Disclaimer: I don't own anything written by Hajime Kanzaka. If I did then I would be hiding in a corner trying to avoid all the people who would hate me for it. I repeat I do NOT own Slayers OR the characters.
I have set this story just after Try and before the two arc seasons.
Chapter One: The Scholar
With the world recently at peace again, the only thing the people of Earth have to fear is whether or not the "Beautiful Sorcery Genius" has enough food (and money) to be content.
It was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky, bright sunlight and cheerful birds singing sweet songs. At least, that was how it started out. At round about lunch time, in meager, crowded and humble cafe, in a cozy tourist city, this day would not be remembered for its simplicity. Rather, it would be recorded as the worst thing to ever happen in that city. This is the day that Lina Inverse would 'grace' the city of Linthar with her presence. Or if you asked the city inhabitants, the sorceress came to devastate Linthar beyond restoration.
"I'll take three portions of everything on the menu!" The waitress taking the petite sorceress' order gaped at the enormous portion of food ordered by the famished red head.
As the young girl sat, her tall blond companion took the seat opposite her. "Can I have the same please?" Gourry said, ever the polite and chivalrous gentleman.
Eventually the overwhelmed waitress regained her senses and fled to the kitchen to hurriedly inform the cooks that the famous Lina Inverse and her bodyguard are demanding insane amounts of food. All the rumors that spread about her include her obsession with food and the impatience if she doesn't get it quickly.
Ten minutes later, give or take a few, all the waiters, waitresses, and all the cooks in the cafe began carrying in platters, dishes of food. More food than 20 grown men could eat in a whole sitting.
"FOOD!" The redhead proceeded to consume everything in sight -even some inedible things such as her companions hand- she began to think about where the princess and the, normally, downcast chimera could be.
"Lina are you finished yet?" Gourry commented interrupting Lina's thoughts.
"Hah, what, umm" Lina replied confused.
"Are you finished?" Gourry repeated.
"Oh, yeah I'm done." Lina replied offhandedly. She was still thinking about where Zel and Amelia could be.
It is funny how often coincidental occurrences can happen in life. The timing is often too perfect. That being said...
An emphatic shout interrupted the pondering of our bright and adventurous friend. "Lina! Look! It's Amelia and Zel!" Gourry said pointing to where Zel and Amelia could be seen out the big picture window that Lina and Gourry sat by. "Yeah, I've been wondering where they are too…"
The redhead was still lost in her own thoughts.
"NO! Lina, they're right over there! LOOK!" Gourry pointed as he exclaimed right 0in Lina's face.
"That's nice Gourry, good for you…. "Lina said absently.
Lina was so lost in her own world of thoughts that she completely missed the two slip in and walk right behind her chair. The young princess placed her hands delicately over Lina's eyes and waited for a response from the easily angered redhead. The usually passive Zelgadiss placed a finger to silence the explanation that was already forming on Gourry's lips for Lina as to why she had suddenly lost her sight.
Lina, still clueless that her friends were actually behind her and not off wondering the world, was not at all pleased with the thought that a joke had just been played on her- scowled.
Trying not to explode with rage, she stood up and looked around at her friends, who continued to laugh not taking note of Lina's anger.
Then, the Enemy-Of-All-Who-Live, cleared her throat -silence- complete and utter silence. It is a truly frightening thing that you are much better off never experiencing. Considering it was brought on by someone with a know temper and has, well... quite literally, explosive outbursts.
"I did tell you they were here." Gourry said hopping to fix things... Although, it might have been a better idea to keep his mouth shut, because Lina was about to re-arrange Gourry's body when Amelia spoke up.
"Lina! How have you been?" she sang out brightly dropping her usually polite form of address.
"Well, nothing bad has happened in several months. Honestly, I've been bored out of my mind!"
"Hey," Gourry protested. "What about that guy who was following you around asking you to marry him?"
Zel and Amelia sat down as Lina shivered. "DON'T remind me… That guy was a creep!"
"I'm glad we found you Lina." Zel said withdrawing a book from his cloak.
"What's that?" Lina inquired as she stopped shivering at the thought of her stalker, and began to question Zelgadiss about his book.
"This is a book Amelia found when we were in Elmikia." Zel said with a hint of excitement in his voice as he placed it in front of Lina. Hearing the smallest change in the somber chimera's voice spiked Lina's interest and also caught the attention of our dear A.D.D friend Gourry.
"I believe this book has my cure in it," Zel said with clear happiness in his voice.
Although you would expect someone who has finally found the cure he's been looking for after years of searching, to be leaping for joy...
We all know that Zel was containing his happiness as to not appear like a child on Christmas day. There is always the possibility that it might not be the cure. We all know that he is much to sophisticated, and logical for that.
"In Elmikia?" Gourry asked missing the main point.
Gourry's question went unanswered as Zel continued. "I'm not sure what language this is in, but I thought I'd see if you could read it Lina."
