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"We've looked all over town and there doesn't seem to be any sign of him," Gourry said as he returned to the tavern from searching.
Lina sat quietly and thought. It was nighttime when they returned and now well after midnight. Most of the townspeople had already turned in for the night under the advice of the town council it who decided it would be easier to begin their efforts in damage control if everyone had a few hours of sleep. So far it seemed that everyone had returned without a problem, except Zelgadis.
"Then that's it, Nephillo took him," she heard Amelia whisper as Lina began to focus in on the conversation.
"We don't know for sure, he may still turn up," Daisy offered.
"Look at everything that's happened so far," Amelia cried, "Your device being tampered with, Briseral falling and now Zelgadis's disappearance. They all add up to Nephillo. He's not going to just pop back up Daisy."
"Amelia, calm down," Lina said moving to sit next to her friend. "If we're going to find Zel we need to stay calm, all right?"
"Right," Amelia nodded, "I'm sorry Daisy, I didn't mean to-"
"I understand, we're all worried about him too."
"Okay everyone, if we're going to find out what the hell's going on we need to have a plan," Lina said, gaining everyone's attention.
"You are so cute when you act authoritative, did you know that?" Bubbles sighed.
"What!"
"Brother please, this isn't the time or the place," Daisy chided.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," the Muzuko said and winked at Lina.
"Anyway," Lina stammered, "The best way for us to figure out who Nephillo is, is through the process of elimination."
"What do you mean Lina?" Amelia asked.
"Nephillo has been in town all week under our noses right?" Everyone nodded. "The town council is going to do a check of people in the town registry to make sure that everyone's accounted for. The person who'll be missing from the registry will be Nephillo," Lina reasoned.
"So someone has to be there when they check through the registry," Bubbles said.
"Exactly, The way I figure it Nephillo has had contact with us and we didn't realize it."
"You mean flaunting it in our faces that Nephillo knows what's going on and we don't," Amelia said.
"I want all of you to make a list of the people that you've met, from causal contact to detailed meetings. Amelia, I want you and Daisy to take the list and go over the registry in the morning."
"I still need to figure out what happened to my device," Bubbles started, "It could take some time."
"Fine then, I want you to explain to me how it works and I want Gourry t help you figure out what's going on when he gets finished."
"When I get finished what Lina?" The swordsman asked.
"Remember those notes you took when we first got into town?"
"Yes."
"Do you still remember everything you looked up?"
"Sure I do."
"Good, I need you to go back to the library and this time go through all the books on dream Muzuko, the astral plan, particularly with the dream scape and . . . see if you can find out anything on what could contaminate a magical amplifier, okay?"
"All right," Gourry said, grabbing a napkin a quickly writing down all the things the sorceress had told him.
"In the mean time let's try and get some sleep, we have our work cut out for us in the morning if we're going to get Zel back in a hurry," Lina sighed.
They all started to head upstairs and as Amelia got out of her seat, Bubbles placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I need to talk to you in a bit okay?"
"Okay," she nodded and headed up to her room.
Gourry folded the napkin he'd scribbled on and tucked it away as he stood up and stretched. "Lina, why do you want me to go to the library and look up all this stuff. Why not ask Daisy, Amelia or even you do it?"
"Because you already know where. Most of those books are in the library and you did a really good job last time. You got a lot of information in a really short amount of time and right now time is something we don't have a lot of. You can do this Gourry," she smiled.
"Thanks Lina," Gourry smiled and headed upstairs.
Amelia sat on her windowsill, tapping her feet nervously.
"I wander what Bubbles wants," she mused as Bubbles flew up to the window in dragon form. Amelia stood up, opened the window and urged him in. Once inside he reverted back to his human form. "Bubbles, what's going on?"
"I think I have an idea about how we could possibly contact Zelgadis."
"Why didn't you say anything while we were downstairs?"
"Because it involves the dream you and Zelgadis had and if I'm not mistaken the only people who know about it is you, me and Zelgadis. Am I wrong?"
"We were a little embarrassed and didn't know what we'd say to the others about what happened so we decided not to. Did Zelgadis tell you what we . . . ?"
"No, I asked but by his reaction I got the idea pretty quickly."
"How did he react?
"Turned red as Lina's hair and stared into his coffee like it was going out of style, and he blushed. I've noticed he does a lot of that."
"Yes, he does," she smiled remembering all the times he would turn color at the slightest, little thing. Her face grew solemn as she wondered if they would have more moments like that again.
"We'll find him, don't worry," Bubbles whispered. "I just didn't want to bring this up in front of the others especially since you didn't tell Lina and Gourry about the dream for obvious reasons."
"Thanks for the thought," Amelia smiled, "So what's your plan?"
"Since you and Zelgadis have shared a dream once I figured you might be able to do it again and that we could find them and figure out where he is and what happened."
"Bubbles that sounds great!"
"Don't get your hopes up yet, I still have to figure out if I can pull this off or not. After I look at the crystals and find out some more details about the miasma infecting it and Nephillo I'll know for certain."
"It's a start, at least we're not standing around doing nothing."
"When yo put it that way I guess you're right," Bubbles smiled. "But I think you should tell Lina about the dream. You don't have to give details or anything."
"I know, I don't think Zelgadis will mind in this case especially if I don't go into detail."
"Think about it for a while in the meantime get some rest and I'll see you in the morning."
Bubbles transformed and left through the window. Amelia stared outside for a moment then closed the window, turned out the lights and crawled into bed and waited for a sleep she knew would never come.
