SailorStar9: After uploading Chapter 1, I present Chapter 2 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.
Chapter 2: Where'd That Arrogant Guy Go?
"So?" Lina stabbed a slice of steak. "Where's this big threat to the world you said was coming?"
"Really." Gourry agreed, scoffing down his piece of meat. "The food in this town is great and it's so peaceful here."
"Just listening to the waves like this seems to cleanse me all the way to my heart." Amelia sighed, looking out of the balcony. "What a lovely sea."
"Your actions don't match your words, Amelia." Aria sweatdropped at the swift way the white mage had snatched up her plate of food.
"But there's no doubting the Fire Dragon King's prophecy." Filia insisted. "It's a fact that a threat to the world is coming."
"And what of it, Filia?" Zelgadis sipped his tea. "We sort of believe your prophecy, but you can't give us more details of what's going to happen and when?"
"I can't." Filia protested. "Prophecies aren't weather forecasts. They don't give detailed descriptions of where and what."
"I see." Zelgadis put down his tea cup. "My objective is to find a way to turn my body back to normal." he reminded. "That's why I came to the outer world. I didn't come to get caught up in some stupid trouble. Sorry about this." he bade the group farewell.
"You can't do this." Filia gaped.
"He's always like this." Aria shrugged.
"Anyway, our bellies are are full, so it's time for us..." Lina patted her stomach.
"To go to the temple of the Fire Dragon King?" Filia exclaimed.
"To find this kingdom's specialty foods." Lina declared.
"Specialty foods?" Filia sighed. "At a time like this? They're not taking this seriously at all." she muttered, realizing Lina and Gourry had fled, leaving her to foot the bill. "Don't they understand how serious this is?" she fumed.
"Filia, your tail..." Aria pointed.
"That's how Lina-san and the others always act." Amelia supplied. "Isn't it peaceful? As long as I see this town like this, I just can't imagine there's a threat approaching this world. What am I going to do?"
"I hope nothing happens while all this is going on." Filia moaned. "I have a bad feeling about this." she suddenly felt a sudden chill down her spine.
Out in the desert...
Xellos was watching Grabos' raid party attacking a sand people tribe.
In the midst of the Amelia vs Zelgadis fight...
"For heaven's sake..." Filia stormed in. "Can't you just cut it out!" she whipped out her mace and slammed the weapon into Zelgadis, sending him flying upwards into the air.
"I ought to scold Filia for this..." Aria sweatdropped. "But... he was asking for it."
Elsewhere on a roof, Xellos was laughing so hard, he fell off the roof he was on.
In their inn...
"For heaven's sake, it's one thing after another." Filia rebuked. "When are you all going to start acting seriously and set out for the Fire Dragon King's temple?"
"Don't get so excited." Lina laughed nervously. "After all, we said we'd agree to take your job, right?"
"Exactly." Amelia agreed. "And you didn't have to go so far."
"No fair." Zelgadis moaned, Aria was healing him with her 'Healing Mist Spray'.
"It's only what you deserve." Filia huffed.
"But how did you cause such a ruckus from just walking around town?" Gourry thought to ask.
"Has to do with magic." Aria concluded.
"These people here seem to having an unusual reaction to the magic we use." Zelgadis agreed
"That's hardly surprising." Filia supplied. "The people here have never seen magic like yours. The unusually high development of magic you know was limited to your kingdoms within the Mazoku race's barrier. The ones they call sorcerers in these parts can only handle spells like lightning and sleeping."
"So, by coming to the outer world, we're all now unbeatable heroes." Lina posed.
"Emphasis on the 'hero' part, I hope." Zelgadis cut in. "Anyway, I'm sick of standing out like some kind of monster. Let's get out of this town as soon as we can."
"You mean you're finally ready?" Filia gushed. "Thank goodness. In that case, let's get going."
In the streets...
"Low profile, my ass." Aria muttered, sweatdropping when Zelgadis took the lead to leave town.
"What was that?" Filia started, sensing something behind her.
"What's wrong, Filia?" Lina asked.
"Nothing, I just suddenly sensed some nameless evil." Filia replied. "It's as though I'm suddenly filled with anger for no reason."
"Filia, your tail!" Aria hissed, the Golden Dragon's tail was shooting out from her skirt.
"Nothing to see here." Lina laughed nervously, the group hurriedly shielded Filia from the gawking crowd. "Don't bother yourselves with it. That's..." she spotted the familiar cloak running away and hurried after it.
Outside the walls...
"What happened, Lina-san?" Amelia asked, the group finally caught up.
"I think a real demon may have actually showed up." Lina sighed. "One we haven't seen in a while."
"I knew it." Aria shook her head. "I was really hoping we've seen the last of him. Wishful thinking, huh?"
In the desert...
"What?" Zelgadis gaped when Lina informed the group. "You saw Xellos?"
"I think it had to be him." Lina replied. "I'm sure he was coming towards as we were coming out of town."
"But it's not like Xellos doesn't know us." Gourry pointed out. "Why would he vanish like that?"
"I have a feeling that Filia's prophecy and Xellos' appearance are connected." Lina remarked. "In other words, the Mazoku race may be involved in this thing, too."
"I'm more inclined to believe the prophecy now." Zelgadis admitted. "What do you think, Filia?"
"Wrong thing to ask, apparently." Aria noted, seeing the shivering Filia.
"Mazoku..." Filia was triggered. "Mazoku... a Mazoku is involved? Where are you, Mazoku?" she let loose an energy beam.
"What was that all about?" Gourry winced, the group was hiding behind Aria's 'Water Wall' to avoid getting hit by the waylaid attack.
"Lina-san, look." Amelia pointed to the figure standing on a rock.
"Don't tell me." Lina gaped. "It really is a Mazoku."
"In a way." Valgarv admitted. "We finally meet, Lina Inverse. I've waited so long for this."
"You mean my name has spread all the way out to this world?" Lina noted.
"I see." Valgarv snorted. "You're as much of an smart-aleck as I've heard. How was a little witch like you able to defeat the Demon Dragon King?"
"Who are you?" Lina demanded.
"Who indeed." Valgarv frowned. "Instead of an introduction, I'll give you this!" he fired off a fire blast from his palm.
"Could he be one of Demon Dragon King Gaav's..." Lina realized.
"Correct." Valgarv chuckled. "My name is Valgarv: one of the proud Mazoku who served Gaav-sama. Bring back memories? At the very least, this power is beyond any that you know."
"Why are you doing this to us?" Lina glared.
"You know every well why." Valgarv retorted. "So that you can know the anguish Gaav-sama felt. Lina Inverse, I shall kill you." he charged up another attack.
"Oh no!" Lina gaped. "Amelia, Zel!"
"Ragradia Sphere!" Aria erected a solid barrier orb made of water around the group, fending off the fire attack.
"First Xellos shows up, and now this." Lina snarled. "What's going on here? Any why's this happening to us here in the outer world? And where's Xellos when we need him?"
"It seems the players are now all in place." as if on cue, Xellos appeared in the air.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.