Slayers: A Past Reborn

Slayers: A Past Reborn

Chapter 8: The Final Moment

Lina awoke the next morning still in Gourry's arms to find that they had slept in. She hated to move out of his arms but it was going to be a hectic day and they had already wasted enough time. Lina sat up and crawled off the bed. She quickly attached her caped and then nudged Gourry to wake him up.

"Mmmph.." Gourry rolled over.

Frowning, Lina nudged him again, harder.

"Mmph…."

"GOURRY! WAKE UP!"

At this, Gourry jumped out of his bed, a bit glassy eyed. Blinking a couple times, he smiled slightly, "Oh, Lina, what are you doing here?"

Any embarrassment she had felt quickly flew out the window. "Gourry! This is MY room! Don't you remember anything!" she then whirled around and left.

Once she had left, Gourry smiled to himself. Yeah, he remember things, a LOT of things, but sometimes it was just easier to forget. At least, for the time being. He quickly ran to catch up with Lina.

"So…what's the plan?

"Plan?"

"Yeah…to get Amelia back."

"Well, I go and fight Jeran."

"That's it?!?"

"Yeah, that's it. Why?"

Gourry shrugged, "Doesn't seem like much of a plan…"

"Well, if you come up with a better one, let me know," she snapped sarcastically as they entered the hallway leading to the dining area.

They could hear voices through the door. Or rather, they could hear one rather loud voice.

"…I'm glad to be home too, Father! I knew something wasn't right! We'll get Amelia back , no problem! OHOHOHOHOHOHO!"

Lina's eyes grew big and she froze in her spot, clutching Gourry's arm.

"What? What's wrong Lina?"

"Na-Na-Na-Na," she stuttered

The doors flew open from the dining room. There stood a tall, big breasted woman with long black hair and a little leather outfit. Seeing Lina, she blinked, then began her infamous cackle. "OHOHOHOHO! So I've found you Lina Inverse!"

Lina screamed and ran down the hall.

***

Gourry and Naga found Lina in her room. Actually, they found her door barricaded.

"Lina, what's wrong?"

"Is she with you?"

"Oh Lina! Come out! It's me, Naga!"

"I KNOW!"

Gourry looked from the door to Naga, "You two know eachother?"

Naga went on, ignoring Gourry, "OHOHOHOHOHO! Lina, you should know a door can't stop the GREAT NAGA!" she faced the door. "DEMONA CRYSTAL!!!" just as she let loose the spell, the door flew open and hit the far wall of Lina's room.

"Naga! You idiot!"

"OHOHOHOHO!"

"What's going on?" Gourry asked, confused.

"What are you doing here Naga?"

"OHOHOHO! I came to save my sister!"

Lina and Gourry looked at eachother, "Your sister?"

"Yes Lina, you should know that. I told you my rea- er, old name was Gracia."

"Well, you could have said you were Saillune's missing princess!"

"Yes, well, just like you could have said you were leaving!"

Lina looked around nervously.

"I don't get it Lina, how do you know eachother?" Gourry asked, still dumbfounded.

"Naga and I used to travel together…"

"OHOHOHOHO! Lina was my sidekick!! We, as greatest rivals and allies were-"

"I was NOT your sidekick!"

"-traveling sorceress's extremes! We crushed those who opposed us, right Lina? OHOHOHOHO!"

"Ah! Make her stop!" Lina yelled and hid behind Gourry, who just stared wide eyed at Naga.

Naga stopped abruptly, "Amelia and I share a special bond…I sensed something was wrong with her, so I came home…"

Lina came out from behind Gourry. "Don't worry Naga, we'll get her back."

"I hope so Lina…"

***

After breakfast, they sat in the library waiting for Zelgadiss. He finally arrived, arms filled with books. "I've been up all night trying to figure out how Jeran was able to get Amelia without being seen and-"

"Oh, we already know."

"What? How?"

"He's a mazoku…he just…popped in and took her."

Zelgadiss's eyes narrowed, "He's a mazoku after all?"

"Yup."

"OHOHOHOHOHO! Who is this Lina? My, you do travel with some strange characters lately!"

Zelgadiss looked at her for the first time "Strange characters?"

"Ah…yeah, Zel, this is Amelia's sister, Naga."

