And All the Walls Came Tumbling Down
Chapter, the Fourth
There's nothing quite like traveling. Out in the open air, walking through shaded forests and rolling planes, life seems simple. A life of adventuring had yet to remove the pleasures of journeying from the fiery sorceress Lina Inverse. She had been traveling since she was fourteen and was now in her nineteenth year. And she had spent four of those traveling years in the company of a sword wielding jellyfish. But for all his simplicity, the crimson eyed Lina knew she would not trade any of those years away, nor would she willingly let him go.
For his part, Gourry was enjoying the comfortable silence between them. Like most of his time since he had met the red-headed sorceress, he understood vaguely that words were not said because in truth, they were not needed. Then the blonde swordsman thoughts turned to where they were heading. The map had mentioned something about a 'promise of Victory, sealed in Darkness'. But at Lina's urging, he had looked through for the key to opening the seal. He still didn't know what the lines meant though.
"'Only a true heart can open the way'," Gourry muttered as he walked.
Lina looked over at her blue-clad traveling companion. "What'd you say Gourry?" There was no answer, he just continued on. On anyone else, she would say he was lost in thought. But Bait-for-Brains? Couldn't be.
Gourry looked up and his eyes met his companion's ruby orbs. "Huh, Lina?" His eyes suddenly narrowed and his whole body tensed.
Ever an astute observer, the diminutive sorceress saw the change come over Gourry and she immediately fell into a battle ready stance. She listened intently. There! Glancing off into the woods to her right, she heard the sounds of one, maybe two creatures stalking just beyond the cover of the foliage. Focusing to her left, she was unsurprised to sense a few more on that side as well. She brought her gaze up to meet the swordsman's hardened sapphire eyes.
Gourry stared her down and nodded. "Two to the right, four to the left, and three just past the bend in the trail." He saw Lina start; apparently she missed the ones ahead. But Gourry had always been the more observant of the two. It was second nature for the great sword master. He looked back to the fiery-maned sorceress.
"I'll take the left, you take the right. Whoever gets done first gets the ones in the middle." Lina smiled when Gourry blinked once and put a hand on his new blade. "All right, lets go." Magical energy flowed into her cupped hands. She pointed to the left.
"DILL BRAND!"
Gourry felt and heard the explosion behind him as he leapt toward the two creatures in the woods. The blast, coupled with his sudden movement allowed him to get the drop on the monsters. Werewolves, he noted as he sliced into the first one. It was a clean cut, going through the beast and the tree next to it. He immediately spun away to his left as he felt a heavy wind brush along his side from the right. Finishing his maneuver, Gourry found himself face to face with the surprised werewolf.
Not wasting any time, the swordsman dropped the tip of his sword low to the ground as he charged. He swiftly brought his blade up in a massive arc that cut deeply into the were-creature. He expected the wound to immediately begin to heal and was surprised when it didn't. Apparently his new sword had silver mixed into the alloy. Good for him, bad for any were-creatures he found. His immediate opponents gone, he sprinted back to the road only to see Lina finishing off her targets.
As the blonde fought, Lina discovered she had not gotten all of her targets with one blast. While she waited for the smoke to clear she summoned up the power for another spell. Which was good when a werewolf leapt out of the smoke directly at her. Thinking quickly, she shouted out, "FLARE ARROW," and roasted the offending creature.
Instincts drove her to dive to the right. As she rolled away she felt a clawed hand scrape her shoulder guard. "Hey buddy, what do you think you're doing? Nobody messes with my clothes!"
The werewolf's eyes widened as she stood to her full height. Though he towered over her, the fire burning in her eyes would be enough to cow the hardiest of Mazoku, let alone a simple monster. It tried to back peddle, but was only rewarded with an eerie glow in the sorceress's left hand. As the orb increased in size a strangely pleased grin settled on the red-head's face; the werewolf only saw death. There was only time to pray it would be quick. Luckily it was.
"FIREBALL!"
The ball of flame did not even leave ashes. Lina glanced to her right and saw Gourry heading toward her. Wanting to give both of them some cover from the remaining creatures, she summoned another spell. "BURST ROUND!" Not a strong spell, but it would slow the werewolves down long enough for Gourry to get to her.
A yelp came from the area that had been targeted by the spell. An instant later a singed bipedal monster charged at the diminutive young woman. She powered another spell, but turned and launched it at a different attacker when Gourry appeared out of the corner of her eye and skewered the charging monstrosity. A Flare Arrow later, both combatants heard the final creatures turn tails and run. Dusting off her gloved hands, Lina smiled at her taller partner.
"Well that was a little bit of excitement, wasn't it Gourry." She turned when he didn't answer and saw that he was still standing ready, watching the forest warily. "Gourry?"
The golden-haired swordsman glanced at her briefly before replying, "There's still something out there Lina," as he flicked his eyes to the woods. "I can't see it though." Both were startled by the sounds of clapping. Lina's concern quickly melted into anger when she saw a staff wielding being walk out from behind a tree.
"Xelloss, what in L-sama's name are you doing here?"
The purple-haired Mazoku's closed eyed arched in humor. "Why, Lina! Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Nope," she replied. With a sniff, Lina turned from him and motioned to Gourry to follow her.
The big swordsman glared at Xelloss for a moment before turning and following his fiery companion. Even if he could barely remember why, the blonde warrior knew that the trickster only came around when it wanted something. And whatever it was would turn out to be trouble for him and Lina. He gripped his sword handle tightly, hoping that the Mazoku would just leave.
Apparently Xelloss had other plans. Skipping up to the retreating duo, it matched their pace and followed alongside them. Without an apparent care for the lack of conversations, at least for the moment, the staff-wielding priest continued with them like it had always been there. Grumbling, Lina finally turned to the Mazoku.
"All right, Xelloss. What do you want?"
"And what if I don't want anything? You, Zelgadiss and the Princess are the closest things I have to friends," Xelloss explained with a wide smile. "Can't I spend time with my friends?"
Gourry looked confusedly at the Mazoku. "Um, I thought Mazoku didn't have friends."
Rolling her eyes, Lina looked away from the trickster to answer the swordsman and answered, "They don't, Gourry. Which is why he's going to tell me why he's here right now or I'm gonna Dragon Slave him into next week." She glared at Xelloss and crossed her arms.
Eyes arched in amusement, the purple haired priest held gloved hands up in surrender. "But that's exactly why I wish to travel with you. Wherever you go, wholesale destruction is never far behind!"
Ruby eyes twitched dangerously. "Wrong answer, Xelloss." With a growl, Lina powered up a spell in her hands.
