Chapter 1
Karen moaned as pain surged through her body and mind, but luckily it was on the lower end of the "pain" spectrum, so she did not scream out in her need to get away from the pain. She fought the darkness that consumed her mind and consciousness. The ever present thought that she had to save Kira was there as consciousness returned to her control.
The first thing that Karen noticed as she came back to herself was the grass that was beneath her body as she lay on her stomach; it wasn't the type of grass she was used to from Juno. She did not open her eyes at first to inspect her new surroundings, she waited and paid close attention to what her other senses were telling her.
The grass was still cool beneath her so she hadn't been laying here long, and the earth beneath it was damp, so she was in an area where it had rained recently. There wasn't any sun out, or she was being shaded, because her back side was getting chilled.
Her nose was only picking up the very pungent smell of rain dampened earth.
There! The soft sound of the wind going through trees, and the sound of drowsy birds.
I'm cold which means I am either in the shadows or it is night time, Karen thought to herself. With the drowsy little birds though I believe it to be night.
She finally opened her eyes, allowing herself to become adjusted to the new surroundings, but she never moved.
The first thing she saw were some bushes with dark green leaves that were probably lighter in the day time sunlight, but in this night time glow they had a darker, more sinister, look to them.
The feel about her was that of a darker will was about her. Her senses tingled with the newer darker energies.
Karen lifted her head and glanced about her without moving the rest of her body.
Well, I'm on a high, raised area and it drops suddenly to my left. I can see the tree tops from here. My right is the "deep dark forest," that is even giving me the creeps.
She pushed herself up into a sitting position.
Okay, that explains a little bit, she thought as she looked at a patch of light. It's to yellow to be a gas fire, so it has to be a natural fire. She extended her magical senses to the patch of light and drew upon the power she found there. She was surprised. It's pure. . .pure untainted energy. Her breathe came short with her excitement.
But if this is Earth it should be tainted, but it's pure. So does this mean I'm not on Earth? Karen began to shake as the realization slipped into her mind. Oh God. . .
As she sat there in shock; she felt like weeping in sorrow and frustration. No. I will not give up to anyone or anything, she though fiercely as she clenched her hands into fists. I will figure a way around this.
Karen looked about at her surroundings one more time before coming to a conclusion. I'll find those at the fire. Hopefully we speak the same language, and that those people are nice to strangers.
She got up onto her shaky legs and stared at the fire lit area, trying to memorize where they were compared to her. She messaged her temple with cool finger tips trying to get rid of the headache that was still residing in her head. Must be reminisces of the teleportation.
"Not to far off," she said to no one in particular. "Looks like a pretty nice sized group, eight of them." Then she noticed some smaller points of light heading in the same direction as the group, and for some odd reason she did not think they were friends.
Karen took a deep breathe and began to put on her sword belt that she retrieved from her bag. Okay girl you have got to be ready for some strange things. This is not Earth here so we don't know what to expect. Expect the unexpected. She got out her sword and dagger, clipping them to her belt, the sword on her right and her dagger on her left.
She then took off her sneakers and put on her soft soled boots made from soft brown leather that went up to her knees.
Everything is going to be fine, but if the strangers don't like interlopers I am in danger.
With that not so encouraging pep-talk, Karen got up and looked down the side on the cliff. It was a skree slope. It looks slanted enough. She pulled her bag so it was in front of her.
Karen jumped far enough away from the edge so she wouldn't hit it as she fell, then began to slide down the side.
When she landed on the ground below the ledge, she looked up to the foreboding, unknown sky. God, Guardians, and Giae help me please.
Karen then began to run for the fire light that she sensed more than she saw. Please don't let me get barbequed.
As she got close to the camp she realized that the "attackers" had not shown up yet. Thank God for small favors. Karen though as she kneeled behind some shrubs so the group would not see her.
She couldn't help but be surprised at how human the group was. The red hair young lady, who was short and slightly underdeveloped, was beating on a young man with blonde hair. Why won't he stand up to her? He is a frelling swordsman; he should probably be able to take care of her in no time.
"Goury! You jellyfish for brains!" screamed the young woman as she continued to pound the blonde swordsman.
Then the unexpected, the young red head pummeled the young man in to a near by tree.
Holy crap! Is that how all women here are? Karen smiled evilly. I hope so.
There was another young man who had beige colored clothing on; he was sitting with his back to a tree that surrounded the camp. His hood shadowed his face and something covered the lower half of it.
"Lina-san you are being so mean to Goury-san," whined a young lady of about seventeen years. "You just don't seem to care about the rules of Love and Justice!"
Karen felt herself sweatdrop. This girl needs a reality check, or she'll be eaten alive if she's alone.
"Amelia," the red headed Lina said between clenched teeth, "don't dictate!"
Karen felt her shoulders shake in silent laughter. Oh my! She and I would get along just fine.
She glanced at the other members of this group.
