"No time." said a sad Luna softly. "Every day melts more ice from Shabradnigdo. We have little time left, I fear. If we aren't away by tommorrow morning I suspect we might just as well surrender ourselves, and tell Prince Phil to have his wedding clothes prepared..."
Amelia and Naga shuddered while Anesha looked puzzled. They explained...
"Well, that's enough to make you gag, isn't it?" she said afterwards. Then she said "You can make it to Wolfpack Island from here with a short flight. I reccomend you rest up and prepare yourselves, then, leave whenever you feel you must. I'll do anything I can to help, but I can't think off hand of anything that would be usefull, sorry..."
The rest nodded and for a time they just drifted off being silent.
During the morning Shantal sought Lina out, and apologised for fighting with her. Lina, after getting the girl to admit it was all her fault, forgave her. With that they actually began to talk, and a friendship was started. It did get a little strained when Shantal somehow brought up the breast question with Gourry, but after Gourry said he wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole things seemed to settle down.
Then he pointed at Lina and said, in perfect sincerity "Those, on the other hand, I'd get my hands all over..."
SMACK!
"Not in front of the child Gourry! Sheesh!" yelped a blushing Lina, bopping his head.
"But Lina , when you were that age..."
"Not..." SMACK! "...in front..." SMACK! "...of the child..." SMACK! "...Gourry..." SMACK "...you..." SMACK! "...Yoghurt Brained..." SMACK! "...JELLYFISH!" SMACK!repeated a now brilliant ruby red Lina...
"Oooooo! That looks like fun, can I try one?" begged a thoroughly impressed Shantal.
"Eh? Oh, I suppose so, but only one, ya gotta watch you don't over do it." replied Lina as she stood out of the way. Heck, the kid had to learn sometime...
"Huh? Oi, Lina..." Gourry started to say...
SMACK!!!
"Wow! Now I see what mom gets out of it when she has a go at dad! Men ARE good for something after all! Maybe I ought to get myself one?" asked a thoroughly impressed Shantal.
"Sure!" smiled Lina. Then she looked puzzled. "Wait, what were you planning... no wait, don't answer that..." she added, getting first puzzled then alarmed.
"Huh?" said Shantal.
Lina quickly changed the topic and they went on to have a rather good chat as they watched Gourry's lumps slowly go down...
Lunch was a bit strained. Luna was deep in thought and didn't say much. Afterwards, she took Lina aside to have a talk. Lina cringed, she was sure Luna was going to have at her some more for yesterday's to do, but then Luna spoke.
"Sis, is our only hope the Giga Slave?" she asked, sounding worried.
Lina allowed herself perhaps one full second of relief, then concentrated on the question. "Off hand I would say so. The only two spells I have from the Lord of Nightmares are the Giga Slave, and the Raguna Blade. The latter is controllable, but the former is much stronger. But I can only hold the Blade for a couple of minutes before I get too weak and it fails, and I collapse, exhausted."
Luna thought for a bit. "Could the Blade last longer if a stronger will controlled it?"
Lina, also in thought, replied "I'm not sure, stronger will power would make the Blade more intense, but I think the time the Blade lasts is determined by the physical strength of the weilder. But why, what are you thinking about?"
Luna asked "Can the Raguna Blade be handed off to another user once it is cast?"
"I suspect that it could have been melded with the Sword of Light, if Gourry still had that, but I don't know if it can just be handed over like a physical sword. But Gourry's never used a pure magical blade, I don't know how he'd do with it." replied Lina.
"Not Gourry, me." said Luna. "I can't cast it, but I could possibly wield it better than you, sis, it's what being the Knight of Ceiphied is all about, after all."
"You? Uh, yeah, maybe, but, have you healed enough? And you aren't left handed..."
Luna smiled. "I'm as healed as I will get, Lina, and you are right, I don't know how well I can use it as a new southpaw. But what other choice have we? Do you think you can control the Giga Slave in the heat of an all out three Mazoku Lords against us fight?"
"I'm not sure, I can try, but no guarantees." her sister replied, looking worried. "That's why I sealed it. But I can undo it if I have to, for this crisis."
Luna nodded. "We must think about it. I think we had better talk with the others about this. Do you agree?"
Lina nodded. "We need some sort of plan, and everyone better know about it." she replied.
Soon they had the gang assembled for the conference. Shantal, Gary, and Anesha also joined them. It was quickly established that Shantal was NOT going with them, though Milgasa did have to promise her a flight on his back (in dragon form of course) before she totally relented. It was almost as quickly established that the family would leave for Seirune as soon as possible, in order to give any last words and instructions to Prince Phil.
