Ya'll have fun reading this wonderful post by me and OBean.. ya hear? "Cora. Cora. Are you alright?" Gordon asked. Cora peered up from under her lashes and then the her eyes fluttered open, she saw Gordon staring over her and screamed again. "Cora! It's me! Gordon! You're safe, Cora!" She covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. ~he says his name is Gordon.. but he's not Gordon...~ "Stop it!" She shrieked. She opened her eyes and looked at Ishtar, "Make it stop make it stop!" "What? Stop what? What is going on Cora?" Ishtar was at a loss.. he'd never seen her liek this before, her eyes became oceans of blue again and she peered at Gordon, her voice sounding older, more authorative... "Draco..... alive.. the balls.. Beryl.. must stop Beryl from getting the Dragon Balls. Draco.." She reached out to him and heald her arms open to him, "Draco it's been so long...." Her eyes clouded over and a shiver ran down her spine. "Dragon Balls?" Gordon rummaged in his pack and pulled out his Dragon ball, it was glowing softly. "Cora. What are you talking about. Who is Draco? What does this have to do with the dragon balls?" She blinked rapidly and her eyes opened wide... "You still have it.. Dragon King.. it never left your side.." Her eyes darkened... "Huh? What are you talking about?" "I don't know! What are you talking about?" Ishtar sighed in relief. "Princess.. look at me.." Cora turned to him, her eyes teary. "Ishtar.." "You are safe, you are not on the Moon.. this is not the Moon Kingdom." He said soothingly, purring. "Moon Kingdom? Is that where Crystal Tokyo is?" He rubbed up against her side. "The Goddess Selene has seen to your safety and to that of the King's. You are Serenity.. but you are Corona.. speak nothing of the past....." Cora's voice became far away again. The Moon Kingdom.. "The Moon Kingdom.. gone.. all gone.. all dead.." She started to panic again. "Both.. she took them BOTH!" "Cora! What are you talking about? Why won't you tell me?" "Pluto sent the Dragon Balls through the dimensional gate and with them the Dragon King.. my..." She whiped her eyes with the back of her hand.. Beryl harnessed the power of the Negaforce and became Matallia.. and destroyed our Kingdom.. in order to get to them she killed Draco.. the Dragon King of the Moon... and my daughter.. the Princesss Serenity... In a last chance effort to save everyone I used my crystal to send my daughter and the Court to Earth.. to the future... and with her power.. Pluto sent the Dragon King and his army to another world parellel to ours.. with him went the Dragon Balls..." "Princess.... Corona.. please.. do not burdeon yourself the time hasn't come.." "Dragon King..." Gordon whispered. "Ishtar, Beryl lives.." "Ishtar. What is she talking about?" Ishtar looked back and forth between them.. all hell was going to break loose he felt it, he had to calm them both before either put the pieces together too soon... "Beryl?" he demanded, "What do you mean Beryl.." Cora looked at him. "She lives with my face, my voice.. I saw her reflection in Neptune's mirror.." "Silence both of you!" Ishtar ordered. Cora shot him a look that caused him to back up. "You do not order me Lunari.. " Ishtar bowed his head. "I am sorry Princess." Gordon shook his head. Everything seemed to have a familiar ring. As if he should understand. But he didn't. Cora looked at Gordon and her heart broke. ~She was right it wasn't Micheal..~ "Gordon, I don't know how to explain anything to you accept your world is in grave danger.." Ishtar interrupted, "Unless his army is here..." "Army? I don't have an army." Cora looked at him and her eyes teared up. "He looks just like the Queen Mother.." She whispered out loud.. thinking of her great grandmother, Serenity.. Ishtar sighed. "I meant the Dragon King's army.." "Who is the Dragon King?" Ishtar couldn't believe what a mess things were becoming.. "Draco.." Cora mumbled, trying to clear her head. "Is the Dragon King.." Ishtar finished for her. Gordon's head reeled. Draco...the name sounded so familiar... Images flew through Gordn's head. Images of powerful warriors and Crystal Towers. "Ishtar.. Beryl IS here, and it appears she's my double. We have to find a way to summon the others.. but how.. I.. I don't have the Crystal..." "Crystal? What kind of crystal?" "The Silver Crystal." Ishtar said. "Harnessed only by the blood of Selene has the power not only to destroy worlds.. but when used correctly has the power to rebuild them as well." "Serenity rebuilt our world just under a houndred years ago. and it flurished." Cora said thoughtfuly. Her heart was filled with pride as she pushed herself from the ground to her feet. "Wow! Sounds like a powerful Crystal. Why do you need it to destroy this Beryl?" "Last time.." Cora said taking a deep breath, "It was only