"How's Marcus?" Lina asked Sylphiel as she walked into the breakfast room.

Sylphiel pursed her lips as she grabbed the teapot, "I'm starting to get worried. I don't want to say anything in front of his parents, but his vitals are starting to weaken. I'm not sure how much longer he'll be able to hold on."

"Whoa." Lina said as she put her fork down, the sausage uneaten, "What can we do?"

"Keep him comfortable." Sylphiel said as she took a sip of her tea.

Lina put a hand on her stomach as Amelia said, "Well, it's been a month. Lina's parents should be back any minute with the medicine!"

"Yes, you're right." Sylphiel said confidently enough, but as she stared at the wall with her eyes glazed over.

Someone knocked on the door, and then Jeeves came in, holding a missive as he walked up to Gourry, "My lord, this came in for you."

"Thanks." Gourry said as he took it.

"What is it?" Lina asked as she looked up from her eggs as he read it.

"Note from Trudy." He explained.

"Trudy? What does she want?" Lina asked as she perked up. She needed something to distract her.

"To talk to me alone tonight." He explained. "Vision spell."

Lina's eyes narrowed as she asked, "What does she want to say to you that she doesn't want me to hear?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Gourry replied, "But don't worry, I'll make sure I tell you everything that happens!"

"What you remember that is." Lina muttered. "By the way, Sylphiel, I was wondering if you had a moment after breakfast?"

"Of course. What do you need?"

Lina focused for a moment, but she couldn't sense the watcher, and she knew she needed to seize the opportunity before he came back. "I'll explain when I show it to you. There's just a room I want you to check out."

After breakfast she showed Sylphiel a small guest room she had scouted out earlier that she was sure hadn't been used since she moved to Maninstit and, after checking once more for any sense of the presence and finding it lacking, she explained, "I've been thinking about plans for when I give birth, and my room just doesn't seem secure enough. This room, though, I would wager is the most secure one in the house. I just want to make sure it has everything we'll need for the event."

Sylphiel walked around and glanced at the queen sized bed covered in quilts and the stand with a washbasin, and then she glanced the stone walls and commented, "There's no window if you want to let some fresh air in."

"It's also one less entry way." In fact, it was what she liked about the room. There was only one door to watch and no windows. She had even checked it thoroughly for secret passages and found none.

Sylphiel looked at her and her eyebrows raised, "Do you think someone will try to attack?"

"Some of Gourry's family is in league with the Mazoku, and I'm convinced his mother wanted to sneak in and abduct my baby. While I don't have to worry about her anymore, I can still think of plenty of reasons why the Mazoku would want to take him. My room has too many entry ways, hell, I wouldn't be surprised if there were some secret passages in there I haven't found yet."

"It makes sense that you would want to be prepared, and it's important that you give birth in a place where you feel safe." Sylphiel said reassuringly, "I don't want to worry you any further, but I feel if there really is such a risk I must bring it up, that Mazoku can teleport wherever they want."

"I know. I'm on it." Lina said as she folded her arms across her stomach to indicate that she wasn't saying anything more on the subject. Just in case they were being watched, she didn't want to tip off the spy that she had written to the Eternal Queen to ask if she knew of a method to prevent Mazoku from teleporting in or out of a room.

"It seems as though you have put quite a bit of thought into this. Still, I'll need to get with you and Princess Amelia and talk with you about what to expect when you go into labor. Hopefully all of these preparations you're taking won't be needed, but either way you will need to know what happens during a standard delivery."

Lina smiled wryly and put a hand on her stomach, "I guess it's time to think about the business of getting him out. I've read a little bit since getting knocked up, but it can't help to learn more."

At first, it was not a complete disappointment when the next person who arrived at Maninstit was not Lina's parents, but Memphis. Lina had hoped that the elf possessed healing magic that would help Marcus, and Lina rushed her to his side as her expectations rose so rapidly that any reticence that she needed to keep it in check simply couldn't keep up. Especially as she saw how pale and wasted Marcus was looking. Lina's heart was hammering in her ears as she watched as Memphis examined Marcus and asked Sylphiel some questions as William, Marion and Susan looked at the elf as though she would be their savior. But when Memphis tutted sadly Lina felt the hope dissipate as she proclaimed, "This level of injury, I'm afraid, there's not a lot I can do."

