"Okay, we're here. Now what?" War Scribe asked no one in particular.

"Now strip!" Irzen commanded while removing his cloak, armor and sword, "You're a Chronicler of Validor. I know you've prepared for this occassion. So don't stand on ceremony. Strip down to that two-piece, shiny black leather bathing suit that hugs every square inch of your body and try and put Alyson to shame."

War Scribe harumphed as she stripped down to a one-piece, shiny black leather bathing suit that hugged every square inch of her body, "Ha! Mister Smarty Drow! It's a one-piece not a two-piece--so there!" She promptly stuck her tongue out at Irzen.

"Scribe, I'll make a deal with you," Irzen offered out of the blue, "If you make nice with everyone here and now, I promise that I'll drown you in the lagoon later."

"REALLY?!" War Scribe cooed in glee as her heart skipped a beat, "That's one of the nicest things you've ever offered to do for me, Irzen. You got a deal!"

**********

Quake gathered her group of humans with her using her earth meld ability they took the elevator down through the hard rock face and emerged on the beach at the edge of the lagoon. "Lady! That was spectacular! You won't ever catch me doing that flying stuff, ever. If it was a race through lava, heck yeah."

Alyson turned around to see Quake, Neven, Seri, and Madame Mabel standing there. "That's all good and fine when you're in your true form, Quake. I wouldn't exactly try that now, you might end up blackened and crusty."

Quake gasped suddenly, "Lady, look out!"

"AHAHAHAHA!" Lazheros had entered the water of the lagoon and flicked his tail in the shallow water next to the elementalist. She was completely drenched again. He flicked his tail once more but this time she had a chance to counter his splashing.

"Lazheros," Alyson whipped up a whirlwind to counter the second incoming wave. It caught the water and sent it right back at him.

"Hmm?" He craned his neck around to see her and got a face full of sea water in his face.

"Right back at ya!" The elementalist waved to the bronze dragon, "Ahahaha!"

Quake and company broke out into laughter, "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Seri took off her shirt, pants, and boots. Revealing a short cloth bodice and skirt for swimming. "Last one in is a rotten egg!"

Neven took off his cloak, boots and tunic leaving on only his pants. The Thief raced into the water after Seri.

Lazheros shook off the excess water from the elementalist's counter attack and settled down in the same spot from last night. ~ Not bad. I'm just getting started, Alysiane. ~

The elementalist looked over to Quake, "Let me know when you'd like when you want to revert to your natural form."

"Okay, lady!" Quake smiled as she stood at the edge of the water, "Umm, I don't know if I can float, you know with my tail and all."

"You could always use it to keep you above the water." Alyson replied.

The elemental turned to the elementalist, "You know that robe he gave you...its very revealing when you're wet. Doesn't leave much to the imagination, lady."

Alyson leaned closer to Quake, "I believe he planned it this way but at least I don't have to worry about the sea salt bothering my skin now."

The bronze dragon watched Alyson and Quake talk for a minute, "Well, are you two coming in? The water is just right."

"Yeah, yeah." Alyson waved to the dragon again.

"Is he always like this?" Quake asked her.

"When he's in the cleric form, he's polite and respectful, when he's his true self, he tends to be very ALOOF!" Alyson raised her voice.

"Hahaha!" The bronze dragon chuckled louder and the vibration stirred up the water again. "Ahahaha"

Seri dove below the water and resurfaced a few feet ahead of him. She turned onto her back to wait for Neven to follow her.

Neven caught up with her and promptly began to splash some water in her face, "Ha! It looks like you're all wet, Seri! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Yeah! And so are you, Neven!" Seri told him as she slipped beneath the surface to swim under him.

Neven suspected what Seri was up to and dived beneath the surface to counter her.

Seri came up laughing from Neven pursuing her under the water. "You're good. Where'd you learn to swim like that?"

Neven came up next to her, "I had a friend, Mikus, who taught me when I was young. When I got older, I used to go swimming all the time in the Stormhaven River early in the morning before anyone was up. Who taught you how to swim?"

Caliaphy flew over to Lazheros, "Oh, thank you very much for granting my request! You won't regret it! Teeheehee!"

Lazheros chuckled again, "Hahaha! Go and get the shield maiden and show her the way out here, Caliaphy."

The kurori flew back to the shore and motioned Serna to follow, "This way!"

"Okay!" Serna ran after Caliaphy, "Slow down! I don't have wings you know."

"Oh, sorry!" Caliaphy snapped her fingers and her wings disappeared. "Better?"

"Much better!" Serna sighed in relief as she was better able to keep up with her new found friend.

Caliaphy swam all the way out with Serna and over to the dragon with Alyson sitting on his back. "Okay, we're here. How about a lift, please?"

The bronze man rose up out of the water slowly. His smooth scales made an excellent water slide and both Caliaphy and Serna slide effortlessly down either side of his tail and into the water.

