Author's Note: Sorry this update has taken, like, forever. I've been a bit busy and a bit distracted lately. But that's mostly just finding excuses. I've also been a bit unmotivated. But I finally got it done, so hopefully you can enjoy.

The forums are still up, even though not many people post. It's the only FFXI fanfic forum at the moment I believe, so come on people! Make it lively! There are lots of games there now, like versus threads, where you pit your favourite fanfic characters against each other, and places for plot speculation and suggestions and things, so go check it out. It'll make me feel special, that much is true. And it's more fun than leaving a review, if you're one of those readers (do I have any?) who don't like to review.

Of course, if you could review anyway, I'd love it. Always makes me feel special getting reviews, like what I do is appreciated, even if the review is critical. And yes, I am trying to guilt trip you into reviewing, but a friend of mine tells me that works, since she only ever contacted me because of my constant guilt tripping, so it must work somehow! So, come on! Review!

Also: post on the forums.

Again, sorry this chapter took so long. I actually quite liked the flashback part of this chapter, it was fun to write. Although that might just be me being weird.

CHAPTER XII

Before Vivli could react Leanne pounced at her, knocked her staff from her hand and threw her back against the cabin. Vivli collapsed in agony, the pain too much for her little body to take. She looked up at Leanne stood over her helplessly, just as the mighty werewolf swept down and picked her up by the neck, leaving her dangling.

"My, my, aren't we a frail one?" She taunted. Vivli kicked and struggled, but was unable to do anything. "Weak too." She remarked. "Well, survival of the fittest. And you can't survive." Leanne swung Vivli around and let her go. Vivli tumbled across the deck and slammed into the end of it. She didn't move and Leanne cackled. "That's really pathetic. The legendary Light Warriors defeated by a light throw." Vivli's blonde hair just blew over her face, but the little mithra didn't move. "I don't think I can find words for how weak you are. I mean, the four united. Destined defenders of Vana'diel. And you've been crushed that easily. Completely unable to stand against me. With you dead, the four are broken. Nobody can stop us." Vivli suddenly started to move. She tried to get up, but her thin arms just shook as she tried to move. She collapsed with a pant, and looked around at Leanne, tears running down her face. She began to whisper. "A cure spell? Why cure yourself when I could snap your pathetic little bones with but a thought?" Leanne asked with a grin.

"It's not a cure spell." Vivli groaned. "Holy!"

The blast hit Leanne, but it merely caused her to fly back across the deck. She landed on her feet, and she didn't look phased.

"That it?" She asked with a shrug. Vivli cast a cure spell quickly afterwards and got back to her feet.

"I haven't even begun yet!" She spat, obviously very angry.

"You don't stand a chance. You're up against an immortal enemy who is simply put, faster, stronger and smarter than you are." Leanne mocked.

"You are not smarter!" Vivli yelled back. Leanne decided to attack, and was on top of Vivli again in moments, but didn't hit her. Instead she just grabbed her and pinned the mithra's arms to her sides.

"Go on then." Leanne snarled. "Do your worse." Vivli couldn't even squirm thanks to Leanne's incredible strength.

"I can't!" She grunted as she strained.
"Exactly. You can't move. So, if I chose to throw you off this airship right now, you'd survive, how exactly?" Vivli looked up helplessly at her captor. She couldn't move at all. "Aww, don't you look sweet. So cute and innocent. What a shame I hate cute and innocent." Leanne dragged Vivli over to the edge of the deck and lifted her up. Vivli started to cry, unable to do anything else. "Don't feel bad. You're a typical pretty girl. Dresses and long blonde hair. And pretty girls have no business being adventurers." Leanne smirked.

"Just one problem." Vivli groaned, still in Leanne's iron grip. "I'm not blonde, so I guess I'm not pretty."

"Was that a threat?" Leanne asked in surprise.

"No. But this is." Came a voice from behind. Leanne turned around in shock to see Cid stood by a lighted cannon aimed directly at her. Before she could react a cannonball tore out of it and slammed into her, blowing her directly off the deck. Vivli was pulled with her for a moment before her grip was released and the little mithra crashed onto the deck.

Cid ran over to her and helped her up. He had to confess, she was very frail. He could feel it as her body shook in his arms. It was a surprise she was still alive.

"I'm really glad you're a good shot with that thing." She half sobbed.

"Urm, it was supposed to be a warning shot." Cid told her dryly. Vivli's bright blue eyes went wide in fear. "Come on, let's get you below decks where it's safe." He said kindly.

"No!" Vivli tried to struggle out of Cid's grip, but again, she found herself far too weak. "I have to go down there and help them."

