As Gordon, Cora, Zelgadis, and Ishtar ran through the woods, Gordon 
suddenly came to a 
screeching halt.
     Cora not expecting Gordon to stop careened into him and the both toppled 
onto a confused Ishtar's tail, who happened to try to get out of the way of the 
falling tangled mass of limbs.
     "Ugh! Are you alright?" Gordon asked.
     "Ivysuar." Zelgadis groaned, from the bottom of the pile.
     Cora mumbled something about Venusians and Gemini before making a crack 
about Capricorns and Aries... "Of all stars in the sky.. why did you stop 
without a warning."
     Ishtar roared in frustraition as he tried to pull his tail from the pile.
     "I realized something. Running won't help. They're following me astrally.
     "Astrally.... does that mean they have access to anything .. on the astral 
plane?" She asked suddenly sounding worried.
     "Yes. They are tracking my mental signals, on the astral plane.
     "Do they have access to everything.. like say uhmm.. physical storage 
space?"
     "I don't think so. I've never heard of a spell that'd let you do that. I 
didn't even know there was physical storage space in the astral plane."
     Gordon realized just where his hands were, and quickly removed them, 
blushing furiously.
     "I'm-ah, um, sorry Princess."
     "But just say there is.. ohh.. hell.." Cora grumbled and her hand 
dissapeared pulling out a locket which she pinned to her fuku, a pendent with a 
tiny shard of the Silver Crystal in it and a strange looking credit card....Cora 
looked up suddenly holding her belongings and still rumaging for something 
somewhere he couldn't see... "About what?" She asked as she produced a leather 
back pack and crammed her belongings into it.
     "Um, about touching you, um you know." Gordon said blushing even brighter.
     Cora suddenly realizing what was going on as well looked up at him her eyes 
wide and bright, strangely full of laughter before blushing and pulling away 
from him.
     "Um, I should, ah, well, I should cast my, my, my...spell! That's it! I 
should cast my spell."
     Cora laughed at him. "Do all of your people so easily to find embarassment 
in situations that truly are not compromising?"
     "I guess so." He said, relieved she wasn't offended. He prepared to cast 
his spell.
     Gordon drew his arms across his chest, one above the other, so that the 
amulets on his wrists aligned with the amulets at his neck and on his belt, a 
perfect verticle line.
     "Powers that be from the earth to the stars. Grant me your powers combine 
them with mine." As he spoke a white hexagram appeared in front of him, it's 
points at the top and bottom amulets.
     "Enhance my powers tenfold for the spell I must cast. GOOM EON!"
     Cora's eyes widened. The amulets seemed to contain stones of the same power 
of the Silver Crystal...and then nothing.. she reached out with all of her 
senses just as Mars had taught her when she was young and suddenly jaw 
dropped  "I'm mute.." 
She whispered disbelievingly.
     "Huh?"
     "It's like someones silenced my mind, I can not speak out and I can not 
hear... are your kind mute Gordon?"
     "Well, it is possible to communicate through the Astral plane, but only 
through the most powerful magics, such as Vision and Illusion"
     "I have never heard it spoken of that way before.. Mars was always trying 
to teach me to read fire, but I always felt out of my element.
     "Well, I'm sory if I made you mute, but it's only temporary. This shield 
won't last long, so I suggest we make some headway. We need to get to the 
river."
     Cora smiled thinking about the water. 
     "Ishtar could use a bath.. " She giggled as she scrunched up her nose.
     "Then let's hurry." As they ran, Gordon talked to her. "Maybe Mars was 
trying to teach you the wrong element. You seem to have some connection to 
water. Would you like to try to learn a water spell?"
     "Water spell?" Cora laughed.. you mean ... like lets say.. a Microburst or 
an Ice Shield?" She asked her eyes bright and mischevious.
     "I don't know those spells. I was thinking more along the lines of Freeze 
Arrow or Icicle Lance."
     Cora grinned ear to ear.. "They sound interesting too.. anything new would 
be appreciated.. maybe I should show you what I can do already.."
     "Sounds like a good idea."
     Cora grinned ear to ear concentraiting as Ishtar dashed ahead, not wanting 
to get wet.. lacking a tiara like all the other Zodiac, her sigil glowed 
brightly against her pail skin.
     "If you don't want to get wet.. I suggest moving...." Ishtar grumbled from 
a safe distance away.
     Dreading the prospect, Gordon hastily darted off to stand beside Ishtar.
     Zelgadis stayed with Cora. He did not mind the water, it was good for his 
flower.
