CHAPTER 7

Temple of the Rainbow

“I want to come with you”

“WHAT?!”

The group was just about to head out when Naiteal told them his unexpected plans.

“Come on! I got no where else to go.”

“No way pal!” Lina said walking towards the door.

“You can’t,” Copper agreed, “It’s way too dangerous. You see...some crazy people are trying to kill me and you might get hurt.”

“I could protect you. I know a few Flare Arrows or two.”

Copper and the other looked at him in astonishment.

“Protect me?! If I remember right, you’re the one who got his stuff stolen by bandits!”

“Hey!” he said in defense, “I’m only 15! Do you actually expect me to fend off a whole bandit gang by myself!?”

With that everyone burst into laughter! Even Zelgadiss couldn’t help himself!

“It’s obvious you’ve never heard of Lina Inverse!” Amelia cried pointing over to Lina.

Suddenly Naiteal’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets!

“You mean she’s Lina Inverse! The Bandit Killer?! The Dragon Spookier?! The Enemy to All That Lives!?”

“That’s right!” Gourry said proudly. Then found Lina’s foot in his mouth!

“Shut up, Yogurt for Brain!”

“I would be honored if I could travel with the Great Lina Inverse”

Naiteal bowed his head humbly.

The others, including Copper, looked at him questionably. But Lina ate it all up!

“Really? Well then I guess it’s O.K. that you go with us. After all I can’t disappoint a fan!”

Lina had made up her mind and they knew there was no way to convince her other wise. So with that, they welcomed Naiteal to the group. All the while Xelloss was no where to be seen.

“I wonder where he is” Copper thought to herself. But then dismissed the thought and concentrated on her new companion.

Copper saw that Naiteal looked like every other person in this world. Strange. His dark black hair was pulled into a braid and was as long as Gourry’s! And his eyes were bright green. But unlike the others in the group he wore a simple raggedy blue shirt and green pants. The others wore not so simple clothes. Literally.

Also he was kind of clumsy and kept tripping on his feet.

“So why are we going to the Temple of the Rainbow?” he asked.

“Believe me if I told you , you wouldn’t believe me” she answered. “At first I didn’t me.”

“Try me”

So she told him.

“I don’t believe it” Naiteal said when Copper had finished.

“It doesn’t matter if you believe her or not” said Zelgadiss.

“Hey Miss Lina!” Amelia called limping towards her, “Can we go a faster way? My leg is getting tired.”

“Why not?” Lina said with a smile.

“Good I was getting a bit tired too” Zel agreed

“So lets do this”

“Oh no!” Gourry cried “I hate this!”

“What?” Copper asked.

“This!” Amelia answered grabbing Copper and Naiteal’s arms.

“Levitation!!” they all commanded.

Copper suddenly saw that they were being lifted off the ground!

She looked up and saw that Lina and Zel were already flying in the air carring a very upset Gourry.

“Oh my God!” Copper cried, “We’re FLYING!!”

“This is great!” Naiteal said happily.

“How else do expect to get there fast?” Amelia asked picking up speed.

CHAPTER 8

The Mission

Within a few minutes they were flying over a small temple hidden by the trees. When they landed they found that it was completely desterted.

“I don’t see anyone” Amelia said looking around.

Copper couldn’t see anyone either. But the place’s appearence did catch her eye. Every tree hung windchimes and at least one or two crystals that made rainbows on the path to the entrance of the temple. And combined with the ringing of the chimes it was really an beautiful scene.

“This place sure is pretty” Copper whisptered.

“Yes it is” said a voice behind her.

She quickly turned around only to find no one there.

“What?”

Suddenly she felt something tugging on her pants leg. When she looked down she found a small man smiling up at her.

“Priest Nuble!” Lina cried shaking his hand.

“Lina Inverse! How wonderful to see you.” he said “But what are you doing here? And who are your friends?”

“This is Gourry, Zelgadiss, Amelia, Copper, and Naiteal. We’re here to find some info on the Rainbow Queen. It’s very important.”

“Well O.K. I’ll start at the basics. The Rainbow Queen is a Goddess assigned by the Lord of Nightmares to watch over and keep the Balance. Her first daughter watches the day, while her second watched the night and the third watches nature--”

“What are the daughters’ names?” Copper asked anxiously.

