A/N: Sorrysorrysorrysorry I'm very sorry! ;P I would have updated sooner, but I forgot almost all about this fic. It didn't help that I also had writer's block. I realize that I focused to much on Crystal, but when I write, I just imagine what is happening and don't really think of where its leading until I get there. Anywayz, I hope you like this chapter. Much apologies to Lina/Gourry Lina/Xellos Fans -__- On with the story!
Twelve – A Painful MemoryWhen Angelina first appeared in Gourry's memory bank, everything had been peaceful. But not for long.
*Flashback*
A much younger version of Gourry, maybe at age 15 or 16, was practicing with a regular sword, with an old man in the background. Gourry was being tested for improvement behind his mansion. After a few strokes, the old man stopped him and told him to compete in the Swordsmanship Tournament that was to be held the following week. He walked away and Gourry continued to train.
The "screen" flashed once and Angelina found herself watching Gourry battle someone much older than him in a ring.
The crowds were cheering loudly. About one-fourth of the stadium was cheering for Gourry's oppenent, "Shlank". The rest of the stadium was cheering for Gourry, their hometown favorite. With a final swing of his blade, Gourry knocked the sword out of his opponent's hands and pointed the sword at Shlank's neck. Gourry had won the whole tournament. Gourry was given a large trophy and he held it up for all to see above a large podium.
The screen flashed again and the picture changed to Gourry in the middle of town, being flocked by girls.
Gourry walked up to a private training arena, ignoring the lovesick girls that were following him. Angelina noted that they all seemed pretty and well-endowed. Gourry took out the Sword of Light, and began to practice attacks with it. First, he swung it a few times to try it out. Then he swung it into the ground, creating a large crack from the sword to the wall approximately 50 yards away. Gourry continued to use different techniques, making the girls fall more in love with him with every swing of his blade. Finally, Gourry stopped and wiped his forehead. He noticed the girls and smiled at them. They swooned as his smile took their breath away. Choosing to ignore this, he walked up to them.
"Hello girls. What are you doing here? Don't you know this is a private arena?"
The girls didn't reply, and just kept on staring up at him. With a sigh, Gourry turned and walked away from them. The girls were to much in a trance to notice that he was gone until he had already arrived back at home.
Once more, the screen switched, this time to a cafeteria at an academy.
Gourry was coolly drinking something for a bottle, taking breaks between each gulp. He was now surrounded by a group of guys; his buddies.
A younger version of Zack asked him, "Hey Gourry. Want to play Truth or Dare?"
Gourry looked away and took another gulp. "That game is so not for people our age. Why can't you think of a more sophisticated game?"
Another guy prodded him. "Aw. Come on. We'll just ask or demand sofi-whatever things okay? Truth or Dare?"
Gourry gave in. "Oh all right, Gary. Truth."
Gary thought a moment before saying, "Are you interested in anybody?"
"Nope. My turn. Zack, you playing? Truth or Dare?"
"Uh. Truth."
"Hmm… I know! Whose your best friend in the whole world?"
"You of course. I skip my turn. Gary you go."
"Okay. Gourry, Truth or Dare?"
"Dare."
"All right! Um…I dare you to…Kiss Zelda."
"The most popular girl in the whole school AND Zack's girlfriend? No way. I'll get hit for sure."
"I DOUBLE dare you. Besides, she's not the most popular, just the prettiest. Come on. It's the rules of the game. I won't mind."
"Oh fine. I'll be back in a minute."
Gourry looked around and found Zelda just closing her locker. He quickly walked over to her and said, "Hi Zelda."
Zelda stopped in her tracks. To her, Gourry was the cutest hunk in the whole school. She didn't think much of herself though. She was just a petite punk and Gourry's friend's girlfriend.
"What do you want?"
"A kiss from the most beautiful girl in the entire school."
"So why are you talking to me?"
"Because you are."
Before she had a chance to react, Gourry slipped a hand underneath her, making her slant. He took her hand, kissed it, and then kissed her on the lips. Zelda wanted it to last longer, but Gourry broke it off quickly, straightened her back up, and left with a single wave. Zelda looked on in the direction that Gourry had gone, completely taken with him. Back at the table, Zack seethed jealously. His girlfriend liked his best friend more than him!
Angelina was also mad at Gourry. Kissing his best friend's girlfriend? That was dishonorable, especially for Gourry. The flashback continued on.