* * *
The morning started off with the entire town gathering its resources to assess the damage caused by their ordeal. Breakfast went by quickly with everyone making their lists and eating as much as possible. Amelia and Daisy took the lists and planned to head out to where the town council decided to check over the town registry. Gourry on the other hand geared up for a day of being lost in the countless volumes in the library by eating an extra stack of pancakes in case he had to miss lunch researching the things Lina asked him to. He felt an anxiousness, fueled by enthusiasm about the task that lay ahead of him. Not just for the need to find their friend but also because he had enjoyed the time he'd spent in there earlier in the week. "But this isn't a time to think about fun, Lina's counting on me and so is Amelia," he mused, his attention turning to the princess who sighed quietly over her breakfast.
Amelia stared at her food, pushing it around slowly on her plate with a fork. She knew she needed to eat something but her stomach was too unsettled to keep anything down. Her sleep had been fitful filled with nightmares about Zelgadis's fate. "Things were going so well, why? Why did . . ," She sniffled quietly and quickly wiped away the tears that almost fell. She continued to play with her food and fighting her tears until someone gently hugged her.
"We know your worried Amelia, if you want to cry we understand," Gourry whispered, wrapping his arms around her a little tighter.
"Thank you Gourry," she whimpered into his chest as she let her tears fall freely, dampening the swordsman's shirt. Lina watched as Gourry held her for several minutes. Everyone at the table felt a little awkward, witnessing such a private moment and remained silent hoping it would help in some small way.
Amelia looked up at Gourry and smiled gratefully. "I'm okay now. I just didn't get much sleep. Once we get done today and figure out some of what's going on I'll feel much better."
"Okay," He nodded and released her. Afterward Amelia's appetite picked up considerably.
Lina ate her breakfast quietly watching the scene between Amelia and Gourry unfold and was grateful the Gourry seemed to lift her spirits some. She looked over at Bubbles and found him watching her silently and quickly returned to her food. Even though Amelia had explained things she still found it hard to believe that this guy was the same cute little dragon she tossed slices of fruit with just days ago. "And why does he keep looking at me like that?" She wondered and took another forkful of pancakes.
After breakfast everyone left to start their prospective tasks, leaving the redhead alone with Bubbles.
"So where do we start?"
"Some place where I can take everything out of hyper-dimensional space and examine it," Bubbles answered. "The private dining room the tavern has would be the best place."
They got the keys to the room from one of the fairy waitresses and went inside. Bubbles opened the hyper dimensional pockets and pulled out the dream scape device and the failsafe crystals for study.
"The first thing I should do is explain how it all works, then we can figure out how they managed to stop it from working," he said staring at the black miasma that still infected the crystals. He started explaining the overall magical principles behind the device on a whole and the roles the crystals played in that. As Lina listened, she hoped Zelgadis was taking good care of himself until they could find him.
* * *
Zelgadis fell asleep in front of the mirror on the smooth, marble-like floor. When he woke up, he was again greeted by his human face. He looked at his hands astonished by their flesh tone color and how his skin felt. He had spent hours staring in the mirror trying to trip up his own reflection to see if it was real. He touched his hair, played with it by messing it up so that it stood out in all directions. The soft, fine texture was a distinct contrast to the fine wire it had been before.
"I'm human," he whispered, staring directly at himself in the mirror. "You're human again," he pointed at himself, then in a burst of excitement jumped on the bed and laughing as he sank into the beds inviting blankets.
"Wait till the others see," he thought, "I'll show Amelia and . . . and what? He continued solemnly. "I'm human now. There would be nothing to stop me from trying to have a normal relationship. But she said it didn't make a difference if I was human or not and do I want a relationship? I still don't know how I feel," he sighed and fluffed a pillow under his head and continued to think. They'd had a really emotional week between arguing, kissing and fighting to keeping down they're pent up feelings and insecurities. She said he was stubborn and he found it amusing that she was equally so. Finding out the truth was supposed to clear things up so they could go back to being just friends. Supposed to, but he knew it was a lie from the moment he'd come to the conclusion. "And do I really want things to be the way they use to be?" He asked himself.
The night after the talent competition still radiated brightly in his mind. The feeling he had at that moment was the same as one he'd had in the dream. To want someone, to be wanted, accepted and cared for.
He felt a chill and shiver suddenly, remembering where he was. His began to take on a scowl as he stared at the ceiling and wondered where Nephillo was. "And why she made me human?" Then he frowned, instantly understanding it all.
"How do you like my little gift," Nephillo asked as she materialized beside him in bed, her hand resting on his neck.
"This is what you meant by staying with you willingly," he said, remaining still as she traced her finger back and forth over his collarbone.
"You like? I know you do, after all this is what you've spent so many years hunting for, isn't it?" She smiled. "All though, I think blue really suits you."
"So if I stay here I stay human, is that it?"
"Exactly, you finally understand," she cheered.
"Only that you're a pathetic woman who can't get a man through conventional means," he laughed.
"You asshole," she shouted and sent a pulse of energy from her fingers into his neck. Zelgadis screamed at the sudden jolt of pain the coursed through his body.
"I normally don't dally with humans, especially with so many Muzuko and Dragons
in the world to play with," she sighed as she looked him over. "You should consider yourself lucky."
"I thought Muzuko hated dragons," he gasped.
"Well dragons can do some interesting things with their tales," she smiled and snuggled closer.
"Why did you choose me?"
"Your quite appealing and exceptional as humans go. So I thought I'd be fun to play with you, and even thought I like intelligent witty men I'm starting to wonder if I should silence that mouth of yours," she said in a calm angry fashion. "After all no one likes a wise ass."
