Author's Note: I know! I know! It's been awhile since I last updated, but I've currently been studying for my mid-terms and school work has priority over my writing...(sigh) Anyway, better late than never.

Chapter 21

The Trip Home!

"I declare Yami the winner!" Natalie cried. "Even though...the ending wasn't exactly how I'd pictured it would end." She glanced in Lina's direction. The sorceress was having a glare contest with the stone floor. Natalie wondered if it was possible for Lina to crack it with her fired filled fury.

The others let out wild cheers, minus Zelgadis. The chimera just did a sedated clap.

Yami's puzzle shimmered. In a flash, Yugi and Yami separated and were each in their own bodies again. The game king collected himself and approached Naga. She hadn't spoken a word since the match ended and her stare remained focused on her duel disk.

"That was a good match Naga." Yami commented.

As if an internal reflex, Naga threw back her head and bellowed her loudest laugh. "OH! OH! OH! OH! Of course it was ! You had the pleasure of battling me! Naga the serpent! OH! OH! OH!"

Yami and Yugi sweat-dropped.

Even though SHE lost, Naga's making it sound like she won!

With her personality, I'm not surprised.

Zelgadis anxiously looked to Natalie. "Are we allowed to see that book now?"

"Certainly!" the secretary replied sweetly. "Just come with me into the last chamber."

Briskly, Natalie lead them out of the games room and deeper within the cave.

They went past many dark corridors until Natalie guided them to the largest and last chamber. A pair of giant stone carved griffins guarded the entrance. The room itself was dark. If not for the crack in the ceiling that had permitted a beam of sunlight, it would have been black as a moonless night.

The beam of sunlight shone upon a pillar as if it was showing it off for all the world to see. A large coverless book rested on the top and lay there basking in the light.

"There it is!" Lina cheered and greedily rubbed her hands. "Come to Mama!"

Lina was about to take off, but Natalie blocked her before Lina had a chance to leap and tackle her new prize. "What gives!" Lina yelled.

"Yami and Yugi are the winners!" Natalie replied sternly. "They did the work! They won! They get to touch the book!"

"As it should be." Yami smirked.

Lina grumbled something unpleasant about annoying big-headed jerks.

Oblivious to the negative comment, Yugi walked pasted her. He picked up the book carefully, almost afraid the object would turn to dust. "We got it!" he thought, smiling.

He then raced back and offered the book to Zelgadis. The chimera blinked, surprised.

Yugi still held the book out, smiling all the way. "Here you go Zel!"

"Yugi..."

"The spell you need to change back to a human is in here right? You've waited years for this, so it's only fair you go first. Yami, Tea, Joey, Tristan and I can wait a little longer."

Astounded by the gesture, Zel accepted the book. His fingers brushed over the pages like it was made of pure gold. "Yugi...I don't know what to say..."

"You don't have to say anything! We're friends right!"

Zelgadis returned a small smile.

"Hang on!" Naga cried. "You used to be a human!"

"That's right Gracia ...er...I mean Naga." Amelia answered.

"Well that explains why he's so gloomy and depressing. If I looked as freaky as that, I'd be depressed too."

"Naga! That's not nice!" Amelia yelled.

Naga was taken aback by the sudden outburst. "No reason to be that angry at me...unless...OH! OH! OH! You like him don't you!"

It was Amelia's turn to step back. "What!...NO! I!"

"OH! OH! OH! You always did have odd taste, even when you were a kid!"

"Can we PLEASE talk about this later!" Amelia hissed. She would rather not to have her sister talk about her love life so bluntly...especially with everyone else in ear shot.

Fortunately for the princess, the others were watching Zelgadis go through the book and didn't fully hear Naga's comments.

The chimera flipped and scanned each page. "Not this one...Not this page either...Ah ha! Here it is!"

Tea peeked over his shoulder. "What does it say?"

Zel read the directions quickly. "The spell looks simple enough...except it has to be performed by a Shrine Maiden."

"Did you hear that Amelia?" Gourry called out.

