Disclaimer:
This is fanfiction promotes a Z/A and G/L pairing. If you have issues with this pairing read no more.
Slayers copyright 1991-2000 by Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi, Kadokawa, Shoten TV, TOKYO, SOFTX, Marubeni.
I know I used these characters without permission, but please don't sue me. Like many other fanfiction authors, I have no money.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 10: A Change in Plans
Fully realizing what he was doing, Zelgadis pulled his hand away. Feeling his hand fall from her face Amelia reluctantly removed her own hand and backed away.
Zelgadis tried to sit up but the spinning room forced to lie back down. Groaning, Zelgadis fought the urge to vomit, "How long have I been asleep?" he managed to croak out painfully.
"About six hours. Miss. Lina, Mr. Gourry, and Mr. Xellos went out to get some food. Don't try to sit up yet, you're probably still weak from everything that happened. It's the stress. I bet you're all stiff and headachy. I can take some of that away." Pushing him back down she laid her palm flat on his chest. Zelgadis could feel a cool blanket of magic fall over him. His muscles began to relax and he closed his eyes.
"Six hours! This is pathetic," Zelgadis thought. "How could I pass out from stress!? Damn Xellos for doing this to me again!"
Almost as if Amelia could read his mind she spoke up again. "Don't worry Mr. Zelgadis. No one thinks any less of you for fai. . .um. . .what happened. We all blame Mr. Xellos for what he did to you."
At that point Zelgadis opened his eyes and noticed Amelia's check looked red and swollen; some of her skin was scrapped off. Soon he realized that was the check he was touching earlier.
"Damn it!" Zelgadis cursed silently to himself, "I can't touch anything without hurting it."
Zelgadis tongue felt thick and swollen. His throat hurt, but he decided he should still speak up. "Amelia, you're cheek."
"Oh?" Amelia raised both her hand up to her checks and felt the left one to be stinging and her skin raw. She laughed. "I didn't even notice. It's nothing. I can heal that right up." Amelia removed her hand and with that the red welt was gone.
Zelgadis turned his head aside so he didn't have to look at her and thought, "Nothing? I did that just by touching her. And she calls that nothing."
"There. What do you think?" She asked tilting her head to the side.
Zelgadis did not and simply grunted his approval.
Clearing her throat Amelia stood up. "Um, I'm sure you're hungry Mr. Zelgadis. I'll go and see if I can't find something for you to eat before the others to return." Setting her lips into a tight line Amelia got up and left the room as quietly as possible, leaving Zelgadis to sit and sulk.
~
If there was one item that they were never without, it was coffee. A necessity that Zelgadis demanded that they carry with them on the road. Setting a kettle of water onto a stove to boil Amelia rummaged through the bags to look for some food.
All she had to offer Zelgadis was traveling food. Hard, tasteless biscuits. Not appetizing, but they kept for months at a time and were very handy when the surrounding area offered no other options to obtain food.
Pouring the coffee into a mug and placing a few of the biscuits onto a plate Amelia hurried to bring them to Zelgadis. As she reached the door a huge explosion rang off outside. Just as the explosion subsided the door swung open, knocking into her and splashing steaming hot coffee down the front of her body.
Shrieking more from the shock than the pain, Amelia jumped back and pulled her shirt away from her body.
"Amelia!" Zelgadis cried as he reached out to help her. "I'm sorry. I heard an explosion."
Grimacing a bit from the pain of the steaming coffee on her skin she responded, "I'm okay Mr. Zelgadis. But how did you move so quickly? I thought you were too tired."
Zelgadis gave her a wiry grin, "Even like this I can still move faster than normal people."
A second explosion was heard, this time loud enough to rattle the floorboards. Throwing the doors open a searing heat blasted against their faces as they saw a huge bonfire blazing in the front yard. Amelia shrieked with surprise and took a step back. Zelgadis caught her as she backed up into him.