"I want to see my friends. I want to know what's happened to them?"
"I told you. They're back in Briseral."
"And I'm supposed to believe a twisted little freak like you?" He cried. "Besides they'll try and find me."
"And I'll kill them. Then there won't be any more interruptions," she smirked, "Now then let's change the subject, ne?
A warm pulse began to overtake Zelgadis's body and his vision started to blur. "What are you doing?" He mumbled, fighting the effects of her spell.
"Helping you relax," she whispered, "Aside from giving you back your humanity there are other benefits to staying with me," she cooed softly. "Just relax and think of a warm place."
His eyes closed as he succumbed to her attentions. She traced the features of his face gently then kissed him lightly. Zelgadis gave no fight, so deep was he in her dream like trance. Each kiss she gave him was longer and deeper then the last until he let out an almost inaudible murmur. At first Nephillo couldn't make out the words until he repeated then again and as she strained her ears she heard a faint "Amelia."
At the princess' name Nephillo shoved his head against the bed's headboard, a thin trickle of blood slowly flowed onto the bed sheets as his form remained still in a semi-twisted fashion.
"Dammit to hell," Nephillo grumbled. "I've worked too hard for this long and for what? To have some goodie-goodie bitch ruin my plans."
She looked at Zelgadis's unconscious form and frowned. "Even now he's probably dreaming about her," she thought angrily. "I guess this means I'm going to have to make a slight change in plans," she said, touching the open wound on Zelgadis's head, then disappeared.
* * *
Amelia and Daisy poured over the towns registry comparing the names of the citizens to those on their lists. So far they had found Zelgadis's tailor and the saleslady at the swimwear store Gourry went to as well as Mr. Divine and the pageant announcer.
"I never realized we'd encountered so many people this week," Daisy sighed as she continued with her share of the lists. "What made Lina think that we had contact with Nephillo?"
"Because we keep hearing the name but nothing has been happening, like we're being taunted," Amelia explained. "It may seem like a longshot but at this point it's all we have to work with."
"True, but I think this is going to take a lot longer then we thought."
"We can stop in a while for lunch. Maybe by then we'll have made a considerable dent in these lists," the princess said briskly and returned to her searching. Daisy looked at the princess with concern then followed the other girls lead and continued looking through the registries.
* * *
Gourry sat at the long table filled with books reading quietly and writing down the occasion point of interest Lina had asked him to look for. He'd already looked over some other books on the list of things Lina asked for and was now researching magical amplifiers.
"I'm glad this is the last thing on the list," he thought, rubbing his tired eyes with his finger tips.
"I've never seen anyone read so many books in one day," the librarian said as she began putting some of the volumes he'd look through onto her cart. "You must like to read. This is the second you've been here this week," she smiled.
"I'm just trying to find some stuff that'll help my friend's figure out what happened at the end of the festival," Gourry shrugged.
"Well you've been doing a good job." The librarian looked around and when certain that no one was watching pulled out a bag and placed it on the table.
"I'm not supposed to bring this in here but I figured you'd been working really hard and needed a little break. I brought some coffee and a hot sandwich," she smiled. "Now you take a break, I'm sure your friends wouldn't want you working to exhaustion," she said preparing to leave. "I almost forgot. You might want to stop by the Sorcerer Guild's library too."
"I might?"
"Yes, they have a lot of books on magic and muzukos, far more then I have. I think it would really help you solve your problem," she smiled and continued pushing her cart along.
"Thanks," Gourry smiled. He opened the bag and inhaled the sandwich's aroma as well as that of the coffee's rich brew, then began eating. "I'll have to meet Lina and the others in a couple of hours, but I think I have enough time to stop by the Sorcerer's guild. I hope everyone's making out good like me," he mused and took a bit of his sandwich.
Meanwhile, Lina was still with Bubbles looking over the black miasma on te crystals and desperately trying no to fall asleep. "I never knew examining crystals could be so . . . so boring," she sighed inwardly. "Well maybe not boring," she amended, "but frustrating. We still haven't figured out what's going on."
So far they had figured out which systems were attacked in the device and in what order, but not how they were damaged or what the miasma was made off or how to stop it. "This is so frustrating," she grumbled under her breath.
"Don't worry Lina. We'll have some answers soon."
Lina turned and found Bubbles standing very close to her looking at her with concern.
" I hate it when he looks at me like that, like I'm . . . I'm," she stepped closer to the device away from Bubbles. "I know we're close, once the others get back and we compare notes we'll have a better idea about all this. "I'm going to get something to drink," the redhead said and quickly felt the room with Bubbles looking at her curiously.
Daisy found the last name on her list as smiled closing the volume of the town registry. "Well everyone is accounted for on my list. How far along are you?"
"I still have a few more names left," the princess answered as she continued her search.
"We're supposed to meet the others soon, but I'll stay and help you finish?"
"That's okay you go on ahead and tell Lina I'll catch up soon."
"But Amelia I, "
"Did they tell you not to leave me alone today?" She asked, looking at Daisy.
"Not exactly. We're all worried about you, we know how you feel about Zelgadis and how upsetting this all is but . . . "
"Daisy you don't understand, none of you understand. Look, I know you're trying to and trying to be there for me but how I feel about all of this sometimes even I don't understand," she sighed and sunk down onto the floor. Daisy sat down across from her and continued to listen. "I want to believe he's all right, he's strong and intelligent and we've been in situations before, but we've never been separated for this long and we've always had a pretty good idea of whom we're up against. I'm not falling apart, I just . . . I'm just worried and angry, really angry at who did this. This person has been manipulating us for some kind of amusement."
