There was so much pandemonium going on in the classroom that most people did not notice when Nimitz slipped in and started swimming over to Honor. But for some reason Sylphiel felt drawn to watch him. As the waters continued to rise, and their attacks continued to be ineffective, watching Nimitz swim to Honor was comforting. Sylphiel thought it was a sure sign of his love for his human that he would brave the cold waters to be with her at this time. Especially when you factor in how much cats hate water! She watched as Honor picked him up, but then was distracted as a group of students set off another volley of Ra Tilts. Likely it would be the last ones to be cast. The water was getting chest deep, and already the shorter students were having to tread it.
Deep Sea Dolphin cackled as their spells had about the same effect that the previous ones had. To ward off the despair Sylphiel turned to look at Honor once more and saw her whispering to Maeve. And then she started swimming towards Deep Sea Dolphin, her dark eyes set and focused. Something about her composure caused Sylphiel's breath to catch in her throat. But then did she dare hope that she had some kind of ace up her sleeve? But then if she didn't, it wouldn't be as though she had long to live with the disappointment.
Honor stopped right before Dolphin and drew her hand back, and Sylphiel squinted as Adam asked, "What's that?"
Sylphiel recognized it, but didn't dare speak it outloud least Dolphin hear it and defend herself against it. But it was one of the Zanaffar bombs that Memphis had left them. Nimitz must have brought one in and given it to Honor! And if they worked, they would cut Deep Sea Dolphin off from her main body, and they would have a chance!
"Shield!" Honor cried, and before Deep Sea Dolphin could react, it coiled around her, like it had with Dynast several years ago. Sylphiel watched with bated breath and wondered if it had worked, if she was a mere fraction of herself now.
The students didn't wait to ask questions. "Ra Tilt!" Maeve cried, leading the students in yet another volley of the spell.
"No!" Dolphin cried as she tried to dodge, but she couldn't escape from the brilliant blue light. By the time the fourth Ra Tilt hit her she'd disintegrated to dust. Everyone looked at where she stood warily, as if wondering if it was really over. "The water, it's not rising anymore." Ripley observed.
"Is she dead?" Peter asked.
"No, her main astral body is still there. But she won't be able to come back to this world until she recovers, which won't be for a while." Honor explained, and she couldn't fight the smile that spilled onto her face.
"Bram Gush!" Ace cast, aiming for the door, and the water went gushing out into the hallway.
Adam canceled the Ray Wing spell, and Sylphiel sat on the desk as the students collapsed to the floor as the room emptied of water, giddy and laughing with their victory as they whispered, "We did it!" "Wait till we tell Dame Lina!" "Damn, I thought we were all going to die!"
"Sylphiel!" Rick cried from the hallway.
"In here." She replied as she started to shiver from the cold and relief and felt tears slipping down her face as she put a hand on her stomach. She was fairly sure she had not miscarried. The pain had stopped and she was fairly confident that she wasn't bleeding. And somehow they had managed to defeat Dolphin. That they would live to see the end of the day seemed more certain, when mere moments before death felt inevitable. The emotional whiplash was overwhelming, but Sylphiel could take comfort in the fact that it wasn't just her hormonal self. Several of the kids were laughing uncontrollably, nearly hysterically while a few others were sobbing. Sylphiel felt like doing both.
"Are you all okay?" he asked as he rushed into the room and wrapped his arms around her.
Sylphiel closed her eyes as she held him and wished for some privacy, "We're okay. Both of us."
But then she remembered her responsibilities and opened her eyes and glanced over his shoulder. Kara had started a healing spell on Owen, while several students were looking at Pippi and trying to decide the best thing to do. But other than those two students it looked as though no one had been badly hurt. But something still wasn't right. Why was Rick the only one checking in on them?
"Where's everyone else?" Sylphiel asked.
Rick pulled away and turned to look at the class, "The entire manor is under attack. A Mazoku is in the hallway fighting Duke Zelgadis and Mr. Inverse. And we heard screaming from upstairs and the sounds of babies crying, but none of us have been able to get up there to check out what is happening. And," he added ominously as Sylphiel and several of the other kids shivered, "No one has come down to tell us anything."
Maeve was drying herself off with a heat spell of some kind, and as Rick finished talking her head snapped up as her eyes widened. And then a look of resolve settled in her features as she turned to look at the group of students she had organized and, without missing a beat, ordered, "Get more bombs."
Somehow Zelgadis managed to hold on to the Sword of Amplification and bring it up to the tornado as it pierced him. While Zel did not think that the sword would be able to absorb such a powerful spell from a Mazoku as strong as Xellos, he hoped to at least impede the attack and buy some time. The blade connected with the inky black tornado, and with a whorsh of sound absorbed it! Zelgadis's eyes widened and before he could give it much thought he reflexively released it back at Xellos!
Han collapsed to the ground beside him as the tornado attack vanished, but Zelgadis dared not take his eyes off Xellos as he took a taste of his own dreaded spell, not even to check out how much damage the spell had wrought before he absorbed it. Zel could tell he was bleeding, but it wasn't enough to knock him off his feet. Xellos opened his eyes as he retreated to the astral plane. But Zelgadis was fairly sure he had only hurt him a little.
