Hey guys! I'm back with another story! I know, about time. So this is my first Slayer fic, but I am no noob to the Slayers. I just love Lina and her ridiculousness! I have put a lot of work into this story; it has actually taken me years to complete (I worked on it slowly whenever I had any free time). But it's finally all written! I just need to edit the individual chapters (which I am only going to upload one at a time, by the way!)
I have a few notes to keep in mind before you read. I did a lot of research before I started, regarding names of monsters, dark lords, spells, and Gourry's background information. Well I found out that there really isn't much known about him beyond what I already knew! Everyone kinda understands that he had family problems as a result of the Sword of Light, and a few sources I found basically assume his whole family to be dead. Well I took liberties with Gourry's family background and assumed a whole new angle of my own devices. This story is also based after the end of the anime but I like Gourry's novel personality more so than his idiotic anime one. If you have only watched Slayers and have not read any of the light novels, you will probably think the Gourry in my story out of character. He's not a complete idiot for comedic relief as portrayed in the anime. He has a terrible memory, but he's not completely stupid. So I try to give him his novel personality. At least to the best of my ability (may still be even slightly OOC for that too but oh well!) I hope you enjoy what I came up with. I can't wait for everyone's feedback, and I really hope you like my story!
It was a first rate middle-sized town he lived in, and he was a man of some means. Not ludicrously wealthy, but money still wasn't an object. He had his own not-so-humble estate, and with him lived only his elderly father. No one else. He was planning to change that quite soon.
He decided to go out to his grounds and do a little training. The small outdoor pavilion he had fashioned himself echoed with the sound of a blade hitting wood. A tall man with short blonde hair, his clear blue eyes always had an air of intelligence about them. And indeed, he was a very intelligent man. Math, science, philosophy: name any subject of academia and he could hold his own with the most educated of society.
He wiped the sweat dripping from his brow. He was growing tired of the wooden dummies. They weren't any bit of a challenge, and he was far too distracted by his thoughts to concentrate, anyways. He sheathed his beloved sword and extended out his hand, palm up, allowing energy to gather in it.
"Fireball!" He yelled, scorching the wooden practice dummies to dust.
Such a spell came quite easy to him. After all, Jarek Gabriev was no third rate sorcerer. He was top notch, the best to ever come about in the land of Elmekia. His swordsmanship was also second-to-none; it was a family trade after all. When he wasn't managing his father's business, he was training his magical skills, preparing. If you had asked him years ago, he would have claimed to be the best in all the land, until his sudden, rude awakening. At first, it drove him insane with jealousy. How could a woman have the capacity to surpass him? Who did she think she was?
She began to consume him. What was her secret, this woman of unsurpassed strength and brutality? Her magical knowledge knew no bounds, and he began to study her copiously. He obsessed in jealousy for over a year, until one night he fell asleep in his study staring at her picture. He woke up in a cold sweat from a dream that would change his life forever. He dreamt of his unborn son, wielding unimaginable power and strength. Power to conquer anything and everything. Fiery red hair and blue eyes, he wielded a flaming sword and stuck down anyone who got in his way with his unlimited magic. And suddenly he knew. The only way to claim all that power for himself was to make her his own.
Lina Inverse….
In the years since, he took in any information about her he could get, be it documents, public service announcements, or gossip. And there was plenty of gossip. Gossip, which spoke of her taking down dark lords single-handedly. Gossip, that told of her fiery temper and brutal disposition. She was wild and untamed, and he fell for her madly.
Then the first bit of disconcerting news came. Report after report of her traveling with a wandering swordsman. Tall with long blonde hair and a magical sword, the description seemed to match his cousin Gourry Gabriev's description rather perfectly. The man had, after all, run away with the family's magical sword. He couldn't be sure, since none of his informants could ever produce a name. No one in their family knew where he was or if he was even alive. Chances were, it was not him. Chances were, he was dead. But Jarek could not be sure. He couldn't be sure of anything, other than his need to track down Lina Inverse so that his years of plotting could finally be realized.
He turned away from the blackened pile of wood that lay in a heap at his feet, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
"I will find you, Lina Inverse," he whispered into the evening air," and I will make you mine…"
The morning was early and the surrounding air was misty and soft. The mid-autumn atmosphere was quite chilly these days and Lina awoke into a lucid half sleep shivering.