Lina practically pounced on the book wanting to discover it's secrets…
As she opened the book Gourry looked over her shoulder also interested in the book.
"Elvish," Lina muttered. "It's in elvish." She repeated louder.
Zel hopefully asked, "Can you read it?" At the same time Amelia asked, "What does it say?"
Lina scoffed indignantly. "Of course I can read it! It says; … 'The curse can only be undone by something twice as strong." Lina read slowly. "The only thing…" Zel and Amelia both leaned forward in anticipation at the same time. "The only thing that can soften a stone golem's skin is….' I can't read that word." Lina continued past it.
" 'Tüán sõ leún Rainë
Rainë hen shein
Tüán sõ Goëra shein
Ûl Tüán'..."
Lina paused. "I think it's a spell."
"No," Gourry corrected. "It's a poem."
Lina stared at him. " HOW Would YOU know?" She questioned angrily.
"It says;
'Love strong as rock-
Rock without heart-
Love will break-
Only love.'" Gourry read emotionally.
"Lina, could it be both?" Amelia asked trying to keep the restaurant in one piece.
"Amelia, where did you get this book anyway?" Gourry asked with curiosity and suspicion.
"Well," Amelia began. "I think it was, the family name..."
Zel spoke up and finished the question for Amelia. "Arröweåth"
Gourry's mouth fell to the depths of Lina's stomach when his suspicions were confirmed. Now, as you can imagine, seeing Gourry's shock is a rare if not unique experience for the Slayers group. They all stared at him like The Lord of Nightmares appeared and announced she was getting married to Xelloss.
They all stared at him baffled by his confusion.
"He gave it to you willingly?" Gourry asked as if Shabranigdu was being reborn.
Zel chucked slightly, remembering back a few days. "Well, no. Um... Not exactly, I kind of, sorta, well, ordered him to give it to me..." Amelia said sheepishly. It was hard for the sweet, innocent Hero of Justice, to admit to such a deed.
"She used her royal crest and demanded that he give us the book," Zel finished.
"He was very reluctant... but I told him we would return it later." Amelia added softly.
"What's going on? Who are you guys taking about? Gourry? You JELLYFISH! How is it possible for YOU who can barely understand English can speak Elvish?" Lina burst out angrily.
Zel realizing how strange it is that Gourry knew the man they got the book from, and that he also knew Elvish. "Gourry how do you know Fäoriên Arröweåth?" Zel inquired.
"Because... Fäoriên Arröweåth... is my father. Gabriev is the English (or whatever their mother language is in the Slayers world) last name for my family. The reason I know Elvish is because I learned it before I learned English. I only started learning English when I was five." Three pairs of eyes stared at him amazed.
"I'm a quarter elf," Gourry added. Then he turned back to the book ignoring their shocked expressions.
"According to this book you can just use a spell and reverse the curse. Although who ever casts the spell must have enough power." Gourry said sagely.
(Yes, I said sagely. Believe it or not!)
"That shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure Lina has enough power to cast the spell." Zel said confidently.
"No, I don't think Lina can cast this spell." Gourry stated without thinking of the consequences that saying such a thing could have.
"Excuse me!" Lina roared. "What do you mean I can't cast it?" With that, Lina stood up and started re-adjusting the shape of Gourry's body.
Before she beat Gourry beyond repair, Zel interrupted. "Why don't you let him explain Lina?"
Lina paused to think. Then, letting go of the now... well, let's just say what used to be Gourry, who now melted to the floor in a pile of goo.
"Alright Gourry! Explain! NOW!" Lina demanded.
"Okay, I meant that the love the caster feels towards Zel has to be greater than the power of Rezo's curse." Gourry somehow was capable of forming his body back into a solid being and managed to talk without any moans.
"I think the spell also requires a lot of white magic; Therefore, making Amelia, the best, and maybe the only candidate for the job." Gourry was now sitting down on the edge of his chair because he had a huge bruise on his back and tush. ( A/N: rump, behind, bottom, or various other words.)
"Uh... Um... Whhh..." Amelia stuttered.
"Here's what the book says; 'If love stronger than rock is awakened inside the cursed, then it is possible for a reversal spell. Also the love must be returned.' Here's the spell; 'My heart softens the rock, with love, My hands that warm your skin, that which is stronger then stone now is broken by my love.'"
"Well, that's the STRANGEST spell I've ever heard" commented Lina.
Zel was silent for a minute. "You can't be serious! You're joking! Right? Gourry?" He finally managed.
"Nope. I'm not. Do you think I'd joke about your cure?" Gourry said obviously offended by Zel's previous comment. "Besides, there's one more thing. It says you need to be in the center of four stone pillars, and you have to repeat this back to Amelia; 'Your heart softens mine, love so sweet. Your touch that warms my skin, that which is stronger than stone is now broken by our love.'" Gourry read this thoughtfully. "Hmm, next it says... it says that cures are developed by the person who placed the curse."
