Author's Note: Sorry this has taken so long to update. Double essays, family visits, trips home, it's all piled up and I've really struggled to get this done. Once a week seems to be a realistic estimate for chapter updates though.

Some people may have noticed each chapter now has a name in the sidebar. I'm using a particular convention for this because I'm rubbish at naming. I wonder if anybody will spot what it is!

Oh, and this chapter features Razio, Neo Xain's character, in a short scene. Thanks for letting me use him! Sadly, he's written very poorly by me, I couldn't pull him off well, but he does serve a good function. If you're too disappointed with how I handled him, I can always change the name for you!

CHAPTER V

"I can't believe you tried to do that." Came a voice.

"Bootus?" Vivli whimpered.

"Seriously, of all the cowardly things you've done, you go and do that."

"It's not cowardly!" Vivli shouted at the galka, stamping her foot as she did so. "I just wanted to be free."

"Free? Did you think about who you were hurting?" The galka seemed to flicker, as though he wasn't quite there.

"Who? Nobody cares about me." Vivli sobbed, looking into the black void surrounding her.

"Don't be stupid." Came the reply. "We care about you. More than you can know. We'd do anything to protect you, Viv."

"Then why weren't you there for me?" Vivli screamed. "Why weren't you there when I needed you the most?" Her screams fell on deaf ears. The galka had disappeared. Vivli shook slightly, wrapping her hands around herself.

"It wasn't their choice, Viv. They wanted to be there for you."

"Olose?" Vivli turned around to see him walking around her, almost floating.

"They love you Viv. I love you. Don't turn on them. Don't turn away from them. They want to help you and protect you. They'd do anything to change what happened to you."

"Zin doesn't want to-"

"Zin would sacrifice anything for you. Just because he loves another woman doesn't mean he doesn't care about you."
"Seems that way to me!" Vivli sobbed. She didn't get a reply. Olose was gone. "See? You can't answer me, can you?"

"Why are you so afraid of admitting he loves you?" Came another voice. Vivli turned slowly around. Her eyes turned wide.

"Fiorel?" She exclaimed.

"You hadn't forgotten about me, had you, sis?" He smiled. "I know you have a real family now, but that's no excuse." Vivli was at a loss for words.

"No. No." She stuttered. "Why are you here?"

"Because I, like everybody else you see, care about you." He told her. "When you wake up, I can only hope you realise it." He walked towards her, passed through her, and turned around behind her. Vivli spun around to follow his path. "It's easier to hate Zinkata, isn't it? It's much easier if he doesn't care about you. You can turn around and walk away and leave him, and not have to worry about him being a friend, but knowing that his heart belongs to somebody else." Vivli tried to reply, but couldn't. "But he cares about you. A lot. He wants to protect you. Love you. And you're not letting him. He's horrified by what you just tried to do. He'll do anything to keep you safe. He's even considering leaving her so you don't try again. Losing everything his heart desires for just to protect you. That's how much he cares."

"How could you know that?" Vivli croaks. Fiorel faded before he could reply. Vivli burst into uncontrollable tears.

"Oh come on, you won't impress a guy like that." Voldos grinned. "You know, I am the expert, right?" Vivli almost smiled.

"Voldos." She laughed, turning to the elvaan. "We're looking for you, you know."

"Nice to know." He replied, shimmering slightly. "Shame this is just a dream."

"Just a dream?" Vivli asked.

"Well, close to one. 'Course it's not real. Bootus admitted he cared about you." This time Vivli managed to giggle. "Viv, we'll do anything for you. We'll help you. You don't have to face this alone."

"You can't change things." Vivli became solemn and sad again.

"We can't change the past Viv, but we can help you with the future." Voldos smiled.
"That's unusually wise, coming from you." Vivli managed a smirk.

"Like I said, this isn't real." Voldos laughed as he disappeared. Vivli turned in the black void, sighing heavily.

"Hiya, Viv." Zinkata said softly. Vivli turned, her hands clenched.

"It's you." Vivli growled.

"And me." Tamantha's voice came from behind. She walked directly through Vivli and hugged Zinkata.

"Why show this to me?" Vivli snapped. "I don't want to see you two together!"

