Another Night Another Dream
When they arrived home, Lina and Gourry saw three Sproutlings surrounding a fourth, who had fallen. Lina ran to the fallen creature and began to cast Recovery on him, hoping to heal his wound. But nothing happened.
"Do not worry," a Sproutling told her, "He's going to the spiritual dimension where the Mana Goddess sleeps within the Mana Tree."
"Why's he going there?" Lina asked.
Another Sproutling answered, "You see, if enough of us gather in the spiritual dimension, the Mana Tree will revive in this dimension. Then, the Goddess will return to the world to bring a blessing to us all. That's what the poet Pokiehl said."
Lina's eyes went wide. "About how much longer until this tree revives? You see, we have to meet with the Goddess to return to our own world."
"Not much longer," the third replied, "He'll most likely be the last one needed to bring it here, and then we just have to wait for it to make the transfer. Once that is finished, we'll all be called to give our powers to its revival."
"Is there anything we can do?" inquired Lina.
The injured Sproutling told her, "Nope. I'll be just fine. You two just concentrate on that wedding you are planning. I'll see you in a few days at the tree."
* * *
The next day, the duo found the yard in dismay. Somehow, during the night, someone had come and kidnapped the Sproutling who would become the Mana Tree. He was being held prisoner in a cage of dreams, and the entrance was in Lina's workshop.
Lina began to fume. "No one messes with my way home and gets away with it. I'm going to give this guy a piece of my mind. . .and a Fireball."
She grabbed Gourry and dragged him to the workshops. Lina opened the door and prepared for a Fireball. Inside, she found Nunuzac arguing with Belle the Dream Witch who had helped them get into Salah's dreams.
"Help me," Belle begged, "This man has imprisoned a Sproutling in a dream cage. He was supposed to go to the spiritual dimension to become the Mana Tree."
"I'm adverting a potential disaster. Has mankind ever used the Tree's power for a noble purpose? No, they just destroy with it," Nunuzac replied.
Belle yelled, "It's still not right to trap him."
Just then Pokiehl entered the room. "The time has come for the Sproutling Nunuzac. You must release him."
"Do Wisdoms prefer war over peace?" wondered Nunuzac, "You know villains like Deathbringer will just shed blood over a revived Mana Tree. We have proven that we can live without the tree's power, and we should stay that way."
"It is not so much the power we need, but the symbol. Maybe we can live without the tree, but it makes us feel good when we see it. It is the same as with love. You do not need love, but it is something that makes us feel good," Pokiehl informed him.
Lina smiled at that statement. She never really needed Gourry to protect her from the enemies they faced, she just felt happy to have him with her. It ensured that she would never be lonely, if something was wrong, she had a friend to talk to.
Nunuzac yelled, "Still, I will not obey. If the war starts up again over the revived tree, I will have to teach my pupils about true conjugation."
Pokiehl turned to leave. "Then I will pray for you. Even if you decided to destroy the world yourself, I will still pray."
When he left, Nunuzac began to think about his decision. Suddenly, a black hole appeared in the air. It increased in power, and sucked Lina and Gourry inside.
* * *
Inside, they found an exact replica of the Mikev Caverns. The only difference was that all of the tones were in gray. The only things that were in color were Lina, Gourry, the monsters that inhabited the dream, and the treasure chests.
After wandering for what seemed like centuries, they came across the downed Sproutling. Lina went over and found out that he was uninjured. She then proceeded to help him to his feet so she could take him back home.
"Thank you," the Sproutling said, "Without you I wouldn't have been able to rise to the spiritual dimension to heal the Mana Tree. Goodbye, my friends." Then, he vanished in a flash of light. When it cleared, Lina found herself back in the lab with Gourry. Both Nunuzac and Belle had left, since the dispute had been resolved.
Suddenly, a voice began to speak directly to Lina's mind. "Most impressive. I can see why L-Sama would use you as her vessel to destroy Phibrizzio. You have clarity of mind and strength in body. Come to the Mana Tree when you have the time. I'll be waiting for you."
Lina knew instantly that it had to be the Mana Goddess who spoke to her. It was the only logical choice after all. She then decided that she had put off her breakfast long enough. So the Sorceress Supreme and Genius Swordsman went to the kitchen to plan their next move.
- - - -
Well, the first part of the end is over. Originally, this part was played right after finishing either the Jumi, Dragon, or Fairy quest. But I decided to move it back to make it fit the story a bit better. Wedding time next chapter, and then the ending.
