Slayers Mystic
Episode 18
Return to the Future: Face off (2)
The plan is in motion. Lady Lina is to infiltrate the castle and open the huge gates of the Evil
Stronghold to let Gourry who is leading the foot soldiers in.
"What about me?" Vee asks excitedly. "Do I get to do anything?"
"You get to stay in the castle and study," the Blue Sorceror answers her with a serious look.
"WHAT!!! Are you letting me help only halfway??" Vee screams.
"Then who will protect the castle?" Zelgadis asks.
"What do you mean--Who will protect the castle?" Vee asks him back.
"What I mean is that your parents and I and Queen Amelia is going to be involved directly with
the mission, meaning that if we all go, only you and Charity will be here, as the main person to
protect our castle."
"Why is Queen Amelia going anyway?" Vee asks curiously. "She shouldn't be leaving the castle. I
can go in her place."
"I was just joking Vee. Of course you can come with us," Zelgadis sighs.
"Hmm! If that is a joke, I don't how you are ever going to get married. Girls will run away from
you!" Vee snorts.
Charity who is actually nearby, sweatdrops. "You know, you should stay out of his business."
Zelgadis remains stone-face, "Do you want to come too, Charity?"
"I guess I will," Charity replies after hesitating for a while.
"Pipipipipipipi!"
"Bobo, you stay here and guard the castle."
"Guard the castle?" Vee looks at Charity curiously. "That THING will guard the castle??"
"It is more than a THING," Charity glares at Vee. Vee takes this as a glaring contest and glares
at her back. Then, Charity smiles a bit. "You haven't got a clue, don't you?"
"Let," Zel sighs, "Bobo stay to guard the castle. He will do fine by himself."
"You're not serious, are you?"
"I'm serious, now let's move out."
*o*
The door opens with a bang and the footsoldiers marches in quickly.
"This is great," Vee laughes. "I can't wait to see that green guy's face when he sees us."
Vee and Charity makes up the head of the attack with Zel and Gourry and Amelia.
So Charity has no time to reply as the Monthzie monsters begins pouring out.
"Solar Slash!" Vee screams.
"Fireball!" Amelia and Charity screams.
Zelgadis' eyes flashes as he raises his hands, "Light thunder!"
Gourry just slashes all the way through the monsters.
"Where are we heading?" Lina appears out of nowhere as they storm the castle.
"The throneroom," Gourry replies. "I will never forgive that *(AN: censored here ^^;;)* for what
he tried to did to my Queen."
Lina and Amelia looks at Gourry at the same time.
"Gourry," Lina whispers...
*o*
Flashback
--Why are you going back?--
The red-haired girl smiled, as her eyes looked out to the ocean.
--I want, because--
The girl turned slowly, and her eyes cast on the man before her. His dark eyes looked back,
almost daringly.
--Because of what?--
The man looked away. He knew it in his heart. She didn't need to tell him. She wanted to go back
to HIM. It was HIM whom she loved...His heart ached. -Why? Why?- He knew why. He was ugly, that's
why. Not HIM. HE was different--dashing, gallant, tall...
--Because of him...--
The man's heart shattered. He staggered.
--Are you alright?-- the girl looked concerned for her companion.
--...Yes--
--I will go now. Do you mind very much?--
--I thought you are happy here.--
--Yes, but it's different happiness...I feel like I've something missing in my heart.-- the girl
looked sadly. --even when I'm with you.--
--Then go, Lina. Be happy, no matter what happens...--
--Thanks very much Zel. Thanks for everything-- the girl leaves.
--...I will still wait for you.--
*0*
"You shall not pass me until I am dead," a blue-haired man appears out of nowhere.
"So. We meet again," Vee said, her sword poises straight.
"A duel to the end remember?" Gallant reminds Vee.
"Of course I remember."
"How many people did you challenge to a duel til the end?" Charity groans.
"I'll handle him," Vee says to the gang. "All of you find the Monthzie guy."
Gallant laughs. "You will never find where he is! This is an enchanted castle. You can get lost
in here for days. But, if you win, I will tell you the way," he says to Vee.
"I will not trust you, but it will give me great pleasure in killing you. Solar Slash!" Gallant
skips aside easily and thrusts his sword. Vee jumps backwards.
"Be careful Vee!" Gourry cries out.
"She knows what she is doing," Lina says. "She's very good at sword."
Vee swings her sword but Gallant's sword meets hers. She tries to deflect his now-getting-more-
power attacks but only manages to get a weak defense. She has to jump back every time.
