It was morning on another fine day. The orange sun rose out of the mountains. Its penetrating beams of light banished the forces of the dark night. The rooster began to sing its song over the horizon, as many souls began to awaken to start the next day of hard labor. However, this isn't quite as hard as what Naga and Getethl trying to figure out what had just happened the night before. "Naga.. Naga..." Getehl spoke as he traveled with his compainion, Naga. The White Serpent turned her head over, her eyes looked upon Getehl's curious face. "Yes Getehl?" Naga spoke. "There is one thing I don't get," Getehl began. "What's the story behind the old innkeeper anyway?" Getehl was concerned. He was brushing his hair with his hand as he tried to wait for an answer. Naga smiled. "Apparently, he and Joeseph were both robbers trying to steal treasure from different ruins, nearly all over the continent." "Really?" Getehl's eyes widened at the thought. He continued to look at Naga while trying to walk where he was going. "How did you know that?" Naga pulled out several pieces of paper that revealed both the stolen blueprints about the Lost City of Levar's defense systems, and how they managed to do so. Two crumpled piece of paper that could have only been in so many pockets of both the Old Man and Joseph, going from one place to another, without getting caught. Naga gave the pieces of paper to Getehl, all semi worn out from the earthquake that Naga created to destroy the inn, where the old innkeeper/robber previously hid out. The first piece of paper was the map of Levar. The rest were the last several pages of the Old Man's "Ruin Robber" journal. They read, "It was a perfect plan. Joseph had all the ideas about the city of Levar being abandoned, no civilian in sight. We slept near the entrance to the ruins without being spotted, and at morning, we went to the ruins themselves. Everything was going smooth.." "It makes no sense!!" Getehl stopped reading for a moment. "Didn't the old man say that there is an evil force at Levar?" "Keep reading." Naga told Getehl as he continued to glance at the journal pages. ".. Until somehow, we got more than we bargained for. Traps!!" Getehl gasped at the sight of the word. Sucking his courage, he continued reading. "We followed every instruction the blueprints gave us, from poison arrows, to the falling pieces of floor.. Still, we managed pulled through." Getehl gave a breath of relief as he still continued reading the pages."Then, we made it to the center, but apparently, there was no way in because of some.. Shield I don't even know about!! Lucky Joseph had this weird ability, I don't know what it was that allowed him to pass through the barrier. Lucky dog. Then, when Joseph escaped, he was like he saw a ghost!! There was no choice but to get him out of the city, and to the nearest place where healing priests worked their magic. I guess it's time I put on my disguise again, before anyone notices me, and knows of my true plan... The plan to become the richest, alive person on this side of the continent." Getehl looked at Naga with caution. His eyes widen at the thought of the great evil that dared to keep all those that seek the Silent Bell away. "Whoa!!" Getehl screamed in agony. "Is it that bad?" Naga was semi-paralyzed, but quickly snaps out of it. She spoke with a vigorous tone, "If the evil that guards the Silent Bell is that threatening, then we must find our friends, and hurry, before we're too late!!" With that, Naga began to run at a vigorous pace. Her hair flowing, breasts jiggling, and legs to which can carry her over long treks of sand in the road they walk on. "Wait for me!!" Getehl spoke as he ran along with Naga, his sword at his side, and his cape flowing. Getehl tried to hold on to his hat while he ran, in hopes of Getehl not losing his hat to the rushing winds. --------- Slayers Glorious Created by Todd Harper Chapter 36: All Heroes Reunite!! A Cure Must Be Found!! Author: Lord Ryunson (Yep, second time for everything!!) ----- It was in the middle of the afternoon. The sky continued to remain blue, serene, peaceful, untouched. There were birds flying, probably geese, that flew overhead, honking as they continued their flight throughout the sky. However, that otherwise peaceful sky