Two days later, everyone noticed how sparse vegetation was getting.

*Look! Over there!*

Sure enough, the Desert of Destruction could be seen on the horizon.

"All right! We're almost there!" exclaimed Lina.

"Be on the lookout for any sign of life." said Zelgadis.

Everyone looked about (which was easy to do being on the back of an airborne dragon.)

"Oh, like over there?" asked Gourry.

He was pointing to what appeared to be a pillar of smoke. It was hard to tell since it was so far away.

"Wow, I didn't even see that. Good job, Gourry! Let's go check it out, Amelia." said Lina.

As they got closer they saw that it was, in fact, a pillar of smoke. A pillar of smoke coming from a familiar looking cabin, Zelgadis noted. Amelia landed.

*Do you think Mr. Vinny will be home?*

"Let's hope so." Zelgadis (followed by everyone else) walked up to the door and knocked.

Nothing.

Zelgadis knocked again.

After a moment he heard someone moving about.

"Go away! I'm not buying anything!" shouted a voice.

Zelgadis was taken aback. "...I'm not selling anything, actually. We need your help."

No response.

"Oh, Bert sent us." Zelgadis added.

The door practically flew off of it's hinges. An older man stepped out. "Well, why didn't you say so? I haven't heard from Bert in ages! So, what can I do for you?"

Lina stepped forward. "We were told you could help our friend." she pointed at Amelia. "Bert cast a spell on her that didn't work right."

Vinny looked at Amelia. "I see... No way will she fit inside. Better take her outback. Come."

The group followed Vinny behind his cabin, where they saw sand, sand, and more sand.

"How's this supposed to help?" Gourry whispered to Lina.

"I don't know." she whispered back.

Vinny chanted a short spell, which resulted in sand flying everywhere. When it settled, they saw a huge magic circle.

"I keep it hidden to keep out the riffraff." Vinny explained.

Lina wasn't sure what kind of "riffraff" he meant, but she didn't ask.

"Come now, right this way." Vinny motioned to Amelia.

She did so.

"Now then, before I fix this, did you bring any personal belongings for this...?" Vinny trailed off.

"Girl." the three answered.

"Ah, thought so, but it's best not to assume. So, did you?" Vinny asked.

"Yes, right here." Zelgadis pulled Amelia's clothes out of his pack.

"Ah, good. Now then, put them in the circle as well."

Zelgadis gave Vinny a perplexed look.

"What? She won't be clothed when she changes back. It's only right you give her some decency." Vinny stated.

Zelgadis blushed, put the clothes next to Amelia, then scampered back to Lina and Gourry.

"Well done. Now, shut your eyes."

Zelgadis and Gourry did as they were told, Zelgadis clamping his eyes shut extra tight! Lina watched on in fascination as Vinny (who also had his eyes shut, but Lina couldn't tell if it was due to giving Amelia some decency, or if he was concentrating) began chanting.

"Please let this work..." Amelia thought.

Again Amelia was surrounded by a white aura. At first, nothing happened, but then she began to shrink. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be human, but was very glad to be fully human again. After the spell was completed however, Amelia (who had gotten used to maintaining her balance with a tail) toppled into her clothes.

"AAAH!"

As Amelia struggled to get dressed, Zelgadis continued to keep his eyes shut, even covering them with his hands. Lina made sure that Gourry kept his eyes shut. After Amelia was finished, Lina walked up to her, helping her to stand.

"Glad to have you back, Amelia." Lina smiled.

"Same here. I just hope I'll be able to walk normally again!" Amelia said.

Vinny walked over. "Oh, you'll be fine, just give it a few moments.

"Oh thank you, Mr. Vinny! How can I ever repay you?" Amelia asked.

"I don't need anything. However..." Vinny disappeared into his cabin, but came back out a moment later. "Here, give this to Bert. It's been too long since we last talked. he handed the letter to Amelia.

"I'll be sure he gets it. Thank you again." Amelia replied.

"My pleasure. You all take care."

As everyone turned to go, Vinny called out, "Hold it, son. Do you really want to leave like that?"

Zelgadis looked at him. "Me? What do you mean?"

"Now I know some folks like to 'enhance' themselves for battle and such, but I've also known folks to be driven crazy by such things as well."

Zelgadis was in shock. "Are..are you saying...that you could fix this?" he pointed to his rocky complexion.

"If that's what you want."

"YES!!" Zelgadis nearly tackled the man. "Er, ah, I mean, yes. That would be wonderful!"

"Well then, let's step inside. But first..." he turned and chanted a spell that again covered the magic circle. "Don't want to attract unwanted attention. Now let's go inside."

The inside of Vinny's cabin was practically identical to Bert's. Zelgadis was led into a room with a magic circle.

"Now then, put down your things and step into the circle."

Amelia stepped up to Zelgadis. "I'll hold those for you, Mr. Zelgadis."

"Oh, well thank you. Here." he handed Amelia his pack.

"Go for it!" she whispered.

Zelgadis smiled, then stepped into the circle. Vinny again began chanting. Zelgadis was surrounded by a blue aura. Unlike the first time, when Rezo had changed him into a chimera, this felt soothing. He could practically fall asleep...

"Mr. Zelgadis!"

Zelgadis snapped back to reality and looked around. Everyone was looking at him. Lina, Gourry, and especially Amelia were smiling at him.

"Does this mean..?" he looked down and was overjoyed to see flesh. "YES! FINALLY! I'M HUMAN AGAIN!!" Zelgadis danced around the room.

"Wow, he must have really wanted it." commented Gourry.

"Call it an obsession." responded Lina.

Zelgadis ran up to Vinny and shook his hand vigorously. "Thank you! THANK YOU!!" He then ran to Amelia, lifted her up and swung her around. "And it's all because of you! Thank you for being so stubborn!" He continued to twirl her, but he lost his balance and fell.

"Ow.." Amelia rubbed her head. "Mr. Zelgadis, are you all right?"

"I have bruises! This is so wonderful!" Zelgadis beamed.

"Uh.." Amelia could only stare incredulously at him.

Lina walked up to Zelgadis and throttled him. "GET! A! GRIP!!"

"Oh, ah, right. Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me." Zelgadis smiled.

"Okay, we need to get you outta here - fast! C'mon Gourry, Amelia." Lina pulled Zelgadis away.

"Good-bye, Mr. Vinny! Thanks again for all of your help!"

"Y'all have a safe trip!" Vinny waved.

As the four started to leave, realization dawned on Lina.

"Hey Zelgadis, how did you plan on getting back to Seyruun?"

"I, well.." Zelgadis looked to Amelia. "Oh, right. I don't know, actually."

"Are you saying we have to walk all the way back?" cried Gourry. "That's a whole month!"

"I could sure go for those horses you talked about." commented Amelia.

Lina looked at her bulging sack 'o coins. She had a very good idea where it would all be going...

"WHY ME!?!"

And THAT is the end! No more! All done! ..thank goodness. ^_^;; Anyway, this fic came about when I thought up a much darker (and longer) fic idea, but first I wanted to see if I could even write a fic with one of the cast not being human. That is what you just read. It came out a bit mushy, but it was fun to have Lina and Gourry in a fic for once! As for the other fic idea of mine..as of yet I'm undecided on whether I'll write it or not. (This fic proved that I can, but I'm not sure if I should. Maybe someday..)