Cackling maniacally Lina swooped down from the sky to examine her handiwork. "Ah! I just love bonfires! Hey Gourry! Get those fish over here. C'mon! Xellos I need more wood!"
Gourry bounded happily forward. He had skewered the fish onto staves and planted them in a circular pattern around the fire to roast. Some fish he planted anew, others he turned to roast on the other side. Xellos materialized over the fire and began throwing more logs into the flames.
"Xellos!" Zelgadis snarled upon seeing him. Pushing Amelia aside, Zelgadis tried to spring forward but found his feet unwilling to cooperate. Stumbling, Zelgadis dragged his feet along until he reached the foot of the bonfire, where Xellos patiently waited. Zelgadis refused to fall to his knees, never again, not for Xellos.
Pausing at the base of the fire Zelgadis breathed raggedly in an attempt to catch his breathe.
Teleporting in front of Zelgadis he landed gracefully to the ground, "Hello Zelgadis. I see you're awake now. Feeling better?"
"What the hell kind of question is that? This is your fault I'm like this." Zelgadis snarled back.
"Oh?"
"Leave here Xellos! I'm warning you right now, if I see you again I will kill you. Don't doubt that."
Xellos chuckled. Amused he decided to taunt Zelgadis a bit more, "Oh. How do you plan on doing that Zelgadis?" Opening his eyes Zelgadis could see the purple fire dancing behind his orbs.
Xellos had him there. Zelgadis knew he did not have the strength or power to fight Xellos, but his sense of honor would not demand anything less.
"Besides," Xellos quickly added before Zelgadis could respond, "Why would you want to shoo me away when I came back to tell you some good news."
Zelgadis laughed. "Like the good news you had for me last time? I don't want to hear *anything* you have to say."
"I'm simply trying to help you Zelgadis."
"I don't need your kind of help."
Ignoring him Xellos continued, "After making my report to Beastmaster she decided I should do a favor for you to make up for upsetting you so badly."
"Ha! See!" Raising his finger he pointed it accusingly at Xellos. "You see! That's a lie right there! Mazoku don't do anyone favors for free. Especially Beastmaster."
"You're right Zelgadis, this isn't a free favor, we Mazoku benefit from your knowing as well."
"What are you talking about?" Lina said stepping forward, "What makes you think we'll listen to you after what you did?"
"Because he speaks the truth." A deep and sonorous voice that echoed from the depths of the bonfire licked and resonated in their ears.
"Show yourself!" Gourry demanded drawing his sword as he prepared for an attack.
"Put your sword away." Xellos snapped. His eyes open and the purple fire in his eyes glowing more brightly than the bonfire's blaze. Using his staff Xellos knocked Gourry's sword out of his hands in one fluid motion. "Learn to show respect for those better than you."
The bonfire wavered and convulsed, as if it were trying to extinguish itself and grow larger at the same time. It writhed in pain before imploding into a perfect orange-red sphere. The outer shell took on a shiny metallic sheen, causing the sunlight to refract and intensify against its surface. The others shielded their eyes from the light. A purple bolt of lightening shot down from the sky and struck the sphere, slicing it perfectly down the center. Emerging from a crouching position a human figure stood upright to its full height. Hefting a shorter broadsword in its left hand, the horrific image of a huge man-beast stepped forward.
Clad in battle armor, with a second sword strapped to its waist, the beast wore a long white skirt that reached the top of his leather boots. A bandanna wrapped around his forehead held wild spiky purple hair off its face. As if it had stepped fresh from battle, fresh blood flowed in a steady stream out of its missing left eye.
By this time Gourry had retrieved his sword and stood at attention. He drew back ready to strike once the occasion allowed. Sensing what Gourry wanted to do Lina raised her hand to stop him. "Don't be a fool." She hissed at him. "We don't know what it might do."
Striding forward to the beast Xellos kneeled and lowered his head, "Welcome Mistress."
"That's Beastmaster?" Lina asked in shock.