Okay, we have black haired cleric, who by all looks, cares for "jellyfish for brains". Her smile softened. Next is blonde with two year old child. She looks like the priestess type and the kid looks like he is not hers by birth, but by spirit. The young blonde priestess helped the young black haired cleric get "Goury" out of the tree his head was stuck in. The last member is Mister Lounging-on-a-Tree-Branch-While-My-Friend-Needs-Help. She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, as her smile faded from her face. He is a smiling fool and a fruitcake. Why am I the one that gets stuck with the loonies?
Okay I need to get better view of the area, and the only way to do that is in a tree. Karen pulled back a lip in distain. I hate climbing trees.
As she moved to the far side of a very large tree that stood near her, and began to climb, she heard the tale tell signs that the enemy was coming. The group was either deaf, which was entirely possible with "Lina-san", or they just didn't care. Either way, Karen though their lack of reaction confusing.
When she got up to a branch that allowed her to see the clearing but did not allow the group to see her, she waited for her chance. I can't attack unless they are attacked first . . . and it looks as though they will not be able to protect themselves, she though sheepishly.
As she finished her thought the enemy showed themselves, emerging from the shadows as if they were made from them.
The only human was a tall, thin, whip of a man dressed in red and black sorcerer's robes. Is that whip or wimp? Karen thought with great humor. The rest of the attackers were huge ugly creatures Karen could only guess were trolls, and zombies. Could the day get any weirder or uglier?
She glanced about Lina-sans group for any sign of actual reaction. As she glanced about she noticed eyes that were glowing back at her.
Oh Crap! They're surrounded! And by what I can see they won't have a chance!
She glanced at the group again only to find them yawning at the speech the sorcerer was giving. Their eyes reflecting that this had happened all too many times before. Geez! They act like they get this all the time. Looking strait at Lina and Goury, Karen saw in them a look of total ease with the string of threats that the sorcerer was raving about.
"… and I the Almighty Moreo, will defeat you upon the will of my Almighty Master." He finally finished.
Lina yawned then finally got up to look at the guy. "You finally done baka?"
The man nodded but did not let that ruffle him in the least.
"Good because you were starting to get on my nerves and you really don't want that," Lina said dangerously as the others just chuckled in response, as if it were a joke. "Now here is my response to your stupidity. FireBall!"
Karen nearly fell from the tree when the huge fire ball hit the sorcerer. Dust was everywhere after the explosion.
Oh my God and Guardians! I don't think I could defend against that kind of power!
"And that was that," Lina said as the smoke and dust cleared away.
"Oh?" came a voice from the blast site.
God and Guardians! That guy survived?! There is no way unless he used the opposite element! I don't know who is more surprised me, Lina-san, or Mr. Loony- fruitcake.
Karen stared as the dust cleared away, revealing the sorcerer. "Was that supposed to hurt Lina-san?" the sorcerer ridiculed.
Lina began to shake with furry, and not to soon afterwards she was screaming as loud as her little body would allow. (A little side note for the reader: The words Lina yells at this part in the story are not for the rating I have for this. So, please, input what ever you like.)
Karen blushed and paled in turn as Lina yelled obscenities that she never thought were possible. She makes Kira and I look like amateurs.
When Lina was done the sorcerer merely smiled in a knowing way that made shivers run up everyone's spine. "Are YOU done Lina-san? Good because it is time you and your friends to die." With those words the entire horde of creatures attacked from all sides.
The group was immediately separated by the huge beasts that crashed into the clearing. There were hundreds of them that kept the powerful magic users and swordsman from those that they were supposed to help defend.
"You dirty nothus!" Karen growled in a harsh whisper as she began to gather energy around herself. "Attacking in such a cowardly way! You should be killed for this! Nothus Baka!" Karen then cupped her hands together as if they were containing something inside them. "Lord Suzaku, Guardian of Fire and the Gates of the South, I call on You, My Lord. I wish to summon Your Power, My Lord, for there are those who need my protection. Give me Your Almighty Fire and Light, My Lord."
The fire, which had been dieing in middle of the fight, suddenly burst into new life. It seemed to be at least five times the size it was before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What the hell!?!?" Lina screeched as two of her attackers were engulfed in the flames. "Zel! Please say that was you who just did that!"
"Did what?" came the tired reply from somewhere to Lina's left, muffled by the crush of bodies.
"Never mind," Lina yelled back. She was getting annoyed; this Moreo character knew some how that she would not do any of her big spells because she didn't know where everyone was. He knew her weak spot.
"HEY NOTHUS! UP HERE!" yelled a voice from a tree on the other side of the clearing. For one heart stopping moment Lina thought it was Amelia in her usual annoying mode of "Love and Justice", but when the person stood up she revealed herself to be a young woman slightly older that Lina herself. The girls black clothing and black hair were what made it hard to see her in the shadow covered tree. She had a strange pack slung on her back which made her look less dangerous, and a little odd. The girl also had on a sword and dagger of very good make attached to her belt.
Maybe she is a princess who needs help on some holy quest, Lina thought mischievously, maybe she'll pay good money! Lina then got brought back to reality when she noticed the creatures around her were all staring at the young woman. What is going on here?