Marion burst into tears, "But he's getting worse!" William said accusingly, "There has to be something that can be done!"

Their calm acceptance in the face of adversity had been shaken as Marcus noticeably worsened. In many ways Lina was relieved that they were starting to bargain for his life. It made them seem more human, even if they were harder to deal with now. "I'm going to give him something to raise his vitals. It will keep him fighting until the Inverses return." Sylphiel said calmly.

"Where are they, anyway? Shouldn't they have been back by now?" Marion asked accusingly as she looked at Lina.

Amelia stepped forward, "The Kataart Mountains is quite the journey, and they are also quite treacherous, so it takes awhile."

"When they checked in last night they said they were a day away." Lina added, "They should be here any moment!"

"You keep saying that, but they never appear!" Marion cried.

"They will." Lina said firmly, "And Marcus is going to hang on until then because he's a fighter! And you are going to help keep him going until then. Stay with him, talk to him, tell him to keep fighting."

Susan got up and walked over to Marcus's bedside and took his hand, and Lina found herself wondering if she could telepathically communicate with him while he was in a coma. If she could she didn't give any sign of it, she merely said aloud, "When you wake up, well, you remember how you told me you wanted to take me to see the mountains near Verus? I'm holding you to it."

Lina exhaled, and then looked at Memphis, "Come with me."

"How far along are you?" Memphis asked Lina, her voice wrapped in wonder, once they had moved to the sitting room with Gourry, Zel and Amelia.

"Six months." Lina said as she sat down on the couch. Her back was hurting, but is was a consistent dull ache and Sylphiel had assured her it was just the normal pains of pregnancy this time.

Memphis eyes widened, "And already you're so big!"

"Excuse me!" Lina yelled as she shot up to her feet.

"Oh, I meant no offense!" Memphis said quickly, "It's just human pregnancies are so fast compared to elfin ones! An elfin woman who conceived around the time we last met wouldn't expect to be showing as much as you are now."

"But that was a year and a half, two years ago!" Lina exclaimed, "Human pregnancies are nine months!"

"More like ten, really." Amelia added, and from the dark circles under her eyes Lina could deduce that the discomforts of pregnancy were keeping her up at night.

"Really? That's so short!" Memphis exclaimed.

"How long are elfin pregnancies?" Gourry asked.

"Five years." Memphis said.

Lina and Amelia exchanged a glance, and Amelia turned a shade of blue as she put a hand on her stomach, which was currently lopsided and leaning to the right and Lina had no doubt that she was not at all comfortable. "Now that you mention it, ten months doesn't seem so bad in comparison." Amelia muttered.

Strangely, Lina decided five years didn't seem too bad. It would be more time her child was within her and she could protect him. Memphis soon snapped her out of her thoughts when she said, "So you weren't expecting when we last saw each other? I mean, you didn't destroy the Dark Lord while…"

"No!" Lina exclaimed, "We weren't even a real couple then, you know?"

Memphis shook her head in disbelief as she continued to look unabashedly at Lina's stomach, "Well, it's hard to comprehend just how short your lifespans are, but this really puts it in perspective."

Lina bristled a bit, but settled down when Memphis added, "This is so exciting! I am happy for you!"

"Thank you." Lina said, and then before Lina could stop him, Gourry asked, "So where's your lizard friend?"

Memphis made a strangling noise, "You mean Mr. Milgasea? He's a golden dragon!"

"Yeah, that's right!" Gourry said with a dopey grin.

"You really shouldn't call him a lizard, it's very disrespectful." Memphis said.

"Sorry." Gourry said with a smile and a shrug as Lina shook her head as she wondered when he would get tired of that joke.

"Anyway, he's meeting with your queen to discuss whether or not the dragons will provide assistance. I decided to stop here first." Memphis said as she pulled out a rather large bag. "We elves have noticed that the world is still unbalanced, of course. Though you humans have a more ground view of the problem than we do."

"Then you have an idea of just how bad it is." Lina said.

"We do." Memphis assured her. "In fact, some of us were debating the merits of sharing our technology with you before you contacted me. The elders are against it, but those of us that were younger think differently. I managed to convince them that you were trustworthy. Don't make me regret this."