"First question of the day, do we use the Giga Slave?" said Luna. "What our attack will be will determine our strategy."
There was silence as the others pondered.
Zel spoke first. "I am against the Giga Slave." he said quietly. "It is not that I don't trust Lina to do her very, very best, but I have my doubts that we call hold off Dynast, Dolphin, Zelas, Xellos, and Filia long enough to give Lina the time to chant, control, and cast."
He went on. "When she used the spell against Shabradnigdo in the past, and HellMaster, they seemed amused at the idea that she would use such a spell against them, and let her try. I don't think these three will make the same mistake. Also, we don't know the state of the melt, Shabradnigdo might be free of the ice when we get there, and he will recall Lina destroyed a part of him with the same spell. He will not let her do so again. They will either try to stop her, or worse, make her miscast, so that she destroyed the world."
Sylphiel was next. "I agree with Zel, but I add one more thing. If we fail, there is still a chance that Seirune might prevail against them. If we fail we must do so in a way that give her that opportunity. The place to cast the Giga Slave is at the gates of Seirune, not on Wolfpack Island. I recommend that we send the spell to Prince Phillonel and trust him to know whether to use it or send it to yet others who might use it. I suspect that when the dragons catch wind of this they will at least temporarily put aside their war."
"Unless the Mazothingys wait until they are too deeply into it to be able to do that fast enough to react in time." replied Gourry. "But yeah, if you have a fall back plan it makes sense to try that before destroying the world." he added.
"I suspect that strategy will have occured to them." added Luna.
"So, the Raguna Blade then." stated Lina, settling the debate.
"But how does that work?" asked Naga. "I remember we talked about that Giga Slave spell once, or maybe twice, though you wouldn't teach it to me Lina, which I think was so unfair, but what's this Raguna Blade?"
Lina looked at Naga, and with an eerie calmness in her voice she replied "It's the Giga Slave's little sister. Nothing can stand aganst it, but it is more like a sword blade so that it attacks a point target rather than a whole area. Zelas Brid is very similar, but this weapon draws upon the Lord of Nightmares herself, like the Giga Slave does."
Naga gulped, then looked thoughtful. "So, you can't stand back and throw it then." she said. "You will have to rush up and hit Shabradnigdo with it. How are you ever going to do that?" she asked.
"I'm open to suggestions." replied Lina.
Naturally there was a short silence.
"Can you refine it so you can launch it somehow?" asked Shantal.
Lina sighed. "If I had time I might be able to make a lance or arrow version of the spell, but only maybe. But no time..."
"Yeah, but, I don't know, can you attach it to another spell or a real thing like a spear or something? " Lina's younger version asked.
The petite mage smiled. "I am happy you are thinking about this, Shantal. You really might get to be as good as me one day, after all. But the Raguna Blade is cast between the user's hands. I'd have to attach it to something living. No, it would need a mind to go with it, so, someone living. Thus, me."
"Remember what we discussed. Can you pass it to someone else, Lina?" aksed Luna.
"Well, I was able to cast the Giga Slave into the Sword of Light when we fought Shabradnigdo, so, if Gourry still had that sword I might be able to do that. But beyond that, I don't know. Like I said I've never tried handing it over anyone. I doubt Gourry can use it, he's a great swordsman and all that, but he hasn't used too many magical blades other than those you just draw and use." Lia said, in a thoughtful tone. "As for giving it to you, we'd have to try I guess."
Gourry shrugged and gave her an apologetic smile. "Can't win 'em all, can we?" he said, ruffling his wife's hair.
"Sorry Gourry, no offence." said Luna. "With my experience and Ceiphied within me I was wondering if I could weild it."
Luna asked her sister "Lina, if we try, will you be recovered for tommorrow?"
Lina nodded. "If I eat a lot, and rest well, one cast shouldn't be too draining, especially if I don't maintain it very long" she replied.
"I'll get us some water on the boil. Rice okay?" volunteered Gary.
Anesha chuckled "Well, Shantal, this was partly your idea, I suggest you get washing the rice, I suspect we will need a lot."
"Mother!" pouted Shantal as they both got up to get cooking. "Okay, but I get to watch then." she huffed.
"Fine by me." smiled Lina, remembering her own strong willed stubborness. "Right, the sooner the food and the soft bed are ready the sooner I can begin."
"Little Sister..." said Luna, stress marking, but the rest of the table just had a laugh.
"I'll write the cover letter for daddy while we wait." said Amelia
"What's the plan if this works?" asked Zel.
