Episode 20
"Desert Rumble! Blackened Jewels and Bloodied Fools!"
The party flew eastward beyond Elemekia in the early morning, just as it was becoming light enough to see, hoping to make good time in the cooler morning air.
As they soared over the vast plains of tumbled basalt and sand dunes, the terrain grew rougher and rougher, meaning that when they did land, 'walking' was going to be more climbing up and down than actually walking.
About mid morning they stopped and settled down under a basaltic overhang to avoid the hot sun while they rested.
"How far do we have to go yet?" Naga queried.
"The problem is that it never said WHERE in this desert the gems would be found, it just gave an image of a shiny black stone." Lina replied.
"Heh." Luna said sarcastically, "Like you're going to find a black stone out HERE..." while picking up a chunk of black basalt and then dropping it, watching it make a splash in the sand.
Fillia broke out into new giggling, and then everybody else followed suit.
"Okay" Luna stopped laughing first, barely keeping control, "First we have to know some way to determine this thibix orthinux gem from all the rest of the common black and nearly black rocks around here."
"Ah-ham..." Fillia struggled to regain her composure, "I saw one when I was at the temple."
"Anything special about it?" Luna asked.
"It has somewhat of a 'black glow' about it." she said, "Its hard to explain."
"So the gem possesses supernatural powers then?" Naga suggested.
"It would seem that way." Lina replied.
"But out here," Naga said glumly, "Its still like looking for a needle in a haystack..."
Fillia's eyes lit up, "And you know how to find a needle in a haystack?" raising her index finger.
"How?" Lina asked, looking dubious.
"Use a MAGNET!"
"Heyyyyyyyy!" Luna caught on, "Yeahhhhh!"
"I don't get it." Gourry complained.
"Oh Gourry," Lina shot back, "You never get ANYTHING!"
"Its really quite simple though!" Fillia went on, "All stones reflect light..." looking around to see if everybody was following her train of thought, "So all one has to do it bathe the entire place with light!"
"Well its almost high noon sister," Lina challenged dryly, "How much more light are you going to need?"
"No-no-no-no!" Fillia made a suppressing motion with her hands, "Magic light! HOLY light"
"Why magic light?" Lina began, then slapped herself in the forehead, "Ohhhhhh! I get it!"
"Do you have a spell to create this holy light?" Lina asked.
"Why of course!" Fillia breathed exultantly, "Its part of my required knowledge as a..." her voice trailed off with a note of sadness remembering all that transpired at that time.
"An ex priestess," Lina sighed, "Its okay Fillia."
"I think I should be going now," Fillia declared, "The sooner we find it, the sooner we can be out of this place and back home!" and with that, she flew up into the sky until she was completely out of sight so that she would be high enough to cast her light spell over the entire region.
As she looked down from far above, the mottled Desert of Destruction, there were lava pits, spires, crags, crevasses, smoking cones, and vast expanses of broken basalt nearly to the horizon in every direction.
Transforming into her true dragon form, Fillia stretched forth her hands and called out, "Oh Ceiphied's Light, brighter than the brightest day, come to me and cast shadow away. I call to thee o' king of the skies, light the way before my eyes!"
From between her hands a dazzling ray leapt forth toward the desolate lands below, making everything except a few specific palaces fade to a dusty white.
Those places which were not faded white were the most strikingly radiant black.
Choosing the largest one she saw, Fillia followed her outstretched hands toward the radiant blackness until she came directly to it
Once she landed near the rather large stone, she quelled the holy light spell "Ceiphied's Light," she used her immense dragon strength to dislodge the massive gem, then teleported back to the party.
Ep 20, Chapter 2
"Okay Lina," Luna inquired, holding the watermelon sized stone, rolling it over looking for flaws, "What did Ceiphied's bible say we had to do next?"
"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." she recited.
"We passed by the vale on our way here," Fillia commented, "Its so unforgettably beautiful!"
"Well then," Lina announced, "There you have it, we're off to do some hand washing!"
The party flew back across the desert as far as the city of Hottown in Elemekia, where they landed just around sunset.
"It looks like a decent place to stay for the night people," Lina declared, "I say its time to EAT!"
"I'm all for that!" Gourry chimed in, and the party scanned the mud brick buildings for a tavern or inn where they could satisfy their hunger of freshly cooked food instead of dried rations.
They seated at an outdoor dining plaza under umbrellas on a cobblestone porch front.
Naga, Lina and Gourry entered their usual eating competition while Luna, Fillia and Sylphiel's dinners are much more modest.
As the eating proceeded, however, Tiny George, one of the bandits from Mipross Island happen to be walking by and saw Naga whom he immediately recognized.
"Hey!" He shouted, pointing his massive finger, "You're one of those two sorceresses who wrecked everything for us on Mipross Island!"
Looking up, from a leg of beef, she casually replied between chewing,
Well well, fancy that." and proceeding to eat paid him no mind.
"Hey!" he shouted louder, "Don't ignore me! That's rude!"
"Heh-heh!" Lina chuckled cheerfully. "Fancy that!"
