He smiled, and squeezed her hand. "Hey..." he returned.
"It's going to be okay." she said with an encouraging tone.
"I'm not worried." he said. "Chances are we won't meet anyone, and if we do, we will deal with it. It's just the memories."
Lina nodded. It had taken quite a while for her to get all the story out of Gourry, but they had spent years together, after all, and she knew the reasons he had taken the Sword of Light from his family home, and run away with it. Luna had apparently somehow heard most of the story from her own sources too. It was sad, really, and she didn't wonder at his silence. She wondered how she'd have reacted if it had been her.
There was a shift as the dragons began to decend towards a town. Time to get information. Once they got there they found that there wasn't that much, but they did find that something was happening northwards. So, it was back up into the air and then away towards the top of the map.
An urgent flight, then...
"Dragons! Golden Dragons!" said Ayn, indicating the horizon in front of them.
"Humans too." added Milgasa.
"The hell..." muttered Luna, loosening her sword. There was a slight clink, almost in unison, as Lemmy did the same.
"Still go with my Estoc?" she asked, double checking with Luna.
"I would." was the reply.
"I don't Dragon Slave, any advice?" asked Amelia as she eyed up the situation.
"There is an astral aspect to dragons, a Ra Tilt might work, but not as well as a Dragon Slave." said Luna. Ayn added "It will sting, and the better you are at casting one the more it will hurt. A Ra Tilt fired from only one human won't be lethal, but it will distract, maybe even stun."
"Thank you." replied Amelia. She seemed to be thinking of, or perhaps remembering, something...
Soon enough, or even too soon, they arrived and found a batallion of golden dragons facing down a ragtag force of humans. Most of them were...
"Swordsmen! Blonde, tall, hunky swordsmen!" enthused Lemmy.
Luna sniggered. "I see your mind is on the battle, Miss Lemmy."
Lemmy blushed. "S-sorry, I am concentrating on the battle, really I am, and looking forward to killing some evil doer butt, but, uh, well, it's just they all look like Mr. Gourry..."
"He, he, he." snickered Ayn. "I thought I heard something ticking."
Lemmy blushed more, and Luna said to Ayn "Are you sure you're in a position to speak?"
Ayn was quiet as she prepared to land. Then she said, a little softly "Well, maybe it takes one to know one. But we better do this now and talk later."
"I'm on it..." smiled Luna, leaping off of Ayn's back as the dragon touched the ground.
Meanwhile Amelia had given Lemmy a smile and said to her "It's okay Miss Lemmy, you can be a justice fighter and a mother too. My mother was. And my daddy too. And you are also right that this is defintiely the land of Mr. Gourry's people."
"Er... thanks..." said Lemmy, giving the Princess a perplexed look.
Then they were off Ayn's back and striding towards the center of the action. Lina and Gourry joined them, and Ayn and Milgasa, still in dragon form were right behind them. The crowd had seen them coming, and had stopped whatever was going on. Partly because they recognised that the group was special somehow, and partly because Luna used her irresistable willpower, the crowd made way and let them through to the center where a group of humans was confronting the apparent leaders of the dragons.
"Hmph!" snorted the head dragon, a large and imposing creature in armour, with a rather ornate helmet strapped to his head. He had his eyeguards down, which meant that he had to turn and look directly at the approaching group to see them well. He spoke in an annoyed voice "This seems to be my day to meet people. Don't you know I have a battle to attend?"
He seemed upset for some reason.
"I'm your battle, if you don't shut up and listen" snapped Luna in a thoroughly no nonsense tone of voice that caused Lina to step back with a cring. She had heard it a time or two.
The dragon did a double take. "Oh! Lady Luna! I apologise, for a minute I didn't recognise you. What do you wish to say?"
Luna stopped right in front of him and asked "Who are you, and what the hell is going on here?"
The Dragon frowned a bit then said "My name is Lord Usbec, and I have a brigade of golden dragons with me. We have reports that a large force of black dragons is sweeping down through the region north and west of here that I believe you humans call Zephilia."
Then he noticed Ayn. "Is she with you, Lady Luna?" he asked, giving the black dragon a very black look.
Before Luna could snap off an angry reply the calm voice of Milgasa cut in. "Lord Usbec, remove your helmet and see better. Lady Ayn is Lady Luna's squire."