"If we can do this, I can attack Shabradnigdo." said Luna. "I might be able to reach him, if not I'll be one hell of a distraction for Lina to have a chance. I'm hoping I can take the Raguna Blade from Lina and leave her free and strong enough to cast a second blade, if needed. I don't know, until we see the conditions on the Island we won'tbe able to form a full plan, I'm afraid. But it's something."
"Dangerous, but what isn't in this affair?" put in Milgasa.
Luna looked sad as she nodded. "Don't get me wrong, I really, really don't want to die, but as the Knight of Ceiphied that is a risk I can be asked to take, and it looks like I may need to." she said. "So, any other bright ideas, I'm listening. Heck, I'll even listen to a few dull ones.
"Since we are dealing in worst case scenarios I might as well warn you that if you are all magicy with the power of the Lord of Nightmares I'm not sure how well Resurection will work. And we need the magic circle for Golden Resurection, which I don't know how to cast, though I sure know it works." put in Sylphiel as she looked at her hand that was missing a little finger.
She smiled and said to Zel "I have felt sad about this from time to time, but you know, if we get through this, and this is the worst that happens in this whole affair I think from now on I'll be so happy whenever I see this." she added.
Of course, she was also twiddling with her emerald wedding ring.
Zel smiled tenderly. "Maybe we will get another green flash,eh?" he said.
"Look behind you if you are up at dawn." said Gary, as he came ito the room. "They happen at dawn as well as dusk, but more rarely. By the way, the food will be ready in a few minutes."
"Well, that would be something, to see one of each in the same year." said Zel.
"A what?" querried Naga who had been sitting there listening.
They explained the green flash to her. "Oh really?" she said, serious for a change. "I thought I saw something like that once when I was walking alone along a beach at evening. But, I'd swear it was purple."
"That can happen too," said Zel, "but it is definitely a once in a life time happening for most people. If we are lucky, you are blessed."
Naga smirked. "Well, of course. after all, it's me!" she enthused.
Lina sighed and muttered something that sounded almost, but not quite, entirely unlike "Witch" under her breath..."
Luna distracted them by saying "Well, no time like the present, eh sis?"
A few minutes later they were out in the "Magical Girl Battle Arena". Shantal looked on excitedly while Anesha rigged some protection spells with Sylphiel's help. Lina whined "Do we have to do this here?"
"Yup. Serves you right too." replied Luna.
When they were done Lina and Luna entered the Arena while the others looked on. After a minute Lina held her hands as if gripping two handed sword, concentrated, and chanted
"You, who are a part of the King of Nightmares;
You, who are released from the universe; A freezing black blade of darkness;
Be my power, be my arm; Together we walk on the path of destruction;
Crashing down even the souls of Gods."
A wierd sort of a black "antiflash" of darkness erupted from Lina's hands and a jagged blade of black energy shot out. "H-here..." she gasped holding the sword out as best she could for Luna.
Luna tried to take the sword with her left hand but it was even worse than gripping water. "Damn. "she muttered. "Turn it off Lina, let me think."
Lina did so and dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
"It seems to be attached to whatever you cast it on, like your hands, and nothing else." mused Luna. "Hmmm..."
After a minute she asked "Lina, can you do it one last time? If this doesn't work I'll give up, I promise. I want you to hold my stump and try casting the Blade through it."
"Huh?" said Lina as she got up on her feet again. "I don't know how that'll work..."
"Worst case scenario you take off a bit more of my arm, not that I can use it for much anyway. And who can say, maybe it'll knock off the sealing spell? Best case scenario, I can control and use the blade."
"B-but I don't want to hurt you, Luna."
Luna smiled softly. "Sis, I don't want to be hurt either, but we have to try something, okay?"
Lina nodded. "Okay, one last time, then I do have to rest, or forget me for tommorrow."
"I see that." smiled Luna.
Lina went to Luna's right side and gently took her sister's stump of a wrist in her hands. It still looked sore and was obviously still a fairly fresh, healing wound. "I'm so sorry, sis..."she murmured, looking at the place where Luna's beautiful hand had been.
Luna nodded, and said "Me too, sis, but what are we going to do?"
Lina took a deep breath and once more she chanted
"You, who are a part of the King of Nightmare;
You, who are released from the universe; A freezing black blade of darkness;
Be my power, be my arm; Together we walk on the path of destruction;
Crashing down even the souls of Gods."
The anti flash, and again with the black jagged energy blade. Lina struggled to hold it still while Luna struggled to take it over from Lina. Several long seconds later and Lina was tiring as Luna's frustration mounted. "Ceiphied, please! Help us." cried Luna in despair.
