@September, its great to see you! Of course you can join in, I'll throw you in!

Day 3 continued….

The gnomes, all similar in appearance to teh one they had been chasing, had been goin about their busness, some had been collecting flowers and berries from their gardens, some had been sweeping or cleaning in some way, and some had been making repairs to homes. But now they all stood frozen in shock, staring up at the three humans in stark terror. Then all at once, it was chaos. The gnomes threw whatever they were holding and started running around. Running inside houses, jumping behind trees and bushes, and one little gnome even jumped into a gnome sized pond and hid under a lilypad.

"Awww don't be scared little fellows, we're not going to hurt you." Elementgirl cooed, bending down. "Come here little- OUCH!" She yelled, grasping her hand. Zoey looked towards the little town and saw one gnomehidingbehind a tree holding a tiny bow. It appeared that it had just shot Elementgirl in the hand. "That sorry little-"

"OW! One of those little demons just shot me too!" Tahki said, jumping up, holding her knee. "Okay, we found them, let's go now!"

The three girls started running back through hte woods, little arrows flyign past them, occationally hitting one of them. "Wait guys! We need at least soemthing to prove we found all these gnomes."

Lets sneak back and grab a bow or a broom or something from the village. we're out of range and sight of teh archers now, or should be. I'll flank left, you two flank right." The three girls stooped low, running behind trees every now and then to make sure they weren't seen. Fianlly, after some navigation, they made it back to the village where the gnomes were just starting to cautously come out of their hiding places. Zoey watched from behind a tree. She saw her two companions likewise watchign the town, trying to find an unexpecting gnome to steal something from. All of a sudden Zoey heard a small whistling sound, and looked down. She saw a gnome, carrying a bow slung over one shoulder and a quiver of arrows come walking around the side of the tree Zoey was hiding behind. He obviously didn't know she was there, because as soon as he had come around the tree and saw her, his whistling stopped abriuptly and his eyes widened. He was about to turn and run, when Zoey lashed out with her hand, grabbign him, using one finger to gag his mouth. He let out a muffled squeal as she jerked him backwards behind the tree with her.

"I'll take that bow, thank you very much." Zoey said, using her fre hand to trake his bow away, the gnome let out an angry, muffled curse and grabbed his bow with his one untrapped hand, tring to pull it back. Zoey let out a growl and jerked it out of its grasp. "And this is for shooting at us when we were trying to be friendly back there!" She held the gnome firmly in one hadn and shook him for a few seconds, then stopped. The gnome, now looking verhy green and dazed, stopped struggling, slumped over, and started drooling. Zoey tossed the little beast over her shoulder and looked to where her friends were hiding. She gestured to them, laerting them it was time to go. he saw a bush rustle and Elementgirl's face appeared for a moment. She nodded. Then Tahki's hand popped up out of another bush and gave a thumbs up. The three slowly slunk out from behind their trees and made their way back to the castle. 

"I grabbed a bow from one of teh archers." Said Zoey, holding up her prize.

"I grabbed a broom that was laying around from one of the houses." Said Tahki.

"And I grabbed a gnomes hat!" Elementgirl said proudly, holding up one of the small gnome hats. Except the hat wasn't alone. It still had the gnome attatched to it. Or ta least it had the gnome desparately trying ot hold onto his hat with both hands. It stuck out its tongue at Zoey as she bent down to look at it. "I tried to take its hat and it just wont let go. Those are some mean little creatures." The gnome was at teh moment trying to pull itself up to Elementgirl's hand to bite it. Elementgirl gave the hat one last, good shake, and with a yelp, the gnome fell off and scuttled away, waving its fist at her as it ran away.

"Okay, we ready to head back to the castle?" Asked Zoey. 

"Yeah, let's go-Yow!" Tahki yelped, grabbing her arm. Zoey and Elementgirl went on high alert.

"Are the gnomes back?" Asked Zoey.

"I dont see any…" Tahki said, taking her hand away from her arm, revealing indeed anotehr small arrow. But this one was different, it was longer, and it looked like it had been covered in a strange purple liquid. 