Amelia, who had been giving Naga an earful on proper manners, spun around, startled. "Huh?"

"Zelgadis needs you to cast the spell for him."

"Me!"

"If...you don't mind Amelia." Zelgadis said blushing. "You are the only Shrine Maiden around."

Amelia puffed up with pride. "Of course I'll do it Mr. Zelgadis! In the name of justice, I'll gladly help you with the spell!"

Naga sighed. "Yours and Daddy's justices speeches haven't changed much."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Tea asked.

Zelgadis pointed to the page of the book. "While Amelia studies the incantation, I do need someone to draw this design on the floor."

"You mean the circle with the pentagram inside it?" Joey inquired.

Zel nodded. "You also have to draw these rune symbols along the circle."

"Joey, Tristan and I can do that." Tea replied.

"Hey! Don't you think you should AT LEAST ask, before you volunteer us?" Tristan said.

Tea glared, with her hands on her hips. "Are you saying you won't do it?"

"No. We'll help." Joey said. "It just doesn't hurt if you ask nicely."

Tea growled and tugged on both Tristan and Joey's ears. "Quit joking around you two! Come on! Natalie do you have any chalk we can draw with?"

"Certainly! I'll go fetch some!"

"Gourry you help Tea, Joey and Tristan."

"Sure Lina, but what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go over the spell with Amelia and Zel." Lina turned to Naga, who had settled herself against the fall wall. "It wouldn't hurt if you helped too you know."

"OH! OH! OH! I'm the substitute guardian! If there's any needless work to do, I just order Natalie to do it."

Lina growled. "Naga, either find something to do ...or I'll cast a fireball like you've never seen before up your..."

"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT!" Naga huffed. "Don't get so testy!...What should I do?"

"Get some candles ready." Zel replied. "We need to light candles around the circle."

"Yugi and I can help with that as well." Yami answered.

Lina nodded. "Well what's everyone standing around for? Let's get to work!"

After much studying, drawing and whining from Naga, the tasks were done. Tristan dusted the chalk from his hands that felt sore from all the sketching and drawing, and looked over the design. "I'm finished."

"Me too!" Tea replied. "And so is Joey."

"Man, I hope we got everything." Joey carefully examined the rune symbols he drew. "Drawing was never my forte."

"It seems fine to me." Yugi commented.

"I personally would have rather helped you four than having to work with Naga." Yami stated.

"Why?" asked Tea.

Yami shivered. "You have no idea how often that woman can laugh. I may just go deaf so I don't have to hear it any more."

Tea sweat-dropped. "I ...can't say I blame you."

During this, Gourry finished drawing his last rune symbol. "How's that Lina?"

"That's fine. Amelia has the spell memorized, so all we need to do is light the candles."

"That'll take awhile." Yugi sighed, staring at the many candles. He'd lost count of the number of them ages ago.

"No problem." Lina shook the kinks from her shoulders. "I'll just cast a small fireball."

"Make sure you don't blow everyone up along with it." Yami ordered.

"Oh lighten up...uh...no pun intended." In a hushed whisper, the sorceress chanted. A small fire ball appeared that was no more than the size of a toy ball. It bounced from candle to candle like it was playing leap frog. When it touched the last candle, the ball of fire vanished.

"See. Simple."

Yami made no reply.

"Is it ready?" Zelgadis asked, trying not to reveal the anxiousness he was feeling.

"It's all set for you." Joey said smiling.

The chimera took a deep breath. He then stepped over the candles and into the circle. Amelia stood along the outer edge and stared directly at Zelgadis.

Zelgadis cleared his throat. "Amelia listen, and this goes for everyone else as well."

He looked at his crew like he was the commander of a battle ship and was giving his orders. "I don't know how...painful this spell will be so, no matter what happens, keep the spell going. In other words, Amelia don't stop chanting even if I'm screaming."

The princess gulped, but nodded. "Okay..."

"But Zel, what if you're bleeding?" Joey asked.

"Keep going."

"What if it's turning you into a frog or something..."

"Um...in that case ...stop the spell..."