"Gourry..." she softly whispered, not fully aware that she had done so.
Gourry stirred in his sleep and rolled over. The tent they currently occupied was small and he only needed to reach out to touch her. Though they were in separate futons, Gourry managed to get as close as possible.
"You okay?" he whispered back.
He heard her softly moan and could feel her body shaking.
"C-cold…" was all he was able to make out.
Slowly he sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Silently, he slipped out of his futon and into hers, gently holding Lina close to him. She snuggled up against his bare chest and let out a contented sigh. Nice dream… she thought at the back of her mind.
It's so real…I can feel him next to me. Feel his skin and his breath…
"Are you feeling warmer now Lina?"
At the sound of his voice her eyes fluttered open. All she could make out was his smooth, chiseled chest and her cheeks became flush.
She shot straight up and screeched, "Gourry! Just what in the hell do you think you are doing?!"
He looked up at her with his eyebrows furrowed.
" I was just-"
"Taking advantage of a poor girl in her sleep, that's what you were doing!" She interrupted, her face beet red.
" I was only keeping you warm…" Gourry trailed off, his eyes scanning her.
He hadn't noticed it before, but she was in her bra and underwear.
And although she wasn't known for her big breasts, he could now see just how round and perky they really were. She could see him staring, and a quick glance down at herself reminded her why. It was at that stage in the year where the evenings were warm from the day but the early mornings were chilly. Lina remembered shedding her pajamas in an effort to cool off. And now she was half naked in front of Gourry and he was ogling her!
"Gourry, I swear to Ceiphied if you don't get out of here in two seconds I WILL RUIN YOU!"
Gourry gulped and began to scramble away, when all of a sudden the tent began to shake violently. They both stopped and looked up, confused.
"Lina, what are you doing?" Gourry asked.
"I'm not doing it jellyfish!" Lina answered.
The shaking stopped.
" I'm sorry! I would've knocked but that's a bit hard with a tent you see…" said a voice from outside.
Lina and Gourry both blinked and turned to give the other a confused look.
"Would Master Gourry Gabriev happen to inhabit this tent by any chance?" the voice continued.
"Who wants to know?" Lina answered defensively.
"Wait, that voice is really familiar…. where do I know that voice?" Gourry pondered, stroking his chin.
"Well why don't you go check!" Lina yelled, pushing him toward the entrance.
Gourry fell forward with a thud and quickly scrambled to see whom it was. The tent was too small for him to fully stand in, but he managed to stoop over and take a peek…
"You?!" Gourry exclaimed with surprise, stumbling fully out of the tent.
"Does my name escape you, my dear sir?" The man replied, amused.
He let out a chuckle as Gourry wracked his brain. His eyes suddenly went wide and he said, "Silvanus…"
Lina leaned over to be able to peak out of the loose flap of the tent.
"Yes my boy!" Silvanus answered with a big smile.
Lina could only see up to his hips, but she could tell by the tone of his voice that he was smiling.
"What are you doing in these parts old man?" Gourry asked.
"I was sent by your father." He answered respectfully.
Even only being able to see him from behind, Lina could see Gourry tense up at the mention of his father.
"I no longer have the sword. You can tell father to just let it go."
He said in a stern voice.
Silvanus gave him a surprised look.
"You don't have the sword of light?"
Gourry shook his head.
"Yeah, its kinda a long story. You see we were fighting this dude…. umm… what was his name again? Black Star? Super Star? Big Star—"
"It was Dark Star you jellyfish!" Lina interrupted with a groan.
They both turned to look at her, Silvanus stooping down. Lina could now see the man's face. He was much older, probably in his seventies. He was dressed nicely with a stylish old hat and had very kind eyes. Both men were staring at her and she once again became aware of the fact she was in only underwear. Her cheeks stained deep crimson, and she snatched up her blanket to cover herself.
"Perverts!" she yelled.
The old man looked startled.
"So it's true! You really are traveling with the infamous Lina Inverse." Silvanus exclaimed in awe, looking up at Gourry and back at Lina.
"Yup." Gourry replied simply.
Silvanus crouched down, making his entire body visible to Lina and respectfully removed his hat.
"Hello my dear. I am Silvanus Prior, long time servant of the Gabrievs. It is a tremendous pleasure to be in the presence of the dragon spooker herself."