"Let's get out of here, then we'll octor your arm." Said Zoey,pulling the arrow from Tahki's arm.  the three of them ran off throug the woods back towards the castle until they were certain they were otu fo danger. They stopped and took a look at Tahki's arm.

"What was that stuff on the arrow?" Asked Elementgirl, eyeing the strange purple goo. 

"I…don't know…but I'm not feeling so good…" Tahki moaned, sinking to the ground.

"It may have been poison. We need to get her help. Tahki can't go on any further, she looks like death sucking on a bad lemon." Zoey said, gesturing towards Thki, who was white as a sheet and had started to lick a tree sitting next to her. "I'll run get help, you stay here with Tahki. Can you do that?"

Elementgirl nodded. "I got her. Come back as soon as possible." Zoey nodded, got up, and ran off.

It wasnt long before she heard a high pitched scream, and runnign back to check on her friends, she found Elementgirl unconcious with a nasty bruise on the side of her head, and Tahki was nowhere to be seen.

R.I.P. Tahki. The mystery continues….

New part, YAY! Your writing is really good, Phantom! Sorry Tahki…

I DIED?! AAAAHHHH!!! I'm becoming a ghooooooosssstt…… *Sticks hand through self* Hey! This ghost buisness is FUN!

Aww, I wanna be a ghost too!

Yes, but when you're a ghost, I'm pretty sure you can't eat candy or have soda.

Never mind.

I'm happy to stay alive, thanks.

Day 4 (@September, Im throwing you into room one if thats okay)

FYI, you guys can guess me and then murderer anytime. Though I'm pretty obvious if you were here last year XD

BANG! Evergreen woke with a start. She looked aroud the room, her, Pepper Star, and Kate-the-Great, were all in the same room. There other cabin mates were sleeping in the living area of their suite, including September, their new cabin mate.

"What happened?" Asked Evergreen.

"I dont know, I think it came from the other room." Said Kate, looking over at the shut bedroom door. Joy jumped out of bed, ran over to the door, and opened it. As soon as she opened the door, an object flashed past her head and splatted agaisnt the opposite wall, right above Pepper Star's head. Pepper Star yelped and ducked.

"Oh my gosh!" Kate yelled. She ran out of the bedroom and slammed the door behind her before anone else could see what was happening in the other room. Everyoen scrambled out of bed and ran to Evergreen grabbed the knob and swung it open. She gaped at the chaos insuming in the living room. Joy, Kate, and September, and Zoey were all frantically running around the room, throwing pillows, wrestling, and lobbing pies at three, four foot tall, blue skinned, long eared creatures. The creatures were running around the room, making strange cackling sounds. They were tearing up pillows with their teeth, throwing lamp and pies, and wrestling around with the three girls.

Evergreen raised her arm into the air. "BONSAI!" Her and Pepper Star rushed out into the fray, Evergreen tackled one of teh blue creatures. It gave out a growl, and pushed her off. She reached over and grabbed a pillow. THe creature did the same. They paced in a circle around, teh creature snarling at Evergreen, and Evergreen snarling at him. Similtatiously, they jumped at eachother, bashing eachotehr with pillows. Evergreen gave the creature an exellent upper stroke to the face, the creature managed to bash her in the side of her head. Suddenly, the creature swung at Evergreen's face. She ducked, smashing her pillow into the back of the creature's knees. It gave a squeal and fell to the ground. She climbed onto the hissing, struggling creature, and managed to pin the creature down.

Suddenly, out of the blue, there was a loud crash. The front door to Room One burst open, and their stood two ghosts. The both were holding what looked like a fire extinguisher, but on teh side of the can their were the words 'Grimlins-be-gone!' The ghosts ran over ito the fray and started spraying a strange blue mist aroudn the room. When it reached Evergreen's nose, it smelled a bit like a berry scented air freshener, but the creature she had pinned let out a yelp, and then passed out. The other two creatures dropped in a similare manner. For the first time in since the occupants of room one had woken up, all was silent.

"Terribly sorry about that, friends!" Said one of the ghosts. "These gremlins somehow snuck their way into the castle and have been causing trouble ever since. We will take care of it from here though."

Zoey stood up from the ground, where she had been wrestling around with one of the gremlins. Her hair looked like she'd put it in a light socket. She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was; "Hrggable" She promptly fell over onto the couch and started snoring.