"Who is this guy anyway?" Gourry asked.
"I have no idea." Lina shrugged.
"Well he sure seems to know Naga."
"So?" Lina shrugged dismissively, "A lot of people have heard of us."
"I'm going to get you THIS time!" Tiny George growled as he ripped the wall down off the porch in the process of climbing up to them.
"What's this jerk's problem?" Luna demanded, incensed, "And why is he making a mess while we are busy eating?"
"I think he wants to fight Miss Lina." Fillia offered.
"Well he sure picked a bad time for that!" Luna growled, shoving herself away from the table.
"Hey guys!" Tiny George shouted back over his shoulder, "Look who I found!"
"Who is it Tiny George?"
"Tiny George?!" Lina turned to face him finally, "You're one of those SQUID HEADS who tried to make my vacation a disaster!"
"Hey!" Tiny George complained, "Who you calling a squid head?"
"You! You stupid squid head!" she shouted, "No get out of here before I have to tear you up AGAIN!"
About that time, heads began popping up around the porch as others of the 'Smart Mans' bandit gang closed in, all bearing weapons.
"Ummm...guys," Luna said, unhooking Einlanzer and its companion shield Warlacher from her charm necklace, looking around at the party, "You know what time it is..."
"Right!" Gourry said as he leapt up drawing Blast Blade.
"Freeze Arrow!" Naga shouted.
"Fire Ball!" Lina called out while creating an inverted arc of fire which crushed inwards like an implosion on a group of bandits which had gathered around Tiny George.
Soon the entire town seemed to be a war zone, as other Elemekians joined in the battle.
Windows crashed, pots smashed, swords clashed and the air rang with the sound of explosions.
"Oh well," Fillia sighed, "Nothing left to do but join in...!" and she lifted her skirt and pulled out, "Lets go to work Mace-Sama!" and she dove into the fray smashing people right and left.
Luna leapt up and in a spiral nose dive sliced six men to pieces before landing on a single finger and pushing herself back into the sky.
Gourry leapt left and right, bringing Blast Blade up then down, scoring hits on every swing.
Lina blasted smoldering holes in the group anywhere they were bunched up, while Naga used both her sniping skills on archers who had gotten into upper story windows or onto rooftops.
When men rushed either Naga or Lina however, they were swift with clean jaw breaking and rib cracking kicks, as well as an occasional groin crushing knee or boot toe.
The shouts of rage and pain went on into the wee hours of the night.
Lina had used up a lot of magic power and resorted to close combat with her dirk, while Naga drew on her years of Muay Thai to lay waste to many a foe.
Three kicks to one man's face so fast he hadn't time to fall took all the teeth out of the left side of his head, while a rabbit punch to the ribs of another dropped him to his knees.
Whipping her hair around her as she spun, she inadvertently caught one bandit in the noose and yanked him off his feet with a snap that left him motionless.
Feeling the sharp tug on her scalp, she looked back and saw the fruits of her new hairstyle, and began to laugh. Not the shrill laugh she used to laugh, but a deeper, throatier, more DANGEROUS laugh.
Yanking the noose from her unintentional first victim, she spun her noose like a lasso and began yanking men off their feet while planting her spiked heel into their backs.
Several snapped necks resulted as well as some broken ribs and two broken lower backs.
Lina parried and blocked swords using her dirk, but to reduce the chances Naga would see blood and faint, she used punches and kicks to put her attackers down.
Gourry and Luna spread out throughout the melee taking down foes by the dozens, slicing, stabbing, punching, kicking, wrenching arms, using their elbows and whatever else happened to come in handy.
Fillia simply swung Mace-Sama and walked randomly knocking anything and anybody out of her way, virtually heedless of who they were, until she almost struck Luna, but instead striking Warlacher a glancing blow.
"Whoa! Watch if Fillia darling!" Luna shouted while jabbing a one eyed bandit in his other eye.
"I'm so terribly sorry!" Fillia gasped in shock and horror, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
Casually looking at Fillia to her left, while fighting three swordsmen to her right, she replied, "Don't be upset sweetie," in a smooth, calming voice, "Just be more aware of your surroundings while you fight, ok?"
"Yes Miss Luna," she whimpered, "I promise to!"
"Come give me a kiss then." Luna swung her left arm back to receive the dragoness's kiss and embrace while steadily fighting the bandits as if she had eyes in the back of her head."
Gourry noticed this and was awestruck, "Whoa!" he gasped in awe, eyes bulging as he watched Luna handily dispatching two and three men at a time with her head turned fully away from them, "How does such a Sword's Ma'en even EXIST?!"
He barely reacted in time as a bandit tried to take advantage of his momentary reverie, but with an upper parry, he kicked the man in the solar plexus and dropped him easily, returning to the fight at hand.
Fillia, after a long, romantic kiss, feeling very much more alive and rejuvenated, stepped back away from her beloved and resumed battle anew.
This time, she made more accurate aimed blows, smashing skulls, breaking backs, cracking ribs and on occasion even tripping somebody with her tail.
