Episode 14
"Wolf Pack Island?! Answers To Questions and the Black Lotus!"
As Luna and Xelloss 'landed' in the labyrinth, she took a quick look around to see what might be coming at her from any sides and what she might have to react to. Taking a cautious step away from where the landed, she looked upwards.
A few seconds later, Lina came through right where she had come through.
"Don't go anywhere until we're all through, or somebody could be lost in here for eternity!" Lina said quickly.
"I had no intentions of it." Luna replied.
"I'm glad to hear that!" Lina chimed.
Seconds later, in rapid succession, each of the others fell through, and Lina pulled them all toward Luna to keep them from landing on each other or wandering off any place.
"Ok." Lina declared confidently, "We're all in here, now lead the way to the Claire Bible."
"When do I get to go?" Xelloss complained.
"When I say you do you sack of orc turds!" Luna growled, extracting another cry of pain from the Mazoku by twisting the blade again, "Now get going!"
Lina had everybody link up holding hands behind Fillia and she held onto Luna's skirt, seeing as she wanted to be first in line.
"Ok," Lina shrugged, "That works fine for me!" but she then got a quizzical look when Naga wanted to take her hand in the line. Still, however, she did take it, then Sylphiel's, followed by Gourry
Some time later, and it was impossible to tell how long, could have been a heartbeat or an hour, time was impossible to count in this pocket dimension, the party arrived at the bible, and Lina had to let go of everybody to enter the bible proper.
Slipping through the barrier, she was enveloped in golden light, which elicited 'ooh's' and 'ahh's' from Fillia, Gourry and Sylphiel.
Once inside, surrounded by light, she thought the word "Deathwind."
The voice of Ceiphied responded: "Deathwind is an ancient weapon crafted by Lord Ruby Eyes in an attempt to destroy the Shinzoku race which was discovered too early to be effective.
"The weapon consisted of a very minute crystal of a very rare ethereal substance which when engraved with the proper sets of runes behaved as a minute collector of magical and life force energy. In fact, ultimately, all forms of energy."
(A very small, violet colored crystalline form appeared in the shape of one larger sphere and two smaller spheres offset by about ninety degrees, so that at some angles it would look like a head with two ears, or a water molecule.)
"The crystal was designed to absorb energy at an imperceptible rate, until it had enough to create a copy of its self from this energy.
"Over time, it was meant to slowly draw the energy from the Mazoku away until it would be too late for them to act, and drain them out of existence.
"The fatal flaw in the design was that the weapon was far to efficient and acted too rapidly, making its self evident before it could spread," (an image of a few small dots replicating rapidly until they filled out an area before her appeared to illustrate rapid reproduction) "and Ceiphied developed a means to neutralize the weapon by means of "The Dust of Isolation" which puts a thin layer of even finer crystals on the surface of the original weaponized crystals so that no new energy can reach them.
(a single crystal hovered in front of Lina while very small black particles swept into the image and began lodging into the grooves created by the myriads of complex small runes engraved into the initial crystal)
"This in effect, neutralizes the weaponized crystal, so long as the dust is kept in continuous contact, under pressure, in a magically sealed vessel.
"If the dust is vented, it will dissipate too much to be effective, and the weapon will automatically resume activity. (a moving image showed the dust dissipating in a manner similar to gray smoke or fog.)
"The talismans of sealing were intentionally written in Mazokese to make their presence more difficult to detect by the Mazoku themselves. (an image of the talismans appeared, slowly rotating on its axis allowing full view of both sides)
"Had they been they would have been easily detected and neutralized.
"Furthermore, with no safe magical realms to place the weapon, the only neutral area was in the human realm," (a map of Zephilia appeared, only it was different, allowing for time that would have passed over the thousands of years since its cartography) "-and a subsequent series of barriers were placed around it," (a pyramidal shaped set of white lines appeared over the map, although it was then removed again) "-although those barriers failed in recent times and have become unable to prevent the spread of the weapon.