enough to contain her.. I oculdn't destroy because I risked destroying my daughter... and my .. husband... I did what I could." Cora moved to lean against a tree. "It was the night of my daughter's engagement ball.. the whole universe was celebrating.. dignataries from all the worlds came to celebrate the announcement of the union between the Earth and it's Moon.." "Husband..." Gordon said. "You...have a husband?" She looked to the sky, her thoughts drifting.. "They came out of no where, rising from the Earth like some diety...." She looked at him sadly. "I did... during the Silver Millenium.. but he died and was sent here I think. Probably why I am here too.." She watched him thoughtfully. He reminded her so much of Draco... "Like me he was reborn too. With my luck the fates have played a horrible trick upon us and he may be some withered old man.. or some manling.." She smiled softly, the thought of Draco from when they were young brought a sad smile to her face. "I...I will help you...help you find him...But first I must rescue Scimitar." Cora smiled weakly. "Thank you.. Scimi-San?" She asked. "Why didn't you say so!" Cora caught herself. "I must keep reminding myself that your people are not the same as mine and even if I am thinking of the same person, that the are different." "You know Scimitar?" "Why wouldn't I know Scimi-san? He is my Aunt's Page..." "Hmm, He didn't mention that. But we must hurry. We'd best enter under night, and there aren't many hours left." Cora sighed and resigned to moving on again, and surpressed a shiver, he was right it was cooling off. She nodded. "Lead the way, mi'lord.." She said before she could catch herself and then bit back a giggle. Gordon led them on, and soon they came to the Umbrella building, just outside of town. AS they had walked Cora pulled her arms into her t-shirt and was wishing that she had on some overalls on and a flannle. "Do you want to borrow my jacket?" Gordon asked, noticing Cora shiver. Cora nodded slowly. She remembered the last time Draco had lent her his coat..she smiled sweetly lost in the memory. Gordon handed her his jacked, then examined the door. "Voiceprint identification please." She sighed and put it on and her eyes widened before sighing and loosing herself in more memories. He even smelled like Draco. Ishtar snapped inches away from her wrist bringing her back to alertness. "UNLOCK!" He cried. "Voice print accepted. Enter." The computer hummed as the iron door slid open. Cora jumped and nearly tripped but managed to stay on her feet. Thank got her boots had good traction. "Where are we?" Cora asked as the door slid open. "This is Umbrella's offices. With their factories destroyed, this is the only place they could've taken him." "Umbrella's?" "Umbrella is a dark and evil corporation which seeks to rule the world by unleashing dark beasts, and turning man into monsters." "Sounds like the Negaverse.." "We must hurry." As they walked through the halls, they found the place deserted. Cora paled. It didn't feel right, it was too quiet.. Soon they entered a large and comfortable looking room. Large, leather chairs and populated the room. In the center, resting on a large oak table, were two large stone tablets. Gordon drew his sword, feeling a strong power emenating from the room Cora clutched her pendent and looked at Ishtar who pather to her, ~Aquarius may not be strong enough, you may have to become Moon..~ Cora's eyes widened and she stuck close to Gordon. "Greetings, Mr. Gabriev." Alkanphel said as he stood from one of the chairs. "Alkaselter!" Gordon growled. "That's Alkanphel, twit." he growled. "You are very skilled to have alluded my Akuma." Cora stayed behind Gordon, Ishtar came forward to Gordon's side, snarling. "OH? And who is this? SHe is very powerful." Cora stepped away from Gordon, fully revealing herself. "I am the daughter of Selene." "What did you do with Scimitar?" "I've done many things to that little guinea pig." "Where is he?" Cora shook with anger, "If you hurt Scimi-san..." She hissed, "I will blast you into so much Moon dust that you'd exist only in a gassous state!" "He has escaped, for the moment. It seems it was a good thing that I decided to postpone my departure to reclaim him. Your sword will make an ample addition to my power." Scimi-san never hurt anyone! Sure he wasn't a coward but he was so shy... she never would have pegged him as the piss of the evil tyrant type. "What is it with everyone and the damn sword!" She finally snapped. "It's a very powerful sword, my dear." "I'll show you how powerful it is." Gordon growled as he charged forward. "Men can be so barbaeric..." She said, this time not wanting to interrupt, she sat down on a couch and watched. "Hey!" She yelled distracting them both, "Anyone got any popcorn.. this has some four star