Slayers: Chaos
Wrong Way
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Disclaimer: Do I really have to go through with it? Bah...I don't own Slayers. Duh. WARNING: This fanfic has strong language/sexually explicit content/blood/gore. You have been warned.
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Xelloss was walking..in a random direction. He hadn't even realised where he was walking to, but he was walking there. He definitely had big regrets about what had happened with him and Filia. He looked at the ground for a long time, deep in thought. He was surprised to hear a small 'thwang' noise, and even more surprised when he saw Calth teleport in right in front of him. He squinted his eyes, cocked his head to one side, and gave him an odd look.
"Your back already?" the dumbfounded Mazoku asked.
"Yes." came Calth's reply, "Now..where are the rest of your people?"
"Eh?" Xell asked, "We all split up after you left."
"Gah, dammit.." came his frustrated reply, "Why must everthing be complicated..." he muttered.
"Well...I guess I could help you find them. It shouldn't be that hard." Xell offered, secretly hoping he would fall for it.
"Alright...I suppose you could be a help after all." Calth replied.
Hah...worked like a charm. Xell smiled.
"Well, then..shall we be off?" he asked, happily.
"Right. Lets go." Calth grabbed a hold of Xelloss' arm.
"eh-" was all that Xell had time to mutter before Calth teleported them far, far away.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lina almost fell over when she saw a silhouette of two figures appear before her. The silhouette formed into two quite familiar faces. Xelloss and Calth.
"Hello." Calth said.
"Wow.." a twitching eye Lina said, "That never fails to amaze me."
"Yea, really..me neither.." Gourry replied, just as amazed.
Calth chuckled, then turned to Xelloss.
"Thank you for your help." he said.
"What help? I didn't even tell you where to look! You just grabbed my arm, then..poof..here we are." he said.
"I read your mind. I knew that you knew where to find these blokes because of your innate Mazoku powers."
"Oh." Xelloss said. Then a thought hit him..if Calth had read his mind..had he seen what he felt for Filia? The look on Calth's face told him 'no'. Xell breathed an inner sigh of relief.
"Alright.." Calth said, "Now that I'm here, I suppose I should tell you whats going to happen next." he said. Everyone listened intently.
"Since Karn has been released, we know that a war will come. Widespread carnage will most certainly ensue. Hundreds of thousands of lives will be lost. But.." he started, "You can help to lower that number. You will meet with my..er em..'king' and train in the spiritual arts of Nem'Ank, and you will all become Paladins, or Wizards, in order to help during the war with Chaos. Without the proper training...you will be defenseless against Karn's magical assaults. Now, his mortal underlings are susceptible to your spells, but Karn and his higher lackeys will be all but immune to your level of magic. Do you all understand?" he finished.
Slow nods answered his question, as everyone took in what he just said.
"Good." he said, "Then we're off. The four of you" he pointed at Gourry, Lina, Zel and Amelia, "will come with me."
Xell furrowed his brow angrily.
"What about me?" he asked.
"What about you?" Calth retorted. "You will stay here and train with your own kind. I'm sorry Xelloss, but since you are...uhm..less than amiable...you would almost certainly be killed on sight by our guards."
Xell sighed loudly. 'Less than amiable'? Was that Calth's way of telling him that he was evil? He already knew that. But...he wanted to change. He wanted to change so he could be with Filia. If he was no longer evil, then he could treat Filia right...and never explode at her again the way he did yesterday. The Mazoku's own deep seeded feelings were finally starting to show through, even though he didn't exactly like it at the moment. Damn being a higher level Mazoku! Why couldn't he just go about his normal business without all these confounded feelings?
"Calth.." Xell started. "Can I please come with you? I want to...learn...more about this 'paladin' business."
The rest of the group gave him looks of horror/confusion.
The hell?! Lina thought as loud as she could, What is Xelloss doing?
Calth looked Xelloss up and down for a moment, then said,
"...Alright. You can come, Xelloss Metallium..but do try to.." Calth shifted uncomfortably, "act good?"
Xelloss furrowed his brow even more.
"Whatever you say." came his simple response.
With that, the six warriors phased out of time and space for a moment, before disappearing completely.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filia had finally arrived in her own kingdom. She breathed deeply and inhaled the fresh air. It felt so good to be home. She had all but forgotten about her run in with Xelloss, even the encounter they had before she left. For good.. she reminded herself.
