It was a beautiful day when the three sailed toward the European shores.  Ark was sitting up on the bow of the ship looking back at the trail of waves the ship was making.  He sensed only peace in the air as they glided across the water.  Elle was in the cabin making them lunch and Yomi was in the cabin helping her.
     "Meat first then cheese.  Bread on top and bottom."  Sounded like Elle.  She was a stickler for details.  Especially when it came to meals
     "Does it really matter?  Cheese, meat, bread.  We're gonna eat them all at the same time anyways."  Yomi was relentless when it came to his opinion.  He never stopped until he won.  Unfortunately his opponent was the same way.
     "Look...  This is how we HUMANS eat our sandwiches!  For crying out loud, you don't even have a mouth to eat from!  Leave me alone so I can make this for Ark!  Shoo!  Shoo you pink fly!!"
     "Fly!?  Who yer callin a fl...."
     Their voices drifted in the distance of Ark's mind as he stared out at the fluffy clouds above them.  They were beautiful things.  So light and high that they seem harmless but get one mad and you're in for trouble.  Ark was satisfied just gazing at them.  Seeing the shapes they made relaxed him immensly.  A rabbit floated by then a horse, then a wierd thing with two eyes and a wicked mouth... Two eyes and a wicked mouth?!  Ark did a double take.
     "Ark..... You. Must. Not. Go. Where. You. Are. Headed...."  The mouth opened and closed with a nasty twist. "You. Must. Not. Go. To. Europe.... Trouble. In. Sylvian. Castle. Trouble.  Awaits.... Must. Not. Go... Heed. My. Warning...... Don't........ Goooo.........."  The sound of the voice drifted off into the distance along with the shape and figure of the mouth and eyes.
     "ark...."  Ark looked at the cloud.  Why'd it call his name?
     "ARk..."  The cloud said it with more force.  What was up!?
     "ARRRRK!!"  Ark suddenly leaped awake.  Yomi was floating besides him.
     "You were sleeping Ark.... Get up, lunch time.  Elle's a fighter. Can't even make her make a sandwich right.  Lucky you!"
     Ark nodded slowly, the mouth fresh in his mind.  What was that all about?  Why did it say not to go to the Sylvian Castle?  What was the Sylvian Castle?  Questions zipped about in his head.  He shook it and walked off to lunch.

     The sun was still pretty high in the air when they reached Litz's shores.  Litz wasn't a very big town.  It had a store here and there and a church was at the far end of the town.  Ark liked the smallness.  It seemed peaceful.  Nearby, a couple of miles, there was a castle.  There were dozens of castles, Ark thought.  What's one more castle.  The three found an inn to stay the night at.  They were tired so it seemed a very good idea to them.
 
     "Hey, Ark."  Yomi said to him at dinner in the inn.  Ark looked up from his tuna dinner.  Litz had lots of tuna for some odd reason.
     "I've been thinking."  He stopped.
     "Wow, did you hurt yourself?"  Elle chuckled and Yomi just floated like he never said it.
     "I had a dream last night.  It was about Loire, the town we're heading to.  In it... I don't remember all of it, but it had to do with you.  You were... Let's see, what were you doing?  Ah, that's right.  You were talking to a black kid on a skateboard..."  He stopped.  Elle looked up suddenly by surprise but cooled down quickly.
     "Yeah, some black kid on a skateboard.  So?"  Ark was getting confused.
     "Well... Sometime after.  You... "  Yomi stopped again, looking down.
     "I what?!"  Ark said impatiently.
     "You go to the Sylvian Castle."  Yomi was shaking a bit.  Ark just put his food down and stared.
    The Sylvian Castle.  The mouth came to mind again, warning him not to go.  Ark was worried but didn't show it.
     "Do I have to go to the Sylvian Castle?"
     "Yes, I'm afraid you do.  It's necessary but I forget why.  I'm sorry I had to tell you this Ark.  It was necessary, though."  Yomi looked at Ark in an apologetic way.  Ark still stared on, shocked.
     "Let's go to bed," Yomi said after a brief ten minutes of silence. "Things will get better in the morning.  Can't promise that, but I'm pretty sure."