potential." "What a strange companion you have, Gabriev." Alkaphanel laughed. Gordon swung his sword, but Alkaphanel caught Gordon by the wrist and lifted him off the ground. "Don't waste your life boy, just give me that sword." Cora watched in horror and was suddenly on her feet clutching the necklace which rest around her throat and adjusted her back pack and shifted her weight nervously. "VIS FALANG" Gordon cried desperately as he hurled his right fist at Alkanphel. The energy slammed into him, breaking through the shield and knocking Alkanphel across the room. Gordon crashed into a heap. Cora placed herself between Alkaphanel and Gordon, shaking with anger. She moved toward the strange man with murderous intent in her eyes. "How did he..." Alkanphel growled. "Of course." "No one.. " she hissed at him, "and I mean no one.. " She clutched the pendant tighter so that it cut into her hand. "Messes with my King..." She hissed, looming over Alkanphel. "Serenity this is not your fight! QUIET!" Ishtar ordered. "King? Well, this is new to me." He chuckled. "Let me show you something about your 'King.'" Alkanphel darted to the side and hurled a fireball at Gordon. The shoulder of his jacket set ablaze. Cora swollowed hard, Ishtar threw himself upon Gordon and effectively smothered the flames. "Normally I'm a good Queen. I live by certain rules and morals like all Lunarians. And as the Queen of my people I protected them all and even sacrificed myself because one women happened to push me too far and killed my daughter and my husband! And one Lunarian Queen can only take so much!" Cora hissed and stepped closer to him as Ishtar licked Gordon's face. Gordon stood. His clothes were burned, revealing a black scaled claw, where his right arm should be. Gordon didn't seem to notice this as he summoned his magic. He alligned his amulets and chanted. "Powers that be from the stars to the earth. Combine your power with mine and lend me your strength." The power swarmed around him. "You think you can defeat me?" Alkanphel laughed. Cora stepped back in shock. ~Draco..~ The realization echoed through her mind... his name .. he was alive.. "Moon..." "Cora! We must strike him together with all our might." ~Selene help me...~ "Aquarius Power!" Her transformation was completed quickly and she found herself in front of Gordon clutching her pendent.. "Moon Crystal Power.." She whispered. The shard separated itself from her pendent and grew to full size. ~Thank you grand mother~ She felt it, the power of the Dragon King, centered and aligned and flowing with her own into the crystal. "Stirke now! GARV FLARE!" "Cosmic Moon Power.." She whispered as it all poured through her and into the crystal causing it to be magnified. The two energies shot forward smashing into Alkanphel, crashing him into the wall. Cora's eyes widened. It was so familiar, fighting with him, it was as though they'd never been apart. "Quickly! We must flee!" The crystal burried itself in the star shaped broach in the bow of her fuku. She was dizzied. "She used the Silver Crystal and now you want her to run?" Ishtar asked. The tiger nudged her legs causing her to step forward on shaking legs. "Yes! He's only wounded. We must flee before he comes back." She moved forward a few steps trying to stop the room from spinning. The last time she felt this way.. no she wasn't going to think about it. She forced herself to move forward. Gordon hurried forward and siezed the tablets under his clawed arm. "Hurry!" He said beckoning her to follow him. "I was never as fast as you were.." She snapped. She took two deep breaths and forced herself to run on wobbly legs after him. They made there way down through the building until Gordon noticed something. "My bike!" Ishtar snapped at Aquarius' heals causing her to move quicker, but also to stumble foward nearly upon Gordon's heals. Gordon Tossed the slabs on the back and secured them in place. "Get on." He yelled. Zelgadis hopped into his harness and called for the Squirtle to follow him. Cora pushed herself up and looked at the bike. "Problem.. we've got on tiger too many.. and I'm to weak to teleport.." "Can you keep up, Ishtar?" The tiger looked at Gordon and at the bike and nodded. Cora sighed and got on. "Then lets go." He revved up the bike and shot forward, out of the building and into the forests. Ishtar groaned. ~Spurts of thirty five kilometers an our.. ha! I am so out of shape!.. ahh I'll show them...