"I think we all know that feeling." Daisy smiled. "That part of things we do understand."
"But I'll be okay, I don't nee you to babysit me. Go back to the tavern and tell the others I'm still here."
Daisy nodded and the two stood and dusted themselves off. Daisy gathered her things and left and Amelia returned the last part of her list and continued searching.
As Daisy walked down the street she smiled looking through the pages of her half of the list when she collided with someone and all her papers scattered on the ground as well as the books and papers of her victim. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to . . . Gourry!"
"Hi Daisy, sorry about the mess, let me help you get them up."
Gourry picked up the pages and handed them back to Daisy who returned his papers and book to him and the two continued walking.
"How did things go at the library?" Daisy asked.
"Good, I think I found most of the stuff Lina wanted me to look for. How about you?"
"I found all the names on my half of the lists. We just have to wait for Amelia's half."
"Where is Amelia anyway?"
"She's still going through the town registry finishing up."
Gourry stopped talking and became very thoughtful for a moment.
"Maybe I should go and see if she needs any help?"
"Gourry?"
"Or something to eat. The librarian brought me some lunch from this nice place and . . .
"Gourry," Daisy said, pulling his arm. "She's okay. She needs a moment to herself not hovering."
"I wasn't trying to hover, I just wanted to be a good friend."
"And she understands that," Daisy said. "We talked a little before I left, she'll be all right trust me, now lets get to the tavern, we're already late."
The two hurried to the tavern as a light afternoon rain settled over the town. When they got there, they were shown to the private dining room where they found Lina and Bubbles sitting at a long table with the crystals floating a few feet above the table.
"Have you found anything yet?" Gourry asked.
"We've made some minor progress, but not really," Bubbles said.
"Well all of the people on my share of the lists are accounted for. Amelia's still working on hers. She should be here soon," Daisy said.
"Gourry, what did you find at the library?" Lina asked.
"Lots of stuff, I even brought a few of the books I read that might help," he said, sitting down. "See Daisy and Bubbles are Muzuko who can control small parts of the dream scape but they aren't what you'd consider a dream Muzuko."
"We're not?" The two said in unison.
"Nope. You guys have power over elements in the dream world but you can't manipulate a persons' dream or can you?"
"No, we can't," Bubbles answered.
"A dream Muzuko can manipulate a persons dreams, give them nightmares and stuff or confuse reality and the dreamworld so a person wouldn't know where they are."
"How come you didn't come across any of this before?" Lina asked.
"Because I took a trip to the Sorcerer's guild's library after I went to the regular one. I was told they might be able to help and it turns out they have a whole vault with books on Muzuko and magic stuff. Anyway I found out each person has their own space in the astral plane."
"Yes it's where you go when you dream. A person can manipulate the space to appear as large or small as they wish and in whatever setting," Bubbles said.
"That's how we keep people in the dreamworld. When we shift dream space we us their astral signatures as a beacon," Daisy explained.
"Right," Gourry nodded, "What a dream Muzuko does, is they can open a hallway between one person's dream space to another, like connecting doors in a room, so that each person can travel back and forth between the others astral space. I was thinking that maybe Nephillo grabbed Zelgadis by opening a hallway between the dream space that Bubbles and Daisy controlled and his own and snatched him through while we were escaping."
"What could have happened up there could have just been a huge diversion for Nephillo's real plans," Lina said.
"But we still don't know who Nephillo still is," Daisy said.
"Hopefully Amelia will have that answer when she gets here."
* * *
Amelia went down the list of names in the last book of the town registry. She had one name left to find and her own suspicions that she wanted answers to. She reached the bottom of the last page in the book and did not find the name in question. She slammed the book closed and stared down at the name "Evette" written in her own handwriting, eyes narrowing in anger.
"That bitch," she murmured in a tone laced with maliciousness. Then ran out of the room into the rain heading for the tavern to find the others.
* * *
"So did you find anything about what could be contaminating the crystals?" Bubbles asked.
"I found some stuff on high concentrations of dark energy and how it can have strange effects on things that come in contact with, but I think this is the stuff on the crystals. Here look." Gourry opened the book he'd brought with him, turning to a page that had a picture of a black fog-like mass and showed it to the others.
"Liquid nightmares," the three read.
"Yeah," Gourry nodded, "See I figure that since dream muzuko's control dreams good and bad ones and people's dreams come from negative or positive feelings and Nephillo could use large amounts of focused negative energy to corrupt stuff. Like how black magic comes from the dark forces of the earth," he explained. "That doesn't sound weird, does it?"
"No Gourry it makes a lot of sense," Lina smiled. Gourry smiled in return and started to thank her when the door slammed open and Amelia walked in soaking with and angry look on her face.
"Amelia?" Daisy asked.
"It was her," the princess growled out, walking over to the table.
"Her what?" Lina asked.
"Evette, she's Nephillo," Amelia answered sitting down.
"She's the only one not on the list, in fact there isn't a person in town with the name Evette. That Floosie took him," she cried.
"But why?" Bubbles asked.
"Let's just say she has designs on his person and leave it at that," Lina answered. "And Amelia get a hold of yourself okay?"
"She seemed nice, if a bit obvious flaunting herself at him all the time and those sexual innuendos she was also so coy with," Amelia said, doing a quick Evette imitation, "But to go this far oh I'm so . . . "
"Amelia please, this isn't like you at all," Daisy pleaded.
