Final Fantasy XII : The Tides of Darkness

Disclaimer :I do not own Final Fantasy XI, or anything else to do with the game. I only own the main characters (Arielyanna, Trevernous, Lasi Onasi, Pter, Romulado, Loannthalas, Dasi Onasi, Flowing Wind, Wyreema, Raido, Siflan and Sano Etano ).

The other characters who appear in this story (Akujunkan, Xylia, Enkidoh, Anthyme, Orcrinvalkin, Kainvalkin, Leod, Dohwa, are actual members from my linkshell in Final Fantasy XI (Linkshell name – Omnipresence)) are owned by their creators. These characters are on the Midgardsormr server.

If these characters appear in any other works of fanfiction, it is done so without their creator's permission. If you'd like to have them appear in your work, please send me an email asking for permission first.

Any text in ( … ) is linkshell conversation.

Chapter Three

An Elvaan Dark Knight sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead, before replacing his helm back on his head. He slowly trudged along the path leading from Meriphataud Mountains, heading towards the Crag of Mea. He sighed as made his way along the path, kicking up dust as he walked.

His name was Lokkii, and he was running late for his rendezvous with a mithra white mage, who had just arrived at the crag, and was waiting for him. Two Canyon Crawler's were fighting against three adventurers, and from Lokkii's vantage point, the adventurers looked they were about to be beaten.

Readying himself, Lokkii was about to draw his scythe, when a Dragoon and White Mage appeared nearby, and assisted the three against the Crawlers. As the second Crawler fell to the ground dead, Lokkii saluted the adventurers and went on his way.

Meanwhile, amongst the adventurers, the hume White Mage sighed and readjusted his Traveller's Hat and glanced at the Dragoon.

"Well Anthyme, looks like another job well done."

The Elvaan Dragoon chuckled to himself, as he sent his wyvern away.

"You know Kainvalkin, with you being a White Mage, I respect your oath to always help and assist those in trouble..." he shrugged "I wonder what HE is going to say about this."

Kainvalkin sighed.

"We both know what HE'S like... and he's gotten... well, a lot... umm... errr... controlled... since he became a Dark Knight."

Anthyme shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, you've known him longer than I have Kain... I suppose your judgment about how he'd react to something like this, would be justified."

Kainvalkin sighed again to himself, as he glanced up towards the crag.

"I... just hope he doesn't go... well... overboard..."

A dark shape appeared behind him, a hand grasping him from behind lifting him into the air. Kainvalkin suddenly found himself staring into the face of the Galka, he and Anthyme had been talking about.

Kainvalkin smiled weakly.

"It's a you!"

The Galka's eyes narrowed, and he grin evilly.

"Kain... what did I tell you about talking about me behind my back?"

Kainvalkin grimaced.

"This... is gonna hurt... isn't it..."

Anthyme chose this point to step in.

"Orc...didn't you have a reason for being here?"

Orcrinvalkin looked over at Anthyme and nodded as he released Kainvalkin.

"You have a point Anthyme, still.." he glared at Kainvalkin "I'm still going to beat you later..."

Kainvalkin sighed again... and nodded.

"I know, I know... next time..."

Orcrinvalkin grunted and headed towards the crag. Anthyme looked at Kainvalkin with sympathy, and patted him on the shoulder. Kainvalkin sighed, and followed after Orcrinvalkin. The Dragoon frowned and followed.

At the Crag of Mea :

Lokkii sighed to himself as he sat on the steps leading up to the telepoint. He had just spoken with Enkidoh via the linkshell, and found out that she and the others would be a little late. He removed his helm, and laid back on the stairs, letting the desert sun cascade on his features.

"Ah well... I can afford to wait... don't have much of anything else to do at the moment..."

As the Elvaan Dark Knight rested, atop one of the hills overlooking the crag, Anthyme sighed and leaned against a nearby boulder. Kainvalkin glanced at Orcrinvalkin, and swallowed.

"Orc... one question... why?"

The Galka Dark Knight faced them, and cracked his knuckles.

"Three reasons Kain... One, he's San d'Orian... Two, he's an Elvaan..."

Kainvalkin frowned.

"And... the third reason?"

Orcrinvalkin raised his fist to the sky.

"HE'S SAN D'ORIAN AND ELVAAN! WHAT OTHER REASON IS THERE?"

Anthyme raised an eyebrow.