     Ark and Elle nodded.  Elle kissed Ark on the cheek a goodnight and Ark hugged her back.  The feeling was coming back again.  The butterfly-in-the-stomach feeling.  Ark still didn't know what it was but it happened every time Elle was near so it had to do with her.  Dazed and confused from the shocks and surprises of the day, Ark threw himself on the bed and fell, immediately, into a deep sleep.

     Ark was awakened by a cheerful Elle the next morning.  Her smile took over her face.  It was a sight to see.
     "Hey, Ark.  Wake up!  Don't want to miss this beautiful day."  She said it with such a joyful voice Ark didn't know whether she was drunk or not.  She was right, though.  The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky except for a dark bit over a far mountain.  Animals were seen everywhere in the town.  All the people were joyous too.  Everybody said hi to Ark and his friends.
     Strange, Ark thought. Everybody's so cheerful.  About what?  He suddenly felt an urgent nudge from Yomi.
     "Ark." He whispered quietly. "Follow me."  Ark followed him to a nearby alley.
     "What?" Ark whispered back. "What's going on with all these cheerful people?"
     "It's like you read my mind.  These people are under some sort of spell."  Yomi said under his breath. "I don't know who's spell but it's some cheering spell.  Elle got under its effects too.  Only you and I seem to be the only ones unaffected."  Yomi looked about nervously. Ark was puzzled.
     "So what's a cheering spell?  Shouldn't we be happy everybody's in a good mood?"
     "No... It's not the kind of spell you think it is.  Once the effects of happiness wear off, then the magic turns the person extremely depressive, like he wants to kill himself.  Then it turns him extremely scared, then angry.  There's a couple of other moods but I don't want to think about it.  Bad stuff this is."
     Ark seemed to get the picture.  They were going to have trouble with Elle.  Not to hot.
     Yomi piped up again, "I suggest we leave this place as soon as we can and head for Loire.  We'll have to live through Elle's moods when they come across."  Ark silently agreed.
     They went to get Elle.  She was having a good laugh with some kids.  Ark pulled her along quickly to the exit of the town.  Yomi followed looking back at the cheerful people shaking his head, or body.  The two men and one very happy woman walked toward the gate to Loire.  It took them about an hour to reach the tool gate.  The man greeted them with a smile.
     "Where're you three headed?" He said giving Yomi a suspicious look.
     "Just to Loire."  Ark replied.  He had to hold Elle down for she started dancing around. "Just to look at the place."  Ark gave the man a big grin while he lifted the gate.
     "Well, hope you enjoy your stay at Loire.  Lovely place it is."  He waved them off and Ark waved back.  Elle waved too.  A little to enthusiastically.  Ark had to stop her hand before she shook it off.  The gate keeper laughed.  They were off to Loire.
 It took about a half an hour to walk to Loire.  Elle seemed to cool down.
     "The effects of happiness are wearing off.  She'll be in her depressed mood soon."  Ark looked at Elle.  It showed.  Her head was drooping down a bit.
     "We'd better get her to a place to sleep and get all sharp objects out the room.  She's bound to kill herself then."  Yomi noted.  Ark had no choice but to agree.  Elle was going depressed.  Manically that is.
     They soon arrived in Loire.  The place was bustling.  People were everywhere.  Carts selling food, candy, wares and what not were scattered along the streets.  It was quite a sight to see.  Ark had never seen so much people.
     "Let's go search for a hotel.  Elle's looking bad."  Yomi was right.  Elle was trying to reach for Ark's weapon.  It was strange how she never said anything when she was in her mood changes.  Ark and Yomi searched a few minutes until they finally found what they were looking for.
     "You put her in a room, Yomi.  I want to look around."  Ark wanted to see more of this fascinating town. "Don't foget to get anything she can kill herself with out of the room.  I don't want her dead.  I'll return at dusk."  Ark left Yomi to care for Elle.
     The upper side of town where Ark went was even more exciting.  The houses were more and the people were more also.  There was a dance of some sort that was going on in the middle of the town.  A woman twirled around seductively while a crowd watched.  Ark thought she was beautiful with long, flowing blonde hair and legs that made any male drool.  Ark liked what he saw.  Suddenly, he felt an urgent tap on his shoulders.
