Zelgadis left Lina and Gourry to go find himself. Rezo and Shabornigdo had been defeated and now he was left with questions. So many questions ...
"How can I blame Shabornigdo for Rezo's heartlessness? I would still be human if it wasn't for Rezo! But I would not be if Shabornigdo had not been reborn!"
Zel slammed his hand into the closest tree.
"Why?" he whispered closing his eyes. He opened them suddenly. Something had moved in the bushes up ahead.
"Who's there?"
Suddenly a woman clad in sorcerer's garb stood up "I am Thalos. Who are you trespasser?" As she finished her question a small dragon flew up beside her.
"I am Zelgadis Graywords," he looked at the dragon then her. "I presume you are Thalos Leion?"
She smiled. "You are quite right." She then looked at the dragon and it flew off. "I have heard of you as well."
"Oh?"
"Are you not one of the three who killed Shabornigdo?"
"How did you know he had been reborn?"
"My dragon's see all!"
"I should know that the dragon lord would have scouts!"
"So you know my title. ‘Thalos Leion Dragon Lord Sorceress of infinite power.' Ha! All I ever do is tell the dragon king all the new and dead dragons. Some INFINATE power!" she scoffed.
"Hm. I thought a dragon lord did more."
"No. The interesting thing I can do with the dragons is talk to them."
"They talk to you?"
"You are part goulm, right?"
He cast his face down. "Yes, but not by choice."
"Then, I think they can talk to you as well." "Truly," he looked up.
"Quate!"
Suddenly a small dragon appeared by her side.
"You called?" sighed Quate.
Zel's face went pale. "I could hear that!"
"Of course! You are special! We both are! That's the reason we hear them!"
"Special? I am cursed. You are normal."
"Not me!" She lifted her sleeve and reveals a patch of scales.
"Oh, sorry ..."
"It's fine. I was born like this just as you were born like that. There need be no apology."
"I was not born like this!"
"Then how?" She looked at him with deep curiosity and wonder.
"I wanted to be strong. Rezo, the red priest, made me like this to fulfill my own wish."
"How dreadful!" She turned to face the dragon, Quate. "Go home and ready the guest room." She looked at him. "You will stay with me tonight. The town is much too far to get to now."
"Thank you."
"Oh, Quate."
"Yes my lady?"
"Bring two horse-sized dragons."
"I will." Quate, then, flew off.
"So, Zelgadis, you did help kill the dark lord, right?" "I helped, but Lina was the one who defeated him."
"You speak of Lina Inverse and Gourry Gabriev, no?"
"I do." He looked at her. "Why do you ask?"
"They are wanted."
He looked up and his eyes widened. "For what?"
"The hunters won't say what." She closed her eyes and a look of distress crossed her face.
"What is it?"
"You are wanted."
"Who now? Will I never have peace."
Quate arrived with one dragon.
"Quate? I asked for two dragons! Why do you bring me one?" "The others are asleep."
"Very well." She slid onto the dragon's back, "Hop on!"
Zel got up and tried to hang on with his heels.
"You will fall off if you ride like that! Hold onto me!"
Then, as he slid his arms around her waist, the dragon took off.
"Zolf! Don't do that!"
Suddenly Zel, who was surprised by the dragon's name, loosened his grip.
"What's wrong?"
"When we battled Shabornigdo, Zolf, my friend and Romidis were killed."
"I'm sorry," she said weakly, "I know what it's like to have someone close to you killed."
He wanted to ask her who but the way she was I pain by just saying that made him stop himself.
Then he heard the dragon.
"Thalos, you like this Zelgadis!"
Then in a whisper she spoke, "Shut up! I have known him only for a few moments! Anyways, it is not your business."
"I think it's good! You need a man."
Then she said loudly, "I DO NOT!" Then looked back at Zel. He looked away, pretending he hadn't heard.
"So, Zelgadis, do you know where your friends were headed?"
"Atlas City."
"What for?"
"They never told me."
"Didn't they trust you?"
"No, and I can't blame them. Not many would trust the son of Rezo."
The dragon turned suddenly and Zel lost his grip and fell.
"The blood of Rezo will never touch me."
"Zolf, you idiot!" Then she closed her eyes. "Levitation!" Zel began to rise near the dragon.
