Slayers: To The End
By the introverted and sneaky, Rebel Against Normalcy!
AKA Hotaru Kimiko Lai
Disclaimer
I don't own Slayers. I think I've exhausted my supply of witty ones. I think you noticed this ten chapters or so ago... ^^
Chapter 22
Muddled H2O
Gourry and Amelia continued on their journey. They would get there in about fifteen minutes or so. They sat in the carriage and thought. It had been weird. Amelia had suddenly found herself talking to Gourry while on the plain, the dragon and Mazoku nowhere in sight. One of the helpers had run up and asked them if they were all right. They said yes and asked why they shouldn't be. She, one of the white mages, had excitedly recounted the bravery of both Gourry and Amelia. How Amelia had evaded the Mazoku's attack and had succeeded and throwing the Mazoku into the Astral Plane. Then, another white mage came and praised Gourry's quick thinking. Amelia looked puzzled and pointed at Gourry. The mage quickly nodded and said yes. They spoke of how Gourry had used his wits and his intelligence to trick the Dragon into going away. Gourry had looked surprised, and wondered if they were really talking about him. After the mages assured them that they were telling the truth and not hallucinating, Amelia decided to leave it. Perhaps it had turned out like they were describing it. But Amelia honestly believed that she and Gourry had just been lucky and that they needed eye checks.
"Mr. Gourry?" asked Amelia.
"Yeah, Amelia?" asked Gourry. He was seeing ice cream and pieces of steak in the skies trying to look like innocent clouds. But he saw through their guise. After all, he was an expert on food masquerading as clouds.
"Do you really think..." started Amelia before trailing off.
"That the cloud looks like corn?" asked Gourry, oblivious to what Amelia was trying to say.
"Um... no..." said Amelia. "About what the mages said."
"Oh... what did they say?" asked Gourry. Amelia sighed. Sometimes, she wondered if asking Gourry about all this was really worth it. But then again, there was no one else to talk about it. Perhaps she could ask Lina about it. Ms. Lina would know all about it.
"Oh, nothing important." said Amelia. "What are you seeing?"
"That cloud, on top of the one that looks like a piece of bread, looks like a piece of fried chicken. And that one, looks like a ducky that is standing on top of a horse..."
*****
The Stream of Time. What do you imagine on seeing those words? Probably a calm but huge stream, slowly yet steadily moving onwards through eternity. Maybe a few ripples here and there, symbolizing dangers, or chaotic things happening. Maybe a Beginning where the Time Flow came from, and a far and distant bend where Time took a turn and was recycled and reused. Whatever it is, you're wrong. The Stream of Time was a little room. It had blue wallpaper on the sides with the design of water drops. And it had gold trim. But you couldn't really see the walls,... since the Books of History covered the walls, each in their shelves. Of to one side of the room, was a card catalogue, forever being updated. After all, time is always changing. There were a few comfy looking chairs in the middle of the room, surrounding a portal which looked like a bunch of gasoline on water. You know, with all those really nice colors swirling around in neat designs.
And into this room, came in Lina and Xellos, Chaos Knights.
"Um... nice place." said Lina. There were no lamps or candles, but there was light in the room that
permitted you to see around you.
"Yes, isn't it?" asked Xellos. They had asked L-sama for permission and she let them, warning them to not change the time, but they could observe it. Time traveled at the same pace here as outside this room. So, if they spent one day observing people, a day would pass in their own world.
"Lot's of books." said Lina as she fingered some of them.
"Yes," said Xellos.
"With tiny print." said Lina as she thumbed through them.
"Yes." said Xellos.
"Stop confirming what I'm saying, Xellos." said Lina with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes." said Xellos. He grinned and jumped out of the way of her incoming elbow. Lina sighed, shook her head and went over to the card catalogue.
"That looks big." said Lina. "What should we look up under? Albuntra, or Fairy Tales, or 7 Dwarves?"
"Albuntra looks like the best choice," said Xellos. Lina nodded. It made lots of sense. Not that she hadn't known it, but she should include her helper, lest he feel ignored. She levitated slightly to reach the A's and took out the box which held the cards. Xellos thumbed through a few books here and there while Lina looked up Albuntra. After several minutes of playing around and hearing Lina sigh, stifle a scream and growl, he asked her.
"Can't find him yet?"
"It's not my fault!" said Lina. "Stupid thing keeps on changing!"
"How?" asked Xellos. He tried to send her soothing thoughts so that she'd calm down. After all, a calm Lina was a Lina that would not fireball everything in sight.
"Well, I'm looking up Albuntra, and all of a sudden, a bunch of cards are added, and some others are shifted and some vanish and basically, I can't make any progress!" said Lina. She wanted to throw down the cards so badly, but she didn't want to put all the cards in alphabetical order.
"Well, that is too be expected." said Xellos. "After all, isn't the catalogue constantly updated?"
"But can't they do it later?" asked Lina.
"Nope." said Xellos. "Time is always flowing."
"Oh, this is stupid." said Lina. She once more, began to search for the elusive card that seemed to escape her grasp by four cards or so. "Here, you start from the back, and I'll go from the front. Surely, the two of us can get that stupid card." So, Xellos helped out and a few minutes later, Xellos pulled out a card from the box.
"Ah ha!" he said.
"Good. Now, we have to find it." said Lina. She snatched the card and ran over to the bookcases, where she quickly found the book she was looking for. Xellos looked over her shoulder as she flipped through the pages. "Here it is! It says, we have to go to sector 521. 3, sub category 7."