was drowned out by a scream of utmost rage. "ALL RIGHT TORR!! Give it up, we know it's you!!" It was Actinaea, a powerful, yet foul tempered sorceress who was chasing after Mariposa. But because of Torr's agility, Mariposa was able to escape the wrath of Actinaea. He hopped up from limb to limb on a tree, not far from where two different paths meet. "It's me!! Mariposa!!" Mariposa spoke while trying to get Actinaea to see the truth. Sadly, because of all her rage trying to kill Torr for the trouble he caused, Actinaea was not the type of woman to ask for an apology quite easily... Especially if one person is in the body of a person another would despise. "DON'T YOU THINK I'D FALL FOR THE SAME TRICK TWICE, TORR!!" Actinaea screamed as she reached out against the tree. She embraced it with vigor and anger, as she lifted the tree, with her incredible strength. Suddenly, Luanni woke up. Her head arching back, her arms stretched as she proceeded to hear what's going on. "Actinaea, please.." Ignoring Luanni's pleas, Actinaea proceeded to shake the tree with her rage, and hatred for Torr. Mariposa, didn't deserve this type of treatment as she fell down from the tree, thus the young girl in the assassin's body fell flat on her face. Actinaea advanced toward Mariposa in a displeasing fashion as she tossed the tree aside. Actinaea had the urge to destroy her for the trouble Torr caused. "WAIT!! I can show you that I'm really Mariposa!!" Mariposa spoke while Torr gave her a look of bisbelief. A drop of sweat ran down Torr's head, while looking to see what the hell was wrong with her. Looking at Torr, Mariposa has vowed to find a way out of this so Actinaea can stop chasing her. Mariposa rushed over to Torr, and grabbed him, with Mariposa's arm tucked under Torr's body. Torr, in Mariposa's body can be heard screaming as Mariposa in Torr's body hauled the small body back to the city of Levar. Actinaea was first discouraged at the idea of both she and Luanni back to the city of Levar, realizing it was more trouble than they had anticipated. But with Mariposa's life at stake, Actinaea shrugged in anguish as she proceeded to chase after the two switched bodies, one, a tall man with a girl's spirit, holding the other, a girl with the tall man's spirit. Luanni followed, knowing that her friends might make the same mistake again, this time, Luanni feared much worse than before.. Much worse.. ----- "Is he gone?" Korvadus looked around from the right bush. He was hoping that he and his allies lost the crazy ranch-hand that chased after them last night. "Yes, he's gone." Lilen spoke from another bush, the left one. "Korvadous..." Lilen spoke in a semi soft tone, "Why did that crazy person want us off his ranch?" Korvadus responded, "Horse thieves. Those are the type of people who can't reywing, can't travel a lot of distance, too poor to even pay for a horse, they don't even know how to get a job or, rob from innocent people." Korvadus then raised his finger in the sky, a light shone from where his pointer finger was raised. "Because of this, they must use thievery to steal horses!!" Then Korvadus slumped over. "I think that's why they must steal horses." "Wow." Lilen was impressed by Korvadus speech on horse thieves. "That's really impressive!!" Lilen was semi-swooned to see why the crazy ranch hand wanted the Captain and his gang off his ranch. They were mistaken for horse thieves. Then, a familiar, old and senile voice is heard. "Yes, but not as impressive as.. THIS!!" It was the Captain, with no name. He popped out of the center bush with a really wicked weapon. A weapon, concealed within a cloak of some sort. Red, and silky smooth, the cloth that kept weapon a secret from the world was sealed, save for a few bumps. "And what is this, device you would like to unleash on the 'White Serpent' this time, hmmmmmm?" Korvadus said as he tried to gain a peek at the weapon. Lilen tried to do the same, while saying, "The reason we lost the last time is because we were unprepared for the battle. Now tell us. What is under that cloak?" "AAAARRRR!!" The Captain screamed. "There be no peeking under this here cloak, until I look at that accursed White Serpent within the whites of her evil eyes, right Petey?!" The Captain shook his shoulder to which