Chapter 6
Martina's Wedding Anniversary
Meanwhile, up above the breakfast table, in one of the two bedrooms that had been booked for the foursome, Amelia was sleeping.
Sleeping a troubled sleep....
A troubled sleep plagued by troubled dreams....
Amelia found herself running through a forest. A forest lit up by the rays of a golden sun, filtered in amongst the trunks of the mighty trees that populated the forest.
A forest that seemed very familiar
In a disturbing sense that is.
Suddenly Amelia's ears picked up the sound of wood being cut to pieces.
Cut to pieces by someone welding an axe...
Amelia's blood went cold.
Slowly she turned her head....
And there he was. Just as she remembered him: He was situated on a slope that loomed above her, standing before a tree stump, driving his axe into a block of wood.
What? What was he doing here?
Amelia recognised this man all right. It was the woodsman that she had encountered in her previous dream. The dream that had shocked her to the core....
Amelia hands began shaking.
What is this? she thought A recurring dream?
Suddenly the woodsman stopped his cutting. Slowly he looked up from his work and locked his gaze onto the princess.
Amelia gazed in horror at the woodsman. His eyes! Such eyes!
They were a pair of opaque discs that blazed with red fury.
They were a pair of opaque discs that held a burning glare.
They were a pair of opaque discs that burned they way onto the princess.
Burned her right down to the core of her soul.....
Amelia wanted to scream but she couldn't.
Amelia's eyes shot open. Instantaneously, she sat up in bed with a yell.
She paused, her breathing coming in rapid, sharp bursts.
The dream, It had come to her for a second time.....
It was all but a dream yet it seemed so real. So real enough to freak her completely.
Now free from the horrors of that rather disturbing dream, Amelia placed her hand onto her forehead. What the hell was going on? Here she was, besieged with the horror of a recurring nightmare and beset with the most unpleasant of all stomach upsets. A stomach upset that was producing the most violent of all coughing fits.
What the hell was happening to her?
Why must she suffer the torment of a recurring nightmare and the most dreadful of coughing?
Was this the effect of that repulsive liquid that Diol forced down her throat?
These questions buzzed around her head with a squadron of a hundred other questions.
Amelia shook her head. She wasn't prepared to assess any baffling questions. Or go through the process of finding answers.
Not at this hour at least.
It was too early in the morning to do some thinking. What mattered was one thing:
BREAKFAST!
The princess got out of bed and donned her familiar, pale white tunic and trousers. They were all the clothes she had and they were stained with travel but they got the job done.
Once she'd dressed, the princess left her bedroom. Knowing Lina and Gourry they'd probably be already downstairs, feeding their faces like there was no tomorrow.....
And it was there she headed.
When she had arrived, she found it relatively easy to find Lina and Gourry's table. How could one miss it?! With their eating habits, how could they remained hidden from the princess' gaze?!
Zelgadis was there too. Amelia's face lit up and she walked over to the table.
The chimera was the first to notice her. He raised his head and donned a surprised expression.
"Amelia!" he called.
At the mention of the princess' name, both Lina and Gourry halted their feeding frenzy and looked up from their food.
"Amelia!" Lina grinned. "You're awake!"
The princess nodded before taking her place at the table next to Zelgadis
"Are you all right?" Gourry asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" Amelia answered, cheerily.
Zelgadis' eyes hardened. Amelia emerging from passing out with a jovial expression such as this?! Something's not right here.....
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah! I'm fine!" Amelia said, bringing in a reasoning tone for the chimera.
"So" she continued, in an attempt to change the subject. "What are we going to do today?"
"We are going to Martina's party" Lina answered.
Zel and Gourry exchanged glances of disgust. Even after all this time they still were incredibly unenthusiastic about seeing Martina and Zangulus again.
Yet in spite of their disgust, they nodded their consent. After all, experience has taught them that disagreeing with Lina is just plain suicide! Its either her way or no way - usually seen through the business end of a fireball!
"So" Amelia said. "What were you all talking about?"
"We were discussing the reasons behind your poor health." The chimera answered.
"No, please!" Amelia protested. "I'm okay! There's nothing to be worried about, really!"
"We concluded that there is some evil force at work here." Zel said quickly.