Usbec turned his head farther. "Oh, Lord Milgasa. It's you. So, you vouchesafe for her too? Well, I was expecting battle, I would have my helmet on now wouldn't I?" He spoke to Ayn in a much softer and more respectful voice. "So, you are from the temple of Ceiphied then, Lady. Forgive my outburst, it's your people we are fighting, unfortunately. For myself, I wish for peace, but I cannot ignore my duty in war, alas."
Ayn simply nodded in a respectful greeting.
"Yes, I know you, Lord Usbec, you do love peace. Alas that these times have befallen you." replied Milgasa.
"Lord Usbec." said Luna. "I need you and your whole brigade to take a message to the highest command of your people, on my authority. In exchange for that, I will stop the black dragons myself."
"For no one else would I turn from my mission, Lady, and even now it will depend on your message." replied Usbec.
Luna nodded. "Say this to them. The Knight of Ceiphied takes no sides, the dragons must settle their own affairs, and I will not interfere. However, there are many innocent beings, humans, elves, and others, who have nothing to do with this war. If the dragons do not show restraint and start fighting battles in populated areas, causing death and destruction to the other races, then Luna Inverse will move to stop it, even if I must declare war all of dragon kind. Keep your battles away from others, and I will leave you alone and get on with my main task, running the "Destroying Angel" to ground."
Lord Usbec considered, then nodded. "Yes. They will be angry, but a whole brigade turned back by the Knight of Ceiphied will not be a message they can ignore. But you had better stop the Blacks, or no one will listen."
"I will stop them." said Luna.
"Lord Usbec. If you are lucky enough to be discharged from the service over this, come and find me, we can use you here." said Milgasa.
Usbec actually smiled. Then he growled something in Dragon, and the whole brigade took flight, heading to the east, away from the battle.
Luna looked to Milgasa, who said "I know him of old, he is trustworthy. Alas for him, his heart lies with the temple of Ceiphied, and had his father not forbade it he would have joined the priesthood instead of the army."
"He still can if he truely wishes to." said Ayn quietly.
"He risks being disowned, but this war may yet push him in that direction, Lady." was Milgasa's reply.
The dragon business settled Luna turned to the humans who had been standing up to them.
"Protecting your homes is fine, but how the hell did you expect to avoid being barbequed? Surely to goddness running away would have been more logical?" she asked.
An older man stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Er well, we were, we are, or so we ment to, but we needed to delay the dragons for a time so we could get away. And it's just that no one wanted anyone to face certain death alone, so in the end we all ended up coming..."
"I see where you get it from, Jellyfish..." teased Lina.
"Ya think?" answered her husband with a sweat drop.
Luna smiled and said to the old man "Well, no one, least of all me, doubts the bravery of the Elemikians, but next time, just run away all together, or there won't be anyone left to save...". She turned to go and the others followed her.
Then a womans voice said "Gourry? Gourry Gabrieve?"
Gourry stopped and turned, Lina and the others also did the same.
A tall, blonde, drop dead gorgeous woman (need we mention the inevitably big breasts?) who could have given Sylphiel a run for her money any day of the week stood there, her bright blue eyes staring intently at Gourry. She wore the robes of a white priestess.
"Emer..." said Gourry softly.
Emer came up to Gourry and suddenly grabbed him into a hug, which he returned. "I thank the gods you are safe, Gourry. How have you been?"
"Well, as well as I could be..." replied Gourry, also softly. Then he added "Emer, I don't have time to stay, I'm sorry. Listen, one good thing has happened, the sword is gone. I found it was actually an artifact from the Overworld, originally meant to fight their evil lord, Darksomething-or-other, and I gave it back to them, they needed it."
"Dark Star..." corrected Lina.
Emer turned and looked at Lina. She smiled and said "I see my cousin still doesn't remember his manners. I'm Emer, Emer Chulainn now, though I used to be a Gabrieve too."
Gourry interjected "Wow, oh yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, so you tied the knot with Chu, did you Emer??"
Emer smiled."Well, what was I to do, Gourry dearest, wait for someone who was never coming back? Anyway, you are still being rude, I still don't know who this lady is or why she's so possesively gripping your arm."
"Huh?" said Gourry as he realised for the first time that Lina had a death grip on his righ upper arm.