"I can not allow you to do this 'Moreo'," the girl said as she pointed in the direction of where the sorcerer was standing. "I must give you a chance to give up nothus, even though I do not believe you deserve it. Give up or put up with the consequences."
Lina heard the shrill laughter of the sorcerer. "You? What can you do to me?"
The girl smiled evilly. "I was hoping you would ask that." The girl then pointed to something to Lina's left.
Wait a second, Lina thought in confusion, isn't that where Zel is?
But before she could react the young woman in the tree said, "Incendium Razzo!" The girl's words echoed for a moment then fires began to erupt in the direction in which she had pointed.
As they erupted Lina had to put her arm up because of the heat that was created. Some of the creatures were erupting just on the other side of the fire.
When the eruptions died away Lina looked to her left, beyond the fire, expecting to see the trolls and berserkers, but instead saw Zelgadis standing there in the middle of an ashen field, looking shocked.
The girl had destroyed at least fifty creatures in one hit, and did not even hit Zelgadis in the process.
The sorcerer, who was now in Lina's line of sight, stared in shock at the young woman. "Who are you?!" he asked in a high pitched scream.
The girl smiled at him and shook her dark head revealing a few blue streaks in her hair. "That is for me to know and you to find out nothus baka." She winked at him like they were keeping a secret. "You will never find out either."
Moreo seemed to growl in the depths of his throat, as his eyes bulged. "Get her!" he screamed to the creatures around him. Then walked into the depths of the forest, disappearing
The creatures surged toward the girl and she seemed to finally understand her danger. "Incendium Razzo!" she screamed and fifty or more of the creatures went up in smoke.
It didn't slow the creatures down in the least. The trolls and berserkers rushed forward toward the tree.
"Incendium Razzo!" the girl yelled again as they began to hit the tree. Another group went up in flame and fire.
During this entire thing Lina couldn't move, she was in to much shock. This girl was amazing.
"Um? Hello? Could I get some HELP over here?!!!!" the girl screamed as she began to beat a troll in the head with her foot. "I could use a hand!"
Out of no where a hand landed on the branch right beside the girl's foot. The big thing was though; the hand was not attached to anything.
"EEK!" the girl screeched as she jumped off the branch landing in a hand stand on a trolls head. With another show of strength and ability she pushed off its head, the metallic sound of metal sliding against leather, as her sword and dagger were pulled free of there sheathes, filled the air as she landed on her feet behind the huge horde, the fire at her back. The points of her blades were down toward the ground, and her right leg slightly forward of her left. The fire at her back played shadows across her face making her look demonic, and the wind that seemed to blow suddenly toyed with her ebony hair.
"Okay enough of the staring children," the girl joked, "it is time to dance!"
The horde took a few seconds to register what the girl had said, but when the light did shine in their dim minds, they charged her.
"Zel!" Lina called, running to her friend. "Do you think we should help her?"
"She did save our lives Lina," the chimera said in his usual monotone. "But that could be a trick on our enemy."
"We should at least try Lina-san!" came Amelia's argument. "We should help her because she is a fellow fighter for Love and Justice!"
Lina felt like throwing up after that. "Amelia, don't make me hurt you." She glanced at where the young girl was fighting
Lina did have to admit that the girl was good, in both magic and swordsmanship, but that did not answer the ever present question in Lina's mind: Why did she help them?
Just then Gourry decided to take matters into his own hands and helped the girl cut though the horde of creatures.
"Well that answers our question here," Lina said with great amusement. "Fireball!" she shouted as her most classic of spells destroy twenty or so creatures. "Not as good as our mysterious friend but still has the desired effect!" she cried with glee.
Zelgadis shook his head and began to fight also, his sword and magic working together in perfect harmony.
"Take that you vile evil doer! You shall be crushed by the Hammer of Justice!" Amelia yelled at the top of her lungs as she punched a single troll into submission.
Just then Silphiel and Philia showed up, Silphiel shielding against the onslaught, while Philia swung her mace about.
Xellos as always, was nowhere to be seen.
"That Is It!" the young girl screeched as she sliced though what seemed like her hundredth creature. "Everyone! Behind Me!" When Goury and Amelia tried to argue with her she gave them a withering look and said coldly, "Now!"
Everyone moved behind the young lady until she was in the front of the group.
She sheathed her dagger and rammed her sword into the ground in front of her so it was left standing when she let go of it. "Terra!" the girl said in an authoritative voice. As if answering the command small emerald green lights began to rise up from the ground and circle around the girl making her look ethereal. This image made the trolls and berserkers stop in their tracks.
Lina and company all stared at the girl and began to wonder what they had gotten themselves into. (With those few exceptions. Just to name one, Goury. "Look at the pretty lights.")
"Vitis," she said calmly but with the same feel of command. The earth seemed to listen again and formed long, thin, whip like vines made up of earth and stone. "CLAVUS!" she screamed pointing at the un-expecting horde.