"OK!" said Xellos. He went over to the portal and taking a pencil from a desk, wrote out the number of where they wanted to go and threw it into the portal. Swirling letters appeared, and Xellos smiled. "Ne, Lina chan, let's go! The portal's ready!"
"Coming!" said Lina. She put the book back and ran in. Xellos was about to follow her in, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned around and then bowed to L-sama.
*****
Amelia was bored, again. They had made it to the city safely and she had been able to give her speech on Patriotism and Justice. The crowd had loved it. Now that that was done, she got to rest a bit. It was really boring. Normally, she would be making a new speech for the next town or city she was planning on visiting for her 'campaign'. But she could write on in less than fifteen minutes. So, she had all this free time. She really wanted to get out. She looked out the window. The skies were blue with a few clouds here and there. It was the type of day that made you want to throw open the windows and soar through the winds. But she was a Princess, and Princesses are nice and polite and lady like. If Zelgadis were here, she'd ask him to go out and sight see the city with her. But he wasn't here. He was trying to regulate Dragon and Demon activities. She wanted to do that too. Actually, what she really wanted to do know... was to beat up someone. She couldn't wait till she got to. And with a happy and joyful smile, Amelia fantasized about her next encounter with the Dragons and Demons.
*****
Zelgadis frowned. He wasn't sure where to go. He had intervened in a few fights, or at least, had tried to. It was hard to kick their butts when they kept on running away from him. He decided to change tactics. This was useless. He took his map out and made a few marks on it, tested the wind, measured the angle from the sun to the horizon and headed west.
"Were are we going, Captain Stonewall?" asked one of the soldiers.
"Change of plan." said Zelgadis. After this, he would find Lina and ask her about the Lord of Nightmares. He still wasn't sure if he could talk to her or not.
*****
Gourry was practicing with his sword in the back of the house they were staying at. The city had been nice enough to let them stay at a very nice little house.
His sword swept through the air, seeming to slice it. Swoosh. Slice. There is another dead foe. He stopped and drank some cold juice that he had brought with him. He looked up at the sky. He wanted to do something. Something very interesting and fun. Like go with Lina and beat up another guy like that red shadow guy called Shabby something. That would be fun. He sighed and went back to practicing.
*****
Lina looked back. Xellos wasn't there. Which was odd. But she couldn't hang back and wait. She'd wait for him at the end of the tunnel. He didn't appear. She looked around him. She was among the villagers, but they couldn't see her. It was as if she were a roaming spirit among them. She tried to speak to a few people, but they passed right through her.
"OK," she said to herself. "They can't touch me, they can't hear me." She walked around, hoping to see a hint of purple or some shadow stalking her or something around those lines. None.
"OK, Xellos! Cut it out!" she shouted. No answer. "Come on, I know you're here somewhere! I can feel...." She tried to feel for him, and to her surprise, found that she couldn't. The only reason for this was that he was out of range. "Oh, stupid idiot. Just wait until I get my hands on you." And with that, she flew to the castle in the distance. Xellos had probably decided to race her without a warning.
*****
"OK," said Xellos. "So, I'm supposed to do that?"
"Yes." said the Lord of Nightmares. "Are there any problems?"
"Well... is there any specific way you want it done?" asked Xellos.
"Do it as you wish. Just get it finished." said the Lord of Nightmares.
"As you wish, my lordess." he said with a smile on his face. He bowed. L-sama hid a smile.
"Go, and fulfill my wishes." He vanished.
*****
"I want to know why you are doing all of this." said Xerxes as he sat across from where his 'sister' was. Although he wasn't exactly Zelas's brother, they were close.
"Because." said Zelas. She took a sip of Zephyrian wine. "Um... delicious."
"Yes, wonderful." said Xerxes in a dismissing manner. "But why? Why send demons to go and attack cities?"
"It's called a distraction." said Zelas. "I thought you might have figured it out by now."
"But why?" asked Xerxes again.
"You know, Xellos never asked." said Zelas. "He was obedient and he did everything with style while following my orders. He knew what was happening and had no need for questions."
"I'm not Xellos." said Xerxes. "I know I used to be, but we're split now, and that stupid Mazoku took some of my power."
"Yeah. Sly. So like him." said Zelas. Another sip. "You know, this wine was from the year he was born."
"Ugh." said Xerxes. He put his goblet down. "I'm surprised it hasn't rotted away or something."
"I have ways of preserving my wines." said Zelas.
"So, will you tell me?"
"Well,... you know the stupid Dragons have that silly scroll. What was it called again?... the Scroll of Rabula, they call it. It's prophecy is coming true, although they don't know how. I myself don't know, because it was guarded by the Ceipheed Knight for many years. I couldn't get close to it. Anyway, meditation and walking around with silly white robes and doing ceremonies in smoky rooms have rotted their brain. They think it's time to attack us when we are weak. So, I sent out distractions. It tests the will of the Dragons. After all, they are traveling far and wide to make sure the prophecy comes to be, but my distractions stop them. They ask themselves, should they protect the weak humans, or go and set the prophecy in motion? If they ignore the humans, the humans will resent it and fight them also. If they help, they succeed in slowing the prophecy. And that gives me time to figure it out. Understood?"
"OK." said Xerxes. "Nice plan. Except for a few things. You do know that your random attacks that are striking many places are waking up the ones in the other prophecy, right? You remember it, don't you? The one we spent quite a bit of time to hide?"
"True." said Zelas. "But, they are seven random people. What are the chances that my attacks will wake up all the Dwarfs? You're smart, do the math."