Petey just lays there. The Captain then used ventriloquism to try to speak what Petey would say if he were alive, like this, "SQUAWK!! No peeking, no peeking!! SQUAWK!!" The Captain later changed his voice back to normal. "See? Petey agrees with me all the way!!" The Captain patted Petey on the head for a reward for agreeing with the old coot. Korvadus looked at the dead bird with disbelief. "Sir, that bird's." "DON'T INTERRUPT ME WHILE I'M CONCENTRATING!!" The Captain scowled while Korvadous was trembling in his hiding bush. "Concentrating?" Lilen spoke while Korvadus was quaking in the bush. "On what?" "The utter destruction of the White Serpent herself!!" Then the Captain gave off a maniacal laughter to which can only scare a few wild birds within the area. The geese were trying so hard to fly away from the sound as fast as they can. "I thought this was going to be a stealth mission." Korvadus sighs as he sinks into the bush. "Someone's coming!!" Lilen spoke as the three misfits quickly hid in their hiding bushes. Actinaea and the others whooshed on by as the chase continued uninterrupted by the hapless trio. Then, after the terrible trio popped their heads out of the bushes when Actinaea and the others ran on by, Korvadus groaned a few seconds after Luanni passed on by. "Thought I never hear that voice again.." "We all have our desire for revenge!" The Captain said with a joyful attitude. "Especially when I shall deliver the Sting of Death upon the White Serpent's demonic corpse!!" He raised a sword high while making that speech about his revenge. "Sir," Lilen interrupted, "In speaking of 'Sting of Death, I think you placed that sword in.. A bee's nest!!" Then there were angry bees surrounding the sword. Honey has dripped onto the blade of the sword that destroyed the bees hard worked home and world. They surrounded the trio in a swarm, ready to attack in order to avenge what they protect most. Korvadus and Lilen screamed as they took off running, while the Captain remains with the bees. He pulled his sword from the hive, and starts to flail at the bee swarm. "Uh, Captain..." Korvadus spoke while the Captain was trying so hard to flail at the bees. "The bees are too fast for you, maybe we should.." "AAARRRR!!!" The Captain screamed, "No accursed swarm of bees is going to stand in my way of revenge!!" The Captain laughed as the swarm of bees continued to encircle him. Lilen shrugged. "We gotta keep in mind that he's still our Captain, even if he is corrupted by his own insanity." With that, Korvadus and Lilen both grabbed each arm of the Captain. Lilen got the left, while Korvadous got the right. They both dragged their old and senile leader as the Captain screamed, "I BE NOT THROUGH WITH YOU YET, ACCURSED SWARM!! COME HERE AND FIGHT!!" The Captain continued to scream as Korvadus and Lilen continue to drag their leader as far as their legs can carry them, away from the swarm. ---- It was mid afternoon on the road with Naga and Getehl. They were looking at the map that they got from the journal of the Ruin Robbers. They suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. "Getehl," Naga spoke in a confused tone. "Why are we stopping?" Getehl looked at the map very closely. He can blamely see that the road splits into two. Now the two people are trying to decide which way to go. "I think that's because there is a fork in the road... So I say left." Getehl spoke. Naga then pointed her finger to Getehl. "Look Getehl, I'm the leader of this operation, NOT you, so I'd say.. Right." Naga smiled at Getehl as he gets an expression of distrust. "Naga, please, the map kindly says left, alright?" Getehl then thrusted the map in front of Naga's face. On the map is a red line to which shows the path the robbers took to the city of Levar. Naga was puzzled even more. "We could be reading the map upside down, so the right of way.. Is right!! OOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!" She laughed long after she placed the back her right hand on her mouth. "Right," Getehl interrupted Naga. "The map says left." Unsure, he looks around him. There were mountains in the distance, the grass blowing in the breeze. Then he looked at Naga staring down him with an evil smile. "Getehl, Getehl, Getehl," Naga spoke with a semi-sarcastic