     She whispered the word Aquarius under her breath and then screamed 
"MicroBurst!"
     It wasn't just water that rained fown from the sky.. but also something 
unexpected, a strange blue energy.  Cora shrieked and then laughed as it passed 
through her.
     Ishtar confused padded towards her cautiously. "Princess..."
     "Ohh stop it Ishtar.. "
     "Are you alright?" The tiger asked.
     Cora grinned and nodded. "It's strange.. it wasn't just the water.. it was 
something else too.. theres a strange energy in the water of this world.. so 
different from our own..."
     "Cora you sound like the Elder Mars..."
     "Impressive." Gordon clapped.
     Cora bowed and laughed, confused and looked at Gordon. HE looked so 
familiar to her for some reason.
     She smiled and curtsied like a pro. "Thank you."
     "Maybe I could teach you Freeze Arrow. It's a simple spell, but quite 
effective."
     "I can make an ice shield how different is it?"
     Now walking at a more leisurely pace, 
the two talked about their respective powers. The basic consepts of spirit magic 
and the astral connection where the same: four elements, connected by the Astral 
plane.  They found a good number of similairties with the aspects 
of spirit magic, and other aspects seemed to be supplementary. After a quick 
lesson about Water magic, which Cora picked up very easily, she was ready to try 
her first spell.
     Cora took a staggering breath and concentraited on Aquarius, and water, and 
the Earth itself.
     As thoguh a skilled hunter she drew back an invisible bow. Holding the 
spell in her mind and allowing the wind, the Earth and water to flow through her 
she let it go, whispering, "Freeze Arrow.."
     Cora smiled as the arrow flew through the air. Her eyes wide like a childs 
and when the arrow struck the ground, it froze a patch of grass. Excited she 
hugged Gordon. "I did it!"
     "Wow! That was really good for a beginner."
     She smiled and blushed and disengaged herself from him. "Sorry..." She 
smiled hearing the sound of the river.. " In attempt to cover herself she 
smiled, "hey I hear the river come on!"
     "Oh, good. I can get my stuff back." Gordon said as he walked out onto the 
bank of the river.
     A quick scan revealed the bridge empty. 
"Damn. They took my bike."
     Gordon turned his eye to the water. Muttering something unintelligible 
under his breath, a light shown from beneath the water. "There it is. I'll be 
right back."
     "AIR VALM!" Gordon cried. A bubble of air surrounded him as he stepped into 
the water. He floated over and down towards the bottom.
     Cora's eyes widened in confusion.
     There he found his stuff. He slung his baldric over so his sword rested at 
his side, balled up his clothes, and tucked them and his armor under his arm as 
he began to rise back up.
     Suddenly, Gordon and his bubble went rocketting out of the water, crashing 
onto the shore. The bubble breaking with Gordon's concentration.
     "Gordon!"
     "Ow!" He groaned as he got up.
     Cora raced towards him. "Are you okay?"
     "Yeah, I'm fine. Takes more than that to stop a Gabriev."
     "What was that?"
     As if in response, a form climbed out of the water.
     "Squirtle!" The tiny turtle growled.
     Cora saw it and laughed. "its sooo adorable!"
     "Yeah, it's also a powerful and somewhat rare pokémon."
     Cora laughed and approached it. "Comere little guy... your just so cute!"
     "Be careful. If it get's scared, it'll attack."
     Cora smiled and Ishtar paced, he grumble, "She never thought I was cute.."
     Gordon took out his pokédex and pointed it at the creature. *Squirtle.* It 
chimed. *A tiny turtle pokémon. It travels in groups for protection.*
     "Hmm. I wonder why this one's by itself." Gordon said as he put on his 
armor.
     "Do you think it's lost?" She asked looking up long enough to see Gordon 
done his armor. Cora blushed and looked down at the baby turtle like pokemon and 
laughed softly.. "My names Cora.. I'm lost too.."
     "I don't think we can leave it here." Gordon said, digging out a pokéball 
from his pack. "Too dangerous for it to be by itself. You want to ask it if it 
wants to join us?"
     Cora smiled and nodded. "It's too cute to leave it alone..."
     "Hey little guy. You want to come with us?" Gordon said, holding out the 
pokéball. In response the Squirtle ran over and hid behind Cora.
     Cora looked at Gordon. "Gordon Gabriev.. what in the name of the Queen 
Mother is THAT!" She shielded the Squirtle from Gordon. "It's petrified of that 
thing!"
     "This? It's just a pokéball. It's used to capture pokémon, but also to pull 
them from battle if they're losing."
     "Ivy? Ivysaur?"