"As of this moment, the weapon has spread to the following regions." (a map showed in layers of intensity, the spread of the weaponized crystals across the edge of Zephilia and outward north toward the sea, and east toward the Desert of Destruction.
"Its progress will remain unchecked as long as nobody works to collect it back. This will require the special holy spell "Gathering Of The Wayward Flock" This can only be performed by a holy priest or priestess.
"There must be a receptacle to place it into, and there must be talismans on hand to seal it with as well. These must be crafted of white willow branches of the first year, boiled and beaten into their fine fibers, and the letters must be written in "The Dust of Isolation" mixed with the sap of the black lotus flower which only grows in the eastern jungle regions of Wolf Pack Island.
"This island is currently home of Greater Beast Metallium and she will not give them up willingly. The first time this type of warding talisman was created, the island was uninhabited.
"The Dust of Isolation must be made from the finest dust of the thibix orthinux gem which is found in the burning desert pits in the Desert of Destruction. This dust must be handled only by holy hands, consecrated in the water of the third fountain of Elmash Vale.
"The dust must then be placed into the receptacle for the Deathwind and held there while the Deathwind is added to it. Only then can it be sealed and remain safe."
"Well," Lina said, "That sure was a mouthful!" then she added, "Well thanks for the tip! I'll be checking back in on you from time to time!"
With that, she backed out of the Claire bible and said, "Ceiphied says we have to use a holy spell called "The Gathering Of The Wayward Flock." turning to the dragoness she said, "Fillia, this next part is for you."
Ep 14, Chapter 2
Fillia stepped into the bible and asked, "Please tell me about the 'Gathering Of The Wayward Flock' spell?"
Instead of human words however, growls and rumblings came forth which were dragonese and the images flashed at speeds no human mind could comprehend.
Other scenes and images appeared, far too many for the common human mind to gather.
After all of this, the booming celestial voice asked in human, "Is there something else you wanted to ask me?"
"I wanted to ask you the meaning of the dreams," Fillia replied in shy reverence, "They trouble me, they confuse me, but they they give me hope, and I wish to understand."
"When the time for you to know the answer is at hand dear child," the voice took on a more kindly tone, "All that which you need to know shall be revealed to you."
"But..." her eyes quavered as if on the verge of tears at this disappointing answer.
"Go your way for now, child." I will continue to reveal to you the meaning as you are ready to embrace it."
"Yes High Lord Ceiphied!" she bowed, still disappointed, yet reverently overjoyed to actually speak with the god which was over the late Dragon King, "My unending worship to you forever!"
"Here, little one..." the voice spoke once more, "A gift. Tell no one save the special one of this."
"Yes Lord Ceiphied?" she asked.
"Show forth the golden rose." the voice commanded softly.
"Y-yes my lord!" she complied sheepishly with a deep blush.
Light began to fill the air around Fillia and sparkles of all colors of the rainbow in great intensity showered down, and began collecting on the golden rose, which then began glowing until it was as brilliant as looking into the sun in its strength.
"Now, dear child," the voice declared, "All is set, you have my direct blessings on the event."
"The event?" she wondered.
"Go now, and take care of the special one, for they are the one whom I have specially chosen for you from before they were born."
"Yes my Lord Ceiphied!" she bowed, even more confused than before, "I shall do all in my power!" and even without her actually taking the steps to leave the bible, she found herself outside of it, startled and confused.
She stood up from the kneeling position as soon as she was aware that she was with the others, and pulled her tail in quickly, hoping that nobody had noticed, "I think I have everything I need from here now."
"I say we get out of here then." Luna decided, "Unless anybody else has any other questions?"
"I do," Naga declared, then stepped into the bible.
When she stepped out, she had a very sad and troubled look on her face, but all she said was, "Okay, I'm ready now."
They all gathered to Luna and holding on to her and Xelloss traveled back to the portal and teleported back out.
Ep 14, Chapter 3
As they reappeared in the same tunnel they leapt from, Luna said to Xelloss, "Now..." and with a malicious grin, "Take me to your mother's flower garden."
"Uhhhh-heh-heh... Are you so sure you want to go there?"
