Disclaimer: We do not own Slayers, and we're not making any money off of this.
SPECIAL NOTES: This fanfic is written by Nathan J. Urbansic, a good friend of mine who does not have an FF.net account of his own and is currently unable to possess one. Hence I am posting this as a proxy with full permission from the true author.
Please still feel free to review, but keep in mind that all compliments go to Nate. Thanks minna. Enjoy!
ALSO: This is set in a universe parallel with the NEXT storyline. However, a few subtle differences occur, and slightly different choices are made. This just goes to show you that it really is the little things in life that create who we are... And what we become.
SLAYERS NiXT:
Nobody's Perfect
Chapter Six
It had been several hours since darkness had fallen. Along one of the side streets of the city, the door to a run-down building creaked open. A red-haired youth stuck her head out to check if the coast was clear. Seeing that it was, she came out of the building followed by four others. "Okay," said Lina, "it's a little dangerous, but we'll split up and each try to find a way in."
"Right," agreed Zel. Amelia nodded.
"There may still be underground passages left over from when Flagoon was here," offered Sylphiel.
"Alright, we'll check in that direction," said Zelgadiss.
"Remember, this is Phibrizzo we're dealing with. We don't know what he has planned. Everyone, be careful."
"Right!" said Amelia in her overdramatic 'justice will see us through' tone.
"Okay, then. See you all later!" said Lina. Zel nodded and then he, Amelia, Martina, and Sylphiel ran off. Sylphiel, however, didn't get very far, for an arm was firmly holding onto her own.
"Lina?"
Lina remained silent, struggling to get her thoughts together.
Sylphiel, sensing something was the matter, looked concernedly at her friend and asked more seriously, "What is it, Lina?"
After a short time, Lina released Sylphiel with a sigh. "I've got a confession to make, Sylphiel," began Lina somberly. "When we first came to Sairaag I had intended to face Phibrizzo on my own." As she spoke she slowly walked away a bit. "After all, I am the only one who stands any real chance against him."
"But, Lina, we've…"
"Listen, Sylphiel, you have to understand something here. Phibrizzo isn't like any of the enemies we've fought before. Copy Rezo and Zanaffar don't even come close to him."
"Then how could you…?"
"The Giga Slave."
"But…!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, the whole thing about destroying all existence. Before I knew the true nature of the Lord of Nightmares, though, I wouldn't have given a second thought to casting it, but now I'm not so sure if I could keep complete control of the spell, which is exactly what Hellmaster wants. But I can't let him just get away with Gourry's death. I've got to try."
"Where do I come in?"
Lina paused. "It's my fault Gourry was kidnapped in the first place. If it hadn't been for that, he would still be alive today."
"Lina…"
"That's why," she continued, "I don't want to bring anyone else into my battles. I don't want any more people to suffer on my account."
"But--"
Lina stopped her with a hand. "However, up till the time you cast that Dragon Slave I had thought the only way to kill Phibrizzo was the Giga Slave. With a dual Dragon Slave and the element of surprise in our favor it may just be enough." Lina turned to face Sylphiel. "I didn't want to pull you blindly into this, Sylphiel. I need your help, but I can understand if don't want to come."
Sylphiel's eyes began to water. "Like you, Lina, I can't forgive Phibrizzo, either, and not just for Gourry-dear. Look around you. This whole city, everything in it, all the people in it, aren't really here. I know this. But when my father welcomed me home today…" She trailed off as tears ran quietly down her cheeks. "I-I'm sorry," she said, forcing herself to stop crying. She gently dried her eyes and then looked at Lina with a spirit and determination that surprised her young companion. "He has to pay, Lina."
Lina nodded in agreement. "Let's get him, Sylphiel." Sylphiel quickly smiled and, together with Lina, was running off to confront the monster behind this all. (pun intended! ^_^)
While they ran, Sylphiel made an observation. "Miss Amelia and Mr. Zelgadiss won't be too happy with our doing this."
"Yeah, well, that's their problem," Lina smiled. "Hey, this is just like when the two of us were running underground beneath Flagoon in our fight with fought Copy Rezo."
"We made a good team then, didn't we?"
"That we did, Sylphiel." The next thing Lina, knew, though, she was tackling Sylphiel to the ground. "Look out!" Just then a farming pick flew through where Sylphiel had been but a moment before.
Lina turned. "Who…?!" Completely surrounding them were the resurrected people of the city. Each one stood battle ready, armed with whatever they could find. Enmity was practically dripping off of them, yet their expressions were as flat as a certain sorceress's………stomach.
Lina looked around uneasily. "So you resort to this?"
***
"Mr. Zelgadiss!" exclaimed Amelia.
Zel ducked just in time to avoid a vicious blow. He growled, "They're all under Phibrizzo's control!"
***
A pitchfork jabbed at Lina, but she jumped back just in time, dodging it. "I can't just start blindly fighting these people!" She thought for a second then smirked. "Meaning the only way to go is up!"