"Huh." said Lina, as she realised she had grabbed him without even realising it.
"Oh, yeah, ha, ha, I'm just so out of it today. This is Lina."
Lina kicked him.
"Ow, right, Lina Gabrieve, my wife. Sorry..."
Emer smiled a big happy smile. "Oh Gourry! She's beautiful! You better take good care of her or I'll come and find you. And I'll bring Chu. I think he still wants a rematch, or two.." she teased.
No, half teased...
"I'll send for you then, shall I?" smiled Luna as she joined the group. "But I wouldn't worry, I don't think Gourry's ever been anything but the best for sis here. I just wish I could say the same thing about her..."
"Luna..." protested Lina.
"Sister?" said Emer, puzzled. She looked to the dragons.
"What?" asked Ayn, puzzled.
"Well, if she's Luna Inverse, the Knight of Ceiphied, then that makes Lina her sister, Lina Inverse, before she married, right?"
Lina growled suddenly, she could see where this was going...
"Go on." encouraged Luna, giving Lina a "look"...
"Well, are there two Lina Inverses out there? Why aren't your dragons spooked?
Lina was fit to be tied, Amelia got the giggles, and Ayn very helpfully said "Oh but we are. We're just even more afraid of her sister and Luna says we have to stay..."
"Problem solved..." smirked Luna.
Emer looked confused, and Lina launched into a tirade.
"Again with the names! How the hell did I get to be called a Dragon Spooker, huh?" she yelled.
"I thought we answered that already." said Milgasa, as Ayn nodded.
"Oh yeah! Now I remember. Naga the Serpent! Her head, my silver platter..." snarled Lina.
"Oh Lina, don't you think that's a bit unjust for just being called a name?" said Amelia, her sense of "Justice" returning.
The look Lina gave her was enough to cause her to hide behind Lemmy. "Guess not..." she gulped.
"Hey, I'll help." volunteered an enthusiastic Lemmy. "Do you want her to suffer first? And can we go now? I still haven't killed anything today!"
Luna said "Lina, stop laughing like that..."
"Uh..." said Gourry with a shrug to Emer.
She smiled. "It's okay, Gourry. Listen, your dad has forgiven you, and my brother had done penance for killing yours, enough to at least make peace and satisfy the blood price. You are no longer obligated to kill him, though the right is still yours if you want it. I think it might be okay for a visit sometime. Let me know you are coming and I'll make sure all goes well. Just leave word at the temple in Barnes that you want to come, okay? You know where that is, right? The village near the city of Noble?"
Gourry gulped a deep emotional gulp and nodded. Lina did what she always did and picked up on Gourry's inner mood right away and hugged him. "Yes Emer, we'd love to come, if it's okay." she said softly.
Emer gave Lina a hug and said "Welcome to the family Lina. I'm so happy for Gourry that he found you, and I'm sure you'll be happy with him."
Lina hugged back and smiled. "I already am." she said.
Emer hugged Gourry again and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "I am so happy you are okay. Now, get going, you've held the Lady Luna up long enough..." she chuckled.
"And I'm happy that you are okay too." said Gourry to Emer, as she turned away.
He went to Milgasa with Lina and made ready to mount.
"Wait for someone who was never coming back?" asked Lina.
"There was an arrangement between our families that Emer and I were to be married, it's common enough in Elemikia." explained Gourry. "But then fate intervened, her older brother killed mine in a fight over the inheritance of the Sword of Light, and I ran away with it. Then I met you, and made my own arrangements. Emer's a great girl, but I think I did better..." he smiled.
Lina kissed him, long and hard, then bopped him on the head. "You mean you KNOW you did better, yoghurt brain..." she corrected.
"So true, so true..." said Gourry as they climbed aboard Milgasa.
"And you lot can shut up!" she yelled at the crew on Ayn's back who were openly laughing at what they had seen and heard...
The dragons rushed into the air again and flew a bit to the right of the setting sun. They hoped to meet the Black Dragons before they lost all light. The dragons did something they hadn't done before, they flew as fast as possible. The ride was different than all the other ones, for one thing the rushing air made converation almost impossible as the riders had to hold on tight and turn their faces from the rushing wind. For another, they had to hold on tight, the force threatened to tear them off. And it was way scarier...