"But what if it causes you to multiply?"

"Joey..."

"Or you start growing a tail and wings..."

"JOEY!"

The cave rang with several echoes from Zel's cry.

Joey just blinked innocently. "...I was just joking...Tough crowd."

Zelgadis sighed. "Amelia...please start the spell."

The princess nodded. "Please let this work." she prayed and began the chant.

"Holy light from heaven above.

From the strength and might of Ceiphied. himself."

The runes began to glow.

"Return this poor soul to a shape and form he once was."

Zelgadis felt his skin tingle. The chanting became louder. The flames of the candles flickered. Zel's skin felt hot. Then it was boiling! He panted and collapsed to one knee.

The chimera hadn't experienced this much pain since the day Rezo cursed him. It was so hot! Zelgadis wondered if his stone skin would melt.

Amelia continued to chant, and tried to resist from rushing to Zelgadis's side. The others also had to withstand the urge as well.

The circle and pentagram sparked. Blue energy waves danced around it. The energy gathered and zapped Zelgadis like a lighting rod. He screamed. The electrical shot attacked and hit every nerve in his system.

Then, he felt the sensation of his fingers crumbling and breaking. Before blackness consumed his vision, Zel saw the stone crumbling away and revealing the light tan colour of the human form he hadn't seen in years.

Zelgadis groaned. From the cold floor he felt underneath, he knew he must still be in the cave. He was sore and stiff in all places. He wasn't sure if he could open his eyes. Voices came form all sides.

"Is Zel dead Lina?"

"No Gourry! He just passed out...I think..."

"Ms. Lina!"

"Calm down Amelia! I'm sure he's fine..."

Zel knew that the voice was Tea, but she didn't sound entirely certain.

Yugi's voice cut in. "Shouldn't we do something?"

"I did take a first aid class." Tristan replied,. uncomfortably. "I suppose...I could give him mouth to mouth..."

"NO NEED!" Zelgadis sat up faster than a rabbit escaping a fox. It was too fast for his sore body, however, and he needed a moment to catch his breath.

"That got him up." Yami stated with a chuckle.

"Can't say I blame him." Joey remarked. "If Tristan was about to give me mouth to mouth..." He shivered in terror.

"It's not like I was going to enjoy it!" Tristan shot back.

Zel shook his head and was about to massage his aching neck. As his hand moved upward, the detail of his new tan skin kicked in. "Quick! Somebody give me a mirror!"

"Here's my pocket mirror." Natalie offered.

Zelgadis snatched the mirror and looked at his reflection. His old human face was familiar, but after years of repeatedly seeing it covered in stone and blue pebbles, it was almost foreign. "Please don't let this be a dream." he begged.

Tenderly, he stroked his cheek and felt the pleasing warmth. It wasn't a dream.

"I'm...human."he breathed

"I'm so relieved Mr. Zelgadis!" Amelia kneeled beside him. "I was so terrified when you collapsed. I thought that something went wrong and you had..." She couldn't bring herself to finish the last part.

Zel smiled, with a great joy reflecting in his eyes. "Thank you Amelia...If not for you I would still be a chimera.."

The princess blushed.

"I'm really happy for you Zelgadis." said Yugi, excitedly.

Joey nodded in agreement. "All I can say is welcome back to the human race!" He gave Zel a hard slap on the back. A too hard slap on the back. Zelgadis fell face forward and was forced to eat the floor.

Joey sheepishly took a step backward as Zel groaned. "Oops...Sorry..."

"Joey don't kill him when he hasn't even been human for 5 minutes!" Tea snapped.

"It's okay." Zelgadis replied, as Amelia and Gourry helped him up. That...actually felt good, not that he would admit it to Joey. It had been years since he could feel anything...even if it was pain.

"That's great and everything Zel." Lina suddenly spoke as she took the book. "But now let's look up that spell we need to send these guys home."

"And let's pray you don't mess up." Yami remarked.

Lina growled at Yami while she glanced at the page. "Here we are! All I have to do is..." Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped to the floor. Her expression was that of a person who just found out they were at the wrong end of a practical joke.

