure I'm his son?" Zinkata asked curiously.

"I don't see why else this sword is glowing." She said, unsheathing the sword and handing it to him. The blade was shimmering a bright white. "I've carried it for twenty years, and I've never seen it do that." Zinkata held the blade, and span it.

"Strange. I can feel power coming from the blade." Zinkata commented.

"White magic." Emilen explained. "I had some blacksmiths and magical experts look at it over the years."

"A sword enchanted with white magic?" Zinkata pondered this.

"A paladin." Voldos stated. "Your father must have been a paladin."

"I figured from her story." Sighed Zinkata. "So what does this mean?"

"The sword is yours." Emilen muttered. "I promised I would give it to you a long time ago." Zinkata swung it, before respectfully sheathing it.

"Thank you." He said. "Please, if you can tell me anything else about my father-"

"Only that he came from Tavnazia." Emilen explained. "Not that you'll find anything in its ruins. I've been there enough times looking for Oldo, my brother."

"Well, thank you." Zinkata bowed. "Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

"You're a Light Warrior. I owe you my life and the world." She laughed. "It was nothing. I suppose heroism runs in your family." Zinkata laughed.

Vivli heard her door open and rolled over on her bed to see who it was. She quickly sat up against her headboard, bringing her knees up with her. She was surprised.

"Hello, Vivli." Angel said delicately.

"Hi." Vivli sniffed. She quickly rubbed her eyes with the sleeves of her robe, trying to hide her tears, but she couldn't stop crying anyway so it was futile.

"I have a present for you." Angel told her.
"I'm sure I don't deserve it." Vivli muttered.

"Trust me. You'll like this." Angel walked over, and forced something into Vivli's hand. Vivli looked at it.

"This is a summoner's ruby." She commented.

"Carbuncle's ruby to be exact." Angel told her. "Found it battling leeches up in Quifim." Vivli paused.

"I hate that place." She muttered.

"I'm already a summoner, had no use for it, so you can take it." Angel told Vivli.

"Why?" Vivli asked curiously.

"You're afraid you can't protect yourself?" Angel guessed.

"Not myself. The others. Zinkata." She was too upset to hide her feelings.

"Take that ruby with you. Once its journeyed the world with you, once its seen everything, once Carbuncle knows he can trust you, he'll be there for you. He'll fight for you. He'll be the best friend you can imagine. Trust me." Angel smiled warmly, acting almost motherly towards Vivli. "If you don't want to fight, if you believe in your white magic, then being a summoner is the best thing you can do. Your avatars will fight for you, help protect those who you love." Angel paused, and turned to leave.

"Angel?" Vivli called. "Thank you." She said, clutching the ruby.

"No problem." Angel smiled. "Oh, and one last thing. Tell him. Please." She walked away, leaving Vivli puzzled.

The little mithra sat up, and wiped away her tears. She gazed at the shining ruby, finding herself mesmerized by how pretty it was.

"Aren't you a little old to be playing with jewels?" The High Priestess said in a sarcastic yet kind voice. Vivli looked up as the High Priestess entered her tiny room.

"It's a summoning ruby." Vivli explained in a tiny voice.

"I know." Laughed the High Priestess.

"Of course." Vivli said apologetically.

"Now, the staff." The High Priestess stated. "This is very important. I'm a bit disappointed you didn't recognise it, though."

"Why?" Vivli asked.

"Because I always thought you were a good student, especially when it came to magical lore." She paused. "It's the Staff of the Destroyer, from the Third Great War thousands of years go." Vivli paused.

"I've never heard of it." She commented. The High Priestess frowned.

"Yes you have. I taught you it myself." She smirked. "About four years ago, yes, but I did. It was built to utilise the most destructive force ever created. The Destroyer of Worlds."
"Of course!" Vivli cried, remembering.

"Go on." The High Priestess prompted, her attitude as a teacher taking over.

"The Destroyer of Worlds was the nickname given to the asteroid that wiped out Gaia. The red star. Legend said it was an evil monster that travelled from world to world, wiping them out." The High Priestess smiled.

"Yes. And the staff?" She prompted again.

"Urm. I never liked learning about war." She admitted. "Wasn't the staff the weapon that was said to draw on the power of the creature that destroyed Gaia? But in actual fact it just seemed to draw upon the earth element of Vana'diel?"

"Very good." Smiled the High Priestess. "Since the Destroyer of Worlds was long ago understood to be an asteroid, there's no way its actually drawing on that power. Instead, its drawing from the earth element itself, but the combined strength of the whole of Vana'diel. Hence the yellow beam connecting to the ground when it's in use." The ground suddenly shook, and the High Priestess looked shocked. There was the sound of an explosion outside of the monastery. Vivli screamed in terror.

"What was that?" She cried.

"I don't know." The High Priestess said, concerned. "Unless-" She paused. "Oh no."

"What?" Vivli yelled.

"The staff must have destabilised the earth element in this area." The High Priestess explained. The two rushed out.

As they arrived at the exit to Windurst, they saw out on the plains a huge flow of lava erupting from the ground.

"It's getting bigger!" Vivli cried as the lava flow spread out.

"The element of earth has been fractured. Its power has been drained." Explained the Priestess. "It can no longer control the power of Vana'diel."

"Meaning?" Vivli was almost afraid to ask.

"In less than twenty four hours, Windurst will collapse, consumed by the earth." The High Priestess answered. "And that's not just all. This entire region is next. The wound in the element will try to heal, drawing power from around it, and as it does, it will fracture the surrounding area in the same way."

"What does that mean?" Vivli screamed hysterically. The High Priestess's face turned grim as she stared at the spreading lava.

"In just over a week, Vana'diel will cease to exist."

Author's Note: Before I forget, Angel, Zanu and Lucia belong to TheFrogKiller, and all crop up in his various stories. In fact, I've now borrowed Angel, Zanu, Lucia, Andrew, Celphie, Elnroth and Jacoby from him. Thanks for lending me your characters, TheFrogKiller! I think the cast I've borrowed is now almost as big as my own cast.

Also, I haven't forgotten about Illuga, he just doesn't fit in at the moment! He'll be back!

And just to explain Crazy Steve being a strangely skilled fighter in Part XI, I thought that was funny. I mean, it's Crazy Steve! There's no way he could ever lose a fight, so he has to be an awesome fighter! Despite being crazy!

I also have to apologise, despite my vow to proof-read every chapter from now on, I've been too lazy to proof-read this one. Sorry!