A couple of times during the flight Amelia and Lina both risked their lives to throw a "Recovery" spell on their respective dragons, helping them continue to fly faster, but they couldn't do it much, as they had to reserve their own strength for the possible battle.
"Why did this seem easier on Filia somehow?" mused Lina. But she already had her answer. Filia was a big kid, in dragon terms, and nowhere near as strong as Ayn or Milgasa. These were fully grown and capable dragons, and they were going all out in an effort to cover nearly a day's journey in a matter of a scant few hours. It was possible, but it was going to take all their strength. They wouldn't be able to help if there was a fight. Heck, they probably wouldn't be able to even run if the black dragons turned on them...
Finally, when the sun was setting for sure, they reached the region of Zephilia City proper. To the south of the city there was a regular roil of some sort. "Dragons..." panted Ayn.
They came in fast and landed a bit hard. "Stay and get your breath, that's an order." Luna said to both the dragons, who had collapsed on the ground and were panting away. She got no argument.
The humans went speedily forward and found a large contingent of mages and warriors tangling with a large party of Black Dragons. There appeared to have already been some fighting and some of the dragons seemed to be hurt. So did a lot of the people. Or worse. Not to mention the large number of scorch marks on the ground.
"Some of these are dragons breath, but others must have been fire balls." said Lina, analysing the burns.
Luna nodded. "Sis, get up on that hill, give us a minute to send the humans packing and then have at the dragons. You know the spell..."
Lina looked puzzled, but nodded, and went to the indicated spot. Like she was going to question Luna, now...
"But you didn't treat the golden dragons like this." said Amelia, puzzled. Apparently she hadn't heard the "Don't question Luna..." concept.
"The golden dragons were exchanging heated words with the humans, these dragons are exchanging heat." was the reply.
"Oh..." said Amelia.
Luna plunged through the crowd and started yelling at the people "Get Back! Leave the dragons alone and get back!" The others followed suit. The dragons were confused by this but recognised Luna, as did the Zephilians, and so they let her and her companions go and drive the people away.
After seeing the people start to move away, Lina muttered "I hope you know what you are doing, big sister." and began to chant.
"You, who are darker than twilight,
You, who are more crimson than flowing blood,
You, who are buried in passing time."
Lina actually had to gulp. A vision of Zel and Sylphiel suddenly flew up into her mind. She pushed it away.
"In your name, the Great One,
I pledge myself to darkness,
That to those fools who stand in our way,
You and I together will give ruin and no one can escape from us"
She took a deep breath and aimed for the center of the apparently still unsuspecting dragons...
"DRAGON SLAVE!!!"
A pink ball of intense energy formed in her hands and launched outwards towards the dragon army. Now some of them noticed it...
Too late...
A hugh explosion of pink, brightening to white, light engulfed the scene and a shock wave spread out in all directions. It even rocked Lina when it swept past her. As soon as it was safe, she Ray Winged over to the scene. There was the typical large crater in the ground. She hoped that the farmer would like his new pond...
Several dragons just weren't there any more...
Many of the others were injured to varying degrees...
Those that were capable of it were unbelievably mad...
A war party approached Luna and the rest as Lina touched down beside her sister.
At the same time, Ayn and Milgasa, now in avatar form, came running up. They were still short of breath.
"What was that for?" demanded Ayn, half gasping, and half screaming with rage at Lina.
"My orders." replied Luna. Something about her tone checked Ayn's anger...
"Why?" Ayn asked in a quieter voice. "You gave the goldens a chance."
"They were killing people already." was Luna's reply.
"They didn't have your warning saying they couldn't." responded Ayn.
Luna was silent for a time, then said "I had to make another one of my snap decisions. I am sorry, Ayn..."
Ayn was silent for awhile. Finally she nodded, then, with sadness in her voice, she said "You aren't yourself lately, Luna, I hope you get better soon. Anyway, we've got company..."
Then she gasped and quietly said "Oh no..."
There was no time to ask what she meant as the leaders of the dragons approached, looking like they were ready for a fight. The group drew together, defensively.
"Were you not the Knight of Ceiphied I would kill you out of hand for this!" spat the head leader, his voice thick with venom.
