Chapter 3:
The Return of Diol
"Who was that guy, Lina?" Zel asked, his eyes raised towards the sky.
"An old acquaintance." Lina smirked. "He seemed keen to settle some matters over the last time we clashed."
"Why's that?" Gourry asked.
"Well" Lina chuckled. "I kinda destroyed this gang of bandits that he led. And even back then he seemed quite keen to extract revenge...
Then she was hit by a sudden realisation.
"Hold on, if Vista is here...." she mused. "Then Diol can't be too far away...."
"Who?" Gourry asked.
"So, what are you two doing out here?" Zel inquired, changing the subject. He wasn't really interested on hearing about Lina's past. What did matter however was locating Amelia.
"Looking for you!" Lina snapped in exasperation. "You and Amelia both disappeared on us this morning!"
Gourry nodded in agreement.
"Say" the swordsman added. "Where is Amelia anyway?"
Zel closed his eyes and bowed his head.
"I....I.....I woke up this morning" the chimera explained, his voice rich in shame. "And she was gone. She wasn't in my bed or anywhere in the room, or the building for that matter. She had gone completely. The window was open and...and....I concluded that Amelia had been abducted....."
Zel fell silent and he ground his teeth. Once again, he mentally cursed himself for allowing Amelia to be taken away like that.
Suddenly Zel found a hand upon his shoulder.
The chimera opened his eyes and, much to his surprise, Lina had a placed a comforting hand upon his shoulder and was smiling a warm smile.
"Don't worry Zel" the sorceress said. "We'll find her. I just know it."
Zel nodded.
"Now do you know how to find Amelia?" Gourry asked. "Because we don't have a clue!"
"Speak for yourself." Lina muttered.
"As a matter of fact," Zel said. "I've managed to find the tracks of our kidnappers. They are headed that way....."
"Right! Off we go then!"
And with that the three adventurers sped off, with Zel leading the way.
"Hey Lina?" Gourry asked. "There's something I don't understand..."
"What?"
"How does that guy already know you?!"
Lina blinked in surprise at Gourry's question. Eventaully she shrugged and continued running.
"We gotta discuss your past sometime!!!" Gourry said.
Elsewhere, the princess was emerging from a state of sub-conscious. Her deep sleep was rapidly coming to an end and her body was warming up to the prospects of a new day....
But little did Amelia know she was about to receive a very rude awakening!
The princess opened her eyes.....
Gradually, from within her rather dazed state, her blue eyes received the images before her. Her brain comprehended these surroundings.....
Suddenly Amelia's eyes shot open in a flash! Something was definetely not right here! Amelia had no idea what these images before her were but they can't be real. This can't be right!
Considering the events of the previous evening, she'd expected to be lying in a cosy bed in some inn, with the company of Zelgadis Greywars.....
NOT in (what looked like) some mad scientists' laboratory!
In that instant Amelia forgot all about her half-asleep state. Instead, her brain went into top gear and awoke to a thousand and one questions: Where was she? How did she get here? What was she doing here? Where was Zel or Lina? What the Hell was going on here?
Within seconds, her senses re-established contact with her brain. And it was there and then that she realised that her limbs where held down, kept in check by a rope tied around her. She was imprisoned, trapped, confined within a strange place....
Her eyes growing with annoyance, she struggled out of these confining ropes. She tried to make a break for freedom.....
But to no avail. She was tied securely in place. No amount of struggling would get her out. It would appear that she is stuck here.
Wherever here is.
Defeated, Amelia gave up on breaking out. It was then that her confused eyes struggled to comprehend the unexpected change of scenery. However it didn't take her long to work out where she was.
Yes, she was indeed within the confines of a mad scientists' laboratory. There were various beakers of liquids and chemicals dotted around the room, some furniture made from the finest pine and a desk illuminated by a strange green light. A light that marked out the outline of a mysterious looking figure....
Suddenly the figure turned around, revealing himself to be a deranged looking old man, sporting a black robe and a huge grey beard. This old man bore a crystal vial of clear liquid and a crazed expression and beady eyes that looked upon the princess with fascination. This nutter had lunatic practically written all over him!
"Ah! You're awake!" the old man said. His voice was definitely vindictive of his appearance. It sounded like the voice of a man whose sanity needed severe questioning.