By midnight, the downtown area was a spectacular scene of carnage. Most of the 'Smart Mans' gang fled in defeat, Tiny George leading the retreat, a few were hauled off to the morgue, some to jail and others were dragged off by angry citizens of the city of Hottown to be dealt with in undisclosed fashion.
Naga was feeling rather generous and began pouring free Demon Sweat for all the people of the city who happened to be milling around after the carnage.
"All in all," Lina said as she got to resume her meal which had sat JUST outside the edge of the destruction, standing next to the table, about to seat herself to resume eating, she felt truly elated and was suddenly inspired to say, "People, I'd say its been a really good day!"
"Here-here!" Luna raised a glass of Demon Sweat Naga poured for her, and the whole party and all the town citizens cheered, and drinking went on throughout the night.
Ep 20, Chapter 3
Back in Zephilia, Antonio showed signs of recovery, however slight, as the warding talisman pushed the Deathwind crystals out of his body into the bed beneath him.
Every day, he seemed a little fuller and less wasted, as if his body was slowly recovering from the effects of the cursed plague.
The physician who visited him to see the improvement was looking worse however, and was worried he would not last very long himself.
Many of the older people had passed away and their bodies were carried off by stretcher to a distant point where they continued to disintegrate while most of the city remained sedated and quarantine signs were posted everywhere.
Alyth and Bruno had no customers any more, and were smart enough to not go outside.
They kept the doors and windows closed tightly to keep any wind from blowing anything into the inn.
"Well momma," The big voice of Bruno boomed across their living room behind the kitchen, "I wonder what will happen when this is all over."
"Well," Alyth said with some reservations, "I think I know ONE thing that is going to change forever."
"What would that be momma?" He asked, hoping for some good news from his wife.
"Luna is all grown up and will be leaving us." she said softy with a hint of melancholy in her voice.
"Wh-why momma?" the huge man's voice became sad and carried a worried tone.
"Its not a bad thing poppa," she replied, a little tear at the edge of her eye, "You know, life goes on, and people grow up, just like we moved away from our parents to this beautiful place where we met Luna and Lina and their parents," she sighed, "Its just the way of life..." her voice drifting off.
"But..." he struggled to get the words out, "But what makes you so sure of this?"
"I found something," Alyth replied, "While I was cleaning Luna's room."
"You FOUND something?" the huge man asked, still worried.
Alyth rose and went into the bedroom and returned with a guest towel which she made the effort to shake out, but failed to because it was stuck together in the middle.
Bruno frowned quizzically. "A guest towel?" not understanding.
"Not just a guest towel," Alyth corrected, "A guest towel with dried SEED in it."
"Seed?" The big man suddenly got a look of surprise and blushed deeply, "NO!" he gasped like a heavy autumn gale, "LUNA?!"
"I would have wondered if another man had been with her," she continued, "But I have known for a while that Luna is not attracted to men, and that one man who was here seems to be interested in little Lina," she reasoned, "And I saw her get up early from her room to go to the bath, while that boy Gourry was still asleep in his own quarters."
"You don't say...!" Bruno pondered the depth of the issue, "But why would she be leaving us though?"
"You didn't see how she is with that girl Fillia, dear."
"I'm sorry," he chuckled slightly in agreement, "I really don't see much of anything from the kitchen momma."
"She and Fillia have something strong." Alyth concluded, "Strong enough to be permanent."
"You really think so...?" he pondered it some more.
"Trust me poppa," and she tapped her forehead with a staunchly determined look of certainty, "Momma knows!"
Ep 20, Chapter 4
For the first time ever, Lina and Naga were seen as heroines instead of villains and they asked if the whole party would stay and defend them but they naturally had to graciously decline.
The town waved cheerfully at them as they lifted off seeking to make better time across the desert toward the Elmash Vale.
Speeding high over the desert, the party flew along near the ground for a while until Lina recognized thin trails of blood and decided she had best get Naga to a higher elevation where she would be less prone to notice the ground below.
Higher up, they could see a rare thunderstorm exhibiting beautifully colored lightning in the distance, as well as herds of animals foraging the desert wasteland for anything they could find, and three caravans all going to unknown destinations in search of profit trading whatever unknown items they carried.
It was a great day to be alive, and as they flew along, fingers outstretched, Lina felt the sudden unprecedented urge to wrap fingers with Naga.
This startled the older girl so much she almost faltered in flight, but she regained, smiling at Lina warmly and blushing, feeling deep emotions which welled up in her leading to tears which the wind blew back from her.
"Hey!" Gourry shouted, "What was that?" as he wiped his face, not knowing it was Naga's tears that hit him as Sylphiel carried him.
"Sorry!" Lina shouted back, which amazed everybody, since this was so unlike her gruff demeanor.
Naga smiled even more broadly at this sudden change in demeanor from the girl she had loved for all these years. The love she used to hold in secret was now possible for her to express openly.
Luna and Fillia seeing the others locking fingers followed suit, and Fillia, expressing the most emotion she had ever expressed, and finally feeling truly free for once in her life to do so, suddenly exclaimed "WHEEEEEEE!" as they sailed across the desert.