"You are really cute when you get mad," Bubbles said
"What!" Amelia said looking at him surprised.
"Brother please not again," Daisy sighed.
"Hey, she stopped her tirade about Nephillo, didn't she?" They all shrugged as Amelia stood blushing, recalling the last time she had heard a similar sentiment.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I guess I'm just in shock or something like that." She sat down quietly and took a deep breath. "I take it that you've all put together some of the pieces about the crystals and what's infecting them right?"
"Yeah," Gourry smiled, "And now that we know who Nephillo is we can come up with a plan or something?"
"Evette, I mean Nephillo might have a stronghold on the astral plane. If we could find it we could get inside and get Zel back," Lina reasoned.
"But how are we going to do that?" Daisy asked
"I think I can help with that," Amelia said, gaining everyone's attention. "Zelgadis and I weren't very truthful with you. We did share a dream. We didn't say anything about it because we were embarrassed. ," She said quietly. "Bubbles thought that since we'd shared a dream before that it might be possible to do again and use that to find Zelgadis."
"Which I think is a definite possibility thanks to the information Gourry gave us," Bubbles said. "If the spell Nephillo used to create a corridor between Zelgadis's and Amelia's astral space then Amelia could go through into Zelgadis's dreams, but you'd have to be asleep for it to work."
"So how do we get this started?"
"Tonight when we all go to sleep. They're a few things I'll have to do before we make the attempt and we won't know if it worked until Amelia wakes up tomorrow."
"Are you sure you want to try this?" Lina asked Amelia.
"Yes, it's the best plan we have right now. We should take advantage of it."
"How safe is this going to be?" Daisy asked.
"I'm not sure. Nephillo could be monitoring his dreams. I'll think up some safety measures, don't worry Amelia."
"Thanks Bubbles."
"Gourry and I will work on setting things up, why you don't you guys get something to eat and check back with us in a bit?"
"I think that's a good idea. I'm starving. Come on Amelia let's go get something," Daisy said and got up from the table.
"All right, come on Lina," Amelia said following Daisy.
"Okay," the sorceress said as she watched Bubbles glance at her briefly. "I'll catch up in a second," she said then turned her attention to Bubbles. "Can I have a word with you for a minute, alone?"
"But of course," he said, "Gourry I'll be right back."
"Sure thing," Gourry waved as he read the book he'd brought with him.
Lina and Bubbles left the tavern and began walking down the street in the light afternoon drizzle.
"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Bubbles asked after a few minutes of silently walking.
"Why do you keep looking at me," she blurted out.
"Because, you're beautiful and I like looking at beautiful women," he shrugged.
Lina looked at him surprised and stopped walking. "You think I'm beautiful?"
"Yes. Does that surprise you?"
"Well . . . yeah, I mean I get called a lot of things but never that, besides I'm not really what guys think of when they think about beautiful girls," she ended in a murmur.
"And why do you say that?"
"I'm small," she whispered, surprised that she was talking about something so personal, "You know what I mean and well I . . ." She stopped when she noticed Bubbles fighting the urge to laugh. "This was all just some kind of joke wasn't it? YOU JERK FIREBA-!"
"WAIT A MINUTE," Bubbles said, grabbing her hand as it prepared to launch her attack. "I wasn't joking when I said I think you're beautiful. I was laughing because you don't realize how cute you are," he smiled as she began to relax some.
"But . . . "
"But nothing. One you're not small, you just have an ultra petite, perfectly portioned figure."
"Where have I heard that before," she thought as he continued on.
"And two, not all guys like the same things in girls. Beauty comes in different shapes and sizes. I guess my looking at you was unnerving huh?"
"Um a little and besides we have more important things to think about aside from discussing my cuteness," she laughed.
"Yes, the lovely princess needs to have her chimera returned to her," Bubbles sighed.
"Lovely princess?"
"Yes, If you must know I'm torn between the two you," he said at which Lina face-faulted. "You're not jealous, are you?"
"No," Lina crooked trying to contain herself, "I didn't realize you liked Amelia that way."
"I know she cares about Zelgadis a great deal but she's just so sweet and then you're so sexy when you . . ."
"Look we need to get back to the tavern so you and Gourry can work on this plan you have," she interrupted. " I just wanted to tell you not to look at me all weird from now on, okay?"
"Okay," he smiled and leaned in close. "I'll just look once in a while," he whispered and kissed her forehead lightly, to which Lina blushed. "I always had a bad habit for liking girls who are already taken," he murmured to himself as he began walking back to the tavern with Lina close behind. She touched the spot on her forehead where he had kissed her. "He thinks I'm beautiful," she thought and marveled at how good the compliment felt as she finally reached the tavern.
Bubbles headed back to the dining room where he had left Gourry while Lina went over to the table that Amelia and Daisy occupied. She felt the weight of her necklace against her chest and looked down at her gift and pulled it from beneath her shirt. She smiled slightly at it as she sat down with the others. "I still can't believe Gourry gave this to me."
"Lina, what's that?" Daisy asked drawing the sorceress's attention.
"Oh nothing," Lina smiled and tucked the necklace back in her shirt. "What did you get to eat?"
"Not too much really. Amelia are you sure you don't want anything else?"
"Positive," the princess said. "As soon as Bubbles works out the details I want to get our plan going as quickly as possible," she ended and began eating.
Lina and Daisy looked at each other in concern as they watched Amelia eat in a stoic fashion.
