SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 8 out, this is Chapter 9 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairing: Established!Zelgadis/Aria, hinted!Gourry/Lina

Disclaimers: Nothing here is mine, well, except my OC and the pairing.

Chapter 9: Voices from the Darkness! Slash 'em to Bits, Ragna Blade

"No way!" Amelia exclaimed in horror, seeing Lina was incapable of casting even a 'Lightning' spell.

"I can't use my magic now." Lina realized. "What am I going to do?"

"Take care now!" Phil bade Lina farewell, sending the powerless sorceress off. "If anything happens, we'll be sure to send word."

"But will they really be able to cure Lina?" Gourry wondered a while earlier. "That whoever-it-it on Mt whatever-it-was?"

"The sorcery doctor Runan on Mt Rune." Lina supplied.

"It's be all right." Amelia assured. "Even though he retired to the mountain long ago, rumor has it that he's in good health and his skill hasn't diminished."

"Rumor has it?" Zelgadis echoed. "That's all we know?"

"Daddy said that there's no better wizard out there for breaking curses." Amelia was confident.

"Even if it is only a rumor, I have to go there to check it out." Lina relented. "To Mt Rune..."

"We don't know what Kanzel and the others will try next." Zelgadis reminded. "Get yourself cured and get back here quickly."

"So, does that mean that you can't handle this without me?" Lina teased.

"At the very least, it'll be a lot harder to fight two Mazoku without your spells." Zelgadis explained.

"Still, are you sure you should go by yourself?" Gourry was worried.

"Phil's the one who needs protection right now." Lina stated. "Cut it out. Quit worrying." she assured. "As soon as I get my powers working, I'll double-time it back here. Until then, guard Phil and watch out for those Mazoku. Take care of it."

"Aria, what's wrong?" Zelgadis looked at his oddly silent mate.

"I have sudden misgivings about this." Aria replied. "I mean, Martina is still out there..."

"It's just a short trip." Zelgadis reminded. "What are the odds of her..." he trailed off when Aria gave him a look. "Right... knowing Lina's luck... I really should stop tempting fate."

As night fell...

"Daddy, that's rude." Amelia retorted as Phil yawned.

"Sorry Amelia." Phil apologized. "But how long do I have to do this?" he asked, seated in the middle of a shielding magic circle.

"This is the safest place there is." Amelia insisted. "The barrier can defend us against any attack spell they might try. If anything goes wrong, Aria and Zelgadis are here. And so is Gourry..." she trailed off when she saw Gourry had fallen asleep. "Okay, leave out Gourry."

"You look bored." Mazenda remarked and idly strolled into the protection circle. "I feel so sorry for you. You seem like a bird in a cage."

"What do you want?" Gourry was on the alert.

"Wait." Zelgadis stopped him. "She can't do anything while she's in this barrier."

"What can I do for you, Mazenda?" Phil frowned.

"I was wondering if Your Highness would like to play a game with me." Mazenda stated. "Feel feel to join us." she informed the others. "You're all invited to my game room." her smirk widened as she reverse-engineered the protection circle into a teleportation portal.

In Mazenda's dimension...

"Well, this looks strangely familiar." Aria took a look at their new surroundings.

"So, the shady 'royal sorcerers' show their true form, huh?" Zelgadis snorted.

"And you've also revealed the evil intentions in your heart." Amelia declared. "Now to show you how I'll smash you with the Hammer of Justice."

"Our true forms, you say?" Mazenda chuckled. "Surely this 'true form'..." she reverted back to her Mazoku self. "Is more along the lines you were expecting." chuckling, she summoned a group of Mazoku. "Now, let the games begin. A game where you play for your lives."

"Re-quip: Poseidon Dragon." Aria wasted no time in donning one of her high-tiered ocean armors.

"How long you can hold out, I wonder?" Mazenda mocked, Aria putting up an energy force-field using the 'Neptune's Destiny' halberd scepter with Zelgadis and Amelia reinforcing the barrier.

"Ra Tilt!" Amelia's spell took out the demon attacking her. "Daddy!" she gasped when the downed monster's companions neared Phil, only to have Gourry take them out.

"Anyway, let's get out of here." Zelgadis suggested, letting loose what looked like a low-powered Val Flare at the monsters.

"But how do we get out of here?" Amelia asked.

"Azure Dragon Tail!" Aria's water tornado blasted off yet another pair of monsters.

"You, who controls the origins, who must come, who must go; you all, break the chain, obey my will and my deed. Come before me, my sworn friend!" Zelgadis started his summoning. "Impossible." he gaped in shock when the spell failed. "The field didn't break."

"Weren't expecting that, were you, boy?" Mazenda taunted.

"Damn, she can take that level of attack without battling an eye." Zelgadis cursed, his attack on Mazenda had no effect.

"No matter what, we've gotta hold on." Gourry readied the Sword of Light. "At least until Lina can get back here."

"You're almost at your limit, huh?" Mazenda mocked, Gourry was panting from the exertion of deflecting her attacks.

"Don't worry yourself on our account." Gourry smirked.

"Elmekia Lance!" Zelgadis took the opening to attack.

"There." Mazenda smirked, seeing the Sword of Light flicker, her own barrier absorbing the spell. "You can't take anymore. Don't look away from me." she chided, the two swordsmen dodged her attacks. "Let's have even more fun."

"Aria!" Zelgadis warned, Mazenda's next attack was aimed at the water-caster.

"Dragon Force..." Ragradia's Avatar intoned, the Ragradia Sapphire around her neck started glowing a water blue as she drew upon the Water Dragon King's power. "Ex-quip: Hydro Dragon Guardian Armor." the outsurge of shinzoku magic took Mazenda by surprise, the female Mazoku's eyes widened in horror as the 'Amethyst Sunder', an ax-halberd, manifested in Aria's hands. "Ragradia... Starlight!" Aria swung the weapon down.

Outside...

As if acting in accordance with Aria, Lina's incomplete 'Ragna Blade' energy spear stuck the statue on the wall and deactivated the teleportation portal.

"We're back." Phil realized. "What's happening?" he gasped when he started floating in the air.

"We'll take Phil, if you don't mind." Kanzel remarked, knocking the Seyruun crown prince unconscious with a lightning bolt. "If you wish to have him back, then be prepared not to flee from us."

"Taking Phil hostage." Zelgadis wondered. "What are they up to?"

"It means Phil wasn't their true target after all." Lina concluded.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.