I originally posted this a long time ago, and at some point I wrote a second chapter, but I never posted the second chapter because I wasn't really sure if I liked it or not... but I decided that I would go ahead and post it now...

WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS

-The first chapter is somewhat dark. The second won't be as dark though.

-This fanfic contains some hints of yuri. It s very little and brief. Only in the first chapter. It's meant more to be of a sense of control than romantic.

-Character deaths! Yes, main characters will die! Again, only in the first chapter which is just a possible future.

-Slayers and everything that it entails does not belong to me... much to my dismay.

-Takes place sometime during Slayers TRY.

-The first chapter is based on the lyrics for Valgaav's image song (the English version), also where I got the title.


ONLY LONELY SOLDIER

Dazed, Gourry walked through the forest as the surrounding trees burned. He couldn't believe what was happening. Entire villages were being destroyed; either burned to the ground or just blown up. People were running past him, mad with terror. They all screamed the name of their tormentor...Lina Inverse.

He didn't want to believe, couldn't believe. He looked ahead and saw that the path ended abruptly. He figured that an overpowered Dragon Slave probably blew the rest away. He stood at the edge of a great hole where the forest path should have been. He looked across it to the other side and saw a figure standing in a pillar of flames. He recognized it at once.

"Lina..." He whispered with anguish. He could see her hair turned golden by the power of the Giga Slave...the power of the Lord of Nightmares. He then saw another figure rise from the bottom of the hole. He recognized that one as well. It was Valgaav. Valgaav raised his hand as if to send a powerful spell towards Lina, however, he never got the chance. Lina raised her own hand and a blast with more power than a hundred Dragon Slaves fired out towards Valgaav. He was incinerated on contact.

"How is that possible..." was the only thing Gourry could think to say. Lina looked at him once, her expression of hate never faltering, and then she turned away.

~~~~
Lina's dark rampage continued for weeks without end. Rumors of her evil nature and destructive deeds preceded her and quickly spread to every corner of the world, bringing new meanings to her old nicknames: Goddess of Destruction and King of Hades. Mazoku ran wild, taking advantage of the chaos; many even joined Lina in her dark, fiery fury. Some people began to think that she was the new mazoku lord, if not the Lord of Nightmares herself. Evil creatures of all varieties began to either bow down to her directly or to worship her from afar. Everyone watched in horrified amazement, as Lina Inverse quickly became evil's only lonely soldier.

The next time Gourry saw her, some weeks later; she was standing in the ruble that was once Sairuune. Gourry looked through the many piles of corpses until he found the ones he sought: those of his old friends Amelia and Zelgadiss. He even saw Prince Phil's and Sylphiel's bodies.

"How could you do this Lina...?" He buried them quickly and went to search for her, knowing she was still nearby. Sure enough, he found her standing with a beautiful golden-haired woman. The woman stroked Lina's hair, like a loving mother would her child. They were talking in hushed whispers. Gourry crept closer until he could make out what they were saying.

"You have done well my pet...my precious Lina... I always knew that you would..." The golden-haired woman said.

"Thank you, L-sama..." Lina said in reply.

"L-sama...no... It can't be! Not the Lord of Nightmares!?" Gourry said in horrified awe.

"But...L-sama...why me? Why did you pick me? Not that I'm not grateful or anything..." Lina continued. Although what Gourry was hearing disturbed him greatly, he was overjoyed by hearing Lina's voice again... it had been so long...Then the golden-haired woman, now known to be L-sama, replied:

"Because Lina... you were not afraid of me. You cast my spell when no one else would. I was greatly saddened when I had to give you back then... but I knew you would be mine again. By the way, have you killed him yet... the swordsman?"

"No, L-sama. Although I am certain he is tracking me. He's probably here somewhere mourning the loss of his friends..."

"What are you waiting on my Lina?"

"What does it matter if I kill him tonight or tomorrow... he's just one more insignificant creature...I'll kill him eventually." Gourry was hurt deeply by here words, he had had many people make threats like that about him before, but never had they hurt him like this. Despite this, he kept listening.

"It matters, Lina, because I am afraid that he still has control of your heart, to some degree...you know how I don't like to share my things, Lina..." As she said this, L-sama leaned in closely to Lina, eventually filling in the gap and kissing her gently. After several moments L-sama jumped back, alarmed. In an instant L-sama burned in a golden, fiery array as Lina whispered:

"I know..." Lina turned away from the golden ashes that was the Lord of Nightmares and walked away.

Gourry was stunned. In a single moment the most powerful dark lord...the lord of ALL nightmares, and evil, creation itself, was destroyed. And Lina destroyed her... effortlessly...

Gourry followed her to the next town where she met up with Xelloss.

"Ah...Xelloss, just the mazoku priest I wanted to see... tell me; who are you working for now?" Lina asked smiling.

"Why Lina, it's nice to see you as well. As for your question... I'm afraid that it's a secret!" Xelloss said with that strange grin he always has.

"And I'm afraid that was the wrong answer!" With that said, Lina fired a relatively small blast at Xelloss, just enough to cause him immense pain. "I am the lord of the mazoku race now that L-sama is dead! Are you so pathetic that you didn't notice that the presence of your creator and master had vanished?"

"My apologies..." Xelloss said as he glared up at Lina.

"Come on Xelloss, we have matters to attend to..."

Without moving Xelloss bravely asked, "Have you killed Gabriev yet?"

Lina stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned around. "Why does everyone insist on asking me that!?"

"It was just a question, Lina... -sama." He added hesitantly.

"Well, it was your last... I can't take it anymore! I'm tired of you Xelloss... good-bye." Before Xelloss even had time to protest Lina had killed him. Although Gourry was never very fond of Xelloss, he couldn't help but to feel a little sadness by his death.

After she killed Xelloss, Lina immediately started to destroy the village. One man got up the courage to beg for mercy.

"Please, Lina-sama, spare our village!"

"Hmmm....why should I? Oh, and... Call me L-sama!" For this man's courage, he was rewarded with instant death.

When the village was nothing but cinders, Lina still remained, lingering, waiting for something. Then she said this, seemingly to the wind:

"Come on out, Gourry. I know you're here somewhere. I've been putting your death off, but... people are questioning..."

Gourry slowly stepped out from his hiding place to face her.

"Lina, you don't have to do this...any of this."

"I'm sorry, Gourry... but I do." with that she fired out a single explosive spell...

Gourry awoke with a start, his heart pounding fast.

"What the...?" It was all a dream? What does it mean? Could that possibly be the true power of the Giga Slave...? Is that what would happen if Lina ever cast it... successfully? Wait...Lina!

These thoughts continued to circle in Gourry's head as he hurried downstairs to the tavern part of the inn where he usually met up with Lina. To his immense relief she was calmly sitting at a table with a tiny smile on her face as she waved at him. She looked completely normal, her hair was its normal fiery red instead of gold, and the look of hatred had been replaced with her cheerful demeanor.

Then he caught sight of the person sitting next to her... Xelloss.

"Slept well I trust?" Xelloss asked with a knowing look in his eyes.

"Ok Xelloss, what was that all about!? What's going on!?" Gourry screamed at the mazoku.

If at all possible Xelloss' smile grew as he said:

"Well now...that is a secret!"


Well there you have it.....not much but take it or leave. Feel free to comment if you'd like.