"Well, I must admit the chances are extremely slim, but so far, we know of two that have appeared." said Xerxes.
"Two are nothing against me." said Zelas with a cruel smile.
"Anyway, another thing. How exactly are you planning on finding out what the Rabula Scroll says?" asked Xerxes.
"Now that is a very simple matter." she said. "Open your senses. Where will my demons attack
next?" Xerxes closed his eyes for a while as he concentrated. Then he opened them, surprise in his eyes.
"You do know that you sent them on a suicide mission, right?" he asked.
Zelas smiled. "But... it's a nice little distraction. Besides, there are more from where they came from."
*****
Xellos phased into the room. It was lunch time in Seyruun.
"Hello!" he said cheerfully to them. Well, he appeared right behind Filia, causing her to give a little jump, turn and glare at him, and then have her trustworthy mace fly out to embed itself in Xellos's face.
"You... you NANAGOMI!" she screamed. "How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on me like that!" She hit his head with her mace again.
"Ouch." said Xellos as he savored the pain. "Nice... very nice. You've gotten stronger, Filia chan! Lina chan gets so angry at times, but she doesn't hit me with a mace..." He fingered her forearm and nodded appreciatively.
"Developing muscles, are we? Don't do too much, or else you'll get bulky and you won't look as nice!" He grinned and winked at her.
"Why... you!!! Don't touch me!" shouted Filia. She chased him around the room while Sylphiel laughed gently behind her hand. Those two were so amusing! They were such great friends! The guards looked on, very glad for the entertainment that Filia and Xellos were providing. "Sylphiel! Don't just sit there. Help me catch him!" Sylphiel thought for a little while, and then smiled. She had a good memory and though some people thought her slightly slow, she was great on judging relationships.
"Oh,.. Filia, Xellos. Stop flirting, you two." she said sweetly. "Xellos, you really should stop flirting with Filia. You know what Lina thinks of you having flings with other girls. And besides, you're encouraging Filia. How do you think Lina will take this when she finds out?" It had the desired effect on Xellos. He froze and looked at her with an amazed look.
"Never thought you'd have it in you." said Xellos as he stopped temporarily. "And besides, you're right. My dear Lina chan would throw a fit. How... tempting." Before he could start teasing once more, Filia reached him and stuck him in a headlock and tried to break his neck while speaking.
"Sylphiel!" she said. "You know very well that I detest this nanagomi and that I would rather flirt with a stone than with this freak of nature!"
"Good idea, Filia chan!" said Xellos even though his neck was in an extremely unusual position. "A rock wouldn't be scared by your looks. Well, I don't know... it might crack...."
"You are impossible!" shouted Filia. She banged him against the wall. "Take that! And that! And that! Die!" Xellos smiled.
A few minutes later, they had calmed down a bit. Filia was still flushed and she hastily fixed her hair. Sylphiel smiled and hid her laugh. Xellos just grinned like an idiot. That had been a delicious snack. It had been too long since he had such a delightful annoyance directed at him. Well,... he enjoyed Lina's anger just as much, although he was realizing that drinking in her thoughts concerning him where just as gratifying even though there was no annoyance or anger. All there was was a sort of contentment and delight. It was the feeling one got when drinking hot chocolate and marshmallows with a dash of cinnamon during a cold snowstorm. It gave him a... warm and fuzzy feeling... although had he felt this when he was a Mazoku, he'd be throwing up. And her anger was like eating a spicy dish of meat and tomatoes with fried egg and rice. That warned him up too. But Filia's... everyone's emotions and feelings had a certain taste to it... Filia's was like a glass of cold lemonade on a warm day. Yeah, call him weird, but he had favorite 'dishes', just like everyone else.
"So, Filia, Sylphiel... what were you two planning on doing the rest of the day?"
"No, we don't have anything planned, Xellos." said Sylphiel softly. "We finished training, and we have had no communication from other villages requesting reinforcements."
"So, basically, you have nothing else to do?" asked Xellos.
"We don't," said Sylphiel.
"Are you sure?" asked Xellos.
"What part of 'We don't' do you not get?" asked Filia, slightly annoyed.
"Ah... good. I wanted to make sure." said Xellos. "I have a small job that you girls might be interested in."
"As if." said Filia. But he could tell that she was very interested.
"Well... I can only tell you if you two trust in me." said Xellos.
"Of course we do, Mr. Xellos." said Sylphiel.
"Do you?" asked Xellos as he looked at Filia squarely in the eyes. Filia found herself looking into brilliant amethyst eyes.
"Well... I guess so." said Filia. She turned her eyes away from him.
"Then remember that." said Xellos. He winked at them and then, Filia found herself standing
against a wall in a very familiar looking room.
"What..." she started to say before a gloved hand covered her mouth.
"Be quiet!" whispered Xellos harshly. Filia turned around to glare at him. Beside him, he saw Sylphiel standing worriedly.
"OK,.." whispered Filia. "Now... care to tell us what is happening?"
"You are temporarily on a mission from L-sama." said Xellos. "Aren't you proud?" He would have said more except footsteps were being heard. Hurriedly, Xellos pushed them into the wall's shadows and he blended into another set of shadows. A Dragon Guard walked by. After he had left, Xellos walked to where Filia and Sylphiel were.
"Dampen down your magical auras," he said. "And find the Scroll of Rabula."
"Huh?" asked Filia.
"What is that?" asked Sylphiel.