************

Two hours later, Evergreen, Zoey, Pepper Star, Kate, and Joy were out on the front lawn with the rest of the guests, waiting. The Phantom had instructed them to meet there and await the anouncement of today's activity. Everyone stood around talking to eachother until finally, The Phantom appeared with his usual puff of purple smoke.

"Hello once again, friends!" He said. "You are probably wondering why I have called you all out here. Well, for todays activity, we will be in the great outdoors, like our previous activity. (Which resulted in the assumed, tragic, death of our dear friend Tahki, which is still under investigation) Today, we will be participating in what some people might call a scavenger hunt, some might call a quest, some still an archaeological expedition. It has long been told in folklore, stories, and myth that there is a temple hidden somewhere deep in these woods. This temple is said to be a place of epic magical proportions. There is an immensely complex spell, that has been long forgotten, and most believe it to be a myth, that soposedly can allow you to conjour up an army powerful enough to take over teh world. While even the most powerful wizards alive today say thsi spell is impossible to perform. It is said, that on the night of All Hallow's Eve, if you say the spell within this temple, it can be done by even a mediocre magician. You're job is to find this temple, or find out what sparked the creation of the myth. You will each be given a replica of the oldest known bit of folklore that actually give clues as to the location of this temple. If not found by tonight, we will complete thsi tomorrow on the night of All Hallow's Eve, where there will be a Halloween party afterwards. I thought this would be a good sendoff for us. Enjoy!"

**********

The group had been walking for the whole day. They had been over the map what seemed like a hundred times, had followed the clues to the best of their ability, had trekked all over the woods, and still had found not even a trace of a temple.

"Okay guys, this is getting absurd. We've been walkign almost all day and there's no sighn of any Temple. Let;'s stop and look at the riddle again." The group stopped, and September began studying the piece of parchment. 

"Under the stars, in a land far away," September recited,"the magic place sits, through storm, night, and day. If when the moon is high, and the magic right, only happening on All Hallow's Night, a magician stands atop the temple and recites his spell, magics immesurable will make his words unquelled." September paused.

"Well that's simple, its sayign that any spell said on teh temple on Halloween will be super powerful. We already knew that." Said Evergreen. 

"So we can ignore that part and not worry about it for right now." Said Joy. "Keep reading."

"Here's the important part, listen to this," said September, 'the location of this place is all but uhknown, even through the most powerful incantations, one cannot be shown. The journey be hard, through day and through night, you must only sit on the giant's seat, and remember to chase the fleeing light. Seek the lone oak, go to it, and then speak these words, "aperite portas umbrae."'

"Okay, so its saying that magic can't be used to find the temple. At least that's the first part." Kate chimed in.

"Makes sense, but what's that next part all about? 'Sit on the Giant's seat?'" Said Pepper Star.

"Well, that could mean something really huge, like a mountain. We've got plenty of those." Said Joy.

"And the last part could be the sunset!" Said Zoey, getting excited. "We're soposed to follow the sunset from a specific mountain. Then once we find thsi oak tree, tehn we can say those words and it'll let us find the temple!"

"But now how do we find the Giant's seat? Itcould be any one of these mountains." Said Kate dissapointedly.

"Well, we could start by headed about half a mile to our right." Said September.

"What?" Said Joy, looking at September. September reached into her pocket and pulled out a pamplet for teh hotel. She flipped through it to a couple pages in and held it up. On the page was a pivture of a large rock formation sticking randomly out of the side of a tree covered mountain. A huge pointed peak of rock jutted out of the ground, meetign another jagged rock coming out of the mountainside. The two met and created a chair looking shape.

"Oh my gosh! That's an actual landmark?" Asked Joy.

"Yeah, sorry. I forgot to mention it." September smiled sheepishly. 

"Well,its nearby, so let's go! Good job September!" Exclaimed Evergreen, hugging September.

With September leading the way, the group took off back through the woods. Sveral times they had to take a different route to avoid the occational bear, skunk, or foraging dragon, but they finally made it the base of the Giant's seat. It was even more awesome in person. The sun was slowly startign to dip over the horizon, causing the sky to turn colors of pink and gold, castign stragne lights off the mountains.