"I understand." Lina said as she sat up a little straighter as Memphis dug into her bag.

"You may, but the other humans need to understand how the Mazoku divided the alliances we used to have by corrupting the more baser instincts of humans. Humans have an amazing capacity to work against their own self interests." Memphis continued with her head held high as she looked down upon them.

Lina took a deep breath and did her best to keep her tongue in check as she said, "Yes, we have a field study of that happening in the Elmekian Empire. You know me, though."

"Exactly." Memphis said as she hung her head in despair.

"Now look!" Lina, but Memphis then reached into her bag and pulled out a sheathed sword and handed it to Lina.

"We have a few like this. They are made of silver and amplify a person's will."

"Sounds like something similar to what Sis has." Lina said as she unsheathed it, and then she smiled a little, "My dad will like this."

"We can give one to Rick as well." Gourry said as he took the other one that Memphis offered.

"How powerful is it?" Zelgadis asked.

"It can take down a low ranking Mazoku." Memphis explained, "And it can absorb attack spells."

"Can it also release them?"

"Unfortunately no." Memphis said. "I've also got some Zanaffar armor. I've been thinking a lot about how to use it strategically to cut off Mazoku who attack from the astral plane."

"What do you mean?" Zelgadis asked.

"When we were fighting Dynast, we put Memphy's Zanaffar armor on his and cut him off from his astral body and we were able to destroy what remained relatively easy. We wounded him enough that he's still recovering at least. For now." Lina said.

"Exactly, so it changed the way we thought about how to fight Mazoku." Memphis continued as she pulled out a box, "Rather than destroying the whole Mazoku we just have to wound them enough to leave our world. So we've been working on these Zanaffar bombs that will attached to a Mazoku and cut it off from its astral body."

She then opened the box, and within were a dozen white asymmetrical orbs that bore a resemblance to the freaky armor Memphis used to wear. As she handed the box to Lina, Zelgadis said, "I hate to throw cold water over this, but given what is happening in Dils, it could just spur them to torture humans to recover faster."

"That's an unsettling point." Lina conceded, "But I think it's a risk we have to take. How well do they work?"

Memphis shrugged, "We've not exactly been able to test them yet. But knowing how you tend to attract Mazoku, I figure you'd be the best person to leave them with."

Lina's eyes flashed as she pounced, "So this means they are free?"

"Geez, you humans are insatiable! You get all this money and never want to part with it." Memphis said.

"Well it's not like it grows on trees." Lina replied.

"The bombs are free." Memphis said, "Now as for the swords and the armor…"

Lina rolled up her sleeves and grinned as she put her game face on and prepared to haggle.

"I see you've gotten a new coat since we last talked." Gourry said as Gertrude's image appeared in Lina's office.

Gertrude stroked Garm's fur pelt, which she was wearing as a wrap, and smiled, "So soft. And powerful. I found a way to channel the miasma from this pelt into a weapon. Gregory doesn't say as much, but he's scared. If he wasn't in league with Mazoku I'd have control of the country by now."

Gourry wasn't sure what to say. While the country would likely be better under Gertrude, he hated that his family was always spilling each other's blood for a bit more power. "What were you wanting to talk with me about?" he asked.

"I'm wanting to test the waters, so they say." Gertrude explained. "I am wondering how receptive your queen would be to backing me should I try to ascend the throne."

"I would hardly, well, I would hardly say I'd know how she would react." Gourry exclaimed.

"Then talk to her." Gertrude said. "I'd be willing to learn more about your efforts to combat the Mazoku race. I'd even start a school similar to what you are doing. Our nations can become allies in this fight."

Gourry wanted to believe she was genuine. But there were so few people in his family it seemed as if he could trust. "What are your reasons for wanting to do this?"

Gertrude shrugged, "Common sense and self preservation."

Gourry had to smile a little as she continued, "I'm smart enough to know that Mazoku want to destroy us and any gains to be won by allying with them are temporary. Our brother is selling us out for short term gains. I am going to change that."

