Disclaimer: We do not own Slayers, and we're not making any money off of this.

SPECIAL NOTES: This fanfic is written by Nathan J. Urbansic, a good friend of mine who does not have an FF.net account of his own and is currently unable to possess one. Hence I am posting this as a proxy with full permission from the true author.

Please still feel free to review, but keep in mind that all compliments go to Nate. Thanks minna. Enjoy!

ALSO: This is set in a universe parallel with the NEXT storyline. However, a few subtle differences occur, and slightly different choices are made. This just goes to show you that it really is the little things in life that create who we are... And what we become.


Slayers Next:

SLAYERS NiXT:

Nobody's Perfect


Chapter One


"Blam Blazer!" the fiery young redhead yelled out. Instantly a blue light shot out from her hand.

The dark swordsman was halted but for an instant as he skillfully deflected the spell off of the Sword of Light. Responding in kind, he swung the sword to the ground with both hands, sending out a fierce shockwave of energy in the direction of our heroine.

She was barely able to dodge the attack, but by the sheer power of it she was thrown to the ground next to her companions. The sinister fighter approached.

"If he can keep repelling our spells," the justice-loving youth next to her piped up, "all we can do is keep dodging the Sword of Light!"

"I can see how this is going to end," the always-optimistic Zelgadis Greywers added.

From within the branches of a nearby tree, the voice of a child was heard, "Normal methods won't let you win. You're going to have to fight more seriously against him."

As if echoing the growing sadistic pleasure of Hellmaster, the Sword of Light crackled with an otherworldly intensity, granting yet more strength to the already indomitable opponent. This fight would not end easily. As if on cue, the swordsman charged with a cry of murderous intent.

Lina stood defiantly before him. She has not been defeated before and didn't plan to lose now. "Guys…" They all looked at her, hoping Lina had a plan. She did. "RUN!" The sorceress bolted past her face-faulting friends as fast as her legs could take her. Zel and Amelia, already somewhat accustomed to this, quickly realized the sense in what Lina had done. Martina was a little slower on the pick-up.

"AAAH! I hate this!" the poor, clueless princess screamed out as she caught up with the other three.

"Lina, what are we going to do?" Zel panted out in between breaths.

"…all the fools who stand in our way be destroyed…"

He smirked knowingly and suddenly started to run faster.

Lina's voice rose as she continued to speak the words she knew far too well. "…by the power you and I possess!" She came to a sudden stop and turned to face the oncoming menace. "DRAGON SLAVE!"

A deep red pillar of magic streamed towards the assailant, carrying with it the power of Shabrinigdo himself. A ball of crimson energy enveloped the swordsman. Lina's companions turned to watch, hoping this would finally finish him. Sadly, Hellmaster was one to disappoint. Suddenly the ball flared outwards, but was stopped by something pulling at it, something from the inside. Soon, all that was the powerful Dragon Slave had been consumed by the Sword of Light, giving it the same ominous red glow as the spell itself.

"He absorbed it with the Sword of Light?!" Lina said in disbelief.

The blade surged with power and with a single swing, the spell was sent right back to the one who had cast it. The combined power of the sword with that of Shabrinigdo enveloped an area the size of a large town, utterly destroying everything within it. Fortunately Lina and the others had been in their fair share of Dragon Slaves before and were somewhat used to it, being only knocked to the ground and stunned.

"How are we alive," Amelia quietly asked.

"I don't really know," Zel whispered from his position of lying on his back facing the sky, "but you don't hear me complaining."

Silently the dark warrior strode up to Lina. Lina, still stunned by the previous attack, could only watch in fear as this messenger of death came to greet her. The sword was raised high, it's blade aimed at the young sorceress's chest. A moment of eternity passed. Frantically Lina searched through her mind to find some way to defeat this new enemy. The Dragon Slave is no use, she thought to herself, and the Ragna Blade won't work against someone as fast as he is. That other spell is too powerful for the Sword of Light to absorb, but…

Before she could finish her thought, the sword began its descent, but was stopped short. The swordsman growled as if fighting some intense inner struggle. The conflict, it seemed, was winning, as he stumbled back slightly. I might have a chance. Whatever this chance was, though, quickly evaporated as the fighter suddenly seemed to have come back to his senses, however sinister and murderous they may be. He swung the sword high into the air, intent on bringing it down through the girl before him. And so his desire came true. At least it would have if something hadn't come out of nowhere to carry Lina to safety. Lina, as confused as everyone else, looked up at her rescuer with surprise, and with a little bit more confusion then before. "You?!"

The would-be hero straightened up, his long black hair and tattered old hat blew lightly in a breeze. "I see you're up to your neck in trouble, as usual."

"It's him!" Zel called out in disbelief.

"Mr. Zangulus?!" Amelia said, remembering his name with some effort.

"What are you doing here?!" Lina inquired. After all, it's not everyday that a strangely clad swordsman who's been seeing out of only one eye for who knows how long shows up.