Amelia was indeed shocked by this unexpected visage and still somewhat dazed from her awakening. Yet she still managed speech:
"Where....Where am I?" she asked.
"You are in my laboratory!" the old man answered.
"I can see that!" Amelia retorted. "Now if this is your lab, then what am I doing here?!"
The old man sniggered evilly. Then he leant in closer towards the princess....
"You" he leered. "Are going to help me with my experiments!"
Amelia flicked her head away from this lunatic. Great. Just great. She was imprisoned by yet another mad scientist who needed some unfortunate sap to complete some deranged experiment. Jeez, she had encountered a lot of these guys in her time spent with Lina. But enough is just enough! Why must Lina keep attracting these type of idiots?! And why must she, Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune, suffer at the hands of these nutters?! She was a princess for crying out loud!
Oh well, one might guess that there is indeed a price to pay for hanging around a wanted criminal.....
Just then, the old man put his vial forward. Amelia gazed at it with contempt.
"What?" Amelia snapped. She had no time for this lunatic.
"Have some!" the old man said, nodding towards the vial.
"How can I?" Amelia asked, in annoyance. "When I'm all tied up like this?!"
"Oh!" the old man proclaimed, in revelation. "How silly of me! I didn't see that! Perhaps I should work around this problem!"
Yes you fool she thought. As soon as you untie me, I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't forget!
But the old man did nothing like that! Instead he rammed his fingers into Amelia's mouth and pulled her jaw down! Then, with his fingers still holding the princess' mouth open, he reached into his robe and pulled out a funnel. Then he placed the funnel into the mouth of the bewildered princess and used it to pour the contents of the vial into the mouth of Amelia!
The liquid flowed through the funnel and down into Amelia's stomach. But this liquid didn't register well with the said stomach! Amelia's face went from blue to green in quick succession. The old man noticed this change and colour and wisely removed the funnel - Thus allowing Amelia to erupt in a series of coughing spasms.
"Did you enjoy that?" the old man inquired in a slimy fashion.
As Amelia was coughing up a storm, she didn't answer. Yet she managed to glare at the old man. A glare that screamed of hatred and vengeance.
The old man sniggered before turning away and leaving the princess to her own stomach upsets.
Needless to say, the princess wasn't too pleased with this treatment. First she is transported to this bizarre place, then she is forced into being incorporated into some experiment and now she has some revolting liquid, no better suited for livestock or wild animals, poured down her throat! This wasn't no way to treat a princess!
Amelia wiggled around inside these captive ropes. If it wasn't for these ropes, she could teach that old bastard a thing or two!
Amelia then smiled an evil grin. Since when has a Champion of Justice ever been stopped by ropes such as these....?
"Is this it?" Gourry inquired.
Lina slapped her forehead. Jeez Gourry, what else could it be?!?!
The three friends were standing at the foot of a small tower. As the tower itself was three stories high, it certainly wouldn't have been seen poking out from the trees of this forest. Thus it made the perfect hiding place. And judging by the state of the building, this tower must have been built a long time ago. And in it's lifetime, it must have housed many a refugee and a many a demented warlock (there were only so many in this world). But from the outset, this place looked liked someone had moved in quite recently.
"So I guess this is where Amelia is being held?" Lina asked Zel.
"It would appear that way." The chimera murmured.
Suddenly, Lina drew her arm in front of Zelgadis, thus blocking his way. The chimera looked confused.
"Lina?"
"I'm going in there. You stay here with Gourry.'
"But....."
"Zel, I know what you're feeling. But I have a suspicion that this plot has been masterminded by someone I've clashed with before. And I am definitely keen on settling an old score. That and we need someone to watch out for Vista, in case he comes back."
"Besides" she added with a wink. "I'll get Amelia back in one piece!"
And it was with these words that the chimera went bright red. Lina chuckled.
"Well, I better be off then." the sorceress said brightly.
And with that she stepped up to the front door of the tower and yanked it open. Surprisingly, it was unlocked. Then, without a further ado, she stepped into the tower.
"Hey Lina!" Gourry shouted. "I'm coming with you!"
And with that, he charged for the tower.
And he would've got there if it wasn't for Zel, holding him back by the hair!
"Not today, Gourry!" Zel said. "This is her fight and hers' alone."
"What do you mean?"
Zel explained.
Gourry blinked, as his brain did overtime.
"And Lina told you this?" he asked the chimera.
