Harlequin rising chapter six: A new quest: Too defeat Harlequin, We will reunite the magnificent seven!

"Please come back too us Naga."

Granity placed her hand on Naga's claw as he lay in her bed. It had been nearly a week since death dragon attacked the village and he was still unconscious. During that time Granity had not left Naga's side once. He thought back too earlier, During the death dragon battle, before Naga appeared, he pulled Granity too the side and asked her not too get involved till Naga gave the signal. She had her doubts, but she could tell Naga sincerely wanted too help, so she complied.

Now she wished she hadn't. Naga was badly injured, the village doctor said that if Naga didn't wake up within a week, he wouldn't wake up at all, and would become a lost disc. Granity fought back tears. She wasn't going too cry, she couldn't. She needed too be strong.

She needed too keep hope for Naga's sake.

Downstairs

"What do you mean you want your payment?" Genki said, glaring at Niton.

"I mean that I'm not running a charity Genki." Niton said folding his arms, "I helped you rebuild the village because I wanted too get paid for doing so, not because I was being nice."

"I don't believe you!" Genki said, He didn't mind Niton supplying building materials earlier. In fact, thanks too him the village had been restored completely. But now he had the gall too ask for money!

"And what if we decide we don't want too pay? It would serve you right after all the people you've swindled." Blue hare piped up, he too was outraged by Niton's greed.

Niton's eyes narrowed. "That would be a bad move buddy, I know some bad people who like too break things… Blue things."

Blue hare looked unimpressed, "Yeah, like who?"

Niton stood there blankly, he hadn't planned on this, that bluff usually always worked. "Uh, I'm not gonna tell you! HA! How do you like that?"

Blue hare and Genki just stared at Niton. "You are such an idiot."

"Well, you still owe me 900 gold." Niton said.

Genki turned too Holly, who had been sitting silently.

"Holly, what do you think?"

Holly looked up, a bit shocked, as if her train of thought had been broken.

"Oh, sorry Genki. I wasn't paying much attention, what's up?"

"Niton thinks we owe him money for helping restore the village."

"Genki, we do, I knew Niton would want too be paid for his services."

"Yeah, but it's not fair. He's getting rich off other peoples problem."

Holly sighed, "Oh Genki, I know its not fair. But there Niton's building materials and for once they were on the level. And we can easily afford 900 gold."

Niton closed his eyes. "Well… if your gonna make a big deal about it…."

Genki turned too Niton, curious as too what he was about too say.

Niton smiled. "Ill settle for 500 gold. But that's as low as I go."

Genki fell over.

"Why you…" Genki snarled getting back up. But suddenly, they were interrupted by Granity.

"Granity, how is he?" Holly asked, getting up. Granity just stood there, a solemn look on her face. Suddenly tears began too well up in her eyes.

"He isn't gonna make it…"

"Granity, you don't know that for certain." Genki said, putting his hand on her shoulder in an attempt too comfort her.

Granity just stared at Genki, then hugged him and began crying. Genki just patted her back.

"It's ok Granity." Genki said, patting her back.

"No it isn't, it's my fault!" Granity said, "I shouldn't have listened to him. I should have stepped in sooner, but I listened too him, if I had only done something sooner."

Blue hare just stood there. "I don't see what the big deal is," He muttered. "Naga destroyed our village, once under moo, and once when he was fighting death dragon. Good riddance I say."

Holly just stared at Blue hare. "Don't say things like that. Naga can't help the way he was raised. And It's only because of him that no one died when death dragon attacked."

Blue hare was shocked, there was such intensity in Holly's voice that he could do nothing else but stand silent.

Granity looked over too Holly, and stared at her for the longest time.

"You… can help him."

Holly stepped back, "What?"

"Like you helped me, you can heal Naga like you healed me when I was weakened by Jilt and Mariomax."

Holly stood silent for a moment, then Genki stood between them.

"No way, last time Holly did that, she was like another person. She acted so cold and mean, I'm certain using those powers had something too do with it. There has too be another way."

Holly closed her eyes. "Ill do it."

Genki turned back. "Are you sure?"

Holly nodded, "Yes, I am, I have too do this, I'm not sure why I have these powers, but I know that if I don't use them too save Naga now Ill be as much responsible for his death as that bony dragon."

Holly walked up the stairs too Naga's room. He looked over the battered monster. She let out a deep sigh and placed her hand on Naga's chest.

'Please, let me help my friend, my brother, and still be able too keep my soul.'

Holly concentrated, and Naga suddenly began too glow with a white light. Granity and the others watched in the doorway. Suddenly, the light faded and Holly collapsed.