"I am truly sorry. Zolf is a fighter dragon and she usually fights Rezo. She cannot help it."
"You mean fought. Rezo is dead.
"Yes ..." She looked away and in doing so, lifted Zel onto the dragon.
"Don't worry. Even thought he was my father I feel no grief for his death. He was evil!"
"His spirit was kind but Shabornigdo corrupted him."
"That is no excuse."
They came over a hill, onto a hut. It was fair sized and the area around it was filled with dragons.
"Quate!" yelled Thalos.
"You bellowed?"
"I thought you said that the others were asleep?"
Then grinning, she responded, "Sorry. My mistake."
Zel looked over at the dragon and smirked.
"Save your smiles for Thalos, Mr. Graywords," Quate giggled. Zel turned away blushing.
"Quate, what did you just say?"
"Couldn't you hear me, Thalos?" Quate hissed sarcastically.
"No! I'm simply curious about what you said to Zel to make him blush."
Then Zelgadis, wishing to avoid a fight, interrupted. "It was nothing Thalos. She just told me to be polite."
"Oh, sorry Quate."
"I'm going to bed!"
"Good night!" Thalos and Zel chorused together. Zolf landed by the hut.
Zel slid off the dragon and put his hand out to help Thalos down. As she began to get down, Zolf flew up a bit causing Thalos to fall into Zel's arms.
"Oh, thanks," Thalos whispered, startled.
"You're welcome," sighed a calm, but blushing, Zelgadis.
The pair stood up and started walking towards the hut. Thalos entered before him. When he looked around inside he saw only a few chairs and books and such scattered around the room. Thalos sat down in a large, puffy chair.
"Take a seat, read a book. Go eat if you want to. Make yourself at home."
"Thank you for your kindness. I will join you reading if you don't mind."
"Go right ahead."
Zelgadis sat in the chair beside her and grabbed a book from the table.
"You own spell books?" he asked.
"Of course. The dragons write them for me. They have the talent for creating spells."
"Dragons create spells?"
"Only a few dragons can. Most spells are created by the gods."
Zelgadis looked down to his book and gasped in surprise.
"What is it?"
"This book was written by the dragon king!"
"He's the dragon god, so why not?"
"This book is priceless! It should be put in a museum!"
"I own so many of his books! Many museums have them already! He most always writes wimpy spells!"
"Wimpy?"
She flipped through her book and stopped. Then she began to read aloud, "Dragon masters long gone past, power now do show." A few sparks danced around the room, then vanished.
"A spark spell?" Zel drawled.
"Like I said, he mostly writes wimpy spells!"
"A SPARK spell?"
"You heard me," she sighed smiling.
"Who would ever use a spark spell?"
"It's beyond me!"
"A spark spell!" Zel said laughing and was soon joined. The laughter then dissolved as they read more and later on in the night, they both fell asleep, with a book in their hands.
The next morning Thalos awoke first. She set the book down and walked outside to the brook. She stared down at her reflection. Then looking around to ensure no one could see her she began a prayer spell.
Dragon king,
Giver of power,
Tell me what
This man's fate be,
In relation to me.
She looked down to the water and saw Zelgadis' face, then she saw her face. As a picture began to form she heard a noise behind her and turned.
Zel was standing over her shoulder, smiling.
"How dare you!" she cried out of embarrassment.
"You wanted to fine out about me. Why?"
"You have no right to ask and I have no obligation to answer!"
"As you wish," he said walking back to the hut. Once he was inside a huge smile covered his face.
"She wants to know me! Perhaps ..." the smiled faded, "I am too ugly for even her friendship. Why do I even imagine ... . ." He sighed and grabbed his cloak and turned to leave. Suddenly a giant dragon landed in front of him.
"You, Zelgadis, are saying! I will not permit you to leave!"
"Dragon, let me pass. Thalos wishes me gone."
"The Dragon King bids you stay."
Zel's eyes opened wide. "Are you ..."
"I am."
Zel bowed his head.
"You, Zelgadis, cannot leave yet. There are bounty hunters combing the roads and towns for you. Stay here. Thalos doesn't mind!"
"I will."
The Dragon King then leaned close and whispered, "Anyway, Thalos likes you. She would be heart broken if you left and were killed."
Just then Thalos walked into the hut.