"It appears so," Zelgadis responded. "Whatever Xellos wants to tell me must be important if she's here."
"And it is important." Beastmaster's deep guttural tones grunted forward. Her speech sounded more like growls and barks rather than a human's voice, and yet they could easily understand her meanings.
Xellos rose to take her arm and escort her to meet the others. "Mistress, may I introduce Lina Inverse, Gourry Gabriev, Zelgadis Greywords, and Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune."
The others were still in so much shock to be in yet another Dark Lord's presence that none of them were sure what to say. All except for Amelia, who unbeknownst to the others, was not her first encounter with the Mistress of Wolf Pack Island.
"Mistress Beastmaster, please tell us why you've come to speak to us." Amelia asked in a wavering voice as the others stared at her with awe and surprise; shocked that she'd be the first to gather her courage and speak to Beastmaster so boldly.
An amused smile played on Beastmaster's lips. "I've come to speak to the Chimera."
Swallowing down the hard lump that had formed in his throat, Zelgadis spoke "I am listening."
"I come baring tidings of our Supreme Dark Lord and Master Shabranigdo."
"Shabranigdo? What did he have to do with any of this?" Lina's mind raced. The last thing she wanted to ever do was deal with him again.
Since no one spoke Beastmaster continued, "He has asked me to deliver a message to Zelgadis Greywords."
"What is his message?" Zelgadis' voice remained clear and resolute, but he was crumbling inside from the conflicting emotions, fear and excitement over hearing the news.
"Only through pain will you be redeemed. Only through death will you be reborn."
Zelgadis could feel the blood turn ice cold in his veins. Zelgadis was sure that if he still had his human skin he would be stark white at this very moment. The Shabranigdo in his dream had spoken those exact words to him. "How could Beastmaster know?" Zelgadis silently asked himself.
Amelia stepped forward. This was not part of their deal, Zelgadis was not supposed to die in order to regain his humanity. "Beastmaster, your words are very cryptic. Please, I must ask you to explain what is your meaning."
Beastmaster never took her eyes away from Zelgadis, "The Chimera knows. He knows that his task to become human will not be an easy one. It will be fraught with many dangers and perils. He will reflect more than once before this journey is over that he had never partaken in it. For in the end, he will lose much and yet gain everything. Your salvation lies with our Dark Lord. Do you accept His gift and will you follow His words?"
Lina's wide eyes turned to Zelgadis as she waited to hear her response. Her breathing had become ragged and her limbs numb with shock. As insane as Beastmaster's proposal sounded to her, she knew it was nothing short of a miracle for Zelgadis. Here was one of the most powerful forces on their world offering to him his humanity. Certainly a chance in a lifetime, but was Zelgadis willing to take that chance?
Zelgadis knew he had to choose his words carefully. "I have already lost much in the past. My search for a cure has brought the deaths of my friends and foes alike. I am not afraid of suffering to gain my humanity, but I have since learned I have no right to risk the lives of others for my selfish gains. Therefore I cannot accept his gift without hearing what it is first."
Beastmaster nodded, "Your request is granted." Beastmaster closed her eyes and hung her head for a brief moment. Wavering, her image shrunk, her armor vanished and the hair on her body receded into her skin. Her dark brown fur disappeared and was replaced with a perfectly tanned and toned female body robbed in a white frock and golden sandals with thin golden bracelets laddering her arms and legs. Her long purple hair fell in cascades far down her back reaching her waist. She opened her eyes to reveal smoky amethyst eyes. Rousing herself as if she was suddenly awaken, her eyes flickered around. Motioning with her right hand, a cigarette appeared between her slender fingers and painted nails. "Listen carefully Chimera-boy because I'm only telling you this once."
Lina listened with abject surprise at Beastmaster's sudden change in attitude. Beastmaster now spoke with annoyance, even disdain. Was this the same person who was speaking before? And if it wasn't, then was someone speaking through her?