"I give, I give," Xelloss exclaimed as he waived a hitherto unseen white flag. "I'm here because I have some information that could help you."
The flame-haired sorceress scowled at the Mazoku's answer. Past experience had taught her that nothing Xelloss did was done without an ulterior motive.
"What kind of information?"
Cloaked shoulders shaking in laughter, the wily Mazoku replied, "Well, that map you have doesn't tell you how to open the seal, only that there is one." It caught the look and nod between the swordsman and the sorceress and smiled. "I know how to open the seal."
Lina crossed her arms as she regarded Xelloss. He's always got an angle, she thought as she considered what the purple-haired priest had said. I'd rather not have to spend an extra week busting in. Especially, and a slight blush rose on her cheeks, since in two weeks I won't be at my best. I want to be in a nice inn by then. "Ok, Xelloss. What's the catch?"
The closed eyes of the Mazoku arched in surprise, the smile never leaving its face. "Catch? There is no catch Lina," Xelloss began with a nod. "You get the pleasure of my company all the way to the ruins, and I help you get in."
"That's it?"
Xelloss nodded. "That's it."
This has mistake written all over it. Lina sighed and ran a hand through her coppery hair. She looked over at Gourry and saw the apprehension on his face. She smiled at him before turning back to the Mazoku priest.
"All right," she said finally. "We're not going to get rid of you anyway, so might as well have you with us for the moment." She turned to her long time partner and gestured to the road. Lina and Gourry started walking, Zelas's general-priest close behind. And both fell down a moment later when Xelloss began to hum a song.
"…On the Road again…"
After traveling for the rest of the day, Lina finally called a halt. Spotting a small clearing just off of the road, the sorceress and her companions set up camp. After setting up both tents, Gourry had headed into the woods to do some hunting. So Lina had gathered enough wood to make a nice fire.
Muttering the words to a small spell, she breathed out and a small tongue of flame leapt to the kindling. Grasping the splinters of wood, the small flame soon coaxed a larger blaze out of its surroundings, until the campfire glowed merrily. Satisfied that her work was done, Lina sat back a few feet from the fire and waited to see what her protector brought to cook.
Soon enough the golden haired swordsman returned. In one hand he held a small bundle of fur. In his other, he held some plants. Ruby eyes widened as a petite stomach let out a growl a bear would be proud of.
"So what did you catch, Gourry?" Lina asked as Gourry plunked himself down next to the fire.
All smiles, Gourry looked over at the red head and said, "Found a brace of rabbits and some vegetables. Figured we could make a good stew with it."
While Gourry went about cleaning the rabbits, Lina unclasped her cloak and set it down in front of her. Digging around for a moment, she found the pot and stand she was looking for. Setting the stand around the fire, the sorceress muttered a spell and filled the cooking pot with water. She smiled to herself. Who says that magic only blows stuff up?
Within minutes the preparations were done and the stew was simmering. The stars had come out in the clear night sky while they had set up camp. How often had the swordsman and the sorceress done this? Nothing was said between them; there was nothing needed. It was a companionable silence shared by two long time friends as the stew cooked. Gourry would stir the pot occasionally, then bring some of the broth to his lips to check its readiness.
Ruby eyes watched as the blonde warrior prepared the meals. Lina could think of little that could be better than traveling with Gourry. Still, what did he see in her? In all of their travels, he had never once left her for some late night companionship. Blushing, Lina remembered the first time they had come to a town, after the incident with the mummy man. The crimson-eyed Lina didn't think she could ever forget what he had said that night.
Even though she was a young girl of fifteen, the fiery sorceress did know what most men did with a little bit of coin in their pockets. By that time, her travels with Naga had taught her that most men thought about only two things: power and sex. So she had spent the entire evening waiting for her new traveling companion to either hit on her or pick up one of the women in the tavern. Lina was shocked beyond belief when he had done neither. After attacking the foodstuffs of the restaurant with as much gusto as she did, Gourry had ordered an ale and asked her about her travels.
She started to answer, but pulled her self up short remembering what Naga had said. So instead Lina had asked, "Are you hitting on me?"
Gourry's eyes clouded in confusion. "I'm sitting on the other side of the table. How could I be hitting you?"
"No, no, no!" She had screeched. "Are you trying to pick me up?" It only confused him more.
"Umm, but already I know I could pick you up, you're a lot smaller than me."
Lina had banged her head on the table in frustration. "Are you trying to get me to sleep with you," she spat out through gritted teeth.
Sapphire eyes cleared immediately. Gourry had replied, "Nope," and put his feet up on the table to stretch out and relax.
His answer had brought the red-headed sorceress up short. The blue-clad warrior had answered too promptly to have been lying. Looking at him, it was clear that the swordsman was totally relaxed, so he wasn't trying to hide anything. Now she didn't know if she should be relieved or insulted. So she decided to ask.
"Not that I care or anything, and not that this is an offer," Lina had added with a flush, "But why not?"
The swordsman shook his head with a frown. "I know mercenaries have a bad reputation, but we're not all bad." He took a swig from his ale and burped in contentment. "Its easy to see you're not old enough.
Besides," he continued, looking into the fireplace, "I'd only do that with someone I loved. And old Miranda said I'd know when I met her." Blinking, Gourry turned his sapphire eyes back to the crimson haired girl before him. "So where'd you learn magic anyway? I didn't think they taught little girls that kind of stuff…"
Lina smiled. After that comment she had roasted him with a flare arrow. And true to his word, when evening came Gourry said good night and went to his room alone. That was one of the first indications that he was different than any other guy she had met. And their subsequent travels had proved it. Lina had never met someone with as much chivalry as the blonde. Thinking back, Gourry had always treated her with kindness and dignity.
And now he was cooking for her. Lina's smile widened. I'm so spoiled, she thought. I'll never find another guy like Gourry.
Like you would even look. She started when the thought snuck up on her. Would she ever find someone better than the swordsman? Sure, there were smarter guys out there, but none of them were remotely as nice as Gourry. Eh, he probably still thinks of me as a little girl, she thought glumly. The former Swordsman of Light's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
"Hey Lina, dinners ready."
Shaking her head to clear it, Lina turned her crimson orbs on her friend and grinned as he handed her a plate. Both dug in, and her thoughts were forgotten as the battle for the most gustatory pleasure began in earnest. Only too soon there was nothing left in the pot except bones. The fiery young woman let out a satisfied sigh.
"There's nothing like a good meal, eh Gourry?" She asked of her traveling companion.