"Zel?"
The Dragon King looked sternly at him, then stated, "I wasn't here." Then vanished just as Thalos walked out front.
"Zelgadis! Were you going to leave? Without even saying good-bye?"
"No, just needed some air."
"Come inside. Quate had finished making breakfast."
Zel half-smiled and followed her inside. Once they were in the hut, Quate flew at Zel's head in mock-anger. "Leaving already?" Then turning to Thalos, "You scared another one off?"
"Quate, if I had scared him off, he wouldn't be here."
"Oh," Quate stopped flying around, "That's right, isn't it?" Then the smiling dragon set three places at the table. The two chairs were set side by side and a small perch was placed opposite from them. "This is one of my better seating arrangements, no?"
Thalos sighed. "Quate, you are not a matchmaker! Besides you know the Dragon King had power over that aspect of my life," Thalos closed her eyes, remembering. A handsome man stood before her. Then, suddenly the Dragon King appeared! "You are not worth the dragon lords time!" he bellowed and he threw a ball of fire at the man. "Reatis, no," she whispered as she watched the man die. Her eyes opened, slowly and in tears! She ran out of the room.
"Quate, tell me why she is in tears," Zelgadis asked as he sat down.
The small dragon flew over to its perch and sighed. "I will tell you but, understand this! You didn't hear it from me!"
"Understood!"
"Long ago, when Thalos was younger. She met a traveler, Reatis. She fell in love with him. Unknown to her he worked as a spy for Rezo. When Reatis was about to propose to her, the Dragon King learned of Reatis's treachery and appeared and set the man on fire. From that day on he has killed every man who has come near her."
"Then why didn't he kill me?"
"No, he spoke to me this morning and told me to stay here."
"Are you sure it was the Dragon King?"
"Absolutely sure."
"Perhaps ... ... ." Quate got up excitedly and followed the path Thalos had taken. "She's found the one!"
Zel's eyes opened wide in surprise.
"Quate doesn't know what she is talking about! He just must think I am a chimera. That is the only reason he didn't kill me."
Quate caught up to Thalos easily. Thalos had stopped at the edge of the brook.
"Thalos!"
"What is it Quate?" she said gathering her composure.
"Zelgadis has seen the Dragon King" Quate said smiling.
"NO! How can you smile when a friend has been killed?"
"He's alive."
"What? How?"
"The Dragon King told him to stay here."
"Could it be?"
"It is! You have found your future husband!"
"Whoa! Slow down! I've only known him a day!"
Suddenly they heard muffled voices from the yard. "He's in the hut. If we surprise him he'll be an easy kill."
"Bounty hunters!" Quate exclaimed.
"Not on dragon lords land!" Thalos walked into the hut. Zelgadis was sitting in a chair looking down. The hunters were at the window.
"Zelgadis! LOOK OUT!"
He stood up and looked at her. The hunters attacked.
"NO!" she cried as she ran in front of Zel.
Five spears pierced her back. One hit her heart.
"THALOS!" He looked out the window. "Fireball!" The bounty hunters were dust. "Thalos?" She had fallen into his arms.
She looked up at him.
"You," she groaned in pain, "Ok?"
"I'm fine. Are you?" His eyes filled with tears.
Her eyes shut. "You are the one."
Her body went limp.
"Thalos?" He looked up, then buried his head in her shoulder and cried.
Behind them the Dragon King materialized. He looked at them thoughtfully then turned into his spirit form. He began to recite a spell:
"Ashes now burned out.
Life gone, death come
Phoenix rise again!"
Thalos rose up and Zelgadis let her go. His eyes transfixed on her face.
As she rose the spears began burning until they fell from her body. Her eyes opened and she smiled down at Zel.
"Yo ... you ... you're alive!" he stuttered
"Phoenix rise again spell. It's the Dragon King's life spell. Never fails." She had levitated down to the floor. Zel and her were close in proximity. Zel hugged her.
"Thank you ... . .. You saved my life."
"Apparently I have a few lives to spare."
He let her go. The Dragon King walked up behind them and pushed them together with is wings, causing them to kiss. They both leaned into it then realizing what they were doing both pulled apart.
"What are you two afraid of?"
In one movement they both looked at him.
"Oh. I guess I'll be going then.
"Good guess," Thalos laughed.