When they arrived home, Lina and Gourry saw three Sproutlings surrounding a fourth, who had fallen. Lina ran to the fallen creature and began to cast Recovery on him, hoping to heal his wound. But nothing happened.
"Do not worry," a Sproutling told her, "He's going to the spiritual dimension where the Mana Goddess sleeps within the Mana Tree."
"Why's he going there?" Lina asked.
Another Sproutling answered, "You see, if enough of us gather in the spiritual dimension, the Mana Tree will revive in this dimension. Then, the Goddess will return to the world to bring a blessing to us all. That's what the poet Pokiehl said."
Lina's eyes went wide. "About how much longer until this tree revives? You see, we have to meet with the Goddess to return to our own world."
"Not much longer," the third replied, "He'll most likely be the last one needed to bring it here, and then we just have to wait for it to make the transfer. Once that is finished, we'll all be called to give our powers to its revival."
"Is there anything we can do?" inquired Lina.
The injured Sproutling told her, "Nope. I'll be just fine. You two just concentrate on that wedding you are planning. I'll see you in a few days at the tree."
* * *
The next day, the duo found the yard in dismay. Somehow, during the night, someone had come and kidnapped the Sproutling who would become the Mana Tree. He was being held prisoner in a cage of dreams, and the entrance was in Lina's workshop.
Lina began to fume. "No one messes with my way home and gets away with it. I'm going to give this guy a piece of my mind. . .and a Fireball."
She grabbed Gourry and dragged him to the workshops. Lina opened the door and prepared for a Fireball. Inside, she found Nunuzac arguing with Belle the Dream Witch who had helped them get into Salah's dreams.
"Help me," Belle begged, "This man has imprisoned a Sproutling in a dream cage. He was supposed to go to the spiritual dimension to become the Mana Tree."
"I'm adverting a potential disaster. Has mankind ever used the Tree's power for a noble purpose? No, they just destroy with it," Nunuzac replied.
Belle yelled, "It's still not right to trap him."
Just then Pokiehl entered the room. "The time has come for the Sproutling Nunuzac. You must release him."
"Do Wisdoms prefer war over peace?" wondered Nunuzac, "You know villains like Deathbringer will just shed blood over a revived Mana Tree. We have proven that we can live without the tree's power, and we should stay that way."
"It is not so much the power we need, but the symbol. Maybe we can live without the tree, but it makes us feel good when we see it. It is the same as with love. You do not need love, but it is something that makes us feel good," Pokiehl informed him.
Lina smiled at that statement. She never really needed Gourry to protect her from the enemies they faced, she just felt happy to have him with her. It ensured that she would never be lonely, if something was wrong, she had a friend to talk to.
Nunuzac yelled, "Still, I will not obey. If the war starts up again over the revived tree, I will have to teach my pupils about true conjugation."
Pokiehl turned to leave. "Then I will pray for you. Even if you decided to destroy the world yourself, I will still pray."
When he left, Nunuzac began to think about his decision. Suddenly, a black hole appeared in the air. It increased in power, and sucked Lina and Gourry inside.
* * *
Inside, they found an exact replica of the Mikev Caverns. The only difference was that all of the tones were in gray. The only things that were in color were Lina, Gourry, the monsters that inhabited the dream, and the treasure chests.
After wandering for what seemed like centuries, they came across the downed Sproutling. Lina went over and found out that he was uninjured. She then proceeded to help him to his feet so she could take him back home.
"Thank you," the Sproutling said, "Without you I wouldn't have been able to rise to the spiritual dimension to heal the Mana Tree. Goodbye, my friends." Then, he vanished in a flash of light. When it cleared, Lina found herself back in the lab with Gourry. Both Nunuzac and Belle had left, since the dispute had been resolved.
Suddenly, a voice began to speak directly to Lina's mind. "Most impressive. I can see why L-Sama would use you as her vessel to destroy Phibrizzio. You have clarity of mind and strength in body. Come to the Mana Tree when you have the time. I'll be waiting for you."
Lina knew instantly that it had to be the Mana Goddess who spoke to her. It was the only logical choice after all. She then decided that she had put off her breakfast long enough. So the Sorceress Supreme and Genius Swordsman went to the kitchen to plan their next move.
- - - -
Well, the first part of the end is over. Originally, this part was played right after finishing either the Jumi, Dragon, or Fairy quest. But I decided to move it back to make it fit the story a bit better. Wedding time next chapter, and then the ending.