He nodded. "You bet; I just wish I had some ale to wash it down with. Oh well." Gourry looked around for a moment before turning his gaze to the sky. "Y'know, Lina," he began, but then let the sentence trail off.
Laying down on the ground near the swordsman, Lina glanced at him out of the corner of her crimson eyes. The firelight made Gourry's golden hair seem to writhe and dance as the flames flickered. His eyes were on the stars, and his face was open and unguarded.
"Ever wonder what it'd be like to love somebody Lina?"
The flame haired sorceress froze where she lay. "W…Why do you ask?"
Apparently missing Lina's tone, Gourry shrugged. "I dunno. I guess I was thinking about Miranda, and what she said."
"Oh." Lina couldn't figure out where this was going. "What did she say?"
"Well, I don't really remember exactly what she said the last time we talked." Gourry scrunched up his face in concentration and said, "But I remember Miranda said that when I found the right girl she'd be all I'd dreamed of."
Now the petite sorceress's pulse quickened and a blush colored her cheeks to match her eyes. Looking over, she saw a soft smile on Gourry's face. Before anything else could be said or done, however, a voice whispered through the night. It was silky in its softness, but it made Lina's blood run cold anyway.
"Now don't you two lovebirds look all cozy?"
Lina screeched and jumped up as Xelloss appeared on the other side of the fire. The Mazoku was sitting on a small stump while resting its smiling face on gloved hands. Her entire face matching the fire in her hair, she looked from the swordsman to the priest.
"You don't know what you're talking about Xelloss," Lina hissed out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Gourry was leaning forward with his arms around his knees. But he had a hand on his sword, and his knuckles were white from the force of his grip.
Xelloss merely smiled from where he sat. "Why, Lina! Did I strike a nerve?"
Standing with her hands balled in fists and shaking, Lina was a testimony to rage. For his part, Gourry recognized the coming storm and tensed. As soon as the sorceress brought up a single gloved hand, he dove for the cover of his tent.
"FIREBALL!!"
The place Xelloss had been sitting at was enveloped in an inferno. Her anger spent, Lina turned and stalked into her tent. She muttered a good night to her protector as she stomped by. Upon entering her tent, she immediately changed for bed. With a sigh, she flopped down onto her sleeping roll.
Lina growled deep in her throat. Why'd he have to do that? Everything was fine until that bastard showed up. She willed herself not to think about the direction hers and Gourry's conversation had been heading. As if that would work. Dammit all.
She was mad at Xelloss for interrupting Gourry, yes. After all, it was not often that the blonde swordsman spoke about his family. Who was this Miranda that he was talking about? There had been a reverence in his voice when he had spoken about the lady. It wasn't his mother's name, Lina knew that. Gourry had said before that he didn't know his mother, as she had died when he was a baby and his father refused to speak of her.
So if it wasn't the jellyfish's mother, then who was she? More importantly, it sounded like this Miranda had known Gourry's future. Lina rolled over with a huff. Unless she asked Gourry she wouldn't have any answers. And she didn't want to talk to him right now. Maybe in the morning, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.
A restful evening and a breakfast of hot food (Gourry had apparently brought some dry foods with him from the last town) had improved Lina's mood immensely. After polishing off the morning meal, the duo headed out to continue their travels. Lina was dressed a little different than her traditional black, pink, and yellow sorceress garb. While her reddish-pink pants were the same, her shirt and bandeau were replaced with a sleeveless yellow turtleneck. When asked, she had merely replied that her normal clothes were dirty.
For once the travel was boring. Other than each other, there was little for Lina and Gourry to speak about, other than the map and the ruins. But neither minded. Long association made trips like this a comfortable affair. Even Xelloss's return on the last day of the week long trek did little to deter the ruby-eyed sorceress's high spirits.
There's nothing like a good quest, Lina thought as they neared the ruins. She could see the remains of old stonework littered about this section of the forest. It was good that the end was in sight. Soon Xelloss would be gone, and Lina and Gourry could get back to what they did best: causing trouble. A few minutes worth of travel later, and the ruins appeared out of the forest.
At first the crumbling building looked like part of an old city. Then it clicked for Lina. Spinning around and taking in the entire landscape, she came to the conclusion that it wasn't a city. No, this looked to have been a fortress. It was amazing that so much of it was left after a thousand years. Another thought struck her. Which side had built this?
Unfortunately, the only way to get any of the necessary answers involved Xelloss. And if that Mazoku muttered 'that is a secret' more than once she was going to dragon slave him. Lina turned to her purple haired traveling companion, questions on her lips. The only response was an eerie smile.
"Alright Xelloss. Now that we're here, spill it." Lina tapped her foot in impatience. "How do we get in here?"
Xelloss wagged a no-no finger. "That, my dear…"
"Don't say it Xelloss."
The Mazoku's eyes arched in amusement as he paused. "Now, now Lina. A deal is a deal." Smile widening, it continued, "I was going to say that the answer requires a bit of a history lesson.
"You see, this area was one of the primary strongholds for the Demon God of the North's forces. In fact, one of his generals called this fortress home." Xelloss said wit a smile. "This particular general was a force to be reckoned with, and his armies slaughtered countless of the Water Dragon's forces, never meeting defeat."
The Mazoku looked around the fallen fortress before continuing. "And it was that efficiency that caused his downfall. Eventually the greatest champion of the Water Dragon gathered a small army and stormed the fortress. Luckily the general was not here at the time or they would have been defeated.
"But they were successful in destroying all of the lesser Mazoku and monsters. The general realized what was happening too late and returned here. Then the champion and the general fought. It was a glorious battle." Xelloss sniffled and pantomimed wiping a tear from its closed eye.
Lina was more than a little surprised. She remembered then that Xelloss had been alive during the War of the Demon God's Revival. She listened intently, since so little information was known about what happened in the war.
The trickster continued, "It seemed that the general underestimated the strength and ability of his opponent. The champion possessed an artifact that made him the equal of the general. Unprepared for such a resistance, there could only be one outcome, and the general was defeated. However, in his death he destroyed the fortress and the Champion. The battle itself was so intense it garnered the attentions of one of the Mazoku Lords herself. She saw the weapon that had slain the general and desired it for her own minions.
Before she could claim her prize, the elves that had fought with the champion sealed the destroyed fortress." Xelloss cocked its head to one side. "Mind you, this was back when the forces of the Ryuuzoku could wield as much holy power as the Mazoku wield infernal. And that, as they say, is that."