"Supposedly, it predicts the triumph of the dragons over the demons." said Xellos with a smile. "But then again, dragons were never too smart. You should know that, Filia." Filia would have brained him and punted him into the wall had it not been for the fact that another set of footsteps were heard. Once more, they hid. After this Dragon Guard left, Xellos continued. "Anyway. Complications have come up. You're mission: grab the scroll and then get out of here. As soon as you're out of here, call me and I'll come. Don't, under no circumstances must you open the scroll."
"Why not?" asked Filia. "Surely if it's so important, then we should know about it."
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" he said. "Anyway, don't open it. Remember, you guys said you trust me. If
you don't, speak up now."
"I'll trust you, nanagomi." said Filia. "I take it that we're in the Central Temple of the Golden Dragons?"
"My, my, Filia. You're so smart!" said Xellos. "Yes you are. Now go. And remember..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." said Filia dismissively. "Get the scroll, don't open it and get out of here. Anything else, oh fearless leader?"
"That's Lina chan's title, you know." said Xellos with a smile. "Nope. Oh, and Filia chan. Try to remember that it is a secret mission. And try not to cause too much of an uproar. Good luck, Filia chan, Sylphiel." He vanished.
"OK." said Filia. She turned towards Sylphiel. "It's our turn to play heroes, Sylphiel. You ready?"
"I guess." said Sylphiel. "So, what do we do now?"
"I dunno." shrugged Filia. "OK, I'm a dragon priestess. You're a priestess. We'll force our way in if
we have to, but I'll not let Xellos get the satisfaction of us being beaten! Let's go!" Filia started to march off in one direction. Sylphiel sighed and picked up the purple envelope that was on the floor. She read it. She smiled. She hurriedly ran after Filia.
"Filia!" she whispered to her, remembering Xellos's orders to be quiet and secretive.
*****
Lina made it to the castle slightly out of breath. She frowned as she realized that she couldn't find Xellos anywhere. She was about to scream in anger, until she saw someone going out the castle. Surprised, she followed the figure. Was it just her imagination, or did the figure actually have ruby red hair? As she ran after the figure, she realized that she was trailing the Princess.
'What a stroke of luck!' she thought to herself. Well, if Xellos wasn't around, she'd do the mission
and figure out what was happening with the Princess.
The Princess looked around herself as she slowed down and stopped at a nice and very pretty house with a trimmed lawn and pretty flowers. Lina looked perplexedly. This was the place where Albuntra's home used to be. It was so changed... She wondered what time it was here... was it perhaps a year or so after she was here? Oh well... time to check. She followed the Princess in, passing right through a closed door. Inside, she listened and watched.
"Albuntra!" shouted Princess.
"In here!" shouted back a voice from upstairs. The Princess smiled, put her coat on a chair and ran upstairs. With a start, Lina realized the change of clothes in the Princess. Gone were the really showy gowns she had before, replaced by simple finery in happy colors.
"What are you doing?" she asked as she ran up. "I told you yesterday that Father and Mother wanted to meet with you to discuss your next project." She opened a door. It looked like a bedroom. There was a desk and that's where Albuntra sat. Lina was happy to see him so calm and controlled and content while writing.
"I'm sorry. I got this really great idea and I had to write it down before I forgot." he said. The Princess sighed, bopped him on the head and sat beside him.
"So, what's this one about?" she asked as she read over his shoulder. "Father and Mother really enjoyed your collection of short stories."
"I'm glad." said Albuntra. "You know, it's nice to be a writer with the king and queen's full support, you know."
"Of course!" said Lina, the Princess. "I told you it was a good idea to marry me."
"How could I forget." said Albuntra with a smile. "Anyway, this is a story dedicated to Fire."
"To me?" she asked. Her eyes twinkled.
"Well, not exactly, although you are a very fiery young lady." said Albuntra. "You remember that prophecy I wrote some time back that your father has safe guarded?"
"Oh yeah... you mean the Fire in the Prophecy?" she asked. "But, how do you know it'll get to her?"
"Well, I'm a part time prophet. If L-sama wishes her to get it, then she will." said Albuntra. "Besides it has important information that Fire will probably want."
"Sounds good." said Lina. "So, do you want us to put it with the prophecy so that they are kept together?"
"No." said Albuntra. "You see, I have no guarantee that Fire will get this."
"But there is no guarantee that Fire will get your prophecy." said Lina.
"No, the prophecy I know she has." said Albuntra with a smile. "This one, to be sure that it is handed down and never forgotten, will first become a children's tale."
"Oh! A story for children!" said Lina.
Meanwhile, Lina Inverse smiled. So, Albuntra had meant it as a hint. Now, to find out the actual names. She appeared in the Time Stream and went forward a few months to find out what the names were.
End of Chapter 22
Hey! Wow, I can't believe it... you guys reviewed! Hurrah! Yoohoo! Victory! Thank you so much! I'm so happy! So, here's the next installment of the fic. I hope you liked it. I was itching to write a Xellos and Filia scene, but had no idea to fit it in. I'm quite proud to say that this scene turned out quite well. I had so much fun writing it! Anyway, a note... the meat dish is called a churrasco. It's really, really, really good! And it can have fries also. It's soooooooooooooooooo good! OK, so, hope you enjoyed it. Drop me a review please. Comments and Criticism are, as always, extremely welcome. Thank you for being such great readers and reviewers. You all deserve a huge hug! Thanks, guys, for everything!
Sincerely,
Hotaru
If you have built castles in the air, Your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them. -Henry David Thoreau
Be not simply good; be good for something. -Henry David Thoreau
By the introverted and sneaky, Rebel Against Normalcy!
