Evil Can Be Fun - Chapter Three

Ummm...not much to say, just Read and Review I guess. I'm a review hog. Just
can't get enough. Oh yeah. Um continuity-wise, this is after TRY, but with one
difference. Gourry's Hikari no Ken wasn't lost. He's still got it. Just thought I'd let you
know. ^_^

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Xelloss was strolling along behind his sometimes companions and one illusion,
happily humming to himself and minding his own secrets, when he got the mental
equivalent of a pinch in the butt. More specifically, a mental dark hit the nerve in his
brain that received sensation from his cute hindquarters, and the normal stimulus-
sensation chain worked in reverse. He yelped and clapped his hands over his non-abused
rear. A smug chuckle rolled through his head.

:Oooh, did I startle you Xel? So sorry. I'm heading home now, and you might
want to join me.: Lina's mental voice positively dripped self-satisfaction. :I've found
something you wouldn't believe.:

Feeling grumpy because his perfectly nice mood had been ruined, he mumbled
back, :Wanna bet?:

Avaricious interest floated down the connection. :What are the terms?:

He hadn't expected her to take him seriously. Xelloss thought quickly, trying to
come up with something he might have a chance at winning. :Hmmm, how about
Master's reaction? If she shows excitement, you win. If she shows no reaction, or a
negative one, I win. Winner claims a forfeit of their choosing, no holds barred.:

A pause while she weighed caution against greed. Greed won. :Deal. See you at
Wolf Pack Island, Xelloss.: And with that, Lina closed the connection.

Grumbling to himself about newbie mazoku who let their status go to their head
and still rubbing his ass, he became aware of Amelia, Zelgadiss, and Gourry staring at
him. The Lina-Illusion kept right on walking.

Gathering what little dignity he had left about him like a cloak, he smirked his
trademark smile. "Sorry everybody, I've got to run. I'll see you soon, ne?"

Zelgadiss gave him a very suspicious look. "Where are you going, fruitcake?"

Xelloss rolled his eyes behind his closed lids. With set-ups like these, he didn't
even have to try. "Sore wa himitsu desu." With a little wave, he disappeared.

Gourry and Amelia blinked somewhat stupidly while Zelgadiss cursed under his
breath. After a few moments, Gourry opened his mouth. "Ano...isn't this about the
point where something really bad that we can barely deal with happens? Right after
Xelloss leaves, I mean."

Amelia nodded cutely. "You're right Gourry-san. It should be happening any
moment now."

All three of them stood in the middle of the road, waiting.

Zelgadiss played statue.

Amelia practiced looking cute.

Gourry wondered if Zelgadiss ever had trouble with pigeons.

The Lina-Illusion kept getting smaller as it walked farther away.

Eventually Zelgadiss stirred, and sighed. "It doesn't look like anything's going to
happen." The other two nodded in agreement. At this point, they noticed 'Lina' had
almost disappeared down the road. Shouting for her to wait up, they raced after her.
However, she neither looked up, nor slowed down. When they finally caught up with
her, Amelia placed her hand on 'Lina's shoulder, and whined, "Lina-san, why didn't you
wait for us?" Then the fact that her hand found no purchase on Lina's shoulder, and had
in fact, passed THROUGH her registered. She blinked.

Frowning, Zelgadiss reached out for Lina's arm, and when his hand too passed
right through her, he growled. "FLOW BREAK!" 'Lina' disappeared.

Gourry looked mildly alarmed. "Hey Zel, bring Lina back!"

Zelgadiss groaned. "You idiot, that wasn't Lina. We've been had!"

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Standing before the dais in the Beastmaster's throne room, with Xelloss to her
left, Lina felt first her perimeter alarms go off, and then a few minutes later, her 'illusion'
wink out all together. She shook her head in mixed amusement and resignation. ~Looks
like the cat's out of the bag now...Ah, it was getting boring anyway. And this was far
more important.~ Lina watched as Zelas puff on a cigarette, blissfully ignoring the
dangers of lung cancer. Probably because she didn't have to breathe. Lina glanced at the
prone body of Naga, laid at Zelas's feet, then looked back at her master. No sign of
excitement yet. Lina was beginning to feel anxious. At last, Zelas roused from her
thoughts.

"Well, Lina-chan, Dynast and Dolphin agree. It's definitely another piece of our
Lord."

"Begging your pardon, Zelas-sama, but you don't look as happy about this as I
thought you'd be."

Zelas ignored the impertinence behind the statement, both because it amused her,
and because at heart, she was a maternal sort of monster. She loved her children. "That's
because I'm not, child." At the gaping faces of her servants, one in horrified shock, one
in disbelief that he'd WON, she smiled and took another drag from her ciggy.

