by Saless
Chapter 48

"In other words, yes, right?" Mike grumbled.

"More like, it's going to require a shopping trip." Erica replied.

"What for?" Mike replied.

"Those holsters I was talking about, and some arrows for Sarah." Erica replied.

"I am getting kind of low." Sarah said. "I lost a few when we got the healing water."

"That reminds me, we'll need something to put the healing water in that we can carry with us easier, too." Erica said. "Jill, I think you should carry the healing water. You're the best protected of us, and the least armed."

"Uh, okay, I guess. Where are you planning to go?" Jill asked worriedly.

"A good old fashioned dungeon crawl!" Erica replied enthusiastically. "Sarah has the book I have in mind. Some of the bad guys get killed in a dungeon, but trip most of the traps and kill many of the monsters while they're at it. All we have to do is follow behind them and clean up what they missed. With our firepower that should be pretty easy."

Jill and Sarah exchanged worried glances. "I don't know about this…" Sarah said.

"I thought we were going to try to keep the danger to a minimum?!" Jill said.

"We are. The place is mostly cleared out by the time they die, so we won't have much to do. Sarah's fireballs could probably clear the place all by themselves." Erica replied.

"And why do we want to clear the place?" Sarah asked.

"Come on, Sarah, you know why! That place has a trove of treasure including magical items we can use." Erica chided.

"Well, if it's really mostly cleared out already, I guess it could be okay." Mike said uncertainly.

"Great! Come on Sarah, let's go shopping." Erica said, grabbing Sarah's arm and leading her out. She paused at the door and said, "Why don't you get your weapons while we're out, Mike?" Mike nodded, and Erica left.

"Mike, are you sure about this?" Jill said.

Mike shrugged, "It sounds pretty safe for us. I know it's weird to think about, but we've become pretty powerful. I should be able to handle most physical threats by turning into something bigger and stronger than whatever's attacking us. Erica can nullify magical attacks and Sarah can blast anybody from a distance, as well as shooting them. And Erica has the guns and sword now. We can do a lot of damage between us. And with that healing water we should be able to heal any injuries we do get."

"I hope you're right, but we'd better be careful just the same." Jill said.

"No argument there!" Mike agreed, and left to get the swords and knife from his apartment.

He's right you know. Vash said after the door closed behind Mike.

"Oh, you're awake now, huh? Couldn't you have woken up sooner and talked them out of this?" Jill asked archly.

Even if I had, I would have agreed with them. And if I had tried to talk them out of it, I would have been handicapped by my inability to talk to Erica. Vash replied.

"I guess so. I just don't want anyone to get hurt." Jill said with a sigh as she plopped down on the couch next to Vash. He climbed into her lap and purred as she absently stroked his feathers.

Sooner or later someone will, it's inevitable. That healing water you spoke of is a very good idea. Where did you get it? Vash asked curiously. Jill recounted their visit to Xanth. Ah, yet another world, and one with strange rules. Magic that strong is usually very costly, but it seems it is commonplace in that world. Which is fortunate for us!

"Yes. I've been meaning to get that water into smaller containers, but they need to be easy to carry, too. Some kind of canteen, maybe." Jill said.

"Erica will get something like that, I'm sure." Mike said as he stepped inside with the swords and knife in his hands. "Do you want the old sword?" he asked, holding out the sword Sarah took from the prison guard.

"Why not give me the other sword?" Jill asked, looking at the ornate falchion in Mike's hands.

"It's way too heavy!" Mike said with a chuckle. "I'll have to use it with both hands as it is! You'll probably need both hands for this one, but you can handle it."

"Let me see!" Jill demanded, holding her hands out for the falchion. With a sigh Mike handed it to her. She nearly dropped it when he let go, and he was glad it was in its sheath or the blade would have been dulled when it dropped to the floor under its own weight. "Okay, maybe it is too heavy." She admitted reluctantly, letting Mike take it back from her.

"Sorry, I'd give you the falchion if it was practical, but it's not." Mike said apologetically. Jill waved that off and took the broad sword.

"Whoa, this thing isn't all that light, either!" she exclaimed, though it didn't hit the ground like the falchion had. She hefted it a few times and set it aside. "I think I can manage it, but I'll take that knife, too." She said. Mike nodded and helped her use a rope as a makeshift sword belt and attached the scabbard for the sword to it, and then attached the sheath for the knife as well.

"How's that?" Mike asked once she had both weapons secured firmly.

Jill stood and walked a circuit around the couch before sitting back down, careful to keep the sword from hitting anything. "Not bad. I'm glad I won't be carrying that monstrosity!" she said, pointing at the falchion on Mike's belt.

Mike grunted in agreement, "Yeah, it's pretty heavy. I envy Erica, really. That long sword is really light! Then again, she's also going to be carrying two guns and extra magazines for them, as well as the dagger. So maybe it's not the great deal that it seems."

"Where'd we put that healing water, anyway?" Jill asked, realizing they were still missing something.

"I knew I forgot something!" Mike said and left again. Before long he was back with two bottles of healing water.

"Only two?" Jill asked curiously.

Mike shrugged, "If we need more than two for one trip we're doing something seriously wrong!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Jill agreed. They set the water on the table and Jill went to retrieve Sarah's archery gear. "Erica's sword belt is in here, too!" she called out as she dug out all the stuff Sarah would need. Mike came up beside her and retrieved the belt, complete with sword and dagger, and put them on the table. Sarah's bow, quiver of arrows, and arm guard soon joined them. "I think that's everything." She said looking at the pile.

"I don't think we need this part right now, though." Mike said, pointing at the boxes of ammunition. Jill nodded and he moved those boxes into the closet.

It's too bad I've lost most of my weapons. Vash said wistfully.

"What weapons?" Jill and Mike said simultaneously.

My claws are blunted, and my teeth and fangs are much shorter and less sharp than they used to be. More importantly, there doesn't seem to be any poison on them anymore. Vash replied.

"You used to be poisonous?!" Jill exclaimed.

Yes, I was. Now all I have is my magical attack and mental powers. They are not nearly as deadly. Vash said.

"You're dangerous enough still, I think." Jill said consolingly.

I suppose I will have to depend on your mate and friends to do the damage. Vash said regretfully.

The conversation stalled after that, and Jill and Mike started a game of tennis on the Wii. Mike was winning his third consecutive game by the time Sarah and Erica returned laden with bags.

Their arrival was followed by a flurry of preparations. Sarah took her new arrows, all broad heads, and loaded them into her quiver. She arranged the arrows as best she could so that she could find the right kind of arrow when she needed it without looking. She finally resorted to tying a small piece of thread to the practice arrows so she could tell the difference. Meanwhile, Jill and Mike filled sports bottles with healing water, along with a canteen. Sarah had bought a belt to attach a sports bottle to, and Mike and Erica were able to attach them to their sword belts. Jill just used the canteen.

Erica took the longest to get ready, as she had to secure the holsters to her sword belt and also a bag she had bought to put the extra clips in. Once she had loaded up the bag and filled the holsters they were ready to go.

You still have the ring on, right? Vash asked Jill.

"Of course, I've left it on since you gave it to me." Jill replied.

Good! There's no harm in wearing it all the time, so that would be best. he said. A last check showed that they were all ready to go and Erica handed the book she'd selected to Sarah.

"Everyone ready?" Sarah asked. Everyone nodded. "Okay, let's go." She said and opened the portal.