* * *
Nephillo appeared in Zelgadis's room and watched him closely. The blood on his head and bed sheets had dried long ago, leaving crimson stains and hardened clumps in his hair. "He's still unconscious," she smiled, running her fingers through his hair track over his injury. "I could heal you and wake you up but I think this should be the beginning of your education in what happens to those who mock me," she laughed then disappeared.
* * *
"Okay, this is how it will work. You'll be there alone obviously but you have to remember that it's his dream s anything could be happening there, and don't let him know that you're an outside element. This is extremely important," Bubbles said. "Nephillo could be monitoring his dreams the best way to protect yourself is to blend in as best as you can."
"Understood," Amelia nodded watching Bubbles pace back and forth in her bedroom. He produced a crystal that looked very much like the failsafe device that he used on Briseral and handed it to her.
"This will help you find the corridor in your astral space. Once you're asleep, the crystal will begin working with your astral signature t find it."
"Is there a time limit?"
"No, you'll probably arrive moments after you fall asleep and you'll leave when you r he wakes up. I just hope he's asleep otherwise this isn't going to work."
"Lina will be staying with me during the night to keep and eye on me and Gourry will be taking watch," Amelia said as the swordsman and sorceress entered the room. Lina carried with her a sleep role and a pillow.
"I'll be awake for a bit. I'll let you know when I get ready to sleep," Lina said t Gourry spreading out her role.
"Okay," Gourry said, making a home for himself outside Amelia's door.
"Bubbles, where will you be tonight?" Lina asked sitting down on the floor.
"I thought we'd keep an eye on things in the dream scape, see if Daisy and I can find anything abnormal up there."
"Sounds good," Lina nodded.
"Amelia there is one more thing I want to mention, look for anything that could give us a clue to his location and remember, blend in."
"Don't worry, I've got everything," she said taking the crystal he gave her and placing it under her pillow.
"I'll see you in the morning," he said and left.
"I guess that just leaves us to go to sleep," Lina smiled
"I guess so. I wonder what Zelgadis dreams about?" Amelia asked.
"You'll know soon enough."
"True, but I feel a little uncomfortable about all this. A person's dreams are private, what if he gets angry because he entered his dreams?"
"He won't be. We're doing this to help him not to pry into his thoughts. He'll understand."
"I hope so," the princess yawned and hugged her pillow. Soon she was asleep.
"I hope this works," Lina thought as she poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot she'd brought up earlier and waited
* * *
Amelia found herself in a large open field with a giant tree in the center A gentle breeze blew making the tall grass sway every so slightly, perfuming the air with a crisp kind of scent.
"This must be what Zelgadis was talking about our first day in Briseral," she thought as she approached the tree.
She peaked around the tree to see the opposite side and found Zelgadis sitting with his eyes closed breathing softly.
"He looks so peaceful," she thought reaching out a hand to touch him but stopped herself. "How do I act? I don't know how he sees me in his dreams or even if he dreams of me at all." The princess bit her lower lip, trying to think of what she should do. "I'll let him set the tone and I'll follow his moods as best as I can," she decided as she made her presence known.
Zelgadis opened his eyes and smiled at her. "What d you think?" He whispered holding up his hands. It was then she noticed that he was now human, slightly pale skin tone but no less handsome then he was before.
"It's lovely," she smiled and sat down next to him.
"She did this to keep me with her willingly," he said, studying his hands.
"And you're considering it?"
"I don't want to stay with her, but I want to be human."
"And that's a very important thing to you."
"Yes," he sighed and continued staring out onto the field.
"He wasn't surprised to see me," she thought "which means he's dreamed about me before in this place. So far everything's going well so what I'm doing must be all right," she mused.
"There's something else I have to consider," he said, looking at her.
The setting suddenly shifted and they were in a facsimile of her room, in her bed as they had been the night after the talent show, in mid-kiss.
"And that would be me?" She asked coming up for air and trying to stay calm though she could feel her heart beating rapidly.
"Yes," he said, kissing her again, "I don't know what to do," he whispered holding her close.
"For someone who doesn't like uncertainty you seem to have acquired quite a bit," she said, stroking his hair, marveling at its softness and hoping that she had said the right thing. Her fears were put aside when she felt him laughing softly.
"You're right but that still doesn't help me figure things out," he smiled, burying his head in her chest, which the princess found felt quite pleasant.
"I need to get him to give me a clue to where he is," she thought as he nuzzled deeper into her breasts, making her sigh as is hair tickled her skin. She'd made some success bending in obviously but she still needed more information. "But he's so confused and unsure, how do I wade through all that without giving myself away?"
"What are you certain of?" She asked. He looked up at her confused. "What do you know for certain out of everything that has happened? With me and Evette?" She explained.
At the mention of her name Zelgadis frowned as the scene suddenly shifted t a strange room finely decorated. She watched as Evette and a duplicate of Zelgadis on a bed acting out a scene as she watched with the real Zelgadis beside her.
"I know she's crazy and I want t leave," he said as she watched Evette kissed him and their conversation became loud enough to hear.
"I bet the princess never kissed you like that," Evette said smugly.
"No, Amelia kisses a lot better then you do. Maybe you should go back to practicing on teddy bears," the other Zelgadis said then was slapped across the face. Then the setting shifted again and they were under the tree in the end other arms.
"I kiss better then she does?"
"Most definitely. That's another thing I'm certain of," he smiled and kissed her again.
"I want to be human again. This is the first time in years that I've come close," he sighed. "But to think she's the source makes me so angry. To think I'm at her mercy."
"You know what you need to do, you just have found the strength to do it," she said. "Every creature strives to have one basic thing as do you, think of what that thing is and you'll have your answer," she smiled.
