Disclaimer : Slayers is a creation of Hajime Kanzaka's, not my own
obviously. I'm obviously adding a lot of characters to this story, but all
the ones from Slayers are not mine. Don't sue me; it would be a fruitless
endeavor. Anyways, on with the show. I meant for this to be a mostly
serious fic with some humor. The story takes place after Try, so if you
haven't seen that series, this story will spoil some things. If you
haven't seen the series, then just as FYI, there was a seal created by a
high ranking monster named Phibrizzo around a large part of the world.
After his death, the barrier disappeared. With the barrier gone, people
can now travel to and fro from the north to the south.
Please review this story after reading. I really value the viewpoints of my readers, be it positive or negative. I'm not the only one reading the stories I write, so it assists me greatly when readers can share their thoughts freely with me. It helps me improve as a writer and helps you by providing you with higher quality fan fiction to read.
----------------------------------
The gentle waves lapped onto the shores of the white sandy beach. A crab skittered along the glistening pebbles dotting the shore. The sun was high in the sky, bathing the land in its gentle rays. Gazing out at the twinkling blue ocean beneath the clear sunny sky, Lina Inverse stood on the balcony of her hotel room admiring the view. The young sorceress genius was sitting in a chair, clad in a single-colored light yellow night gown, combing her long tressettes of shimmering rust red hair with an ivory comb. She carefully brushed out every loch of her hair until it was perfectly smooth and soft. Satisfied with herself, she stood up and breathed in the fresh salty air.
"It really was a good idea to come to this town. Amelia told me that she and the rest of the royal family of Seyruun would come to this beach resort in Shyremont to relax when the duties of leadership got to be too much. Ahh, this breeze feels so good!" thought Lina.
A strong current of wind picked up, lifting Lina's flowing hair into the air, revealing more of her soft and gentle facial features. Lina sat up and went back inside her luxurious suite. Not settling for anything less than the royal suite, Lina's room was furnished with all manner of luxuries. Her bed was queen sized, draped in soft, red velvet blankets and two large red pillows. Next to the bed was a mahogany nightstand with a few of Lina's personal items placed on top. The wallpaper was of an intricate pattern of alternating black and white diamonds. Lina sat on her bed and let her body fall backwards, encompassing herself within the plush folds of the velvet blankets. Lina stared up at the ceiling, letting her imagination lift her off into the depths of her memories.
It had only been a few months before, when the world was pivoting on the brink of destruction. Darkstar, the dark lord of the Overworld, was summoned to Lina's world and would have gone on a berserk spree of senseless violence and destruction had Lina and her friends not been able to destroy him. The senselessness of the war of the Gods and the Monsters was to blame, thought Lina. It was ironic, though, that a mere human was the one to set everything right.
"Well at least we won't have any more trouble like that again," said Lina to herself, getting up and heading to her dresser to put on her clothes. She and Gourry planned to meet downstairs and eat lunch at a restaurant renowned for its seafood. Putting on her dark red sorceress outfit, Lina looked at herself in the mirror, carefully looking at her reflection.
"How I've grown up since then...since Gourry and I met."
Lina was a little surprised at the maturity that now showed itself in her facial features and height. Back when she and Gourry had first met in that forest clearing, she was just a young girl. Now after all her adventures and experiences, Lina was maturing into a young woman. Fastening her black cape to the clasps of her mantle, Lina walked out the door and headed downstairs to meet Gourry.
The hotel Lina stayed in was five stars, suitable for Seyruun royalty. The caretaker of the inn took special pains to create a rich, homelike atmosphere by papering the walls with tan, floral wallpaper and a few tasteful pictures hung on the wall. The staircase leading down to the main area was made of a very sturdy grain of pine. The finish looked almost brand new, capturing the sun light and reflecting it. Sweeping her hair aside with her gloved left hand, Lina walked towards the main entrance, and caught sight of Gourry. Gourry was a very tall and sturdy man, with long blonde hair flowing down his back. His shoulders were wide swept and his posture was erect and sturdy. Grinning as always, Gourry waved towards Lina.