Lina shook her head as she absorbed the information she was just given. Looking over, she was nonplussed to see the walking invertebrate that was Gourry asleep. He leaned against a pillar, soft snores coming from him. With a sigh, she grasped the slipper she kept secreted for just such an occurrence.
"Slipper Smash!" She yelled as she jumped up and smacked the snoring blonde soundly in the head.
With a crash, the blue-clad warrior fell to the floor. He groaned as he attempted to right himself, the world slowly coming into focus. First he saw Lina's burning ruby eyes, then he caught the grin on Xelloss's face.
"Is the lesson over Lina?" He asked from his place on the ground, on guard this time for another smack from the Slipper of Doom ™.
Crossing her arms, the petite sorceress growled, "It is now, bait-for-brains. Did you hear anything Xelloss said?"
"Umm, he was talking about some Mazoku general and a fight that happened here," Gourry began. "After that, I kind of zoned out." He looked up at her brightly. "Who won?"
With a screech of indignation, Lina charged at the hapless swordsman. His eyes widened as he saw death in her eyes. Gourry ducked his head between his arms and waited for the pain. He was not disappointed.
Xelloss watched, amusement etched in its smile. Ah, these two really do make for the best of meals. It's too bad, really. The Mazoku quickly assumed a neutral expression when Lina turned back to him after turning Gourry into a pancake. She stalked up to him, slipper still in hand.
"Alright, Xelloss. Thanks for the history lesson; now how do we get in?"
Zelas's general-priest smiled. "Well, I guess you could just go over to the sealing stone and ask nicely." The Cheshire smile widened when Lina fell over in shock. To avoid an imminent beating, Xelloss walked over to a specific stone on the ground.
Recovering, the crimson haired sorceress stomped over to her Mazoku 'friend', but paused when she saw the stone Xelloss was standing near. There was magical energy fairly rolling off of it. Clearly this was the barrier stone mentioned on the map.
"What's this artifact that you keep mentioning?" Lina queried as she looked over the stone.
Lina could almost feel the trickster wagging a no-no finger. "That, my dear, is a Secret!"
"Why, you!" the combustible sorceress growled as she whirled on the purple haired Mazoku. "You had better tell me how to open this, right now, or you won't wag any finger at anyone, ever again."
With a smile, Xelloss answered, "Well, your map says that 'a true heart' is needed. If you have connections to the ones that sealed this, then it should open."
Lina smirked as she stared at the stone. "Well, since I have destroyed parts of Shabranigdo, helped with Gaav and Phibrizzo, it should open for me no problem." She stood in front of the stone, considering what to say. She snapped her fingers after a moment. Stealing a page from Amelia's Handbook of Justice (also ™), the ruby-eyed sorceress struck a mighty pose.
"I am Lina Inverse, Sorcery Genius. I stand here with a true heart and wish for the barrier to fall!"
So she stood there, waiting. More than a minute later, she lowered her arms and blushed nearly as red as her hair. To the Mazoku's credit and continued good health, Xelloss managed to only wear a manic grin. Of Gourry's reaction, there was no sign. Until a strong voice spoke up from behind her.
"So this is the stone, eh Lina?"
Aghast that Gourry was so close (and that he had probably seen her pose), Lina whipped around and grabbed him by the throat. Her intent to throttle the hapless swordsman was derailed when her momentum sent them off balance onto the stone.
There was a flash of blindingly white light followed by the rumbling of the ground around them. With a groan, the sealing stone sank into the ground, carrying its passengers along for the ride. Xelloss merely floated nearby and watched the show.
"I wonder if I should tell them all they needed was to touch the stone with good intentions?" The Mazoku chuckled as it asked the air. Not getting a response, Xelloss faded from sight with a wicked grin.
A small ride into the earth later, Lina and Gourry found themselves on rocky ground. The fiery sorceress stood up and dusted herself off as the gallant swordsman continued to lay on the ground in a haze. Grinning, she nudged him with her foot. With a shout, Gourry's vision cleared and he took in the surrounding darkness. He stood and looked over at the sorcery genius.
"That was a rough trip, Lina," he said as she repositioned his shoulder guards.
Lina smiled faintly, "I'll say. Well at least we're down here."
Both sorceress and warrior looked around in from the pool of light let in by the opening they had fallen through. Though worn with age, the floor still looked man-made. It also looked like they had fallen quite a ways, as the shaft of light from the surface only lit an area about five feet wide. The shadows around them seemed ominous, but did not alight on a wall or archway.
Must be in the center of a large room, Lina thought to herself as she looked around. With a mutter, the sorceress charged a lighting spell to better see their surroundings. With a hiss, her protector's sword was out as the light showed the glint of rocky, humanoid bodies surrounding them. They were totally surrounded by golems. Lina just gulped. "Oh crap…" She immediately powered up a spell.
"FLARE ARROW!!"
Multiple lances of fire appeared in Lina's hand. With a cry she let them fly, destroying a couple of the charging Golems. Gourry was standing a few feet away, using his sword as best he could to hold of the stone monstrosities. Lina was impressed. Even though it did little physical damage to the golems, the blade had so far resisted breaking. Still, the sheer numbers of the golems would eventually wear down both of them.
"There's too many of them!" Lina shouted as she dodged the fist of one of the living rocks.
Gourry only grunted as he was glanced by one of the golems. Leaping out of the way, he quickly sliced at one of the stone creations as it was sneaking up on the red-headed sorceress. After beating it back, he landed with his back to her.
"So what do we do, Lina?"
The petite sorceress looked around. There wasn't enough room for any big spells. Then it hit her. Dropping to one knee, Lina looked back at Gourry.
She yelled out, "Hold them off for a minute!"
Grunting with the effort it took to push back another golem, Gourry answered, "I'll try!" Steeling himself, Gourry surveyed the battlefield. Thankfully, the golems Lina had felled granted him a little bit of protection from an all out assault. Then he spotted a crevice that would give Lina enough time for whatever she was going to do.
Noting that she hadn't started her spell yet, the blonde warrior grabbed her by the cloak and leapt onto the head of a golem. Lina followed along with a startled squeak. Using it as leverage, Gourry made the jump to safety. Spinning quickly, he dropped a very surprised sorcery genius behind him.
"Ooof!" Lina had been about to activate her talismans when her companion grabbed her. From her new vantage point behind the blue clad swordsman, Lina noticed that all of the golems could only come at them from one direction. She decided to thank, and beat, Gourry later. She had magic to do.
"Lords of the Darkness and the Four Worlds, I call upon you, grant me all the power that you possess!" Lina called out to activate her talismans. All four began glowing with power. Still on the ground, Lina began her next spell. She felt the magic running wild in her veins, and used her will to control it. Under control, she willed the power to form and obey.