The vines seemed to come to life when she yelled. They all began spearing the creatures or cutting them in halve in a rush to get others who were trying to escape the massacre.
Lina and the others just watched in a sick kind of fascination as the vines killed the helpless trolls and berserkers. At times Lina would look at the back of the girl in wonder, for she had never seen a spell like this ever in her entire life.
Soon the massacre was over and the vines dissolved back into the ground.
The girl sighed as if a huge burden had been taken from her shoulders. Then she tensed up again. "Oh God and Guardians," she whispered, "what have I done?"
"You saved our lives," Lina said.
The girl turned and shook her head. "No, you don't understand I just did something very illegal."
"Illegal?" Philia asked in worry.
The girl nodded in shame. Then she perked up as if a thought had made her happy. "Though I am on another world, so the same rules probably don't apply."
"Hold it!" Lina said, raising a hand to stop the girls talk. "'Another World'?"
The girl blinked a few times in incomprehension, her face blank. Then knowledge of what Lina was talking about sank in and smiled. "Yes, Can't you tell by my clothing?"
The others took a good look at her and found her statement to be true. Her clothing was of strange cloth and strange cut.
"Where are you from then?" Zelgadis said with a frown.
"Well Mr. Gloom," the girl teased as she put her sword away, "should I start outwards in, or inwards out?"
Everyone was confused, except Lina who smirked at the girl. "Inwards out," she stated with her smirk still on her face.
"Alright," the girl said with a shrug and a smirk of her own. "I live twenty minutes away from downtown Juno, which is the capitol of our state called Alaska, which is one of the fifty states of the democratic republic of America (yeah!), which is apart of the continent of North America, and which is on the surface of the planet I like to call Earth." She took a deep breathe and chuckled at the faces of the group. "Did I leave any thing out?"
"No, I believe you covered everything Miss," came an annoying voice.
Lina gritted her teeth. "Xellos you Fruitcake where were you when we needed you?" she stated, trying to keep some semblance on control.
The Trickster Priest just smiled and wagged his finger, about to open his mouth when something hit him in the head.
It was the girls fist.
"That was for that disgusting trick you played, you nothus bestia!" she yelled.
"How do you know it was me?" Xellos asked with a smile. "And may I ask for your name?"
The girl looked like she was going to answer him but she stopped. She looked like she was rethinking something, like her approach. The girl took a deep breath and seemed to calm down almost immediately. "My name is Karen, Karen Moloter. And I'm sorry for hitting you, I had no proof it was you." She paused to look him strait in his closed eyes. "I am just used to going with what my powers tell me and my powers told me you had done that. I am truly sorry."
Lina waved her off. "You were probably right in your assumption Karen," she said as she went back to the nearly dead fire. "He is a Fruitcake. By the way were you the one to make the fire grow like it did?"
"Indirectly yes," Karen said following Lina. "But I can't do that now because there isn't enough fuel."
Lina gestured to the few fallen trees around them, "Take your pick."
Karen though shook her head. "I can't they still have life in them thus I can not use them."
Xellos raised an eyebrow. "I sense nothing from them."
Karen just rolled her eyes. "They just died you nothus so they still have residual energy on them that only a Child of the Earth can detect," she said with an exasperated sigh. She looked like she was going to explain herself a little more but stopped. "Look I can't actually explain much unless I understand your magic, so how about you give me a 'basics crash course' and then I'll be able to put my magic into terms you will understand using the basics you taught me."
Lina thought about what Karen proposed very hard because she didn't know a lot about the girl. She was something that was very new. "I think we could but for us to do that you have to promise to help out around here."
Karen nodded like she expected such a thing from them. "Once I figure out what to do I think you will have to beat me to make me stop helping you," she laughed light heartedly. "I mean exactly that to, my friend Kira had to…." Her voice trailed off and her face seemed to tighten up in sorrow. "Kira," she whispered in sorrow.
Lina moved forward, unconsciously wanting to help the girl, and placed a hand on Karen's shoulder. "You okay?"
Karen seemed to come back to herself in a flash and the mask of happiness was up. "I'm fine!" she said in a false brightness that even Goury could see. "No really I just was going to say my friends usually have to beat me to stop doing work."
Lina nodded and took Karen for her word. "What do you want to know about first?" she asked as she sat down on a log.
"How about going from easiest to the hardest in types of magic's, then explain how each works in that order," Karen suggested as she to sat down. She took out her note book and a pencil so she could take notes.
"What are you doing?" Philia asked as she and Silphiel put some pre-dried branches on the fire.
"I like to take notes while I am learning something new. It helps things stick in the mind better," Karen said as she got herself better situated.
Lina decided to begin with White magic since it was the easiest to understand and relate to.
Zelgadis sat farthest away from the girl as everyone began to settle in, and help Lina explain their world. Amelia sat right next to the girl ready to help at moments notice and Xellos sat on her other side trying to read over her shoulder. Philia and Silphiel both sat near Goury, who sat blissfully away from Lina.
This is going to take a while, Lina thought as she began her explanations, and lessons.