"Okay, now we just follow the sunset." Said Pepper Star.

"Yep. Now lets start walking. We might end up winning this you guys!" Said Evergreen excitedly. 

"Whoooa hold on now, what's that?" Said Pepper Star, pointing up into the sky. Evergreen looked up, and saw a small black speck in the sky, steadily growing larger. All at once Evergreen realized what it was. It had the wings, claws, sharp eyes and razor beak of a seriously oversized eagle, ad it had the muscular lower body of a lion.

The griphon suddenly angled itself into a dive, straight through the trees. Headed straight for the group of girls.

"Scatter!" Evergreen screamed. Everyone ran in separate directions. The creature, unable to decide which of its victims looked the tastiest, banked back upwards. Evergreen took cover behind one of the rocks layong around at the base of the huge . The griphon flapped back into hte air, then dove again. Evergreen's comrades were jumping behind trees and rocks to safety from the brute, all except one. Joy was running fro a tree, when all of a sudden, she tripped over a root. Evergreen watched in horror as she landed facefirst inot the ground, right as the griphon went into a dive.

"JOY!" Evergreen screamed. Without thinking, she jumped out from behind the tree and ran for Joy. Joy rolled onto her back, starign in terror up at Evergreen as she watched her friend run towards her.

"Evergreen, look out!" She yelled. But it was too late. Evergreen hadn't taken inot account the griphon's speed. With one last scream, Evergreen felt two strogng talloned hands grab her, lifting her inot the air.

Her friends watched in horror as their friend rose fartehr and farther into the air, disappearing.

Room One will be, Evergreen, Pepper Star, Kate-The-Great, Zoey, Joy, and September

Oh, I completely forgot about this! Now I need to do a ton of reading to catch up.

Sorry for the confusion; I am Pepper Star, I just changed my name. But I really, really, really love your writing!

This is amazing!

*Groans* No! Tahki died/is currently dying somewhere! 

Just one thing–Jarnen's a boy! =^^=

Let's see…are you Esquire of Rohan/Tuxedo Kitten? (I'm not quite sure which one she's going by now) 

@Evergreen, no prob! Leafpool, you live!

Kate, Joy, Leafpool, Joey, Zoey, and September were running full speed down the mountain, chasing the Griffin, who was getting smaller and smaller in the sky. It was hard as they could, tripping and stumbling through the woods.

"Come on guys, try to keep up with it as far as we can!" Kate shouted at the others.

"We can't keep up with it much longer, it's almost out of sight and I can barely keep track of it through the trees!" Shouted Leafpool in frustration.

"Okay,everyone stop, now!" Zoey called out. Everyone halted where they were. "Joy, you run back to the hotel and alert everyone of what's happening. The rest of them kept going, now only able to use the rapidly fading black speck that was the griffin.

"Whoa guys, hold on, look at the griffin!" Said Kate in shock. Everyone paused to look back up at the tiny griffin. It flew in circles for a few seconds, then it started gaining altitude. It soon disappeared behind some mountains. "Okay, it went behind that mountain with the strange, bent looking peak. Remember what it looks like."

"Okay, now let's go!" Said Zoey. Everyone started running in the direction of the peak.

Finally after what seemed ages, weak, out of breath, and gasping, the girls reached the base of the mountain the griffin had disappeared on. Carefully, they began the difficult climb up the steep, tree covered slopes. It felt like they were on a different planet. There was no civilization to be seen, only miles upon miles of multicolored forests.

"Okay, let's strategize. What on earth are we going to do once we get up there? It's a small group of people against a griffin." Said Kate, stopping at the base.

"We,re Americans!" We don't plan, we do! CHAAARR-" September got ready to run up the slope, but Leafpool pulled her back.

"How about this, I will cause a distraction, while you guys get Evergreen…or whatever's left of her." Said Kate.

After a bit of discussion, the plan was agreed to. But instead of Kate going alone as bait, Kate would be accompanied by September, while Leafpool liberated Evergreen. Hopefully the reinforcements from the hotel would arrive before the griffin realized its snack had been stolen, or worse yet, it found the rescue party. So September and Kate were off. Once her two friends were out of sight, Leafpool began to make her way up the slope towards where she hoped the griffin had stached away Evergreen.

