Author's Note: I know people get annoyed when I put myself down, but this chapter really needs an apology. I knew I said I wouldn't do one today, but found time and managed to write this, an unusually short one, but it's written. The idea is that instead of it being a full story flowing chapter, it more hypes up the finale of the Abaj plotline by having Olose reflect on things (in a way that's horribly melodramatic, I can't write drama either it seems). Not to say that important plot points don't happen here, there's a few (well, two), but the idea is that it's more of a teaser, and so that I managed to update. The title also meant I could tie back into the name of the ship that Olose has been on for all this time, which isn't something I had planned, but it actually fitted in quite well, I think.

Anyway, sorry for the short chapter. I need to stop doing those! Should be back to normal tomorrow!

CHAPTER 21

DESTINY

The Destiny pulled into the Seblina docks to a huge gathering crowd, all eager to get one look at the now legendary ship and her crew. Olose rushed off the deck, pushing past the group of people, his mind on other things. The group looked confused, they heard of Olose as the legendary captain who defeated an armada, but was still kind and caring. They saw none of it here. He seemed possessed by a single goal, something he had to achieve. He marched towards the edge of Seblina, a single focused look on his face.

Nadia ran after him, pushing through the crowd with determination.

"Olose!" She cried. "Olose! Wait!" He stopped, spinning around, looking almost angry.

"What? We don't have much time." He stated fiercely.

"What are we going to do? There's no way we can reach Abaj in time!" Nadia explained. "Not even by chocobo."

"Not for a mortal." Olose answered. "But a werewolf. A werewolf can move across terrain at incredible speeds."
"It's not a full moon!" Nadia protested. "You can't turn into a werewolf."

"Oh no, that's where you're wrong." Olose laughed, almost sounding insane. "I can. And I will! I've seen Abaj do it. If Altana ever shines on me, let it be now." Olose shut his eyes, as if in deep thought.

He could hear Nadia speaking, but he couldn't make out the words. He felt his pulse quicken as he focused on his heart, each beat becoming faster and faster. Arcadia was in trouble. He was all that could save her. Images of Talia flashed across his mind. Memories of him ripping her apart in his werewolf form. He could not let that happen again. He could control his curse, he knew he could. He began to feel his blood boil, those images of him ripping apart Talia began to change. He could see Abaj. Abaj had killed the werewolves, he had ended their race and left Olose alone. It was Abaj who had caused him to come to that town, to meet Talia, and to kill her. It was Abaj's fault, and now he was repeating his crimes! He had lost Talia, and he was not going to lose Arcadia. He was not.

The rest of the Destiny's crew caught up with Olose just as he seemed to explode, howling at the sky as his muscles exploded, growing to immense size. His face began to twist, elongating and becoming that of a wolf. He grew to a gigantic size, towering over them, his clothes being ripped apart. He stood there before them and howled, having fully transformed into a werewolf. The crew were stunned, and more than slightly frightened. Suse, rather amusingly, tried to hide being Phabrizoe, to no effect. Olose howled again.

"Wow." He growled. "I'm in control." He stood there for a moment. "I can control my form. Now, I can fight Abaj. Now, I can save Arcadia." He turned, and suddenly disappeared, sprinting across the land, leaving the crew in shock.

They stood there frozen for a moment.

"What arrrre we waiting forrrr?" Trevia suddenly asked, as if it was matter of fact. "We have to help the Captain! We need to get chocobos, we'll be slowerrrr, but we can still catch up with him if we trrrry!" The crew all turned to Trevia, slightly surprised. "What? He's our Captain! We have to help him!" She paused. "And he's my frrrrriend." The word seemed strange to say, but Trevia felt the same warmth saying it she had felt back in Olose's cabin.

"She's right!" Nadia cried. "We need to help Olose! We're his crew, and we'll follow him to the end of the planet, right?"

"Right!" Suse cheered enthusiastically.

"I'm going to regret this." Phabrizoe sighed. "But where the Captain goes, I follow."

"Right! Let's move then!" Nadia ordered, and the crew ran towards the nearest source for chocobos.

Olose sped across the grounds, literally leaving a trail of dust behind him. The speeds he could reach were incredible, and he shot past many travellers who were left dazed by the dust left behind. He could see Tavnazia in his head. His ultimate goal. He was too late, he knew, but he could stop Abaj leaving, and stop him harming Arcadia, if he was lucky. Luck hadn't been on his side, he had been plotting to strike against Abaj, and instead everything had been reversed. But he wasn't going to give in. Not this time. He wasn't going to live in fear. He was immortal. He couldn't die. He was going to stop Abaj once and for all, and with his new ability to transform at will, he knew that he had a chance. He knew that he could defeat him. He knew he would have to. Arcadia's life depended on it. And he was sure Abaj wouldn't stop at Arcadia, but once she was dead, he'd kill every last person Olose cared about to hurt him as badly as possible. Olose couldn't let that happen. He swore. He would kill Abaj Tuh.

It was his destiny.