tone. "It's bad enough to try to find our friends on a day like this, it's also bad that I, the great Naga, along with her companion Getehl, has to stop in the middle of the road during a quest, just to figure out which way to go!!" Naga stomped her foot on the ground, to which the foot left a mark on the partly dry, partly wet soil. Getehl looked at Naga with a smile. Then he raised his pointer finger, and did a little 'come here' stance. "Look," Getehl spoke with a mature tone. "I read the map with every little detail on it, and it can clearly see and is clearly written, that the robbers took LEFT to reach Levar. End of story!!" Naga then took the map away from Getehl. With her sensitive nose, Naga sniffed the piece of paper. She placed the paper away, where she tossed her head aside. She smiled. "Naga," Getehl spoke with concerned eyes. "Why did you throw the map away?" Naga smiled. "It was a mere napkin. The great nose of Naga the Serpent never lies." She then tossed the napkin aside. "Then can you explain what that journal entry was, O great White Serpent?" He then hands her the ripped page. Naga takes and reads the page. "It is a journal entry." Naga looked at the page with complete scientific eyes. Then she puts the page away. "Look Getehl, we are done arguing about the napkin and the journal entry!" She spoke with great semi-disarray. "We got to use our heads. Only a miracle will solve this problem now, which way should we.." Before Naga could finish, a rather familiar voice is heard. "Incoming!!" A large body holding a young girl knocked over Naga. She fell to the ground, quite stunned from the impact. It was Mariposa, who was carrying Torr. She ran off with him. "There's your miracle, Naga." Getehl spoke as he saw Mariposa in Torr's body take off with the other body. They seem to be heading right. Naga suddenly awoke from the trauma that resulted from the knockout. Quickly recovering, she shook her head, and turned around. "Who was that?!" Naga screamed. "Whoever did that, owes the great White Serpent an apology!!" "Naga," Getehl interrupted her. "I think that was Torr carrying Mariposa." He spoke as he pointed to the right. "Well, they should know better than..." Then, Naga paused for a brief moment to look at Getehl. Then she spoke. "Um, Getehl." "Oh no," Getehl spoke in a sarcastic tone. "You're not tricking me into thinking that left is the wrong way to go in a time like.." Before he was finished Getehl was knocked down by Actineae and Luanni, while they were trying to catch up with the switched duo of Mariprosa and Torr. "Oh Getehl, I'm so sorry!!" Luanni spoke as Actinaea tried to pull her away. "Come on, we have to stop them!!" Actinaea yelled as she tries to pull Luanni away so the two of them can continue the chase. "But Getehl.." Luanni semi-whined about being separated from her childhood friend. "WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!!" Actinaea continued to scream as she dragged Luanni across the ground. Naga's eyes widen at the joy of seeing her friends. Her mouth extended with glee as she proceeded to chase after her long searched allies. Getehl, recovering from the blow, got up with his back arched over.. He was scratching his head as he watched Naga take off somewhere. He heard her saying something about seeing her friends again. He was at first puzzled, then he realized something. "Sheesh," Getehl spoke to himself. "Just because there are worthwhile things in life when you make the RIGHT decision, doesn't mean.. Ah never mind." Getehl shrugged as he took off after Naga and the rest. ------ The lost city of Levar. It was once a thriving city. But thanks to the Mazoku horde, it became a lost wasteland. A wasteland, save for a few buildings and structures, once built by powerful dragons, who have worked with their own blood and sweat, now ancient pieces of marble lying around a desolate wasteland. The first people to enter the city were the two victims of the curse, Torr and Mariposa. They looked all around the lost city, realizing why it was easier to get in than the last time. Then, the ground started to rumble. Kind of like a small earthquake. Torr was semi-paralyzed at the tremors, while Mariprosa fell down. "It can't be." Torr spoke as he looked all around, trying to