"I'm sure what I'll do to you if you don't take us there" and she twisted Einlanzer full circle making a huge nasty smoking hole one could see all the way through.
Xelloss's knees buckled as he cried out in agony, but Luna's immense strength was more than enough to hold him by the arm which was pulling against the gaping hole until the pain made him stand to take the load off the injury.
"Give...me...time...to...rest..." he panted, face screwed up into a grimace.
"I'll give you to the count of three before I begin cutting pieces off you is what I'LL give you, you worthless sack of orc turds!" she growled, then to the party, "Gather round, we're moving again."
Everybody huddled close and vanished from the cavern tunnel to appear in a thick green jungle once again, with the hot steam of the air suddenly quite oppressive upon them.
"Wow its so hot here!" Lina exclaimed.
"Shhh!" Luna said, "We're here for only one item and we need to get it and get out of here!"
"Fillia!" Luna whispered intensely, "Can you and Sylphiel recognize a black lotus if you see one?"
"I can," Fillia replied, "I had to know herbs of historical value as a priestess."
"The same is true for me." Sylphiel responded, "Finding them however will not be the big problem." she concluded.
"I and the others will defend you while you collect them." Luna ordered, "You two just get as many as you can and get back to the mainland."
"How will you get back?" Fillia worried.
"I'll find a way to signal you when we are clear." Luna replied, "You get those flowers and we'll cover -"
"Too late..." Xelloss said as a monstrous scream filled the air.
"Everybody!" Luna shouted, "Cover them!"
Flashes of light screamed down through the heavy growth, blasting the trees and soil into the air with flames licking up the ground and surrounding foliage.
Lina and Naga returned volleys of flare arrows, freeze arrows, fireballs while Gourry blocked blasts away from Sylphiel with Blast Blade and Luna used Xelloss and her self as shields over Fillia.
Darting to and fro, Fillia and Luna bend down to pluck the painfully small flowers, and each one they pluck released a small swirling cloud of magical force into the air.
This magical force was the prime source of raw magical power which was used to create the warding talismans so long ago, back when they were found every place.
After the war of the Monster's Fall however, since both sides had so madly scrambled to collect power, they nearly caused the extinction of the fragile plant.
Now, this last and only place in the world where they grew was being guarded fiercely and jealously by the Greater Beast Zelas Metallium and the party was raiding that last living source of them for reasons she was unaware of and wanted desperately to know!
As the battle raged, Xelloss was hit repeatedly by blasts from his maker which led to him whimpering "mother" repeatedly.
Luna would just chuckle because she knew how the Mazoku were, how they would use each other for their own personal benefit without hesitation if the situation called for it. "Don't you just love being a Mazoku now?" she laughed, "You little sack of orc turds!"
Fillia called aloud, "One Hundred!"
Luna then called out, "Party! Rally on me!"
"Come on Syl!" Gourry shouted, blocking screaming blue-white bolts of dazzling energy so that they went careening of into nearby trees and into the sky with a whining sizzle and sparks flying off of Blast Blade.
The pair of them gradually worked their way back to Luna and Fillia's position, while Naga and Lina fired off blasts as fast as they could spit out the words, not to destroy Zelas but just to throw off her aim at their fellow party members.
"Let us off in New Xoanna and I'll let you go." Luna informed Xelloss, "Until the NEXT time I happen to find that your worthless carcass comes in handy..." with a malevolent chuckle.
As they grouped together and vanished, Greater Beast Zelas Metallium screamed in primal fury, but then moments later, transformed into her human shape, fluffed her hair as if nothing had happened, and strode casually through the remaining forest to see how many black lotus remained.
Ep 14, Chapter 4
"You..." Xelloss gasped, pale, sweating and panting, "You said you would let me go..."
"Sure orc turd." she replied callously and she thrust him to the ground where he lay while holding his hand over the large hole in his shoulder as she walked away, "Come on people," she said over her shoulder, "We still have work to do."
"But first," Lina shouted, "I'm hungry! Lets eat!"