“Goldenfeather, Silverfeather, and Copperfeather”

Copperfeather?! The moment Copper heard that name her heart started to beat faster.

“Nuble, Copper is Copperfeather!” Lina cried.

“That can’t be! Are you trying to tell me that this child is the keeper of the elements?!” he asked looking at Copper carefully.

“As far as we can tell, yes”

“Hmm..there is a story that the her daughter was taken away in human form to another world. But I thought it was just a story.”

“That would explain somethings. But that doesn’t explain why I’ve got people trying to kill me!”

Nuble looked at her carefully before saying “ There is a way for you to find out. Go into the temple and find the Rainbow’s Treasure, they should answer your questions.”

“Hey Lina did you hear that? Treasure!” Gourry said in excitment.

“Don’t even think about it, I’ve already tried it before. The traps are just to hard for even me to get past, only Copperfeather can do it.” she said leaning aganst a tree.

“All that trouble for a not very important Goddess.”

“You mean not very known.” Nuble corrected her “The Goddess is very important. So important that if the Balance is ever broken, it could mean end of the world even the Lord of Nightmares herself!”

“What!!!!” they all cried.

“You’re trying to tell me that this could destroy the Creater of our world!?” Lina asked.

Nuble nodded his head.

“He’s right” said Xelloss who apparently had been sitting in a tree playing with one of the crystals.

“I just found out what my mission is. I have to protect her.” he sighed, pointing the crystal straight at Copper.

“Why do I have to be protected!?” Copper cried, “I’m just a kid! I have no powers or anything! I just want to go home!”

“But Copper” he said as he jumped from the tree, “You are part the Balance! Its not only nature it’s actually balance. Without darkness there cannot be light and without light, unfortunately, there can’t be darkness. Birth and death. Life and destruction. Good and evil. Everything is conected, even us monsters who are evil and dragons who are good, and are our enemies, are connected to each other. And that’s why we need you to help protect it, by staying alive. Or there will be nothing left. Not even the Gods.

“Wow!”said Amelia, “If this is true we even got the bad guys on our side!”

“Yeah but that’s the scary thing. If the bad guys are our allies then who are our enemies?” Zelgadiss whispered.

Copper knew how to find out. “I have to go into the temple”

“Indeed”, Nuble agreed, “She is the only one who can enter without getting killed”

What a minute,Lina though, If Copper can get into the temple we can go with her and get that treasure!!

“Hey Copper! We’re going with you. You don’t know what’s in that dark scary place.”

“But Lina--”

“Shut up Gourry!”

“Me too” Naitael said stepping up, “If this people are trying to destory the world we got to do something about it!”

“Uh..Why don’t you stay out here and stand guard. Those creeps are still after us.” said Lina, then under her breath added “Plus you would just be in the way.”

“I think I’ll just stay with him” Xelloss said

“I’m not a baby!”

“I didn’t say you were, Naitael. Is just that ol’ Kally might be a bit too much you.”

“Fine” he said angrily, “I’m going to check around and make sure we weren’t followed, if you don’t think I can't handle that either.”

“Naiteal it’s nothing personal”

“Come on guys!” Copper said taking a breath of courage “Lets go.”

“Yeah! Lets let the light of justice guide our way!” Amelia cried taking the lead.

“Oh brother!” Zel said shaking his head.

Chapter 9

Finding the Truth

The temple was darker than Copper had expected but at least nothing had happened

when they came in. Yet. The others had no problem dealing the dark. They had

been in plenty other places ten time darker, creepier, scarier, and more

dangerous. But that didn`t make them let their guard down. As they entered a dark

stairway they figured they had a long way to go.

"Man, Lina how long is this stairway!?"asked Gourry

"I don`t know. I`ve never gotten this far."

But then when the group finally reached the end of the stairs, they saw what

looked like three shrines. One of gold, one of silver,and one of copper.

The instant Copper saw the shrines she felt something call her in the back of

her mind.

*Sister.... Sister... *

*Can`t you hear us... *

"Hey guys, did you hear that?"

"I didn`t hear anything, Copper" said Zel.

"Me neither" the others said.

"Do you smell something?" asked Amelia

The closer she steped twords the shrines, especailly the copper one, the voices

seemed to get louder and louder.