"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" The kurori squealed with excitement.

"YYYYAAAHHHOOOOO!" Serna cried out as she slid down the back of the Bronze Man.

****SPLOOOOOSH!!****

The elementalist heard War Scribe's banter towards Irzen behind her and turned to greet them, "Ah, the studious swordsman and chronicler have decided to grace us with their presence."

"We have indeed," War Scribe smiled with all of the warmth of a crocodile, "You have a lovely lagoon here, Alyson, thanks for bringing us here. This will give us a perfect opportunity to rest, relax and release our burdens!"

Quake already was making her way further into the lagoon a few feet a time. "Lady, are you coming in or what?"

Alyson snickered and ran towards the water diving beneath the surface to prevent the dragon from flicking water at her. She swam at least twenty feet underneath before coming up for air and swam the remaining thirty feet out to Lazheros."Quake, you were saying?"

"HEY! How did you get past me, lady?" The elemental protested.

The robe now bodysuit gave the elementalist a few advantages in the water. One it gave her freedom of movement making her streamline and allowed her to breeze through the water. Two, if she chose to she could Alter herself and breath underwater at will three times a day unlimited.

Quake grumbled as she slowly made her way into deeper water. The sandy bottom really didn't give a solid foothold like the dry ground did. She did use her ten foot tail to lift her up enough to be with the others. "I can't go any further, Lady."

"That's fine, Quake." Alyson swam around and then under the water to his other side where she climbed up the narrow path to the ledge overlooking the deeper water. She was also able to talk with him on his level instead of him having to lower his head down.

"Not bad, Scribe, not bad," Irzen admitted, "You can be nice."

"When I want to be," War Scribe concluded.

"You mean when there is something in it for you."

"Correct, when I want to be!"

Irzen sadly shook his head before he waded into the water.

The elementalist whistled to the chronicler, "What took you so long to get here?" ~ Seama should be here any minute now...~

"I had to change outfits," The Drowling replied, "This is my first visit here. I admit that I am not too familiar with these surroundings. However, this place is quite pleasant and I must say, Alyson, that your bathing suit is quite stunning. It complements your skin tone well. Did you make it yourself? How long have you had it?"

Right on que, another kurori appeared. The neon green hair water sprite herself, Seama. The sounds of multiple laughter lured her to the lagoon once more. "Teeheehee! Oooooo! Lots of people are here!"

Lazheros resumed his position into the water to let Caliaphy and Serna back on for another slide, "Seama. These are Alyson's friends. Play nice."

"Oh! I will play nice!" Seama grinned mischievously as she spotted Quake bobbing in the water. "Hi, Quake!"

"Oh, hi Seama. This whole swimming in water thing is a bit awkward for me at the moment." The elemental steadied herself as best she could.

Seama glanced past Quake and saw both Irzen and War Scribe making their way out into the water. She vanished with a giggle and a huge bubble of water appeared over the Chronicler. It burst completely drenching War Scribe.

**KERSPLASHH!**

War Scribe stopped dead in her tracks as she was soaked to the bone. The Drowling just stewed in her anger yet she maintained an air of civility when she hissed, "Well, I was planning to get wet anyway."

Irzen did his best to stifle a laugh.

While Seama was distracted pranking the Chronicler, the bronze dragon spoke to Quake in draconic, "*Wux ixenternesj daratrix.* Quake? *Arcaniss axun.*"

The elemental nodded, "Yes, please."

Alyson yelled over to the water sprite, "Seama."

Seama darted up to Alyson sitting on the ledge, "Oh, Alyson! This is so much fun! New people...teeheheee...to prank, yeah."

"I bet," Alyson gave the sprite a thumbs up, "Could you help Quake out for me, she seems to be stuck a little. I mean there's no one here who really can move like you, Seama. You got the right stuff!"

Seama's ego hit a new high when Alyson complimented her, "Uh-huh! I am the BEST!!"

"You okay, Scribe?" Irzen asked though he already knew the answer.

"The only thing that is hurt on me is my pride, Irzen," War Scribe hissed as she settled into the water, "Nothing more, nothing less. I am playing nice and that is that!"

*****

On the shore Madeous was joined by Madame Mabel and sat down next to him. "Just reminiscing, sire?"

He looked over to the courtesan, "Yes. Yes I am. Lazheros looks the same as he did when I first met him when I was a young man."

"I suppose it might 'ave to do with 'im being a dragon. Being a creature of magic. Letting 'em take on whatever form he chooses. He ages but a lot slower than us mortals." Madame Mabel smiled. "I am happy for 'em. He's found true love."

"...yeah." Madeous sighed, "I would of never figured that my niece was the one he bonded with. Well, I suppose it was fate in a way. She is home and she is happy here. Truly happy."

"And that is a good thing," Willow added standing not too far behind them, "It has been a very long time since I have seen Alyson smile this much and this long. This land definitely agrees with her."