"Amelia's sister?!?"

"OHOHOHOHO! I am Naga the Great White Serpent! Certainly you've heard of me?"

"Nope," Zel turned his attentions from Naga, now on the floor, to Lina, "What's the plan then?"

Lina sighed, "The plan is I go fight Jeran since I'm the one he wants."

Zelgadiss frowned, "That's it?"

"Yes that's it! Why do you guys keep asking that?"

"Well, were not going to let you go by yourself."

"Why not, I can handle it! You act like I'm a defenseless girl!"

Zelgadiss ignored her and went on, "Besides, we don't even know why he wants you."

Lina got wide eyed and looked down. `Damn! Of course Zel would ask that!'

"Um…yeah we do," Lina looked at the book in front of her.

"Then why?"

"He wants to make me a mazoku."

All of them gasped and Gourry asked, "Again? Don't they give up?"

"I guess not but-"

"I mean, don't they realize how TERRIBLE it'd be for you to be a mazoku?" Gourry went on and shuddered, and was promptly hit with a book.

"A mazoku? Like Joyrock Lina?"

"Yeah…" Lina sighed and went on, "But this is more serious guys. He-he is not just going to try and turn me. He said if I don't go alone, he'll make Amelia a Mazoku too."

Zelgadiss gasped. Amelia a mazoku? No, that couldn't happen, wouldn't happen. "Well, that's why we ALL go. I can't just sit idly by Lina."

Lina nodded, "I thought you'd say that. Alright then, we'll leave in a couple of hours. If Jeran is that powerful, we need to be at full strength, so lets rest up."

All nodded in agreement. Lina got up and left the dining room.

"Lina…?"

Lina turned to see Naga. "Yeah?"

"Um, well, it's been a long time you know? I was just wondering what you've been doing with yourself."

Lina blinked and looked at her, surprised, "Why?"

"Well," Naga looked at the floor, "You're my friend, and I was just wondering if we could, you know, catch up on old times…"

**A ½ hr later**

Naga was white and took a deep breath. "You destroyed a part of Shabbranigdo? And Gaav? And Hellmaster?"

Lina nodded.

"With…with THAT spell? Lina! You were possessed!"

Lina nodded again.

"By the LORD OF NIGHTMARES!"

Lina nodded again, getting exasperated.

"What do you remember?"

"Not much…I remember casting the Giga Slave, then losing control, and that's it."

"But…how did you come back?"

"Gourry. He followed me and for some reason, L~Sama let me go."

"Wow. He must really love you."

"What?"

"Well, aren't you guys a couple?"

"NO! He's my protector."

"Protector? Of you?" Naga laughed, "Obviously a front Lina!"

"Wha-what do you mean?"

Naga raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Well, you've been traveling with him for almost 2 years now…Doesn't that seem a bit long to you?"

"Well, yes, I mean no it- its not like that Naga!"

"OHOHOHOHO! Lina! Stop denying the obvious Lina! Naga the White Serpent see through all!"

"Naga…" Lina began to get irritated.

"No Lina, your only fooling yourself! OHOHOHOHOHO!"

"NAGA!"

"OHOHOHOHOHO!"

"FIREBALL!!!"

***

The sun was setting when the four reached the gardens.

Looking around nervously, Naga commented, "It doesn't look like anyone's around…"

"Yeah, but if Jeran can manipulate subspace, he could be right behind you and we wouldn't know it," Zelgadiss looked around suspiciously.

"Very true."

The four whirled around to see Jeran emerging form an astral pocket. "I must compliment you on knowing my strategy. Hello again, Lina."

"Jeran," Lina said through clenched teeth, "Where's Amelia!"

"I told you to come alone Lina, yet you brought your group of lackys."

"Lackys?" Zelgadiss asked angrily.

"OHOHOHOHOHO! I am NOT Lina's lacky! I am her greatest rival and-"

"Shutup!" Jeran threw an energy blast at her, knocking her down.

"Naga!" Lina yelled as the sorceress pulled herself up.

"I warned you Lina, you always were so stubborn though!"

"Shut up Jeran! I'm here, now bring Amelia!" Lina yelled.

