Author's Note: This is my first fanfic on here, so I really hope that you enjoy it. Please review, even if its negative, so that I know that people are reading this. However, please no flaming.
This story takes place some time after Revolution, though with no Pokota. Actually, I'm trying to include as few references to Revolution as possible, since it is not yet complete. The point of this story is to try to explain why Lina and Naga originally split up, and how they get back together.
I will post one chapter every two days. Rated T for comedic violence, regular violence, some suggestive themes, and some minor language (which I try to keep to a minimum anyway since it is a pet peeve, but I gotta stay in character). Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: Do I own Slayers? You have no idea how much I wish I did, but unfortunatley I do not. That honor goes to Hajime Kanzaka.
Slayers: Reconcile
Chapter 1: Crispy Bandits
"Fireball!"
A violent explosion rocked the forest, sending burning leaves, heated dirt, and well baked bandits flying into the air.
The leader of the bandits, a huge and burly man who was as strong as a grizzly bear and (normally) as intimidating as an enraged black dragon, got down on his knees to beg for mercy.
"Please, Miss! Please have mercy on us! We are but a humble band of honest highwaymen just trying to make a living! Please show some mercy, I beg of you!"
The person that this rugged giant was pleading to was a girl of about eighteen or nineteen- though this was somewhat difficult to determine by sight alone as she was rather short for her age. Her build was rather plain, but her face had a child-like youthfulness that was quite pretty. Her eyes were the color of rubies, and shone brightly with intelligence and mischief. However, they lacked compassion for the groveling criminal at her feet.
Her cape was dark blue with a dark red lining, and was kept in place by a pair of pointed shoulder guards. The cloak flapped in the breeze, accompanied by her long, bright red hair. Strapped at the back of her waist was a shortsword. Around her neck, and at her waist and wrists were shining silver talismans, each one inset with a single bright red gem the size of a small egg.
The girl pointed a gloved finger at the bandit boss as she asked, "And what makes you think that I'm going to spare you after you and your boys have spent the last month robbing Lord Rolthmier- my current employer's- trade routes?"
"Y-you work for Lord Rolthmier!?" exclaimed the bandit as his body broke out into a cold sweat.
"Yup," replied the girl, "And when a wealthy lord hires Lina Inverse to hunt down a band of pesky bandits, then Lina Inverse is all too happy to oblige (provided that I get paid well, of course)!"
"LINA INVERSE!?" the bandit screamed loudly. "The Bandit Killer!? The Dragon Spooker!? The- OW!"
"I'm okay with 'Bandit Killer,'" Lina explained irritably as she removed her foot from the robber's face, "But please don't call me a 'Dragon Spooker.' Its very insulting, especially when its used to mean that 'Dragon's step aside out of shear revulsion.'"
"I got it," the robber moaned as he rubbed his nose.
Suddenly, the bandit's eyes lit up with inspiration, and said (while still groveling), "Oh, great Lina Inverse, I beg of thee! If you would show mercy upon me and my remaining minions, we shall go far, far away from here, never to return. What is more, we shall give to you our most secret and valuable treasure as a sign of our sincerity."
Lina was skeptical, but she could not prevent her eyes from lighting up at the mention of "Secret and valuable treasure."
"Where is this treasure?" she asked.
"Right over there," the bandit groaned, pointing at a large tree that stood some ways off directly behind Lina. "Its all buried right there underneath that big, black oak tree."
As soon as his captor had turned around to investigate the tree, the bandit's expression changed instantly from frightened to malicious. Drawing a dagger from a hidden sheath in his boot, the brigand lunged at the sorceress.
Lina had seen it coming though. As soon as she had heard the knife being drawn, the young sorceress had begun to turn around. In her hands, another fireball was forming.
"Lina, look out!" a male voice cried out, and suddenly a broad-bladed longsword came flying out of the trees.
The bandit yelled, and was thrown backwards to the ground. Standing straight up from his chest was the sword that had just been thrown.
Out of the woods stepped a young man in his mid-twenties with long blond hair. He wore blue clothing, black fingerless gloves, and a black breastplate with wide pauldrons. At his side was an empty sheath for a longsword.
"Sorry, Lina," Goury Gabriev yawned, "I didn't mean to fall asleep during the middle of our shake-out. I just got so bored."
"Its alright," Lina sighed, "Its not a problem. They're just a bunch of wimps anyway. And for the record, it's called a 'stake-out.'"
"Ooh! We're having steak tonight?"
"That's not what- I mean-," Lina stammered, then sighed in resignation. "Yes, Goury, we can have steak tonight."
"Alright!" the dim but well-meaning swordsman cheered as he pulled his sword out of the dead bandit captain.
By this time the other bandits who had survived Lina's opening assault had begun to recover, and they were none too happy.
"Hey, dey killed da boss!" yelled one.
"Call us wimps, will ya!?" exclaimed another.
"Let's get em!" declared a third.
With a barbaric yell, the remaining dozen bandits charged the two adventurers.
"Hey, Goury," Lina challenged, "Whoever gets the most bandits wins. Loser buys the winner a five course steak dinner!"
Goury's eyes lit up at the thought.
"You're on," he grinned.
"Wow," said Lina, a few minutes afterwards. "We each got six. I wasn't expecting that."
"So who buys the steak dinner?" asked Goury.
"I dunno," Lina replied as she shifted the bag of bandit loot that she was carrying over her shoulder.
"Well," said Goury, "I was just thinking..."
"Oh, Goury!" Lina exclaimed happily, "You're volunteering to buy me a five course steak dinner!? Oh, how generous of you! I accept!"
"Sure thing Lina. I'd be happy to buy you a- Hey! Wait a second!"
The sorceress laughed and ran off, while her best friend chased after her.
Unbeknownst to either of them, a lone man in a long black cloak and hood was observing them from atop a tall tree branch, hidden within the shadows. In his hand he held a pair of thorn-covered roses, one black and one red.
"Ahh, my dear Lina Inverse," the man said to himself as he held the roses up to his nose, "You are still just as beautiful and powerful as ever. And this time, I will not lose you."
To Be Continued...