"Were I not the Knight of Ceiphied this wouldn't have happened." replied Luna in a matter of fact voice. "Anyway, where do you get off thinking you can threaten, and fight, humans like this and get off Scott free?" she asked.
"They attacked us." was the reply.
"The Zephilians would not have attacked you unless you threatened them somehow." she said.
"Hmph! We felt the approaching presence of some golden bastards and settled down to organise. We have the right."
Luna shook her head. "You ruined crops, threatening starvation, and worse, profits, and you think you were wronged? Amazing."
"Well, no sense talking to you, human, you are too aligned with your own kind to be impartial. Some representative of Ceiphied you are." sneered the dragon commander.
"Think what you want." was all Luna said in reply.
"Just stop it, Raltack. Please." said Ayn, addressing the dragon commander.
The commander glared at Ayn as the humans and Milgasa gave her a puzzled look. She seemed to know this dragon?
Raltack spoke. "Taking her side now are you, Ayn? It wasn't enough you abandoned us to pay lip service to Ceiphied, now you side with humans against your own?"
"Abandon you?" gasped Ayn. "Lip service? Take sides? How typical. You always did this to me. Fine, pick on me like you always have, but listen to what Lady Luna has to say, this is important." She seemed very hurt.
"You know him?" asked Milgasa.
Before Ayn could answer the dragon commander let out a snarl. "Talking with the enemy now, Ayn? Have you completely become a traitor to all you were born to be?" he demanded, almost roaring.
"Oh be quiet, Raltack. Lord Milgasa is helping the Lady Luna, as am I. Of course I'm going to talk to him." shouted Ayn back.
"Uh, guys..." said Luna in a no nonsense tone.
Then Lina got a shock. The two dragons...
Simply ignored her sister...
That was possible???
Raltack shoved his massive head near to Ayn's smaller human form. He let a heavy breath from his nostrils blow over her. She replied by spitting in his face.
"Jilted lovers?" mused Lemmy.
Raltack considered Ayn with half lidded eyes. "Normally, when a female insults a male like that she should get some sense belted into her. But in this case, I'll just do the right thing and tattle to mom and dad. Someone might finally get disowned..." he said in a very dangerous voice.
"Sibling rivalry." said Luna, replying to Lemmy.
Lina's eyes opened wide. She knew that she and Luna weren't the only siblings to have troubles, but somehow she had never, ever, suspected Ayn would, or even could, have them.
"I was always, and still am, able to kick your ass from here to eternity, little brother. Do what you want. But just remember, you can run, but you can't hide. And I'm not the one voted the, how do the humans say it, the black sheep of the family. I'd watch who tried to disown whom." sneered Ayn. She terminated the conversation by turning her back on her brother and walking away.
"Then die first!" yelled Raltack after her, taking in a deep breath to launch a flame attack.
"Lord Raltack! No!" shouted his dragon followers, but he heeded them not.
Ayn turned to defend herself. Luna was even quicker, her sword was already unsheathed.
Suddenly she stopped. "what am I thinking?" she asked out loud. Ayn gave her a quick glance, not sure what Luna was doing. Even Raltack held his breath to see if he needed his fire blast for another target.
Luna simply smiled, turned and tapped Lemmy. "Your on..." she said.
Lemmy's response was instant. With a scream of pure psychopathic joy she launched herself at the surprised dragon commander with an attack so fast that his fire breath missed her completely. She landed on her opponent's nose and dealt a blow with the bar of her sword onto his helmet, driving it down and temporarily half blinding him. The force of the blow also forced Raltack to have to regain his balance, preventing him from flicking Lemmy off with a shake of his head. This let her leap up and over his head.
She came down on his shoulders and immediately drove her Estoc into the Dragon's shouder, piercing armour and scale alike as she sank her pointed blade into his flesh. Raltack gave a roar and immediately snapped at Lemmy with his teeth. Lemmy lept back, and immediately discovered a flaw in her plans. Silly her, Raltack was too big to be fataly wounded like that. And worse, he had squeezed his shoulder muscles together, and trapped her blade...
She fought to keep her balance on Raltack's back, and tried to think of how to regain her sword. In desperation she launched a flying kick at the dragon's nose and actually caught him by surprise. He backed off, just a bit, but it was enough to loosen the grip on the sword and let her pull it out, using all her strength. Lemmy realise her only chance was to stay on his back so he wouldn't burn her, but, to kill him she needed to get to his head and sink her sword into his neck at the base of his skull, severing his spinal cord.
