Slayers once again
Chp 11::: A bitter sweet ending.
Author's note::Gack, I am so sorry everyone. I have not been able to use the computer in forever. I get maybe five minutes every once in a while just enough for me to write a paragraph or so. And now today, I finally got all day to work on it, and I get a writer's block _ just finishing it has taken all day, but now as the sun sets I sigh happily….as I realize I still have the epilogue to go O_o
"A human?" came the same thought to each person's head. A young woman with light, wispy blond hair, and pale skin. She was nude, and unconscious. The yellow light left her after she had formed completely, and hung in the air.
Lina gasped as the same feeling of familiarity washed over her. She was the voice in her head, she was sure of it. 'But if this girl was on her side, why would Dolphin summon her?' she thought, then shrugged. She rushed over to the woman, listening to her gut. Lina pulled her head up to her lap, and shook her slightly, "Miss? Miss, wake up." The woman moaned, but did not open her eyes. She was whispering softly though, Lina could almost make it out. She leaned closer. Most did not make any sense, ranting almost.
Suddenly her eyelids snapped open, and she turned over to face Lina, eyes wild, "Lina-Chan!" "How…do you know my name?" Lina whispered. The woman shook her head, "Stop Dolphin…!" "Give me a way, and I will!" Lina replied irritably. "I…I can't. Not anymore." "Not anymore? What are you talking about?" The red-head asked, mystified. The blond woman pulled herself into a ball, Going back to mutter to herself, "No. Dolphin. Has it all. Not me anymore. No need for my title, I'm just a human now. Nameless human. Surely can't call me the lord of anything, much less lord of all." Lina's eyes widened, and she fell backward. "T..The lord of Nightmares?" The woman looked up at her, "Hai.*" Was all she said, before bursting into tears, and then collapsing again a moment later.
Dolphin giggled at the site, "You shouldn't try talking to her. She's very disoriented and not quite sane at the moment. Give her a day or year or two, she'll be fine." "What did you do to her?" Amelia spoke up, "And who is she?"
***
Filia glared at Deep Sea Dolphin, "You killed Xelloss." She demanded accusingly. Dolphin tittered, "Really? I am so pleased with myself today, ya know that? You wanna join him Lover-Girl?" Before Filia could answer, Dolphin swipes some of the yellow stuff weaved around her, and pitched it at her. Filia, unable to dodge it, as she was already backed into a corner, threw her arms up in that stupid human reflex to protect herself ..
The dragon maiden squinched her eyes shut, preparing to die. But before the power could hit her, she was scooped up and flown to the far side of the temple. Her eyes flew open as she tried to grasp what was going on. Bob licked her face happily. "Bob!" she cried happily, throwing her arms around his neck, "You saved me!….?" she trailed off, as she noticed the riders perched on top of the dragon. Lina did too, unfortunately…..
"GINA!!?!!"
"Yes Mommy?" Gina asked sweetly, bouncing down from the dragon's back. "What are you doing here?!" "We are here to rescue you guys." Her daughter answered proudly. "You need to get out of here! All of you!" Amelia cried. "But why?" her son asked her, head tilted. "Because Dolphin will kill you?" Zelgadiss muttered. But Dolphin didn't seem to be doing anything. Just sitting there, with her knees drawn to her chest, with that yellow cloud still wrapped around her. Gourry nodded, "I think the kids are safe for now. Dolphin is not reacting to anything." "Well then, now's our time!" Gaene cried, running forward and slamming the sword into her chest. At least, that what he tried to do anyway. The sword, hit the yellow cloud, and stuck. "What the-?" He yanked on the sword, but it didn't budge, and Dolphin still didn't react, though the sword was inches from her head. He finally had to let it go, and step backwards. It dissolved, with a slight sucking noise. He cursed, and backed further away, "So how do we destroy her, if we can't get to her?" Gourry shrugged, "We'll find a way." Meanwhile Filia was hugging her two kids fiercely, "I can't believe you guys followed us all the way here." Xelia shook her head, "Actually Bob just showed us the way" she grinned, "Where's Knight Xelloss?" Filia bit her lip. She knew this was coming. "Xelia…I…" But her child wasn't listening, she was bouncing throughout the temple, (completely ignoring the giggling madwoman in the yellow cloud *shrug*) Then she stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed a familiar body collapsed on the floor. "Night…Xelloss?" she ran over to him as fast her tiny legs could take her, and threw herself in front of him. "Night Xelloss? Xelloss-Chan?" She shook his shoulder softly, then harder, with fear rising in her eyes, "Xelloss-Chan, wake up. Wake up?" Filia approached her daughter slowly, "Xelia….I'm afraid Xelloss isn't gonna wake up…" The child's eyes filled with tears, "No! That's not true!" She cried, "Xelloss is mine! He's just sleeping, that's all…" Xelia sniffled and clutched her necklace, "He gave me this. He can't die, Nights never die in my stories…they live happily ever with their princess…."