"But you need to." Tamantha told her. Vivli's eyes widened. "You need to accept us. Then he can accept you." Zinkata extended his arms. Vivli paused.

"You want me to hug you while you stay with her? You can't care for me!" Vivli cried at Zinkata.

"I care about you Viv. I love you." Zinkata told her. "Just not in the way you're thinking of. My heart may belong to Tammy, but I shall always protect you. You need to accept this Viv. You need to step into my arms."

"I can't! Not while she's there!" Vivli snapped, pointing sharply at Tamantha.

"But that's what you need to accept. She'll always be there, but you can be too. I still care about you." Vivli whimpered, and ran into Zinkata's arms, longing for his embrace.

She suddenly woke up, in his arms.

"Oh good, you're awake." Zinkata smiled, before lowering her down. He was carrying her. Vivli blinked groggily, memories of the dream quickly fading, but the feeling remaining. All of her friends banding together on her behalf. And she'd argued with each one of them. She suddenly had an urge to go back; back into the dream world and apologise. Say she was sorry.

She rubbed her eyes and came to her senses more.

"Urr, where are we?" She managed to say.

"San d'Oria. I didn't want to wake you so carried you." Zinkata explained. Vivli turned to Olose, yawning. Olose frowned at her.

"Vivli. Are you okay now?" He asked worryingly.

"Yes." Vivli nodded. "I'm sorry." She sighed. "I just- I don't know how I'm supposed to face it anymore."

She sighed to herself, ignoring the other's replies. Her dream had shown her. She needed to rely upon them. She did know how to face it, and it wasn't alone. Things had gotten so bad for her because she was alone. They hadn't been there to protect her. They couldn't have been. Now they were there again and that's who she needed, it was that simple.

Except it wasn't. Because he wasn't hers anymore.

FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT YEARS EARLIER

Arcadia ran up the huge steps in the manor, already breathless. She gasped for air, but got nothing, just being forced to choke. Her body was feeling weak and shaky, craving oxygen. She couldn't see. She could barely think. She had to get out. She wasn't going to be able to save anybody now. She just had to escape.

Where was the nearest window? Could she even figure it out in this state? Her legs collapsed and she fell down. She tried to stand up, but she needed oxygen. There was none. She couldn't see. Her eyes stung at the spoke and tears ran down her face.

"It was a noble effort." Came a deep and sinister voice. She became aware of a presence; somebody kneeling down next to her. "It was awfully kind of you to try and save her. Maybe there's more to you than meets the eye. I don't think I'll kill you right away." He seemed to continue speaking, but Arcadia blacked out before she could hear any more words.

Olose slowly opened his eyes and groaned. The silver medallion was gone, but the pain in his chest remained. He was hanging by chains, holding him against what appeared to be a cave wall. He groaned, and then decided to focus on the chains. He tugged one. He grinned. He yanked them both with all of his immortal strength and they broke away, causing him to fall down.

Unfortunately, he hadn't planned just how far he would fall. It turned out the cave was more of a chute, and he was plummeting down it.

He rolled out into a huge chasm, only to hear chanting. He looked up to see the very roof of the massive cave was replaced by metal bars, and a crowd was watching him. He suddenly heard a roar and turned to find himself facing a gigantic monster, huge and reptilian, brown with a stumpy face and beady black eyes, massive claws so big it looked like it struggled to hold them up and a gigantic powerful tail. Olose had never seen anything like it before. He just allowed himself to sigh.

"This has not been my best day ever." He decided to comment.

FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT YEARS LATER

Vivli sat around in the tavern, alone. She knew she needed the others to help her, but she wanted time alone to think. It hadn't been easy being left alone. They wanted to stay with her. In the end, they had agreed, simply because they had to find Voldos but knew she needed a break. She had spotted them talking to one of the guards by the door however, so that she couldn't leave. She sighed. She kind of appreciated it. It showed they did care.

A band had been playing fairly fun music on the stage, helping to lift her spirits somewhat. She loved it when there were live performances in the taverns; it seemed to really help the atmosphere. The lead bard began to strum his instrument, and looked out to the crowd.

