PART XXIII

Zinkata dodged Olose's punch and threw one of his own. His fist sailed directly past Olose as he sprang to the left and seemed to backflip away. The two stood off for a moment. Olose had reverted back into his human form, only scruffy tatters of his brown trousers remaining, conveniently hanging around his waist. Although Zinkata had been disarmed, he was still putting up a fight.

"Glad to see you got what you finally deserved." Zinkata snarled, looking at Olose's mangled body. "You betrayed Vivli, you betrayed us and you betrayed the free people of Vana'diel!" He added. Olose laughed.

"And you haven't?" He cried. Zinkata gave a shrug.

"Oh yeah." He said with a sarcastic grin and ran at Olose. Olose leapt at him, knocking him down. Zinkata threw him off and dove for his sword, grabbing it and spinning it around. Olose smiled. Zinkata ran at him, attacking with inhuman speed, slashing and stabbing. Olose let out grunts, but was secretly smiling. Every hit meant his body healed anew. Zinkata was healing him of his disfigured scars in each attack. Zinkata finally kicked him to the floor, and observed the newly healed Olose. Patches of scarring remained, but everywhere Zinkata had hit had healed back as smooth skin. Olose flipped himself back up, and tensed his muscles, each one looking like it was going to burst out of his skin.

"Nice try." Olose taunted.

"I was playing." Zinkata laughed. "With that speed, I can cut off your head, and then you're no more." His face twisted into a grin, and in his triumph he didn't see that Olose had transformed into a gigantic wolf and had flung himself at Zinkata. Zinkata was knocked flying, his sword clattering to the ground. Olose picked him up and hurled him across the deck. Zinkata slammed down to the deck before painfully picking himself up. He cast a cure spell and was stood proudly again. "I'm a paladin now! You can't defeat me that easily!" Zinkata sneered. Olose's wolf like face twisted into what seemed to be a smile.

"This is going to get fun!" He announced as he leapt at Zinkata.

Vivli was slumped down in the hold of the Raven III. She shivered slightly. It was cold at night, especially at their current altitude. She put the collar of Olose's jacket up on end, as if it would protect her exposed neck from the wind. The fact that she was below deck and there was no wind didn't seem to occur to her. She shivered again and wrapped it tightly around her, trying to ignore the fact that her stomach was growing more unstable with each jerk the airship took. She tried to think about other things. Olose. Zinkata. The two were probably killing each other on that airship at that very moment. She sprang up.

"What am I doing?" She asked aloud, despite the fact there was nobody around to hear. She clambered back on deck, falling over as she got there due to the unstable airship. She heard Bootus giggle. She grumbled to herself and stood up, shaking a little. It wasn't from sickness, but from when Zinkata had nearly choked her to death back in the cave. She still didn't feel recovered. That embarrassed her a great deal, considering the punishment the others went through without showing any signs of pain. She sighed.

"Vivli!" Voldos cried. "I thought I told you to get some rest!"

"Since when were you in charge?" She asked with a grin.

"Watch out." Bootus advised. "I think her fighting Zinkata made her grow a backbone."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Vivli snapped.

"Oh come on, you normally keel over and do whatever we ask." Bootus told her.

"Yeah, well, the love of my life is currently on that airship and I'm going to save him!" She decided.

"There are two people on that airship." Bootus stated. "Are you sure you know which one you're talking about." Vivli's eyes became enraged.
"WHAT?" She cried, marching over to Bootus and trying to slap him. She couldn't reach his head, even with the extra height the heels she was still in gave her, so resorted to slapping his chest. "I love Zinkata! Don't say things like that!" Bootus held up his hands defensively.

"You used to think you loved Olose." He told her. "Are you sure those emotions aren't resurfacing?" Vivli cuddled the jacket around her.

"Since when were you meant to ask questions like that?" She grumbled. "I liked it better when all you did was insult me."

"He's changed, Viv." Voldos observed.

"You're one to talk!" Vivli snapped. "Whatever happened to the guy that hit on anything with breasts? The guy who was a little stupid, but fun? Now you're just a boring serious leader!" Voldos managed a smile.

"When we get Zinkata back, everything'll be back to normal." He told her. "I mean, one of us has to be in charge, and quite frankly, the other options were Bootus and you." Vivli paused. She didn't have a good come back to that.

"Fine." She grumbled.

"I think we should stem her from any more adrenaline inducing activities if she gets like this afterwards." Bootus suggested. Voldos smirked.

"Hey! Look!" She suddenly cried, excited. She was pointing to a gigantic airship lumbering through the sky.

"Prepare yourselves!" Cid announced. Voldos ran and flung the rope ladder over the edge of the deck.

"Vivli Stay here!" Voldos ordered.

"Like hell!" Vivli snapped, grabbing her staff and preparing herself. Bootus chuckled.

"She's scared of everything, but perfectly willing to go into battle against her boyfriend?" The galka laughed.

"Gonna be one happy relationship." Joked Voldos.