understand what is going on. He is like hearing the souls of the fallen speak to him. There were more earthquakes while Torr was trying to get a hold of his mind. Torr let out a scream as Actinaea and Luanni also ran to the inside of city. There was Actinaea, glaring down at the two curse victims. Maiprosa in Torr's body screamed out, protesting that Actinaea would please stop this madness while Torr in Mariposa's body did the exact same thing. Because of the constant arguing of voices belonging to Torr and Mariposa, Actinaea was forced to build up her wind energy. That was later canceled by Naga bumping into her. The same happened when Getehl accidently crashed into Luanni. The two women came crashing down onto the place where Torr and Mariposa were arguing. Naga and Getehl could not believe their eyes. They made it to the city of Levar, and they accidentally bumped their friends in hesitation. Actinaea turned her head around while she was on the floor, and looked at Naga with an angry tone. "HEY, Watch where you are.." Then she saw Naga in the eyes. "Naga? The hell.." "OOOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!! You remember me, Actinaea? I'm proud!!" Naga smiled as she placed her hand on her hips. "Hey Luanni!!" Getehl spoke as he saw Luanni on the floor. "I'm sorry for bumping into you on the way over here!!" Luanni smiled. "Oh that's all right. I must've did the same thing to you while I was running with Actinaea." Luanni shrugged. "A fifty fifty accidental mishap, right?" "Right." Getehl shrugged. Then, a push came up from behind Naga and Getehl. They both tumbled down where everyone was waiting for the chance to strike. "Owwwww!!" Everyone semi-moaned. "I thought we'd never be together again, Getehl." Luanni spoke while she was beside Getehl. "Me too." Getehl spoke. "Would someone please get off me!!" Torr screamed as Mariprosa proceeded to remove herself off of him. "Sorry." Mariposa spoke to Torr as she moved out of the way. "I'm not in the mood to decide if I should be happy or angry that we are together again." Actinaea spoke as she tried to squiggle away from Naga. Naga later sighed a breath of relief, and spoke, "At least we are all together again." Then, there was a singing voice. It was a voice so off key, everyone quickly covered their ears. It sounded like this, "Here they are, looking all red, sharing the same DEATH BED!!" Then there was a hokey laughter. It was the Captain, flanked by his two comrades, Korvadous and Lilen. "AAAAAHHHHHH," Actinaea screeched with an angry tone, "That Crazy Captain following us is bad enough, but his singing. MAKE HIM STOP!!!" Everyone was still covering their ears. Basically Actinaea's screaming sounded more pleasant than the Captain's horrible singing. "Enough of this!!" The Captain stopped singing, and ordered his two henchmen to attack our heroes. "Keep them occupied until I can get my weapon ready!!" Bellowed the Captain. Acknowledging their leader, Lilen and Korvadus leaped all around the city town square in hopes of getting at our heroes. Actinaea snickered as she lightly punched her left open hand with her right one. "I'll take care of these miscreants!" Actinaea smiled as Lilen rushed at her with daggers drawn. Lilen slashed Actinaea while she was trying to block the daggers with, "WINDY SHIELD!!" Wind rushed from Actinaea's hands and formed a barrier to block the daggers. Lilen bounced back, and rushed at Actinaea. It later became a brawl between Actinaea and Lilen while Korvadus was attacking Getehl with his crossbow. Lucky thing Getehl's sword blocked the arrows. Korvadus later used his crossbow for a sword substitute, and proceeded to knock Getehl down with it. Sadly for Korvadus, the blade of Getehl's sword broke through the crossbow. Korvadus screamed. "You idiot!! That was my favorite crossbow!!" "Who's the idiot?" Getehl gloated while Korvadus prepared a counter attack. Meanwhile, Mariprosa and Torr have their own problems, arguing about being switched back, as well as how life would be if that curse was.. Permanent. Of course, Luanni tried so hard to break things up between the two. Eventually, it was a leader to leader showdown when Naga faced the Captain, both looking each other in the eyes. The Captain grinded his teeth as he stared at