AKA Hotaru Kimiko Lai
Disclaimer
I don't own Slayers. I think I've exhausted my supply of witty ones. I think you noticed this ten chapters or so ago... ^^
Chapter 22
Muddled H2O
Gourry and Amelia continued on their journey. They would get there in about fifteen minutes or so. They sat in the carriage and thought. It had been weird. Amelia had suddenly found herself talking to Gourry while on the plain, the dragon and Mazoku nowhere in sight. One of the helpers had run up and asked them if they were all right. They said yes and asked why they shouldn't be. She, one of the white mages, had excitedly recounted the bravery of both Gourry and Amelia. How Amelia had evaded the Mazoku's attack and had succeeded and throwing the Mazoku into the Astral Plane. Then, another white mage came and praised Gourry's quick thinking. Amelia looked puzzled and pointed at Gourry. The mage quickly nodded and said yes. They spoke of how Gourry had used his wits and his intelligence to trick the Dragon into going away. Gourry had looked surprised, and wondered if they were really talking about him. After the mages assured them that they were telling the truth and not hallucinating, Amelia decided to leave it. Perhaps it had turned out like they were describing it. But Amelia honestly believed that she and Gourry had just been lucky and that they needed eye checks.
"Mr. Gourry?" asked Amelia.
"Yeah, Amelia?" asked Gourry. He was seeing ice cream and pieces of steak in the skies trying to look like innocent clouds. But he saw through their guise. After all, he was an expert on food masquerading as clouds.
"Do you really think..." started Amelia before trailing off.
"That the cloud looks like corn?" asked Gourry, oblivious to what Amelia was trying to say.
"Um... no..." said Amelia. "About what the mages said."
"Oh... what did they say?" asked Gourry. Amelia sighed. Sometimes, she wondered if asking Gourry about all this was really worth it. But then again, there was no one else to talk about it. Perhaps she could ask Lina about it. Ms. Lina would know all about it.
"Oh, nothing important." said Amelia. "What are you seeing?"
"That cloud, on top of the one that looks like a piece of bread, looks like a piece of fried chicken. And that one, looks like a ducky that is standing on top of a horse..."
*****
The Stream of Time. What do you imagine on seeing those words? Probably a calm but huge stream, slowly yet steadily moving onwards through eternity. Maybe a few ripples here and there, symbolizing dangers, or chaotic things happening. Maybe a Beginning where the Time Flow came from, and a far and distant bend where Time took a turn and was recycled and reused. Whatever it is, you're wrong. The Stream of Time was a little room. It had blue wallpaper on the sides with the design of water drops. And it had gold trim. But you couldn't really see the walls,... since the Books of History covered the walls, each in their shelves. Of to one side of the room, was a card catalogue, forever being updated. After all, time is always changing. There were a few comfy looking chairs in the middle of the room, surrounding a portal which looked like a bunch of gasoline on water. You know, with all those really nice colors swirling around in neat designs.
And into this room, came in Lina and Xellos, Chaos Knights.
"Um... nice place." said Lina. There were no lamps or candles, but there was light in the room that
permitted you to see around you.
"Yes, isn't it?" asked Xellos. They had asked L-sama for permission and she let them, warning them to not change the time, but they could observe it. Time traveled at the same pace here as outside this room. So, if they spent one day observing people, a day would pass in their own world.
"Lot's of books." said Lina as she fingered some of them.
"Yes," said Xellos.
"With tiny print." said Lina as she thumbed through them.
"Yes." said Xellos.
"Stop confirming what I'm saying, Xellos." said Lina with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes." said Xellos. He grinned and jumped out of the way of her incoming elbow. Lina sighed, shook her head and went over to the card catalogue.
"That looks big." said Lina. "What should we look up under? Albuntra, or Fairy Tales, or 7 Dwarves?"
"Albuntra looks like the best choice," said Xellos. Lina nodded. It made lots of sense. Not that she hadn't known it, but she should include her helper, lest he feel ignored. She levitated slightly to reach the A's and took out the box which held the cards. Xellos thumbed through a few books here and there while Lina looked up Albuntra. After several minutes of playing around and hearing Lina sigh, stifle a scream and growl, he asked her.
"Can't find him yet?"
"It's not my fault!" said Lina. "Stupid thing keeps on changing!"
"How?" asked Xellos. He tried to send her soothing thoughts so that she'd calm down. After all, a calm Lina was a Lina that would not fireball everything in sight.
"Well, I'm looking up Albuntra, and all of a sudden, a bunch of cards are added, and some others are shifted and some vanish and basically, I can't make any progress!" said Lina. She wanted to throw down the cards so badly, but she didn't want to put all the cards in alphabetical order.
"Well, that is too be expected." said Xellos. "After all, isn't the catalogue constantly updated?"
"But can't they do it later?" asked Lina.
"Nope." said Xellos. "Time is always flowing."
"Oh, this is stupid." said Lina. She once more, began to search for the elusive card that seemed to escape her grasp by four cards or so. "Here, you start from the back, and I'll go from the front. Surely, the two of us can get that stupid card." So, Xellos helped out and a few minutes later, Xellos pulled out a card from the box.
"Ah ha!" he said.
"Good. Now, we have to find it." said Lina. She snatched the card and ran over to the bookcases, where she quickly found the book she was looking for. Xellos looked over her shoulder as she flipped through the pages. "Here it is! It says, we have to go to sector 521. 3, sub category 7."