*Sister....Sister...*

"Guys are sure you didn`t here any---"

But she couldn`t finish her sentence because before her stood a woman with long

rainbow hair. She quickly turned to call her friends only to find that they

weren`t behind her any more.

"Where is everyone!?"

The woman wasn`t alone. Two girls suddenly stepped from behind her. One with blond

hair and one with silver.

"Who are you!? What do you want?!"

"Sister we`re missed you so! Finally you have come back to us!*

"Sister? I`m not your sister, believe me! I have enough sisters *and* brothers to start my

own circus! And I`ve NEVER seen either of you among them. Unless they have gone and had plastic surgery , dyed their hair blond and....uh silver, and bought some contacts without telling me. If answers 1 though 3 aren`t correct then you ain`t my sisters. And I am not yours!"

"Yes you are. You are our sister. You are Copperfeather.

Please! You`re the only one who can save us and our world"

The two girls spoke in unison, unfazed by Copper`s mindless rambling, while the woman

stood silently.

But when she did speak, Copper not only heard her but *felt* her.

She felt her voice not only in her mind but in her heart also.

"My dear daughter, you were taken away from us long ago. And now that an unknown force is trying to break the Balance, we need you.

"I don`t understand any of this!"

"Hey what`s wrong with Copper?" asked Gourry "She`s just standing there staring at

those weird lookin` shrines"

"I don`t know Mr Gourry"said Amelia "But I do know that smell is making me sick"

"What smell?"Lina asked

But Amelia didn`t answer. She had passed out.

"Listen carefully, you must take your weapons and destroy the unknown force.

Otherwise there no hope for anything......and anyone."

"Why must I do it? I don`t even know if I can do it!"

"Because my sister, we are trapped. It has us trapped"said the silver-haired girl.

"Take your weapons!"

"Amelia!!"

Zelgadiss checked her pulse to make sure she was still alive.

"Don`t worry" he said in relief "She`s still with us"

"Don`t worry?! What do you mean don`t worry?!"Lina cried "Zel we have a BIG prob--"

Suddenly Lina passed out too!

"God! There`s some thing in the air! Gourry cover your mouth!!"

But Gourry was already out cold.

"Copper! We`re got to get them out of here!"Zel cried

"I don`t belive this! I don`t believe any of this!!"

"You must believe!" cried the golden-haired girl "Please my sister! Remember who you are!!"

"Remember who I am?! What kind of crap is that?! This ain`t the *Lion King*!! I`m stuck

in some crazy world, got people trying to kill me, and now I got three people I don`t even

know, who just popped outta nowhere, tellin` me that *they* are my real family?!"

"It is true! And now as was said, you, my sister, Copperfeather, Goddess of Nature, Protecter of the Elements, must take you weapons!!"

A small wooden box appeared in Copper`s hands.

"This is my weapon?" she cried out in fustration "What am I supose to do with a box?!"

"Take your weapon....." Silverfeather commanded

"Find your power..... " Goldenfeather then commanded

"Save us..... " The Goddess Rainbow Queen lastly commanded

Zelgadiss didn`t know what to do! His friends were all out cold and Copper seemed

to be in some kind trance.

I have to do something! he thought

But he had to do something quick! He could already feel himself slipping away.

He moved his hand and felt something hard on the ground. Rocks. Finally he had

an idea!

Copper carefully opened the strange box. Inside was a copper braclet and a strange looking copper cylinder. To Copper it was shaped...... like a pop can.

"Are you tryin` to tell me that I`m supose to fight with a braclet and a pop can!?!"

Take your weapon....

Find your power.....

Save us.....

The first rock hadn`t hit her and Zel`s arms started to feel numb!

"I can`t give up! "

Copper took the *pop can* in her hand and fliped it over to take a better look at

it. But when she did the sides shot out and it took the form of a staff!!

"Good lord almighty..." she gasped as she stared at her weapon

This was actually happening, wasn`t? A duty was calling her. A destiny. And it

seemed as if she had no way out of it.

"Take your weapon, find your power, save us" the goddesses repeated once more

Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, like something hit her!

At that moment the woman and girls stared to fade away. And their place she saw

her friends lying on the ground!

"Oh my god! Guys!!"