the White Serpent, while Naga tossed her hair aside. The Captain spoke with a sinister tone. "You thought you can elude me, White Serpent," He then revealed his covered up weapon to her. "But you won't escape your tombstone, right here in this very spot, or should I say," Then the Captain removed the cloak, revealing the weapon. "SIX FEET UNDER!!" The weapon was revealed as a mechanism that was entirely elemental powered. Two cylinders heavy enough to cause an earthquake were side by side along with an elemental powered motor. At the top was a vacuum of some sort, wired to suck the elemental magic out of anything. The Captain smiled. "Now all I need now is to find the nearest magic source." He looked around, and saw Lilen leap up to him. "That's your latest weapon?" Lilen spoke as she saw the mechanism. "It's useless without a decent magic source." "AHA!!" Actinaea saw Lilen with the Captain. Actinaea smiled at the two, knowing she will win. "BOMB DE WIND!!" Actinaea raised her hands, and casted the spell. Unfortunatly, the mechanism vacuum absorbed all the wind from Actinaea's hands. The Captain laughed. "HAH!!" The Captain gloated. "You might be perfect for me elemental source, little lady!!" The Captain laughed. "I'm not little!!" Actinaea roared. "FIREBALL!!" A ball of fire emerged and shot out of Actinaea's hands. The vacuum sucked up the fireball quite nicely. "Fire will make the machine more powerful, as wind will help motivate the mechanism, right Petey?" The Captain laughed. Actinaea was furious. Then Naga stepped in front of Actinaea, who was trying to nuke the Captain as hard as she can. "OOOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO, you never learn, do you, Captain Cliche?" Naga smiled as the Captain interrupted her. "Joke all you want, it won't save you from the inevitable!!" The Captain laughed as he activated the mechanism. The cylinders began pounding on the ground, and in conjunction with a natural earthquake, the vibrations stopped our heroes in our tracks, as well as the Captain. Everyone screamed while there was a mountain that was cracked open from the resulting two in one earthquake, one natural, the other artifical. Actinaea recovered slightly from the earthquake. She heard the mountain explode, and looked to see what it was. Indeed it was a familiar mountain, containing the ghost of Shazard Lugandi. The Captain and his goons retreated after they saw the ghost. Naga laughed, thinking that she scared them off. In reality, it was the ghost that scared them off. The ghost laughed as he rose from his mountain tomb. He looked at everyone in the area. Then he looked at Mariprosa and Torr as he hissed, "You were warned to stay away, why didn't you listen?!" Torr and Mariprosa were semi-quaking in their boots. Mariprosa spoke out in rage, "CHANGE US BACK, MONSTER!!" Shigard laughed. "You know I can't do that." The ghost spoke. "You were after the Silent Bell, my greatest treasure, as well as my most hard worked artifact. I cannot allow you to simply take it away. That is why I cursed you, as well as those mortals who would dare try and take the Silent Bell away." Then, he flew to the nearest pillar of the city. Torr screamed at the ghost, "How many days left until we are cursed right now?" Shazard looked around. "Oh about.. Let's say less than five days." The ghost then floated over to the second nearest pillar. "Five days," Luanni spoke. "Then Mariprosa and Torr will be cursed. Forever?!" The ghost chuckled. "You got that right. Besides, it would be amusing to see the two people with the wrong soul forever and ever as long as the two of them live. That's what happens to those who don't listen." The ghost chuckled again. "You mean that you curse people for both protecting the Silent Bell, and for your own amusement?" Actinaea screamed out in rage. "YOU'RE SICK!!!" "I'm not sick at all!!" Shazard spoke with a sarcastic tone. "Besides, aren't we the happy mortal today?" Then he floated to the nearest pillar. "Besides, now that I am free from my prison, I just simply can't decide on what to do now." The ghost shrugged. Getehl then interrupted Shazard, "You can't possibly do anything now that you're dead." "Hey that's right!!" The ghost floated in joy. "So there is one thing to do now." "And