Zel nodded.
"Damn!" the swordsman cursed. "If she discussed her past with you, the least she could've done was discussed it with me too!"
Lina made her way through the tower. It was definitely seen better days - the walls were darkened, the floor was ruined and the entire place was in decay. Yet, despite the morbid look of this, still Lina pressed on. Her eyes darted everywhere, she also had a fireball spell merely seconds away from being incarnated and unleashed, and her fists were ready for pounding.
Yes, she was certainly ready for action. Now if she could only find Diol....
Knowing the cunning bastard, he would probably be situated in his laboratory. And that laboratory would certainly found in the lower chambers of this tower.
Jeez, why do all these evil scientist-types share the same modus-opearandi?!?!
Suddenly Lina's well honed ears picked up a loud noise. The sorceress stopped immediately.
Wait a minute here.
What was that noise?
Hang on
There it is again!
That sounds very much like....
......screaming?
The sorceress adjusted her ears to this newly-discovered noise. It didn't take long for her suspicions to be confirmed - Yes that noise was truly the sound of someone screaming. A screaming that contained a very masculine ring to it. A screaming that was, without any doubt, produced out of fear. A screaming that was heading this way....
Lina blinked. Eh? What was all this? What was this screaming.....?
Suddenly the screams were joined by a new noise. It was a very feminine voice chanting out words. And it didn't take Lina long to recognise those words as names of spells. Very destructive spells.
And all of these sounds seemed to come from downstairs....
The sorceress smiled a cruel smile. She had a good idea about what was going on.....
Suddenly the door in front of Lina was flung open. And charging towards the sorceress came a very sorry sight indeed. It was an old man - or at least it was an old man.
However, charcoal could have been a more accurate description!
His robe could have been once a rich black but now it had been torn and caked with burns and ash. The old man's beard was now tattered and scorched. And his eyes were widened with fear. It was in this fear that the old man ran blindly.
And as a consequence, the old man ran straight into Lina!
Lina was indeed surprised. Yet it didn't take long for her to retain her evil grin.
Well, well, well. If it isn't her old friend, Diol. What a pleasure it is to meet again.
It was at that point that the alchemist suddenly came to the conclusion that he had collided into something. Something very solid and immobile.
But why should this new found object get in his way?! All he ever wants, at this point in time, is to escape and......
Slowly Diol turned his eyes upward.....
And was greeted with a smiling yet dangerously familiar face.
Diol's jaw dropped. The situation has gotten a whole lot worse.....!
"Hey Diol" Lina grinned. "Long time, no see!"
The alchemist said nothing. And how could he? The mere sight of the sorceress had rendered him paralysed with fear. All he could do was quaver in fear, all thoughts of escaping a horrendous demise now all but forgotten.
Suddenly a loud voice broke the silence.
"Hey, where are you old man?! I haven't finished with you!"
Suddenly, from the door that Diol had emerged from, came a newcomer...
And there was Amelia. Looking slightly battered, she still managed to establish the fact she was furious. Furious at being captured, furious at the old man, furious at eating some pig swill of an elixir.
No, she certainly wasn't too happy about this recent turn of events.
Lina blinked at the princess and then at Diol. Did Amelia do this? Did she whip the alchemist's arse so badly?!
Oh well, one should not underestimate the power of Justice!
"Amelia!" Lina shouted, as she shoved the battered Diol aside.
Upon seeing the her friend, Amelia's fury evaporated completely. Lina!
Immediately, the princess ran up to the sorceress and gave her a huge hug.
"Lina!" Amelia cried. "Boy, am I glad to see you!"
"Same here." Lina gagged. "Now can you get your arms off my neck so I can breathe?!?"
"Sure thing!" the princess chuckled.
And with that she let go of Lina's neck, allowing the sorceress to get her breath back.
"What are you doing here?" Amelia asked.
"Looking for you!" the sorceress answered.
"Did you do that?" Lina continued, indicating to the floor, at the charred remains of Diol.
"Yeah" Amelia said, nodding gravely.
"Hey! You're doing good, kid!" Lina said, with a wink.
Amelia chuckled. And with that the two friends headed for the door.
But had the two girls turned around, they would've noticed Diol opening his eyes - Eyes that blazed with homicidal fervour. Eyes that blazed with a thirst for a revenge. A revenge that has been a long time coming.
This wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot....