"Your original plan wasn't too far off." Beastmaster began, her luxurious voice purring silkily, "The only missing piece is that you don't have enough power to cast the spell successfully yourself. What did Rezo once say when he was searching for the Philosopher's Stone? If you must turn to the power of the Gods or Mazoku, Mazoku are always stronger. Something like that. "
"Does that mean you're going to turn Zelgadis into a human?" Gourry asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"If it were only that easy," Beastmaster chuckled, "No, I won't be turning him into a human. He'll have access to greater power than my own."
"What do you mean?" Lina asked
"You don't need the power of Shabranigdo's generals when you can use Shabranigdo's own power."
Silent tension filled the air.
"You aren't suggesting that we resurrect another piece of Shabranigdo just to cure Zel are you? Do you know how hard it was for me to kill the first piece?" Lina cried out.
Beastmaster's lip curled back and she bore her teeth in a frightening way. "Yes, we wouldn't want to trouble the Great Lina Inverse would we? As simple as humans are, even I could not fool one of you into resurrecting him. No, there is another way. I'm sure you are all aware of our Demon King of the North."
"You mean that piece of Shabranigdo sealed by the Water Dragon King in Kaakarat Mountains?" Amelia asked.
"That very piece. Now some of you may have wondered why Shabranigdo doesn't break out of the ice on his own. Even one-seventh of Shabrangido's power should be sufficient to break the Water Dragon King's spell especially with him being dead, but the Water Dragon King was more clever than we expected. The ice Shabranigdo is sealed in absorbs his powers."
"I don't think I understand." Gourry spoke up.
"You never understand!" Lina yelled at Gourry.
"No need for that Lina." Xellos spoke, "Let me provide you a comparison Gourry. Do you remember Flagoon in Sairaag? Flagoon would absorb Zaniffar's evil misasma in order to grow. That's the same idea here. The ice absorbs Shabranigdo's power in order to perpetuate the seal."
"Exactly," Beastmaster continued, "The act of absorbing Shabranigdo's power leaves our Dark Lord so weak the ice doesn't need all of the power to sustain itself. Therefore it has created a power sphere as a reservoir for the extra power. A sphere that can be tapped and its power can be wielded."
"Good story," Lina smiled cynically, "But you still don't explain why the Mazoku don't just use the power and break Shabranigdo out of the ice."
"Isn't it obvious? The Water Dragon King would never allow us to wield the power. So he safeguarded it. He made sure only dragons or humans could possibly use the stored energy. And since no dragon would willingly use power from a Mazoku source humans are left. One thousand years of stored power in that little sphere should be more than enough to make you human again. Of course you'll still need Shaazad's Soul to focus and transform the energy.
"What do you think Greywords? All that power sitting there that could someday be used against the Mazoku. We can't let that happen. Thus no human knows of it. Even Lina, with her vast knowledge of magic didn't know of a secret this well kept. We could give this gift to anyone Zelgadis, but we are giving it to you. It's a win-win situation for the both of us. You get back your humanity and we won't have to worry about guarding the sphere for another thousand years."
"Everything fits perfectly," Zelgadis murmured. "That's why I don't trust it. Why me? Why did you choose me?"
"Why does it matter *why* you're gaining this information?" Beastmaster said waving her and across his face as if she were trying to fan his fears away. "What matters is that you now have it."
Zelgadis shook his head, "I simply can't trust it. Every lead I've followed to discover my cure was from reliable sources."
Beastmaster expelled and exasperated sigh. "Rezo requested that we give you the cure."
"Rezo?" Zelgadis was taken aback. Was this why Rezo had been appearing in his dreams? But in his dreams, Rezo had warned Zelgadis against searching for his cure.
"I can see you have much to think about. I will give you until tomorrow morning to make your decision. This is a one time opportunity. I will not return again with this offer. So consider it wisely."
Crossing her arms across her chest, Beastmaster evaporated, leaving a thin spiral of white smoke that twisted and reached into the clear blue sky.