~ Ishtar winked out of existance and winked back in at the tree line, waiting for Aquarius and Gordon. A good distance away, Gordon slowed the bike to a stop. He got off and offered Cora his arm to help her down. Cora blushed and accepted his arm and smiled, her eyes far away as she stared at him. It was then that Gordon noticed his arm was bared. And he turned away in disgust. "Gordon, pelase don't.." She said sadly, reaching out for his scaly arm. She smiled at him and laughed. "You remind me of him. Draco was the Dragon King for many reasons.. one of them was that it was in his blood... there is no reason to hide it from me...Draco was a shape shifter.." "Please. Don't look at me." He cried. Cora smiled thoughtfully, "Besides their beautiful..." "They are the mark of a demon." He said, yanking his arm away from her. "Demon?" She asked. "Well.. before we aligned with the Dragon people.. we thought they were demons to. Cora recoiled, "I'm sorry." "The power of Shabranigdo lies within me. A demon so dark, he seeks to plunge the world into unending night. I am a monster!" He cried. "How could you be a monster?" She asked. Her mind reeled. Spun out of control.. a voice in her past echoed in her mind.. 'We are all deamons.. my kind.. but some of us have better control than others.. ' "My arm is plagued with a darkness that threatens to overwhelm my entire body, that I can only hold at bay or a little time. I hold one of the seven pieces of Shabranigdo within me. How can I be anything but a monster?" "We... the Dragon King.. they are all monsters.. all .. all with their own demons.. their monsters.. but some have better control... than others... and yet.. some can be healed.. when the moon is full and the crystal glows bright.." "Healed...could you remove this...this curse?" "The Silver Crystal has driven demons who had taken over the entire body of a human away... and left them to lead happy lives.." Cora said deep in thought. "You remind me so much of him Gordon.. the demon within him was a dragon.. he had a claw much like you do.." "I have sought so long to remove this darkness." "I'm afraid tho, that right now I am too weak to be of much help.. the crystal feeds off of me.. the last time I used it I died." Cora came up behind Gordon and again rested her hand on the scale covered arm. "Sometimes it is the darknesses we fight within and fight physically to keep the world whole.. they are what make us beautiful." "Thank you Cora." Gordon whispered. Her hand closed over his clawed one, ~What happened to you Draco...~ Cora smiled up at Gordan and forced herself not to cry. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and cry in joy for finding him again, but now was most definately not the time. Gordon sighed in relief. His darkest fear came to life, and she thought no worse of him. If only he could repay her, somehow... "Your welcome Gordon.. where to now.. its starting to get dark.." She added silently ~Not to mention I'm starving...~ "Gee. I guess we should find a hotel or something." "If grandmother could see me now!" She laughed and Ishtar grumbled "I think anything would be good now.. I'm just so tired.." She said staring up at the moon. "I wonder Gordon, do you have a Moon Kingdom in this universe?" She sighed. ~I wish I was like Pisces and packed everything away in my space pocket, I could use clean clothes and a bath....~ "I don't think so. I've studied a lot of magical lands, but I've never heard of that one Cora laughed, "Ohh silly.. you wouldn't know.. We were forbidden to mingle or even make contact with the Terrans.. it wasn't until Serena was four or five when we made ourselves known to them..And the disguise magic is very powerful.. you wouldn't even know it was there if you landed a space craft on its debrise..or walked through an existing city.." "Wow! It must be very powerful magic. I would love to see that place." Cora grinned and plopped down on the ground and tore into her bag. Finding her grandmothers book not in it she sighed and rummaged through her lunar space pocket and suddenly squeeled. "I knew I had it!" She heald it up. "Get me a bed, some food and a warm shower and its yours to browse as long as I am with you." "I'm on it." He smiled as they tore down the road. Ishtar groaned. "That is not a good idea!" Cora laughed in glee, holding him tight around the middle and relearning the feel of him. ~I've come home..~ Ishtar who was struggleing to keep up with them winked in and out beside them as he ran in order to keep up. ~Princess.. he should not see the images in that book.. the painting of you, your daughter and he is inside...!~ Cora was too busy laughing and enjoying herself to pay any attention. Finally they pulled up to the Nerima Inn. "Well I guess this place will have to do." Cora smiled at him. Laughter glittering in her eyes and Ishter snapped at her heals to get off the bike. Ishtar looked up at her, ~LISTEN to me!