     "Excuse me, Ark?"  Ark turned around.
 It was a black kid with a skateboard in his hands.
     "Yes," Ark said with an attempted ease, "what do you want?"
     The kid looked around and whispered to him, "Can you help me?"
     Ark looked back and shrugged. "Why not?  What do you need?"
     The kid looked around, nervously again. "My brother was kidnapped by some thiefs who think he's the key to the Sylvian treasure.  They took him to the castle to find it.  Can you go to the castle and find my brother?  I would really appreciate it.  Could you do that for a brother?"
     When Ark heard Sylvian in the sentences, he paused, and thought what the mouth said.  "I don't know..."
     "Hey, come on!  What's the trouble?!  Just go to the castle and get my damn brother back!  It's not going to kill you or nothin'!"  The black kid was getting angry.  Ark sighed.
     "Alright.  But that's all I'm doing.  Nothing else, ok?"
     The kid grinned. " Thanks, bro!  I know you won't let me down.  Now get to the castle before they kill my brother."  The kid ran off in the crowd and disappeared.
     Strange kid, Ark thought.  Wonder why he wanted his brother back so much.  Ark didn't ponder it too much until he got back to the hotel.  Elle was in a corner of her room when Ark walked in.        She screamed.  Ark jumped back about five feet, startled.
     "Scared stage,"  Yomi said. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
     "Yeah... um.. I'm afraid tomorrow I gotta go to the Sylvian castle."  Ark looked at Yomi.  Yomi looked back and nodded.
     "It must be done..."  Yomi was being very mysterious about this. "Go to bed Ark.  We leave in the morning."  Ark wondered, but did as he was told.  He lay in bed wondering what the castle was going to be like.
     Who knows.  Probably just a hoax. Ark thought.  After a few minutes, he fell asleep.

     Yomi and Ark headed out the next morning.  Elle wasn't in good shape.  It seemed she was switching to her angry stage because she had a frown on face and was glaring at Ark for no reason.   She refused to go with them so Ark had to force her.  He didn't want her roaming the town pissed off at nothing.  It was wierd not having Elle with them normally.
     "Hey Yomi," Ark suddenly spoke up after about a mile or two from the town."Why do you want to go to the Sylvian castle?  I thought it was dangerous."
     Yomi replied in a tense voice."I realized while you were out that the castle has the counter-spell for Elle's spell.  I know why I'm coming, but why are you?"  Ark didn't want to say because of Yomi's dream.  But he did anyways.
     "I promised someone I'd help them.  I keep my word."  Ark looked about.  Yomi spoke up a little sharply.
     "A black kid with a skateboard?"  Yomi stared at Ark as he looked away.
     "Yeah... Some black kid with a skateboard."  Ark didn't like to say it, but Yomi was smart and knew what he was talking about.  He trusted him.  Unfortunately, Ark didn't want to get into anything that was in Yomi's dreams, because they meant trouble.  Almost always.
 Yomi looked away quietly, "I'm going to have to tell you what's going on with the Sylvian castle.  But not now.  It's not the right time."  Puzzles usually made Ark mad, but today he didn't feel like getting angry.  He thought about Elle put his hand on her shoulder.  She ripped it off and screamed at him.
     "Get your filthy paws off my body you bastard rapist!!"  She was mad.  Ark backed off and left her to herself.  Yomi seemed to back off a bit too.
     It was late in the afternoon when they reached the castle.  Ark looked it over.  It was quite a piece of work.  Two massive towers made up most of the top of the castle.  The castle itself was ancient.  Rubble was strewn everywhere, kind of like some hurricane came in a tore the place apart.  It was filthy but the design was beautiful.  The three started inside with Yomi in the lead and Ark pushing a resistant Elle.
     "Let's go... Bitch!"  Ark was now getting impatient even though he knew that she couldn't help it.  They approached the inside.
     The inside was even more spectacular.  Statues of huge soldier like things littered the main room.  There was a staircase in the middle leading up and rooms to either side of the bottom floor.  Ark looked at Yomi for directions.