Zel stayed guarded as he looked around the hallway. It couldn't be that easy. Xellos would likely rematerialize at any moment, and he had to be prepared! And then he felt the bloodlust, and turned behind him to find Xellos standing there. He released another spell, this one an orb of energy. Zelgadis absorbed it as Xellos disappeared into the astral plane. When Xellos reappeared beside him Zelgadis released the spell back at him, just as Xellos hit him in the arm with another tornado attack spell.
Zelgadis cried out as his arm shattered and the Sword of Absorption fell to the floor with a clatter, along with the bloodied remains of his arm. Zelgadis drew the stump close to him instinctively even as he realized he didn't have much time left. Xellos would waste few seconds finishing him off!
"If it helps, you put up a better fight than I was expecting." Xellos said as he smiled sardonically.
"Blast Ash!" Ace cast, and Xellos didn't have time to dodge the spell. Of course, it wasn't enough to kill him, but he turned in alarm to see Ace and several other students running towards them. "What has happened to Deep Sea Dolphin?"
"Deep Sea Dolphin!?" Zelgadis exclaimed as he felt his hair stand up straight, "She's here!?"
"She was. But we killed her sorry ass!" Ace yelled as Maeve and several more students joined them. Jean Luc and Indiana were holding the box of Zanaffar bombs between them, and each student had one in their hand, ready to go.
Xellos's eyes fell on the box, and he retreated back into the astral plane. Zelgadis looked at them in disbelief, "Did you really kill Deep Sea Dolphin?"
"Well, a part of her." Ace said as Honor held up one of the Zanaffar bombs.
"Come on," Maeve said, the sounds of the babies crying still carrying from upstairs, "We don't have time."
"I have to see Amelia!" Zelgadis said, but he felt so weak with shock and blood loss that he didn't think he could make it up the stairs.
Marcus grabbed his shoulder. "Let's get you healed up first. Resurrection!"
Zelgadis nearly protested, but his legs started to buckle and he saw the stomach wound from the first attack and realized that this was as far as he could go. He sat on the ground and looked beside him where Danielle was casting a resurrection spell on Han, who was unconscious, and his stomach wound was open and glistening. Zelgadis turned away.
"Don't worry, Duke." Ace said as she started to charge up the stairs with the other group of students, "We'll make sure she's fine!"
Naga wondered if the attack had damaged her vision. Because somehow Moe had managed to cast a Dug Haut spell so strong that, from the second floor, spikes of earth broke from the wooden planks to impale the trio of Mazoku before him. Naga had never heard of someone being able to do that! She wouldn't have believed it if someone had told her someone could do it. But there it was in front of her.
Stover cried out as Greater Beast and Riksfalto disappeared to the astral plane. Naga took a bracing breath and managed to get to her feet as Greater Beast rematerialized in her beast form and started charging at Moe, who released a shockwave from his sword. She absorbed it without blinking an eye as Naga managed to bring a shield up just in time to deflect Riksfalto's spell.
"You lied about the toxin!" Riksfalto yelled as her eyes grew wild. "I hate liars!"
Naga laughed, and Riksfalto grew even more agitated as she threw another spell at her. "Do you think this is a joke!?"
Naga commanded her golem to move between her and Riksfalto, and as soon as the spell hit it, it disintegrated to sand. Naga then directed another golem to attack Riksfalto, yet she knew the damage would just be superficial. She was at a loss as to what she could do that would deal real damage when a golden dog raced through the hallway and nearly barreled into her.
Naga shook her head and saw out of the corner of her eye that Greater Beast was backing Moe into a corner, but he still managed to keep himself between the babies and the Mazoku Lord. And then a smile played on Naga's lips as an idea occurred to her as she kept Riksfalto distracted by the golem and moved so she was beside Moe. "Ra Tilt!" she cast, which Greater Beast absorbed effortlessly.
As she did, Naga grabbed one of the babies. "What are you doing!?" Moe yelled.
But then Leia, her voice weak and shaky, cried, "Shield."
"Huh?" Naga said as the older woman threw a Zanaffar bomb at Greater Beast.
"What!?" Greater Beast yelled as it wrapped around her.
Naga didn't have time to wonder where Leia had gotten the bomb from. She pointed the howling baby (she wasn't sure which was which) at Riksfalto and waited. Moe, meanwhile, released another shockwave from his sword and when it hit Greater Beast this time, she howled in pain.
Riksfalto charged towards them as she destroyed the rest of Naga's golems, but stopped at she saw Naga holding the crying baby, too scared to attack and risk hurting the child. But the baby started to glow bright gold as she threw her hands out, spraying a shower of power in front of her that splattered on both Rikfalto and Greater Beast.
Both screamed with pain as black burns appeared on their bodies, and they quickly retreated to the astral plane. Naga smiled and cuddled the baby to her as Moe turned and yelled, "Are you crazy!? Putting a baby between yourself and a Mazoku Lord!?"
