Author's Note: Another late update, and I apologise. As I said before, I really do pride myself on being able to update once a day (I'm lucky enough to find time) and I have been writing once a day, but unfortunately the server (at the time of writing this note) is down, for the second day in a row. I doubt I have anybody out there checking daily for the updates to this story, but if you were disappointed that it hadn't updated for a while, I apologise, I'm afraid I'm powerless to do anything about it. Of course, right now I have no idea how long the server will be down for, but I'm hoping I won't have to miss anymore updates because of it. Maybe I should use this downtime as an excuse to not write more chapters, and instead do that revision thing that I heard was important………Nah!

PART XIV

The four rushed off of the landing ramp and ran into the city, using the one entrance that wasn't surrounded by lava. They almost literally ran into the High Priestess who had seen the small airship land.

"Did you get it?" She asked quickly. Vivli cheerfully held up the two halves of the staff. The High Priestess sighed with relief. "I have had the best blacksmith I could find studying the designs. He should be able to repair it in moments."
"What about the jewel?" Vivli asked. "It isn't glowing, just like the other staff wasn't glowing." The High Priestess laughed.

"This is Windurst!" She announced. "Recharging a magical stone is the least of our worries."

"What do we do in the meantime?" Zinkata asked.

"Why don't you two confess your feelings for each other?" Bootus suggested, smirking.

"Bootus! Shut up!" Vivli cried. The High Priestess smiled.

"I had better go and get to work." She said, suddenly becoming more serious again. "The staff will be ready soon, and everything shall be saved." The High Priestess disappeared.

"Well, that was easy." Laughed Voldos. "Saved the world again."

"Don't be so confident." Sighed Bootus. "Something is bound to go wrong."

"Thank Altana I found you!" Panted somebody. The four spun around to see Emilen.

"Told ya." Bootus gloated confidently.
"The staff!" She cried. "It's been stolen!"

"The Staff of Ra?" Zinkata exclaimed. "Already?"

"No!" Emilen yelled. "The other one. The yellow one. The one that did all this!"
"Uh oh." Zinkata gulped.

"The High Priestess as the mages can take care of this lava flow." Vivli said. "We need to find the thief before he does more damage though. We had better move."

"Great idea, Viv!" Zinkata announced, and she looked at him warmly. He smiled back. They found themselves staring at each other for a moment.

"Cut it out, you two." Voldos sighed. "Do you know who stole it?" The elvaan asked Emilen. She shook her head.

"No idea." She explained. "Two of the guards were dead and the staff was gone."

"Somebody must like the idea of the damage it can cause. But who?" Zinkata pondered.

"Somebody must have re-enchanted it for Sigmund." Vivli suggested.

"You're a genius!" Zinkata exclaimed. Vivli smiled cutely at him, and her eyes seemed to glisten. "But who was that and where would he have gone?" As Zinkata spoke, the transport airship that normally left Windurst thundered into the air.

"Wait a minute." Voldos muttered. "The airships wouldn't be flying during a tragedy such as this. They need maximum control of the population."

"I think we found our culprit." Zinkata muttered.

"Quickly, to the Raven!" Bootus announced, dramatically deepening his voice to come off quite sarcastic.

"Oh nuts." Grumbled Vivli. Bootus laughed in triumph.

The tiny airship tore through the air as it closed in on the much larger transport ship.

"Any idea how we're going to get down onto the deck?" Voldos asked above the beating engines.

"Jump?" Bootus suggested.

"Land on it?" Zinkata joked. Vivli was silent, only managing to throw up on the floor as the ship lurched.

"Can we go for a 'not make Vivli any more sick than she already is' idea please?" Vivli begged from the back of the ship. Zinkata laughed.

"Sorry Viv!" He yelled.
"It's alright." She said softly.

"This is getting sickening." Sighed Bootus to Voldos.

"Right." Voldos decided to take action. "Let's try and intimidate them." He leant over the side of the airship. "PREPARE TO BE BOARDED!" He yelled.

"Good job." Sighed Bootus.

"Hey, I'm just beginning." Voldos reassured him, turning back to Cid. "Can you hold us steady?"

"Of course." Cid replied.

"Liar." Vivli whined as the ship rumbled. Cid laughed. Voldos drew his bow, and tied a length of rope to it from his satchel.

"Oh, that old trick." Sighed Bootus. Voldos fired it, and the arrow lodged in the deck of the transport ship below. He tied the rope to the cabin window's metal bars. He then grabbed his bow, and placed it over the rope.

"Now we slide." He smiled, jumping, and using the rope with his bow over it to slide down onto the deck of the transport ship. Bootus sighed, removing his black belt and using it in a similar fashion.

"No way!" Vivli cried, looking at the drop between the two ships. "There's no way I'm doing that." Zinkata walked up to her, putting an arm around her.

"It's okay. I understand." He said softly, before quickly grabbing the staff off of Vivli's belt, throwing it over the rope to use it to slide down on, and jumping, still holding her tightly in his arms. She screamed, but was unable to break free and pulled with him. The two slid down onto the deck of the other ship.