"Gourry, you're not late for once. Did you get a good night's rest?" asked Lina, grinning slightly with one hand placed gently on her hip.
"Of course Lina. I'm glad we were able to get enough money to pay for such a nice place. Are you ready to go eat?"
"Yeah, I hear that Shyremont has really excellent seafood. The restaurant is a little way down the street, let's go!"
Lina raised her right hand in triumph and began to walk down the street with Gourry. Shyremont was a sleepy town by the sea. The atmosphere was entrancing, as the gentleness of the sea seemed to pervade the mood of the village. The road was earth toned cobble stone with two sidewalks on opposite sidesof the road for people to stay out of the way of carriages and carts. As Lina and Gourry walked on the sidewalk down the street, Lina couldn't help but steal glances at Gourry from her peripheral vision. She couldn't believe she had fallen in love with Gourry.
"He's a moron. He's just a big oaf, with oatmeal for brains. I'm the sorceress genius Lina Inverse! I had always thought my partner would be an equally brilliant sorcerer, and we'd be a powerful team capable of toppling kingdoms. Well, maybe that's not what I really want. I feel safe with Gourry. There is something about the way he looks at me..."
Lina tilted her head to gaze at the profile of Gourry's face. It was the same old Gourry all right. His expression was almost child like, his hair a golden blonde, and his muscles nearly bulging out of his armor. Lina couldn't escape the feeling, though, that she saw something past the exterior.
Lina and Gourry soon reached the city square. A gigantic gray marble fountain with a stone figurine of a maiden holding a gourd in the center was the centerpiece of the square. Flowing, crystal like water flowed from the maiden's gourd into the well of the fountain. Lina surveyed the scene, and noticed a strange attraction at the opposite end of the square. There were many people crowding around it, pointing and talking.
"What is that strange contraption? Gourry have you seen anything like that before?"
"No Lina, it sure looks funny to me."
Lina was pointing towards a machine with a lever at the bottom. The lever was quite large with a pad on one end. The other end was connected to a long tower, shooting upwards into the sky.
"Test your strength! Win a prize!" yelled out a man standing at the strange contraption.
Lina walked over with Gourry in tow, and looked over the strange contraption.
"Step right up! Test your strength!" said the man, holding a very large wooden mallet.
"How does this thing work?" asked Lina, pointing downwards.
"Why, you just take this hammer, and slam it down on this lever here. Depending on how strong you are, the lever will send this metal block flying upward. If you're truly strong it will hit the bell at the top."
"If I can hit the bell what do I win?" asked Lina, sensing a chance to earn something.
"Why, you get your pick of prizes young lady," said the man making a sweeping gesture with his right arm towards a rack of stuffed animals. There were many dolls of unicorns, bears, and a few plushes of Zelgadiss, Amelia, Gourry, and Lina Inverse.
"Gourry, Gourry, I want that one! Win me that one!" exclaimed Lina excitedly, pointing towards the Lina Inverse doll.
"All right Lina, I'll give it a try," said Gourry, rubbing his hands together.
The man handed Gourry the mallet smiling.
"Woah, this is pretty heavy," said Gourry, taken aback from the weight of the mallet.
"Don't wimp out Gourry! C'mon, give it all you've got!" yelled Lina.
Gourry nodded and raised the wooden mallet high into the air. Moments later, Gourry used all his strength to bring the mallet down full force on the lever. The weight at the other end flew upward hitting the bell. The bell rang loudly, and confetti exploded from around the machine.
"We have a winner!" exclaimed the man, clapping. The crowd cheered for Gourry, who was holding the mallet with one hand and scratching the back of his head with the other.
The man took down a Lina Inverse doll and handed it to Gourry.
"Excellent job! Here is your prize."
"Uh, here Lina. This is what you wanted right?"
"Thanks Gourry!"
Gourry handed Lina the doll. Lina immediately held it close to her body, hugging it with all her might. Gourry smiled, a look of natural happiness spread across his face. The pair left the stand and immediately headed towards the restaurant. The restaurant was packed with patrons. Waitresses carrying trays filled with seafood delicacies such as sumptuous lobster and mussels mulled from table to table serving food. Lina and Gourry stood at the doorway, their jaws drooping towards the ground, their eyes wide.