Karen moaned as pain surged through her body and mind, but luckily it was on the lower end of the "pain" spectrum, so she did not scream out in her need to get away from the pain. She fought the darkness that consumed her mind and consciousness. The ever present thought that she had to save Kira was there as consciousness returned to her control.
The first thing that Karen noticed as she came back to herself was the grass that was beneath her body as she lay on her stomach; it wasn't the type of grass she was used to from Juno. She did not open her eyes at first to inspect her new surroundings, she waited and paid close attention to what her other senses were telling her.
The grass was still cool beneath her so she hadn't been laying here long, and the earth beneath it was damp, so she was in an area where it had rained recently. There wasn't any sun out, or she was being shaded, because her back side was getting chilled.
Her nose was only picking up the very pungent smell of rain dampened earth.
There! The soft sound of the wind going through trees, and the sound of drowsy birds.
I'm cold which means I am either in the shadows or it is night time, Karen thought to herself. With the drowsy little birds though I believe it to be night.
She finally opened her eyes, allowing herself to become adjusted to the new surroundings, but she never moved.
The first thing she saw were some bushes with dark green leaves that were probably lighter in the day time sunlight, but in this night time glow they had a darker, more sinister, look to them.
The feel about her was that of a darker will was about her. Her senses tingled with the newer darker energies.
Karen lifted her head and glanced about her without moving the rest of her body.
Well, I'm on a high, raised area and it drops suddenly to my left. I can see the tree tops from here. My right is the "deep dark forest," that is even giving me the creeps.
She pushed herself up into a sitting position.
Okay, that explains a little bit, she thought as she looked at a patch of light. It's to yellow to be a gas fire, so it has to be a natural fire. She extended her magical senses to the patch of light and drew upon the power she found there. She was surprised. It's pure. . .pure untainted energy. Her breathe came short with her excitement.
But if this is Earth it should be tainted, but it's pure. So does this mean I'm not on Earth? Karen began to shake as the realization slipped into her mind. Oh God. . .
As she sat there in shock; she felt like weeping in sorrow and frustration. No. I will not give up to anyone or anything, she though fiercely as she clenched her hands into fists. I will figure a way around this.
Karen looked about at her surroundings one more time before coming to a conclusion. I'll find those at the fire. Hopefully we speak the same language, and that those people are nice to strangers.
She got up onto her shaky legs and stared at the fire lit area, trying to memorize where they were compared to her. She messaged her temple with cool finger tips trying to get rid of the headache that was still residing in her head. Must be reminisces of the teleportation.
"Not to far off," she said to no one in particular. "Looks like a pretty nice sized group, eight of them." Then she noticed some smaller points of light heading in the same direction as the group, and for some odd reason she did not think they were friends.
Karen took a deep breathe and began to put on her sword belt that she retrieved from her bag. Okay girl you have got to be ready for some strange things. This is not Earth here so we don't know what to expect. Expect the unexpected. She got out her sword and dagger, clipping them to her belt, the sword on her right and her dagger on her left.
She then took off her sneakers and put on her soft soled boots made from soft brown leather that went up to her knees.
Everything is going to be fine, but if the strangers don't like interlopers I am in danger.
With that not so encouraging pep-talk, Karen got up and looked down the side on the cliff. It was a skree slope. It looks slanted enough. She pulled her bag so it was in front of her.
Karen jumped far enough away from the edge so she wouldn't hit it as she fell, then began to slide down the side.
When she landed on the ground below the ledge, she looked up to the foreboding, unknown sky. God, Guardians, and Giae help me please.
Karen then began to run for the fire light that she sensed more than she saw. Please don't let me get barbequed.
As she got close to the camp she realized that the "attackers" had not shown up yet. Thank God for small favors. Karen though as she kneeled behind some shrubs so the group would not see her.
She couldn't help but be surprised at how human the group was. The red hair young lady, who was short and slightly underdeveloped, was beating on a young man with blonde hair. Why won't he stand up to her? He is a frelling swordsman; he should probably be able to take care of her in no time.
"Goury! You jellyfish for brains!" screamed the young woman as she continued to pound the blonde swordsman.
Then the unexpected, the young red head pummeled the young man in to a near by tree.
Holy crap! Is that how all women here are? Karen smiled evilly. I hope so.
There was another young man who had beige colored clothing on; he was sitting with his back to a tree that surrounded the camp. His hood shadowed his face and something covered the lower half of it.
"Lina-san you are being so mean to Goury-san," whined a young lady of about seventeen years. "You just don't seem to care about the rules of Love and Justice!"
Karen felt herself sweatdrop. This girl needs a reality check, or she'll be eaten alive if she's alone.
"Amelia," the red headed Lina said between clenched teeth, "don't dictate!"
Karen felt her shoulders shake in silent laughter. Oh my! She and I would get along just fine.
She glanced at the other members of this group.