"Yeah!" Gourry seconded, "I'm all for that!"
The look on Queen Martina's face when they showed up at the palace was one of fretful anticipation. "You're going to eat my cupboards bare!" she said woefully.
"Nah we won't!" Lina said casually, "We just need to fuel up before we head off to the Desert of Destruction!"
"The Desert of Destruction?!" everybody chorused at once.
"I couldn't tell you before because Xelloss was listening in!" she defended her previous withholding of information, "But now that he's off nursing his wounds, I have just a little bit of time to tell you about everything."
"Uhhh..." Gourry began, "Why would he care if we're trying to stop a plague?" as if there was no possible reason it would mean anything to Xelloss.
Bashing him over the head again, Lina shouted, "Gourry! You IDIOT!" she screamed at him, "Why are you ALWAYS the ONLY one who doesn't get it?!"
Sylphiel rushed over to him and propped him up and to everyone's amazement, raised her voice,"Lina Inverse!" she scolder her loudly, "That is enough!"
Everyone was so shocked, even Gourry said, "It-it's o-"
"No! It is NOT okay and I will no longer stand by and allow you to abuse him like this! He has been loyal and faithful to you for all these years and I have no idea why, but YOU seem to not even care one whit if he lives or dies!"
"Sure I do!" Lina replied, "But he is such an IDIOT you GOTTA bash his head to get his attention!"
"I never do!" Sylphiel shouted back, "And I've known him a lot longer than you have!"
"Well then FINE!" she shouted, back, "YOU take the time to explain life to him then!" then looking over at Naga to her immediate left, who had found wine and was beginning to get rather flush, "Naga here never has to have things explained to HER...!"
Naga regarded Lina's words with a dreamy, but almost cross-eyed look as she slowly wobbled in her seat, "Ahhhh luuuhv yooooooo" and reached over and planted a big firm juicy kiss on Lina whose eyes bulged in realization, then she slumped back into her seat and began snoring.
Everyone blushed and the conversation ceased completely as nobody could think of anything to say after that.
Lina simply resumed eating, as did Gourry, after climbing back into his chair, although he ate a lot slower and seemed to for once in his life actually be thinking about something.
Sylphiel simply sat beside him and rubbed his shoulder and fretted quietly.
Luna excused herself and walked out of the dining hall toward a large balcony to look into the night sky, and Fillia quietly followed.
"Its quite the motley crew we have amassed." Luna said softly as she looked up at the stars.
"Yes it is Miss Luna," Fillia agreed softly, looking more at Luna than at the stars, "Luna?" she began impulsively.
"Hmmm?" Luna asked without looking down, but reflexively reaching for Fillia's hand without realizing it.
"Are there other Inverses in this land?"
"I don't know," Luna replied, "Why do you ask?"
"I just wondered because..." she trailed off, blushing.
Luna looked down at her, "Because?" seeing the blush.
"Well, ummm... " she faltered and found she could not make herself say the whole truth of what the cause was, "Just...because."
Luna felt affronted because she had a sneaking suspicion that Fillia was implying she sought after a man, and yet she could not actually tell Fillia this, so, in a somewhat disingenuous manner, she replied, "Oh. Well, whatever reason it is, I'm sorry that I don't know any others besides my self, my parents and Lina."
"Then it must be you." Fillia concluded.
This surprised Luna immensely, "Me?!" she recoiled slightly, "For what?"
"Oh..." Fillia wanted to say, but didn't want to say it in a way that would come as any more of a shock than it seemed to already be coming out as at the moment, "Its just..." she fumbled.
"Just?" Luna leaned near her, which made her dark eyes seem to drill into Fillia's soul.
"Its-just-a-prohpec-I-mean-a-silly-permonition-thingy-I thought-I-may-have-accidentally-had!" she blurted out then looked shocked at herself for saying it that way.
Luna got chills, "A prophecy...?" she almost whispered, and just then she gasped as an extremely large shooting star crossed the sky, leaving an amazing long tail.
She put her arm around Fillia who did not resist as they stood there gazing at the stars long into the night.