"You're in no condition for that." Cid explained in an attempt to comfort her. "Go below decks and rest. The others can handle themselves. I need to get back to the controls." Vivli calmed down and he released her. "Oh, and you are pretty, Viv." He said with a smile.

As soon as he turned away Vivli scowled at him and marched below decks, except without the slightest intention of staying there.

Zinkata blocked an attack from one of the wolves and thrust his sword into it. It bellowed and fell off of the ship as it ran around screaming. There was an explosion from up on the Raven, like a cannon firing, but he didn't have time to worry about that.

"Come on! We have to get below decks!" He yelled, pointing in that direction with his sword.

"If you haven't noticed, we're a little busy!" Bootus shouted back, clashing with a fully transformed werewolf. It swiped at him and knocked his scythe out of his hands. Bootus hit it in the face and swung behind it, grabbing its tail and throwing it through the air and into the water.

"Ha, you have trouble." Voldos smirked, firing silver arrows with pinpoint accuracy and keeping the wolves back. "See, this is why I'm married and your not." He said, stopping to pose as coolly as he could manage.

"I'm not married because I'm asexual." Bootus reminded him.
"Sounds like an excuse to me." Voldos grinned.

"Asexuality is not an excuse." Bootus frowned. "Besides, we all know I could get more girls than you."

"I'm married!" Voldos pointed out.

"Sounds like an excuse to me." Bootus grinned.

"Oh, I hate you!" Voldos mocked, managing to sound surprisingly like Vivli.

"Urm, I don't mean to interrupt, but focusing would be good." Remmy spoke up.

"Why? We can deal with these werewolves with our silver weapons easily enough." Voldos said casually with a cocky smile.

"What about that?" Remmy asked with a distinct lack of confidence. The others looked.

Bear stood on the deck, staring at them silently.

FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT YEARS EARLIER

Olose and his crew crept down the castle passageway slowly, walking down another set of spiraling stairs, getting ever lower. Arcadia's high heels clicked as they walked, echoing around the large space.

"When we get back, I'm throwing out every pair of those you own." Olose decided.

"You do that and I shall throw out all of your swords." Arcadia smirked back. Olose just stared at her.

"Why are being quiet anyway?" Suse asked. Everybody looked at her curiously. "I mean, Olose has a really good sense of smell right? So do the werewolves. That means they know we're here already."

"Captain, should you be offended she's smarter than you?" Trevia asked Olose with a slight smirk.

"Well, they haven't caught us yet. Either they're distracted or planning something." Olose explained as they reached the bottom of the tower. He swung open the door and raised an eyebrow.

It was a doorway in the side of the cave they had been in before. He stood watching silently. Bear stood before Leanne. In his hands was a black orb.

"Ah, excellent." Leanne commented simply. "Wouldn't you agree, Olose?" She grinned, turning to face him.

"Go. Now." Olose whispered.
"Where?" Jeren asked simply.

"Anywhere." Olose answered. "Get to safety. That guy there is more powerful than any of us."

"We can help." Trevia reminded him.

"Keep everybody safe, and together. As a team you can take normal werewolves. Get out of here. I'll deal with the giant guy." Olose told them. "Go! Now!" His crew simply nodded and ran, knowing not to argue with Olose.

Olose walked down into the cave confidently, two swords hanging from his belt.

"The Two Bladed Wolf." Grinned Leanne. "Creature of legends. The only one who can stop us."

"Always knew I was special." Olose grinned back. "Arcadia told me everything."

"Then you know what this orb will do." Leanne stated as a fact, not a question. "I've summoned Aura, she will be here soon. And then the hume race will be no more. And thanks to you, you've delivered all the other races into my hands in the form of your crew. They shall be captured, and used to wipe out all of the lesser races!"

"Nice evil villain speech. Bit stereotypical though. I'd give it a six out of ten." Olose mocked.

"Keep joking, Olose." Leanne smirked. "While Bear tears you limb for limb. You know why we call him bear?"

"I can guess." Olose grumbled.

"We aren't just werewolves. We're lycanthropes. And Bear here is the very last of a special type." Bear began to transform into a massive creature. Bigger, larger and stronger looking than a werewolf. Without the wolf like features either. No wolf like face, no wolf ears, and no tail. He looked like a bear. A werebear. "He'll crush you, then there will be nobody to stop us." Leanne smirked. "Goodbye, Olose Sampson."

"It's not over to the fat ugly immortal guy dies!" Olose yelled, drawing his twin silver swords, protected handles and gloves on just to double check his own security.

"Kill him!" Leanne ordered to Bear. The huge monster leapt at Olose, just as Olose took a fighting stance.

The rest of the crew raced through the corridors, before skidding to a stop. Aura stood in the way, flanked by two humes.

"Ah, hello, Arcadia, dear." She smiled.

"You are rather confident, considering you are unarmed." Arcadia reminded her.