"Holly!" Genki rushed too Holly and helped her up. Holly stared coldly at Genki.

"Get your hands off of me!" She snapped, pushing him away. Genki was so shocked that he felt back onto the floor. Holly just stood there, then clutched herself, as if she was very cold.

"Genki… I'm sorry… It's just that, I feel this coldness inside of me. It makes me act… different."

"Not just act." Genki said, getting up, "Look into the mirror."

Holly turned too the mirror and gasped, Her skin had become paler. Her hazel eyes had a reddish gleam in them, and her hair was streaked white.

"NO!" Holly screamed, grabbing her dagger and tossing at the mirror, causing it too break into pieces. She then fell too the floor, crying.

"That's… not me, it just can't be. What's happening too me."

Genki walked over too Holly and helped her up.

"I don't know, but I'm here. And so are Granity and the others. We'll help you through this."

"Yes… we will."

The others turned in surprise. Too see Naga, sitting up in bed.

"Master Holly, Granity, Genki, Are all of you ok?"

Holly and the others looked at Naga, then Granity, with tears in her eyes, Rushed forth and Hugged Naga tightly. Then she hauled back and hit him upside the head.

"DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!" she screamed, "What were you thinking taking that thing on by yourself!"

Naga rubbed his head and winced, "Sorry, we Naga's were never big on brains."

Holly laughed, "it's ok Naga. Granity's was just worried about you, we all were. Even Niton."

Naga looked over too Niton, who was whistling nervously as he walked too the door, Holly's dagger in hand. Naga glared at him then lunged from his bed. Grasping Niton and shaking him violently.

"GIVE IT UP! GIVE IT UP!" he snarled, the others watched this and laughed.

"Well, I think Naga's gonna be ok." Holly said, sitting down on the bed.

"Not just him." Granity said, picking up a shard of mirror from the floor.

"Check it out."

Holly looked into the shard of glass. She smiled.

She was back too normal.

Later

"So, where do we go from here?"

Genki, Holly, Granity, Niton and Naga sat around a table in Pink eyes tavern. Naga sipped his drink and sighed.

"Well, master Holly, where do we go from here?"

Holly looked flatly at Naga, "Look naga, I don't mind if you stick around. But your gonna have to not call me 'Master', okay?"

Genki leaned back, putting his feet up on the table. "What's with that master thing anyway?"

Naga sipped his drink again. "Well Mas... Err I mean Holly told me too follow my heart, but up until now, I thought that deep down, I was a baddie, but know I know what I really am?"

"A thug?' Niton grumbled, sipping his drink and rubbing his sore side from where Naga grabbed him.

"No, I am a soldier. And a soldier is nothing without a leader. With Moo gone, the rules of succession say I follow his descendent, Holly."

Holly smiled weakly. "That's… touching, really."

Granity let out a sigh. "But now we have a new problem, Harlequin."

Holly nodded, "This Harlequin seems too be interested in me, and these powers I have recently manifested." Holly looked at her hands. She never imagined her hands would be capable of such feats. But with such a horrible price, these powers frightened her.

Genki stood up on her table. "Well, I say let him come! Ill take him on any time, any place, anywhere!"

Niton just stared at Genki's display, then leaned over too Holly. "Is he always like this?"

"No, he's tired right now, you should see him when he really gets going."

Granity pulled Genki down too his chair. "Genki, I don't think that would be a good thing. That dragon almost destroyed the village, and was able too hold his own against both Naga and me."

"So? You defeated him didn't you?" Genki said confidently.

"We got lucky, and we nearly lost Naga. And if power on the level of Death dragon is typical among Harlequins minions, I don't think we can hold out without help."

The hero's sat silently around the table. Genki sighed.

"Man, I wish that the old gang was here." Holly said, holding her head in her hand and placing her shoulder on the table.

"Yeah, I know." Genki said, sighing.

"Say, where are those monsters you two hang with anyway?" Niton said, looking around.

Holly sat up in her chair. "Turned into mystery discs and scattered all over the place. And without a magic stone, there isn't any way too find them."

Naga smiled for a second, then held up the "Magic stone" he was wearing around his neck. "Aren't you forgetting this?"

Holly just sighed, "Naga, I told you once before that's not a real magic stone. It's made of glass, there's no way I could detect mystery discs with it."

"Maybe it would work if you had some faith."

The hero's at the table turned too see a familiar form entering the tavern. Holly and Genki smiled.

"Monol!" Genki said, getting up, "What brings you here?"

The black obelisk monster floated over too the table and took a seat, (at least the best he could, being a flat board monster.) "Well, I thought you could use my help. I am here too tell you that once again you must find the Phoenix, and use it too fight this new evil."