Lina felt what could only be described as a "Whoosh" of magical, no, it was some other kind of energy, flood out of Luna, and into the blade. There was a real flash this time and the blade...
TURNED WHITE?
The shock drove Lina off, and she sat down hard, gasping for breath again, blinded by the light.
But she hardly noticed, she was in shock! The blade was holding! Ceiphied was somehow manisfesting through her sister and had taken over the control of the Raguna Blade! And Luna was swiftly thrusting and parrying in a practice set that showed she now controlled the Blade and could use it as a weapon.
But after a couple of minutes the white blade flickered out and she too dropped to the ground, gasping and panting for breath.
"W-wow... so that's high level magic huh? Lina, I think I missed my calling, wanna trade?"
"If it's possible" said Lina, as she staggered up and over to her sister, giving her a hug. "I'd give you my right hand if it would help." she said.
"Don't you be so ridiculous, Lina." smiled Luna. "When you hold that name sake niece you owe me you're gonna need two hands." she panted.
Lina hugged her. "With all my heart Luna, with all my heart."
"No, that's be messy." smirked Luna.
Yeah, it was a bad joke, but given the tension they were under it was enough to set them off in a fit of sisterly laughter. Which is how the others found them when they came to take them back to the house to eat.
"Sheesh, they already had lunch..." complained Shantal as she dished up the third, or was it the thirteenth, plate of rice for Lina.
The petite mage giggled at her petite wanna be and said "I'll teach ya how to eat like this. You need some magical spells, some magical potions, and a bit of training to be able to eat this much, but when you get to casting high energy spells like sis and I were doing you'd be surprised how fast you go through the power, and how much you need."
"Will you teach me some of those too?" asked Shantal eagerly.
"Yeah, but not until you prove yourself ready. I learned my lessons about needing to be in control and you gotta learn them too, or you'll blow up something you really don't want to, like the world. Nothing personal, just a safety issue." Lina replied to a disappointed Shanatal.
"Did I hear Lina use the words "control" and "safety" in the same sentence as a reference to herself?" asked Zel, sounding dead serious.
"Yes you did dear." smirked Sylphiel. "And you are very lucky she is too weak to demonstrate her techniques on your wonderful blue hide..."
"What the hell does that mean?!" yelled Lina, with a snarl.
Naga, who was also sitting at the table sighed "I miss my laugh..."
Amelia, who was beside her and had been giggling suddenly got serious and snapped "NO!"
Naga cringed. "Okay sister dearest..."
"Wow, what's the secret?" said Gourry as he watched the exchange.
"I'm the little sister!" beamed Amelia. "Right, Lina?"
"Uh..." gulped Lina as she looked towards Luna.
"Yep!" smirked Luna. "Works every time, damn the luck."
"I-it does?" asked Lina.
"Why do you think you are still alive?" grinned Luna.
Lina sighed and resumed eating. Obviously her sister was feeling better.
Naga sighed again. "Oh, it works, you better believe it. Why do you think I tried to stay away so long? Because of Daddy? Ha! Much as he upsets me I can wrap him around my little finger when it's important. But Amelia? Oh no, oh no oh no oh no oh no..."
"You make me sound like a tyrant." pouted Amelia. "You take that back!"
Naga did, which, if anything, tended to confirm her words. Amelia a gave a"Gyahhh!" and left the table in an even poutier pout.
After a brief silence Lina asked Luna quietly "Uh, forgive my ignorance, but, what is it?"
Luna smiled. "Love, sis. Love. Haven't you noticed? I was terrible to you, but I could never bring myself to hate you or be as harsh as I know I threatened."
Lina gulped.
Naga added "Yes, I can't say "No" to Amelia when she gets going. I knew that I had to leave home to practice my darker magic, not because Daddy wouldn't approve, I could have dealt with that, but I knew that Amelia would take his side and insist that I do what he wanted, and that I'd end up giving in. That's why I really ran away. I'm too tender hearted..."
Lina dropped her spoon and sputtered, then tried to cover by pretending to cough...
Anesha laughed and came over to Luna. "Ready to let me have a look?" she said.
Luna nodded and held her hand out. A few minutes and a magical exam later and a disappointed Anesha had to report that the Raguna Blade hadn't undone the sealing spell. "If you can kill Beatmaster, maybe it will lift, otherwise, I don't know what else to try." she said, sadly.
"It's okay, I'm going to be able to handle this now." smiled Luna.
With that, it was bed time for the Inverse sisters, even though the sun was still way up. But that's the heck of high magic, it tires you out.
A lot...