Dogs and Pirates
After finding Teefa and helping her and Rooks reunite, Gourry returned home. He found Lina sitting at the table and having a nice meal. She motioned for him to join her, and that she had something to tell him.
"I want to go explore the old mines," she said, "Last time I went there, I saw a sign for the Dudbear Express. It's been driving me mad over what that is."
"Sure we'll go. It sounds interesting," Gourry replied.
* * *
After telling the twins where they were going, Gourry and Lina were off. They teleported to the mines, and went to examine the sign. But when they touched it, a Dudbear came running in and carried them off.
They took them to their hideout. When they arrived, they saw some penguins standing in a circle around something. Muffled cries were heard from the group.
"If the Diggers don't have their dog lord, they won't be a threat to us," one stated. With that, the group ran off with whatever they had found.
Suddenly, a man in a white circular hat and loincloth came running in. He asked the Dudbears, "Was that his graciousness Lord Putty crying out?"
The Dudbears began to tell the man about what had happened. He then began to freak out. "You two! You're partially responsible for this fiasco too. Go and rescue his graciousness from those filthy pirates."
"I don't really know what's up," Lina confessed, "Can you fill me and my friend in on the situation, and who exactly was kidnapped.
"My name is Roger, leader of the Diggers. Some time ago, I was in the mines with my dog Putty. Suddenly, we received a sign. It told us that Putty was a divine being, and I was to lead the new order of salvation through labor. But the pirates were angered because we began to compete for treasure. So they've kidnapped Putty," he said.
Lina was speechless. "A dog, we've got to go rescue a dog. Whatever you say. We'll go to the S.S. Buccaneer and bring your dog back to you."
As they left, Roger said, "Outsiders never understand our goals. She may help us, but she doesn't get the true divinity of labor.
* * *
They teleported immediately to the pirate ship. There, Lina and Gourry descended to the bottom cargo hold of the ship. There, they found the poor dog shut up in a barrel. He was whimpering and whining for his master.
"Take it easy, we'll get you out," Lina assured him.
They pulled the dog out of the barrel. Then, Lina began to laugh. He was dressed up in ornate robes with a strange mask on. The dog could even walk on his hind legs as good as a human. But he'd much rather walk on all fours.
"Woof," barked Putty, "Woof, woof, woof." Then he began to run away. Lina and Gourry ran after him, to make sure he didn't get hurt.
* * *
They followed Putty all the way to Polpota Harbor. There, he sat on the beach and began to scratch his side. He seemed lonely, so Lina began to pet him.
She remarked, "That's all you wanted, someone to treat you like a dog for once. I bet you don't get this back home."
It wasn't long before Roger came running in. Following close behind him was the Dudbears. They all seemed happy to see Putty.
"Oh, you found him," Roger said, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for finding our lord. You must be divine Paladins sent to aid us."
"Actually, we're mercenaries," mumbled Lina.
But Roger wasn't listening to a word Lina was saying. He called out, "Dudbears, show your joy for the return of our lord. Don't hold back now, cheer till your hearts content."
Lina rolled her eyes. "Let's go home Gourry. It'll be more fun to eat a huge feast than watch these crazies yell about."
* * *
Once back home, they again had something to eat. Lina was describing their trip to the twins, who were laughing about it. Gourry was already forgetting what had happened that day - - and Lina wished for once that she had his memory problems.
"Those guys were the wackiest bunch of loonies I've ever seen," she said, "And I've spent time in the company of Xellos the Trickster Priest."
"Whose he?" inquired Jared.
She answered, "He's a Mazoku who just happens to be the general and priest of Beastmaster Zellas Metallium. Likes to screw with people's heads a lot."
Judging from the twins' blank stares, Lina knew they didn't know who the Beastmaster was either, or what a Mazoku was. Which was quite odd, since the only person who didn't know these things was Gourry. How far from home were they.
"That's it," she screamed, "I'm going to Domina. I must ask the Ms. Mei Mei where in the world we are, and what's going on. Gourry, you're coming with me." With that, she began to drag the dimwitted swordsman away from the table and outside so they could teleport.
- - - -
Now Lina's mad. Everyone else better take cover. We'll find what is going on with them exactly and why it's happening in the next chapter.