what's that?" Everyone in Naga's party spoke as the ghost of Shazard Lugandi pointed his ghostly finger to the sky. "Why, curse you all, of course!!" The ghost manically laughed to his hearts content while he plotted on who to switch with who. Everyone looked in disarray. They looked at each other, wondering who might have the soul of who once this ghost has his way. Then, with a burst of pride, Naga talked to the ghost. "Look," She began, "If you kindly give us the Silent Bell, we will leave you in peace forever, alright?" Naga smiled. "The answer is still and will always be forever, NO." The ghost then prepared his attack. "Feel the awesome power of the great magic artifact maker, Shazard Lugani!!" Lightning strikes the area as the ghost gets ready to fight. Actinaea raised her hands, and called forth fire from her hands. She pulled the fire energy like an archer pulling back his or her bow. While she is doing so, Actinaea spoke the words, "FLARE ARROW!!" Strangely enough, the Flare Arrow went through the ghost, instead of killing him. Shigard laughed as the Flare Arrow didn't even dent him. Mariprosa and Torr were quite confused at the time, because they are not sure if they have the right spells for each other, so they can help fight the ghost. Getehl drew his sword at the ready, and leaped at the ghost. Ironically, the ghost dodged all of Getehl's attacks, and poor Getehl was getting somewhat tired from all that sword slashing. Luanni, however, decided to try and get Getehl to safety. She obviously learned from Getehl's mistake and tries so hard to get him to cover. Shazard, in the meantime, gloated on how all of the warriors in Naga's gang are powerless against his might. "Now it is MY turn!!" The ghost spoke as he unleashed a wave of black energy from his hands. The wave struck down nearly all the members of the party. Actinaea was trying so hard to put up a barrier while Naga did the same thing. Sadly, the shields weren't strong enough to hold back the powerful black energy. The party was thrusted back, nearly paralyzed as they all his a wall in the city. "Had enough?" Shazard gloated as Naga proceeded to recover from the attack. She straightened her back, ready for the next attack. "Your reign of terror will end today, Shazari." Naga spoke as she pulled her hands back, while she muttered the words, "ELEMIKA LANCE!!" She shot out the lance while Shazari countered with a black ball. Surprisingly, the Elemika Lance went through the black ball, and it pierced the ghost's arm. Shazard screamed in pain. "Luanni!!" Naga spoke as Luanni then responded quickly by healing everyone with various potions and elixirs while Naga began to create the second assault. "ELEMIKA FLAME!!" With that, Naga shot a pillar of light right through Shazard's torso, while he was trying to recover. Shazard was angry now. "All right, if you want to play that way, FINE!!" Suddenly, he summoned an spectral form of the Silent Bell. With that, he waved the bell around, and while he was staggering and ringing the bell at the same time, everyone except Naga was paralyzed with their hands over their ears, trying to block the horrible sound. Naga was wearing her protective horns she got a while back, in order to keep the sound from entering her mind. Shazard was slowly decending down as he rang the apparation of the Silent Bell. It disappears while Shazard was on the ground, trying to recover. "Why...." Shazard spoke while Naga advanced further. "Your forces destroyed an entire city, leaving only death in it's wake." Naga began. "Then you had to create the Silent Bell, to which you made yourself, cursing people for trying to take it?" Naga then beamed down on the wounded ghost. "Do you not only curse people because not only they try to take your treasure, but you also curse then for your own amusement?" Naga then raised her hands high. "It's demons like you that don't deserve a second or third chance." "Dammit, woman, I'm a human ghost, not a demon!! It's crazy mortals like you that needs to identify which is which!!" Shazard spoke. "You mean... You're not a mazoku?" Naga was a bit concerned as she looked at Shazard. "OF COURSE I'M NOT A MAZOKU!!" The ghost shouted. "What they told you was completely false! You see I am just as human as you are, but the