Making it to the top of the small mountain, she realized that the oddly shaped peak that they had seen earlier, was in fact, not simply an eroded section of the peak, but a cave. Leafpool hid behind a tree and watched the cave. Now she just had to wait for the diversion. Leafpool took a moment and looked up into the setting sun. Halloween night is finally here. Leafpool thought to hersel. As she gazed into the multicolored sky, all of a sudden, Leafpool heard a loud screeching sound from the forest. After a short pause, it came again. Leafpool recognized it as Kate.

Just then, another screech sounded off, except this time from the sound came from inside the cave. The griffin walked out of the entrance, looked around at its surroundings, then lifted off the ground and took off into the air to search for the source of the sound. She watched the griffin fly around a minute, until it flew out of sight around a nearby mountain. Leafpool was about to dash for the cave entrance, but it was flying. And while Leafpool couldn't make out what it looked like it was sitting on something. It then struck Leafpool. The object the figure was riding was a broom. It was a witch. What on earth? Leafpool leaned a little farther out from her tree, and as she watched, the witch flew closer and closer. Finally Leafpool realized that she was headed for the same mountain that they were on.

The witch, face obscured by a hood, landed right next to the cave. She climbed off, then carrying her broom, walked inside the cave. Leafpool hesitated a moment, then came out of her hiding spot and walked inside the cave. Leafpool hesitated a moment, then came out of her hiding spot and walked inside the cave after the witch. She walked through the dark entrance, walked ten feet, and then the passage turned. Leafpool cautiously poked her head around the corner. She gasped, quickly clapping her hand over her mouth to keep herself quiet. The cave widened out, making a twenty foot ceiling above, a good one hundred square feet of walking room. Torches were set to the side of the walls, lining the rim of the cavern and giving off plenty of light. There was a table, a few chairs, and what looked like a cauldron and some shelves of ingredients sitting around on make shift shelves.

"I quite like your outfit. Looks most becoming. But i didn't think dark majic and that stuff was your kind of thing, Jarnen.

Jarnen laughed darkly. "I didn't either. But the more I spend time at this place the more I like it. Funny thing. First night at the hotel, I'm wondering around looking for something to read among the ten thousand books in the library. Low and behold, one of the books was one of the phantom's spellbooks. There was one particular spell that was meant to be used by a non-magical person, like myself, and grants me the powers of a full-blooded witch. So I thought to myself, what an opportunity! But that wasn't all. There was a story written on the page after the spell. A fascinating tale it was too. It told all about a temple. A temple that created so much magic that oneeven of petty majic could weave magnificant spells. The same temple that the phantom told us about this morning. But, what he didn't tell you is that many years ago, a great sorcerer named Gregory Tillandal battled four other mighty wizards at this very sight. He was once allied with them, together, they were going to use the temple to summon an army, and together they would conquer and rule the earth together. But Tillandal's conscience wouldn't allow him to go through with his plan, so he tricked his former comrades into conveaning inside the temple. When they were all there, Tillandal cast a spell. Having it amplified by the temple's majic on the night of Hallow's Eve, he managed to trap all four of them in an outer dimensional prison. The only way they can be released is to send four others in their place. If that is done, they are majically bound to you forever until death."

"So you faked the deaths of four other guests. You're trying to free the four wizards."

"Yes indeed I am, and before us now lies the doorway. Here is Tillandal's crest." Jarnen gestured to the tree looking symbol carved into the wall. "The oak tree."

"So how do you get to the temple? We're on the top of a small mountain. There isn't any temple around here."