"YOU'RE NOT NICE!" Vivli screamed in blind panic. Zinkata laughed.

"If I'm so evil why are you still clinging to me?" Zinkata asked smirking. Vivli was still hugging him tightly. She let go with a nervous giggle.

"Maybe we should do what we're here to do?" Voldos suggested.

"Good idea." Bootus beamed as he drew his claws. "I've picked up a few dark knight tricks as well." He smiled. Voldos drew his bow.

"Yeah, well, you should see what I can do with this thing now!" He taunted. Vivli held up her staff, and it fell in two, having broken from them sliding down.

"AH! No fair!" She screamed in frustration. "Not again!" Zinkata laughed, drawing his sword, the blade of his father.

"Let's see what this thing can do." He smiled. The four charged up the steps to the pilot, but were all blown back by bolts of yellow energy.

"That went well." Groaned Bootus.

"We're just getting warmed up." Voldos reassured him as he got to his feet. The figure at the wheel stepped down with a cocky smile. "Illuga!" Gasped Voldos.

"Hello." Illuga grinned. "What? You think I could resist taking an artefact of such power?"

"Yes?" Vivli suggested, before being blasted back across the ship for it.

"VIVLI!" Zinkata bellowed, running to her.

"Cute." Laughed Illuga. Zinkata grapsed his sword, and managed to channel white magic through the blade to heal her. She sat up, and Zinkata took her in his arms, helping her to her feet.

"Wow." Voldos remarked. "That sword can do a lot. Why do I never get the cool weapons?"

"Why did you do it, Illuga?" Spat Zinkata. "I thought you were on our side!"

"Did you actually believe that this staff draws from the earth element?" Illuga asked. The Light Warriors looked blank. "It draws upon the power of the destroyer."

"As in the asteroid?" Vivli asked. "You're crazy."

"It was no mere asteroid that destroyed Gaia." Laughed Illuga. "It was a being of such destructive power it's been sleeping within Vana'diel ever since it fell, waiting to arise again. With the power of this staff, I can awaken it." He let out a laugh. "You pathetic little girl, did you really think that the earth element had fractured? That it was spreading? That was jargon fed to you. You were mislead. The truth here lies in my power." He paused for a sinister grin to spread across his face. "The Destroyer of Worlds is awakening, and nothing can stop it."

"We will." Zinkata said confidently. "Well, we have. The staff that can counter yours has been repaired and is being used to heal the wound right now."

"You think that is the extent of my plan?" Illuga laughed aloud. "I can open any of those so called wounds wherever I like."

"So what is your plan?" Zinkata asked.

"Simple." Illuga smirked. "To bring forth the end of the world. To summon the destroyer and help him achieve what he began when he came to Gaia a million years ago! To destroy Vana'diel, as it should have been!"

"Well, looks like it falls on us to save the world again." Sighed Voldos, quickly firing an arrow that Illuga barely managed to avoid by flinging himself to the side.

Illuga slowly rose to his feet, his eyes glowing with yellow energy.

"If this is the way you want it." He spat.

"Back down Illuga." Zinkata warned. "You can't beat us all."

"Don't be so sure." Illuga cried, his eyes sparkling with evil energy.

"Zin, be careful." Vivli whispered. "That glow. That's not him. I think something is controlling Illuga."

"We'll distract him." Zinkata told her. "Time for the old exorcism trick."

"You've got it." She nodded. Zinkata spun his sword and ran at Illuga.

The black mage blocked the blade with the staff. Zinkata continued his attack, and Illuga jumped the blade before unleashing another bolt of yellow energy. Zinkata was blasted back across the ship, his sword clattering to the ground.

"Oh, our mother, the goddess Altana, who looks down on us from Heaven," Vivli began to chant.

"Ah. That." Illuga casually said, blasting her with a bolt of energy before turning to Bootus who was storming in towards him. Bootus threw a mighty punch, but Illuga ducked underneath it, blasting him back. An arrow from Voldos thudded into his back, and he turned to the elvaan. "You are not amusing me, elf." He spat, blasting an energy bolt at the hero. Voldos jumped it, as it smashed into the deck, sending wood flying everywhere. Zinkata got up, but instantly ran to Vivli, who was badly hurt. Bootus charged Illuga, hitting him in the face. His claws tore through Illuga as they hit, and the black mage stumbled back, before blasting Bootus with staff once again. Bootus crashed down by Voldos.

"This is impossible." Grumbled the galka. "We can't get past that staff!"

"Vivli's out." Voldos commented. "So much for the exorcism tactic." He looked to the fallen mithra with great concern.

"Is she alright?" Bootus yelled to Zinkata with a surprising amount of concern in his voice.

"She's still alive, but only just." Zinkata cried in a panic.