     "I'm afraid I forget where to go.  But I know what to look for.  I've got a spell that will help us find it.  It'll transport us to the destination of where this object is.  Kind of cheating, but I want to get you and Elle out of this place.  Elle's getting worse by the minute."  Ark looked at Elle.  She was cooled down but her mood had changed.  He couldn't tell what to at the moment.
     Ark, Yomi and a mood-infested Elle took a step inside.  Ark took out his weapon just in case something did pop out in front of them.  Ark headed for the staircase only to have Yomi call back at him.
     "Hey Ark!  Did you forget about my spell?"  Yomi said, sounding a bit annoyed.  Ark headed back.
     "Ok, Ark.  Think about what you're looking for.  The nice thing about this spell is you don't need it exact.  It'll try for the nearest thing that you thought of.  Ok?"   Yomi eyed him.  Ark nodded.
     "Ok.  Now think away!"
     Ark pictured the skateboard kid.  He knew that the skateboard kid probably wouldn't be there but his brother would look like him.  So he thought away like Yomi said.  A bright green light engulfed the three travellers.  As the room started to swirl, Ark looked around to see if the others were doing okay.  But as he looked about, he noticed that the nearby statues were walking toward them.  He raised up his staff in defense of himself and the others.  The nearest swirl of the statue raised arm and swung.  Fortunately, they were gone before the statue could do any damage.
     What in God's name was up with that thing!  Ark's mind screamed.   But he was a tough guy and just waited for the ride to get over.  The transportation itself was a very interesting process.  Ark felt as if he were suspended in midair yet he was flying at a very fast speed.  Gravity didn't exist in the dimension that they were in.  A green-grey matter was what Ark saw at the moment.  But he didn't see it for long.  As soon as they left, they arrived at the destination...  The top of a tower.  Ark looked down only to see the moat about 800 feet below him.
     This would scare the hell out of Elle, he thought.  Elle!  He forgot about her.  He whirled around and saw her almost immediatly.  She was looking at him very strangely.  She eyed him everywhere but she mostly eyed his crotch area.
     Oh no!  She's horny now!  Ark didn't like that thought.  Well he did, but... He just didn't have the time to be doing any hormonal relief at the moment.  He had a job to do.
     "Hey Yomi.  Could you hold Elle back for as long as possible.  She's as horny as a cat in heat and I don't think that's good for this mission."  He looked at Elle.  She was taking off her dress.  Fortunately Yomi stopped that process before Ark's mind got too carried away.
     Now that his mind was off sex, Ark scoured the area that they were in, or more appropriately, on.  The three stood on a the balcony of the castle.  The towers were high above him.  Probably why he assumed he was on top of a tower... He looked up first.  They had about 20 feet of walking space from side to side and 100 feet ahead of them.  Ark started walking forward a bit.  He suddenly saw a niche.  It was small but could fit four or five people comfortably.  Inside the niche he saw a figure.  It was too dark to see who or what it was.
     "Hey, could you step out so I can see you?  You're a bit hidden in there."  The kid walked out with a "no duh" look in the eyes.  The kid was a boy of about eight years old.  Black like the skatboard kid.  Kinda skinny but was well built for his age.  He looked a lot like the skateboard kid.  Something was bothering Ark though.... That was it!  He WAS the skateboard kid!  What the blazes was the kid doing here?
     "Hey, didn't I see you in the market?  How the hell did you get all the way over here?"  Ark felt like there was something he should know, but couldn't put his finger on it.  The kid just looked at him.  Yomi flew over quickly.
     "This is what you're looking for?  Some kid?"  Yomi got a better look and suddenly shuddered.
     "Oh my... not him... Ark we gotta get outta here.... NOW!"  Yomi was frantic.
 All of the sudden the kid through back his head and started to laugh.  It was a long and evil laugh.  It sounded from deep inside the black heart the kid must have had.
     "Gotcha!"  The kid said suddenly to them then disappeared in a puff of blue smoke.  A rumbling occured from deep inside the castle.  Ark and Elle were bouncing around like water on a hot stove.   Yomi was zipping around in the air like he had some sort constapation problem only he could have.