"DUG HAUT!!"
Magical force pushed out of Lina in waves, heading in all directions. It passed through Gourry, but she noticed it go around his sword. Her eyes widened; she'd definitely need to look at that sword later! Even as she noticed the sword, the wave continued, engulfing everything in the room they were standing in.
After the wave passed, nothing initially happened. Then with a rumble, all of the golems fell to pieces as the power of the earth spirit was severed. As the last golem collapsed into a heap, both Lina and Gourry let out heavy sighs. Lina was sweating a little bit as she struggled for breath. For all her power, it took more out of the fiery sorceress to cast spells outside of her chosen spell focus.
Gourry looked around, alert for more trouble. Detecting nothing, he sat down unceremoniously next to Lina. With a start, he noticed that Lina was nearly as worn as if she had cast a dragon slave. But then, she had just destroyed enough golems to populate a small village. "You okay, Lina?"
Ruby eyes peered up and met concerned sapphire orbs. With a sigh, she answered, "Yeah Gourry, I'm fine. That took a bit more out of me than I thought. That's a little out of my specialty."
Gourry's face clouded in confusion. How could anything magic be outside her specialty? That was like saying that him using her smaller sword was more difficult than the blades he was used to. But the swordsman knew that his training allowed him to use any sword. Some days he just didn't understand magic. All right, most days he didn't understand magic.
Instead of asking – and probably getting toasted for it – he simply said, "I kind of wish Zelgadiss were here right now. This would have been easier with his help."
Lina smiled. "Well, he might have complained about getting dragged away from his cure, but you're right." She leaned against the stone Gourry was sitting on and sighed. "His mastery of Shamanistic magic would have come in really handy."
Feeling the wave of exhaustion fade, Lina shook her head, her crimson locks swinging around like a lit torch. She caught the glint of steel out of the corner of her eye and remembered what she had seen Gourry's new blade do. Curiosity overwhelmed her and she reached for the handle.
"Hey Gourry, let me see your sword for a minute."
The swordsman looked at her confusedly for a moment before shrugging and handing over the blade. "Sure thing Lina. But what do you want to look at it for? It's just a sword."
She only nodded as she took it from him. "Maybe," she said distractedly as she looked at the odd metal it was made out of, "but the spell I used earlier went around it instead of through it." Running her gloved hand along the length of the blade, she was surprised to feel her fingers tingle when she touched the blade.
Her ruby eyes widened. There's orihalcon in the blade?!? Lina thought, amazed. That would explain what happened when I cast the Dug Haut, and why it didn't break against those golems. She handed the sword back to her friend with a smile.
"We're going to have to go back and talk to Gerald. I have to find out how he made this sword."
Gourry took the sword back. "That good, huh?"
Lina nodded her head. With a deep breath, she stood. Dusting herself off, Lina turned to Gourry and said, "Alright, let's go. There's probably a lot more to get to before we find all of the interesting stuff."
The golden haired warrior returned her smile and stood. "Sure Lina."
Both looked around for a doorway or an archway. Spotting one, Gourry pointed it out and the two Slayers headed deeper into the ruins. The archway eventually led to a corridor that branched to the left and right. Looking at each other, they shrugged. They picked a direction and headed further in.
With a slight hiss of displaced matter, Xelloss reappeared in a barely lit room with a black marble floor. The Mazoku was kneeling in supplication, the ruby tipped staff it favored held in one gloved hand. Looking up slightly, Xelloss peered at the occupant of the room.
Framed by small candles and lounging half draped in a massive throne, was a beautiful woman. Scantily dressed in a revealing black gown, acres of pearly white skin fairly glowed in the dark. A slender hand held an incredibly long cigarette holder. Blonde hair cascaded around the woman as the lit cigarette was brought to blood red lips. Of the beautiful woman's face, the only details other than soft lips were twin lines of green that traced from the middle of the cheek down toward the neck.
Taking a drag from cancer stick and making the embers glow hotly, hidden eyes coolly regarded the Mazoku that knelt in front of the throne. Exhaling a large puff of hazy smoke, the vision of loveliness languorously used its remaining free hand to pick up a goblet of dark liquid. Surveying the purple haired trickster, Zelas Metallum gave no indication of the mood, if any, that currently occupied the Mazoku Lord.
"So they have opened the ruins," the woman said softly, sipping the nearly black substance.
Taking the cue to stand, Xelloss nodded as it lifted off of the floor. "Yes, my mistress. Both Lina and Gourry have entered the ruins."
"Very well. What of the others?"
Xelloss paled, visibly, knowing Zelas would not approve of the answer. "There have been…complications, Beast Lord."
Zelas frowned and opened previously hidden eyes. "What do you mean, complications?"
Gulping, Xelloss cocked its head to one side. "It seems that our favorite little chimera is made of sterner stuff than we had anticipated. Somehow he learned of my involvement with his, ahem, condition, and that I possessed his cure." Xelloss straightened at the deepening frown of the Beast Lord.
Taking another drag from its cigarette, Zelas hmmmd in thought. Swishing the dark liquid in the crystal goblet thoughtfully, the Mazoku Lord was silent for many moments. Finally, Zelas met Xelloss's eyes and spoke.
"Will this prevent you from completing your mission?"
The trickster priest brought a hand up to its sculpted chin as it considered the question. Finally, Xelloss answered, "I don't believe so, Mistress. I can handle Zelgadiss and his traveling companions." Lavender eyes regarded the black orbs of the Beast Lord for a moment. "However, without me there to provide 'entertainment', Lina and her idiot traveling companion will make short work of the few wards and traps in the ruins."
Zelas nodded. "Very well. I will send a few servants to attend to Lina." The lord of Wolfpack Island regarded Xelloss coolly. There had been too much disdain in its general priest's voice for the swordsman.
"Watch yourself, Xelloss. Anyone that can defy the Lord of Nightmares is not someone to be underestimated, magic or no." Xelloss flinched under its master's rebuke. "Or have you forgotten so soon your defeat during the War?"
The purple haired Mazoku grimaced, lavender eyes open wide. "Yes Mistress."
The Beast Lord smiled at the uncharacteristic anger radiating from its favorite underling. For all his success, and all the time that has gone by, that's still a tender subject.
"You may go Xelloss. I shall send two old friends of yours to attend the sorceress and her swordsman. Just remember," Zelas said with a small smile, dark orbs again obscured by golden hair, "If you fail, then Dynast will be forced to show his hand. Don't disappoint me, my dear."