reason for this Mazoku General garbage is just plain and simple." The ghost then spoke with a whispery, serious tone. "They were trying to scare you away. Just like I scared Torr, Mariposa, and anyone else that would seek the Silent Bell. So ask yourself. Is it worth it to finish me off right here, right now?" Naga smiled. "Yes, it would. Attacking me is one thing, but attacking and cursing my friends is something else all together!!" Naga then raised her hands high as blue spiritual energy filled her hands. "It comes to show that my friendship for these fair travelers is far more powerful than any curse you can throw at us. Goodbye!!" Naga smiled. "Damn you.." Shazard spoke. "FEHLZAREID!!" Naga shouted as she tossed out a powerful blast of light, which ruptured the spirit. Shazard screamed in agony as he exploded into nothingness. ------- Then, the black sky turned blue again. Mariposa could not believe her eyes. She looked at her body. Mariposa was feeling her own arms for once, and not Torrs. She was glad to be back to normal, and because of this, she rushed over to Naga, and gave her a big hug. Mariposa's arms were wrapped around Naga's waist, as well as Mariposa's head resting in Naga's cleavage. Naga shrugged as she patted Mariposa on the back. "I know it's good to be normal again." Naga spoke. Getehl, slightly recovering from the attack, looked all around. "Is he gone?" He wondered. "Yes Getehl," Luanni spoke, "That ghost is long gone." She proceeded to hug Getehl, after a hard battle. "Whatever," Actinaea spoke with a somewhat sarcastic tone as she looked all around. "Well Naga," Actinaea turned to look at Naga with a happy look. "You did us proud." Actinaea smiled. "Why thank you, Actinaea!" Naga smiled. "Who needs the Gold Dragons when I have cured Mariposa already! OOOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!" Mariposa removed herself from Naga as Mariposa spoke, "I'm glad that ghost is finally gone!! Now we can continue our search, for the Silent Bell!!" Mariprosa leaped in joy. "Ah," Luanni spoke, "It's good to be back together again." "Yes!! Getehl said with a righteous tone. "We are at last together once more!!" Getehl raised his sword high into the sky. Naga looked at everyone. She was kinda glad that she did both defeat the ghost, cured Mariposa of the curse, and the fact that she is one step closer to the Silent Bell. "Right, we don't have much time," Naga spoke. "Why?" Mariposa said as Naga tossed her hair aside. Naga spoke with a righteous tone. "The Silent Bell awaits us in this city!!" Naga tossed her head to the rest of the party. "And because of the destruction of Shazard Lugandi, thanks to yours truly, we have an easier chance of obtaining the bell!!" She smiled. "Besides, how hard can it be now?" ---- End of Chapter 36. ------ Authors Notes: I know, a back to back author writing a chapter to make up for what he did wrong in the last one. (I am not saying any names on who said my last chapter was a washout. to those of you who did, you know who you are, and I'm sorry.) Thankfully, Ravi gave me a few suggestions to which I can make it all up to every last person who wrote for, and viewed Slayers Glorious. This chapter gave me a chance to clean up my past mistakes, and hopefully make this more worthwhile to you. Yes, life is a bit rough for both our heroes and myself, going through the troubles of life. I would also like to thank Lawrence for providing me with a few pointers, about the ghost, and how some parts are best reserved for the other writers. I hope this chapter isn't as bad as the last one, and by the look of it.. This chapter was WAY better than the last one. It not only has our heroes reunite, but it also has Mariprosa and Torr cured of their curse!! After a few discussions with Ravi on chat, I thought I could cure the curse as well as get that ghost off everyone's back. Well anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter as I did writing it, along with some suggestions from Ravi!! Also, the reason I stopped the chapter right there is because of Lawrence's suggestion to make things a little easier for the authors of the quenue. Therefore, I'm leaving the search for the Silent Bell and beyond to the next author. See ya around!! Lord Ryunson, lordryansen@yahoo.com