     Suddenly a rip occured in the middle of the castle roof that they were standing on.
     WHOOOOOSHHH!!!
     A creature flew out of the crack.  Black with a green glow to what looked like scales.   It had two massive horn on the brow of it's forehead.  One horn was sticking out of it's snout.  The leathery wings were huge and flapped with great powere to keep the creature up.  The creature roared in a fury only a mad buffalo mother could match.  Ark's spear flew up in a defensive stance.  Elle was standing behind him, the horniness part of the spell obviously warn off.
     "Dragon!" Yomi screamed to them, "Watch out!"
     Ark watched the dragon closely as it flew around and then took a dive for them.
     "Get in the niche!  Protect Elle, Yomi!"  Yomi moved Elle into the niche.  Ark looked up just in time to dive the attempted spearing of the dragon's horns.  Ark flew up again looking everywhere for the dragon.  He saw it straight above him with it's mouth open, breathing in deeply.
     "Oh shit!"  Ark said under his breath as he made a mad dive across the floor as column of fire barbecued the place where he once stood.  This thing wanted him dead!
     The dragon flew up and about ready to charge again.  It did, but Ark stood his ground.  The dragon spiraled down at Ark with a sudden burst of speed.  Just as it got to him, Ark stabbed upward into the throat of the dragon.  Nothing happened.  His spear was deflected by the rock hard scales.  Ark was about to throw his spear at the dragon out of pure anger, fully knowing that it would do nothing.  But Yomi yelled out to him.
     "Ark!  Stop!  I've got an idea!"  Ark dived into the niche quickly.
     "I think I recognise this dragon.  Give me your staff for a second."  Ark quickly handed it over, not even thinking about questioning why.  Yomi with spear floating beside him (Ark had no idea how), made a pink glow engulf the the top of the spear.
     "Whack the dragon's head with the top so the pink light hits it!  Don't kill it!!"  Yomi said.  Ark scrambled out wondering what Yomi was planning.  The dragon noticed Ark and roared.  It shook the castle making Ark lose his balance.  The dragon took advantage of Ark's fall and screamed down at an amazing speed.  Ark rolled over quickly and simultaneously whacked the dragon just as it was about to gut him with it's horns of death.  The dragon screamed in pain.
     All of the sudden it started shaking.  The horns looked translucent as the dragon began to shake with fury.  A smokey residue floated out of the massive body and spiraled into the blue sky.  The dragon suddenly stopped shaking and collapsed to the floor of the balcony.
     "Spirious!"  Yomi flew over to the unconscious dragon.  Ark looked at Yomi for a quick but extremely confusing moment.  He just fought that horrible beast!  What's with the saddness?  It tried to kill them all!
     "Uhh, Yomi?" Ark said meekly, "Whatcha doin'?"  Yomi glanced at him than put his attention back to the dragon.
     "I'm fixing my friend here."  Yomi replied.  Ark suddenly got a tad angry.  Redness crept to his face as his fists clenched.
     "I don't want to seem mad or anything... But..." Ark said through clenched teeth toward Yomi.
"I JUST RISKED MY FREAKIN' LIFE, ALMOST GETTING FRIED TO A NICE TENDER CHICKEN RECIPE MY MOTHER HAD AND YOU GO AND HELP THE GRILL!!!!!  WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING YOU PINK BASTARD BLOB OF SHIT!!!!"  Ark was boiling now.  He didn't know why but he just felt liking putting Yomi in a blender and pushing liquify.
     Yomi just looked at him calmly.
     "Are you quite done?"  He said calmly too. Breathing hard, Ark nodded.
     "Good!  Now I must help this dragon.  I'll explain later.  In the meantime I suggest that you take a nice nap over in the shade so that you can dream of lovely rolling meadows full of beautiful yellow daisies.  Okay?  Great!  Now get outta here before I wake this dragon and make him fry you even worse."
     Ark couldn't have agreed more.  He crawled into the shady niche and fell fast asleep, oddly dreaming of rolling meadows with yellow daisies and a cloud in the sky with a two eyes and a mouth mouthing out what seemed like "I told you so".  Other than that he had a very pleasant sleep.