The blasted sorceress has robbed him of everything - his dignity, his ambitions, his dreams and his money.
But not now. Now it's going to be different...
It wasn't long before Lina and Amelia found themselves emerging from the decrepit tower and into the sunshine of the outside world. Amelia blinked, at the sunlight - it was certainly a long time she had spent down there in that miserable lab.
And then she saw two figures running up. It was Gourry and.....
...Zelgadis.
"Lina!" the swordsmen cried, vaulting up the steps that led to the tower door and the two girls. "Amelia! Are you all right?"
Lina nodded - As did the princess. Yet it didn't take long for Amelia to settle her eyes upon the chimera Zel....
But Zel wasn't looking too happy. Instead he was looking quite alarmed - His sharp eyes had picked up something behind Lina and Amelia. Something emerging from the darkness of the tower.
"LOOK OUT! BEHIND YOU!!!" the chimera shouted.
Lina, Gourry and Amelia all turned around...
....To see Diol emerging from the tower, holding a chair high above his head. Although still battered and bruised from Amelia's attack, his eyes still burned with homicidal intent. Along with his ambition to get back at Lina, the alchemist now gripped a chair in his hand. A chair, that could still be used as a formidable weapon, that was merely seconds away from coming crashing down on the three adventurers.
"...It's not over yet..." Diol growled. "No way...."
"Look out!" Gourry yelled.
"DIE LINA INVERSE!!!!" Diol thundered, bringing his weapon down. "I've lost everything because of you!"
Thinking quickly, the swordsman scooped up the two girls in his arms and dived off the flight of steps.
Much to the disatisfaction of his passengers.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!" Lina shouted. "Put me down! I gotta beat that guy! What's more, I can't let anyone see me in a weak spot like this!!!"
The airborne trio then landed on the ground with a terrific thud. It was certainly not the best flight trip ever and hardly the most safest flight path, but at least it got them out of harms way.
Yet the swordsman's passengers weren't so grateful. Well, one of them wasn't.
"YOU JELLYFISH BRAINS!!!" Lina snarled, as she tried to squirm from the grip of Gourry's arms. "Do you have any idea how uncomfortable that landing was? Do you have any idea how sore my arse is now?!?!!?"
"Calm down Lina!" Amelia cried, she too being within the confines of Gourry's strong arms. "Don't yell at Gourry! He saved us from getting knocked out!"
"Yes but did he have be be so rough!??!?!" the sorceress argued.
But no amount of bickering could conceal one fact: Diol was still standing and he seeemd quite keen to extract vengeance on the red-head whose caused him so much trouble. If Lina had not been berating Gourry, she would've noticed. If Amelia had not been trying to reason with Lina she would've noticed. If Gourry had been down on the floor, he would've noticed.
Diol marched down the steps that led to the tower door, still weilding his chair.
Fortunately, someone did notice his progress.
It was Zelgadis.
"MEGA BRAND!!!" the chimera shouted.
Seconds later, the ground underneath Diol erupted with a tremendous roar. And in an instant, the mad alchemist was blasted into the air. Diol then sailed through the air and disappeared over the horizon, to points unknown.
The chimera, now pleased to see the alchemist disappear, now strolled over to his three companions - all of whom were lying down on the grass. Zel went to Amelia first and knelt beside her.
"Amelia? Are you all right?"
Amelia's eyes shot open. When she saw the chimera, her face burst into the most happiest expression.
"Zel! I'm so glad to see you...."
The chimera smiled back. "Come I'll help you..."
Zel then proceeded to lift up Gourry's arm, so the princess can wiggle out. The chimera then helped the princess to her feet.....
...To the sounds of wolf whistles.
There, was Lina, unaware that she was still wrapped up in Gourry's other arm, and Gourry, still in a prostrate position after his dive. Both were grinning devilishly at, the now blushing, Zel and Amelia.
"Oh, isn't love grand?" Lina chuckled teasingly.
"I wouldn't go around saying stuff like that!" Zel shot back.
Lina blinked. Suddenly she and the swordsman came to the sudden revelation that she was still wrapped up in his arm! In a split second, they quickly withdrew from each other, looking extremely embarrassed. Now it was their turn to blush.
Amelia started giggling at the absurdity of the situation. Even Zel grinned in amusement.
"Well now" Amelia said. "How about some breakfast?"
Chapter 4
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