"Why noooot?" Lina's voice had taken on a distinct wail. Xelloss rubbed his
hands together gleefully.

Zelas's voice took on a lecturing tone. "You know that Shabranigdu was divided
into seven pieces, correct? What you do not know, because us Lords don't like to bandy
it about, is that each of the seven pieces embodies an aspect of the greater whole. The
person who the piece is held within usually gives you a good idea of what aspect the
piece will be. The Red Priest embodied the piece of Ruby-Eye that contained his desires,
goals, ambitions and obsessions. The piece that Lei Magnus carries embodies
Shabranigdu's intelligence and creativity. Other pieces of the Lord are things like his
Hate, and even Love, or what passes for it in a Demon King." Lina pictured a Dark Lord
that acted like Amelia, and shuddered. "This one," at this Zelas-sama nudged Naga with
her foot, "is the equivalent of all Shabranigdu's bad days rolled into one. All the
moments when he felt slow, or conceited, or was annoying, or whatever. Essentially, this
piece represents his Stupidity."

Lina and Xelloss sweatdropped, private disputes temporarily forgotten. ~Naga
contains the stupidity of the Ruby-Eyed Lord? Doesn't it just figure.~ Finally, Xelloss
spoke up. "Then...what do we do with it, Zelas-sama?"

Zelas shrugged. "We free it of course. He's still our Lord, even if he is a moron.
And besides, though this piece's intelligence might be lacking, he will still retain the
power that every piece of Shabranigdu is entitled to. Add that to our recent converting of
you, Lina-chan, and we have the makings of the Second Mazoku War."

Lina's eyes widened. "Truly? Even with the absence of Lords Gaav and
Phibrizo?"

Zelas smiled a nasty smile. "Truly, Lina-chan. The Dragons are not the mighty
opponents that they once were. As time has gone on, neither the Ryuzoku nor the
Mazoku are pure anymore. The higher Mazoku may now feel the touch of love," at this,
Zelas looked knowingly at Xelloss, who merely grinned and winked at his master, "the
Dragons may now feel the touch of corruption. And many, many do. With their purity
tainted, they won't be able to summon their Dragon Kings."

The two Servants mulled over the implications of this. ~Still...it would only take
one pure dragon...on the other hand, those dragons that are pure aren't likely to have
positions of power. Chances are, they won't have access to the inner sanctums of the
temples.~

The voice of her master wafted through her head with a laugh. :You two have
such similar thought patterns. You're thinking almost the exact same thing. I guess it's
true, great minds do think alike.:

Lina turned scarlet...in outrage. (Chibi-Lina: Yeah, you just keep telling
yourself that, kid.) Xelloss's happy smirk told Lina that Zelas had mind-murmured him
the same thing. She opened her mouth to yell at him, but all that came out was a
strangled croak. So she did what she always did when someone embarrassed her. She
pounded him into the marble floor.

Zelas smiled and nibbled delicately on the negative energy that Lina-chan created
with her anger and Xelloss's beating. ~They're going to make such a cute couple...when
they finally get around to it, that is.~ When she felt it had gone on long enough, she
called her children's attention back to where it belonged. On her. "Children please,
leave these sort of games for the bedroom, ne?" More strangled squawks emerged from
Lina. Before she could resume pounding Xelloss, who was looking a little worse for
wear, lying there on the floor, Zelas continued. "We have plans to make, my General,
and I need both of you conscious to hear them."

With an effort, Lina restrained herself. Xelloss popped up from his prone
position, looking good as new. He saluted his master cheerfully. "Ready and waiting,
Master."

Zelas rolled her eyes at his antics. Then they got down to business.

Some time later, while her Servants discussed the details of various plans, Zelas's
thoughts drifted to Lina's old companions. ~Something...there was something I was
thinking of having done. But what was it? Zelgadiss needs to remain alive, Dynast will
have my head if anything happens to him. The princess of Saillune, while immensely
annoying, isn't powerful or important enough to risk rousing the avenging wrath of the
official city of White Magic. The swordsman...ah yes, that was it. The swordsman and
his Hikari no Ken. That sword must not be in the hands of the humans or dragons when
the War comes.~ Looking up, she cleared her throat. Her children turned to her
respectfully. "About your companions, Lina. I know, of course, that you're going to
want to say a final good-bye to them. While you're there though, I'd like you to do a
little something for me. Relieve the swordsman of his Hikari no Ken. It mustn't remain
in the hands of so talented a human. What you do with it after that is your prerogative."

Lina pursed her lips thoughtfully. "You realize of course, that they aren't likely
to give it up without a fight."