"But how can we?" Holly said, "Can that magic stone Naga has really help us?"

Monol sat there silently for a second. "Yes, it can. The power lies within you. You need no magic stone too discover mystery discs. You merely need a focus. And a little faith of course."

Holly nodded then stood up, she then picked up the magic stone from Naga and held it in her hands.

"Magic stone, show us where too find the mystery disc containing Suezo."

"Suezo?" Genki said, piping up, "Why can't we look for Mochii first?"

Naga glared at Genki, "Because it's Holly's stone!"

Genki Gulped nervously, Holly smiled gently.

"Don't worry Genki, we'll look for Mochii right after we find Suezo, I promise."

Genki smiled and nodded. Suddenly the magic stone began too glow. A yellow image of a Suezo appeared in the crystal, then formed into an arrow. Holly smiled in delight.

"It works!"

All of the monsters save Monol cheered this. Then Genki looked up too Monol.

"Thanks Monol, Now we can find our friends, and reunite the Phoenix."

"I'm afraid it's not going too be that easy."

"What do you mean?" Holly said,

"I'm afraid that the phoenix's spirit no longer resides in the bodies of your five monster comrades."

The others gasped at this. "You gotta be kidding! Then where is it?" Genki said.

Monol stood silent, Genki, Holly, and the monsters moved in close waiting for Monol's answer.

Suddenly, Monol slumped forward and began snoring. Causing Genki, Holly, and the other too fall over, which in turn caused Monol too wake up.

"Sorry, I guess old habits die hard." Monol said as the others got up, "I'm afraid I don't know where the Phoenix's spirit is now. You will have too find that along with your friends too stop the evil Harlequin."

"All right then!" Genki said, standing up on the table, "Were gonna revive our friends and stop Harlequin!"

"I'm with you Genki!" Holly said, standing up as well.

"Where ever Holly Goes, I shall follow." Naga said, clenching his claws and smiling.

"I believe it is my purpose to defend the innocent from evil aberration's like this Harlequin. Count me in."

Granity said.

Niton stared at the others, then sighed. "I might as well help you too, if you'll have me. Who knows, maybe I can make a quick gold off of this."

Genki leapt down and slapped Niton on the back. "Welcome too the team Niton, glad too have you aboard."

Monol stood there silently. "Ill come too."

The others just stared at Monol. "You?" Naga said at last.

"Sure, You guys are going too need my guidance out there in the rabble, and I may be old, but I can still scrap with the best of them."

Naga just shrugged. "All right with me, just try not and lose your dentures old man."

Monol just sweat dropped at this statement. But Genki got up on the table again.

"Then it's agreed! Tomorrow, we set out on our great quest too reunite the seven heroes' that defeated Moo. Too reunite the magnificent seven!"

Holly, Granity, Niton, Monol, and Naga joined Genki.

"YEAH!"

Harlequin's Castle.

"Master Harlequin." Demon said, bowing too his lord. "I just received word from one of our spies. Holly intends too revive the monsters that originally aided her and that human Genki in defeating Moo."

Harlequin sat silent. His fingers strumming on the arms of his throne.

"Uh, are you all right master?"

Harlequin looked up. "Never better old friend. Holly used her powers again too save Naga, and she began too change. If it weren't for those friends of hers, her dark side would have taken over.

Demon scowled.

"Master, I think we have greater concerns at this time than the rate of that girls corruption. Try and prioritize please."

Harlequin grasped the arms of his throne and looked at Demon, his voice was like ice.

"Do not tell me what my concern is demon. Or is the mighty demon afraid of some peasant monsters?"

"I fear nothing master. But those Peasant's defeated Moo, they are not too be trifled with."

Harlequin laughed at this.

"No demon, the Phoenix defeated my father, not those fools. And besides, I am far stronger than my father was. I have surpassed him, his weaknesses are my strengths. I say let Holly revive them. And when I kill them one by one, it will drive Holly over the edge, it will break her spirit. And then she will be mine too mold."

Demon bowed and began too leave,

"Oh demon,"

"Yes master Harlequin?"

"Summon Majin, Dementor, and Doll mage. I want too discuss with them our strategy for destroying Holly and her friends."

Demons looked perplexed.

"But you just said…"

"I know what I said Demon," Harlequin smiled slyly, "But we can't make it too easy for them. If there gonna do it, I'm sure as hell gonna make them work for it."

"At once lord Harlequin."

Demon bowed and left the chamber. Harlequin looked down too his belt On his belt hanged a dagger, Harlequin smiled.

"Now sister, this is where I start too have fun."

Next chapter: Graveyard by night! Assault of the mischievous ghosts!