Sorry for taking so long with this update! My computer failed on me and then I got writer's block. Then to top it off I have like three school projects to do. Oh well, here's chapter four. And I own nothing!

I awoke in a daze

I awoke in a daze. I blinked a couple of times to get my eyes working straight. When my eye sight was normal again I began to check my surroundings.

I was probably in a basement. The walks were mostly dirty brown but there was some white paint already peeling off. The ceiling was covered with pipes that were dripping water every second. I tried to take a look at the other side of the room but my body disobeyed. I looked down to find myself tied all around the body.

"Mmmph mph mm?"

What the heck? I can't talk either? Oh god, I feel so weak right now. I heard something shifting behind me.

"So you're awake?" My head snapped up when I recognized the voice. It was James. So many questions ran through my mind at that moment. What happened after I passed out? Where were we? Where's Lucas? And why can James talk and I can't?

"Mmph?"

James?

"Yeah, it's me,"

"Mmph mmph mph?"

Where are you?

"Behind you tied up just the same." Our conversation went through my head again and then I realized something, James could understand what I saying? Well, he never was normal might as well go with it.

"Mph mmph mmm?"

Where are we?

"I don't know," James said. "I was knocked out just like you. I woke up just a few minutes before you."

If James was knocked out too then he probably didn't know the answers to the rest of my questions. Moments went by and I began to grow impatient just sitting on the floor with my mouth covered up.

"This is your entire fault," James said suddenly. I tried to turn my head to him but failed. James went on.

"I was just a treasure hunter until you came along. I could be living my life right now but no. I'm stuck tied up with you in a basement."

Oh, quit your whining.

"Mmmph mmm mmph?"

What was your oh so special life then, huh?

After a moment I thought James wasn't going to answer me but then I heard a sigh and James began to tell his story.

"I started out as a swordsman searching for a certain sword," James began. ""Years passed and I never found it, not even a lead. I met many people on the road and they all said the same thing "Give up on the sword. It ain't worth it." So I guess I did. I continued traveling, searching, not for the sword but for other valuable treasures making me a treasure hunter."

I thought the story over an over again in my head. One question kept popping up. How did all this connect to James's brother, Gourry? I decided to ask.

"Mph mmm mmpph?"

Why are you after your brother?

"Ha, you would like to know that wouldn't you?"

"Mmm mph,"

I'm not going to translate that for the sake of our younger readers. James remained quiet after that and a plan began forming in my head. I closed my eyes and the image of my hands appeared. I concentrated harder and the image of my hands burst into flames. Back in reality I could feel my hands beginning to burn. I felt the burn on move onto the rope that held me and soon I was free when the rope burned away.

I quickly got up and removed the cloth that was covering my mouth. I turned around to find James sitting against a basement wall tied up and staring amazed at me. I smiled a little. James shook his head to get rid of the shock.

"Why couldn't you do that before?" he asked.

"Hey! I wasn't born with huge amount of magic like my sister, okay. At least I got out now do you want my help or not."

James bowed his head. "Yes please," he mocked lightly. I rolled my eyes and walked over to him. I bent down and began to untie James.

"Why don't you use magic?" he asked.

"I need my strength if we're going to run into those twins," James nodded as he got up when I got all the ropes off. I turned towards the only door of the room and walked over to it.

"We need to find our swords," I explained to James when I felt him right behind me. I opened the door and took a peak outside. Outside there was a flight of stairs. I walked out and began to climb them.

"How are we going to find them?" James asked following behind me. I shrugged my shoulders and turned my head to him.

"I was thinking we could split up and meet later," James made a face.

"And what if I get caught, hmm?" he asked, his voice rising slightly. "I can't defend myself!"

I turned my head back to the front when we reached the top of stairs and were in front of another door. I shrugged my shoulders at James's question. I bit back a smile when I could feel James getting more annoyed.

When my hand went for the doorknob it began turning. I began to freak out slightly. James must have seen it too because he stared running down the stairs toward the basement. I planned to follow him but it was too late. The door opened and there standing outside was Lucas.

I could tell right away that it was him but he seemed different. There were lines under his eyes and his skin looked old and baggy. His back was hunched, his hair had gray in it, and the youth in his eyes were gone. I brought my hand to the side of his face.

"What happened to you Lucas?"

The older looking Lucas swatted my hand away from his face. I heard James walk back up the stairs as Lucas gave us a glare. "What are you two still doing here?" he asked, pointing a bony finger at us.

"Sorry for not keeping up with your schedule," James said sarcastically. Lucas shook his head.