"I...don't...believe it."

"What's wrong Lina?" Natalie asked, frowning.

"It's just that..."

"Just what?" asked Gourry concerned. Maybe the spell was dangerous or it required a live sacrifice.

Lina coughed and swallowed hard. Oh God they were going to kill here when she told them...but it wasn't her fault! How was she to know this was the method of reversing it!

"Lina?"

"...It's turns out... all I had to do to reverse the spell was..."

All eyes were glued to her. "...to say the spell BACKWARDS!"

The loudest crash in history shook the entire Cave of Challenges. The walls and its very foundation shook almost as if the whole cave were falling apart.

Yami was the first to spring to his feet. "BACKWARDS! WE GOT LOST, CHASED BY A DRAGON, ALMOST KILLED BY BANDITS, AND FORCED TO HAVE A DUEL WITH THE WORLD'S MOST ANNOYING WOMAN, WHO'S LAUGH CAN DRIVE PEOPLE INSANE, TO FIND YOU JUST HAD TO SAY IT BACKWARDS!"

Lina blinked shyly, as the game king panted, unable to speak.

"Er...I'm sure someday we'll look back on this and laugh..."

"It won't be any day soon..." Gourry stated.

Lina coughed, hoping to change the subject. "We're going to need more space for this spell to work, so we have to go outside. Here's the book Natalie."

"Thank you. I hope you found the Cave of Challenges to your satisfaction, but if not I'm afraid we don't provide refunds."

Lina sweat-dropped. "Er...right."

Amelia turned to Naga and hugged her one last time. "It was so good to see you! I'll make sure to tell Daddy how you're doing."

"That's fine, but I do have a request. When you decide to marry that Zelgodis..."

"ZelGAdis!"

"Whatever...make sure you have plenty of wine at your wedding! You know how much I love a good drink! OH! OH! OH! OH!"

"Naga!"

But the laughing continued, and Amelia could only sigh.

"Well that was an experience I'll never forget." Yami muttered as they left the cave. "No matter how hard I try to."

"Which part?" Yugi asked. "The duel with Naga or her laugh?"

"...Both, but I can't decide which was more bothersome to deal with."

"For once, I entirely agree with you." Lina replied.

"Come on you guys!" Amelia cried. "My sister isn't that bad!"

Tea sighed. "No offense Amelia, but since you two are related your vote doesn't count."

Zelgadis said nothing. He was too preoccupied admiring his human body. He still couldn't grasp that he was fully human again! The fear of it being some kind of dream haunted him.

Gourry spoke. "So since Lina has the rest of that spell, I guess it's time to say goodbye."

"It looks like it." Tristan replied solemnly. " I'm never going to forget this place and I'm not saying that's a good thing."

"Ha! Ha! Very funny." Amelia replied, rolling her eyes. "It wasn't all that bad."

"True." Joey commented. "It's not everyday you get to see Yami wear a pink dress with lace."

The game king glared. A death threat was shining like a beacon on his face. "If you dare to tell anyone Joey, you won't have a mouth to talk with!"

"I'st just a joke! Relax!" Joey wasn't stupid enough to try something like that. His life and very existence depended on it.

Zelgadis scoffed. "Oh I'm sure you are, like when you were planning on black mailing me with those baby photos."

"Zel, didn't anyone told you that holding a grudge isn't healthy?"

Tea grave Lina and Amelia a friendly hug. "I'm going to miss you guys. You'll have to come visit our world."

"Sure thing." Lina replied, grinning broadly. "But just make sure you have plenty of food on hand."

"I have a feeling it would take a truck load to just feed you and Gourry." Yugi said, laughing. "It was great meeting you. Thanks again for the magic lessons." He smiled as he shook Lina's hand.

"I hope they come in handy."

"Considering the kind of trouble we get into, I'm sure that's a safe bet." Tristan muttered.

Lina clapped to grab full attention. "Everyone that's going home, get in front of me! The rest of you, duck for cover. The last thing we need is to accidently send the wrong people."