"Where's Gourry?" Zangulus asked, ignoring Lina's question.

"Don't tell me you've just been following Gourry!"

"Get off my back!" he yelled at the redhead below him.

This guy's pathetic, Lina realized. "Well, Gourry isn't here, but there's a swordsman who's perfect for you! And he's got Gourry's Sword of Light!"

"So it would seem," Zangulus casually said as he approached the unknown warrior, pulling out his own weapon. Assuming battle stance, Zangulus let everyone know the battle was on "Howling Sword…PART TWO!"

With that the two fighters charged each other, making an initial pass to cross blades, allowing them to assess the others skills. The feel of that strike, Zangulus thought to himself. I must know! They charged each other again, but this time were intent on holding their ground as they fight fiercely one with another. The others looked on in awe at the skill of the two fighters. Zangulus seemed to be holding his own, but he knew he couldn't win this fight. "Can it be him?!" Zangulus blurted out, doubting the thought that was being more reassured as the clash continued.

Suddenly, a voice from out of Heaven called unto him, "Zangulus! Get back!" Fortunately he realized that this was actually just Lina coming from above, and behind the opponent, in a surprise attack, something much worse. Zangulus fought on, though. He knew that if he cut off his attack any more than an instant before Lina came down on him, the dark swordsman would be able to turn and block the strike.

"…Power that can smash even the souls of the gods!" Zangulus, move! "RAGNA BLADE!" Out of nowhere, the dark energy of the Lord of Nightmares, herself, gathered within Lina's hands, forming a massive blade of pure chaos. Zangulus knew the time was right and retreated. The spell being held together only by her will, Lina brought the loathsome blade down upon the dark swordsman, cleaving him in two with a diagonal strike from the right shoulder down.

For a moment, he stood, as if upheld purely by the shock of death. Then he fell. With two light thuds onto the ground, all knew the battle was over, and that they had been victorious. Well, at least that Lina was victorious.

"Miss Lina!" Amelia shouted with elation, "You did it!"

Letting the spell dissipate from within her hands, the talented young sorceress smiled. "I did. Didn't I?"

"Hey," Zel said to a nearby tree, "You can come out now."

Martina slowly crept out from behind the tree. "Is he dead yet?"

Zangulus chuckled. "It would certainly appear that way." They walked over to join Lina near the fallen enemy.

"I knew you could do it, Miss Lina! I knew that justice was on our side and that we would prevail over the henchmen of an evil mazoku!"

"Uh….right, Amelia," Lina sweatdropped, humoring the poor girl.

"I must say, Lina." Zangulus said while looking over the body. "You certainly know how to get the job done."

"Yeah, well, I had it under control the whole time."

"I'm sure." Zel said under his breath, getting on his knees to closer examine the "Hmmmmmm…." He added, noticing something seeping from the body.

"What is it?" Zangulus asked.

"It's blood."

Zangulus tensed. "Take off the mask. I want to see something." Zel reached out to remove the helmet.

"Hey, Hellmaster!" Lina called to the young boy who had been silently watching. "If you want us to come to Sairaag so badly, it'd be nice if you didn't throw two-bit fighters in our way. I expected a little more courtesy." Suddenly a gasp from her companions was heard.

"Lina…." Amelia said weakly as she collapsed to her knees.

"Eh? What is it?" Lina turned to see everyone looking at the body. She, too, looked.

"It can't be?!" Zel cried in disbelief.

"G-G-G-Gourry?" Martina was finally able to say.

Lina remained silent, with her head hung low, a shadow across her face.

"I knew something wasn't right," Zangulus muttered angrily.

"Sylphiel!" Amelia suddenly spoke up with frantic energy. "She's good with white magic! Where is she?! She'll know what to do!" She looked around frenziedly.

"Amelia." Zel silenced her. "You know she's not here and even if she were, she couldn't do anything." The truth is, they hadn't seen Sylphiel since their battle with Copy Rezo.

Amelia calmed down and with a whimper, fell against Zel's leg, holding onto it for support. Normally he would've removed her, but under the circumstances….

"Well, well!" A child's voice broke the somber mood. "This is an unforeseen turn of events!"

A single tear slid down Lina's cheek. "Damn you, Phibrizzo," she said with constrained rage. All stood silently, watching the fury and hatred build within this girl they knew so well. Everyone has their limits. Lina had just reached hers. "DAMN YOU!!" She yelled out as she charged Phibrizzo, reciting an incantation as fast as her mind would allow. "RAGNA BLADE!!"

Before anyone could blink, the blade of eternal chaos swept through where Hellmaster had been but a moment before.

Phibrizzo's sinister laughter filled the air as Lina landed on the ground, her breath heavy and ragged. "See you in Sairaag," he said with a final bit of sadism as his laughter died away.

Her companions found they could do nothing more than to look on.

Once again, the chaotic power she held died away. She stood for the longest time as it all sunk in. Finally giving in, Lina Inverse, the great sorceress and adventurer, fell to her knees and wept.



End of chapter one. To be continued...