~ Gordon reached into his bag and pulled out his spare leather jacket, which was still a little damp, and pulled it on. He then walked into the main office. "Excuse me. I'd like a room." Cora looked at Ishtar. "I'm listening .." "He can not see the book.. the painting is in that book..." Cora sighed. "And if he asks questions I will answer them." Ishtar muttered, "I'd like to see you explain why his face is PLASTERED all over twenty pages!" The inn keeper smiled at Gordon. "A room.. let me see let me see a room.. a room.." He pulls out a book and starts leafing through the pages. "Well, my boy, we only have one room left..." "We'll take it." The inn keeper looked at him, "We?" and smiled mischeviously. "Uh, yeah. Me and the girl out there." He turned the book around and handed him a pen, scrunched his nose and pushed down his reading glasses. "Sign here... and here and I'll need a major credit card please.." the keeper pointed to a line beneath a set of block letters, "BRIDAL SUITE" "Um, I don't have a major credit card." "I don't have any minor credit cards either." The inn keep sighed. "Cash? Check?" "Um, cash." Gordon searched his pockets. "Oh shoot. I'm out of yen." "And the girl? Any currency.. at all.. American will be fine.." "Um, how about Seryun?" Gordon asked, dropping several large gold coins on the table. "These will do fine....." The inn keeper said quickly scooping up the coins. The inn keeper smiled greedily and reached under the counter and pulled out a tacky key ring with a key on it. "Room 1116 C. Ohh and the elevator is out of order.." "Oh...kay..." Gordon sighed. Gordon grabbed the key, and walked outside. Cora and Ishtar were effectively argueing. Ishtar looked from Gordon to Cora. "NO! It is not an option!" "Okay, I got a room. But it's on the eleventh floor." Cora looked up at the building. "Wouldn't that be near the top?" "Um, yeah." "Princess give me he book." Ishtar growled. "No." "And the elevator's kinda out." Cora looked down at the ground and then up at the top. "I got an idea.... " She whispered, her eyes twinking. She looked at Ishtar, "Come one to the top!" She said. She adjusted her pack and picked up the squirtle and tucked it in her jacket, hopeing to hide it. "Alright Zelgadis, into the pack." "Ivy!" He said as he hopped in." "Now you have to keep quiet. Um, what about Ishtar?" "You distract the in keeper... and we're going to play sneek in the Bangle tiger.." "Hmm. Okay." Gordon said, getting an idea. He walked up to the keeper. "I'd like to have dinner brought to our room. Can I pay you now?" Cora smiled and made her way to the stair well. The inn keeper nodded and ducked down for a menu and Cora waved Ishtar through. "Now to the 11th and stay there!" Cora slipped up and sat on the second landing waiting for Gordon. "Now what is it you'd like? Gee, um. Hey Cora!" Cora set Squirtle down and came back out into the lobby. "Hmmm?" "Whaddaya wanna eat?" "Uhm.. I don't know.. anything.. it doesn't matter.. " "Okay. Gee, um, well. Let's just have one of everything, okay?" Cora clapped. "Thats a great idea I'm starving!" The inn keeper groaned at the thought of hauling everything up there, but that was what bell boys were for. Gordon handed the man several more Seyrun coins before heading up. Cora was once gain waiting on the second platform, holding Squirtle. "You ready Gordon?" She smiled, her eyes twinkleing with laughter. "Yup." She grabbed his hand and concentrated on Ishtar. "Sailor Teleport..." "Oh. And sorry about the muddy boots." Gordon called out. Cora closed her eyes and forced herself not to laugh as the began to tingle and winked out.. and winked back in at fire door to the 11th floor in front of Ishtar. Cora wavered slightly before laughing. "You know Ishtar when that works.. it's kinda fun.." "Yeah, that was great. YOu'll have to teach me that spell." "Your not a senshi.. don't know if you can..." Cora opened the door. "Which ones ours?" "Um, let's see." Gordon said, digging out the key. "It's Room 116 C." Cora sighed, and headed down the hall and stood impatiently drumming her nails on the door waiting for Gordon. Gordon fumbled the key for a second and then opened the door. Cora smiled and slipped into the room and dove for the bed. Gordon entered the room, and turned a bright red when he realized exactly hat room he had purchased. She sighed and sprawled out on her back, the Squirtle chattering excitedly as Cora let it out of her jacket. Cora sat up and looked around and started laughing. "Well, they said they only had one room left, but they didn't say it was THIS room." "Well it is a place to sleep.. and a place for me to get a bath.. so as promised to you.. the book.." "Ahh." he said as he gingerly picked up the book. Cora, despite Ishtar's warnings handed the book over to Gordon before making a mad dash for the bathroom and calling over her shoulder, "I feel so gross right now.." She locked herself in the bathroom, and took her shower, leaving Gordon alone with the book. "Aw, I'm used to this kinda stuff," Gordon said absently as he fingered