"One day, I found myself thinking," He began to speak. "Just why do we need heroes?" Vivli almost smirked. If there was one thing she hated, it was when they sang songs she felt applied to her. "Well, let me tell you, it's pretty simple."

He suddenly slammed down on the instrument and the entire band kicked off, making Vivli jump a little.

A hero's what you're chasing, baby,

A hero's what I'm aiming to be,

A hero's what you're seeking, baby,

So come on home with me!

You're looking for a hero,

And it's what I'm aiming to be,

You need a hero,

And it's my destiny,

You and me, baby, we need each other,

You and me, baby, we rock together!

You and me, baby, we need each other,

You and me, baby, we rock together!

A hero's what you're looking for,

A hero's what you've got,

Learn to look no further, baby,

I'm a hero to the dot.

You're looking for a hero,

And it's what I'm aiming to be,

You need a hero,

And it's my destiny,

You and me, baby, we need each other,

You and me, baby, we rock together!

You and me, baby, we need each other,

You and me, baby, we rock together!

Vivli phased out from the lyrics. They reminded her too much of how she felt around Zinkata. Sure, it would be Zinkata's song, but it was what he was. He was her hero. She needed to look no further than him for her own safety and security. Now he was gone. And she needed a hero again.

The song continued with poorly written verses and ill fitting rhymes that didn't even seem to share the same beat. Vivli sighed. She wished she could strangle whoever wrote it. It was terrible. Yet the words seemed to haunt her. Something about them. A hero's what you're looking for. A hero's what you've got. Was it telling her she didn't need to look? Maybe Zinkata and Olose were her heroes. Maybe even all of the Light Warriors. Maybe that was the point. Or maybe she was reading too far into it. It was just a song.

Still. It would be nice if the other Light Warriors were her heroes.

Voldos peered out from his helmet, and began to ponder the view before him. Darkness. Was it some kind of trick? Some plot against him? Whatever it was, it wasn't to be taken lightly. He swiftly drew his sword, only to hear a voice.

"Voldos, what are you doing?" Came the sound of a second temple knight stood next to him.

"Some kind of spell has been cast on me! I can't see! Run, my old friend! It's too late for you!" Voldos cried dramatically.

"Voldos, you have put your helmet on back to front." Sighed the exasperated temple knight. Voldos paused, and quickly took off his awkwardly placed helmet.

"Oh." He stated, with a matter of fact cough. "Well spotted. You're doing well!"

"You took it off to scratch your head then put it on wrong." Sighed Razio, the second temple knight. He was older than Voldos, but technically less experienced. Voldos was an ex-Light Warrior after all. Unfortunately, this meant Razio had a maturity that was completely unamused by Voldos's antics.

"Of course. Of course." Voldos nodded. "Testing you see. It's important to be able to spot that kind of thing."

"How did you ever save the world?" Sighed Razio. It wasn't the first time he had asked that question, and it wouldn't be the last.

"Well, it all began when the other Light Warriors were defeated cowering in a corner." Voldos began. "Now, amongst the cries of 'Save us Voldos, save us!', which I could barely hear over the screams of my adoring fangirls I must point out, I noticed a key weakness in the enemy. He was just not as awesome as me. So I-"

"VOLDOS!" Came a cheerful cry. Voldos suddenly jumped out of his skin and spun around, waving his sword frantically. He suddenly paused and his eyes went wide.

"Zinkata!" He cried in astonishment. "Olose! What are you doing here?"

"That is one long story." Zinkata smiled, running up and hugging Voldos.

"This still means I'm totally into chicks, right?" Voldos confirmed with Razio, who simply rolled his eyes.

"And we had better get explaining." Olose told him. "The fate of the world could rest on us once more."

"Oh, fantastic!" Voldos grinned. "I've been needing some new stories!"

Author's Notes: Just a few final notes. That song I wrote, which is why it's terrible. I mean, REALLY bad! I can't write songs. Funny though, 'coz Vivli insults it too. Vivli insults the writer. Me. I'm Vivli. I insult myself. Strange.

Voldos has also gotten stupider. I wanted a comedy introduction for him, which is a bit over the top, but I felt it works! Hopefully the comedy isn't over blown. Thanks for reading! If you have time, please leave a review, I love reading them!