"If I make the wrong choice there could be consequences. She hates you," he said, "And doesn't have a good opnion of everyone else."
"Do what you must," she whispered gently, "We can face anything that she has in store and so can you," she ended and everything faded into a blinding whiteness.
* * *
"Amelia, are you awake?" Lina asked, shaking her lightly.
The princess smiled peacefully as she opened her eyes and was greeted by a concerned sorceress.
"Good morning Lina," she smiled.
"Are you all right?"
"Right as rain," she answered, sitting up and stretching. "Good morning Gourry, "she called and the swordsman opened the door and came in.
"Morning Amelia," he smiled sitting down on the floor.
"I take it Zelgadis's dream world was a nice place to visit?" Lina asked.
"It had its interesting points," she nodded as a knock came from the door.
"I'll get it," Gourry said getting up. He opened the door to find Bubbles and Daisy waiting anxiously on the side. Amelia quickly took on a serious expression as the two walked in and sat down on the edge of her bed.
"Did it work?" Daisy asked.
"Yes," Amelia answered. "And we have a big problem. Zelgadis is human."
"Are you sure?" Lina asked.
"Positive."
"What would that have to do with him being taken?" Gourry asked.
"Lina's guess about Evette, I mean Nephillo's intentions was right. She's bribing him to stay with her by making him human," Amelia explained.
"But Zel wouldn't fall for that would he?"
"He's not sure what to do and she's threatened us to boot, me in particular."
"Why you?" Daisy asked.
"Because she's the competition," Bubbles said. "You're a large factor in whether or not he'd stay with her."
"You think so?" The princess asked.
"It stands to reason," Lina said.
"What about a location, did you get any clues?"
"Not really. I think he's being held in a room somewhere. I go to see its large and well decorated so I think a castle or something just as large is what we're looking for. If you guys don't mind I'd like t get dressed. I know this is important but . . ."
"We understand, we need to get cleaned up too, we'll see you downstairs in a few minutes," Daisy smiled, filing the men out of the room. Lina also moved to leave when the princess stopped her.
"Lina I found out something else in Zelgadis's dreams."
"What?"
"That he liked kissing me," she smiled.
"That's why you were in such a good mood," Lina said and headed for the door. "And that also explains why you were making kissy noises in your sleep huh?" She laughed closing the door as a pillow flew across the room at the door.
* * *
Zelgadis woke up, looked around the room and frowned. By some miracle he'd hoped that he'd be back in Briseral. His muscles were sore as he tried to move to a more correct position. He touched his head and felt dried blood and tried to remember what happened. "That woman has a sick idea of seduction," he mumbled and turned his thoughts elsewhere.
"Every creature strives to have one basic thing. Think of that and you'll have you answer."
"I am really getting tired of all these cryptic messages I've been getting lately," He thought, remembering the words of his dream. "Can't people just say what they mean?" He grumbled aloud.
"Talking to ourselves are we?" A disembodied voice laughed.
"It's better company then what I'm currently keeping."
"Didn't I tell you no one likes a wise ass," Nephillo said appearing in front of him.
"Apparently there's something about my ass that you do like otherwise I wouldn't be here."
"So grumpy first thing in the morning and I had good news for you too," she sighed melodramatically.
"Let me guess, you've found a new way to torment men who have absolutely no interest in you?"
"No, you idiot. I came here to tell you I've decided to grant your request and let you see your friends."
Zelgadis looked at her suspiciously. "Why?"
"You had a point about them pestering me to find you. So you'll see them and you'll tell them that you're staying here on your own accord."
"And if I don't tell them that, then what?"
"Well they'll just die, it's that simple," she laughed wickedly. "You play the cynical sorcerer routine perfectly, but you care about your friends. Don't underestimate my power. There are ways I could use to kill your friends and none of them are pleasant."
Zelgadis fought the urge to say something sarcastic. Lina was a strong sorceress and so was Amelia and Gourry a good swordsman. He didn't know how Bubbles and Daisy could handle themselves in a fight. But based on his experience with the others he knew they could hold their own even against Muzuko, but Nephillo was different. She had the power to go into people's dreams, a part of their minds and go on a rampage. Even if they had to take her on in a fight, "she could get us in the dream world," he thought, where they had no defenses.
"When do I get to see them?" He asked.
"Later today, but first we have to get you cleaned up. We can't have you going out like that," she said taking in the blood stains on his head and clothes. "You can take a bath in there," she pointed at an adjoining room, where the sound of running water could be heard. "And I'll even wash your back."
"I'd rather not."
"Suit yourself, " she shrugged. "See you in a bit." Then Nephillo disappeared.
Zelgadis went to the bath and got into the tub of hot water and began muttering obscenities. He was just obeying, just blinding obeying her. Sure he threw a sarcastic remark or two in her direction which seemed t hit the mark. Other then that he'd just done what she wanted.
"I hate this," he muttered washing his hair. "I am not some play thing." But he also knew she had a great deal of power and him, no magic to use against it. Then there was also the state of his friends well being, especially Amelia's. "I know they can take care of themselves but on this one I'm not so sure and she hates Amelia, really hates her. If I don't play along, she could get hurt," he reasoned.
"Every creature strives to have one basic thing. Think of that and you'll have you answer."
The words filtered through his mind once again. "What does it mean?" He wondered as he rinsed the soap from his hair.
He got out of the tub and dried off, dressed and waited for Nephillo's return. Hours seemed to go by before the dream Muzuko reappeared, studying his choice of clothing.
"Well aren't you looking cute?"