This is fanfiction promotes a Z/A and G/L pairing. If you have issues with this pairing read no more.
Slayers copyright 1991-2000 by Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi, Kadokawa, Shoten TV, TOKYO, SOFTX, Marubeni.
I know I used these characters without permission, but please don't sue me. Like many other fanfiction authors, I have no money.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 10: A Change in Plans
Fully realizing what he was doing, Zelgadis pulled his hand away. Feeling his hand fall from her face Amelia reluctantly removed her own hand and backed away.
Zelgadis tried to sit up but the spinning room forced to lie back down. Groaning, Zelgadis fought the urge to vomit, "How long have I been asleep?" he managed to croak out painfully.
"About six hours. Miss. Lina, Mr. Gourry, and Mr. Xellos went out to get some food. Don't try to sit up yet, you're probably still weak from everything that happened. It's the stress. I bet you're all stiff and headachy. I can take some of that away." Pushing him back down she laid her palm flat on his chest. Zelgadis could feel a cool blanket of magic fall over him. His muscles began to relax and he closed his eyes.
"Six hours! This is pathetic," Zelgadis thought. "How could I pass out from stress!? Damn Xellos for doing this to me again!"
Almost as if Amelia could read his mind she spoke up again. "Don't worry Mr. Zelgadis. No one thinks any less of you for fai. . .um. . .what happened. We all blame Mr. Xellos for what he did to you."
At that point Zelgadis opened his eyes and noticed Amelia's check looked red and swollen; some of her skin was scrapped off. Soon he realized that was the check he was touching earlier.
"Damn it!" Zelgadis cursed silently to himself, "I can't touch anything without hurting it."
Zelgadis tongue felt thick and swollen. His throat hurt, but he decided he should still speak up. "Amelia, you're cheek."
"Oh?" Amelia raised both her hand up to her checks and felt the left one to be stinging and her skin raw. She laughed. "I didn't even notice. It's nothing. I can heal that right up." Amelia removed her hand and with that the red welt was gone.
Zelgadis turned his head aside so he didn't have to look at her and thought, "Nothing? I did that just by touching her. And she calls that nothing."
"There. What do you think?" She asked tilting her head to the side.
Zelgadis did not and simply grunted his approval.
Clearing her throat Amelia stood up. "Um, I'm sure you're hungry Mr. Zelgadis. I'll go and see if I can't find something for you to eat before the others to return." Setting her lips into a tight line Amelia got up and left the room as quietly as possible, leaving Zelgadis to sit and sulk.
~
If there was one item that they were never without, it was coffee. A necessity that Zelgadis demanded that they carry with them on the road. Setting a kettle of water onto a stove to boil Amelia rummaged through the bags to look for some food.
All she had to offer Zelgadis was traveling food. Hard, tasteless biscuits. Not appetizing, but they kept for months at a time and were very handy when the surrounding area offered no other options to obtain food.
Pouring the coffee into a mug and placing a few of the biscuits onto a plate Amelia hurried to bring them to Zelgadis. As she reached the door a huge explosion rang off outside. Just as the explosion subsided the door swung open, knocking into her and splashing steaming hot coffee down the front of her body.
Shrieking more from the shock than the pain, Amelia jumped back and pulled her shirt away from her body.
"Amelia!" Zelgadis cried as he reached out to help her. "I'm sorry. I heard an explosion."
Grimacing a bit from the pain of the steaming coffee on her skin she responded, "I'm okay Mr. Zelgadis. But how did you move so quickly? I thought you were too tired."
Zelgadis gave her a wiry grin, "Even like this I can still move faster than normal people."
A second explosion was heard, this time loud enough to rattle the floorboards. Throwing the doors open a searing heat blasted against their faces as they saw a huge bonfire blazing in the front yard. Amelia shrieked with surprise and took a step back. Zelgadis caught her as she backed up into him.