Well, you certainly know to say the right things at least, Gourry thought to himself. "The situation to the west of us is hard." Gourry said, "I'm not sure how much help the Eternal Queen can offer right now, but I will talk to her."

"Thank you." Gertrude said. "I look forward to hearing from you."

The transmission ended, and Gourry drummed his fingers on the desk before saying, "So, what did you think?"

"First!" Lina called out from under the desk, "Back away so I can get out! It's a tighter fit than it used to be down here."

Gourry smiled as he backed away and she crawled out and sat on the desk. She exhaled as she put a hand on her stomach, and then he watched in amazement as her stomach rippled. "Is he kicking?" he asked.

"Yeah." Lina said. "It's like someone is popping popcorn in my stomach."

"Wow, I can see it!" Gourry said as he reached a hand out to where the movement was.

"Anyway," Lina said, "It would be great to have the Elmekian Empire as an ally."

"But nothing about the Elmekian Empire seems trustworthy." Gourry said.

"Well, the Elmekian Empire produced you. It had to have produced other good people as well!" Lina said, "Though I don't see why Gertrude wanted to talk to you alone."

"You don't trust easily if you were raised in my family." Gourry explained.

Someone knocked on the door, and Lina yelled, "What?"

Jeeves walked in, "I'm sorry, milady, but Miss Sylphiel sent for you. Young Marcus has taken a turn for the worse."

"Did she say how bad?" Lina asked as she jumped off the desk.

"She just requested that you get down there fast."

"Thanks." Lina said as she raced for the door with Gourry.

Lina nearly gagged as she walked into the boy's dormitory and found that the spell of impending death was present. Sylphiel was administering some medicine, and Lina found herself wondering if it would do any good as Susan cried with Marcus's parents. Lina stared at the scene in disbelief as she walked over to Marcus and said, "You can't do this, Marcus, you have to hold on!"

"Just for a few more minutes." Leia said as she rushed in with Han behind her.

"Do you have it?" Sylphiel asked.

Leia pulled a vial from her cloak, "I even prepared it on the road, just in case."

"That was good thinking." Sylphiel said as she took it and pulled the cork from the bottle and put it to Marcus's lips. Thankfully he was still able to swallow reflexively. Sylphiel then started chanting a spell the Eternal Queen had taught her as everyone watched tensely as a white light encompassed Marcus.

When the light abated, it was obvious Marcus was better. His breathing was noticeably stronger, and Sylphiel smiled in relief as she checked his pulse. Lina grabbed her mother and hugged her, "You were just in time!"

"And so glad of it!" Leia said, and then she looked up as Marcus's parents approached her.

"How can we ever thank you?"

"Seeing him recover is all we need." Leia said.

"Will he wake up soon?" Susan asked.

"By morning, hopefully." Sylphiel said.

"Finally!" Han said as he held the sword they had gotten from Memphis. "I have a powerful magical sword of my own!"

"I told you I'd get you one, you just had to be patient." Lina said.

"Good news, everyone!" Amelia announced as she walked into the sitting room, "Justice has prevailed! Marcus just woke up, and seems to be the same as he was before the attack."

Lina hadn't realized just how much weight she had been carrying on her shoulders worrying about it until it evaporated as she stood up, "That is good news."

"He and Susan are even getting a bit cuddly." Amelia said with a grin.

"What?" Lina said.

"Come on, Lina. He was crazy about her." Gourry said as he put his arm around Lina, "I guess this woke her up to her feelings."

"This is a school!" Lina said, "Not a place for kids to get cuddly with each other! If word gets out to their parents they'll wonder just what type of school I'm running!"

"Given their age do you really think you're going to be able to stop it?" Leia asked, and then she added slyly. "Not everyone is a late bloomer like you."

Lina blushed, "Puberty and hormones. Great. Well, considering the alternative is planning a funeral, I guess teenagers getting cuddly is a better problem."

AN: Was going through the fan translations of the later novels to refresh my memory on Memphis, and it looks like whoever did the translations has refreshened them a bit, making them smoother and including more detail. I'm going to have to re-read more thoroughly later, but it looks as though there's some good info to be found. Also, there's nothing in cannon about how long an elf pregnancy would be, but if Memphis appears 20 and is probably around 100 I figured 5 years sounded right, lol.