through the book. "I spent an entire month trapped in the ruins of the great city of Seyrun. Incredible place, but not very hospitable anymore." Ishtar lept upon the bed. The tiger snorted. "Sometimes I think she inherited her greatgrandmothers airheadedness. "Huh? Why's that." Gordon asked as he started reading. "She doesn't think things through. You reading that book could very well be a mistake, but thats your decision to read it, her's for letting you." "Hmm." He said, not even half listening as he flipped to the next page. HE froze, staring at the picture. An exact likeness of him stared back. The same hair, same build, same eyes. It could only mean one thing... "Is this that Micheal guy?" He asked. Ishtar let out a sigh of absolute frustraition and covered his head with his fore paws. "No that is not Micheal... Lord Micheal isn't an incarnate like her Highness." Ishtar sighed. "Let me guess 118, The Dragon King, Draco?" "Oh, well, Cora said that Micheal looked like me, so I thought he was. The Dragon King, huh?" He said. Ishtar nodded. "If you'll notice.." The tiger went on sounding like a history teacher.. "The king has a dragon claw for a hand, he was a shape shifter. Lord micheal lacked the Dragon Blood which allowed his Majesty to do so." The Dragon King. It was part of some miraculous legend that reached through two dimensions, maybe more, and was connected to his line. Yet Cora spoke of the Dragon King, her husband, as another person. Gordon turned the page and saw another picture. It was him, no, the Dragon King standing with Cora, his...wife, a baby in her arms. The Dragon King had his arm, a black, shimmering dragon's claw, around Cora's shoulder. Gordon slammed the book shut. "I...I don't think I can read this." Ishtar sighed. "I didn't think you would." Cora came out of the bathroom wrapped in a robe, scrubbing her head with a towel. "Uhh whats wrong?" She asked, "You two look like someone just died..." "It's...it's nothing." Gordon said bowing his head, letting his hair hide his eyes. Cora sighed, "Done already?" She asked picking up the book with loving hands and clutching it to her. Halfhazardly she threw the towel across the room and grinned when it landed on a chair. Her pink streaked blond her fell in a pool around her and she drew her knees to her chest and sighed sadly. Gordon stood watching Cora, until he was distracted by a knock on the door. Cora shooed Ishtar into the bathroom and Ivysaur and Squirtle with him. She then placed herself Back on the bed and opened to the center of the book. Staring back at her, herself Draco and Serenity standing together. Their arms were around each other and the Princess stood between them, nearly fourteen.. nearly groaned. Gordon opened the door and a parade of bellboys marched in, each one laden with trays. Cora's eyes lit up. "Dear lord! Goddess Selene has brought us a feast!" "Um, actually I think the boys downstairs brought it." Gordon said as he tipped the bellboys Cora laughed. "I don't even think there was this much food at Serenity's Gala!" She stared hungrily at the trays and watched the boys exit and sat amazed. "Ladies first." Gordon said, although he eyed the feast hungrily. Cora didn't know where to begin so she blindly pulled a plate toward her. "What is it?" "It smells wonderful.. whatever it is..." She poked it and then deciding to give it a try took a bite and then turned beat red. "SPICY! Water!" She squeeked. Cora ran for the bathroom and downed two glasses of water and then returned to sit down. "Anything a little less on fire?" "I'm sure something here is." Gordon said as he sat down too. He began to wolf down the food, but then stopped, and forced himself to eat slower. After all, he was dining with royalty. Cora laughed. "Whats your problem? If your hungry.. eat like it..." Cora dug into something that looked like spaghetti but was more like a soup. It was salty but she liked it. "Thanks, Cora." He said, and resumed wolfing down the food like a tornado. Cora laughed. Same old Dra... she looked away and then poked at her food. "So anything i need to know about your world thats deathly important?" "Hmmm. Don thin so." He said through a mouthful of food, before swallowing. "But then again, I haven't seen your world, so I wouldn't know what's different." "My world.. " she said sadly.. "is covered with Ice and a barin wasteland accept for small spots that my great grandmother rebuilt with her crystal. There isn't much left.." Cora said softly. "Gee. What happened?" "The great disaster. The earth was frozen solid about twelve thousand years ago. When my great grandmother was reawakened she used the crysal to rebuild Tokyo and several major cities. Much of China is still beneath the ice cap... Crystal Tokyo, parts of New York, California and Mexico as wel as England, and