"OK!" said Xellos. He went over to the portal and taking a pencil from a desk, wrote out the number of where they wanted to go and threw it into the portal. Swirling letters appeared, and Xellos smiled. "Ne, Lina chan, let's go! The portal's ready!"
"Coming!" said Lina. She put the book back and ran in. Xellos was about to follow her in, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned around and then bowed to L-sama.
*****
Amelia was bored, again. They had made it to the city safely and she had been able to give her speech on Patriotism and Justice. The crowd had loved it. Now that that was done, she got to rest a bit. It was really boring. Normally, she would be making a new speech for the next town or city she was planning on visiting for her 'campaign'. But she could write on in less than fifteen minutes. So, she had all this free time. She really wanted to get out. She looked out the window. The skies were blue with a few clouds here and there. It was the type of day that made you want to throw open the windows and soar through the winds. But she was a Princess, and Princesses are nice and polite and lady like. If Zelgadis were here, she'd ask him to go out and sight see the city with her. But he wasn't here. He was trying to regulate Dragon and Demon activities. She wanted to do that too. Actually, what she really wanted to do know... was to beat up someone. She couldn't wait till she got to. And with a happy and joyful smile, Amelia fantasized about her next encounter with the Dragons and Demons.
*****
Zelgadis frowned. He wasn't sure where to go. He had intervened in a few fights, or at least, had tried to. It was hard to kick their butts when they kept on running away from him. He decided to change tactics. This was useless. He took his map out and made a few marks on it, tested the wind, measured the angle from the sun to the horizon and headed west.
"Were are we going, Captain Stonewall?" asked one of the soldiers.
"Change of plan." said Zelgadis. After this, he would find Lina and ask her about the Lord of Nightmares. He still wasn't sure if he could talk to her or not.
*****
Gourry was practicing with his sword in the back of the house they were staying at. The city had been nice enough to let them stay at a very nice little house.
His sword swept through the air, seeming to slice it. Swoosh. Slice. There is another dead foe. He stopped and drank some cold juice that he had brought with him. He looked up at the sky. He wanted to do something. Something very interesting and fun. Like go with Lina and beat up another guy like that red shadow guy called Shabby something. That would be fun. He sighed and went back to practicing.
*****
Lina looked back. Xellos wasn't there. Which was odd. But she couldn't hang back and wait. She'd wait for him at the end of the tunnel. He didn't appear. She looked around him. She was among the villagers, but they couldn't see her. It was as if she were a roaming spirit among them. She tried to speak to a few people, but they passed right through her.
"OK," she said to herself. "They can't touch me, they can't hear me." She walked around, hoping to see a hint of purple or some shadow stalking her or something around those lines. None.
"OK, Xellos! Cut it out!" she shouted. No answer. "Come on, I know you're here somewhere! I can feel...." She tried to feel for him, and to her surprise, found that she couldn't. The only reason for this was that he was out of range. "Oh, stupid idiot. Just wait until I get my hands on you." And with that, she flew to the castle in the distance. Xellos had probably decided to race her without a warning.
*****
"OK," said Xellos. "So, I'm supposed to do that?"
"Yes." said the Lord of Nightmares. "Are there any problems?"
"Well... is there any specific way you want it done?" asked Xellos.
"Do it as you wish. Just get it finished." said the Lord of Nightmares.
"As you wish, my lordess." he said with a smile on his face. He bowed. L-sama hid a smile.
"Go, and fulfill my wishes." He vanished.
*****
"I want to know why you are doing all of this." said Xerxes as he sat across from where his 'sister' was. Although he wasn't exactly Zelas's brother, they were close.
"Because." said Zelas. She took a sip of Zephyrian wine. "Um... delicious."
"Yes, wonderful." said Xerxes in a dismissing manner. "But why? Why send demons to go and attack cities?"
"It's called a distraction." said Zelas. "I thought you might have figured it out by now."
"But why?" asked Xerxes again.
"You know, Xellos never asked." said Zelas. "He was obedient and he did everything with style while following my orders. He knew what was happening and had no need for questions."
"I'm not Xellos." said Xerxes. "I know I used to be, but we're split now, and that stupid Mazoku took some of my power."
"Yeah. Sly. So like him." said Zelas. Another sip. "You know, this wine was from the year he was born."
"Ugh." said Xerxes. He put his goblet down. "I'm surprised it hasn't rotted away or something."
"I have ways of preserving my wines." said Zelas.
"So, will you tell me?"
"Well,... you know the stupid Dragons have that silly scroll. What was it called again?... the Scroll of Rabula, they call it. It's prophecy is coming true, although they don't know how. I myself don't know, because it was guarded by the Ceipheed Knight for many years. I couldn't get close to it. Anyway, meditation and walking around with silly white robes and doing ceremonies in smoky rooms have rotted their brain. They think it's time to attack us when we are weak. So, I sent out distractions. It tests the will of the Dragons. After all, they are traveling far and wide to make sure the prophecy comes to be, but my distractions stop them. They ask themselves, should they protect the weak humans, or go and set the prophecy in motion? If they ignore the humans, the humans will resent it and fight them also. If they help, they succeed in slowing the prophecy. And that gives me time to figure it out. Understood?"
"OK." said Xerxes. "Nice plan. Except for a few things. You do know that your random attacks that are striking many places are waking up the ones in the other prophecy, right? You remember it, don't you? The one we spent quite a bit of time to hide?"
"True." said Zelas. "But, they are seven random people. What are the chances that my attacks will wake up all the Dwarfs? You're smart, do the math."