Cackling maniacally Lina swooped down from the sky to examine her handiwork. "Ah! I just love bonfires! Hey Gourry! Get those fish over here. C'mon! Xellos I need more wood!"
Gourry bounded happily forward. He had skewered the fish onto staves and planted them in a circular pattern around the fire to roast. Some fish he planted anew, others he turned to roast on the other side. Xellos materialized over the fire and began throwing more logs into the flames.
"Xellos!" Zelgadis snarled upon seeing him. Pushing Amelia aside, Zelgadis tried to spring forward but found his feet unwilling to cooperate. Stumbling, Zelgadis dragged his feet along until he reached the foot of the bonfire, where Xellos patiently waited. Zelgadis refused to fall to his knees, never again, not for Xellos.
Pausing at the base of the fire Zelgadis breathed raggedly in an attempt to catch his breathe.
Teleporting in front of Zelgadis he landed gracefully to the ground, "Hello Zelgadis. I see you're awake now. Feeling better?"
"What the hell kind of question is that? This is your fault I'm like this." Zelgadis snarled back.
"Oh?"
"Leave here Xellos! I'm warning you right now, if I see you again I will kill you. Don't doubt that."
Xellos chuckled. Amused he decided to taunt Zelgadis a bit more, "Oh. How do you plan on doing that Zelgadis?" Opening his eyes Zelgadis could see the purple fire dancing behind his orbs.
Xellos had him there. Zelgadis knew he did not have the strength or power to fight Xellos, but his sense of honor would not demand anything less.
"Besides," Xellos quickly added before Zelgadis could respond, "Why would you want to shoo me away when I came back to tell you some good news."
Zelgadis laughed. "Like the good news you had for me last time? I don't want to hear *anything* you have to say."
"I'm simply trying to help you Zelgadis."
"I don't need your kind of help."
Ignoring him Xellos continued, "After making my report to Beastmaster she decided I should do a favor for you to make up for upsetting you so badly."
"Ha! See!" Raising his finger he pointed it accusingly at Xellos. "You see! That's a lie right there! Mazoku don't do anyone favors for free. Especially Beastmaster."
"You're right Zelgadis, this isn't a free favor, we Mazoku benefit from your knowing as well."
"What are you talking about?" Lina said stepping forward, "What makes you think we'll listen to you after what you did?"
"Because he speaks the truth." A deep and sonorous voice that echoed from the depths of the bonfire licked and resonated in their ears.
"Show yourself!" Gourry demanded drawing his sword as he prepared for an attack.
"Put your sword away." Xellos snapped. His eyes open and the purple fire in his eyes glowing more brightly than the bonfire's blaze. Using his staff Xellos knocked Gourry's sword out of his hands in one fluid motion. "Learn to show respect for those better than you."
The bonfire wavered and convulsed, as if it were trying to extinguish itself and grow larger at the same time. It writhed in pain before imploding into a perfect orange-red sphere. The outer shell took on a shiny metallic sheen, causing the sunlight to refract and intensify against its surface. The others shielded their eyes from the light. A purple bolt of lightening shot down from the sky and struck the sphere, slicing it perfectly down the center. Emerging from a crouching position a human figure stood upright to its full height. Hefting a shorter broadsword in its left hand, the horrific image of a huge man-beast stepped forward.
Clad in battle armor, with a second sword strapped to its waist, the beast wore a long white skirt that reached the top of his leather boots. A bandanna wrapped around his forehead held wild spiky purple hair off its face. As if it had stepped fresh from battle, fresh blood flowed in a steady stream out of its missing left eye.
By this time Gourry had retrieved his sword and stood at attention. He drew back ready to strike once the occasion allowed. Sensing what Gourry wanted to do Lina raised her hand to stop him. "Don't be a fool." She hissed at him. "We don't know what it might do."
Striding forward to the beast Xellos kneeled and lowered his head, "Welcome Mistress."
"That's Beastmaster?" Lina asked in shock.