"Stoppit!" Vivli sobbed suddenly, and much to their surprise. "I love him! I'm not going to let you hurt him!" Tears streamed down her face, and both Voldos and Bootus were taken back. They had actually been proud, she had seemed to be feeling much better and acting much more confidently. Bootus and Voldos seemed to sigh in synch.

Vivli felt like her entire world had just come crashing down. The adrenaline rush from her making a working plan, and almost saving the day back in the cave had now gone, and it suddenly dawned on her. Zinkata and Olose, the two men she felt the most for in the world, were battling to the death. Zinkata was no longer her Zinkata, but an evil corrupted version that she couldn't save. She just didn't know how. She paused, letting a free tear run down her face. This was wrong. She wasn't going to give in. She took a gulp of determination and wiped the tears from her eyes. She didn't know why, but she was feeling more heroic than usual. Maybe it was because she was in Olose's jacket, he was always acting heroically. At least it made her feel more heroic than her gown did otherwise. Either way, she readied her staff and walked to the edge of the ship. She didn't care. She would save him. She had to. She'd find a way.

Olose leapt into the air, landing on Zinkata's shoulders, and as he kicked out with his legs he flew upwards and the hume crashed to the ground. Zinkata healed himself again and charged at the werewolf. Olose growled and leapt at him, and the two crashed to the ground. Zinkata was strong, but no match for Olose in his werewolf form. Olose picked him up and threw him across the deck with a snarl. Zinkata crashed down painfully, but got up with a confident grin. He suddenly laughed.

"You can't beat me, can you?" He taunted. "You can't do it." He was reaching for the Staff of Lavos which was resting on the ground by his feet. "You wouldn't betray Vivli that way. You wouldn't kill the man she loves." Olose paused, his wolf like features displaying sadness. "And that man is not you, Olose." His yellow eyes crackled with electricity as he grabbed the staff and blasted Olose to the chest. The yellow electricity sent Olose flying off the ship. He fell from view.

"OLOSE!" Came a sudden scream. Zinkata looked up to see the three other Light Warriors jump onto the deck. Vivli ran to the side, looking down in fear.

"He's alright, Viv." Voldos told her, hoping he was correct. "He's survived worse." Zinkata laughed.

"So Cid built another one?" He laughed. "How many more before he gives up? Or at least stops lending them to us." He chuckled as his staff sprang out into its quarterstaff version.

"Zinkata! Surrender! You know we can beat you!" Voldos warned, reading his bow.
"Wishful thinking." Laughed Zinkata. "You've forced my hand. I was going to wait. Savour my new power. But no. That's over. The Day of Lavos is here! I will destroy you all and then this world!"

"You sound like every other villain we've fought." Voldos said, and Vivli could swear she heard his voice cracking with sadness.

"Yeah, melodramatic and over the top." Bootus chimed in, sounding much more cocky. "Why can't you bad guys ever just sit back and be nice and casual?"

"I am but a catalyst in this planet's destruction!" Zinkata screamed. "It doesn't matter how I do it or what I say! You cannot stop me!"
"Zinkata! We're the Light Warriors!" Voldos bellowed. "Defends of Vana'diel! We're supposed to protect the world, not destroy it! Stop evil, not let it take over! And we will stop you, Zinkata, if we have to!"
"How noble." Zinkata said with a cock of his head. "A little like I used to sound." He paused. "So, Vivli, where do you stand, girl?" Vivli gulped.

"I am a defender of Vana'diel." She whimpered. "I will kill you if I have to." A tear fell down her cheek.

"You're lying!" Spat Zinkata. "You can't kill me. I can see it in your face."

"We will do what we must!" Voldos spat, lifting his bow as Bootus drew his newly acquired sword. Vivli's staff shot out into its longer position. Zinkata gave an evil grin.

"You will try!" He laughed, running at them.

Arrows flew in at Zinkata, but he stopped them easily with his staff. Bootus swung in with his sword, and Zinkata effortlessly blocked it, flinging the galka aside. Bootus staggered up, blasting a fireball as Voldos ran in with a sword. Zinkata blasted back Voldos, but took the hit from the fireball. He let out an angry growl, and cast a spell to heal himself. He didn't finish, however, as Vivli blasted him across the deck with her own staff. He flipped up with an angry cry and ran at her. Voldos jumped in and started swinging his sword and Zinkata, driving him back. Zinkata blocked and spun his staff, taking Voldos's sword to the ground. He hit Zinkata across the face with a backhand and Zinkata staggered back. The hume quickly recovered and lunged in an attack, Voldos blocking it as the staff and sword locked.

"I was always better." Zinkata laughed, swinging Voldos aside from his sword and spinning to block Bootus's attack. The two warriors attacked Zinkata, and he rapidly blocked both attacks with his staff. Vivli caught the irony that he was fighting much like his nemesis, Signot, used to. Zinkata kicked Voldos away and blocked against Bootus, as the galka snarled, trying to push down on him. "You would be nothing without me!" Zinkata spat. "I am the driving force! I am the most skilled! You're all pathetic!" He pushed Bootus away with an inhuman roar of strength and blasted the galka. Bootus flew across the deck, crashing into the back of the airship. Wooden shards flew everywhere. Voldos ran in and duelled Zinkata, but Zinkata saw an opening and kicked the elvaan back. He crashed down against the edge of the airship.