What to do?
On the other hand, she WAS Lemmy Martin.
Showing no fear she went back and forth with Raltack and for several minutes she managed to stay on his back, giving as good, or better, as she got, but at the same time she was never able to get to his head.
Ayn kept yelling at them to stop and Luna went over to her. "Ayn, I can't stop Raltack, he won't listen to me. But if you can get him to stop I will stop Miss Lemmy, I promise."
Ayn was silent then said quietly, her voice as heavy with grief as her eyes were with tears, "Who am I fooling? He won't stop. My little brother dies today, or we do, he won't be satisfied with just killing Miss Lemmy."
Milgasa put an arm around her and said "Let me take you away so you need not see."
Ayn shook him off and said "I'm his family, I must stay. Please, I might be needed..."
They watched.
Lemmy was getting tired, and that's when Raltack decided he had his chance. Having spent the last long while only snapping at her he figured she was lulled into forgetting he also had...
A tail!
He now brought it up, gave a good snap with his teeth at Lemmy to drive her back, then smacked her with his tail, and succeeded in knocking her to the ground.
"Raltack! NO!" shouted Ayn again, waiting for him to toast the young woman as she sprawled on the ground.
But Raltack had other ideas. He lunged at her, snapping his jaws. He was going to eat her!
Eww...
But, as has been pointed out, she WAS Lemmy Martin.
At the last second, she rolled over and in some impossible seeming way actually leapt up so she was lodged in his mouth. Raltack was caught by surprise and actually hesitated for a second as he tried not to gag.
A second too long. A metal spike suddenly shot through the back of his head. His eyes rolled back, he gave a strangled gurgle, and then he thrashed on the ground for a long time. Miraculously, he didn't bite.
Lemmy had finally found a way to get to his spinal cord.
As Raltack stopped jerking, Ayn sank to the ground overcome with grief. The dragons under his command seemed to deflate and show fear, finally, for Luna and her humans. But it was Gourry who actually acted first. He dashed forward and managed to wrench Raltack's jaws open. He reached in and pulled a throughly blood soaked Lemmy from that horrible mouth. She was so overcome with the blood from the dragon that she was almost drowned. Gourry helped her to her hands and knees and let her cough and choke the blood up.
"That, was amazing!" he congratulated her.
Amelia clicked in to gear and cast a Recovery spell on her, which helped a lot. Finally she was able to sit up and look around blearily. She turned to Luna. "Thanks! I needed that!" she grinned. Then, seeing no one else was, she let her grin fade. "Hey?" she asked.
Luna came up and helped her to her feet, then gave her a big hug. "You were perfect, Miss Lemmy. Another evil doer gone. Alas, he happened to be my poor Ayn's brother, and your great victory has been tainted with Bittersweet..." she explained.
Lemmy nodded. "Okay, I get it." she said. With that she stood up, staggered a bit, patted Gourry's shoulder, and said "Amazing eh? Coming from you, Mr. Swordsman of Light, I'll take that as a complement, thanks." She then walked over to Raltack, reached into his mouth, gave a great heave, and recovered her sword.
And promptly licked it...
After that, she went to where the group was. "I wish I could say something, but what?" she asked Amelia, nodding to Ayn.
Amelia gave her a sad smile. "Just apologise, but wait for the right time." she advised.
Luna then took Lina and went forward to tell the black dragons what she had told the golden ones earlier. There was a stirring, and the black dragons flew off to the west as they went to deliver Luna's message. Finally, the Slayers were alone in the gathering gloom.
Then the humans returned from the safe distance they had been keeping watch from...
A small blonde woman ran in and went right to Ayn, scooping her up and hugging her deeply. Ayn accepted the woman's touch and wept heavily upon her breast. Luna and Lina returned and Gourry joined them. A tall, black haired man stepped in as well.
"Well, well, you two, quite the show, as always..." he said. The girls hugged him as Amelia and Lemmy looked on, wondering who he was. They got their answer.
"Thanks daddy!" they both said, grabbing the man into a big group hug. Even Gourry got pulled in to it.
And with that, they went home...