 
     When he awoke, it appeared to be morning with the sun creaping up over the horizon.  He noticed that he was lying on the ground next to a fire.  Two creatures and one flying thing were next to the fire.  He recognised Elle and Yomi but who was the third... The dragon!  Ark realized this, but did nothing about it.  He was too confused.
     "Ah!  Ark's finally up."  Yomi said to the dragon known as Spirious.
     "Yes it appears that he is."  Spirious replied.
     The dragon spoke!?  Ark was certainly surprised!  A talking dragon... He thought he'd seen everything.  He was proven very wrong!
     The dragon spoke some more.  "You seem surprised that I can talk.  Am I right?"
     Ark nodded.
     "Well not to worry.  All dragons can talk.  We just don't choose to sometimes because it's completely pointless to talk to humans.  Them and their violent nature."  Spirious seemed mad in a cheerful way to Ark.  Ark just looked blank.  Violent nature!?  Humans?!  What just happened to him with this same dragon?!  Ark was yet again confused.
     "You also seem to be amazed at the irony of the situation between you and me.  Well, I'll let you know I was under a spell at the time.  I apologize for any harm I may have caused, but I couldn't help it.  In any case.  Yomi, my good creature.  Shall we get down to business?"
     Yomi nodded and the two walked over to Elle.  She was sleeping.  Thank god!  That last horniness episode was too much!  Ark followed them to see what they were going to do.
     Yomi floated besides Elle and Spirious had his claws clasped together like in prayer.  Yomi's floating started getting faster.  The dragon's breathing got more rapid as the seconds went by.  All of the sudden, Sprious put his claws on Elle and a bright green flash exploded from them.  Elle's body jumped as if in shock.  Yomi was now vibrating at very fast speed, pink fibers streaming out of him onto Elle.  The green light never went away.  The pink fibers rapped around Elle like a blanket.  Ark was amazed at this project.  He just stood by them, mouth hanging open.
     After a while, the green light dulled down and stopped.  Yomi's fibers stopped spinning.  Ark saw Elle lying on the ground covered in pink goo.  He walked over to her and stooped next to her body.  Her eyes opened.
     Ark checked those pretty blue eyes to see if she had any signs of moods left.  She just stared back.  She then suddenly got up and hugged Ark.  She was back!
     "Oh Ark!  It was horrible!" She cried on his shoulders.  "I was conscious of it all happening but I couldn't do anything about it.  I had no control over my body.  I-I'm sorry for any harm I've done you."
     Ark didn't like to see her cry.  "Oh, Elle.  Stop crying.  It's alright.  You were under a spell.  Perfectly understandable.  Don't worry about it.  Just be glad you're cured."  He did a double take.   "By the way.  How did she get cured, Yomi?
     "Spirious." Yomi replied.
     Ark looked at the dragon and than looked a Yomi again.  "That dragon?"
     "Yup.  That dragon there is a healing dragon.  We've been friends for centuries.  He got cast under a spell to stay locked up under this castle from some evil sorceress.  But something released him and put a different spell on him to attack you.  Anyways, he's the one who provided the cure for Elle's spell."
     "What was the pink stuff you spread all over her?"
     "I was just providing a case for the spell.  Like water and a bottle.  Can't hold the water to well without the bottle.  Know what I mean?"  Yomi said to Ark.
     "Yeah... I guess so."  Ark was still a little confused about the whole ordeal, but he decided to let it go.  He just wanted to get this quest done and over with.
     "So what are we going to do now?"  Ark asked Yomi.
     Yomi turned around and replied. "Fly!"
     "Fly?!"  Ark didn't really like heights, but he knew it would have to be done.  He just didn't know how.
     "By me."  Spirious seemed to answer his thoughts.  "I'd be more than happy to take you travellers to your destination.  Just let me sleep the night and we'll be off early in the morning."
     Ark liked the dragon's plan.  He nodded and walked off to join Elle sleeping in the little niche.  The wierd feeling came up again for Ark.  What was that?!  Ark just didn't know.  He lay down beside Elle and soon fell into a deep sleep, dreaming about lovely rolling meadows and beautiful yellow daisies.