Zelas waved her hand dismissively. "Do your best to keep the chimera and the
princess alive. I don't care what happens to the swordsman."

Lina and Xelloss bowed. "Hai, Zelas-sama. It will be done."

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Zelgadiss, Amelia, and Gourry were some ways farther down the road when
Xelloss phased in, a few meters above the ground. The instant Zelgadiss noticed him, he
whirled around and shouted "RA-TILT!".

Xelloss merely shifted to the side and allowed the attack to fly right past him. He
wagged his finger at Zelgadiss. "Now that wasn't very polite. What kind of manners did
your mother teach you, anyway?" When the chimera merely snarled at him, Xelloss
sighed and shook his head.

Amelia stepped forward, and yelled at him angrily. "What did you do with Lina-
san, Xelloss-san?" Rule number one of being a princess: Always be polite.

Xelloss endeavored to look innocent. "Lina-chan? Is she missing? Whatever
makes you think that I've done anything to her?"

Zelgadiss growled. "Stop pretending, you filthy mazoku. Now where is she?"

A merry voice rang out. "Right here!"

At this point, Gourry became aware of a presence behind him...and the sudden
absence of his sword from its sheath.

Lina teleported to a spot a few meters above the ground across the road from
Xelloss, carrying what looked to be an ordinary sword. She smiled cheerfully. "My my,
that was easier than I thought it would be. You're losing your touch Gourry."

Zelgadiss and Amelia stared at the floating girl with something akin to horror.
Only Gourry didn't seem to get it. "Lina, give my sword back!" He called in irritation,
"It's a family heirloom and you can't have it! You know that!"

Zelgadiss swallowed hard and looked at Gourry. "Gourry," he said slowly, "I
don't think she's going to care about that too much, anymore." ~Not that she ever did
before, but...~

Gourry looked bewildered. "Why not?"

Zelgadiss looked away, unable to answer. Xelloss did it for him. "Because she's
a mazoku now, Gourry-san. That's why."

Gourry smiled confidently. "Nah, Lina would never turn to the mazoku."

Lina sighed in mock regret. "Well Gourry, I admit, I didn't do it willingly." She
shot Xelloss a nasty glare, but he just smiled back. "But then, that doesn't really matter
now. Once you're on the other side of the fence, you find you don't mind so much." She
smiled again. "So I really am a mazoku now, Gourry."

Gourry digested this. "Oh...that's too bad." Zelgadiss and Amelia facefaulted.
Xelloss chuckled.

Lina simply smiled. "Yeah Gourry, it is."

He brightened. "Well, can I have my sword back now?" Collective sweatdrop.

Rolling her eyes, she replied. "No Gourry, you can't. Sorry, but we can't allow
you to have it anymore."

He started to look a little upset. "But Lina-"

Xelloss interrupted him. "Hey Lina, could you toss me the sword for a moment?"
Lina shrugged and did so. The Mazoku Priest caught it adroitly by the hilt, then tugged
at a hidden pin, causing the normal metal blade to fall out. He grinned like a little boy.
"I always wanted to try this." Striking a heroic pose, he cried out. "Light, come forth!"

The sword hilt hummed, then began to shake violently. Slowly the shining silver
metal darkened, then disintegrated into flecks of black dust. Xelloss pouted. "I guess it
didn't like me."

Gourry cried out in anger and despair. Blindly, he charged at Xelloss, intent on
murder.

Lina summoned a dark blade (essentially a blade made of darkness), and phased
in front of Gourry. The enraged swordsman didn't notice her in time, and ran right onto
the outstretched sword, impaling himself right below his ribcage. Confused, his steps
faltered. Gazing at him sympathetically, Lina shoved her blade in to the hilt, so she could
bring her face close to his. Looking into his anguished puppy-dog eyes, she murmured,
"I know you'd never be able to live with yourself after you lost the Hikari no Ken. So I
won't make you." She gave him an affectionate kiss on the forehead. "I'll almost miss
you, Gourry." Dissipating her sword, she let the swordsman drop and phased back to her
former position.

(Chibi-Lina: Tch, there goes what little comic relief this story had. Chibi-Madame
Meow: *slaps a sign saying 'Kick me, I'm comic relief' on Chibi-Lina's back* Don't
worry, I'll think of something.)

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Lina-chan was so beautiful when she was violent. It was one of the first things
that had attracted him to her, when he first joined the group. A human so deliciously
violent she made his head spin, and yet she wasn't even evil. She was even better at it
now that she was.

