AN: This turned into a hypothetical blend of anime continuity that continued to the 15th novel with Zel and Amelia meeting Luke and Mileena.
Her mom had never been able to see anything amazing about Lina's magical abilities. Lina could never understand why. Perhaps she had been jealous that Lina had mastered spells at a young age that she'd not been able to as an adult. Or perhaps she'd hoped her girls would take a different path than that of a traveling sorcerer. Or perhaps all of the pomp and circumstance involved in being the mother of the Ceiphied Knight in addition to running a business left her too exhausted to express her pride. But whatever the reason her mom had never seemed to be sufficiently amazed.
But to her dad, even a light spell was amazing! He'd spend hours letting her teach him spells and magical theory. There were few kids who cared as much as she did about magic once they learned just how technical it could be and most people told her to shut up about it. But her dad would listen to her patiently and indulge her by letting her teach him the latest spell that she was learning. And he was even a good sport when her magical ability obviously eclipsed his.
By the time she left home his voice was so firmly entrenched in her mind that whenever she would cast a spell or take a big enemy down she would hear his voice in her head, cheering her on and telling her that he was proud. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to disappoint him and the fear of doing so drove her almost as hard as her desire for his praise.
But then she met Gourry.
She wasn't sure when Gourry's voice had replaced her dad's. But it wasn't until Hellmaster had kidnapped him that she realized the voice cheering her on had changed. Had she just gotten so used to Gourry's presence and support that she no longer had to imagine her father's anymore?
And when Hellmaster attempted to destroy the crystal that he had sealed Gourry within she heard Gourry cheering her on. But as the life drained from her body as she lost control of the spell and stared into the black void, the weight of her failure staring her down, it was Gourry she apologized to. For not being smart enough. For not being strong enough. For not doing enough to save him. And for destroying the world that he had so loved to live in during the process.
Only once they had returned from Chaos and reached an inn safely did it occur to Lina that she hadn't thought of her family, her dad, at all. At first she had felt guilty for neglecting them. But then, was it really so surprising? Her dad hadn't seen her defeat Shabranigdo and Copy Rezo. Or Kanzel and Mazenda. Gourry had. It had been ages since she'd seen her dad.
But to have someone else replace her dad felt like a betrayal.
It was stupid. Wasn't this what was supposed to happen? The natural order of things? Didn't little girls idealize their fathers and then grow up and discover boys who reminded them of their dads and settle down with them? But even then, the thought of going home and showing her dad that she was no longer the little girl who had left home and that she had found a handsome young man to share her life with was too scary to fathom. Would her dad be hurt if he knew?
So she kept delaying going home and introducing Gourry to her folks.
It was after they ran into Luke and Mileena that things changed. Especially as Lina puzzled over why Mileena traveled with him. One night when the boys were asleep and she sat up by the campfire with the girls she and Amelia were finally able to make progress with breaking through Mileena's barriers.
"Mr. Luke is so fond of you. He's always saying sweet things about you and…" Amelia said.
"You mean vague, over the top comments about how amazing I am?" Mileena scoffed.
"That doesn't impress you?" Amelia asked.
"My dad taught me to expect more from men than empty promises."
"So you don't think he's genuine?" Lina asked.
"I think that if I were stupid enough to sleep with him he would change." Mileena said.
"Well all people change with time Miss Mileena." Amelia said.
"That's true." Mileena said, "Settling down with anyone is a risk. But do you really believe Luke will continue to sing my praises after he's scored with me?"
Amelia hummed for a bit and Mileena pressed, "You're a priestess. Surely you sense it."
Lina's ears perked in interest as Amelia sighed, "I know what you mean. I do have a bad feeling about him. And as a princess I was taught to be careful about potential suitors. But Miss Mileena, I also believe that the love of a good woman can set a man straight."
"I don't have the energy for that." Mileena snapped.
"If that's the case then why…?" Lina started to ask.
"Mileena, my love!" Luke cried as he ran from the tent, and Lina groaned as the opportunity was lost.
Still, Mileena's comment that her father had taught her to expect more from men stuck with her. Because wasn't that was her dad had done? Taught her to not be scared of her own strength? To hold out for a man who wouldn't be intimidated by it? Who would stand by her side in the face of danger? Hadn't her dad told her to expect a certain level of respect?
And if that was the case then maybe he wouldn't be upset and jealous when he met Gourry. Maybe he would feel relieved that she had found someone good to have her back.
So when Gourry held out his hand to her she smiled as she clasped it. "Alright then Gourry, it's a plan. Next stop, Zefiel City!"
AN: Grateful for my dad, who taught me to have high expectations of men, and my husband, who met them. Happy Father's Day to all the men out there setting a strong example!