"I am anything but unarmed." Aura replied calmly. "You two. Destroy them." The two humes suddenly burst into werewolf form as the crew drew their swords.

Olose found his twin silver long swords knocked out of his hands before he could slash at Bear and got hit in the gut, causing him to rocket across the cave and into the nearby wall. He quickly burst out of the rocks and threw off his leather jacket.
"Okay, time for games is over." He growled as he sprang into his full werewolf form. Leanne cackled.

"You don't stand a chance. That won't stop him." She gloated. Olose threw himself at Bear who snatched him out of the air and threw him at the ceiling. Olose spun in the air and turned so that his legs were facing the roof. He kicked off of it as he approached and rocketed back down at Bear, slashing him down the chest as he did so. Bear roared and back fisted Olose, knocking him the ground with a yelp. Olose growled, biting into Bear's leg. Bear kicked his leg upwards hurling Olose upwards again as his jaw lost its connection, causing the hero to crash down on the other side of the cave, still in werewolf form, and with a mouthful of Bear's flesh. Bear seemed to grin as he advanced on Olose.

Trevia found herself pinned as one of the werewolves lunged her before she could draw her sword. It went to bite into her but Jeren swung a silver sword down at it causing it to have to retreat.

Suse fired silver arrows at the other, but missed as it sprang off the narrow corridor wall and turned in the air, landing before her. A massive fireball from Phabrizoe blasted it back, the narrow space making it impossible for him to miss.

Trevia managed to draw her silver katana and advanced on her opponent, Jeren at her side. The werewolf kicked outwards with its powerful leg causing her stumble back, and then spun its claw in slashing Jeren's arm. Jeren screamed and was thrown back into the nearby wall with such force a few stones fell from the ceiling.

"JEREN!" Trevia screamed, running to his side.

The werewolf scorched by Phabrizoe's fireball leapt at the tiny tarutaru, who ducked, causing it to saw over his head. Suse fired her silver arrows again, this time hitting it in the shoulder. It roared in pain and leapt at her. It knocked her over, and went to roar at her, but a lightning bolt struck it. It stumbled for a bit and Suse thrust another silver arrow into its chest with all of her strength. It stumbled back, and yet another fireball hit it, knocking it back. It roared again, and slashed its razor sharp claws at Phabrizoe.

Trevia was now fighting the other werewolf alone, its claws blocking her blows. It trapped her sword in them, and then twisted, shattering the blade, sending shards of silver everywhere. Trevia reacted, quickly drawing two silver throwing stars and hurling them at the werewolf before jumping backwards and drawing a silver dagger. The wolf roared at its two latest wounds.

Aura hurriedly made her exit, reaching a door that she knew would lead around to Leanne, and safety. She stopped to catch her breath, glancing back at the battle she had left behind. She gasped as she saw Arcadia stood before her.

"Going somewhere?" Arcadia smirked.

"I've had quite enough of you." Aura growled, pulling a dagger from her belt. Unlike Aura, Arcadia was unarmed. She backed away slightly.

"It does not have to end like this." Arcadia told her.

"What's the matter, scared?" Aura grinned.

"We shall see." Arcadia stated calmly.

Olose slammed into the wall again, and dropped down, his werewolf body badly beaten, and not having time to regenerate before Bear was on top of him again. This time, however, Olose kicked himself off of the ground before Bear could do anything, and knocked the mighty werebear over, propelling himself over his head. Olose leapt onto Bear's back, and grabbed his neck, beginning to dig his claws in.

Aura pulled the dagger back over her head and went to stab down at Arcadia. Arcadia flung herself forwards, grabbing Aura's arms, trying to hold her back. Arcadia strained as Aura tried to stab downwards at her. Arcadia struggled, but was growing nervous. Aura seemed to have slightly more physical strength than her. That or she just had the advantage pushing downwards. The dagger got ever closer to Arcadia's head as she strained to hold it away.

Trevia ducked as the werewolf swiped at her, and thrust upwards with her dagger. The werewolf swung to the side and grabbed her arm, before rotating it with such a tug there was a sickening crack. Trevia screamed and fell down, wincing, her arm broken.

Suse screamed as the werewolf leapt upwards onto the ceiling, and propelled itself off of it with such force when it collided with her it was easily enough to knock the still quite fragile mithra out.

"Suse! No!" Phabrizoe managed to cry, running in and diving under the werewolf. He fired a lightning bolt from his position between its legs and the werewolf yelped in agony as it hit home. It fell forwards for just enough time to allow Phabrizoe to grab one of Suse's silver arrows and shove it between its eyes, causing it to instantly die.