     "Squirtle! Squirtle Squirtle squirtle!"
     "Saur?"
     "Squirtle!"
     "You put these adorable things.. in little balls! gordan thats barbaeric 
and inhuman!"  Cora reached down and scooped up the Squirtle pulling it away 
from the Ivysaur and cood at it. "I won't let that mean Gordon 
put you in a pokeball.. no I won't!"
     "Hey! I don't! Zelgadis walks around free as he pleases. I only put him in 
the ball in order to pull him from a fight because it's faster and safer."
     "I wasn't going to put him in the pokéball!"
     She hugged it before setting it backdown.
     Cora lowered a single brow and then promised the Squirtle it wouldn't be 
put in the ball. "Then put that thing away! Your scaring him and look.. he's 
just a baby!"
     "I was asking it if it wanted to come with us. The pokéball symbolizes the 
bond between a pokémon and it's trainer. Normally pokémon aren't scared of them. 
I wonder why this one is?" Gordon sighed.
     "Ivy! Ivysaur!"
     "Ah! I see."
     "Zelgadis says that the rest of his family was taken by trainers."
     Cora looked at Gordon and then thoughtfully snatched away the pokeball. 
"Squirtle.. would you like to come with me... and We'll keep this only for if we 
get in trouble.. no training and only fight if we have to?"
     Cora looked at the Squirtle. "Oh come on, I'm lost too.. maybe together we 
can get unlost."
     Cora giggled at the Squirtle which babbled at her endlessly "Squirtle! 
Squirt Squirt! Le Squirt! Squirtle!"
     She laughed, "uhmm so what it say?"
     "I dunno. Zel. What'd it say?"
     "Ivy! Ivy ivy saur! Saur, Ivy! Ivy!"
     Cora watched the conversation back and forth and tried not to burst out 
into laughter.
     "Zelgadis says that the squirtle asked if you would protect him from the 
trainers."
     Cora smiled and nodded. "Of course I will! I don't think I'm gonna like 
these trainer people right now. Sides if ya don't know.." She whispered into the 
squirtle's ear, "I know some water tricks of my own..."
     she looked down at him. "What would you like to be called.. there so many 
Squirtles.. you need a name other than that.."
     It was then Ishtar approached the turtle like creature and sniffed at it. 
He growled. "You do not want to get me wet!"
     Cora's jaw dropped. "ISHTAR! You be nice to him and thats a royal order!"
     Ishtar mumbled something under his breath as the Squirtle darted behind 
her.
     "Ivy. Ivysaur!" Zelgadis growled as he placed himself between the Squirtle 
and the tiger.
     Cora looked at Gordon and shrugged. "Something tells me this is gonna be 
interesting!"
     "Bulbasaurs and their evolved states are very protective of weaker 
creatures."
     Cora cocked an eye brow and felt something pass through her. She looked at 
Ishtar who nodded. "I just had a very very very bad feeling..."
     "I feel it too." Gordon whispered, drawing his sword.
     Cora picked up the Suirtle and held it close. "Gordon Gabriev I do not like 
this.." She hissed feeling her hair stand on end.
     "Neither do I. Zelgadis! Vine whip ready! Keep your eye out."
     Cora spun around and looked to the sky and then back to the land.
      "Ivy!" Zelgadis growled pointing into the woods across the river.
     Cora squinted and pointed, "There."
     "FLARE ARROW!" Gordon yelled, firing a flaming bolt into the woods, at the 
shadowed figure.
     Cora set down the Squirtle and moved towards the river to get a closer 
look, despite the feeling of danger there was a feeling of familiararity.
     "Tisk tisk, Sir Gabriev. Such an attack is hardly fair play." The shadowed 
man said as he walked, not noticably fazed, into the light.
     Cora looked confused. Visibly and found herself lost in thought, her gaze 
traveing back and forth from Gordon to the man. His voice struck a memory in her 
brain.
     "And hiding in the shadows is?" Gordon growled. "Fight me, knight!"
     She moved, trying to change her view.. trying to see the knights face.
     "With pleasure" he laughed as he leapt into the air. In one mightly leap he 
landed on the opposite shore, about five feet off from Gordon and the crew.
     Cora saw the knight coming too her and her eyes brightened and she forced 
herself not to scream in joy but then she did and ran foward, "Taurus!"
     "M-my lady? What are you doing here? And with Sir Gabriev?"
     She threw her arms around the Knight's neck and hugged him fiercly. "Did 
Pisces send you? How did you find me?" She asked and then hugged him again, "I 
thought I was to be trapped in this world forever!"