Xelloss stared at its lord and master for a moment. Slowly lavender eyes closed, finally arching in amusement. With a wide grin and a respectful bow, the Mazoku faded from the room.
With a sigh, the Beast Lord straightened in the black throne. With a feral grin more at home on a rabid animal, Zelas projected a mental call to two specific Mazoku. Todra, Geki, Attend me!
The response was instant. Just off to the throne's left was a flash as a column of flame appeared. As it faded, a hunched creature emerged. Hairless, with its skin moving and crawling as if alive, a thin and twisted being stood at attention in front of the Mazoku Lord. Instead of hands, the foul monstrosities upper arms ended in large cleaver like appendages. Beneath those were two much smaller, much weaker looking arms that ended in proper hands.
Off to the right of the throne was the hiss of a whirlwind. As the winds coalesced, at being garbed in a tattered cloak appeared. The face could have been human, save for two coal black eyes, and a third eye of a vivid yellow in the center of its forehead. It was dressed in tattered yellow, but the parts of it revealed were cobalt blue. It immediately knelt when all three of its eyes locked on the throne.
"What is it you wish of me, Beast Lord?" the second incomer, Geki, asked of the seated Mazoku.
Zelas's grin did not waiver. "I have a job for both of you. Todra, Geki. You will have a chance to redeem yourselves for your actions during the war."
Sword arms scraping the ground, Todra asked, "How did we fail you Mistress? We served in the Demon Lord's armies, not in your own," it continued in a gravely, sniveling voice.
"When you failed to protect your general, you also failed me," Zelas said in way of response.
Geki nodded from its position on the floor. "So someone was foolish enough to break the ward, then?" It asked. "Are we to reclaim the power that felled our former general?"
The golden haired beast Lord turned to the cloaked Mazoku. "Yes. But first I wish for you to destroy the two who opened the seal for us. Destroy them utterly." Though the voice was soft and pleasant, Geki still understood the promise of oblivion if it failed in the task.
Both Mazoku stood and bowed low to the Mazoku Lord before them. Each disappeared as it arrived when the bow was ended. Zelas merely continued smiling. "It is a good thing neither of you are my servants. But still, mayhap I should have told them that they were to destroy Lina Inverse." Feral smile widened, revealing rows of sharp incisors. A throaty chuckle poured out of the beautiful and dangerous lord Metallum.
"Now where would the fun be in that?"
Traveling through the ruins, the passages eventually took Lina and Gourry to a small round room. Seeing two other archway exits, Lina strode confidently into the center of the room. Only to forcibly stop when the floor underneath her lit up in glowing runes. Shadows struck out from every direction and wrapped around her, starting with her arms and legs. Only too quickly the sorcery genius found herself held in the center of the room immobile. She howled in frustration, but stopped when her protector started to charge into the room.
"Gourry, Stop!!"
With instincts honed from years of traveling with the petite young firecracker, Gourry stopped in his tracks. Assessing the situation, it looked hopeless. Lina was more than ten feet away from him, and the floor was still glowing with the strange runes that had ensnared his partner in crime. What was he going to do? He didn't have an answer, so he opted to ask the brains of the operation.
"Umm, Lina, how are we going to get you down from there?" He immediately cringed when he saw the fires in her crimson eyes.
Lina screeched, "What do you except me to do about this?!?!? I can't even move. Now get me down!!"
Gourry again assessed the situation. And came up with the same answer. Nothing. "But Lina! I don't know any magic. How am I supposed to get you out?"
From her place in the center of the room, Lina fumed as she tried to figure a way out of this. Her lighting spell had failed as soon as she had been caught. The runes on the floor were causing the shadows that held her captive. Her eyes flashed. The runes!! If she could break the circle, the spell would end.
Looking back at Gourry, she shouted, "Break the runes, Gourry! That'll set me free."
The blonde warrior looked from Lina, to the runes, and back again. Eyes clouded in thought, he asked, "How do I do that Lina? They're glowing!"
"You Jellyfish!! Use your sword. Now, or I'm going to fireball you when I get out of here!"
Needing no further motivation, the invertebrate turned swordsman immediately slashed the ground with his sword. The blade took a chunk out of the ground and the rune he cut into exploded. Like a set of dominoes, all of the runes connected to the one Gourry destroyed also exploded, and it continued, creating a widening arc of broken spell.
As each rune shattered, Lina could feel the shadows holding her weaken. Little by little, she was drooping to the floor. And when the final rune was through with its pyrotechnics, Lina was free. She watched Gourry run up to her, concern and relief warring on his features. So she smiled at him and was relieved to see his crystal blue eyes clear.
"Thanks Gourry," She finally said. Looking around, she saw both exits from the room. But which one? "Ok, now which way do we take?"
Gourry glanced at both paths before replying, "I think, maybe, we should take the left path this time."
Lina shrugged. It was as good a choice as any. Even as she made another lighting spell to see by, she asked him, "Why?"
"Umm, 'cause going right last time got you caught in a trap?"
The crimson haired sorceress laughed fondly at the slightly puzzled look on the swordsman's face. Trust Gourry to make a decision based on her safety. Not that it was a bad thing. Oh well. Might as well go with it. Nodding her head, Lina started toward the leftmost archway, Gourry following close behind.
The chosen path led away from the trapped room at an angle for a little ways before opening into a wide room that doubled back along the path. Other than rubble, and the occasional ancient armored corpse, there was nothing of interest in the room save another archway. So the ruby eyed adventurer and her golden haired warrior continued down the new path. It was a relatively long path that ended in a set of stairs heading down. Lina sighed with relief. Now they were getting somewhere! With spurt of manic energy, she bounded down the stairs, pulling a surprised swordsman with her.
At the bottom of the stairs, the pair of treasure hunters were surprised to find light. The stairway emptied out into a wide hallway of red, purple, and black marble. The light was from softly glowing orbs set high on the walls, probably enchanted with a permanent lighting spell. Both Lina and Gourry looked around themselves in surprise.
"It looks like somebody rolled out the welcome mats, eh Gourry?" Lina asked of her armored companion. He glanced around for another moment before grinning and nodding at her. She smiled back, then asked, "Ready?"
Gourry nodded an affirmation. They headed forward into the hallway, glancing at the walls as they did so. Soon a set of stairs rose up a few feet. As the duo topped the short flight of stairs, they saw that it lead to a small landing. There were doorways to the left and right, and the corridor itself continued to a large set of double doors. Looking in each side archway, Lina and Gourry could tell that each held an antechamber. Both held a shadowed statue as well.