She didn't go directly to her king, instead she wandered about her own lands, taking in the simple joys of life. The butterflies, the green trees and beautiful flowers that all adorned her peaceful society. But for some odd reason, she felt that this would all be gone soon. Then she remembered. Karn. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, remembering what she had returned to do. She wondered how the Fire-Dragon King would take it, considering she have given up her rank as priestess. She wondered if he would even talk to her at all.
With those lovely thoughts spilling through her head, she marched on to the temple of the Fire-Dragon.
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The group had arrived on a dark, dreary world. It was so different from their planet, it almost scared them. Immediately, three robed figures started towards the group. One was wearing gold, another, red, and another silver. The one in gold started to move his right hand to his face, then turned his palm outward and did a wide arc while saying,
"Welcome home, Calth Htlac!" said a refined female voice.
Calth repeated the gesture and replied,
"It feels good to be home, Jeana Mallone." the two clasped hands and shook. Calth had a glint in his eyes, "My old friend." he said quietly.
The female..Jeana Mallone...giggled softly and kissed his cheek.
"It has been a long time, hasn't it?" she said.
"...wait a second..." Lina pipped in, "Calth said he would only be gone a day...so how is a day a long time?" she asked matter-of-factly.
"Because, Lina." Calth started, "One day of Earth time are six months of Naggarond time..don't try to understand the physics of it. The cosmos work in odd ways."
Lina had a dumbfounded look on her face.
"...quite.." she said quietly. Now she was starting to talk like Calth. Great.
"If the astrophysics lesson is over?..." Jeana said. Calth chuckled.
"Yes, blondy, its over." Calth said with a wide smirk on his face. Jeana whipped off her hood. She was an attractive woman, about Lina's height, but with light brown/blonde hair and green eyes.
"Blondy?!" she fumed. She growled. "I'll have you know I'm a dishwater blonde..."
"Well." Calth started, with an even wider smirk, "Would you rather me call you a 'mutt'?"
That was the last straw, apparently, as Jeana started beating Calth into a pulp. Everyone sweatdropped.
This seems familiar... Gourry thought.
When the enraged woman was over, Calth shakily stood up and composed himself.
"Er hem. You haven't changed a bit." he started, bursting into laughter.
Jeana looked back at him as she dusted off her hands and couldn't help but laugh out loud either.
Lina was just about fuming.
"Are you two done?" she asked, impatiently.
Calth looked her way and nodded sheepishly.
"Sorry about that." he responded with a smile. His face turned grim as he remembered what he had come here to do.
"Everyone, I would like you to meet a very good friend of mine, Jeana Mallone. She is the Priestess of Naggarond."
"Wait a moment.." Zel started, "I thought you said the Priest of your planet was just that..a Priest..not a Priestess."
"Correct." Calth replied, "Jeana is the Priestess of Naggarond, the High Priest is a male."
Jeana shifted uncomfortably.
"He is not a nice man.." she said with a scowl on her face.
Calth returned her scowl.
"Quite." he said simply, "Now you are all here for a specific reason. You are all going to learn the ways of the Nem'Ank. Some of you will increase your magical prowess, while others will undergo physical conditioning. First though, we must meet with the Premier. Follow me, please." he turned around and headed off through a long hallway.
Everyone followed him, taken aback by the sheer vastness of the palace they were in. It had to be a palace, or a fortress, it was just so huge. They saw many sights not alien to them, guards standing tall and proud, not moving an inch, all decked out in various kinds of armor. Some wore bright red, others wore grim black or blue. All had a wicked looking pike in their hands, with a scimitar in a sheath at their side. Zel noticed that all of them had the same haunting grey eyes as Calth. He would have to ask him about that later.
They soon arrived arrived in front of two large double-red doors guarded by two men in jet black armor. Calth whispered something to one of them, and the guard lurched open the door for the group. He motioned with his free hand for them to enter.
They walked slowly into the large room, and noticed all the intricacies of it. There were large pillars of white marble holding up an amazingly beautiful ceiling. It was well lit, unlike the corridor they had just been in. It was the day of the night that was Naggarond. Near the center of the room was a figure seated in a overtly large throne, dressed in a red robe surrounded by two guards in white armor.