Trevia tried one final time to fight back, but with her arm broken she was in too much pain to succeed. The werewolf simply picked her up and slammed her against the wall. It let out a mighty roar just before it went to bite into her. Before it could manage, it yelped. Jeren was stood behind it, having shoved his own silver sword into its back. With its jaw still open, he forced one of his bombs into its mouth, threw a rope over it, and pulled it tight while the werewolf was distracted by the pain.

"GET DOWN!" He screamed. The four crewmembers dived to the floor as the werewolf exploded, unable to do anything in time. The roof of the corridor crumbled down, resulting in an avalanche of stone, cutting the crew off from their escape route (and Arcadia).

Aura was suddenly distracted by the explosion down the corridor, and Arcadia used it to her advantage, stomping on Aura's foot with her heel. Aura cried in pain, and Arcadia quickly delivered a slap to her face, causing Aura to stumble back and drop the dagger. Arcadia smiled.

"And Olose wants me to not wear these anymore." She said, admiring the work her shoes had done to Aura's foot. Arcadia swept down gracefully and grabbed the dagger before Aura could react, and held it out.

"Please, don't kill me." Aura whimpered, now at her mercy.

"I will not kill you." Arcadia stated. Aura's face suddenly turned into a sinister grin.

"Your loss!" She laughed, lunging forwards at Arcadia. Arcadia simply sidestepped and planted the dagger in her upper arm. Aura screeched in blind agony, completely unprepared for any kind of pain like that.

"That is not a fatal wound." Arcadia pointed out, wanting to smile but too disturbed by Aura's blood loss. Aura dropped down, screaming and sobbing so much that her thick make-up ran down her face with ease. She looked up helplessly. Arcadia swung her hand backwards across her face and knocked Aura out.

Bear grabbed Olose from his back and threw him across the cave once more. Olose landed by a metal lever, which he pulled. The massive cage in the ground opened, leading to the monster from which Olose had escaped earlier. The monster couldn't climb out, but the pit was now open for one of the two combatants to meet their doom in.

"Foolish, Olose, foolish." Leanne mocked. "You really think you can get Bear in that thing? You've only sealed your own fate."

"Not Bear." Olose smirked, despite his werewolf form. "You."

"What?" Leanne managed to yell, but it was too late. Olose leapt at her, powered by his mighty lycanthropic muscles, and knocked her right into the pit with the monster. It could be heard roaring below. Bear looked at her fall.

"Go on then. Save your mistress." Olose taunted to Bear. Bear ran and dived into the pit to protect Leanne from the beast. Olose grinned in victory. He pulled the lever and the metal trapdoor closed. Sure, they could escape like Olose did, but it would take time. He ran over and grabbed his old leather jacket, throwing it on over the tattered remains of his trousers as he retook human form. He turned to leave, before pausing.

A figure in a black robe was stood at the exit, clapping.

"Very good, Olose. Very good." He grinned. Olose tensed up. He had a feeling that this new stranger was somebody even worse than Leanne and Bear.

FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT YEARS LATER

Vivli burst out on deck dressed in her full white mage robes. She had even cleaned them earlier, giving them a pristine white look. The red triangles were as colourful as ever, even though Vivli had to admit she felt strange wearing them with her new blonde hair; whenever she had worn them before it had been ginger.

She ran over to the rope ladder and began to climb down it, looking below. She could just see four unconscious bodies being hauled below deck by a gigantic creature. An elvaan, a galka, a tarutaru and a hume.

"Great guys, just great." She managed to say, straining with the rope ladder. She didn't quite have the strength to hold onto the ladder, and began to descend it with great difficulty. Her little arms were shaking furiously as she tried to hold on, but it was no good. For all her will power, Vivli was still greatly lacking physically, especially in her anorexic state, and she fell.

It was in fact a stroke of luck, or some would say fate, that she did, for she crashed down inside a barrel on the ship, falling unconscious instantly, but hidden.

Three of the Light Warriors were captured, Remmy too, and the only one who was free, Vivli, was now unconscious inside that barrel. To make matters worse, the Destiny was sailing away, and Cid, having seen the heroes' capture, pulled the Raven III away to a safe distance.

Things had gone badly.

Author's Note: Sorry to make another one. Just a quick note to apologise for the slightly poor ending. I didn't really have the motivation to write another fight with Bear, and figured since that fight was only there for the Light Warriors to be captured, why not skip to the results? It's actually coincidence that the two fights with Bear took place at the same time. I messed up a bit with the pacing of the two stories there.

Oh, and Vivli falling off the rope ladder is a reference to all the other times she's failed to climb one. The way I figure it, climbing a rope ladder hanging in the air is hard work (I've never tried myself), physically at least, and we all know Vivli isn't exactly physically strong! Hence why she falls off. It is a convenient plot device to get her on the ship, mind!