Her hand slipped, hitting the cork of the vial hanging from her necklace. The black sparkles wound their way up her body. Filia's eyes widened, but before she could get her daughter away from the mysterious cloud, it entered Xelia. Her skin glowed, then her regular clothes disappeared, replaced by a white silk dress.
"Xelia! Xelia, are you okay?!?" Filia cried, rushing to her child. Xelia smiled at her, her cheeks had two marks running up either side now also, "Xelia…That's such a cute name. You really do like my Xell, don't you?" Her voice was different now, like an adult's, mixed with her own. "Xelia, what happened?" She asked. "Filia, allow me to explain. I am not Xelia. I am Zelas reincarnated in this form. Xelia never truly was a real child. She was created by me, in case of something just like this…when I created her, Xelloss suggested that you could care for her. And you have done so, I thank you." "Wha…You give her back!" Filia cried. Zelas/Xelia shook her head, "I'm afraid I cannot. She was a part of me I separated from myself, and now I have just taken her back. Now please do not argue with me. We do not have much time left. Dolphin's transformation is almost complete." "Transformation?" Lina asked, walking up beside Filia. Zelas nodded, "Dolphin is trying to become the next Lord Of Nightmares…"
"What?!?" The group of mortals stared at Zelas. "Contrary to popular belief there was never just one lord. The first of them, was the true Lord of Nightmares, but he passed his powers to another when he grew tired of his role. And then she passed it on to another, and so on, so forth. Now Deep Sea Dolphin is trying to rip the role away from L-Sama. We have to keep her from absorbing that power…" "And how do we do that?" Martina asked. "L-Sama will not take it now, she has no idea what's going on anymore, and well I could try taking it myself…but as much as I'd like too, I don't think I could handle it in this weakened state. I'm only a portion of what I was…" Lina stood up, "Then I'll take it." Zelas shook her head, "You're only human, trying to take it from another will destroy you." "I'm not just 'only human' I can handle this." Lina said seriously, walking towards Dolphin. Gourry, Zel, and Amelia knew better then to argue, but they were staring at her worriedly. Martina however, did not, "Lina! You can't do this!" Lina smiled, "Oh yes I can. Don't doubt me Martina." "…Can I least you wish you luck?" Her green-haired friend asked softly. Lina smiled, then nodded, "Okay." She stood in front of Dolphin. "Well at least let me take a portion, then we can give it all to a chosen one later, And you don't know what you're doing anyway." Zelas/Xelia followed suit with her. "So what do I do?" Lina eyed the yellow cloud suspiciously. "I'll say the spell, and then we put a hand on the cloud surrounding Dolphin. She won't be able to do anything to us herself, but the magic will fight us." Zelas started whispering under her breath, a spell in another language that Lina had never heard before. As her voice was rising and falling in the drone of the spell, she took Lina's hand and set it on the cloud/bubble with her own. The light flashed angrily and tried to throw them back, but the sorceress and the mazoku/child held on as well as able, but the power ripped away from Dolphin, and threw itself into Lina. She fell to her knees, and Gourry started to run towards her, but Zelas stopped him, "Don't. No one can help her now. It will either accept her, or leave. I'd pray it leaves, because if it accepts her, she'll either become the next lord, or be slowly destroyed." Gourry bit his lip and he watched Lina wrestle with the power. Sometimes it faded and sometimes it still rushed around her, depending on who was winning. Suddenly, someone appeared beside Gourry.
"What's going on? Where's Xelloss? Am I too late to fight?"
He turned around to stare at Dee, "Hi. Yeah, you are kinda late, Lina's trying to absorb the power that Dolphin summoned." Dee's eyes widened, "Really?" Gourry nodded solemnly, "Luckily Dolphin still hasn't seemed to awaken from her trance."
Suddenly with a high-pitched scream, Lina collapsed, and the power curled away from her, and shot towards the next nearest person.
Dee.