Lina's face began to turn bright red from anger at being called "dragon spooker". She cracked her knuckles and readied for a fireball. Gourry, knowing how sensitive Lina was to all her nicknames, moved to interject before something bad happened. Silvanus continued completely unaware.
"But I must say my dear. The thing all the rumors do not get right is how beautiful you are!"
Lina gasped and the fireball sizzled out, causing Gourry to stop short. She lightly blushed and let out a small laugh.
"Well I'm glad you can acknowledge a beauty when you see one." Lina replied smugly.
"Yes, yes. Those wanted posters just don't do you justice." He said with a nod.
Lina's smugness faltered.
"WANTED POSTERS?!" She screamed as Gourry quickly sprang back into action and pulled Silvanus back up away from her wrath.
"Anyways," he said hurriedly," you can just tell my Father that I no longer have the Sword of Light. Ok?"
Silvanus shook his head.
"The sword is not the reason they sent me. It's your sister, Jocelyn. She's getting married."
Gourry's expression became confused, like he just couldn't comprehend.
"Jocelyn's not old enough to get married!" He exclaimed
"Yes, she is. Remember, Gourry you left over six years ago. Jocelyn is
18 now, a full grown woman eligible for marriage."
Silvanus reached into his pocket and produced a small envelope with a gold seal and handed it to Gourry. Gourry tentatively unsealed it and began to read its contents. A now fully clothed Lina Inverse crawled out from the tent and read over his shoulder.
You are cordially invited,
Come share in the wedding of Jocelyn Gabriev and Paris
Bancroft. It will take place on Saturday, October the 15th at the
Great Temple of Ceiphied. Come and bless the happy couple!
Gourry slowly lowered his hands, still clutching the invitation.
"I can't believe how quickly the time passes." He whispered.
"Gourry, I never even knew you had a sister." Lina said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"He has two." Silvanus said to her, her eyes growing wide with surprise.
They both looked up at Gourry, who was standing there blinking, trying to figure out what to do. He hadn't been home in over six years, just as Silvanus had said. Did he really want to go home now? Would it do more hurt than good? It was his little sister…
"Well, jellyfish-for-brains, I guess we'll be heading out to Elmekia next."
He looked up at her, surprised by the cheerful tone of her voice. She had a determined expression on her face. She stood in front of him with one had on her hip and the slightest smirk on her lips. His expression softened looking at the sorceress, a detail not at all missed by the manservant.
"As long as you don't mind, Lina." He answered softly.
"Of course not! It sounds like you owe them a visit. It's not everyday your little sister gets married. Hey, let me see the invitation again." She replied reaching toward him.
He placed the invitation into her outstretched hand and she read it over again.
"October 15th… that's in exactly a week." She looked up at Silvanus.
"Yes it is. I'm really pleased I found you when I did. We have just enough time to make it if we leave soon. We don't have any time to waste."
Lina nodded. "Then lets not waste it. Gourry, start packing up camp. I'm gonna fish us up some breakfast, then we can leave."
Gourry nodded and watched as she glided through the forest to a small river up ahead. He continued to watch her for a minute more as she prepared her fishing rod with a strand of her beautiful hair. Scanning the area around her for danger, he didn't turn his attention to Silvanus until he was sure she was safe. Silvanus had an unusual gleam in his eye Gourry couldn't quite place. He had known this man his whole life and they had been quite close in the past, but Gourry just didn't know what to make of it.
"Have you told her yet?" Silvanus asked in a soft voice, looking out towards Lina.
"Told her what?" Gourry asked, genuinely confused.
Silvanus let out a lighthearted chuckle.
"That you love her." He answered simply.
Gourry looked flabbergasted for a moment but finally sighed and replied, "Not in so many words."
Silvanus nodded and watched as the young sorceress hauled in fish after fish.
"She's just… not ready for me to come right out and say it. She doesn't handle that kind of stuff well." He paused and let out a chuckle, "I would probably get myself killed…"
Silvanus gave Gourry a weird look, to which Gourry simply replied, "You have to be careful around Lina. All those crazy rumors really aren't that far off. Just don't tell her I said that."
A cool breeze softly blew by, making Gourry shiver and remember that he was still standing there shirtless.
Better change and start packing everything up…