"Well, I must admit the chances are extremely slim, but so far, we know of two that have appeared." said Xerxes.
"Two are nothing against me." said Zelas with a cruel smile.
"Anyway, another thing. How exactly are you planning on finding out what the Rabula Scroll says?" asked Xerxes.
"Now that is a very simple matter." she said. "Open your senses. Where will my demons attack
next?" Xerxes closed his eyes for a while as he concentrated. Then he opened them, surprise in his eyes.
"You do know that you sent them on a suicide mission, right?" he asked.
Zelas smiled. "But... it's a nice little distraction. Besides, there are more from where they came from."
*****
Xellos phased into the room. It was lunch time in Seyruun.
"Hello!" he said cheerfully to them. Well, he appeared right behind Filia, causing her to give a little jump, turn and glare at him, and then have her trustworthy mace fly out to embed itself in Xellos's face.
"You... you NANAGOMI!" she screamed. "How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on me like that!" She hit his head with her mace again.
"Ouch." said Xellos as he savored the pain. "Nice... very nice. You've gotten stronger, Filia chan! Lina chan gets so angry at times, but she doesn't hit me with a mace..." He fingered her forearm and nodded appreciatively.
"Developing muscles, are we? Don't do too much, or else you'll get bulky and you won't look as nice!" He grinned and winked at her.
"Why... you!!! Don't touch me!" shouted Filia. She chased him around the room while Sylphiel laughed gently behind her hand. Those two were so amusing! They were such great friends! The guards looked on, very glad for the entertainment that Filia and Xellos were providing. "Sylphiel! Don't just sit there. Help me catch him!" Sylphiel thought for a little while, and then smiled. She had a good memory and though some people thought her slightly slow, she was great on judging relationships.
"Oh,.. Filia, Xellos. Stop flirting, you two." she said sweetly. "Xellos, you really should stop flirting with Filia. You know what Lina thinks of you having flings with other girls. And besides, you're encouraging Filia. How do you think Lina will take this when she finds out?" It had the desired effect on Xellos. He froze and looked at her with an amazed look.
"Never thought you'd have it in you." said Xellos as he stopped temporarily. "And besides, you're right. My dear Lina chan would throw a fit. How... tempting." Before he could start teasing once more, Filia reached him and stuck him in a headlock and tried to break his neck while speaking.
"Sylphiel!" she said. "You know very well that I detest this nanagomi and that I would rather flirt with a stone than with this freak of nature!"
"Good idea, Filia chan!" said Xellos even though his neck was in an extremely unusual position. "A rock wouldn't be scared by your looks. Well, I don't know... it might crack...."
"You are impossible!" shouted Filia. She banged him against the wall. "Take that! And that! And that! Die!" Xellos smiled.
A few minutes later, they had calmed down a bit. Filia was still flushed and she hastily fixed her hair. Sylphiel smiled and hid her laugh. Xellos just grinned like an idiot. That had been a delicious snack. It had been too long since he had such a delightful annoyance directed at him. Well,... he enjoyed Lina's anger just as much, although he was realizing that drinking in her thoughts concerning him where just as gratifying even though there was no annoyance or anger. All there was was a sort of contentment and delight. It was the feeling one got when drinking hot chocolate and marshmallows with a dash of cinnamon during a cold snowstorm. It gave him a... warm and fuzzy feeling... although had he felt this when he was a Mazoku, he'd be throwing up. And her anger was like eating a spicy dish of meat and tomatoes with fried egg and rice. That warned him up too. But Filia's... everyone's emotions and feelings had a certain taste to it... Filia's was like a glass of cold lemonade on a warm day. Yeah, call him weird, but he had favorite 'dishes', just like everyone else.
"So, Filia, Sylphiel... what were you two planning on doing the rest of the day?"
"No, we don't have anything planned, Xellos." said Sylphiel softly. "We finished training, and we have had no communication from other villages requesting reinforcements."
"So, basically, you have nothing else to do?" asked Xellos.
"We don't," said Sylphiel.
"Are you sure?" asked Xellos.
"What part of 'We don't' do you not get?" asked Filia, slightly annoyed.
"Ah... good. I wanted to make sure." said Xellos. "I have a small job that you girls might be interested in."
"As if." said Filia. But he could tell that she was very interested.
"Well... I can only tell you if you two trust in me." said Xellos.
"Of course we do, Mr. Xellos." said Sylphiel.
"Do you?" asked Xellos as he looked at Filia squarely in the eyes. Filia found herself looking into brilliant amethyst eyes.
"Well... I guess so." said Filia. She turned her eyes away from him.
"Then remember that." said Xellos. He winked at them and then, Filia found herself standing
against a wall in a very familiar looking room.
"What..." she started to say before a gloved hand covered her mouth.
"Be quiet!" whispered Xellos harshly. Filia turned around to glare at him. Beside him, he saw Sylphiel standing worriedly.
"OK,.." whispered Filia. "Now... care to tell us what is happening?"
"You are temporarily on a mission from L-sama." said Xellos. "Aren't you proud?" He would have said more except footsteps were being heard. Hurriedly, Xellos pushed them into the wall's shadows and he blended into another set of shadows. A Dragon Guard walked by. After he had left, Xellos walked to where Filia and Sylphiel were.
"Dampen down your magical auras," he said. "And find the Scroll of Rabula."
"Huh?" asked Filia.
"What is that?" asked Sylphiel.