Calth and Jeana fell to one knee about ten or so feet away from the throne. The rest of the group shifted uncomfortably.
"Premier, I have brought to you these...five." Calth shot a glance at Xelloss, "adventurers. Just as you asked."
The Premier was looking down, so the group could not see his face. Zel noticed that his hair was purple, and had an oddly familiar cut. He spoke in an even more familiar voice.
"Five? I only asked for four, my dear Paladin." he asked quietly, still looking down.
"Yes, sir, I realize that." Calth started, "But the one in the purple robe with the matching hair insisted on coming along." I figured that we could use all the help we could get, so I did not argue with him." he bowed even lower, "If you wish, sir, I could return him to his planet."
The Premier chuckled. Zel and Lina were starting to get frightened. Something wasn't right. This Premier guy just seemed far too familiar. He stood, and slowly looked up at the group.
"That will be fine, my dear Paladin. We do need all the help we could get." He smiled sincerely down at the group, "Hello, my old friends, it has been awhile."
Zel thought his heart was going to stop. Lina was panting heavily. Everyone was completely awed. Rezo. Rezo, somehow, was alive, and the leader of an entire world. Amelia fainted. Gourry caught her before she hit the ground.
"R-r-r-r-..." was all that Zel could sputter out.
Rezo looked at Zel.
"Ah, Zelgadiss, my old friend. How have you been over the years?" he asked.
Zel stood up and gripped his hand tightly on the hilt of his sword, though it was still in its sheath.
"Wh-what are you d-doing here?!" he asked, nearly on the verge of losing his inhibitions.
Calth was dumbstruck.
"What are you doing?!" he asked in an angry whisper, "You do not threaten to draw steel on The Premier!"
Rezo chuckled again.
"Do not worry, Calth, they will not harm me." he starting going down the stairs from his throne, "Though it will take some explanation on my part to get them to understand what is happening."
Lina jumped to her feet.
"Yea, you better have a damngood explanation whats going on!" she cursed.
Rezo looked at her with his cold stare. Lina shivered. She always hated Rezo's stare. She hated Rezo with a passion, not as much as Zel, for obvious reasons, but she still hated the man. His stare made her want to crawl under a rock and die.
"I will, in due time, Lina." he said quietly, "Come." he started making his way through the bereaved party, "It is time to decide your fates." he started heading toward the large double-red doors.
"Come on then.." he said with a smirk, "I won't bite..not this time." The guards by the doors immediately opened them for him. Rezo thanked them and walked through. Calth and Jeana stood up and followed him, dragging the stunned party behind them. Gourry carried Amelia out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rezo led them to a corridor that had a fork in it. He stopped and looked back at the bewildered group.
"This is where your destinies will be decided, where you will prepare for the war with Chaos, and how you will prepare." Rezo explained simply.
"Now wait a damn minute!" Zel spoke up, "No-one decides my destiny, especially not you, Rezo!" he growled.
Rezo glanced over at Zel.
"Zelgadiss, I know things have been difficult, and past...encounters..between us have not been civil." He explained, "But this is beyond us, trust me on this. I can assure you, all will be explained in due time." He put his hands up defensively.
Zel growled. "Whatever..." was all he said. Amelia woke up around this time. She blushed furiously when she realized Gourry was holding her.
"Oh my! Mr. Gourry...why are you holding me?" she asked sheepishly.
"Wha?..Oh, sorry." Gourry promptly set her down.
Amelia noticed Rezo again and began to tremble.
"I-it-its R-r-rezo!" she sputtered.
Zel put an arm around her shoulders.
"Yes, Amelia, it is...but he hasn't tried to hurt us...yet..'' his scowl returned to Rezo.
Amelia burried her face into Zel's chest.
"I'm scared..." she whimpered.
Zel patted her head, "I know.." he whispered back, then even quieter, "So am I.."
Rezo sighed.
"Look, I don't want to hurt anyone, and I'm not here to try and frighten you..just trust me, please? We don't have time for this, every passing moment, Karn gets stronger, and gathers more demons of Chaos for his army. We need to get this done. Alright?" he pleaded.
Lina looked at Rezo with a cock-eyed glance. There was something about him. What was it? Sincerity?