At the mention of the words 'evil force' Amelia fell silent and prepared to listen.
"Amelia" Lina said. "Did anything happen at Diol's laboratory? You seemed to start coughing when we left Diol's tower. And if anything happened between you and Diol, then we must know about it. So, did anything happen?"
The princess blinked before adapting a more serious expression.
"Yes." she said slowly. "Yes! Something did happen. That Diol bastard forced a terrible concoction down my throat!"
Gourry, Lina and Zel all blinked at this revelation.
"Well that would explain a lot" Zel said, after a shocked silence.
"Oh come on!" Lina argued. "I know Diol! And I still doubt that he could come up with a concoction that could be effecting Amelia in this manner!!!"
"I wouldn't be so confident...." Zel muttered.
"Hey Amelia" Gourry said. "Since you've been here, you haven't coughed once!"
The table fell silent at Gourry's perception. Amelia and Lina both blinked at the swordsman. Gourry may be dense but he certainly had his moments.....!
Zel however glowered. If Amelia's coughing hasn't occurred so far this morning then something must be very wrong here....
Obviously, this is indeed the work of an evil force. And Amelia is indeed being toyed with. Although neither Zel or his friends had no idea on the full extent of the evil that was stalking them, it was clear that said force was at once a force that is laughing at them.
Just wait until he finds the bastard that did this....
Martina's party took place in the public gardens of Sairaag. When Lina, Gourry, Amelia and Zelgadis arrived, they found the party was in full swing and populated by a sea of enthusiastic party-goers.
"Wow!" Gourry exclaimed. "There's a quite lot of people here!"
"Yeah" Lina agreed. "I didn't think Martina knew this many people!"
Zel growled his disgust and reached for his collar and cowl, ready to conceal his chimera appearance away from inquisitive stares and prying eyes.
However, this act didn't go unnoticed in Amelia's eyes.
"Zel?" she asked. "Are you so concerned about what people might think of you?"
Zel nodded.
"Lighten up!" Lina grinned. "It's a party after all!"
"Parties aren't my kind of thing" Zel snorted.
Amelia and Lina exchanged mischievous looks. They both nodded at each other and scooped up Zel by linking their arms together - Thus sandwiching the bewildered chimera and preventing any chance of escape.
"What?" Zelgadis cried in astonishment. "What the Hell are you doing?!?"
"We are going to show you how to party!" Amelia grinned.
"Whether you like it or not!" Lina added.
And with that, they both took off towards the action, with the hapless Zel trapped in between them.
Gourry sniggered at Zel's predicament. Then he set out on following them.....
But a voice held him back.
A voice that called his name. A voice that was soft yet it rang out like a bell. A voice that he recognised. A voice from his past....
"Gourry!"
Life can be most cruel. You could have your home city completely wiped off the map, you could have both your parents taken away from you in a cruel and unjust manner, and you could even have your one true hope of happiness taken away from you - even if this happiness was a self-constructed delusion.
Yes, life can be most cruel.
Especially if your name is Sylphiel Nels Rahda.
Fate was indeed not on the shrine maiden's side. Following the evil deeds of Hellmaster Fibrizo, it seemed an act of destiny that she and Gourry Gabriev drifted apart. He didn't share the same intentions of giving up the adventuring life and settle down with a loving wife. No, instead he wanted to continue his exciting lifestyle and he wanted to do it with Lina.
Yeah, Lina Inverse. A rival for Gourry's affection who shared his adventurous spirit and his thirst for lots of food and a good time. Compared to Lina, Syl had no chance of succeeding for Gourry's attentions. It certainly was no even contest. And thus Gourry slipped from Syl's grasp. He disappeared while she remained here in Sairaag. The last she had heard of him, he had departed off to the fabled new world....
Yet in the time of his absence, Syl had found the time to think things through. Yes, she had a hero-worship for the swordsman. Yes, her devotion towards him was unmatched. Yes, she had a good mind in what he wanted. Yes, she didn't share the same adventurous spirit that he held. Yes, she had tough competition in the form of Lina. Yes, she was fighting a losing battle for Gourry's affections.