Okay, we have black haired cleric, who by all looks, cares for "jellyfish for brains". Her smile softened. Next is blonde with two year old child. She looks like the priestess type and the kid looks like he is not hers by birth, but by spirit. The young blonde priestess helped the young black haired cleric get "Goury" out of the tree his head was stuck in. The last member is Mister Lounging-on-a-Tree-Branch-While-My-Friend-Needs-Help. She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, as her smile faded from her face. He is a smiling fool and a fruitcake. Why am I the one that gets stuck with the loonies?
Okay I need to get better view of the area, and the only way to do that is in a tree. Karen pulled back a lip in distain. I hate climbing trees.
As she moved to the far side of a very large tree that stood near her, and began to climb, she heard the tale tell signs that the enemy was coming. The group was either deaf, which was entirely possible with "Lina-san", or they just didn't care. Either way, Karen though their lack of reaction confusing.
When she got up to a branch that allowed her to see the clearing but did not allow the group to see her, she waited for her chance. I can't attack unless they are attacked first . . . and it looks as though they will not be able to protect themselves, she though sheepishly.
As she finished her thought the enemy showed themselves, emerging from the shadows as if they were made from them.
The only human was a tall, thin, whip of a man dressed in red and black sorcerer's robes. Is that whip or wimp? Karen thought with great humor. The rest of the attackers were huge ugly creatures Karen could only guess were trolls, and zombies. Could the day get any weirder or uglier?
She glanced about Lina-sans group for any sign of actual reaction. As she glanced about she noticed eyes that were glowing back at her.
Oh Crap! They're surrounded! And by what I can see they won't have a chance!
She glanced at the group again only to find them yawning at the speech the sorcerer was giving. Their eyes reflecting that this had happened all too many times before. Geez! They act like they get this all the time. Looking strait at Lina and Goury, Karen saw in them a look of total ease with the string of threats that the sorcerer was raving about.
"… and I the Almighty Moreo, will defeat you upon the will of my Almighty Master." He finally finished.
Lina yawned then finally got up to look at the guy. "You finally done baka?"
The man nodded but did not let that ruffle him in the least.
"Good because you were starting to get on my nerves and you really don't want that," Lina said dangerously as the others just chuckled in response, as if it were a joke. "Now here is my response to your stupidity. FireBall!"
Karen nearly fell from the tree when the huge fire ball hit the sorcerer. Dust was everywhere after the explosion.
Oh my God and Guardians! I don't think I could defend against that kind of power!
"And that was that," Lina said as the smoke and dust cleared away.
"Oh?" came a voice from the blast site.
God and Guardians! That guy survived?! There is no way unless he used the opposite element! I don't know who is more surprised me, Lina-san, or Mr. Loony- fruitcake.
Karen stared as the dust cleared away, revealing the sorcerer. "Was that supposed to hurt Lina-san?" the sorcerer ridiculed.
Lina began to shake with furry, and not to soon afterwards she was screaming as loud as her little body would allow. (A little side note for the reader: The words Lina yells at this part in the story are not for the rating I have for this. So, please, input what ever you like.)
Karen blushed and paled in turn as Lina yelled obscenities that she never thought were possible. She makes Kira and I look like amateurs.
When Lina was done the sorcerer merely smiled in a knowing way that made shivers run up everyone's spine. "Are YOU done Lina-san? Good because it is time you and your friends to die." With those words the entire horde of creatures attacked from all sides.
The group was immediately separated by the huge beasts that crashed into the clearing. There were hundreds of them that kept the powerful magic users and swordsman from those that they were supposed to help defend.
"You dirty nothus!" Karen growled in a harsh whisper as she began to gather energy around herself. "Attacking in such a cowardly way! You should be killed for this! Nothus Baka!" Karen then cupped her hands together as if they were containing something inside them. "Lord Suzaku, Guardian of Fire and the Gates of the South, I call on You, My Lord. I wish to summon Your Power, My Lord, for there are those who need my protection. Give me Your Almighty Fire and Light, My Lord."
The fire, which had been dieing in middle of the fight, suddenly burst into new life. It seemed to be at least five times the size it was before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What the hell!?!?" Lina screeched as two of her attackers were engulfed in the flames. "Zel! Please say that was you who just did that!"
"Did what?" came the tired reply from somewhere to Lina's left, muffled by the crush of bodies.
"Never mind," Lina yelled back. She was getting annoyed; this Moreo character knew some how that she would not do any of her big spells because she didn't know where everyone was. He knew her weak spot.
"HEY NOTHUS! UP HERE!" yelled a voice from a tree on the other side of the clearing. For one heart stopping moment Lina thought it was Amelia in her usual annoying mode of "Love and Justice", but when the person stood up she revealed herself to be a young woman slightly older that Lina herself. The girls black clothing and black hair were what made it hard to see her in the shadow covered tree. She had a strange pack slung on her back which made her look less dangerous, and a little odd. The girl also had on a sword and dagger of very good make attached to her belt.
Maybe she is a princess who needs help on some holy quest, Lina thought mischievously, maybe she'll pay good money! Lina then got brought back to reality when she noticed the creatures around her were all staring at the young woman. What is going on here?
