Little Chimera Part 7 "Bandit Attack"

"They weren't supposed to come back so soon!" Lina screams as she puts Zelgadis behind her and Gourry draws his sword.

"Well, we did take up pirates for a long time," Gourry reminds Lina as he slashes at the closest bandit.

"Have you no shame attacking a group traveling with a child," Lina whines as she prepares a spell. "Fire Ball!"

"Fire Ball," Zelgadis mimics copying her spell perfectly.

"Nice one Zel," Lina gives him a thumb up. "All right follow my lead!"

As Gourry slashes down the closest bandits, Lina and Zelgadis hit the further ones with elemental spells. Lina doesn't know if Zelgadis can handle dark magic spells or if he remembers how to summon power from a monster so she sticks with elements.

The elemental spells do the trick and in no time at all, the bandits have realized their mistake. A hasty retreat marks the success of the small traveling party.

"Yeah, you better run you filthy scum bags!" Lina yells after them. "Let's follow them to their hide out."

"Yeah!" Zelgadis cheers with excitement. After fighting the bandits a strange light seems to gleam in his eyes and it is begging to come out and play some more.

Not very different from Lina actually.

"Um, I don't think that's such a great idea," Gourry muses as he scratches a nonexistent itch. Obviously he is nervous and who can blame him.

"Look we could use the extra money and Zel did just fine," Lina reasons. "It's in his blood." She cannot help but laugh at this. While Zel doesn't remember who he is the ability to fight has not been lost apparently.

"But he's six . . . or seven," Gourry simply says, unsure of his age since Zelgadis has been growing.

"In a sense . . ." Lina answers. She would love to blurt out that Zelgadis is merely stuck in a child's body, but she cannot very well say this when Zelgadis doesn't even know the truth himself.

"We could use the money, not that I think any inn's are worth it," Zelgadis points out. He is actually more aware of their money problems than the other two. He also hates staying in inns since he'd much rather sleep in an abandoned shack or under the stars.

But he likes fighting bandits.

"Please," Zelgadis and Lina sing together with large bubbly eyes.

Gourry sweats at the sweetness and gives in.

As soon as they acquire Gourry's permission the small family tracks the bandits. Like a diligent and eager student, Zelgadis listens to Lina's tips for tracking bandits with astute care. Eventually he makes suggestions on his own, which is nearly enough to make Lina slip up. She doesn't want Zelgadis to be suspicious and so pretends that she is simply impressed with his quick mind despite expecting it from him.

When they reach the bandit camp the riff raff are packing up camp. Their memories aren't so far gone that they cannot recognize the infamous bandit killer Lina Inverse.

"All right, I'll start out with a Bram Gush spell to knock them over, Gourry you watch Zel's back as he uses a freeze arrow on those I miss, got it?" Lina says.

"Is it really okay for Zel to use spells," Gourry asks.

"Pfft, I was way younger than him when I started casting spells," Lina waves a hand.

Both men nod, one more eagerly than the other.

"Let's do this, Wind which blows across eternity, gather in my hands and become my strength!" Lina chants as she jumps out from her hiding place. "Bram Gush!"

Nearly all of the men get knocked down as Zelgadis and Gourry charge into the fray. Lina continues to relentlessly attack the bandits with fire as the enemy scrambles to their feet and attempt to fight or flee. Everything is going well, until another group of the bandit gang returns from a successful raid.

Apparently the bandits have also learned that there is safety in numbers.

At this point, Zelgadis is forced to bring out his sword as a bandit charges straight at him. Gourry immediately ignores the bandit leader he is fighting in favor of protecting Zelgadis. The bandit leader swipes at Gourry's defenseless back and successfully wounds the brave swordsman as he blocks the sword of Zelgadis's assailant.

Gourry knows that the sword can't hurt Zelgadis physically, but it can mentally since the little blue man is stuck with a child's limitations.

"Go-Gourry!" Zelgadis screams as he sees the blood on Gourry's back. Sadly seeing his best friend injured doesn't help Zelgadis mentally either.