Austria have been rebuilt." "Wow." "The Earth looks much like the Moon did after the fall of the Silver Millinium." "Oh! I almost forgot! The Claire Bible!" "Claire.. Bible?" Cora asked. "Yeah." Gordon said as he hefted the tablets onto the table, absently crushing some of the china beneath them. "In ancient times the Gods and the Demons enscribed all the magics of the universe into the Claire Bible. It was broken into manuscripts and scattered across the world. This is one of the manuscripts. "Sounds like something Mercury would have." "Alright now, let's see." He said scanning the ancient runes that covered the stones. Cora balked. It was in a form of Lunarian.. "In my library... " She muttered, resting her hand on her head and then brushed the thought off. "Let's see. This is...Bu Leiwa. Hmm. It's a summons spell." "What does it do?" "Ah lets see...earth and stone...magical forces imbued...intelligence bestowed...it appears to create some sort of Earth dragon" Cora looked at it. "Dragon?" "That's what it says." He pointed to one of the runes. "Dragon. Believe me. I know this rune well." "You would.." Ishtar snapped. "What's that supposed to mean?" Ishtar stuck his nose in the air and Cora stepped away from Gordon and the tablets. "Alright then. Let's cast this spell." "You sure you want to cast an unknown spell?" "Well, I need to see how powerful this spell is. I'll have complete control over the dragon, so there should be no damage." Cora looked at Gordon as though he were standing before her in a Dragon form. She recalled dealing with spells of an unknown origin before and was never happy with the results. "Gordon are you absolutely sure you want to do this? I mean it could cause some problems..." "I'll unsummon it as soon as I test it's powers. It'll only be for a little while." Gordon begged. Ishtar snorted. "Let the lizard lover do what he wants, he'll have to learn eventually.. won't you lizard breath?" "Lizard what?" Ishtar looked at him, "Lizard breath... I could have called you worse." "Why the hell are you calling me that, mouse breath?" Gordon snapped. Cora sighed and looked down at her hands. "Ishtar.. Gordon.. please!" "He started it." Cora suddenly looked sad and far away, "You never used to bicker.." "Huh?" Gordon fealt very guilty, although he had no idea why. "Look, if you don't want me to cast the spell, I won't. Cora huffed, and turned around, went to the bathroom and locked herself inside. "What's up with her?" Ishtar looked at Gordon, "Now look what you've done!" "Me? You started it!" Squirtle wandered to the door and called pitifully from outside. "squirt.. squirt uirtle squirt!" Ishtar snarled at him, his teeth barred. "You were the one who brought her here to this world.. she wasn't ready! You should have left things well enough alone!" "What? I didn't bring anybody anywhere! If I knew a spell that could breach dimensions, I would've already sent her home!" "You already used a spell that can breach dimensions! Why do you think she's here!" Ishtar argued "I don't know why she's here, but I didn't do it. I don't know any spell that could bring her here, and I definitely didn't cast any!" "You just don't know what has to be done to send her back..." Ishtar snapped at his claw arm.. "You blame this in being inhabbited by a deamon.. you claim not to know what you are or who you are, fine, but leave her out of it! She doesn't need to watch you die again!" Ishtar snapped again before leaping onto the bed, stretching out and laying without a care, ignoring Gordon completely. Cora, in the bathroom heard the Squirtle calling and cracked the door enough for the young pokemon to slip inside. "I haven't died, and I'm not planning on dying again, er the first time! And I promised Cora that I'd help her get home, and I'm not going to give up that promise just because you don't like me anymore!" Ishtar yawned, "I was against the union between the Lunari and the Dragon people from the start, had her highness never fallen in love with you I would have never had to suffer you.. Selene blss her loving heart!" Ishtar stretched again and closed his eyes. "The poor girl.. she'll never know the whole truth.." "What the hell are you talking about? WHo are the Lunari and the Dragon people, and what do they have to do with me?" Ishtar, knowing that there was no other way at the time batted Cora's book at Gordon. "But I seem to recall you have a spell you wanted to cast. "That's it!" Gordon yelled. He grabbed the book, and stacked it on the tablets which he hefted under one arm. "I'm not going to sit here while you taunt me. If it weren't for me, you two would be stuck with no oney, and no food, and nobody to cure Cora's injuries. But if you want me gone, fine! Come on, Zelgadis." "Ivy...saur." "I know. But it looks like they don't want our