"I can not allow you to do this 'Moreo'," the girl said as she pointed in the direction of where the sorcerer was standing. "I must give you a chance to give up nothus, even though I do not believe you deserve it. Give up or put up with the consequences."
Lina heard the shrill laughter of the sorcerer. "You? What can you do to me?"
The girl smiled evilly. "I was hoping you would ask that." The girl then pointed to something to Lina's left.
Wait a second, Lina thought in confusion, isn't that where Zel is?
But before she could react the young woman in the tree said, "Incendium Razzo!" The girl's words echoed for a moment then fires began to erupt in the direction in which she had pointed.
As they erupted Lina had to put her arm up because of the heat that was created. Some of the creatures were erupting just on the other side of the fire.
When the eruptions died away Lina looked to her left, beyond the fire, expecting to see the trolls and berserkers, but instead saw Zelgadis standing there in the middle of an ashen field, looking shocked.
The girl had destroyed at least fifty creatures in one hit, and did not even hit Zelgadis in the process.
The sorcerer, who was now in Lina's line of sight, stared in shock at the young woman. "Who are you?!" he asked in a high pitched scream.
The girl smiled at him and shook her dark head revealing a few blue streaks in her hair. "That is for me to know and you to find out nothus baka." She winked at him like they were keeping a secret. "You will never find out either."
Moreo seemed to growl in the depths of his throat, as his eyes bulged. "Get her!" he screamed to the creatures around him. Then walked into the depths of the forest, disappearing
The creatures surged toward the girl and she seemed to finally understand her danger. "Incendium Razzo!" she screamed and fifty or more of the creatures went up in smoke.
It didn't slow the creatures down in the least. The trolls and berserkers rushed forward toward the tree.
"Incendium Razzo!" the girl yelled again as they began to hit the tree. Another group went up in flame and fire.
During this entire thing Lina couldn't move, she was in to much shock. This girl was amazing.
"Um? Hello? Could I get some HELP over here?!!!!" the girl screamed as she began to beat a troll in the head with her foot. "I could use a hand!"
Out of no where a hand landed on the branch right beside the girl's foot. The big thing was though; the hand was not attached to anything.
"EEK!" the girl screeched as she jumped off the branch landing in a hand stand on a trolls head. With another show of strength and ability she pushed off its head, the metallic sound of metal sliding against leather, as her sword and dagger were pulled free of there sheathes, filled the air as she landed on her feet behind the huge horde, the fire at her back. The points of her blades were down toward the ground, and her right leg slightly forward of her left. The fire at her back played shadows across her face making her look demonic, and the wind that seemed to blow suddenly toyed with her ebony hair.
"Okay enough of the staring children," the girl joked, "it is time to dance!"
The horde took a few seconds to register what the girl had said, but when the light did shine in their dim minds, they charged her.
"Zel!" Lina called, running to her friend. "Do you think we should help her?"
"She did save our lives Lina," the chimera said in his usual monotone. "But that could be a trick on our enemy."
"We should at least try Lina-san!" came Amelia's argument. "We should help her because she is a fellow fighter for Love and Justice!"
Lina felt like throwing up after that. "Amelia, don't make me hurt you." She glanced at where the young girl was fighting
Lina did have to admit that the girl was good, in both magic and swordsmanship, but that did not answer the ever present question in Lina's mind: Why did she help them?
Just then Gourry decided to take matters into his own hands and helped the girl cut though the horde of creatures.
"Well that answers our question here," Lina said with great amusement. "Fireball!" she shouted as her most classic of spells destroy twenty or so creatures. "Not as good as our mysterious friend but still has the desired effect!" she cried with glee.
Zelgadis shook his head and began to fight also, his sword and magic working together in perfect harmony.
"Take that you vile evil doer! You shall be crushed by the Hammer of Justice!" Amelia yelled at the top of her lungs as she punched a single troll into submission.
Just then Silphiel and Philia showed up, Silphiel shielding against the onslaught, while Philia swung her mace about.
Xellos as always, was nowhere to be seen.
"That Is It!" the young girl screeched as she sliced though what seemed like her hundredth creature. "Everyone! Behind Me!" When Goury and Amelia tried to argue with her she gave them a withering look and said coldly, "Now!"
Everyone moved behind the young lady until she was in the front of the group.
She sheathed her dagger and rammed her sword into the ground in front of her so it was left standing when she let go of it. "Terra!" the girl said in an authoritative voice. As if answering the command small emerald green lights began to rise up from the ground and circle around the girl making her look ethereal. This image made the trolls and berserkers stop in their tracks.
Lina and company all stared at the girl and began to wonder what they had gotten themselves into. (With those few exceptions. Just to name one, Goury. "Look at the pretty lights.")
"Vitis," she said calmly but with the same feel of command. The earth seemed to listen again and formed long, thin, whip like vines made up of earth and stone. "CLAVUS!" she screamed pointing at the un-expecting horde.