"Light beyond light, dark beyond dark," Vee gritted her teeth as she tries to push away Gallant's
sword, which is pressed against hers.
"What are you doing Vee?" Charity calls out. "Don't do..."
"She's...she shouldn't be doing that..." Zel frowns.
"Why...what spell is she doing?" Gourry asks.
"Power that lies between real and none," Vee continues.
"Jump back! Jump back! On the ground NOW!!!" Lina screams.
"PURIFY!!!!" Vee screams.
Bright light overwhelms everyone in the corridor as Lina, Gourry, Charity, Amelia and Zel falls
onto the floor. There is a great rush of air, as if a vacuum has been opened up in there, and a
moment later, a great fire roared through the corridor (burnt a few hairs along the way as well).
"My daughter!" Lina calls out. "Vee!" She stands up crying, looking for any possible remains of
Vee.
"Vee?" Amelia calls softly. "I'm sorry Lina...It looks like not even her dust remains."
"I will miss you Vee," Charity says. "Your obnoxious talking, your huge appetite, your constant
carefree spirit."
"Vee..." Gourry whispers sadly.
Zel paces along the corridor, disbelieved.
"I'm not dead yet," says a voice. Vee falls from above their heads and lands on her feet.
"How did you..." Charity asks.
"I knew you knew what you were doing," Lina says.
"Yeah, thanks for that confidence Mother," Vee rolls her eyes. "Why are you crying then?"
"No, just dust."
"So how..." Charity asks again.
"The fire only moves forward and spreads out like a dome. All I had to do was ray-wing away from
the dome as far as possible."
"You've been studying," Zel remarks.
"I had to. You wouldn't teach me," Vee replies.
"...Or that you've used it before," Zel adds. "In this case, I vote for the second one, because
the likelihood that you sit down and open the book is as likely as Lina missing out her favourite
triple scoop ice-cream."
Vee goes, "Er..."
"I knew it."
"Come on, let's all hurry," Lina says.
"Didn't that blue-haired person said that this castle is enchanted?" Gourry asks. "And that he'd
only tell us the way if Vee defeated him?"
"Yes," Amelia agrees. "But he's...destroyed. He never had a chance to tell Vee."
"Actually...he did told me," Vee said. "When he realised I was going to do that spell, he told
me. And he said that I would have been their top war-mage if I had joined their side. That I
would have been fine if I had joined their 'patriotic' fight for the Restoration Of Justice."
"Wow, he said that in three seconds?" Gourry asks his daughter.
"He somehow managed."
"Restoration of Justice..." Amelia murmurs.
"What is it Mother?" Charity asks. "Wait a minute...I've heard those words before. There was this
man who tried to poison you in the past and he said that phrase."
"Restoration of Justice..." Vee echoes. "Why does that sound familiar to me...I've been
acquainted by that before..."
"Let's move on," Zel says, "While we still have the element of advantage on our side. Lead the
way, Vee."
Soon, they reach a dead end.
"This can't be right," Vee mutters. "He said that..."
"We shouldn't have trust him," Lina complains.
"We have to turn back," Amelia says.
"Wait, if I am not wrong, then..." Zel's fingers run across the surface of the wall and locates
something. Zel presses the button.
"What??!!!" they all cry out as the floor begins to move lower into the ground, and then they
plunge downwards. They stop in front of a dark throne, and on it, a dark figure is sitting.
"You shall get it from us, you...evil person!" Charity shouts.
"Just let me have that..." Gourry moves forward.
"No, wait. He's not...he's not the leader!" Vee stops her father. Vee leaps forward, her sword
slashes through the air as she shouts, "Light!"
The sword is pointing to a green-haired person.
"Patriot??" Lina looks shocked. "What..."
"Lady Lina..." Patriot acknowledges.
"You are the leader of the Monthzie Gang?" Vee asks.
"No I am not," Patriot stands up from the throne and draws out his sword. "We shall fight if you
wish to fight," he sighs to Vee.
"Well, I want to fight!" Vee yells passionately.
"Then, we shall. Ready yourself!" Patriot attacks Vee, but she deflects his attack easily.
Charity watches Vee uneasily.
"We are wasting time by standing here," Lina says. "Zel, you and Gourry go over there and see if
there is any exit to the room. Amelia and I will look for any hidden traps. Charity, you stay
here and make sure that everyone's safe. And that includes Vee."
"Alright," everyone else except for Vee, who is busy parrying, nods and moves.
---------------------------------------------2 B Continued