She shrieked in surprise, then closed her eyes as she floated into the air. The slayers ran to Lina's side to make sure she was all right. Zelas' eyes widened, "Wait! This can't be good! She's Dolphin's minion!" Just as Zelas mentioned her name, Dolphin opened her eyes and looked around confusedly. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Zelas, "You managed to live? How clever. I never would have expected a ryuzaku's daughter as your new host." Her eyes scanned around then looked up as she noticed Dee for the first time, "What??? Dee you come back down here this instant and give me that power!!!" Dee didn't answer, as a tiara appeared on her head, and her armor replaced by a long gown.
Her master stood up, and in rage, started blasting her, "That's mine, Mine mine mine!!!" she shrieked. Dee's eyes opened, glowing slightly, as with the rest of her body. She held up a single hand slowly, and Dolphin flew backwards. "Wha- You ungrateful little-! I created you! I can destroy you if I wish!" she stood up again, holding her arm and glaring at her subordinate. Dee shook her head, "I am no longer your possession. I am all. I am the Lord of Nightmares…" and with another glance in her direction, Dolphin disintegrated, while everyone watched silently. Dee landed upon the ground softly, and the glow faded. She smiled shyly at the others, "Hi everyone…" Lina-tachi all stood on edge distrustfully, but Filia stepped forward and smiled warmly, "Welcome Dee…L-sama." Dee's eyes brimmed with tears and she ran forward to hug Filia, "What's going on? I can't be this! I could barely handle being a mazouku, and now a lord??" she cried. Filia patted her head soothingly, "You'll learn as you go. And if you really can't stand being this, then I'm sure we can find another host soon." She nodded, "Thank you. I shall try to do this well until then…" "Ano*…." Gourry held up a hand, "I don't mean to interrupt Dee-San, but could you please see if Lina is okay?" Dee nodded and walked over to the group, with Filia following. Dee set a hand on the prone redhead's forehead. "She is okay. The power rejected her and she fainted. That is all. You may awake Lina-San."
Lina's eyes opened to see the blurry vision of her friends hanging over her worridly. "Hi guys, you weren't worried were you?" She laughed. She got a group hug to answer that, and turned blue. "Of course we were baka*" Zelgadiss said, "Why do you insist on getting into those kind of things?" "Can't….breathe…" She gasped, and the slayers let go of her sweatdropping. Amelia giggled, "Welcome back."
Meanwhile Filia had left the crowd, to Xelloss. She knelt down in front of him, a hand on his cheek, "Well Xelloss, at least you'll be the first mazoku to have a decent burial…that I know anyway." She picked him up carefully, and made her way back to the rest of the group. The group turned to stare at her. "Xelloss! Is he….?" Amelia asked tearfully. Lina nodded silently, while Filia said nothing. Amelia burst into tears, while Gourry comforted her. Zelgadiss set a hand on Filia's shoulder, "You seem very broken up….I am sorry." She nodded, "I know this seems very strange…But I…" "Love him. I know." Zel stated, "Here, let me…?" He lifted the body out of Filia's unresisting arms, "We'll make a coffin for him to travel home, and I'm sure Amelia wouldn't mind having a burial in Seyruun for him." Filia only nodded again. This time Martina walked up to her, "Filia-San…I know you don't know me well, though I hope that will change. I know what you're going through believe it or not…Zangulus has died before…." She gestured at her husband, who was currently talking to Gaene. Filia looked at her. "It's true. Phibrizzo has killed all of us before. Don't you know by now? We have a way of bouncing back each time." Martina winked, "Believe me." The dragon priestess only looked at her.
Dee made her way to the outer group, and smiled tearfully at Xelloss, "You know…" She put a hand on his cheek, "I kind of did have a crush on you." She giggled as a blush traveled across her face, "Not that I would admit that to anyone." She turned suddenly, "Filia….I would like to do a favor just for you, before I become Ms. High and Mighty goddess…" She kissed Xelloss' cheek, then stepped back.
The color returned to his face with a rush, and eyes fluttered, then opened. He looked around slowly. He looked up at Zelgadiss, who was still holding him, looking down at the mazoku in disbelief. "Zelgadiss?" his voice was weak, but then he broke into a grin, "Well no wonder why you didn't marry Amelia, Your interests go the other way, ne?" Zelgadiss dropped him with a scowl, "Damn Mazouku." Xelloss landed on the floor with a laugh, just as Filia threw her arms around him, "Xelloss!" She cried, tears flowing freely down her face. "Filia…" He winced, "Not that I mind such an enthusiastic greeting, but the emotion is getting a bit thick…" "Ah…Yeah…" Filia glared at him, "Namagomi. Ruin our moment." Lina strolled up to them, along with the rest of the group, "Xelloss…." He looked up at her, right as the red-head smacked him, "Don't scare us like that!" "Ah, hai."* he sweatdropped, and Lina grinned, "Welcome back."