"Ok, Rezo." Lina finally said, "We'll play this game your way. But if anything happens to any of us, your dead. I don't care who you are." she said.
Rezo smiled, "Fine by me. I wouldn't dare to piss off the great Lina Inverse!" he mocked.
Lina narrowed her eyes.
"Just shut up and get on with it."
Rezo chuckled.
"Alright, now to the left of me is the portal to the Hall of Light and Dark. That is where Paladins and Clerics train. To my right is the Citadel of Magic. That is where Wizards and Sorceresses learn their caste. Here is where we will decide who goes where. I'm sorry, but this is where most of you will part."
Everyone looked at one another with pangs of sorrow.
Rezo noticed this, and explained to them,
"Don't worry you willsee each other again, after we are prepared."
The group seemed to brighten slightly at that.
"Now...Calth, if you would step forward."
Calth did so.
"Calth will decide who goes with him, to the Hall of Light and Dark..do you have the coins, Calth?"
Calth nodded and removed a few gold coins from a sack to his side.
Everyone had confused expressions on their faces.
Calth glanced up at Xelloss.
"You, Xelloss..step forward.."
Xell did so without opening his eyes.
Calth tossed two gold coins at Xell. Xell caught them each in one hand.
Calth looked at Rezo, then tossed another two gold coins. Xell caught them again, effortlessly, in one hand.
"...Cleric?..." Calth inquired.
Rezo sighed.
"Take the four coins back, then toss them all at him."
"Thats six coins...all in one hand? That would make him a Paladin, sir." Calth asked.
"I know." Rezo responded.
Calth simply sighed and shook his head. He threw all six of the coins at Xelloss.
Xell caught two of them at once, then picked up the other four as they fell to the ground.
Rezo smiled.
"Paladin, my dear Calth."
Calth smiled and responded, "Yes sir."
Calth pointed to his left.
"That way, Xelloss. Your a Paladin, now."
"I'm thrilled." Xell said with a trickster smile.
Calth sweatdropped. The Masters are going to have a grand time with him... he thought as he headed off down the corridor.
"Next." Calth asked.
Lina stepped forward.
"Ok, so what do I have to do?"
"The same." Calth responded, and tossed two gold coins at her.
Lina caught them.
Calth repeated the same process with Xelloss, then threw all six at her. She stumbled and dropped half of them.
Calth chuckled.
"Your a Sorceress Lina."
"Well, duh..." she replied. She started off, then stopped.
"Can, I ..uh..say goodbye to everyone first? Or stay here till we all get done?" she asked.
Calth shrugged, "Don't see why not."
"Next." Rezo asked.
Amelia stepped forward.
Calth repeated the same process with her, but Amelia dropped the first two coins.
"Your definetly a Sorceress." he said with a wink.
Amelia blushed, "Oh my...thank you Mr. Calth!" she scurried over to Lina, trying to avoid Rezo at all costs.
Calth did the same test to all the members. Zelgadiss caught all six coins, but he had to use both hands. Calth pronounced him a Cleric. Then Gourry stepped forward. Calth threw the coins at him. Gourry caught them easily. He withdrew all the coins, then threw the six at him. He caught them with one hand, then yawned. Calth's eyes went wide.
"Hnn...Premier?" He asked.
"Yes, Calth?" he replied.
"Shall I...do the knife test?" he asked sheepishly. Everyone tensed. "The Knife Test"? That did not sound good.
"...If you are positive.." Rezo replied.
Calth nodded and drew four small knives from his back pocket.
"Ok...try and catch these..if you get wounded..the Clerics will heal you."
Gourry gulped.
"Ok.." he said.
Calth threw all the knives at him. Lina clenched her teeth.
Gourry caught three of the knives with one hand. The other one imbedded itself in a wall behind him.
Gourry frowned.
"Darn...missed one." he said.
Calth sputtered.
"Could he be.. Mau'Rau?"
Rezo narrowed his eyes.
"Yes..he is.."
Calth composed himself.
"You know what this means sir?"
"Yes..it means he is the one who will turn the tide in the war with Chaos. Its just that which side he turns it for, is unknown at the moment. But it is not completely certain. This was only a knife test. There are many more tests ahead for him" Rezo said with grim honesty.