The Dragon King smiled as he vanished.
Zel sighed. "I've only known you one day but I feel like I've known you forever," he blushed, "You must think I'm a fool."
"I couldn't! I feel the same way."
She smiled and looked up at him. He leaned down ... . . and kissed her.
Quate swooped down on them. "Told you so!"
They leaned back. Thalos looked up at the dragon. "So you did."
Suddenly Quate looked out front of the hut. "Hunters," she cried, "And many of them."
Zel and Thalos stood apart, readying themselves for attack.
"Thalos," one of them cried, "We are here for the golum-man! Give him to us now!"
"Listen to me, all right. Number 1 his name is Zelgadis. Call him by it! Number 2 you are messing with a dragon lord! Number 3, you're an idiot for not running after number 2! Prepare to die!"
Dragon magic,
Aid me,
Destroy my enemies,
Dragon fire!
As she recited her spell a dragon of fire appeared and engulfed 20 men.
"We thought you might fight so we brought our own sorcerer. Gemitar!" called the bravest of the hunters.
A cloaked man rose out of the crowd.
"You!" Thalos hissed.
"You know him already?" Zel questioned.
"A family feud, you could call it that." Gemitar spat.
"Your family was born of the dark lord and today your family will end like the dark lord."
"You sound so sure! Are you still an apprentice?"
"I am a master! Dragon Arrows!"
A green arrow sped towards Gemitar.
"Still using weak magic? Flare Arrows!"
The two arrows hit and exploded.
"Not always!"
Death come hither
For Guillotine drop!
An energy blade appeared and swung at Gemitar. He dodged it.
"Is that the best you can do?"
"No, it isn't, as a matter of fact, but it'll wear you out soon enough."
"What?" his eyes opened wide, "An etern ... eter ... eter."
"Eternal spell!" she smirked, "It won't die till you do."
"You bitch! Ice arrows!"
She dodged them but was hit in the leg.
"I will be back." He vanished.
The energy blade dissolved, apparently confused.
Thalos fell to the ground, her leg frozen.
Zel had, in the meantime, begun fighting some of the hunters.
As their swords clashed, Zel began reciting a spell. "Power charge!"
As their swords hit again his adversary was burned.
"Any other fighters?"
He looked around, then gasped when he saw Thalos. He ran over to her side.
"Are you alright?"
"I would be if I could remember a healing spell."
"Give me a moment. Raw til .... "
"Stop! I know an easier way to get rid of them. Quate!"
The minute dragon appeared. "Yes?"
"Go tell the others I want a BIG dragon swarm! Take no prisoners."
"Yeah! We haven't had a good swarm forever! The others will be ruthless, I promise."
"Just go Quate!"
"Gone!"
Just as Quate disappeared, every dragon in the area descended onto the unsuspecting bounty hunters.
"Just hold still Thalos."
Pure life,
Heal this strife!
He laid his hand over her leg, on the spot where the arrow had landed. The ice melted away leaving her leg healed.
"Now, Zel want to join in the fun?"
"Walking into a group of swarming dragons doesn't sound so fun to me."
"No silly! I mean as a dragon! Form shift!"
They both morphed into their dragon forms. Thalos became a sleek black dragon with three white streaks down her back. Zel became a deep blue dragon, with spots of white on him. They flew into the frenzied dragons, simply being thrown about in the crowd.
"This is amazing!" Zelgadis called.
"It is! It's like being carried along by the wind."
"Do you do this often?"
"Only when a group of despicable people show up."
"You do this that often?"
"Zel!"
"What?" he smiled.
The dragons began to fly back to their perches until Thalos and Zelgadis were the only two left in the yard.
"Would you ... . .?"
"Of course Zel!" We can't stay dragons forever! Tfihs morph!"
They shrunk back to their normal size and selves.
"Thalos."
"Yes?"
"How do you and Gemitar know each other?"
"Well I don't know him personally but I know his ancestors were born of Shabornigdo's blood and they created the beast Zanifpher. Ever since then his family has done nothing but work for evil. The dragon lord have always been their enemies."
"Cats and dogs?"
"Exactly!"
"Was the swordsman of light a dragon lord?"
"No, but he was the dragon lord of that times brother. Why do you ask?"