The vines seemed to come to life when she yelled. They all began spearing the creatures or cutting them in halve in a rush to get others who were trying to escape the massacre.
Lina and the others just watched in a sick kind of fascination as the vines killed the helpless trolls and berserkers. At times Lina would look at the back of the girl in wonder, for she had never seen a spell like this ever in her entire life.
Soon the massacre was over and the vines dissolved back into the ground.
The girl sighed as if a huge burden had been taken from her shoulders. Then she tensed up again. "Oh God and Guardians," she whispered, "what have I done?"
"You saved our lives," Lina said.
The girl turned and shook her head. "No, you don't understand I just did something very illegal."
"Illegal?" Philia asked in worry.
The girl nodded in shame. Then she perked up as if a thought had made her happy. "Though I am on another world, so the same rules probably don't apply."
"Hold it!" Lina said, raising a hand to stop the girls talk. "'Another World'?"
The girl blinked a few times in incomprehension, her face blank. Then knowledge of what Lina was talking about sank in and smiled. "Yes, Can't you tell by my clothing?"
The others took a good look at her and found her statement to be true. Her clothing was of strange cloth and strange cut.
"Where are you from then?" Zelgadis said with a frown.
"Well Mr. Gloom," the girl teased as she put her sword away, "should I start outwards in, or inwards out?"
Everyone was confused, except Lina who smirked at the girl. "Inwards out," she stated with her smirk still on her face.
"Alright," the girl said with a shrug and a smirk of her own. "I live twenty minutes away from downtown Juno, which is the capitol of our state called Alaska, which is one of the fifty states of the democratic republic of America (yeah!), which is apart of the continent of North America, and which is on the surface of the planet I like to call Earth." She took a deep breathe and chuckled at the faces of the group. "Did I leave any thing out?"
"No, I believe you covered everything Miss," came an annoying voice.
Lina gritted her teeth. "Xellos you Fruitcake where were you when we needed you?" she stated, trying to keep some semblance on control.
The Trickster Priest just smiled and wagged his finger, about to open his mouth when something hit him in the head.
It was the girls fist.
"That was for that disgusting trick you played, you nothus bestia!" she yelled.
"How do you know it was me?" Xellos asked with a smile. "And may I ask for your name?"
The girl looked like she was going to answer him but she stopped. She looked like she was rethinking something, like her approach. The girl took a deep breath and seemed to calm down almost immediately. "My name is Karen, Karen Moloter. And I'm sorry for hitting you, I had no proof it was you." She paused to look him strait in his closed eyes. "I am just used to going with what my powers tell me and my powers told me you had done that. I am truly sorry."
Lina waved her off. "You were probably right in your assumption Karen," she said as she went back to the nearly dead fire. "He is a Fruitcake. By the way were you the one to make the fire grow like it did?"
"Indirectly yes," Karen said following Lina. "But I can't do that now because there isn't enough fuel."
Lina gestured to the few fallen trees around them, "Take your pick."
Karen though shook her head. "I can't they still have life in them thus I can not use them."
Xellos raised an eyebrow. "I sense nothing from them."
Karen just rolled her eyes. "They just died you nothus so they still have residual energy on them that only a Child of the Earth can detect," she said with an exasperated sigh. She looked like she was going to explain herself a little more but stopped. "Look I can't actually explain much unless I understand your magic, so how about you give me a 'basics crash course' and then I'll be able to put my magic into terms you will understand using the basics you taught me."
Lina thought about what Karen proposed very hard because she didn't know a lot about the girl. She was something that was very new. "I think we could but for us to do that you have to promise to help out around here."
Karen nodded like she expected such a thing from them. "Once I figure out what to do I think you will have to beat me to make me stop helping you," she laughed light heartedly. "I mean exactly that to, my friend Kira had to…." Her voice trailed off and her face seemed to tighten up in sorrow. "Kira," she whispered in sorrow.
Lina moved forward, unconsciously wanting to help the girl, and placed a hand on Karen's shoulder. "You okay?"
Karen seemed to come back to herself in a flash and the mask of happiness was up. "I'm fine!" she said in a false brightness that even Goury could see. "No really I just was going to say my friends usually have to beat me to stop doing work."
Lina nodded and took Karen for her word. "What do you want to know about first?" she asked as she sat down on a log.
"How about going from easiest to the hardest in types of magic's, then explain how each works in that order," Karen suggested as she to sat down. She took out her note book and a pencil so she could take notes.
"What are you doing?" Philia asked as she and Silphiel put some pre-dried branches on the fire.
"I like to take notes while I am learning something new. It helps things stick in the mind better," Karen said as she got herself better situated.
Lina decided to begin with White magic since it was the easiest to understand and relate to.
Zelgadis sat farthest away from the girl as everyone began to settle in, and help Lina explain their world. Amelia sat right next to the girl ready to help at moments notice and Xellos sat on her other side trying to read over her shoulder. Philia and Silphiel both sat near Goury, who sat blissfully away from Lina.
This is going to take a while, Lina thought as she began her explanations, and lessons.