However, Sylphiel could not hide from the conclusion that she was on a road that was taking her nowhere fast. Destiny demanded that Gourry remain out of her grasp. She was to remain in the shadows as Lina and Gourry enjoyed each other's company.
But if Gourry was happy with the sorceress, then Syl should be happy for them. Even if it meant her true feelings were concealed by a mask. She had made the ultimate sacrifice in abandoning her emotions for Lina and Gourry's sake.
It certainly wasn't the best option on her part.
But it was the only option.
And so Sylphiel stayed in Sairaag, but the weight of an empty destiny wouldn't leave.
Now she found herself, by invitation, mingling in amongst the crowds that were invited here, to celebrate Martina's wedding anniversary.
Yeah, a wedding anniversary. A wedding anniversary put upon to mark the occasion of marriage. Yet the whole rewarding experience of marriage is something Syl will probably never achieve. With Gourry gone to points unknown, there seems little chance for the kindly, good-natured Sylphiel to ever find true happiness in romance.
What made the situation more bitter was that Martina - spoilt, selfish and troublemaking Martina - can succeed where she had failed.
Life can be most cruel....
But wait! What's this?! Who's that coming through the entrance of the public gardens? There! Syl couldn't believe her eyes. It was her old friends! She hadn't seen them in so long! Where had they been? What stories could they tell of their adventures? She must make herself known to them all: Lina Inverse, Zelgadis Greywars, Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune.....
....and Gourry.
Yes, he was there too. He was still alive and, from the looks of it, still quite attached to Lina. He had come back to Syl when she had abandoned her goal of being with him.
The irony is just sickening.....
Life can be most cruel.....
Yet in spite of her feelings she called out his name.
Gourry blinked, before grinning an enormous grin.
"Syl!" he said. "Long time no see!"
Sylphiel nodded. It had certainly been a while...
Suddenly a small voice emerged from the depths from Sylphiel's brain:
Well, there he is. He's come back. Now how do you feel? Do you still feel the love for him that you once had?
Yes, there was a degree of truth there. She had certainly suppressed her feelings but only to her dispair.
Nevertheless she ignored this voice and repressed those concealed emotions long enough to give Gourry a small smile.
But it was a fake smile.
You're only fooling yourself you know the voice said.
Fortunately the swordsman was too dense to notice the element of farce the smile offered.
"Man, it's been a while. I can't believe you're here!"
"Me neither, Gourry." Sylphiel replied.
You wouldn't think he would come back didn't you?
"I take it you're here for Martina's party too?" the swordsman inquired.
Sylphiel closed her eyes and nodded again.
It was there and then that the swordsman noticed something was amiss.
"Hey Syl, is something wrong?"
"No Gourry, why do you ask?"
"Its just that you aren't calling me Gourry Dear like you used too."
Sylphiel smiled another farce of a smile.
"Oh, I've given up on that. Seems a quite silly thing, if you ask me."
LIES! LIES! LIES! LIES! LIES!
"I see." Gourry replied.
A silence ensued.
"Say," Gourry said, smiling a warm smile, "Do you want to come join us? I bet Lina would want to see you again."
Why would you want to see that bitch again? She took Gourry away from you!
"Sure, I'd love to" Syl answered.
Meanwhile Zel, Lina and Amelia were picking their way through the crowd.
"Damn, there are a lot of people here." Zel grumbled.
"Yeah...." Lina said. "How can Martina have this many friends?!!?"
"DADDY!" Amelia yelled in delight.
Lina stopped dead in her tracks. Daddy?!?!
Suddenly, before Lina had a chance to escape, she, along with the chimera and the princess, was swept up in one of Crown Prince Philionel's crushing bear hugs.
"Amelia! Lina! Zelgadis!" the Crown Prince bellowed. "How are you all?"
But if Phil was expecting an answer he didn't receive any, as the three friends, all trapped in his bear hug, couldn't breath let alone speak!
"Ah, tis' good to see you all again!" Phil went on "I've missed you all!"
"Yes... It's.... good.... to..... see.... you too Phil...." Zel managed to choke.
".....Now would you be so kind as to letting me go so I can get my breath back?!?!" A gagging Lina finished.