"Supposedly, it predicts the triumph of the dragons over the demons." said Xellos with a smile. "But then again, dragons were never too smart. You should know that, Filia." Filia would have brained him and punted him into the wall had it not been for the fact that another set of footsteps were heard. Once more, they hid. After this Dragon Guard left, Xellos continued. "Anyway. Complications have come up. You're mission: grab the scroll and then get out of here. As soon as you're out of here, call me and I'll come. Don't, under no circumstances must you open the scroll."
"Why not?" asked Filia. "Surely if it's so important, then we should know about it."
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" he said. "Anyway, don't open it. Remember, you guys said you trust me. If
you don't, speak up now."
"I'll trust you, nanagomi." said Filia. "I take it that we're in the Central Temple of the Golden Dragons?"
"My, my, Filia. You're so smart!" said Xellos. "Yes you are. Now go. And remember..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." said Filia dismissively. "Get the scroll, don't open it and get out of here. Anything else, oh fearless leader?"
"That's Lina chan's title, you know." said Xellos with a smile. "Nope. Oh, and Filia chan. Try to remember that it is a secret mission. And try not to cause too much of an uproar. Good luck, Filia chan, Sylphiel." He vanished.
"OK." said Filia. She turned towards Sylphiel. "It's our turn to play heroes, Sylphiel. You ready?"
"I guess." said Sylphiel. "So, what do we do now?"
"I dunno." shrugged Filia. "OK, I'm a dragon priestess. You're a priestess. We'll force our way in if
we have to, but I'll not let Xellos get the satisfaction of us being beaten! Let's go!" Filia started to march off in one direction. Sylphiel sighed and picked up the purple envelope that was on the floor. She read it. She smiled. She hurriedly ran after Filia.
"Filia!" she whispered to her, remembering Xellos's orders to be quiet and secretive.
*****
Lina made it to the castle slightly out of breath. She frowned as she realized that she couldn't find Xellos anywhere. She was about to scream in anger, until she saw someone going out the castle. Surprised, she followed the figure. Was it just her imagination, or did the figure actually have ruby red hair? As she ran after the figure, she realized that she was trailing the Princess.
'What a stroke of luck!' she thought to herself. Well, if Xellos wasn't around, she'd do the mission
and figure out what was happening with the Princess.
The Princess looked around herself as she slowed down and stopped at a nice and very pretty house with a trimmed lawn and pretty flowers. Lina looked perplexedly. This was the place where Albuntra's home used to be. It was so changed... She wondered what time it was here... was it perhaps a year or so after she was here? Oh well... time to check. She followed the Princess in, passing right through a closed door. Inside, she listened and watched.
"Albuntra!" shouted Princess.
"In here!" shouted back a voice from upstairs. The Princess smiled, put her coat on a chair and ran upstairs. With a start, Lina realized the change of clothes in the Princess. Gone were the really showy gowns she had before, replaced by simple finery in happy colors.
"What are you doing?" she asked as she ran up. "I told you yesterday that Father and Mother wanted to meet with you to discuss your next project." She opened a door. It looked like a bedroom. There was a desk and that's where Albuntra sat. Lina was happy to see him so calm and controlled and content while writing.
"I'm sorry. I got this really great idea and I had to write it down before I forgot." he said. The Princess sighed, bopped him on the head and sat beside him.
"So, what's this one about?" she asked as she read over his shoulder. "Father and Mother really enjoyed your collection of short stories."
"I'm glad." said Albuntra. "You know, it's nice to be a writer with the king and queen's full support, you know."
"Of course!" said Lina, the Princess. "I told you it was a good idea to marry me."
"How could I forget." said Albuntra with a smile. "Anyway, this is a story dedicated to Fire."
"To me?" she asked. Her eyes twinkled.
"Well, not exactly, although you are a very fiery young lady." said Albuntra. "You remember that prophecy I wrote some time back that your father has safe guarded?"
"Oh yeah... you mean the Fire in the Prophecy?" she asked. "But, how do you know it'll get to her?"
"Well, I'm a part time prophet. If L-sama wishes her to get it, then she will." said Albuntra. "Besides it has important information that Fire will probably want."
"Sounds good." said Lina. "So, do you want us to put it with the prophecy so that they are kept together?"
"No." said Albuntra. "You see, I have no guarantee that Fire will get this."
"But there is no guarantee that Fire will get your prophecy." said Lina.
"No, the prophecy I know she has." said Albuntra with a smile. "This one, to be sure that it is handed down and never forgotten, will first become a children's tale."
"Oh! A story for children!" said Lina.
Meanwhile, Lina Inverse smiled. So, Albuntra had meant it as a hint. Now, to find out the actual names. She appeared in the Time Stream and went forward a few months to find out what the names were.
End of Chapter 22
Hey! Wow, I can't believe it... you guys reviewed! Hurrah! Yoohoo! Victory! Thank you so much! I'm so happy! So, here's the next installment of the fic. I hope you liked it. I was itching to write a Xellos and Filia scene, but had no idea to fit it in. I'm quite proud to say that this scene turned out quite well. I had so much fun writing it! Anyway, a note... the meat dish is called a churrasco. It's really, really, really good! And it can have fries also. It's soooooooooooooooooo good! OK, so, hope you enjoyed it. Drop me a review please. Comments and Criticism are, as always, extremely welcome. Thank you for being such great readers and reviewers. You all deserve a huge hug! Thanks, guys, for everything!
Sincerely,
Hotaru
If you have built castles in the air, Your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them. -Henry David Thoreau
Be not simply good; be good for something. -Henry David Thoreau