"I...love....lobster...." said Lina.
"That fish looks so good..."
Lina and Gourry rushed to a table and looked at the menu, their mouths salivating in anticipation of the best seafood in the entire kingdom.
"Waitress, we'll take everything on the right side of the menu and a little bit of the left too!" yelled Lina, waving at a waitress with her menu.
Miraculously, the food came within seconds. Trays of fresh steamed lobster, platters of clams in the shell, and the restaurant delicacy, steamed cod, were all laid out in front of Gourry and Lina. Not wanting to waste any time, Lina and Gourry each grabbed a fork and knife, their eyes wide in anticipation.
"Itadakimasu!!!" they said in unison.
Lina and Gourry ripped into their dishes, their forks and knives cutting and spearing chunks of food. Stuffing the seafood delicacies into their mouth, Lina and Gourry ate like ravenous sharks that have just gotten a whiff of blood. The waitress held up a hand to her mouth, giggling nervously at the sight of Lina and Gourry eating.
"Do you like your food?" asked the waitress.
"Yes," said Gourry with a mouthful of lobster.
"Don't talk with your mouth full Gourry", said Lina, her mouth filled with fish.
"Look who's talking, hey that's my lobster, don't take it!" said Gourry, trying to spear the last lobster. Before he could react, Lina had already speared it, and put it on her plate. The waitress walked away, thoroughly repulsed by the sight of Lina and Gourry's ravenous eating.
After eating, Lina and Gourry sat back in their chairs, their bellies noticeably bulging.
"Oh that was great..." said Lina with a toothpick in her mouth.
"Best seafood ever," replied Gourry.
The two got up from the table, paid their bill, and contentedly walked outside. It was afternoon now. The sun had climbed higher into the sky than before, radiating even more of its warm rays onto the land below. Lina looked up at the clear blue sky, and caught sight of a pair of doves in flight. She then turned to Gourry, her gaze soft and gentle. A few moments later, the sound of naying horses could be heard from down the street. Lina raised a flat palm to her forehead, trying to make out where all the commotion was coming from.
"What are you looking at Lina?" asked Gourry.
A few of the people on the street began to run down the street away from the noise of the horses. A few pointed and tried to duck behind crates or behind stalls.
"It's the Red Viper gang! Everyone, hide!" wailed one peasant, cowering behind a stack of crates in an alley.
"The Red Viper gang?" thought Lina.
A few moments later, five seedy looking men wearing dark red vests, midnight black belts and pants, and leather shoes, came riding down the street. Each had the insignia of a snake emblazoned on the backs of their vests. Each man's horse had a light brown burlap sack fixed onto the saddle, with gold coins clinking on to the ground as they road. One of the men, apparently the leader since he sported a black headband the others didn't, saw Lina on the street and stopped his horse. The other men in his gang were confused at first, but then saw Lina and stopped as well.
"What are you doing out by yourself little girl? Don't you know there are scary men about?" said the leader figure, laughing to himself. His hair was jet black and spiked out. His face was not especially handsome but not ugly. His features were very harsh and his cheekbones were set very high. He was markedly taller than Lina, and bent down to talk to her, flashing his grimy yellow teeth in her face.
"When I see one I'll let you know. All I see right now is a dentistry emergency," said Lina, repulsed by the man's bad breath.
"You've got some lip for a flat chested little brat. Why don't you give me those nice jewels you have set onto your mantle and maybe I won't hurt you too bad" said the bandit, grinning.
"You'd better just give them to Captain Zane, if you know what's good for you little girl. You shouldn't mess with the Red Viper Gang," said one of the bandits chuckling to himself, brandishing a dagger.
"I can't let you threaten Lina like that, why I'll...", said Gourry, reaching for his sword.
"Leave these small fries to me Gourry, I haven't had any target practice in awhile. By the way, you guys have awful naming sense. The red vipers? What a pathetic name! If you guys were real criminals you wouldn't hide behind facetious gang names," said Lina, holding back Gourry. Lina grinned slightly, her love for destruction and mayhem surfacing.