Xelloss watched his Lina-chan's reactions as the chimera and princess shook off
their shocked paralysis and ran to the fallen swordsman. It was too late of course, even
for a Resurrection. The mortals wouldn't have noticed it, but when Lina kissed the
swordsman's forehead, she had given him the equivalent of an astral shove. His spirit
was already far on its way to wherever it was going. But he didn't care about that. Even
looking closely, Xelloss could see no regret or remorse for what she had done. He
smiled. What an amazing female. And she was all his. Or would be. He hoped.

The princess had apparently discovered that a Resurrection was not going to
work. The girl looked up at her former mentor with tears in her eyes. "Lina-san how
could you? How could you betray the side of Justice this way? Even Xelloss has never
killed one of our friends, though he's tried!"

Large ruby eyes blinked. "So? What's your point?"

Amelia pointed a trembling finger at the mazoku who was Lina. "L-Lina-san,
you are more evil than XELLOSS!"

~NOW WAIT JUST A MINUTE!~ While Lina burst into laughter, Xelloss drew
himself into an offended stance. "I resent that remark! Here she is, a mazoku only a
month or two old, and she's more evil than a mazoku who's been around for a
millennium? I've slaughtered and tortured people for centuries! I've started wars! I
massacred most of the Gold Dragon race! Lina-chan is NOT more evil than I am just
because she killed that stupid swordsman! Get your priorities straight!"

Zelgadiss nodded seriously. "He's right you know. Lina can't even compete
against Xelloss's experience at this stage. Just because he was our friend doesn't mean
he was more important than things we haven't experienced. You're letting your emotions
get in the way of your objectivity." Everyone stared at him. He sweatdropped and
looked defensive. "What? It's true!"

Amelia looked around wildly. "Am I the only one that cares that Lina-san killed
Gourry?" Xelloss and Lina nodded, and after a moment of contemplation, so did
Zelgadiss. Bursting into tears, she ran wailing down the road. A few hundred yards
away, she stopped, came back, lifted Gourry's body with a Raywing bubble, then
commenced running wailing down the road, the corpse floating along behind her.

Lina and Xelloss looked at Zelgadiss. Zelgadiss looked at Lina and Xelloss.
Finally he asked, "Well? Aren't you two going to kill me or something?" They shook
their heads. He looked puzzled. "Not even to turn me into a mazoku?" They shook their
heads again. He looked at them closely. "You sure?" They nodded. He shrugged. "Oh,
okay. See you around." He turned around and continued along the road. The two
watched him go until he was out of sight.

Xelloss was stuffed. With all the intense negative emotions that had been floating
around, he'd eaten better than he had in a long time. Content with the world, and
everything in it, he turned to Lina-chan. He smiled craftily. "Oh Lina-chan. I seem to
remember something about a bet..."

Lina cringed. She'd hoped he would somehow forget about that. Obviously, such
was not the case. Still, she really didn't want to pay up for this one. Time to make like
Amelia. Making twinkling stars appear in her eyes, she turned her cuteness factor on to
high. She floated next to Xelloss and looked up at him. "Xelloss, you don't really want
to make a cute, sweet, innocent demon like me pay a forfeit do you?" She playfully
finger-walked her hand over the fabric of his shirt. "I mean, it was just a silly little bet.
Let's just forget about it, okay?" She pouted prettily.

Xelloss's brain had stopped working about the point when her fingers touched his
chest. He had to forcibly prevent himself from drooling. Still, as much as he wanted to
make her happy, there was too much at stake here. Steeling himself against her
adorableness, he cleared his throat. "Ne Lina-chan, a bet is a bet. You owe me a forfeit."

All cuteness was gone in an instant. She was still gorgeous, but it was no longer a
vat of boiling acid for his brain. She scowled at him. "Damnit Xelloss!"

He wagged his finger at her. "Come now, Lina-chan. It won't be that bad. All
I'm asking for is a chance to start over. Forget that I killed and resurrected you. We'll
just be two mazoku who work for the Greater Beast. And we can go from there."

Lina looked at him suspiciously. "That's it? Seems like a waste of a forfeit to
me." Realizing suddenly that he might change his mind and ask for something much
worse, she hastily stuck out her hand. "But if that's what you want, so be it! Shake on
it?"

Xelloss smiled and shook her hand, sealing the deal. To her it was a waste of a
forfeit. To him, it gave him a real chance with his Lina-chan. And that was more than
worth it.

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Huh. I think that went rather well, actually. ^_^ About the Hikari no Ken
disintegrating, I don't know if that would happen if a Mazoku tried to use it. I haven't
seen any episode where a Mazoku DOES use it, but that really isn't saying much. For
this story, that's what happens, kay? Read and Review, or send comments to
Madame_Meow@hotmail.com.