"It appears so," Zelgadis responded. "Whatever Xellos wants to tell me must be important if she's here."
"And it is important." Beastmaster's deep guttural tones grunted forward. Her speech sounded more like growls and barks rather than a human's voice, and yet they could easily understand her meanings.
Xellos rose to take her arm and escort her to meet the others. "Mistress, may I introduce Lina Inverse, Gourry Gabriev, Zelgadis Greywords, and Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune."
The others were still in so much shock to be in yet another Dark Lord's presence that none of them were sure what to say. All except for Amelia, who unbeknownst to the others, was not her first encounter with the Mistress of Wolf Pack Island.
"Mistress Beastmaster, please tell us why you've come to speak to us." Amelia asked in a wavering voice as the others stared at her with awe and surprise; shocked that she'd be the first to gather her courage and speak to Beastmaster so boldly.
An amused smile played on Beastmaster's lips. "I've come to speak to the Chimera."
Swallowing down the hard lump that had formed in his throat, Zelgadis spoke "I am listening."
"I come baring tidings of our Supreme Dark Lord and Master Shabranigdo."
"Shabranigdo? What did he have to do with any of this?" Lina's mind raced. The last thing she wanted to ever do was deal with him again.
Since no one spoke Beastmaster continued, "He has asked me to deliver a message to Zelgadis Greywords."
"What is his message?" Zelgadis' voice remained clear and resolute, but he was crumbling inside from the conflicting emotions, fear and excitement over hearing the news.
"Only through pain will you be redeemed. Only through death will you be reborn."
Zelgadis could feel the blood turn ice cold in his veins. Zelgadis was sure that if he still had his human skin he would be stark white at this very moment. The Shabranigdo in his dream had spoken those exact words to him. "How could Beastmaster know?" Zelgadis silently asked himself.
Amelia stepped forward. This was not part of their deal, Zelgadis was not supposed to die in order to regain his humanity. "Beastmaster, your words are very cryptic. Please, I must ask you to explain what is your meaning."
Beastmaster never took her eyes away from Zelgadis, "The Chimera knows. He knows that his task to become human will not be an easy one. It will be fraught with many dangers and perils. He will reflect more than once before this journey is over that he had never partaken in it. For in the end, he will lose much and yet gain everything. Your salvation lies with our Dark Lord. Do you accept His gift and will you follow His words?"
Lina's wide eyes turned to Zelgadis as she waited to hear her response. Her breathing had become ragged and her limbs numb with shock. As insane as Beastmaster's proposal sounded to her, she knew it was nothing short of a miracle for Zelgadis. Here was one of the most powerful forces on their world offering to him his humanity. Certainly a chance in a lifetime, but was Zelgadis willing to take that chance?
Zelgadis knew he had to choose his words carefully. "I have already lost much in the past. My search for a cure has brought the deaths of my friends and foes alike. I am not afraid of suffering to gain my humanity, but I have since learned I have no right to risk the lives of others for my selfish gains. Therefore I cannot accept his gift without hearing what it is first."
Beastmaster nodded, "Your request is granted." Beastmaster closed her eyes and hung her head for a brief moment. Wavering, her image shrunk, her armor vanished and the hair on her body receded into her skin. Her dark brown fur disappeared and was replaced with a perfectly tanned and toned female body robbed in a white frock and golden sandals with thin golden bracelets laddering her arms and legs. Her long purple hair fell in cascades far down her back reaching her waist. She opened her eyes to reveal smoky amethyst eyes. Rousing herself as if she was suddenly awaken, her eyes flickered around. Motioning with her right hand, a cigarette appeared between her slender fingers and painted nails. "Listen carefully Chimera-boy because I'm only telling you this once."
Lina listened with abject surprise at Beastmaster's sudden change in attitude. Beastmaster now spoke with annoyance, even disdain. Was this the same person who was speaking before? And if it wasn't, then was someone speaking through her?