Lina thought for a moment, then said; "How do we know if Rezo created this cure?"
Zel scowled. "It sounds like something he would do."
Gourry opened his mouth to add, "Plus it says so right here, 'Cure created by Rezo the Red Priest for Zelgadiss Greywords." They all looked at Gourry. "I'm serious! It says so right there! See the names?" Gourry pointed to the names that you could clearly identify since the looked the same as if it was English.
"HEY! It does look like it says Rezo & Zel!" Lina exclaimed eagerly.
"Didn't I tell you?" Gourry declared indignantly.
"This is a thick book, so that isn't all it says. What else does it say?" Zel asked Gourry. "Well, not anything exciting. It continues to explain how love is the cure and just a bunch of other things that don't matter because this spell will cure you... The index says that there are several other cures in here, most of them are cures that he found for certain diseases."
Zel processed this for a moment. "How do you know there isn't more to the cure?" The chimera asked suddenly.
"That's simple." Gourry stated bluntly. "It says so."
"He's right" Lina sweat-dropped. "The book says; 'Yes, that's all the cure is."
Lina added as an agreement.
"'The entire next chapter is a definition of love. It also explains why love is the cure. That's what it says, 'the end of the first chapter is here.'"
Gourry read out loud, sounding thoroughly board. "Do you want me to read the next chapter?"
Lina shook her head. Zel thought about it. Amelia stuttered. Zel shrugged. Amelia finally manages to nod.
Gourry begins to read the on about love.
After about twenty-minutes. Gourry finishes the chapter.
"Wow, I never new love was so many things!" Gourry exclaimed.
Amelia began to launch a justice speech on love.
"Love is powerful! It's a JUST thing!" She declared then sighed dreamily.
Lina, Gourry and Zel all three sweat-dropped; Amelia stared off into space lost in her own world.
"She looks love stricken to me." Gourry commented.
"How would YOU know anything about love?" Lina exclaimed.
"Well, Lina. He was able to read the book, and you couldn't." Zel added to Gourry's defense.
"Yeah" Gourry said. "What do you have to say about that?"
Lina grinned slyly. "So Zel, does that mean you agree with what he's saying? After all, Amelia is your cure! Especially since she's all love sick right now."
Zel blushed ferociously. "I, uh, ... uhm... whe-lll..." He stammered.
"You agree, but you just can't find the words to say so." Lina concluded for him.
"Lina! You can't decide those things for him! It's unjust!" Amelia declared now recovering from her embarrassment.
"Oh, so now you're defending Zel? That is interesting!" Lina spoke with hidden meaning. But Amelia picked up on it and said, "It's not like that! I'm only looking out for Zelgadiss as a friend! It's a just thing to do!" Amelia said defensively with a hint of pink on her cheeks.
"Now Amelia, all I said was it's interesting that you're defending Zel. That's all," Lina said grinning with mischief. "It's not like I actually said you were defending him because you were in love with him or anything like that."
Amelia blushed about the same shade of red that Lina's hair is.
"Maybe not" Gourry spoke up. "But you implied it."
Lina began one of her famous death glares just for Gourry. Then stopped puzzled beyond anything she's ever been confused about. All because her protector, Gourry, the man with yogurt for brains was able to pick up on something she didn't say out loud.
Lina began to say, "How?" Then Gourry interrupted Lina before she could say anything else.
"Why don't you quit teasing them." He spoke sternly with a serious look on his face that said he would stick with his conviction until it actually happened.
The waitress finally brought Lina and Gourry's bill. With the enormous amount that they consumed they had such a hard time adding up the cost. Not to mention all the other customers that they were making sure were fed.
Gourry stood up and gave the waitress a bag of coins. "Come on Lina." Gourry commanded.
"Wha? Why?" Lina stammered. It's amazing she was able to say anything. She was stunned that Gourry was taking command and telling HER what to do.
"I'll buy you ice cream!" He said trying to persuade her to leave Zel and Amelia alone. Lina's eyes sparkled. "Really Gourry? You will?" Lina batted her eyelashes hopefully.
"Yes," Gourry replied shortly. Then he added. "Shör huän ê kyir böu." (A/N: In my made up Elvish. It means 'What have I done!') "What does that mean? " Lina asked curiously as she and Gourry left the restaurant, where Zel and Amelia still sat.
"It means if we don't hurry all the ice cream will have been eaten by other people who aren't just waiting for the ice cream to come to them." Gourry said exasperated.
"Then come on! Let's GO!" Lina grabbed Gourry's arm and ran down the street to find her ice cream.
End Chapter One
Kyoudaichan: I hope you like this chapter!
NOTICE: I have recently edited this chapter 5/25/10. I also would like to add that I know that Gourry is OOC, but seeing as this is my fanfic, I have the liberties to make such changes. I hope you like the way I created him, if not, you can review and let me know what you think should be changed. I'm open to suggestions! Review! I want to hear from you~! I will reward you with cyber cookies and review replies!