The newspaper reporter had happened to walk by as Gourry kissed Zelda. The next day, a picture of it was posted on the Romance section of the paper. By the end of that day, the whole school knew about it. Gourry and Zelda were the immediate attention of every student in the entire school, separately. Every day, Gourry would be mobbed with girls, and Zelda would be surrounded by guys. Zelda liked the attention, Gourry didn't. Whenever he could, he would ignore all of the girls and walk away from them, but they persevered. Finally, Gourry decided to end this and walked up to Zelda one day, when they were both alone.
"Hey Zelda, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Hmm? Gourry? Sure. What's up?"
"Well uh, I was wondering if you wanted to go see a play with me. That way, I can protect you, and I won't get mobbed by girls."
"Sure. Whatever." Being the center of attention had really changed Zelda, but Gourry took no notice of it.
"Great! Let's go see 'Romeo and Juliet'. It's open on Saturday. I'll pick you up at 7! See you later!"
Once again, Gourry left before Zelda could object.
Angelina sighed. This was getting boring. All she had learned so far was that Gourry popular when he was younger and he went to see a romantic tragedy play with his best friend's girlfriend…wait what? Okay, NOW it's getting interesting. The screen stopped fast forwarding and showed Gourry and Zelda at the play.
The play was being presented at the stadium where Crystal had fought earlier. Gourry was able to get box-seat tickets and the "date" went well. Gourry dropped off Zelda at her home afterwards. When they went back to school, Zelda immediately broke up with Zack to be with Gourry. Not yet truly knowing trouble, Gourry agreed to go steady with Zelda. With each sighting, Zack got more and more angry and jealous. Finally, he snapped.
Gourry was driving Zelda back home one evening, in an open-top carriage. Zack saw them chatting and laughing very closely, too close for comfort. Zack was heading the opposite direction, and in a blind rage bade his horse to run into theirs. Gourry saw him coming and tried to get out of the way by swerving. He succeeded, but…in the process, an accident formed. When his horse swerved to the right, it made the carriage run smack dab into Zack's horse. This in turn, resulted in Zack being flung out of the cart, and into the fast moving merchant lane. He didn't stand a chance. On that day, Zack was trampled to death. Afraid of the consequences, Gourry raced to Zelda's house, dropped her off. Before he could run, Zelda asked him to come inside. Gourry was a bit shaky, but he followed her into the house.
Zelda led him straight to her room to talk. As he sat on the bed, Gourry repeatedly beat himself over the fact that he had killed his best friend. Zelda tried to convince him that it wasn't his fault and that he only did it to save himself out of instinct, but to no avail. Gourry wouldn't forgive himself no matter what anybody said. At school, he was abnormally quiet and cold to everyone, including Zelda. Days later, the paper reported Zack's death, but nobody would say why it had happened. All that anybody knew, was simply that Zack had been trampled by merchants on a main road. Gourry was as quiet as ever. After a month had gone by in this manner, Zelda couldn't take it anymore. She told Gourry to come to her house that night. She said that she had something to tell him. Gourry solemnly went.
Once he arrived, Zelda led him to her basement. There, she explained her plan of action.
"Gourry? Here's what I want to do: I want you to drink this potion and when you finish the whole bottle, you won't remember what happened with Zack at all, in fact, you'll forget him. I can see that this is something that time won't make go away, but I think this is the next best thing. You have been really out of it lately, and I don't think it's good for you, your health, or your reputation. Can you do this for me?"
Gourry looked as if he was in a trance as he slowly nodded his head. Zelda gave him the potion and he drained it to the very last drop. His eyes popped wide open and steam came out of his ears. With a resounding thud, he hit the ground. Gourry was in a coma for a whole month. When he revived however, he was happy, but he barely remembered anything that anyone ever told him. He became a true dumb blonde.
That was where the flashbacks ended. Angelina became conscious again, and as soon as she got up, she looked at Gourry's sleeping form sympathetically. It's no wonder he was so dense. He did it all to forget that incident. Angelina sincerely hoped that her spell didn't make him remember, for his own sake.
A/N: Ah…twelfth chapter done. Did you like it? Yes, I know, sad isn't it? But doesn't it just kind of work for Slayers? A bad incident, a experimental potion gone awry, and a new problem as the result. *Sigh* Well, the next chapter I write will be the aftermath of Angelina's spell. Tune in next time for "Aftermath of Flashbacks"! Don't forget to review on your way out! Ja ne! ^______________________________________^