After finding Teefa and helping her and Rooks reunite, Gourry returned home. He found Lina sitting at the table and having a nice meal. She motioned for him to join her, and that she had something to tell him.
"I want to go explore the old mines," she said, "Last time I went there, I saw a sign for the Dudbear Express. It's been driving me mad over what that is."
"Sure we'll go. It sounds interesting," Gourry replied.
* * *
After telling the twins where they were going, Gourry and Lina were off. They teleported to the mines, and went to examine the sign. But when they touched it, a Dudbear came running in and carried them off.
They took them to their hideout. When they arrived, they saw some penguins standing in a circle around something. Muffled cries were heard from the group.
"If the Diggers don't have their dog lord, they won't be a threat to us," one stated. With that, the group ran off with whatever they had found.
Suddenly, a man in a white circular hat and loincloth came running in. He asked the Dudbears, "Was that his graciousness Lord Putty crying out?"
The Dudbears began to tell the man about what had happened. He then began to freak out. "You two! You're partially responsible for this fiasco too. Go and rescue his graciousness from those filthy pirates."
"I don't really know what's up," Lina confessed, "Can you fill me and my friend in on the situation, and who exactly was kidnapped.
"My name is Roger, leader of the Diggers. Some time ago, I was in the mines with my dog Putty. Suddenly, we received a sign. It told us that Putty was a divine being, and I was to lead the new order of salvation through labor. But the pirates were angered because we began to compete for treasure. So they've kidnapped Putty," he said.
Lina was speechless. "A dog, we've got to go rescue a dog. Whatever you say. We'll go to the S.S. Buccaneer and bring your dog back to you."
As they left, Roger said, "Outsiders never understand our goals. She may help us, but she doesn't get the true divinity of labor.
* * *
They teleported immediately to the pirate ship. There, Lina and Gourry descended to the bottom cargo hold of the ship. There, they found the poor dog shut up in a barrel. He was whimpering and whining for his master.
"Take it easy, we'll get you out," Lina assured him.
They pulled the dog out of the barrel. Then, Lina began to laugh. He was dressed up in ornate robes with a strange mask on. The dog could even walk on his hind legs as good as a human. But he'd much rather walk on all fours.
"Woof," barked Putty, "Woof, woof, woof." Then he began to run away. Lina and Gourry ran after him, to make sure he didn't get hurt.
* * *
They followed Putty all the way to Polpota Harbor. There, he sat on the beach and began to scratch his side. He seemed lonely, so Lina began to pet him.
She remarked, "That's all you wanted, someone to treat you like a dog for once. I bet you don't get this back home."
It wasn't long before Roger came running in. Following close behind him was the Dudbears. They all seemed happy to see Putty.
"Oh, you found him," Roger said, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for finding our lord. You must be divine Paladins sent to aid us."
"Actually, we're mercenaries," mumbled Lina.
But Roger wasn't listening to a word Lina was saying. He called out, "Dudbears, show your joy for the return of our lord. Don't hold back now, cheer till your hearts content."
Lina rolled her eyes. "Let's go home Gourry. It'll be more fun to eat a huge feast than watch these crazies yell about."
* * *
Once back home, they again had something to eat. Lina was describing their trip to the twins, who were laughing about it. Gourry was already forgetting what had happened that day - - and Lina wished for once that she had his memory problems.
"Those guys were the wackiest bunch of loonies I've ever seen," she said, "And I've spent time in the company of Xellos the Trickster Priest."
"Whose he?" inquired Jared.
She answered, "He's a Mazoku who just happens to be the general and priest of Beastmaster Zellas Metallium. Likes to screw with people's heads a lot."
Judging from the twins' blank stares, Lina knew they didn't know who the Beastmaster was either, or what a Mazoku was. Which was quite odd, since the only person who didn't know these things was Gourry. How far from home were they.
"That's it," she screamed, "I'm going to Domina. I must ask the Ms. Mei Mei where in the world we are, and what's going on. Gourry, you're coming with me." With that, she began to drag the dimwitted swordsman away from the table and outside so they could teleport.
- - - -
Now Lina's mad. Everyone else better take cover. We'll find what is going on with them exactly and why it's happening in the next chapter.