"Your original plan wasn't too far off." Beastmaster began, her luxurious voice purring silkily, "The only missing piece is that you don't have enough power to cast the spell successfully yourself. What did Rezo once say when he was searching for the Philosopher's Stone? If you must turn to the power of the Gods or Mazoku, Mazoku are always stronger. Something like that. "
"Does that mean you're going to turn Zelgadis into a human?" Gourry asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"If it were only that easy," Beastmaster chuckled, "No, I won't be turning him into a human. He'll have access to greater power than my own."
"What do you mean?" Lina asked
"You don't need the power of Shabranigdo's generals when you can use Shabranigdo's own power."
Silent tension filled the air.
"You aren't suggesting that we resurrect another piece of Shabranigdo just to cure Zel are you? Do you know how hard it was for me to kill the first piece?" Lina cried out.
Beastmaster's lip curled back and she bore her teeth in a frightening way. "Yes, we wouldn't want to trouble the Great Lina Inverse would we? As simple as humans are, even I could not fool one of you into resurrecting him. No, there is another way. I'm sure you are all aware of our Demon King of the North."
"You mean that piece of Shabranigdo sealed by the Water Dragon King in Kaakarat Mountains?" Amelia asked.
"That very piece. Now some of you may have wondered why Shabranigdo doesn't break out of the ice on his own. Even one-seventh of Shabrangido's power should be sufficient to break the Water Dragon King's spell especially with him being dead, but the Water Dragon King was more clever than we expected. The ice Shabranigdo is sealed in absorbs his powers."
"I don't think I understand." Gourry spoke up.
"You never understand!" Lina yelled at Gourry.
"No need for that Lina." Xellos spoke, "Let me provide you a comparison Gourry. Do you remember Flagoon in Sairaag? Flagoon would absorb Zaniffar's evil misasma in order to grow. That's the same idea here. The ice absorbs Shabranigdo's power in order to perpetuate the seal."
"Exactly," Beastmaster continued, "The act of absorbing Shabranigdo's power leaves our Dark Lord so weak the ice doesn't need all of the power to sustain itself. Therefore it has created a power sphere as a reservoir for the extra power. A sphere that can be tapped and its power can be wielded."
"Good story," Lina smiled cynically, "But you still don't explain why the Mazoku don't just use the power and break Shabranigdo out of the ice."
"Isn't it obvious? The Water Dragon King would never allow us to wield the power. So he safeguarded it. He made sure only dragons or humans could possibly use the stored energy. And since no dragon would willingly use power from a Mazoku source humans are left. One thousand years of stored power in that little sphere should be more than enough to make you human again. Of course you'll still need Shaazad's Soul to focus and transform the energy.
"What do you think Greywords? All that power sitting there that could someday be used against the Mazoku. We can't let that happen. Thus no human knows of it. Even Lina, with her vast knowledge of magic didn't know of a secret this well kept. We could give this gift to anyone Zelgadis, but we are giving it to you. It's a win-win situation for the both of us. You get back your humanity and we won't have to worry about guarding the sphere for another thousand years."
"Everything fits perfectly," Zelgadis murmured. "That's why I don't trust it. Why me? Why did you choose me?"
"Why does it matter *why* you're gaining this information?" Beastmaster said waving her and across his face as if she were trying to fan his fears away. "What matters is that you now have it."
Zelgadis shook his head, "I simply can't trust it. Every lead I've followed to discover my cure was from reliable sources."
Beastmaster expelled and exasperated sigh. "Rezo requested that we give you the cure."
"Rezo?" Zelgadis was taken aback. Was this why Rezo had been appearing in his dreams? But in his dreams, Rezo had warned Zelgadis against searching for his cure.
"I can see you have much to think about. I will give you until tomorrow morning to make your decision. This is a one time opportunity. I will not return again with this offer. So consider it wisely."
Crossing her arms across her chest, Beastmaster evaporated, leaving a thin spiral of white smoke that twisted and reached into the clear blue sky.