"Can we go now?"
"Of course," she said, snapping her fingers and teleporting them off.
* * *
Amelia dressed quickly and met the others downstairs. They had discussed her findings in Zelgadis's dreams as well as the information Daisy and Bubbles had gathered while combing the astral plane.
"There seemed to be some disturbance going on not to far from where Briseral was," Daisy explained
"We investigated, but there didn't seem to be anything there. But I think we should have another look to be sure," Bubbles reasoned.
"There could be a concealment spell in the area," Lina said.
"I didn't sense anything, but it's a good possibility."
Amelia sat and listened hoping that they were on the road to finding Zelgadis. They had spent quite a bit of time coming up with ideas and reexamining the information she had gathered, until finally deciding to head to the astral plane for a closer look at those disturbances.
"The sooner we get up there, the sooner we . . . what the," Lina cried as Gourry and Amelia suddenly disappeared.
"What's happening?" Daisy asked.
"I think we're going on a little trip," Bubbles said as the remaining three disappeared.
When they all reappeared, it was in a wooded glade, by a lake. Lina looked around frantically, relieved to see them all looking around equally confused.
"Where are we?" Lina wondered.
"How did we get here?" Gourry asked, scratching his head.
"I brought you here," someone said.
Everyone looked in the direction that the voice came from and were greeted by a buxom brunette.
"Evette, or should I say Nephillo," Lina said.
"Where's Zelgadis?" Gourry asked.
"Right here," the Muzuko said and from the woods Zelgadis emerged in human form.
"Zelgadis are you all right?" Amelia asked, approaching with caution.
"As well as to be expected," he managed.
"I've been taking good care of him," Nephillo smiled.
Amelia held her tongue on what she thought abut Nephillo's care.
"So Zel when are you coming back?" Gourry asked.
"I'm not," he said flatly.
"What!" They all looked at him surprised.
"I've decided to stay," ground out, "I've found my cure now, so there's no reason for me to go back."
"You don't mean that," Daisy cried.
"I certainly hope not," Bubbles added.
"It's my decision to make and I've made it," Zelgadis said.
"I guess he didn't figure out the answer to the riddle I gave him," Amelia thought, hoping that it would have given him incentive to fight. "And nothing we can say will change your mind," she whispered aloud.
"No, there isn't," he said looking down at her. The look in her eyes shocked him. He could see it, in her eyes clearly. "She doesn't want me to leave," he realized. He could also see exactly how much she cared about him, how serious her feelings were. "Freedom," he whispered suddenly.
"What?" the princess asked.
"I won't have my freedom. That's the answer to the question," He realized. "I'll be human," he thought, "But I won't have the freedom to enjoy it. Neither will they if I try anything," he sighed. "For now this is the only way."
"Zelgadis?" Amelia whispered, grabbing his hand.
"I just wanted to say good-bye to everyone and thanks," he said and began to back away slowly, letting go of the princess's hand as the others looked on silently.
Amelia looked into his eyes, their beautiful shade of blue as he backed away. The others held solemn expressions, watching as their friend made his final farewell.
"He's made his choice, not to fight." She looked at him closely, as he turned wanting to see every nuance of him so that it could be burned into her memory. "All I want is for you to be happy," she thought, looking at the curve of his fingertips when she watched a crack in his skin appear with a vein of blue peaking out. Then others began appearing on his hands and his hair, with blue and fine violet wire peaking out. She looked back at the others, their expression's unchanged. "They don't see it," she thought desperately, "Why don't they see," she wondered as she turned back to Zelgadis's retreating form and realized Nephillo's scheme.
"I have to stop him," she thought and started running after him.
"Zelgadis don't listen to her she's lying to you."
"What," Zelgadis said and stopped.
"You haven't changed, she's using your dreams against you so she can get what she wants," Amelia yelled.
"You little bitch," Nephillo mumbled. "How could she have seen it?" She thought.
"She's trying to keep you here by making you think she can give you what you dream of having most in life. Look past what you've been shown and see the truth," the princess pleaded as the others joined her as they too started to see what she had.
"She'll say anything to keep you at her side," Nephillo said, turning to the princess, "I can give him what he wants, you can't."
Zelgadis looked into the lake and saw his human face. "Look past what you see to the truth," he thought. He scrutinized his reflection until it began to change shape and his chimeric face returned.
"You lied to me," he whispered, "You made me think all this time that . . . and you threatened my friends," he screamed.
"Amelia was right, she just tricked him," Gourry said as Zelgadis's body returned completely to its chimeric state.
"OH YOU BABY DOLL LOOKING BITCH, Nephillo yelled. "YOU HAVE INTERFERED WITH MY PLANS ON TIME TOO MANY."
A ball of energy began to form in the muzuko's hand, crackling with power.
"Take this," she cried, unleashing the ball. It hurtled toward the princess at an incredible speed.
"AMELIA!" Zelgadis screamed.
"VALLIS WALL!"
A tall energy shield appeared in front of Amelia as the energy ball exploded.
"Nice work Amelia," Lina said as the smoke cleared.
"Lina Inverse, I'll deal with you another time right now I think I'll have more fun with te princess," she said an blasted Zelgadis unconscious.
"Zelgadis!"
"Time to take this show to a new stage," Nephillo laughed surrounding Amelia , Zelgadis and herself in a whirlwind and disappeared.
"Where did she take them?" Daisy cried.
"Probably to her domain in the dream scape," Bubbles said.
"But what's going to happen to Amelia and Zel ?" Gourry asked.
"Whatever it is, it's not good," Lina said.