"Uhm....." Gourry started sheepishly.
He help up his hands. The gold coins and the knives were in the same hand.
"Can I keep the coins?" he asked.
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Sylphiel wiped her hand across her forehead, and flung sweat to the ground. It was hot. It was very hot. She sighed and lifted her basket with vegetables in it. She had spent most of her water trying to keep her garden watered, and even then, most of her food was dying. She feared she might have to move into town.
She headed into her small cottage and wiped a cold, damp washcloth across her face and neck. It felt very relieving. She gazed outside and looked off into the distance. There was a slight orange tint over the mountains in the distance.
Some farmer must have his field on fire, the poor soul. I wonder if I should go and help? she pondered. She dismissed the thought when a hot breeze smacked her in the face. It was just too hot to travel.
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Everyone was headed in different directions, it seemed. Long goodbyes were said, and hugs were passed around from all members of the group. Soft words were spoken between Lina and Gourry, and Amelia snuggled into Zel. They didn't know whether they would see one another again.
"I promise." Rezo started, being able to read their minds it seemed, "You will see one another again. When we return to your planet, in two years."
"Two years?!" Everyone almost screeched in unison.
Rezo winced.
"Two years of Naggarond time are only four days of your time. Do not be so upset! You will see one another again, but two years is the amount of time we will require for your...preparation." Rezo said softly.
Everyone nodded solemnly, still not quite sure what to say or do in this situation.
Amelia suddenly jumped.
"Oh no!" she screeched, "I forgot to tell my papa about Karn!" she looked teary eyed into Calth's eyes.
"What will happen? How will he know?" she asked, in a quivering voice.
Calth patted the young girl's head.
"Do not worry, young one. Your father and his people will know of the impending threat eventually. Remember, we are only gone four days on your world. I doubt even Karn could amass an army in four days."
"Yes, I agree with Calth. Not even Karn could summon an army in four days time. Your people will be fine." Rezo lied. He knew that Karn would have a sizable army in four days. He was a God. He could just wave his fingers a bit, and the entire Chaos army could come marching through some sick portal of blood. But Karn would not do that. He would revel in the suffering of the people of that tiny planet. "Earth".
"We must now begin...please? I know this is hard, but it must be done." Rezo said.
"Wait a moment." Zel hesitated. "You said you were going to answer our question. Why are you here? Why are you helping us? And just..." Zel huffed, "Why?"
Rezo chuckled deeply.
"My dear Zelgadiss...that is more than a question. You asked three questions." Rezo smirked.
Zel shifted with anger.
"Oh, whatever, just answer the damn questions!" he growled.
Rezo laghed openly,
"Same old Zelgadiss." he said simply.
"Very well" Rezo started, "I will answer any questions you may have. Now..for the first one. The reason why I'm here is..quite complicated. But if you wish to hear it, I will tell you. When Lina destroyed me...well, Shabrandingo...all those many months ago, I was sent to the Sea of Chaos, where I spent what seemed like an eternity of pain and torment. Then..she appeared.." Rezo's eyes narrowed considerably, "She appeared to me in what seemed like a dream..she had golden locks of long, beautiful hair, and her body was perfect. Her bangs were drooped over her eyes. I will never forget her, though. She seemed to be staring right through me, even if I couldn't see her eyes. She then extended her hand..and I tentatively accepted it. When we touched, my world instantly went white with pain, and then something dawned on me. That pain, that was the all the pain I had caused, rolled up into one collection of pure magic. I realized that what I did was wrong. Everything I had done in the past was wrong. Apparently, I passed out. When I awoke, I found myself on a completely new world, with a completely new life. I was the Premier of Naggarond, the most powerful position of the planet. I was charged with protecting everyone and everything on the planet. In my head, a single, gorgeous voice proclaimed something to me...You have a second chance..do not waste it."
Rezo stopped and cleared something out of his eye.
"Thats the reason why I'm here." he said shakily. "Have you any more questions, Zelgadiss?"
Zel just stood there, with his mouth agape at what Rezo had told him.
"N-no.." he said in a small voice.
"Then let us be on our way." He turned and headed down the right corridor.
Zel watched him go, and wiped a small tear away from his eye, finally allowing himself to show a hint of remorse for the poor bastard.
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End of Chapter 6