Zelgadis started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"You're related to ..." Zel burst out laughing again, "Gourry!"
"What's so darn funny about that?"
"You two are so completely opposite!"
"How so?"
"He is a total idiot and you," the laughter stopped, "You are, well ..."
"A genius?" she smiled.
"That's not what I was going to say but then again, compared to Gourry, a plant could be a genius!"
"No one is that stupid!"
"You haven't met Gourry have you Thalos."
"You can't be serious."
"I am!"
She began walking toward the hut then fell near the entrance.
"Thalos, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I just ripped. No harm done!"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine!" she got up and walked into the hut.
"Quate," Zel yelled.
"You called?" hissed an angry Quate.
"What's with you?"
"I was this close to falling asleep!"
"Sorry about that but I need you to make sure Thalos is ok!"
"What's the so-called problem?"
"In the fight this morning she got an ice arrow in her leg and it seems that leg is still sore!"
"Gimme a minute." Quate flew off into the hut. Once inside she let out a huge shriek of surprise. Thalos was sitting on a chair with her pant leg pulled up. There was a small ice arrow stuck in her leg. The skin around it had turned a deep shade of blue. Quate sped out to talk to Zel.
"She's badly hurt! Part of an ice arrow is stuck in her leg!"
"What does the skin around it look like?"
"A very dark blue."
"It's not as serious as it could be."
He walked over to the hut. As he entered he saw Thalos wrapping her, now purple, injury.
"Thalos?!"
He walked over and pulled the wrapping off her leg and looked at her. "No harm done, huh?"
"It's only a sliver. It won't hurt me."
"Your leg is purple!"
"You've got a point."
"Hold still."
"Why? What are you going to dooooooo! OWCH!"
He had ripped the sliver out of her leg.
"Now doesn't that feel better!"
"No!" She reached down and grabbed Zel in a headlock. "And next time, I expect a warning!"
Zel sputtered a bit then tried to speak. "Sure," he sputtered.
She let him go. "Sorry, when I'm in pain I get CRANKY!"
"I'll remember that for next time!"
"Hopefully there won't be a next time!"
"For my sake I hope so too!"
"Why couldn't you use a healing spell? Magic block?"
"Exactly. If that sliver hadn't been blocked it would've melted when I healed you before."
"Good reasoning, Sherlock."
"Sherlock?"
"Oh, it's just the name of one of my smarter dragons."
"Interesting."
Thalos stood up.
"Can you walk?"
"I'm testing that right now!"
She took a step forward. She looked over at Zel.
"Get me a bandage, NOW!"
"Getting!" Zel reached down and grabbed the bandage he had dropped earlier. "Here," he handed it to Thalos.
"Thanks!" Thalos began trying to wrap her leg but had to stop every time she touched her leg.
"May I?"
"Go ahead," sighed Thalos.
He bent down and began wrapping her leg. She would let out a small sigh of pain every once and a while.
Bliss of ignorance,
Numb this pain!
"Thank you so much Zel!"
"I figured it was that or you start choking me again."
Thalos smiled. Zel tied the bandage to her tightly.
"Thanks again."
"Any time, Thalos, any time!"
"Glad to hear that." She turned toward the hut. "I'm going to have a nap now. Care to join me?"
"Uh, um, I don't think we ..."
"NOT like that Zel! I meant if you were tired! I do have an extra room."
"In that case, I think I will join you! This has been quite an exciting morning."
"It's usually pretty boring around here but you seem to bring a lot of excitement with you."
"More like trouble."
"It's not that bad."
"You were killed this morning!"
"But I'm not dead yet!"
"So you can't ever be killed?"
"That's a lie. The only way I can truly die is if either a dragon or a friend kills me."
Zel looked away, remembering. Rezo stood in front of him. He was reciting a spell.
Creature of my making,
Become my slave.
Zelgadis yelled out. He looked up and his eyes glowed red.
"Destroy them, Zelgadis!"
He ran at Lina.
"Hey, Zel what's wrong with you?" Thalos questioned.
Zel shook his head, trying to forget. "Nothing, Thalos, nothing!"
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have my nap." She gave Zel a quick kiss on the cheek. He blushed.
"I'll join you." They both walked into the hut.
Thalos awoke the next day, surprised.