Jarnen laughed. "You fool, the mountain IS the temple. The civilization that built this temple died off ages ago and has long since been forgotten to the rest of society. But it was rediscovered by Tillandal and his comrades, that was, until Tallandal imprisoned them. He then wrote the same riddle that you used to find this place in the first place. He then placed powereful enchantments over the temple, shrouding it from all eyes but to the most powerful enchanter.He made it appear to be a mountain. However, I managed to work my way around the enchantments. But then, unfortunately, you managed to follow my griffin back to this place. No matter. You can witness my rise to power. I will deal with you shortly." She raised one hand into the air, palm facing the carved oak symbol on the wall. She muttered a few words under her breath, and all at once, the wall crumbled away, revealing a flight of steps, going upwards into the mountain. Jarnen walked through the hole and onto the staircase.Leafpool took in her breath. Jarnen smirked. "As the mountain is an illusion, as is the height of the temple. The temple continues upwards, far higher than it appears, but one is only able to access it through this way." Jarnen snapped her fingers, and suddenly, ropes appeared out of thin air, binding her hands. "That will hopefully stop any ideas of disturbing my plans. Now come along, and don't try anything." She then waved her hand over her shoulder, and the four bound, unconscious girls on the floor magically rose into the air and drifted after Jarnen as she and Leafpool began to walk up the stairs.

Leafpool glanced over her shoulder nervously. Hoping her friends would come soon. Where are you guys? She thought to herself. Now all she could do was hope that her friends brought reinforcements in time.

I'm sorry this has taken me so long guys, I was in DC all week and i was having computer problems XD I'm done with hte story but it ,istakenly got deleted, now I'm having to rewrite it from Word. I'll post it tomorrow.

TOP

Part 2, almost there guys!

The staircase went up for what seemed like a hundred steps through a pitch-black tunnel surrounded on both sides of her by solid rock. Finally, they came to an arch that came out onto the very top of the temple. She gasped. They were no longer standing on a tree covered mountain, but on the very top of a gigantic pyramid, like the ones the Aztecs might have built. They were twice as high as the illusion of the mountain had appeared. They were standing on the flat part of the pyramid, at the top. It was about forty feet in size, allowing for a good bit of walking room. But what sat in the center of the top was the true crowning glory. There was a huge stone vase, at least four feet tall, ornately painted and sculpted. Even though being completely exposed to the weather and elements, the urn looked like it had just been completed.

"The wizard's prison." Said Jarnen, gesturing towards the vase. "Now, my quest will be as good as complete when I release the wizards. Watch carefully Leafpool, you shall be the only one to witness my rise to power."

Leafpool's mind was racing. She had to stop Jarnen, but how? She couldn't overpower her. But…she might could outsmart her. Jarnen raised her hands into the air over the vase, beginning to talk in a strange, Welsh sounding language. To Leafpool's horror, the vase started glowing. Thinking fast, Leafpool ran at Jarnen kicking her in the crook of her knees. Jarnen gave a shout of anger as she went down. Having stopped Jarnen from completing her spell, but unsure of what else to do, she ran over to the vase, intending to kick it over and hopefully break it, (although she wasn't sure what would happen, she was out of ideas) but when she thrust her leg out at the vase, she felt a hard shock run through her body, and some invisible force field blew her backwards off her feet. Jaranen cackled. 

"Clever Leafpool, clever. But Tillandal put a protection spell over the vase so nothing can even touch it." She snapped her fingers again, and more ropes appeared and tied themselves around Leafpool's legs, pinning her down. Leafpool angrily struggled against the cords, trying to get free as Jarnen casually walked towards the vase. She raised her hands again, speaking the same words that she had before. Once again the vase started glowing. Leafpool coudn't watch. She turned her face away, but almost the instant after she had done so, Jarnen let out a roar.

"SERIOUSLY? WHAT NOW?" She shouted angrily. Leafpool looked up and let out a whoop of joy Right next to the temple, just above the trees were at least twenty five dragons. Each held two or three hotel guests, some held goblins or ghosts, and the dragon in the lead held the Phantom. His dragon's mouth was just shutting, and smoke drifted out of his nostrils. Leafpool looked over at Jarnen, who was laying on her back, a large black, charred circle right near her. It was obvious that she had just had to jump out of the way of a fireball thrown by the Phantom's dragon.