protection. I'm sure Ishtar will take fine care of the Squirtle. Let's go." Gordon slammed a leather pouch on the table. "Take this. You'll need the money." And with that he slammed the door. Cora heared the door slam and peered out of the bathroom and paled. "Where did he go?" Ishtar sighed, "For a walk, everything will be fine Princess. He'll be back, don't worry he'll be back." For some rason, Cora wasn't so sure. "Zelgadis?" Gordon sighed on the other side of the door. "I want you to stay with Cora. Make sure she's safe, alright?" "Ivy...Ivysaur..." "I'm sure we'll see each other again. And you have that Squirtle to watch over. Make sure he grows up to be strong and powerful." Cora having put down the Squirtle returned to the bathroom and dressed. She needed to do something, had to get out and find out about where she was. With a sigh she rumaged through her bag searching for somethign she recognized that her great grandmother had given her. Coming out dressed, clutching the pink pen in her hand so tightly it bit into her flesh she threw the door open, her eyes teary, and marched out.. right into Gordon..... "Um, Cora." Gordon blushed. Cora paled. "What?" "I...I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. Please don't think less of me." Gordon said, his eyes cast to the ground. Slowly he turned, and opened the window. Cora looked at him, "What do you mean you can't keep your promise?" Her voice held some panic within it. "I wanted nothing more than to help you get back to your own world, but apparently SOMEbody doesn't like the idea of me getting involved. Take this." He said, pushing the Dragonball into her hands. "It may help you get home." Cora turned white. "I can't take this..." She looked at him almost begging, "You can't give this to me, you're the only one who can harness the power of them all.. I don't understand this.." "Take it. Find the other six, and wish yourself back home." He kissed her briefly on the forehead and began to climb onto the window sill. "No! You can't! You can't expect me to use them! Gordon what are you going!" She yanked him down and back inside. "Cora. This is one of the Dragon Balls. If you can get all seven, you can summon the Elder Dragon, who will grant your wish. He can send you back home." "But they're yours, we guarded them for so long, why do you give one up now?" "I was collecting them to remove this..." He gestured to his arm. "But this is more important. The other six are out there. One of them is here, in Nerima. Find them all and go home." Cora looked up into his eyes, her gray ones turning dark blue, her voice far away, "Your leaving me?" "I'm sorry. But it's been made clear to me that I'm not wanted. It's too bad really. I wanted to see Crystal Tokyo. I could've learned a lot there." Cora backed into a wall and slid to the floor. "But you can't.. you just found me... " "I'm sorry, Cora. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. That's why I have to go." "The only way you can hurt me is by leavingme again." "That's not what Ishtar thinks." Cora sighed. "Ishtar is older than you think, stuck in the old ways.. he remembers a time before the Silver Millenium, that was over nearly ten thousand years ago... and his time alone on the moon guarding what was left, I think it has made him bitter..." "I can't risk hurting you more. He knows a lot more about what's going on than I do." "How could he know?" She asked. "He only knows what I allow him to know and not even I remember everything I told him ..." Cora stood. "If you go you take this with you." She said thrusting the ball into his hands. "They were never my responsibility, only yours. You can't expect me to take on that much more in my life." "Fine. I'll take it. But when I find the others, I'll wish for you to return to your own world." Gordon climbed out onto the balcony and glanced back, through tear stained eyes. "I'm sorry." With that, he leapt from the window. She went to the window and watched him go, tears streaming from her eyes, her eyes wide and blue, her hair shimmering silver in the moon light. "LEVITATION!" He cried, the magical forces took hold and carried him down to the ground. She whispered a prayer. "Selene, I know you listen to me, you always have and always have done so well... watch over him, and I pray he does not send me back alone." With that she turned from the window, the silver crescent moon on her forehead glowing s softly on her forehead, and slipped into the room, and lay softly upon the bed before curling into a vall and crying for everything she'd lost. Gordon sighed as he glanced back up at the window. He was a fool to have gotten involved. He wiped away his tears, and drove off down the street. He had other things to worry about. He tried to focus on finding Scimitar, but his thoughts kept wandering.