Lina looked up at the swordsman. "I'm gonna check out the left one. You check out the right, ok?" He nodded and the entered the antechambers.
The first thing the flame-haired sorceress noticed about the statue was that it was made out of metal. It was in the shape of a cloaked man wielding as staff. Underneath the cloak jutted a breastplate and grieves of ornate armor. The bracers on each hand had the face of a snarling wolf emblazoned on them. The statue also had on a closed helmet. The only opening on it was a vague resemblance of a 'T' that allowed sight and breathing. On each cheek guard was an odd glyph she could not see clearly due to the shadows. Casting another lighting on her sword she held it up to see. And gasped.
She recognized the symbol now that it was exposed by the light. It was the symbol of Lei Magnus, the Demon King of the North! So this must have been the general that ruled here, the one Xelloss talked about. He didn't look so tough. Heck, Zelgadiss looks more imposing than this guy! Before Lina could ponder it further, she was startled to see the statues right hand rise towards her!
While she could only stare in shock, the general's statue flung a Bomb De Wind at her, knocking her back into the hallway. She landed with a grunt and an exclamation of pain. Looking up, Lina saw the statue advancing slowly. Turning her head at a cry of alarm from Gourry, she turned and saw that his statue was moving. Quickly rising, the sorceress turned to face the statue that had knocked her down.
"Alright, buddy. Nobody, and I mean Nobody, messes with Lina Inverse!" She rolled up her sleeves as she gathered the magic for a spell. "Especially not an overgrown suit of armor. Source of all power, crimson fire burning bright! Gather together in my hand and become an inferno... BURST FLARE!"
A small flare of light sped from Lina's hand and into the antechamber the statue was lumbering through. It landed at the creature's feet and exploded upward in a widening column of fire, filling the entire room. When the flash fire of the spell was gone, a large pile of slag in the middle of the room was all that was left of the metal statue.
Clapping her hands together in satisfaction, Lina turned to see how Gourry was doing. She was very surprised to see him holding his own against the metal monstrosity, the metal statue flailing at him as he dodged around it. The statue was missing its right arm. Her eyes widened as she saw Gourry slip and get grazed by the iron automaton. Seeing that the statue was indeed slower than her companion, Lina decided to act.
"Gourry, get over here!" she shouted to the swordsman as she muttered the words of a spell. "BURST FLARE!" Much like its companion, the statue was reduced to a melted heap.
Looking over at his long time traveling companion, Gourry asked, "Hey Lina, did your statue look a little bit like somebody we know?"
She shook her head. "Nope, but it was probably a statue of the general guy. You probably heard about him while you were napping; that's why he seemed familiar." The blue-eyed swordsman nodded his head, but appeared unconvinced.
Lina elbowed him in the side and started forward, "Anyway, its time we saw behind door number three."
The massive doors were carved with relief's of Mazoku and Ryuuzoku fighting. All told, it was kind of creepy. Lina noted that the doors weren't trapped, but there would be no way either she or Gourry could open them. So instead she placed both hands on the sealed entryway. "DAM BRASS!" A hole exploded in the doors. With a grin, Lina walked forward into the room.
Past the now broken doors was a large expanse of open room. In the center of the room on a raised dais was a ruined altar. Hanging in tatters from the ceiling was the remains of a tapestry. On it were the symbols of all the Mazoku Lords, Shabranigdo, and Lei Magnus. There didn't appear to be anywhere else to go in the room, but parts of the room around and behind the alter had collapsed upon themselves years ago. So in Lina's eyes, it was a dead end.
"Bad! How are we supposed to find the damned treasure when this is the last place we can get to?" She screeched as she stalked over to the ruined alter.
Gourry sheathed his sword, since there were no more apparent enemies nearby. Looking around, he didn't see anything that would indicate a possible route. But didn't Lina, or Xelloss, say that this was from the Demon King's war. And that was a long, long time ago. A lot farther back than he wanted to think. So if this wasn't the last floor, or they were not in the right room, then how to get there?
Lina, meanwhile was still ranting about the unfairness of the world. "…I'm tired, I'm dirty, I'm angry, and I'm Sooooooooo hungry!" the last was accompanied by a ferocious growl that echoed throughout the chamber.
While he looked around, Gourry called out, "Lina, I think there's still some fruit in my bag. Go ahead and look for it, Ok?"
Lina stopped her wailing and turned to the swordsman, stars in her eyes. "You mean it?" An affirmative nod set Lina to chortling with glee as she immediately removed her cloak and began rummaging. Finding Gourry's pack, she rifled through it and found, much to her delight, a bag with over a dozen apples. Food, glorious food!
By this time Gourry had finished his perusal of the room and rejoined the crimson haired sorceress by the destroyed altar. With little preamble, he plopped down next to her and snagged a red apple from the bag as she happily munched away. Soon there was nothing left in the bag save for seeds. And those were the few, the lucky few, that had somehow avoided the massacre that was Lina's eating habits. Gourry smiled at the simple pleasure on his partner's face as she sighed, her stomach partially mollified.
"So now all we have to do is figure out how to get further into the ruins, right Lina?" Gourry asked as the two relaxed in a rare peaceful moment.
Lina frowned from where she sat, but nodded. "Problem is, I don't know how much further we have to go. Does the map say?"
Gourry pulled the map out from his still open pack and looked it over. "Well, the notes say it went 'three towers high, four towers deep'." He frowned a moment, then his face cleared. "That means that we have two more floors to go, right?" He turned a hopeful smile to Lina; after all, he'd figured it out on his own. Score one for the jellyfish!
Laughter bubbled up from the sorcery genius. "Yep, you're right Gourry. Now we just have to find a way to get to those next two floors."
"Too bad you can't just blast a hole in the floor like you did with the doors," he said as he regarded the map.
Lina's garnet eyes opened wide. She could do that! She turned wide eyes to her companion. Maybe some of the yogurt cleared out of his skull today! She jumped up excitedly and danced around Gourry in rambunctious joy.
"That's exactly what I will do Gourry!" She was slightly flushed when she stopped in front of the swordsman as he sat bewildered but smiling in front of her. She leaned down so she was barely a foot from him. "I could just kiss you, you big jellyfish!" She froze as soon as she said it, both her crimson eyes and Gourry's azure orbs widening at her confession.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lina saw a shadow appear behind the swordsman.. She leapt back with a cry, preparing a defensive spell. Until her mind caught up with her hyperactive sentences and she recognized Xelloss standing there, leaning bemusedly on its staff.