"Orc... I'm Elvaan AND San d'Orian too..."

The Dark Knight looked at Anthyme and made a dismissing gesture.

"You're a different story... you don't annoy me, like that idiot down there does."

Anthyme and Kainvalkin looked at each other and then faced Orcrinvalkin. Kainvalkin spoke first.

"Orc... can't you just leave it be?"

Orcrinvalkin stretched his arms above his head, his right hand grasping the hilt of his great sword. He stepped atop a boulder, looking down at Lokkii.

"Heh, heh, heh, I'm going to enjoy this..."

With that said, the Galka launched himself into the air. Kainvalkin and Anthyme both hurried to the edge and saw Orcrinvalkin hurtling towards the Elvaan Dark Knight. They both grimaced.

"Oh no..."

Lokkii frowned as the sun's rays were cut off. He opened his eyes, slightly, which then widened dramatically, as he saw the Galka blotting out the sun, as he seemed to hang in midair. He then heard the Galka's battlecry.

"HEY LOKKII! DEATH FROM ABOVE!!"

Orcrinvalkin drew his sword and swung. The great sword bit deeply into the stairs leading to the telepoint platform, and the ground cracked with the impact of the Galka landing on his feet. Lokkii had backflipped from his position on the stairs, and now stood on the telepoint, with his scythe drawn. He faced down the Galka, a wry grin on his face.

"Oh come on Orc, how many times do we have to do this, eh?"

The Galka's response was simple, he swung his sword, narrowly missing Lokkii's throat. The Elvaan stepped back, and responded with a swipe of his own weapon. Orcrinvalkin ducked the scythe, and threw his fist at the Elvaan. The blow caught Lokkii square in the jaw sending him off the platform the telepoint was on, falling to the ground.

Lokkii hit the ground hard, but rolled with the force, and came up in a battle posture, and glared at Orcrinvalkin who stood at the edge of the telepoint platform looking at him. The Galka smirked, then leaped down at Lokkii, his sword pointing directly at him. The Elvaan Dark Knight waited, and then used his scythe to propel himself at Orcrinvalkin. The Galka's sword missed Lokkii, but the Elvaan's feet caught the Galka in his stomach, sending Orcrinvalkin slamming into the edge of the telepoint platform.

Kainvalkin and Anthyme watched the fight, both wearing concerned looks on their faces. They knew that Lokkii and Orcrinvalkin both follow the path of the Dark Knight, and the way the two were fighting, the White Mage and Dragoon knew if the two Dark Knights continued this path, it would lead to their downfall.

On the otherside of the crag, Arielyanna was practicing her summoning skill. In the last year since she was with the others, not only was she an accomplished Red Mage, but her practice in the arts of the Black Mage, Dragoon and now Summoner. She and Carbuncle had just defeated a Yagudo Persecutor, when she heard the commotion from the other side of the crag.

"What the..." she headed off towards the noise "Come on Carby, let's go!"

Carbuncle seemed to nod in agreement, and ran alongside her. As they came around the corner, she saw Kainvalkin and Anthyme standing to one side, watching the combatants. She looked over and watched Orcrinvalkin and Lokkii exchanged numerous blows, the Elvaan showing no signs of giving up, and the Galka continuing the fight, with his rage.

Arielyanna cursed to herself and drew her staff, Carbuncle drew up on it's haunches, it's tail up in the air. She casted Paralyze on Orcrinvalkin and Carbuncle leaped in front of Lokkii, keeping the Elvaan Dark Knight at bay. The Summoner stalked towards the Galka, grasping his helm and removing it, then slapping him across the face.

Still paralyzed, all Orcrinvalkin could do was accept it. Arielyanna turned and headed towards Lokkii, who swallowed.

"Ariel... come on..."

Arielyanna slapped the Elvaan hard, sending him flailing to the ground. Anthyme sighed and shook his head, as Kainvalkin burst out laughing. Arielyanna slowly turned around and faced the source of the laughter, tilting her head slightly to the side. Kainvalkin suddenly stomped laughing, his face pale.

"Umm... Ariel... uhh..."

Arielyanna smirked.

"Sic em Carby."

Carbuncle faced Kainvalkin and ran towards him, leaping into the air. Kainvalkin backpedaled and fell to the ground, his hands going to his face as Carbuncle loomed over him.

"NO! NO! NOT MY FACE!!!"

Please let me know what you think. Please leave a review.