"Hey, you can't talk about the Red Vipers like that!", chimed in one of the bandits.
"You talk pretty big for a little girl. What do you think you can do against us?" said the captain.
"Oh, who, little old me? Well, how about sending you all into orbit for starters!" exclaimed Lina. "Dill Brand!" exclaimed Lina, snapping her fingers. The ground beneath the bandits exploded under the force of Lina's spell, sending the bandits flying into the sky far out of view.
"Home run Lina," said Gourry, looking up towards the sky with no signs of the bandits falling back down.
"Whew, that felt good. That captain said I had a flat chest! The nerve of him, serves him right. As I'd let a bunch of morons with an even more moronic gang name get the best of Lina Inverse. Oh, what about all this gold they have with their horses?" said Lina with a mischievous look on her face. Tiptoeing towards the horses, she looked through the burlap sacks to find a large quantity of gold coins.
"Yosha! Well we can't let all this great bandit treasure go to waste now can we Gourry?"
"Lina, doesn't stealing from thieves make you a thief too?"
"Well I'd be putting it towards a much better use than they would have, so the good cancels out the bad," said Lina, grinning and giggling.
"Omae na..."
Moments later a group of policemen came running down the street. Catching sight of the horses and burlap sacks, the police ran over to Lina.
"Where...where are the red vipers?" said one of the police men, thoroughly confused.
"They decided to rack up a few frequent flyer miles," said Lina, giggling to herself.
"Well they stole gold from our bank, and I guess this is it. Thanks for stopping them, they would have made off with the bank's money."
"Umm, you're welcome," said Lina, thoroughly dejected at having to give the money back to the rightful authorities.
As the police left with the gold in tow, Gourry walked up to Lina, resting a reassuring hand on her right shoulder.
"Don't feel bad Lina, you saved the day. You've done a good deed."
"Good deeds aren't worth a shilling, Gourry. I blasted those guys for nothing!" wailed Lina, clutching her head.
Just then, the sound of clapping rang through the street. Lina and Gourry looked around to try and identify the source of the sound. A tall man clad in a dark blue cape, hood, and mantle and flowing silver robes appeared from down the street. The man pulled back his hood, revealing wild spikes of short, platinum blonde hair. The man's gaze was piercing, due to his nearly translucent gray eyes. Lina rested a hand on her hip, staring at the strange newcomer.
"And who might you be?" asked Lina.
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Please review this story after reading. I really value the viewpoints of my readers, be it positive or negative. I'm not the only one reading the stories I write, so it assists me greatly when readers can share their thoughts freely with me. It helps me improve as a writer and helps you by providing you with higher quality fan fiction to read.
----------------------------------
The gentle waves lapped onto the shores of the white sandy beach. A crab skittered along the glistening pebbles dotting the shore. The sun was high in the sky, bathing the land in its gentle rays. Gazing out at the twinkling blue ocean beneath the clear sunny sky, Lina Inverse stood on the balcony of her hotel room admiring the view. The young sorceress genius was sitting in a chair, clad in a single-colored light yellow night gown, combing her long tressettes of shimmering rust red hair with an ivory comb. She carefully brushed out every loch of her hair until it was perfectly smooth and soft. Satisfied with herself, she stood up and breathed in the fresh salty air.
"It really was a good idea to come to this town. Amelia told me that she and the rest of the royal family of Seyruun would come to this beach resort in Shyremont to relax when the duties of leadership got to be too much. Ahh, this breeze feels so good!" thought Lina.
A strong current of wind picked up, lifting Lina's flowing hair into the air, revealing more of her soft and gentle facial features. Lina sat up and went back inside her luxurious suite. Not settling for anything less than the royal suite, Lina's room was furnished with all manner of luxuries. Her bed was queen sized, draped in soft, red velvet blankets and two large red pillows. Next to the bed was a mahogany nightstand with a few of Lina's personal items placed on top. The wallpaper was of an intricate pattern of alternating black and white diamonds. Lina sat on her bed and let her body fall backwards, encompassing herself within the plush folds of the velvet blankets. Lina stared up at the ceiling, letting her imagination lift her off into the depths of her memories.