"Isn't it a little early to be celebrating Lina?" Xelloss asked with a winked an open violet eye.
Instead of answering, Lina merely blushed as dark as her eyes and looked down. Directly into the sapphire eyes of the blue clad swordsman. Hurt was in those eyes, but also something more. Something she had not seen often since waking on a pillar in ruined Sairagg almost two years ago…
So the embarrassed sorcery genius did the first thing her instincts called her to do.
"FIREBALL!!"
The resulting explosion enveloped Mazoku and Warrior; the clearing smoke revealed a helping of seared Wolfpack resident with a side order of blackened jellyfish. The quivering mass that was Gourry struggled for a moment before muttering out one monosyllable. "Owwwwww…."
Guilt immediately washed over Lina. In her anger at being embarrassed, she had forgotten that Gourry was standing so close to that damnable Mazoku. That was twice in two weeks that Xelloss had rudely interrupted her; payback was in order!
To hide the blush on her face, as well as the guilt in her eyes, the crimson haired dynamo grabbed Gourry's pack and stuffed it inside the small universe within her cloak, only then shrugging on her black garb. Under control again, she turned back to the victims of her wrath. Gourry gave her a hurt look for a moment before his eyes cleared back to the purposeful look he wore whenever they in a dangerous situation. His quick smile let Lina know that he forgave her; it was more than she expected, and she exhaled a deep breath in relief.
Xelloss merely dusted off the robes of its office and grinned. The emotions that briefly flared from the fiery sorceress were simply delightful. But now back to business. "So have you figured out how to get passed this rubble, my dear Lina?"
"I suppose you could tell us how then, Xelloss?"
The trickster priest merely smiled. "I definitely could, but I am afraid that is a secret," Xelloss murmured while wagging a finger. "But I am sure you knew that. I just wanted to see how you were doing. Since everything appears in capable hands, I'll just let you get back to your regularly scheduled mayhem. Toodles!" Waiving a gloved hand, Xelloss disappeared as quickly as it arrived.
"Hey, wait a…," Lina yelled as a blush ran rampant on her face again. She sighed and turned back to Gourry. "So, um, where were we?"
Gourry saw the indecision in Lina's crimson eyes; why, of all times, was he the one forced to decide? Life just didn't seem fair. Oh well. When in doubt, be a gentleman. So the swordsman stood and drew his blade before turning his clear sky blue eyes to Lina.
With a soft smile, he said, "You said something about that being exactly what you would do. What were you talking about?"
Lina stammered for a moment before her face cleared. "I was about to open a hole down to the basement level. Thanks, Gourry." He nodded and stepped away from the center of the room.
Kneeling on the floor, the sorceress began casting a spell. She touched the floor and said, "EARTH SPIRIT ROAD!" A large circle of purple energy appeared on the floor. As it faded, the ground that had previously occupied the space was gone. The floor underneath that glowed also for a moment before heading to the same nothingness as the floor Lina was standing on. Standing up and dusting her gloves, she looked over at Gourry.
"Ready to go?" She held out a hand, to have it grasped in strong, calloused fingers.
Gourry nodded. "Always." He heard he mutter a spell and both jumped off into the gorge. Though still a frightening plummet for the magic impaired fighter, it was over quickly and he found himself on level ground.
The two Slayers looked around at the room they landed in. It was a large unworked limestone cavern; water worked its way down one of the walls to form a small pond in one section of the room. Both saw a raised dais bearing a throne far ahead of them. Sitting on the throne was some sort of a creature dressed in a tattered black cloak. It stood as Lina and Gourry regarded it.
"Welcome to the bowels of Dragon Death Keep. I hope the experience has been enjoyable." The creature floated off of the dais to land near them. Gourry and Lina dropped into ready stances when they recognized it as a Mazoku.
Geki, on the other hand, was startled to see that its prey was none other than Lina Inverse. If her companion still wielded the Sword of Light, then it might have been worried. But Geki knew that between its own power and that of Todra, that the two Slayers would not live to see the sky again. Repay a debt indeed.
Gourry tensed and looked to his right as he heard the sound of movement. His eyes widened when he saw the other hunched Mazoku slinking toward them. This was really bad news. Without the Sword of Light, or a similarly strong weapon, the swordsman knew that their chances had dropped considerably. All he could do was hope that he could delay the non-flying Mazoku long enough for Lina to finish with the other one.
Geki spoke again as it took to the air, "You have come for the artifact of Power that defeated the general of this place? Instead you will be just two more sacrifices to the Dark Lords!"
Lina merely checked the fingers of one glove with disdain. "That all you've got? Stock villain dialogue?" she smirked, sniffing the air in disgust. "I guess you can't get good help these days." Her fiery mane beginning to float about her as she gathered power, the petite firecracker of a sorceress cracked her knuckles. "Well, I haven't had a good work out in a while, so I guess I should be thanking you. At least now I don't have to worry about getting rusty."
She spared a glance at Gourry. I hope we're both ready for this, partner. Gourry shot a glance at her as if to say, I hope we're ready for this too.
Both grinned as Lina snapped her hands into a spell slinging position. "Bring it on." Gourry hefted his sword as the Mazokus before them prepared to attack. Lina and Gourry, unknown to each other, were thinking the same thing.
Who wants to live forever?
END, Chapter the Third.
Now on to the post chapter notes. A lot is happening in this chapter, ne? Like I've said before, this is going to be a lengthy story. As of right now, this and the next chapter are probably going to be the longest, but I don't want to guarantee. I could be wrong. After all, each chapter has grown by leaps and bounds from one chapter to the next. Ah well, I must be getting into a groove.
Never fear, you will be able to find the further adventures of our favorite chunk of granite next chapter! I promise there will be as much going on there as there is in this chapter. I am also thinking of condensing a few chapters that I have started so that the story will flow better, but that does mean there will be a lot to read. Not that any of ye are complaining, right?
Parts of the flashback and the fireside conversation were based on a wonderful fic by Mynuet entitled Fortune Teller. Its ID is 643825. Go and read it. It's so good, I almost want to consider it canon. So instead it is Fanon in my own twisted reality. So Nyahh ^_^ She gave me permission, which I am grateful for. Without it, this chapter wouldn't be as good.
I also gotta thank my proofreader Fritha. Without her, this would be a typo laden OOC fest. At least it is now only marginally so. Thanks a million Frith!
And all of you know the drill by now. Leave me a review and maybe I'll get the next chapter out faster. At the very least, you can tell me what was good and what wasn't so I can fix it up nice. Well, that's all for now! -DREZ