Phil chuckled and loosened his grip on the trio. Lina and Zel fell to the ground, coughing and spluttering. Amelia, who was more used to The Crown Prince's bone-crushing bear hugs, landed on her feet and blinked at her friends.
"Zelgadis? Lina? Are you all right?"
Zel struggled to his feet spluttering and coughing. Yet in spite of it all, he still managed a nod. Lina, however, wasn't looking too thrilled at seeing Phil again.
"So, Phil" Lina asked. "Just how did you manage to survive that tsunami, last time we met?"
"Ah!" Phil grinned. "Yes, I did get swept away but I managed to escape in one piece!"
"Oh Daddy! I'm so glad!" Amelia grinned in awe. Seeing her father alive certainly made her at once both relieved and overjoyed.
"Yes, one must not underestimate the power of Justice!!!" Phil grinned.
Lina slapped her hand onto her forehead. Here we go again....
But, unfortunately for Lina, the situation was about to get worse. Much worse.
For who should approach but Martina Xoana Mel Navratilova. Dressed in a white, but ultimately revealing, gown and looking like the product of well known dressmaker (provided the dressmaker in question was being interrogated by a torturer in a dungeon somewhere), she swept through the crowd in a typical arrogant fashion. Martina made her way through the many people, paying little attention to those stepping out of way.
No, the months apart from Lina certainly had little change upon Martina. She had settled down to a married life all right. In fact she seemed to enjoy it: So much so that, from the look of it, she didn't seem to be missing her adventurous life at all.
Yet a return to the life on the road was the last thing on Martina's mind. Right now, she was more concerned with rebuilding her shattered kingdom and finding disciples to Zoamalgustar.
No, the months apart from Lina certainly certainly didn't change Martina at all.
"Lina! Lina Inverse! It's been so long."
The sorceress froze up at the sound of the voice. Yes, she could indeed place that voice a mile away. There was no escaping that voice -or the owner of the voice for that matter.
Well, Martina now knew that Lina was here. Great. Just great. Now, Lina has no chance of escaping the dovetee of Zoamalgustar. Any hope of finding the buffet and eluding Martina, were now dashed completely.
Oh, how fickle fate can be...
Lina slowly turned her head, dreading the sight of seeing Martina again.
And there she was, obviously enjoying being the main attraction of this gathering, with her husband Zangulus suited up and in tow. Martina didn't look much different since the last time she and Lina crossed paths. In fact she looked even more of an arrogant, spoilt tart! Zangulus hadn't changed much either. In fact, he seemed quite happy. And that suit certainly suited him!
Provided one overlooked the fact that the suit did NOT go with Zangulus' distinctive hat!
"Hello Martina" Lina said. "Hello Zangulus"
Zangulus gave a silent nod. Not so Martina: She got talking....
"Ah Lina! How good to see you again! I'm, so glad you could come to MY wedding anniversary! It means so much to ME! And how are you Amelia? You've certainly grown since the last time we've met! And you, Zelgadis! Still hunting for your cure I see....!"
And on she went. Zel and Lina shared expressions of grimace.
"You know Zel" Lina said. "I think I'm going to agree with you here. It was a mistake to come here....."
"So where's Gourry?" Martina asked suddenly. "I can't see him around here!"
"There he is!" Amelia answered.
And there he was. Gourry strolled over to the little group, with Sylphiel following behind.
When Syl saw Lina, her eyes lit up and she ran up to her.
"Syl!" Lina grinned. "How are you?"
She's the evil bitch! Take her down! Take her out! Take back Gourry!
"Just fine Lina.' Syl smiled sweetly. "Thank you for asking."
"Man, It's good to see you again! I can't believe you're here!"
"Me neither" Syl said.
Suddenly, Zangulus caught sight of the swordsman. Immediately his eyes shone and he charged up to Gourry, with enthusiastic fervour.
"Gourry!" Zangulus cried. "I'm so glad to see you!"
"Oh hi Zangulus!" Gourry grinned. "I haven't seen you in a while."
"Me neither" Zangulus said, quickly. "Now lets get straight down to business! We must finish this duel we started!"
Suddenly, everyone's face, with the exception of Zangulus', fell into disbelief.
"Zangulus!" Amelia reasoned. "This isn't the time or place for doing something like that!"