"My morning wasn't that exciting!" She got up and opened a chest at the end of her bed and began rummaging through it. Clothes were being thrown everywhere. "Aha!" she cried out in triumph holding up a bathing suit. "Quate!"
Quate flew up beside her. "I'm here!"
"When Zel wakes up tell him I'm down at the lake."
"Sure."
"Later Quate."
"Bye."
Quate flew back to her perch in the kitchen. Thalos walked out back to the brook. She then followed it to the lake.
Meanwhile, at the hut Zel had woken up. "Thalos?"
Quate flew into his room. "She's down at the lake." She threw a pair of shorts at him. "If I know her you'll need this and a lot of towels."
Zel looked questionly at Quate.
"Don't ask." Quate flew out.
Zel got up and walked out back, still carrying the shorts. He walked towards the lake at the stream's end.
"Zel! Could you help me out?"
"Sure, what do you need help with?"
"Getting out of this lake! My foot's stuck in some seaweed."
Thalos was floating in the lake, only a few feet away from Zel.
"Sure." He put out his hand to pull her out.
"Thanks," she bubbled grabbing his hand and pulling him in. "Oops, sorry!"
"I'm sure you are!" he sputtered. "I'm sinking!"
"Oh, no! I forgot about that!" His head went under the water. "Zel! Levitation!"
Zelgadis's head rose above the water. "Did you just forget I'm a chimera?"
"Actually, yeah!"
"This," he pointed to a stone on his face, "is not something you just forget!"
"Why not?" She reached to his hand. He turned away, frowning.
"Would you quit feeling sorry for yourself! You may look like a chimera but you are still a human!"
"You don't know ..."
"I do!" She pointed to her arm. "You forget!" She then pulled her hair back revealing a large patch of scales on her neck and ear. "And those are only the scales my magic won't cover!" Cloud of deception disperse.
Zel looked at her, his mouth opening and his eyes softening as he watched her face transform. Her left cheek was covered with scales and they surrounded her right eye. Her chin had a tiny patch just to the right.
"You've got nothing on me Zel! These don't even come in handy in a sword fight! You're being a chimera is just a mixed blessing."
"A blessing?"
"I said mixed!"
"You've got a point! Kind-of."
"Kind-of?" she smiled.
Cloud of deception, cover thee!
Her face turned back to normal. She grabbed his hand.
"Come on! Hold your breath."
"What?"
She dived under the water.
"Huh?" he gasped as he went under the water. They swam out to the center of the lake. "I should've listened to Quate!"
"Pardon me?"
"Nothing," he sighed, dunking her.
"Hey!" she cried as she came up. "You'll pay for that!" she laughed, splashing him.
"Peace, peace, white flag!" he laughed.
"Good call!"
They swam around for awhile.
"So Thalos, how's your leg?"
"It's not purple anymore."
"What color is it now?"
"A light red."
"You'll be fine." He proceeded to take off his cape, holding it; he swam to the edge of the lake, then pulled himself out.
"What are you doing?"
"Changing into my bathing suit. Would you please ..."
She turned around. "Why in the world would I watch?" She looked at the forest surrounding the lake. A few birds flew by.
SPLASH! Zelgadis had jumped into the water. "Gotcha!"
"I'll just have to get you back, now won't I?" She closed her eyes.
Gods of water I call thee,
Tsunami!
A huge wave appeared and neatly sent Zel flying out and up of the water. He fell back in.
"Unfair! You used magic!"
"Who's stopping you?"
"Oh," he smiled, "If that's the case."
Mother Nature,
Giver of live,
Show me your power,
Tidal wave!
A gigantic wave came up and dunked Thalos. She bobbed up to the water's surface covered in seaweed. "We're even!"
"Almost!"
Plants of water
Swarm!
A pile of seaweed rose above Zel's head, then fell. "Now, we're even!" She began to laugh and was soon joined by Zel.
"Well, at least match."
They swam to the water's edge and sat down on the beach.
"Zel."
"What?"
"Hold still ... Fire singe!"
A tiny fireball burnt away the seaweed that clung to Zel. He looked at her.
"Is a warning so much to ask for?"
"Sorry! Now, would you?"
"Sure. Fire singe!"
The seaweed on her burnt away.
"Thank you, now, if you don't mind, I would like to change into some dry clothes."