"I'm fine Zel," Gourry smiles as he beats back both men.

In a moment of panic, Zelgadis does the first thing that flies into his mind.

"Infinite Earth, mother of all things," Zelgadis chants.

Immediately, Lina recognizes the chant and activates a levitation spell as she races towards Gourry.

"DUG HAUT!" Zelgadis cries as he strikes the ground with his hand. As soon as Zelgadis's hand hits the earth, Lina picks up Gourry. Rounded spikes erupt from the ground around Zelgadis throwing the remaining bandits in scattered directions. None of the spikes are sharp, so no one is impaled, but it is enough to completely demolish the rest of the bandit camp.

Opening his tightly closed eyes, Zelgadis looks around in wonder at the dirt mounds surrounding him. He almost expects to see the green bodies of impaled orcs, but only badly beaten bandits can be seen.

"Did I do that?" Zelgadis says in wonder. He looks up and see's Lina flying above him with Gourry. At first he is relieved, but then he becomes scared when he remembers the blood on Gourry's back.

Lina's going to be mad or worse disappointed.

Lifting his hand off the ground, the dirt immediately returns to the way it was as Lina lowers to the earth and applies a healing spell to Gourry.

"Great job Zel, you okay?" Lina asks as she finishes up.

Zelgadis looks like a rabbit about to bolt.

"Whoa now Zel, what's wrong, you did a great job," Lina says with a 'V' for victory sign. "Albeit you should have warned me about the Dug Haunt spell, but I was asking for it when I expected you to fight bandits in the first place."

"I knew it was a bad idea," Gourry sighs.

"You're not mad?" Zelgadis asks trying to sound strong.

"Of course I'm mad, but what good would it do getting mad at you for something that wasn't your fault," Lina smiles.

"Yep, it's definitely Lina's fault," Gourry seconds.

Gently, Lina gives Gourry a knock on the head with her fist.

"I shouldn't have expected so much from you so quickly," Lina lowers to the ground so she's eye level with Zelgadis. "Now come on let me make sure your okay." She reaches out her hands and waits. Gourry is impressed with Lina, he has never seen her be so responsible or so patient. The only hint to her impatience is the slight twitch in her left foot.

What seems to be an hour for Lina is only seconds as Zelgadis walks up to her. The worst thing Lina finds is how dirty Zelgadis has become.

She sighs, "Well it looks like your punishment is going to be another bath." Zelgadis groans as Lina giggles playfully.

"You can give him a bath this time Lina," Gourry gently stretches testing his abilities a bit.

"Wh-wha-what? Me!?" Lina screams.

"Why should I be punished too," Gourry shrugs. "Ouch." Perhaps shrugging isn't a good idea in his current state. "You should take responsibility for your actions."

"Well, I AM," Lina weakly defends. A slight blush emerges on her face, but Zelgadis doesn't really react. At least not for the same reasons she does.

Gourry is not amused.

"But Gourry, who knows what she'll do to me," Zelgadis shivers at the thought of a monster bathing him.

"No butt's," Gourry waves his finger and stands to his feet. "Now who's going to help me with this treasure?"

"ME me!" Lina and Zelgadis announce and the three happily relieve the once glorious bandit gang of all their treasure.

"That's the last time I ever use that spell," Zelgadis gurgles as Lina works out clumps of dirt and mud scattered in his sharp hair.

"Now I know why you hardly use it," Lina agrees as she leans forward.

"You're really flat," Zelgadis comments.

In response, Lina forcibly dunks Zelgadis's head beneath the water as a gurgled 'monster' bubbles out from his mouth.

The End

Author's Note: Zelgadis has probably been fighting for a very long time, but I like to think he wasn't fighting for Rezo until he was at least a tween. So this little Zelgadis feels the enjoyment of fighting that he did as an adult but doesn't understand violence mentally since he doesn't remember. It's only Gourry's awareness of this that keeps the situation from getting worse. Enjoy.