"Still alive?" Laughed Illuga. "I'll have to correct that problem." He held up the staff once more. The deck of the ship exploded next to him, knocking him over. "What?" He bellowed.

"Get away from my friends!" Cid screamed from the deck of the Raven II, manoeuvring the cannon for another blast.

"Curse you!" Spat Illuga. Another cannon ball tore into the deck. "This isn't over!" Illuga yelled, spinning the staff and disappearing in a crackle of yellow energy.

Is it over? Has my life ended? Vivli asked herself, trapped in blackness. Did I just die? Did my life just end like that? No warning? No chance to react? Just one yellow blast and I was gone? She paused, thinking. And I didn't even tell him. I tried. But I never did. I died and never got a chance to say everything I wanted to say. I never got a chance to tell him how I felt. I was so stupid! I missed it, and now he'll never know! She felt tears trickle down her face as she thought this. Wait, I can feel that! I'm not dead!

Vivli sprang up in bed, back in the monastery in Windurst. Zinkata was sat at the edge of the bed. She saw him, and leapt into his arms.

"Zin! I love you!" She cried. "I love you with all of my heart!" She realised she had been given a second chance, and wasn't going to waste a second of it. She hugged Zinkata as tightly as she could. She looked up at him. "Well? Say something!" She cried, worried that he didn't feel the same way. He smiled, bent down, and kissed her. "On second thoughts, say nothing." She said as she closed in and two shared a long drawn out kiss.

"Good! She's awake!" Bootus cried from the doorway, and two instantly broke it off.

"Way to ruin the moment." Vivli said miserably.

"We need you right away. The fate of the world is still hanging in the balance, remember?" He explained. Vivli tried to get up.

"Urm, I don't think I can quite stand up." She mumbled.

"Guess I'll just have to hold you in my arms Viv." Zinkata said softly, smiling. "What a shame, eh?" She smiled back, and two kissed again as he helped her up. Bootus rolled his eyes.

"See? If you were galka, you could avoid all this crap." He told them.

"I wouldn't avoid this for the world." Vivli said, her eyes locked onto Zinkata's.

"Nor would I." Zinkata agreed. Bootus rolled his eyes again.

"Love. I just don't understand it." He sighed. "Come on. The High Priestess wants to see us."

On the way to meet her, Zinkata explained to Vivli that the hole outside Windurst had been successfully fixed, but they had no idea where Illuga had gotten to or what he was planning. He wasn't convinced she was listening though, because she was just staring at him, and occasionally kissing him out of her pure passion and love for him. He had to admit, he felt like doing the same, but seemed to have more self control than Vivli. That, or her near death experience had left her a bit shaky and unable to think straight enough to control herself.

They soon joined up with Voldos, and met up with the High Priestess. Vivli spent this time in Zinkata's arms, this time looking without shame or embarrassment into his eyes, and smiling uncontrollably. The High Priestess tried to ignore this.

"I've considered everything you have told me." She stated. "And I believe Illuga has been telling the truth. There is a Destroyer of Worlds and he is attempting to awaken him."

"What does this mean?" Voldos asked.

"There was a prophecy made by the very first citizens of Vana'diel." The High Priestess explained. "A prophecy that predicted exactly this."
"Strange." Vivli remarked from the comfortable position of Zinkata's arms. "I've never heard of such a prophecy."

"I hope you have." Laughed the High Priestess. "I've taught you it enough. You just don't realise you have."

"What is it?" Vivli asked, confused enough to take her eyes off of Zinkata and look at the High Priestess blankly.

"It's the legend that prophesises the return of the Destroyer of Worlds. Except, in that prophecy, he goes by another name. That's why you don't think you've heard it."

"What name does he go by?" Voldos asked, curious as to whether he had heard of it or not.

"Lavos." Answered the High Priestess bluntly.

Author's Note: Two things I need to address. I feel now you may know why I said I don't write romance. Even I, as the writer, feel that it was absolutely terrible in this chapter, and that's when the true romance was supposed to show. I'm sorry about that, but as I said, I really cannot write it.

Second point. Lavos. Okay, this one is a stretch. I expect a few readers (well, I only have a few readers, so all of you then) are cringing at this. Or don't know what/who Lavos is. For those of you that do know what he is, I apologise for such a ridiculous plot element, but I like using old themes and villains in my stories, and Lavos fitted quite well. For those of you who don't, Lavos is the villain in Chrono Trigger, in a sense. I won't say any more, because the story will explain who Lavos is if you don't know.

For those of you who think: "Wait a minute, Lavos existed on the planet in Chrono Trigger, and was killed there, so how can he be on Vana'diel?" then….your pretty good at picking out plot holes! But no, this I actually figured out. In Chrono Trigger, you fight lots of Lavos Spawn, children of Lavos. Which pretty much implies there is more than one Lavos roaming the galaxy, destroying worlds, all growing up from the multiple Lavos Spawn from before. This means that the Lavos on Vana'diel is a different one from the Lavos is Chrono Trigger? There we go. No plot holes to see here.