"Lina, look!" cried out Sylphiel.
Lina looked to see the sky filled with winged monsters. "Looks like we can't fly out of this, either."
***
"We're completely surrounded," conceded Zel.
"Do you think Miss Lina is, too?"
"Probably."
***
Dozens of monsters disintegrated in the power of the blast. As the energy dissipated, a freshly cleared alley was left behind for Lina and Sylphiel to escape through. Suddenly the sound of rushing footsteps coming up behind them caught Lina's attention. With a fighter's reflexes, Lina pulled out her blade and handily dispatched the would-be assailant. It was only at the pained cry of a child did Lina realize who it was that she had slain.
"A-a little kid!" screamed Lina, recoiling in horror of what she had done. "I killed her! I just…! I just…!"
Arms wrapped tightly and comfortingly around her from behind. "No, Lina!" exclaimed Sylphiel. "You didn't! She was already dead! Dead for a long time! So you didn't kill her! Do you understand me?! You didn't do it! So, please…!"
Lina squeezed Sylphiel's arm in silent thanks and then broke free from the hold. "Sylphiel, close your eyes! Lighting!" A brilliant, concentrated light filled everything, temporarily dazing the unwary. This gave Lina and Sylphiel just enough time, though. They ran down the alley into another street. After a short distance, they were blocked by another mob. Turning around to try the other direction, they once again found themselves confronted by unwilling attackers.
"We're not getting anywhere this way!" said Lina in frustration. "We have to get Phibrizzo! He's the one controlling them!"
Just as she finished, a massive spiral of greenish-gray magic streamed down from above, flowing directly into the mob in front of them. Before anyone had time to react, the energy had pierced through to the center of the crowd and exploded with a fierce voracity. Those that were not completely destroyed lay off to the side in tattered heaps.
"What's wrong?" asked a familiar voice. "This isn't like you."
"Zangulus!" barked Lina.
"Hoping the enemy will feel sorry for you?"
"Of course not!" she yelled back. "These people are under Phibrizzo's control! It's not their fault they're attacking us!"
"You must be getting soft." Zangulus smirked. "However, that is none of my concern. I'm just here for the monster, and anyone that gets in my way must die!" With that he issued forth another deadly wave from his enchanted blade, tearing to shreds yet more hapless victims caught in the midst of Phibrizzo's madness. "Now follow me," he ordered, running through the opening. Lina and Sylphiel quickly followed.
"Where's your magical friend?" asked Lina as she dashed through the streets.
"Oh," grinned Zangulus, "he's taking care of matters elsewhere."
***
Once again, all around them dozens of the city's denizens fell to the ground, victims of another of Amelia's mass sleeping spells. Quicker than she would have liked, though, they were replaced by many more. "There's no end to them!" she said apprehensively.
Zelgadiss snarled in agreement as he fought to hold back a rather nasty scythe. Briefly letting go he put a free hand against the chest of the large man who was not so subtlely trying to cut off his head. "Bomb di Wind!" Almost as if it were the work of some unseen, giant hand, the man was thrown down the street into another group of oncoming unwilling slaves. "I can only hope that Lina's fairing a little better," he called back as he readied himself for another onslaught.
"Actually, I'm a little more worried about us. At this rate-- Elmekia Lance!" A beam of holy power flared out from Amelia's hands, instantly vaporizing one of the winged creatures. "At this rate they'll get us eventually!"
"So what are we going to do about it?!" cried out Martina from atop a light pole.
"Ah, see, that's why I'm here," said a robed man as he hovered above her. A voice coming out of nowhere was not quite what Martina needed at that time, though, as she jumped back a good eight feet in surprise. It was only when it was too late did she notice that she was no longer clinging to the relative safety of her light pole. The mob quickly gathered around where she landed. Smiling at Martina's incompetence, he raised a hand and loudly said, "Freeze Arrow!" A sapphire bolt shot downwards.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" screamed Martina, seeing the spell headed straight for her. "Get them! Not me! Not me! Not--!"
***
"A shield you say?" said Zangulus smugly. "Maybe for you."
Without a moment's hesitation, he charged the wall, sword held high. Giving a vicious battle cry he brought his weapon down heavily against Phibrizzo's temple, only to have it crackle for a mere instant against the powerful barrier before being thrown back twenty-five yards. Zangulus twitched slightly from the not-so-pleasant experience.
"Okay," he conceded, "there's a shield."
"I tried to tell you," shrugged Lina, looking down at Zangulus. "Now, let me handle this."
She approached the wall calmly as she quietly whispered the incantation to herself, ending it by shouting the final part: "Ragna Blade!" With a single swing of the power of chaos she held, a colossal rift had been cut through to the inside of Phibrizzo's temple. Lina smiled as she dropped her concentration and the dark energy faded away around her. She turned her head to look at her two companions.
"Let's go," she said coolly.
End of chapter six. To be continued...