Leafpool started shouting with excitement, Jarnen was clearly outnumbered. But before anyone could react, she jumped back to her feet, and shouted a short, incoherent spell. Suddenly, the forest below was alive with all screeches, howls, and roars imaginable. Suddenly, all the trees within a hundred yard radius erupted into purple flame, Leafpool shut her eyes from the unexpected light. When the light dimmed, Leafpool opened her eyes and looked. The trees had completely vanished, leaving only small, circular charred spaces where the tree had formerly been. Out of the forests surrounding the treeless ring, very strange creatures were emerging from the woods. Werewolves, vampires, ghouls, a few wood sprites, and one or two trolls came lumbering out.

"ATTACK MY MINIONS!" Jarnen screamed. The vampires, which looked like huge, demon-like bats spread there wings and flew into the air with a screech. The Phantom shouted something too, but Leafpool couldn't hear above the ruckus made by the vampires. Ten dragons, excluding the Phantom, flew to intercept the vampires. The rest though quickly flew to the ground. The Phantom though, flew straight at the top of the temple. Jarnen growled, winding up like a pitcher. She then did a throwing motion and a fireball burst out of her hand. Just then, the Phantom stood up on his dragon and jumped off, the dragon flew at a sharp angle downwards, dodging the fireball, and the Phantom landed right near Jarnen and Leafpool on the temple. Jarnen grinned at the Phantom.

"Got you." She said. Suddenly, magical ropes like the ones holding Leafpool appeared and bound the Phantom. Except they kept wrapping around and around him until he looked like a mummy. With a muffled complaint, the Phantom fell over. Jarnen raised her hands over the vase for a third time, this time speaking very rapidly. Leafpool heard the Phantom give one last, muffled shout, then suddenly the ropes binding him burst into purple flame. When it died down, the ropes were gone and the Phantom was standing on his feet.

"You're too late Phantom! You have lost!" Jarnen shouted gleefully. The vase, now glowing brighter than ever, all of a sudden gave a loud pop and the lid on the vase opened. Leafpool gasped at what she saw. Willow, Evergreen, Tahki, and Starseeker, who had previously been laying unconcious next to Leafpool were gone, and the vase was once again shut tightly. Before her stood four, tall bearded men in long flowing robes. The wizards had been freed. The Phantom snapped his fingers, and the ropes fell off of Leafpool. She stood shakily to her feet, staring at the four wizards standing before her.

"Who had released us from our prison?" One of the wizards growle in a low voice.

"I have, I am the one who freed you!" Jarnen spoke up. "Now bow to your new master!"

"Foolish child, we bow to no one." Snarled one of the other wizards. He raised his hand and gave it a flick. With a yelp, Jarnen was hurled backwards by an invisible force. The wizard turned to Leafpool and the Phantom.

"And who are you two? Are you the young wizards servants? Did you aid in freeing us?" He asked looking at Leafpool and the Phantom up and down.

"Nooot exactly." Said the Phantom. Before the wizards could react, the Phantom made a pushing motion with his arms. "Giglantris!" He shouted. A force field of green energy fired out of the Phantom's hands, blasting the wizards backwards. "Leafpool, go and help your friends. Here…" He reached into his cloak and produced a small, carved stick.

"A wand?" Leafpool breathed.

"Yes, your friends have similar ones. They're meant for non-magical humans. Do you happen to know any spells, by chance?"

"Um…abra kadabra?" 

The Phantom beamed. "The animal morphing spell! Very good! That's a most useful combat spell. Okay, take this." The Phantom went over to the vase that now held Willow, Tahki, Evergreen, and Starseeker. The Phantom spoke a short spell, then there was a blue glow around the vase. Then it stopped. The Phantom picked the vase up. "I just removed the protection spell. Take the vase down off of here and onto the battlefield beneath us. That will coax the wizards to follow. You and I alone cannot defeat them, but if we have all of our other friends helping, we may stand a better chance. So I'll keep them occupied until you have made it to the bottom. Then on my signal, which will be bird sounds, I want everyone to begin concentrating their spells on the wizards. Spread the word. Ready?" 

"Ready." 

Oh my… it's quite awkward when the boy you're kinda sorta dating fakes your death and locks you up in a jar.

Wait… so Tahki, you're NOT a ghost anymore?

No… we're both alive-ish! How wonderful it is! I can feel the breeze on my face!

You're in a jar, Evergreen.

Maybe the jar doesn't have a lid? And EEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I love this story!