Naga just laughed as a group of students came to the top of the stairs. "Mrs. Inverse!" Nerys cried as she knelt down beside her and started casting a Resurrection spell.
"What happened here?" Maeve asked.
"Greater Beast and some lackeys attacked." Naga said. "You might want to check the parlor."
"And the nursery." Moe added as he handed the other twin to Naga and darted down the hallway.
Amelia's head was pounding. She opened her eyes, but closed them immediately. It was too bright! But then she heard a sickening cracking sound followed by a scream, and she forced herself to endure the brightness as she opened her eyes and saw Karina fall. And then Amelia felt sick with fear as Huraker advanced to the room that Penelope had holed up in with the children.
Amelia jumped to her feet, ignoring the nausea that swirled as the room seemed to spin. "Huraker!" she yelled, "You're not done with me yet!"
The Mazoku turned around, and thankfully stepped away from the room, and Amelia started chanting, concentrating more than she usually would. It was difficult to keep her words from slurring, and enunciation was so important for spell casting. But she had bought them some time! She couldn't see a way out yet, but every minute she could buy mattered.
"Ra Tilt!" Amelia cast, and Huraker disappeared into the astral plane and rematerialized and hurled an orb of energy at her. Amelia managed to get a shield up, even as she did collapse to her feet under the force of it, as Huraker started to fill the room with wind again and objects started to fly. Amelia knew she had one last chance to save her daughter, and she started chanting fervently.
The door burst open, and a shockwave rippled through the room straight to Huraker, who cried out as the full force of it hit her. The wind died down as Amelia cast once more, "Ra Tilt!"
A blue light encompassed Huraker as Moe came in, followed by Ace, Clark and Mara Jade, and knelt down beside Karina. "She's dead." Mara Jade exclaimed.
Huraker disintegrated to ash as Naga walked in, "Amelia!"
She knelt down beside her sister and looked her in the eyes, "I do believe you have one hell of a concussion!"
"My baby!" Amelia said as she struggled to get to her feet, but the nausea was too overwhelming.
"Sit still." Naga said as she started chanting a healing spell as Penelope came out of the room with the children and brought Justina over.
"Here she is, Princess." Penelope said as she handed Justina to her. She was pale and trembling, and she stuttered over her words as she handed the infant over and then grabbed her own child and held him close.
This time when Amelia held Justina, a sense of strength surged through her. How many other women could say that they fought a Mazoku while concussed to protect their baby? Not many! How could she have even questioned if she was good enough to be Justina's mother? Of course she was! She was the ultimate Warrior of Justice!
But one person was missing, "Does anyone know what has happened to my husband?"
"He was wounded, but it's nothing that Marcus can't fix." Ace explained. "He was so worried about you, but there was no way he was going to be able to make it up those stairs."
"Thank goodness." Amelia sighed as the pain in her head started to abate under her sister's spell as she smiled at Justina, and her heart thrilled as the infant curled up to her and gave her a gummy smile back. "We will have a wonderful reunion later!"
Her sister, meanwhile, looked at Moe and asked, "By the way, that was one helluva Dug Haut spell. Who are you?"
Somehow, Gourry had managed to get to his feet before Dynast could launch a fatal attack. Lina desperately wanted to find the strength to help him. But she felt as though she was fading and it was hard to remain sitting up. Gourry charged, hitting Dynast's armor and cracking it, wounding him. But it wasn't enough.
Dynast attacked with the black orb of energy, and Gourry cut through it as he lunged again, and Dynast threw his arm out to deflect it. But the Blast Sword was sharp and the Mazoku Lord took another injury. Once again Gourry was determined to destroy him, even if it took a thousand paper cuts. As the babies cried from the hallway Lina wondered if they had that kind of time, but then, how could you rush fighting with a Mazoku Lord?
Gourry continued to inflict wounds, and Lina wondered if she dared to try casting another spell. But as it was her life energy was dangerously low. Casting another spell could kill her, if she'd not already dug her own grave. But then she couldn't keep sitting there do nothing! Her palms itched with the power of the spells she wasn't casting.
A dog rushed into the room, and Lina stared at him in confusion as she wondered how he got in there. As he ran up to her she realized he had something in his mouth that he dropped right in front of her. "What…?"
Gourry cried out as Dynast's spell hit him, and he collapsed to the ground, and Lina glared at Dynast and grabbed the present and threw the Zanaffar bomb at him, "Shield!"
"It can't be!" he yelled as it coiled around him, and Lina started chanting, hoping that he'd taken enough damage from Lina and Gourry's previous attack that it would be enough.
"Blast Ash!" A measly Blast Ash spell.
But it was enough. He disintegrated just as Maeve came in with Kara, Jean Luc, Honor and Indiana. "Dame Inverse!" they said as they crowded around her.
"Gourry needs a healing spell!" Lina managed to say, and then the energy left her and she collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
AN: Hey, my 5 year old has started writing fanfiction (and drawing fanart) for the "No David" books! In general she's her father's daughter, but every so often some of my genetic influence makes itself known. So I guess that makes for three generations of fanfic writers in my family now.