"You have to get out now. Those evil twins will be coming soon."

"We need our swords," I explained to him. Lucas turned with his back facing us and pointed into the hallway.

"Go down here and take the last left door. You'll find your swords." He turned back to us.

"How can we trust you though?" I asked him. "How do we know this isn't a trap?"

"Fine, you don't have to believe me if you don't want to," Lucas moved passed us and went down to the basement door. When he disappeared behind it James ran in front of me.

"Hey!" I called running after him. "What do you think your doing?" I asked him once we were side by side.

"It may be a trap but it's the only lead we've got to get an advantage here," James explained. I smiled a little when I realized that James had a point. We finally made it to the end of the hallway and right away noticed the door Lucas mentioned.

James took a hold of the knob and slowly turned it. When the door fully opened the first thing we saw were our swords hanging up in a glass case. We quickly ran over to the case. James clenched his hand into a fist and threw toward the glass. I covered my face with my arms when the case shattered into thousands of glass pieces. I moved my arms out of my way and saw James hold up both our swords with a stupid smile on his face.

"That was just plain idiotic," I told him.

"Yeah I know," he said and then added. "Don't you ever say thank you?"

Before I could say anything about his comment a voice echoed through out the room. "So you've escaped, have you?" It was two people, a boy and girl, speaking at the same time. Both James and I turned toward the door way to see Aaron and Ami standing side by side.

Their appearance was the opposite of Lucas's. They actually looked younger than we last saw them, if that was possible. The smile they gave us was full of young youth.

"So did that rotten, useless shape-shifter let you out?" They asked. Okay, so I guess Lucas wasn't working for them if they expected him to help us.

"Nope," James answered suddenly. He threw me my sword when he added: "We got out thanks to the Knight of Ceiphied." I caught my sword with one hand and smiled at the compliment.

For the first time ever I saw the twin's annoying grins disappear. They stared at us in disbelief. Their mouths hung open and they both pointed at me.

"You…you're the Knight of Ceiphied?" they both choked out. Before I could say anything James spoke up.

"The one and only!" he said proudly. I watched as Aaron and Ami's face went back to normal but this time the smile even bigger than before.

"We thought you were powerful," They told me. "But we never expected this. This is even better."

Without warning, though I don't know why they'd give me one, the twins jumped at us. Aaron at me and Ami at James. I quickly unsheathed my sword and blocked Aaron's attack.

Clang!

I heard metal go against something hard. I thought it was James and Ami but then I looked closely at Aaron's hand. It was furry and at the end where the finger nails should be there were claws. My eyes widened. It was a tiger paw just like Lucas's. I blocked another one of Aaron's claw attacks.

How was it possible that Aaron could shape-shift too? Wasn't Lucas the last of his kind? Back on the battle field I was backing up to block every one of Aaron's attacks. No! I'm sure that Lucas is the last shape-shifter. But then if that's true than how can they transform too?

Suddenly it came to me. Lucas getting old. The twins getting younger. The twins being able to transform just like Lucas. It all made sense. "They're leeches!" I yelled out to James.

"Huh?" I heard James yell out. The twins didn't seem to care for my outburst since they continued their attacks. I began to take control of the fight and began pushing Aaron back with every block.

"They suck the life out of beings and apparently they can suck out their power too," I lashed out at Aaron when I saw an opening. I got a cut on his arm but nothing that would completely stop him. I charged for another attack when I heard a scream of pain.

I stopped in mid-charge and turned toward the scream. I saw James on his knees with Ami holding up his face. She was sucking out his life and it was hurting him. Soon James's screams stopped and his sword was released from his grip, falling to the ground. I could see my travel companion slowly become old and weak. The grip on my sword tightened.

"Stop--!" I was cut off when Aaron slammed his body into me. I fell across the room, my back being the first to land on the ground. On the ground I turned to where James was and saw him lying on the floor as well. His eyes were gray and cold. His body didn't move. That's when I felt it.

It was a fire that burned through out my entire body. I felt energetic and alive at that instant. I quickly stood up and faced the twins standing in front of me. I lifted my sword so that the blade pointed to them. I could see around the blade a gray, white light. I suddenly knew what it was that I felt.

It was the power of Ceiphied.

So...was this good?great? I wasn't sure where this chapter was going. I didn't want it to be really slow but I also wanted to get all that information in there. I also realized that I was making Luna look weak so next chapter will be powerful! Oh, and to anyone who's wondering I'm planning on putting Naga in about two chapters from now.