Gourry, Zelgadis, and Amelia didn't need to be told twice and hid behind some large rocks. The others stood in front of Lina like soliders standing in a line and waiting for an inspection.

Lina began to chant.

"Dlrow siht ot dlrow rethona morf srerednuaw su gnirb

Srewop yloh sih htiw

Deihpiec fo rewop eht nopu llac I

LATROP LANOISNEMID!"

The familiar purple sparks danced on Lina's finger tips. Then, the sparks merged into a tornado that grew and kept on growing until it reached the sky and the clouds.

"Hang on!" Yami cried.

The wind blew hard. The teenagers were picked up and tossed by the wind like they were fallen leaves.

"Goodbye Lina!" Yami shouted. "I hope next time we meet, you won't be so annoying and hostile!"

"WHAT WAS THAT!" Lina never got to hear Yami's come back. In a split second, the group vanished.

Peace resumed and Lina grumbled, craving to strangle a neck. "That jerk! He waited until I cast the spell so he could have the last wisecrack!"

"Ah! Come on Lina!" Gourry said, reemerging from the safety of the rock. "Considering that he and Yugi had to duel Naga, plus all the stuff you put him through, he kind of deserved it."

"(sigh)...FINE!"

"So...what do we do now?"

"I don't know?" Amelia replied. "What about you Mr. Zelgadis? Now that you're human again, what are you planning to do?"

Zel was quiet. "I...don't have a clue. I've been so focused on becoming human again for so long, I haven't given it much thought."

"I'll tell you what we'll do!" Lina declared. "Celebrate! We'll go to the nearest town and eat until we stuff ourselves silly!"

"Sounds good to me!" Gourry agreed.

Zelgadis and Amelia sweat-dropped, but smiled. They headed down the path, ready for whatever may come their way.

Yugi plunked onto his bed like a sack of potatoes. He was unharmed, until the others landed on top of him.

"Ow!" Joey complained. "Why does this spell have to be so rough!"

"CAN'T ...BREATHE!" Yugi gasped.

The gang quickly jumped off. "Sorry Yugi." Yami said, as he helped his partner to sit up.

A knock came at the door. "Yugi, I'm back!"

The boy grinned and rushed to the door. "Grandpa!" Yugi leapt onto his stunned Grandfather and gave him a giant hug. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"Er...so am I Yugi...but I was only gone for a couple of hours."

Yugi raised his head and blinked, confused. "A couple of hours! But, we've been gone for ages..."

"Hold it!" Tea interrupted. "Grandpa what day is it?"

"Saturday of course."

"Guys! It's the same day we left! The spell returned us to the same day!"

"What on earth are you kids talking about!" Grandpa asked, as he glanced about in bewilderment. "Is this for your school project?"

"Oh damn! I forgot about that!" Joey cursed.

"Huh?"

"It's nothing Grandpa...just a long story." Yami replied hastily.

Grandpa shrugged. "If you say so. I'm going to start dinner. You kids can stay if you want. I'll call you when it's ready."

"Thanks Grandpa!" Yugi yelled as his grandfather went back down the stairs.

"That was weird." Tristan muttered.

"Who cares!" Joey snapped. "We still have to do that story assignment for school or I'm going to summer school!"

"But we have a story Joey."

All eyes turned to Yami. "We have a story about five teenagers that get taken by a large purple tornado to another world full of trolls, bandits, sorceress, and dragons."

A series of grins spread among the friends. Joey let out a happy cheer. "I smell an A!"

One week later, the teacher gave the group an A for imagination, especially for the part concerning the red haired sorceress that blew up everything in her path.

The most joyous one in the group was Joey, who didn't have to go to summer school.

THE END

ES: It's finally done!

Yami: YES! THANK YOU GOD!

ES: Ahem...I would like to thank all my readers that have stuck with me from the beginning. I really enjoyed writing this and I feel I have learned a lot while writing this. My skill as a writer has improved much since I typed the words of my first chapter.

Again, thanks to everyone who read this story and I hope you had as much fun reading as I did in writing!