Vivli was watching in horror as they fought. She gathered what courage she had and ran at Zinkata. Zinkata knocked her aside with ease.

"And you?" He laughed. "We only keep you around because we had to." He explained. "You were a Light Warrior so we needed you. You're so weak we'd of got rid of you at our first opportunity otherwise."

"That's not true!" Vivli protested through sobs, getting up.

"You know it is." Snarled Zinkata. "What possible use could three adventurers like us have for a girl like you?" Vivli sobbed, but couldn't reply.

"She's our white mage!" Bootus spat. "And our friend!" He leapt at Zinkata and knocked him to the floor, his staff skiing away from him. Bootus started pounding Zinkata with his fists. Zinkata managed to reach his staff and blasted the galka away. Bootus flew up in the air and crashed down with a loud thump, sending shards of wood flying everywhere. Voldos ran back in towards Zinkata as he turned, staff in hand, to face him. Vivli's eyes went wide as she spotted something.

"Voldos!" She cried, grabbing Zinkata's fallen sword and throwing it to him. Voldos effortlessly caught it out of the air and attacked, duel bladed. Zinkata started blocking wildly, but Voldos had been trained as a warrior since birth, and his skill and speed were too much for the hume. Zinkata jumped backwards, using the power of the staff to levitate himself to safety. From there he blasted at Voldos, knocking one of his swords aside. Voldos gripped the other. Zinkata's.

"You aren't worthy to wield this!" Voldos spat. "This is the sword of your father! A paladin! A hero! A hero who gave his life for others! You're as far from that as you can be. Look at what you've become!"

"I am but a messenger of Lavos, Loneheart." Snarled Zinkata. All three of the Light Warriors suddenly looked curious at this. It was a strange thing to address him.

"You're an evil fiend!" Voldos cried, rapidly unleashing and firing an arrow at him. Zinkata jumped over it and landed back on deck, totally unprepared for Bootus's attack. He blocked it, but only just. Vivli ran in and he knocked her aside, grabbing her. She struggled uselessly.

"I think I understand why everybody kidnaps her." He laughed. "Nice and easy way out." She squirmed, trying to get free, but it was hopeless. He grabbed one of her arms, and dug his fingers into her pressure points. She yelped, and her staff clattered to the ground. He aimed his staff at it, and fired. The Staff of Ra exploded with a red flash. He smiled. "Nothing can oppose me now. Surrender."

"Take the shot Voldos." Vivli said as he readied his bow.

"You that good Voldos?" Zinkata taunted. "Wouldn't want to hit Vivli." He pulled her in tighter. She struggled, but to no avail.

"Vivli. If I do this, and hit, he'll die." Voldos said grimly.

"Do it." She said bluntly, not allowing herself to cry. "You have to."

"Viv, I could hit you!" Voldos protested. Zinkata laughed.

"DO IT!" Vivli yelled, and Voldos fired. Zinkata swung to the side, and the arrow missed both him and the little mithra. But in the moment of distraction Vivli lifted her foot and slammed it down heel first on Zinkata's foot. This made him yelp and allowed her to break free, running to the others.

"What do you know, those high heels came in useful for something!" She remarked. Zinkata laughed.

"That was your plan all along, Viv? Stamp on my foot?" He grinned. "I can see why you're a Light Warrior."

"Give up, Zin, you're beaten!" Voldos cried.

"Don't make us end this, Zin." Bootus warned, sounding unusually serious. Zinkata laughed.

"End this?" He smirked. "I'll end this. Now." He let the staff unleash a powerful blast of yellow energy into the deck of the airship. Vivli screamed from fear, but the other Light Warriors just held a steely gaze at Zinkata. The ship began to break apart, and Voldos knew they had to act.

"CID!" He bellowed, and the Raven III, still hovering above, lowered itself. Voldos bolted to the rope ladder, and began to climb. Vivli was frozen in fear as the airship broke apart around her. Bootus grabbed her.

"You owe me one for this!" He snapped, and dragged her up the rope ladder.

Vivli could only watch in horror as the airship fell away, Zinkata still on it. Except, much to her surprise, he didn't fall. He was floating. Suspended in the yellow light. He rocketed off into the distance, leaving only a yellow blur. She was snapped out of it as Bootus pulled her off the ladder and dropped her onto deck.

"Vivli!" Bootus snapped. "You cannot freeze up like that! You nearly died!" Vivli was silent, and just broke down into tears. It had been too much, seeing Zinkata behave like every villain they had ever hated. She curled up into a ball, and cried to herself, forgetting the others even existed.

"Great." Voldos sighed. "So he can fly now." The elvaan looked out over the horizon before turning to Vivli's small form. He sighed again. He wasn't exactly the best person in the world when it came to talking to women, but he hoped he could find some way of comforting her. And then some way of saving Zinkata, before they were forced to destroy him to save the world.