     "Other world? What are you talking about, my lady. Have you lost faith in 
me? I beg you let me fight Gabriev."
     She smiled brilliantly and then scowled. "Mercury? Whats gotten into you.. 
fight him.. he saved my life."
     "Cora!" Gordon growled. "Step away from that man. He is dangerous!"
     ~Oh Ishtar men are so confusing!~
     "You're right, Gabriev. I am dangerous. FREEZE ARROW!" The knight smiled as 
Gordon was knocked off his feet by the blast of Ice.
     Cora balched. "Don't make me pull rank! Stop it!"
     "I am sorry, my lady." he bowed. "Please, do with him as you see fit."
     Meanwhile Gordon struggled to his feet and dropped into a ready stance. 
"Cora! Step away from him!" He yelled. He couldn't do anything when she was so 
close.
     IShtar came foward tentatively and sniffed at Taurus and bit a hunk of 
Cora's fuku and dragged her back.
     "That is not our Taurus! He smells of hate and darkness, Princess, stay 
back."
     "FLARE ARROW!" GOrdon cried, seizing the momentary opening.
     Cora knowing better, ducked out of the way. "Stop it both of you!"
     Taurus, who had moved to strike the tiger, was knocked away by the bolt of 
fire.
     "Curse you Gabriev!" He yelled. "My lady, we must strike now!"
     "What is wrong wih you! Taurus Gordon is my friend, he saved me when I 
arrived here, I was nearly killed by a Yuoma!"
     Taurus spun to face Gordon. "Ah! Now I see it. You seek to trick me 
Gabriev. You insult me. I demand you unsummon this doppleganger at once."
     "Doppleganger?" Cora asked her eyes widening. "Whadya mean doppleganger?"
     "You seek to trick me with an image of my lady, but your lies are apparent 
to me. Unsummon her at once." He cried charging Gordon with his axe.
     "ICE SHIELD!" Cora screeched summoning a wall of ice 
between the two of them.
     Taurus crashed into the wall, burying his axe deep into the ice. Gordon 
relaxed his stance, and started laughing at Taurus, who growled.
     Cora sighed in relief. "I want an explanation even if I have to freeze you 
both where you stand one of you is going to tell me whats going on here."
     "Well, I have no idea what's going on." Gordon said. "All I know is this 
man wants me dead."
     "Okay Taurus, Knight of Mercury, please enlighten me as to why you want 
Gordon dead."
     Taurus yanked his axe free of the ice. "I will take news of this to my 
lady. She will be most upset. I would not like to be in your place Gabriev."
     "What lady! I'm your princess right hear!"
     Cora looked at him shocked. "Argo where are you going... please don't leave 
me here.." Her voice was begging. "Please Argo, I want to go home."
     "As for you." He turned towards Cora, hatred seething in his eyes. "I 
suggest you drop your disguise, illusion or not. You're fate will not be pretty 
if you remain in such a lie."
     With that, he leapt across the river again, and disappeared into the woods.
     "I'm am Corona D'ualtaire, Princess of Crystal Tokyo.. I have no 
illusion... except for being Aquarius but you know that already!"
     "Bastard!" Gordon yelled. "Get back here! I won't let you insult a princess 
like that! You'll regret your words!"
     Cora watched him go, feeling abandoned she sat down on the ground and 
Squirtle climbed into her lap and started chattering away at her.
     She sighed. '"Seems we both want to go home, huh?"
     "Princess Corona." Gordon said solemnly.  "I don't know what happened back 
there. But that man was not the man you thought he was. I think..."
     She looked up at Gordon and despite how much she hated crying she did just 
that. "Argo was my best 
friend.. I don't know why he would leave me behind like he did..."
     "He was not the Argo you knew. And I swear to you, by the blood of the 
Gabriev's, and by the sword of my fathers. that I will not rest until I have 
seen you safely back to your lands."
     "Where am I, when am I? Do my lands even exist?" Cora sighed and whiped her 
eyes with the back of 
her hand. "I hate crying."
     "Whatever the truth may be, I will stand beside you through it, until the 
end. I promise you this."
     "Squirt squirtle squirt squirt!" 
     Ishtar looked at Gordon, he was familiar to him and wondered if he was 
familiar to Cora as well.
     Gordon wondered. Cora's face didn't seem familiar, but her voice...her 
voice rang of something in his past. But he could not place it.
     ~Cora.. are you aware of the resemblence between Gordon and Lord Micheal?~
     Cora looked from Ishtar and then back at him and squinted. 
     ~Who are you Gordon Gabriev?~