It had only been a few months before, when the world was pivoting on the brink of destruction. Darkstar, the dark lord of the Overworld, was summoned to Lina's world and would have gone on a berserk spree of senseless violence and destruction had Lina and her friends not been able to destroy him. The senselessness of the war of the Gods and the Monsters was to blame, thought Lina. It was ironic, though, that a mere human was the one to set everything right.
"Well at least we won't have any more trouble like that again," said Lina to herself, getting up and heading to her dresser to put on her clothes. She and Gourry planned to meet downstairs and eat lunch at a restaurant renowned for its seafood. Putting on her dark red sorceress outfit, Lina looked at herself in the mirror, carefully looking at her reflection.
"How I've grown up since then...since Gourry and I met."
Lina was a little surprised at the maturity that now showed itself in her facial features and height. Back when she and Gourry had first met in that forest clearing, she was just a young girl. Now after all her adventures and experiences, Lina was maturing into a young woman. Fastening her black cape to the clasps of her mantle, Lina walked out the door and headed downstairs to meet Gourry.
The hotel Lina stayed in was five stars, suitable for Seyruun royalty. The caretaker of the inn took special pains to create a rich, homelike atmosphere by papering the walls with tan, floral wallpaper and a few tasteful pictures hung on the wall. The staircase leading down to the main area was made of a very sturdy grain of pine. The finish looked almost brand new, capturing the sun light and reflecting it. Sweeping her hair aside with her gloved left hand, Lina walked towards the main entrance, and caught sight of Gourry. Gourry was a very tall and sturdy man, with long blonde hair flowing down his back. His shoulders were wide swept and his posture was erect and sturdy. Grinning as always, Gourry waved towards Lina.
"Gourry, you're not late for once. Did you get a good night's rest?" asked Lina, grinning slightly with one hand placed gently on her hip.
"Of course Lina. I'm glad we were able to get enough money to pay for such a nice place. Are you ready to go eat?"
"Yeah, I hear that Shyremont has really excellent seafood. The restaurant is a little way down the street, let's go!"
Lina raised her right hand in triumph and began to walk down the street with Gourry. Shyremont was a sleepy town by the sea. The atmosphere was entrancing, as the gentleness of the sea seemed to pervade the mood of the village. The road was earth toned cobble stone with two sidewalks on opposite sidesof the road for people to stay out of the way of carriages and carts. As Lina and Gourry walked on the sidewalk down the street, Lina couldn't help but steal glances at Gourry from her peripheral vision. She couldn't believe she had fallen in love with Gourry.
"He's a moron. He's just a big oaf, with oatmeal for brains. I'm the sorceress genius Lina Inverse! I had always thought my partner would be an equally brilliant sorcerer, and we'd be a powerful team capable of toppling kingdoms. Well, maybe that's not what I really want. I feel safe with Gourry. There is something about the way he looks at me..."
Lina tilted her head to gaze at the profile of Gourry's face. It was the same old Gourry all right. His expression was almost child like, his hair a golden blonde, and his muscles nearly bulging out of his armor. Lina couldn't escape the feeling, though, that she saw something past the exterior.
Lina and Gourry soon reached the city square. A gigantic gray marble fountain with a stone figurine of a maiden holding a gourd in the center was the centerpiece of the square. Flowing, crystal like water flowed from the maiden's gourd into the well of the fountain. Lina surveyed the scene, and noticed a strange attraction at the opposite end of the square. There were many people crowding around it, pointing and talking.
"What is that strange contraption? Gourry have you seen anything like that before?"
"No Lina, it sure looks funny to me."
Lina was pointing towards a machine with a lever at the bottom. The lever was quite large with a pad on one end. The other end was connected to a long tower, shooting upwards into the sky.
"Test your strength! Win a prize!" yelled out a man standing at the strange contraption.
Lina walked over with Gourry in tow, and looked over the strange contraption.
"Step right up! Test your strength!" said the man, holding a very large wooden mallet.
"How does this thing work?" asked Lina, pointing downwards.
"Why, you just take this hammer, and slam it down on this lever here. Depending on how strong you are, the lever will send this metal block flying upward. If you're truly strong it will hit the bell at the top."