Dee fidgeted, "Well I guess I should be going… Just call me if you find a better host, I'll hear." And she disappeared, leaving the room to feel vaguely empty, as the pressure from the power left with her.
Zelgadiss glanced back, as L-Sama started to awaken and try to stand up. He walked over to her, and helped her up. Then, blushing, he pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Thanks..." she whispered, almost inaudibly, and pulled it tighter around her. He helped her back to the rest of the group. "So what happens with her?" Martina asked, looking over at L-Sama. She shrugged miserably in response. "She may stay in the palace if she wishes." Amelia smiled graciously, and L-sama nodded, "Thank you." "Well we should probably be going, if we're going to get any traveling done by night fall." Zelgadiss said. The group nodded and started collecting their stuff.
* * *
Zelia/Zelas walked down the path, now back in her old child's outfit, as the dress was not great for traveling in. She still had the marks on her cheeks though, and the strange look in her eyes, grim reminders to Filia of what had happened to her. Val clung to his mother's skirts, crying softly. Filia was unsure whether to be happy at this ending. Sure, they had defeated the bad guy, and she got Xelloss back, but she had to lose her daughter in exchange. It just didn't seem right.
Xelloss had caught up to Zelas, and they were now talking in low tones, But Filia paid them no mind. She just patted Val's head comfortingly, and kept walking. Until Xelloss tapped on her shoulder. She stopped walking and looked at him. "Zelas-Sama has something she wishes to say to you." Filia glanced down at Zelas quizzically, "Yes?" "My Xelloss has spoke fondly of you the last couple of years, and now that we know you return those feelings, I can accept you. I know you're a Ryuzaku, but that doesn't mean I forbide this…It just means it's more amusing." A smile curved on her lips before she continued, "And now that I know Xelloss wants to keep you, I suppose I should do something in return, like a wedding present or something, I dunno." Filia blushed at Zelas' words, But she wasn't finished, "Now since all the other Mazoku are destroyed that leaves me and Xelloss as the last remaining ones. Which is also amusing, considering you're the last gold dragon and all, but that's way off track. Anyway what I mean is, since that is the case, I no longer have to watch my back every second. Meaning I can take a well deserved vacation. So as a gift to you, I shall allow Xelia to share this body with me. She may be herself as long as I am not needed." "But..I thought…you said she was gone…." Filia whispered in disbelief. Zelas shook her head, "As I said, I created her from me. She's still here, just buried. I can let her back up whenever I wish….You do want her back, I presume?" Filia nodded then threw her arms around Zelas' shoulders, "Thank you!" "Yeah yeah yeah, you're welcome." Zelas patted her arm, "Anyway I guess that means I'll see you guys later. Ja ne*, Daughter-in-law." She grinned evilly, as the marks faded on her cheeks and her eyes returned to Xelia's normal ones." "Hi Mommy!" she hugged her back. "Xelia! I thought I'd never see you again." Filia wiped a tear from her eye. "But mommy, I was still here. I just couldn't move or say anything."
Filia stood up, smiling happily, and Xelia walked up to Xelloss, and tugged on his pant leg. He scooped her up, and she hugged him, "I know now, Night Xelloss." "Hmm? Know what?" he looked at her, and she smiled, "The reason I haven't gotten to live happily forever after yet. Momma's the princess after all. Not me. I still have to wait my turn. And you're her night in shiny armor, mine still has ta find me." "And you're not sad about that?" Xelloss looked at her. "No." She sighed happily and leaned her head on his shoulder, "I can wait. And now I have a daddy, which is what I want right now." She closed her eyes sleepily. Filia walked up to the two of them, "My Knight ne? You're the strangest knight I ever met Xell, no offense." He laughed, "None taken." "So you're gonna be my daddy now?" Val looked up at him distrustfully. "I actually have no idea." He sweatdropped, then looked at Filia, "Whadda say? Wanna get married?" "Baka! That was positively the most unromantic proposal I have ever heard." Filia fumed. Xelloss grinned, then turned back to Val, "Not yet." Valgarv giggled.
Okay okay this went from a regular adventure fic, to a sappy Filia/Xelloss fic *sigh* Gomen….but then again, I enjoyed myself dangit^___^ the epilogue should be out soon hopefully, as we need it to further wrap things up….