HEYLAS!!!! Sorry I haven't updated in half of forever, but you know how things can get... Ficcies, web pages, homework, books, new DVDs that I had to watch... Stuff happens! BUT! To make up for it, I have a lot for you, okay? OKAY! ^_^

"She's alive," Prince Zolf said, kneeling on the ground to check footprints. "Or was, an hour ago. If she is otherwise when we find here, there will be some neck wringing." He stood up, and walked over to the table, stepping over the dead body of Vrumagun. He picked up a small glass vial, and sniffed. He didn't smell anything. "Poison," he informed the others. "Really powerful, too. I'd bet my life on it." He threw the vial down, breaking it, and leaped on his horse again. "After them," he shouted, and spurred his horse into motion. His vanguard of guards (and Count Zangulus) followed him.

.~*~.

The man in blue stopped for a moment to rest. He put his hands on his knees, bent double while he caught his long lost breath.

"Just curious," Lina asked from her position of leaning against a rock. "How did you win against that guy?"

Slowly, the man in blue stood straight, and turned to face her. "I forgot which glass I put the poison in," he said with a shrug.

"You idiot!" Lina screamed. "I know who you are! Your stupidity and cruelty reveals everything! You're the Dred Pirate Rodimus, admit it!"

Bowing, the man in blue said, "With pride! What can I do for you?"

Lina glared at him with such ferocity that he backed up a step. "You can die a thousand deaths and rot in hell," she said coldly through gritted teeth.

"Hold it," the Dred Pirate Rodimus said, holding his hands in front of him defensively. "Why're you so ticked off at me?" he asked.

After pushing herself away from the rock, Lina looked straight into the pirate's eyes. "You killed him," she hissed.

"Killed who?" the Dred Pirate asked. "I think I killed a lot of people."

Lina flopped down on the ground and leaned against the big rock behind her. "You attacked his ship, and you never take survivors."

The Dred Pirate Rodimus shrugged, and said, "I can't afford to let anyone live. After it gets out that you've gone soft, it's all work!" There was a moment of uncomfortable silence before the Dred Pirate asked, "So was this man another prince, like this one?"

"No!" Lina shouted, her eyes filling with tears at the memory. "He was a farm boy. Poor and stupid. Poor and stupid... and perfect." She gazed off over the sky blankly, remembering his face, his every feature.

Again, there was silence. Then, "I think I remember this farm boy of yours," the Dred Pirate said. "This would be, what, five years ago? Gourry was his name?" Lina nodded sadly at the mention of his name. "Yes... Well, I tell you one thing, he died honorably. No beggin or anything like that. I-- He just said, 'Please. Please, I need to live.'" The Dred Pirate sat down and leaned against a log, crossing his ankles and putting his hands behind his head. "I remember the please. I asked him why he needed to live, and he told me it was for true love. Then he talked about a girl of short stature, development, and temper--"

"He said that?" Lina demanded angrily, her hands tightening into fists.

"But undeniable beauty," the Dred Pirate Rodimus went on. "And loyalty."

Lina blushed. "Beauty?"

"Loyalty, he spoke of, your highness," the pirate said sharply, his voice hard as steel. "Your undying loyalty. Now tell me, did you get engaged to your prince that same day, or did you wait a whole week out of respect?" Suddenly, he stood up, and saw the Prince's horses heading towards them.

"I died that day!" Lina shouted at him, tears flowing down her cheeks. "And you can die, too." She stood up, and shouted, "Diem Wing!"

The Dred Pirate Rodimus was blown away, and down the edge of an extremely steep hill. He started rolling, and call out, "Whatever you say!" between bumps.

That phrase registered strongly in Lina's memory. Gourry used to say that. All the time he would say that. It had really meant "I love you." Wait! She thought back in her memory. She drew up a mental image of the Dred Pirate's face, and compared it to that of Gourry's, which was still vivid in her mind despite the five years since she had seen him. She mentally took the mask off of the picture of Dred Pirate Rodimus, and gasped.

"Gourry!" she cried out. her throat tightened up, and she looked down. Gourry was sprawled on the ground at the base of the hill in a small ravine. "Ray Wing!" she shouted, and flew over there as quickly as her magic would let her. She landed on the ground right next to him. "Gourry!" she shouted, shaking his shoulder.

Slowly, Gourry's eyes opened. He smiled up at her. "Lina. I'm sorry. But... Why didn't you wait for me?" he asked curiously.

Lina reached over him, and took his mask off, revealing the face she knew so well. "You-- You were dead," she told him.

Gourry sat up, and stared into her red eyes. "Death can't stop love, Lina," he said matter-of-factly. "All it can do is delay it for a while." He smiled widely up at her, his eyes twinkling.

"I won't ever doubt that again," Lina told him quietly.

"You'll never have a need," Gourry whispered back. Somehow, their faces were now only inches apart. They both leaned forward slightly, and kissed the other full on the lips. Lina's arms came up around Gourry's neck, and--

.~*~.

"Hold it!" Phibby shouted. "No kissing! PLEASE! No kissing!"

L-sama glared at him, and said, "It's punishment!"

"PLE-E-E-EASE!!!!!!!" Phibby screamed. "NO KISSING! PLEEEEEASE!" He kept whinig and crying like this for a few more minutes before L-sama got fed up.

"All right!" she shouted. "If you shut up, then I'll skip over the mush!"

Phibby sighed, eternally grateful, and said, "Thank you!"

L-sama cleared her throat, and went on, "They ran down the ravine, hand in hand, towards the Gassy Swamp..."