"If I can hit the bell what do I win?" asked Lina, sensing a chance to earn something.
"Why, you get your pick of prizes young lady," said the man making a sweeping gesture with his right arm towards a rack of stuffed animals. There were many dolls of unicorns, bears, and a few plushes of Zelgadiss, Amelia, Gourry, and Lina Inverse.
"Gourry, Gourry, I want that one! Win me that one!" exclaimed Lina excitedly, pointing towards the Lina Inverse doll.
"All right Lina, I'll give it a try," said Gourry, rubbing his hands together.
The man handed Gourry the mallet smiling.
"Woah, this is pretty heavy," said Gourry, taken aback from the weight of the mallet.
"Don't wimp out Gourry! C'mon, give it all you've got!" yelled Lina.
Gourry nodded and raised the wooden mallet high into the air. Moments later, Gourry used all his strength to bring the mallet down full force on the lever. The weight at the other end flew upward hitting the bell. The bell rang loudly, and confetti exploded from around the machine.
"We have a winner!" exclaimed the man, clapping. The crowd cheered for Gourry, who was holding the mallet with one hand and scratching the back of his head with the other.
The man took down a Lina Inverse doll and handed it to Gourry.
"Excellent job! Here is your prize."
"Uh, here Lina. This is what you wanted right?"
"Thanks Gourry!"
Gourry handed Lina the doll. Lina immediately held it close to her body, hugging it with all her might. Gourry smiled, a look of natural happiness spread across his face. The pair left the stand and immediately headed towards the restaurant. The restaurant was packed with patrons. Waitresses carrying trays filled with seafood delicacies such as sumptuous lobster and mussels mulled from table to table serving food. Lina and Gourry stood at the doorway, their jaws drooping towards the ground, their eyes wide.
"I...love....lobster...." said Lina.
"That fish looks so good..."
Lina and Gourry rushed to a table and looked at the menu, their mouths salivating in anticipation of the best seafood in the entire kingdom.
"Waitress, we'll take everything on the right side of the menu and a little bit of the left too!" yelled Lina, waving at a waitress with her menu.
Miraculously, the food came within seconds. Trays of fresh steamed lobster, platters of clams in the shell, and the restaurant delicacy, steamed cod, were all laid out in front of Gourry and Lina. Not wanting to waste any time, Lina and Gourry each grabbed a fork and knife, their eyes wide in anticipation.
"Itadakimasu!!!" they said in unison.
Lina and Gourry ripped into their dishes, their forks and knives cutting and spearing chunks of food. Stuffing the seafood delicacies into their mouth, Lina and Gourry ate like ravenous sharks that have just gotten a whiff of blood. The waitress held up a hand to her mouth, giggling nervously at the sight of Lina and Gourry eating.
"Do you like your food?" asked the waitress.
"Yes," said Gourry with a mouthful of lobster.
"Don't talk with your mouth full Gourry", said Lina, her mouth filled with fish.
"Look who's talking, hey that's my lobster, don't take it!" said Gourry, trying to spear the last lobster. Before he could react, Lina had already speared it, and put it on her plate. The waitress walked away, thoroughly repulsed by the sight of Lina and Gourry's ravenous eating.
After eating, Lina and Gourry sat back in their chairs, their bellies noticeably bulging.
"Oh that was great..." said Lina with a toothpick in her mouth.
"Best seafood ever," replied Gourry.
The two got up from the table, paid their bill, and contentedly walked outside. It was afternoon now. The sun had climbed higher into the sky than before, radiating even more of its warm rays onto the land below. Lina looked up at the clear blue sky, and caught sight of a pair of doves in flight. She then turned to Gourry, her gaze soft and gentle. A few moments later, the sound of naying horses could be heard from down the street. Lina raised a flat palm to her forehead, trying to make out where all the commotion was coming from.
"What are you looking at Lina?" asked Gourry.
A few of the people on the street began to run down the street away from the noise of the horses. A few pointed and tried to duck behind crates or behind stalls.
"It's the Red Viper gang! Everyone, hide!" wailed one peasant, cowering behind a stack of crates in an alley.