"Good idea."
They walked opposite direction from each other and went behind bushes. They emerged in their usual clothes.
"Something's not right," Thalos whispered, "There aren't any birds around."
"You're right. There's something amiss!"
Gemitar appeared above them. "Amiss? There's something wrong!"
"Gemitar!" Thalos hissed. "Can't you accept defeat?"
"I've not been defeated yet!"
She drew her sword. "Then it's about time you were!" She challenged. "Come down and fight! Coward!"
He levitated down to the ground. "I'll fight you but may I cast a spell first?"
"Go ahead."
"I think Zelgadis has heard this spell before. It was made for him."
Creature of my allies making,
Become my slave!
Zel screamed and looked up. His eyes were glowing red.
"Zel, what's wrong?" Thalos asked.
"Zel isn't himself right now. He's my slave!"
"Impossible!"
"Possible! When Rezo created Zelgadis's new body he created a spell that would make Zel his slave."
She turned and looked at Zel. "No," she whispered.
"Yeah!" Gemitar smiled, "Zelgadis, kill her."
Zel drew his sword and faced Thalos. He brought his sword up and was going to kill but in his down swing he pulled back a bit. He had slashed her cheek open.
"Zel ..." Thalos whimpered, "Remember!" She brought her hand to her cheek. Feeling the blood she fell to the ground in shock.
"Finish her!" Gemitar cried, reveling in his unfinished victory.
Zel stood over her lifting his sword above his head, then plunging it towards her.
Thalos closed her eyes and looked away.
The blade stopped as it hit her neck. Zel blinked, the red disappeared. Thalos understood his plan. She took blood form her cheek and smeared it on her neck. She then made her body go limp.
Zel blinked again and the redness came back. He put his sword back in his sheath.
"Is she dead?" Gemitar stepped closer.
"Yes," Zel droned.
Gemitar stepped closer. "Is she really?"
"NO!" Zel cried as he drew his sword and stabbed Gemitar.
"Aaugh!" Gemitar cried as he realized the trickery.
Thalos sat up. "I'm definitely not dead, Gem!"
Dragon King I summon thee,
Dragon howl!
A shill cry filled the air and Gem fell to the ground, as ashes.
"Yeah!" Thalos cried. "We got him!"
"Thalos you face!"
"Oh, it'll be fine! Oh!" She fell to the ground weak from the blood loss.
"Thalos!" He picked her up and walked back to the hut.
When Thalos opened her eyes, Quate was hovering over her. "What happened?"
"You've been asleep for the last two days, that's what happened."
"What?"
Zel walked into the room. "Oh, Thalos! You're finally awake!"
"Could someone PLEASE tell me what happened!"
"I will," Quate sighed. "After you killed Gemitar you fainted from blood loss. Zel brought you back and healed you. Then you slept a couple of days. Not too much happened."
"We killed Gemitar?"
"Yeah, remember? Dragon howl?"
"He won't be gone."
"What?"
"Do you think that Gem would just let himself die? My guess is that he has a clone somewhere, that will come to life after he's dead."
"You're probably right." Thalos stood up. "Quate ..."
"Yes?"
"Go summon the Dragon King."
"What for?"
"Just get him, Kay!"
"Going." Quate flew out.
"Thalos, why do you need to talk to the dragon kin?"
"Gemitar doesn't seem like the kind of person to forgive and forget. His clone will come after us."
"How does this involved the Dragon King?"
"I need to ask him if I can fulfill my duties when traveling."
"You want to run from Gemitar?"
"No! I just want to be a harder target. If we stay here he can attack at anytime and plan. If we are moving, it gives him less time to formulate a plan and we would be harder to attack."
"Smart."
Suddenly the Dragon King materialized behind them. "Ahem!"
Thalos spun around. "Oh you're here."
"I've been here awhile, Thalos."
"So you know what I wanna ask?"
"Yes, and the answer is yes."
"Great, so I'll talk to you later."
The Dragon King looked at Zel. "I presume that you will accompany her?"
"Quite right."
"Then I shall be going. Good-bye Thalos!"
"Bye."
He then looked at Zel, winked, then faded away.
"I guess I better go pack," Thalos sighed.
"Good plan. I'll do the same."
They each turned and walked toward their rooms preparing for the long journey ahead.