"So what?" the swordsman yelled. "We have unfinished business that must be resolved!!!"
Lina groaned and buried her face in her hands.
Where was the buffet when you needed it?!?!
However, events were going to take a severe turn for the worst.
Many miles away, three pairs of eyes were gazing into the crystal ball. Three pairs of eyes that were blazing with malevolent fervour. Three pairs of eyes that were at once both intrigued and repulsed.
"Fascinating" the tall figure said. "It seems our little puppet has many allies."
"Call them allies?!?" the teenager snapped. "They can't hold themselves together! They seem more adept to fighting amongst themselves!!!"
"I agree" the woman said. "These newcomers don't look like much of a threat."
"You see that one?" she continued, pointing to the image of Sylphiel. "She seems too soft to be much of a problem for our plans. And the one with the green hair is more of a tart then a capable warrior! And what fear do we have of a Champion of Justice?!"
"Allies or not they still make our acquisition in a position of protection. This makes things difficult" the tall man reasoned. "It seems our plans aren't turning out as well as we had hoped."
"You can say that again!" the teenager retorted. "If your skeletons hadn't failed in their task, then we wouldn't be in this fix!"
"And I suppose you can do better!?!?" the tall man said, his rasp now acquiring an element of anger.
"Of course I can!" the teenager cowered. "I can get our puppet away from these other people. In fact I'd show you how it ought to be done!"
And with that, the teenager turned to face the crystal ball and waved his hands in the air.
Bastard. The tall man thought. He thinks he can barge in like that? He thinks he can go around, telling me my job?! He thinks an upstart like him can order me - a warlock who has crossed the threshold of mortality?!?!!?
But I'll show him one day, I'll show him all right....
The teenager cackled, as he peered into the crystal ball, his hands prepared to release a spell most horrendous.
"Well, well puppet. Are you ready to do whatever I tell you to....?"
Many miles away from the congregation of evil, another congregation was forming. The guests of Martina's party were now gathering before a podium. Each of the partygoers marched into a huge mass of chairs and found a seat. It was in this crowd that Lina, Gourry, Philionel, Amelia, Zelgadis and Sylphiel got swept up in.
"What's going on?" Gourry asked.
"I think Martina's about to give a speech." Sylphiel answered.
Lina snorted. Yes, that certainly sounds like Martina, all right.
"Do we have to listen to this?" Zel groaned. He too shared Lina's lack of enthusiasm.
"Oh come on Zel! What's wrong with that?" Amelia inquired.
Zel snorted.
Amelia smiled a sly grin, before turning to her father.
"You know something, Daddy? If didn't know better I would believe that Zel's surly attitude is violation of the Code of Justice!!"
Suddenly Zelgadis stopped dead in his tracks. A violation of the Code of Justice??!
That....that can only mean one thing...
Immediately, the chimera could feel the cold stares of both the father and daughter of the House of Saillune. Instantaneously, Zel's lips formed into a small but embarrassed grin - Much against his free will.
But fortunately for the chimera, Philionel burst into a huge booming laugh.
"Ah! He's smiling now!" the Crown Prince chuckled, as he gave Zel a huge pat on the back. "That's what you should be doing!!!"
Zel turned to Amelia with a furious look. Amelia just smiled, in spite of Zel's annoyance.
"Amelia!!!" Zel snarled.
"Oh come on Zel!" Amelia interjected. "I was only kidding..."
Zel blinked before burying his face in his hands. Amelia giggled.
One must not underestimate the power of Justice...
By this stage, Martina and Zangulus had amounted the podium. Immediately, Martina marched to the front of the stage to speak to the crowd gathered. It was so natural of her to speak first....
Then, speaking in a voice that was loud and very clear, she gave her speech....
"I wish to thank you all for coming here to day to MY wedding anniversary!" she said. "And I hope you're all having a good time at MY wedding anniversary. And thank you for the gifts you've brought here to MY wedding anniversary! And I hope, in time, to speak to you all at MY wedding anniversary! What's more..."
And on it went - Much to the frustration of Lina.
"Jeez" she groaned. "How long is this going to go on for?!?"
Listening to Martina go on and on with crap like this is worse then torture!!