Jeran grinned wickedly, "I think not Lina. Instead, I'll bring you and your friends to Amelia!" laughing he snapped his fingers and suddenly a pentagram appeared on the ground below them. Then they were all teleported to Jeran's sub-space, where Amelia was in a crystal-like cage.

"Amelia!" Zelgadiss yelled and ran to her. Just when he was about to reach her, he was flung back. "Damnit! A forcefield!"

"You didn't really think it'd be that easy, did you?" Jeran appeared next to Amelia, "I think I'll make her a Mazoku either way. She is cute."

"Bastard!"

Jeran chuckled, "Temper temper!"

"Dug Haut!"

Jeran's field easily blocked the attack. "Weak!" Jeran sent an energy wave at Zelgadiss, knocking him down.

"OHOHOHOHO! You think you can turn my sister evil? I think not!"

"Shut up!" Jeran threw another energy burst and her but this time Naga dodged it.

"FREEZE ARROW!"

"FLARE ARROW!" Lina added. The two spells hit the field and weakened it slightly, but that was it.

Jeran laughed, "I will ask you only one more time Lina, Will you join me!"

"Go to hell Jeran!"

"Then you can come with me!" Jeran yelled back and ran at her.

"LIGHT COME FORTH!" Gourry stepped in front of Lina protectively.

"Oh, the protector. Hmmph. Out of my way!" Jeran teleported behind Lina and grabbed her "Déjà vu Lina?"

"Lina!" Gourry whirled around, "Let her go!"

"What are you going to do, pretty boy?"

"FREEZE ARROW!" Naga threw the spell at Jeran, who dropped Lina to get out of the way. " Almost got me Gracia."

"RA TILT!" Zelgadiss cast on him.

Jeran's shield faltered slightly, "You guys just don't give up, do you!"

Lina, now behind Gourry, charged up her talismans, "Gourry move." He quickly obeyed her.

"What are you doing Lina?" Jeran asked suspiciously.

"…Before your mighty gift bestowed in my unworthy hand! DRAGONSLAVE!" the spell exploded around Jeran, who fell to his knees, finally injured.

"Damn you Lina!" Jeran growled, "How dare you break your promise!"

"What promise?" Zel asked.

"It was a stupid childhood pact made a long time ago. It ended the day you disappeared."

Jeran looked at her, confused, "When I disappeared? I lived in Saillune all my life Lina."

Now was Lina's turn to be surprised, "What do you mean, Saillune, we lived in Zephilia!"

Now everyone was looking at them confused. "What are you guys talking about?" Naga asked.

"No Lina, we lived in Saillune, until you and your sister disappeared after your parent's deaths."

Lina gasped, her parent's deaths? "What are you guys talking about?" Naga asked again.

"It doesn't matter now!" Jeran had used those moments to recharge himself and he teleported behind Lina. "It all ends here!" pulling out a dagger, he shoved it thru her back, near her heart, "Nothing like the old fashioned way!" and disappeared back by Amelia.

Lina's eyes flew open in pain as she fell to her knees, `NO!' she thought `Not now!'

Gourry ran to Lina and held her, "No!"

"Lina!" Naga yelled, running up to her.

"You bastard!" Zelgadiss shouted at Jeran.

"Tough words! Now Lina will die, and be reborn as a mazoku!"

"No, she will not."

Jeran stopped laughing. "What the-"

Xellos stepped in front of him, having appeared just then, "I'm afraid Lord Beastmaster is not pleased with you Jeran. I can't say I am either." He raised his staff slightly.

"Xellos!" Jeran growled.

"I'm afraid I can't let you carry out your plan Jeran. It goes against Lord Beastmasters."

"Go to hell Xellos!"

Xellos smirked, "You first," and fazed out, appearing behind him and striking him down.

"Naga! Can't you do anything!?" Zelgadiss yelled.

"I'm- I can't! It's too deep! I don't have enough strengh…"

Zelgadiss looked at the two mazoku's fighting and then at Amelia, and a though struck him, "If there were two of you, could you then?"

"Well, yes…"

"Ok you start on her, I'll get Amelia out!" Please let this work, let Amelia have enough strength….

Lina blinked and looked up at Gourry, "Gourry…I…"

"Shh..save your strength Lina."

"No, Gourry….I just want to tell you I love….you" Lina whispered as her world was turned white.

***