Chapter Twelve
Time heals all wounds.
Mr Rusty and the others were shocked by the news. They wondered how he'd died. "He could've been saved by Elora but he gave himself up for her so she wouldn't make the same mistake as him. He didn't scream as it happened. He recited poetry to Elora as he left. I could've saved him but… I was too late." Zebedee told them. There was deep sadness in his eyes. From the spirit world Zeebad was watching this. He then decided to go visit Elora. It always made him feel better. Nobody but her could see him since he'd became a ghost and still had his powers. Zebedee had noticed this. He could tell she was talking to the ghost of his former enemy. He then saw Zeebad but his ghost went through him. "Why is he here if he's dead?" he asked himself. "He visits me from the spirit world because it makes him feel better." She told him quietly. He nodded at this. "I hope he has no grudges against me because I… failed to help him." Zebedee said to her. Zeebad then glowed with ethereal magic as he touched his face. "I don't have grudges against you Zeb. I know you could've saved me but I did it for a reason so that Elora wouldn't turn evil like me." He said quietly to him. Zebedee heard that and smiled. "I'm glad you feel that way but you did something noble. I know you love her but maybe there's a way to bring you back to life but not reincarnated. But only if you want to." He told him. Zeebad then thought about it. "I'll do it for Elora. At least I can be with her and not feel depressed." He said to him. A flash of light then surrounded him. It became blue flames and burned his arm. "What was that for?" he growled in pain as he clutched his arm. A burn mark appeared on his arm in the shape of an icicle. "It brought you back to life. You have your powers but not fully. You can go back to the Roundabout if you want or the forest." Zebedee told him calmly. Zeebad smiled at this as Zebedee vanished. Elora was relieved to see that he was back from the dead.
"Am I alive again or still a ghost?" he asked her nervously. "You're alive again. But why didn't you let me or my uncle heal you when you were at death's door?" she told him. He then turned his face away from her so she wouldn't see the tears in his eyes. "I didn't do it because of the past. I used to be good until power overcame me and destroyed my friendship with your uncle. After that… we became enemies. But I feel that the same thing will happen with you and I couldn't let it happen." He explained. She understood. "Don't worry , I won't turn evil like you. Love for you runs through my veins." She said to him. He smiled as she kissed him. He blushed. Zebedee had told her not to tell the others that he'd revived Zeebad's spirit from the dead because they wouldn't understand. But Zebedee wasn't feeling so good. His body hurt and fire was beginning to affect his spring. His temperature was rising fast and he was becoming weak. Mr Rusty and Sam had noticed this but knew something wasn't right with their friend. Zeebad had been watching this and was worried. Elora wondered what was wrong. "He's getting sick. I need to help him. It won't make me sick." He told her as he vanished from sight. He then appeared beside Zebedee. Sam was with him. "What's wrong with him?" he asked Zeebad. He looked at Sam. There was fear and worry in his eyes. "Don't worry, he's not dying. The Burn out Virus affects him. It's one that affects Magical Springers very badly. He's very weak and not himself. His magic won't be back until he's gotten rid of the virus. I'm going to have to take him with me. My prison in the Roundabout is cold, cold enough to maybe bring his temperature down a bit." He said as he put Zebedee in his arms.
They watched as he vanished into his prison. Elora was there waiting for him. She saw how pale her uncle looked and was worried. "He'll be alright. He's got a very bad virus that's making him sick. He'll get better soon, I hope." He told her calmly. He saw worry in her eyes. "Will it… make me sick too?" she asked worriedly. Zeebad then touched her cheek. "No you won't get sick from it. You're human with magic and it only attacks the bodies of Magical Springers so there's nothing to worry about." He said softly. He watched as Zebedee moaned in pain. Elora then rubbed his back gently. "Don't worry, you'll be okay. Zeebad and I will help you." She said soothingly. He calmed down. Zeebad watched as he fell asleep. But Sam had snuck down into the Roundabout to be with his friends but also because he was worried for Zebedee seeing as they were friends for life and it hurt to see him in pain. He hoped Elora wouldn't be mad at him for coming down here. "Will he be okay?" Sam asked her quietly. "Yes he will be. He's not feeling himself and was moaning in pain a few minutes ago." She told him calmly. "We were having a picnic and Zebedee was trying to use his magic but it didn't work. Then he was clutching his stomach in pain and moaning. He then fell onto the grass coughing and eyes closed. We were worried. It was a good thing Zeebad showed up." He told her. Zeebad had wrapped Zebedee in lots of blankets and had put his head on a soft pillow so he wouldn't feel too much pain. He was worried for him. Zebedee had never caught the Burn out Virus even as a youngster so why was it happening now? Zeebad was working on some medicine to help him with this virus made from herbs and plants. He hoped it would work or Zebedee would get worse like he had and he couldn't let that happen. Everyone in the Village depended on Zebedee as a mentor and good friend and Elora counted on him to be her uncle. He couldn't let them down, no matter what…