"The Red Viper gang?" thought Lina.
A few moments later, five seedy looking men wearing dark red vests, midnight black belts and pants, and leather shoes, came riding down the street. Each had the insignia of a snake emblazoned on the backs of their vests. Each man's horse had a light brown burlap sack fixed onto the saddle, with gold coins clinking on to the ground as they road. One of the men, apparently the leader since he sported a black headband the others didn't, saw Lina on the street and stopped his horse. The other men in his gang were confused at first, but then saw Lina and stopped as well.
"What are you doing out by yourself little girl? Don't you know there are scary men about?" said the leader figure, laughing to himself. His hair was jet black and spiked out. His face was not especially handsome but not ugly. His features were very harsh and his cheekbones were set very high. He was markedly taller than Lina, and bent down to talk to her, flashing his grimy yellow teeth in her face.
"When I see one I'll let you know. All I see right now is a dentistry emergency," said Lina, repulsed by the man's bad breath.
"You've got some lip for a flat chested little brat. Why don't you give me those nice jewels you have set onto your mantle and maybe I won't hurt you too bad" said the bandit, grinning.
"You'd better just give them to Captain Zane, if you know what's good for you little girl. You shouldn't mess with the Red Viper Gang," said one of the bandits chuckling to himself, brandishing a dagger.
"I can't let you threaten Lina like that, why I'll...", said Gourry, reaching for his sword.
"Leave these small fries to me Gourry, I haven't had any target practice in awhile. By the way, you guys have awful naming sense. The red vipers? What a pathetic name! If you guys were real criminals you wouldn't hide behind facetious gang names," said Lina, holding back Gourry. Lina grinned slightly, her love for destruction and mayhem surfacing.
"Hey, you can't talk about the Red Vipers like that!", chimed in one of the bandits.
"You talk pretty big for a little girl. What do you think you can do against us?" said the captain.
"Oh, who, little old me? Well, how about sending you all into orbit for starters!" exclaimed Lina. "Dill Brand!" exclaimed Lina, snapping her fingers. The ground beneath the bandits exploded under the force of Lina's spell, sending the bandits flying into the sky far out of view.
"Home run Lina," said Gourry, looking up towards the sky with no signs of the bandits falling back down.
"Whew, that felt good. That captain said I had a flat chest! The nerve of him, serves him right. As I'd let a bunch of morons with an even more moronic gang name get the best of Lina Inverse. Oh, what about all this gold they have with their horses?" said Lina with a mischievous look on her face. Tiptoeing towards the horses, she looked through the burlap sacks to find a large quantity of gold coins.
"Yosha! Well we can't let all this great bandit treasure go to waste now can we Gourry?"
"Lina, doesn't stealing from thieves make you a thief too?"
"Well I'd be putting it towards a much better use than they would have, so the good cancels out the bad," said Lina, grinning and giggling.
"Omae na..."
Moments later a group of policemen came running down the street. Catching sight of the horses and burlap sacks, the police ran over to Lina.
"Where...where are the red vipers?" said one of the police men, thoroughly confused.
"They decided to rack up a few frequent flyer miles," said Lina, giggling to herself.
"Well they stole gold from our bank, and I guess this is it. Thanks for stopping them, they would have made off with the bank's money."
"Umm, you're welcome," said Lina, thoroughly dejected at having to give the money back to the rightful authorities.
As the police left with the gold in tow, Gourry walked up to Lina, resting a reassuring hand on her right shoulder.
"Don't feel bad Lina, you saved the day. You've done a good deed."
"Good deeds aren't worth a shilling, Gourry. I blasted those guys for nothing!" wailed Lina, clutching her head.
Just then, the sound of clapping rang through the street. Lina and Gourry looked around to try and identify the source of the sound. A tall man clad in a dark blue cape, hood, and mantle and flowing silver robes appeared from down the street. The man pulled back his hood, revealing wild spikes of short, platinum blonde hair. The man's gaze was piercing, due to his nearly translucent gray eyes. Lina rested a hand on her hip, staring at the strange newcomer.
"And who might you be?" asked Lina.
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