"I wish something interesting would happen...."
Yet as Lina made her wish, little did she know but it was merely seconds away from coming true...
Lazily, the sorceress' eyes ignored Martina and made their way over in amongst her friends: Gourry, Sylphiel, Philionel, Zelgadis and Amelia.....
Then it happened.
Amelia's eyes lit up with a strange green light. An eerie green light that exploded into pools of light into Amelia's eyes. An eerie green light that made the princess' eeys go all opaque. An eerie grrenn that could have only come from an unnatural source. An eerie green light that could only mean one thing...
Lina blinked in astonishment. She recognised the signs all right. She could recognise them anywhere...
"Magic!" she growled.
Lina wasn't the only one to notice this oddity. Zel, who happened to be sitting next to Amelia, also raised an eyebrow. When he noticed both Amelia's eyes lost in a two pools of green light, his eyes widened in horror.
It didn't take him long to come to the same conclusion that Lina had reached.
What made things worse was that this was a type of magic he recognised.
Possession!
"Amelia!" he shouted.
The chimera's shout was enough to make a portion of the crowd turn away from Martina. When these onlookers noticed Amelia, they all blinked at the princess in fear. A few people, grew so concerned over the princess that they got out of their seats and backed away.
Suddenly, without warning, the possessed princess leapt out with arms outstretched. She leapt into the air and charged right into the row in front of her. This move created a colossal uproar: The chairs were all cast aside and into disarray - Whether or not there were people actually in the chairs, didn't matter. The chairs, along with their occupants all crashed into the rows in front of them. This disaster created a huge empty space around the psychotic princess and drew all attention away from Martina.
Yet the sight of the possessed Amelia was enough to make a large majority of the crowd to back away . The expression on her face was one of a mad dog. With a quite unsettling expression, and a look of possession, Amelia certainly was a terrifying sight.
And indeed a cause for alarm.
Instantly, the party collapsed into chaos: All thoughts of Martina's speech were now forgotten. All turned towards Amelia and moved away in pace that at once both hurried and panicked. In the panic of the situation, everyone moved as quickly and as far as possible from the possessed princess. In the mayhem that followed, Lina found herself and her friends swept up in the crowd.
"What's going on?" Gourry demanded.
"Amelia's possessed!!" Zel announced.
"Well in that case, we've got to stop her!" Phil boomed. "If she's possessed, there's no telling what damage she'll do!"
"Well, we better do something quick!" Lina cried. "She's off and running!!!"
That was true. Amelia, now having some space to move, charged. Charged like a wild animal. Charged with the fury of a rapid, rampaging wild pig. Charged across the open ground. Charged towards the fleeing masses. Charged towards the nearest person with homicidal fervour.
Charged towards Sylphiel!
The shrine maiden was bewildered, and confused, by the whole proceedings. She blinked at the fleeing masses and then at the wild Amelia. What on earth?! What was going on here?! Why was Amelia acting like that?!?!?
"Amelia?" the shrine maiden cried. "Are you all right?!?!"
Suddenly Syl caught sight of Gourry, Lina, Zel and Phil running after Amelia. They were shouting and waving their hands.
"SYL!" Lina screamed. "AMELIA'S GONE CRAZY!!!!!!"
Sylphiel stared at her friends in complete confusion. Crazy?
"RUN!!!" Gourry bellowed.
Syl blinked in astonishment. She had absolutely no idea what was going on and she was absolutely confused by the situation. But soon her legs took control. Acting on the chaos of the situation, Syl's legs began fleeing in panic. It didn't matter what was wrong with Amelia. It didn't matter what she didn't know. It didn't matter how drastic the situation was. What mattered was joining the crowd in their flight.
Fortunately for the crowd, they had made enough space to elude Amelia and her homicidal intentions.
Unfortunately for the shrine maiden, she wasn't so lucky.
The rabid Amelia leapt onto Sylphiel's back, knocking her off her feet and sending her face first on to the ground.
Sylphiel couldn't move. She was pinned down fast. She couldn't run or cast any spells whatsoever. All she could do was look up at the psychotic Amelia and look up in horror at her raised fist, mere seconds away from striking....
Chapter 7
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