Chapter 16
Hey guys, Sorry about the long wait for an update. Here's the deal, we're working into the main part of the story, the climax, if you will. It's a segment I call 'The Nightmare sequence'. It'll begin after this next chapter. Those chapters will be semi-short, so I'm going be updating in pairs instead of just single chapters. HERE WE GO!
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All heads spun when the sound of many explosions filled the air. The sun was already low on the horizon and the Mazoku's numbers kept multiplying.
Lina hurled another Fireball at the group of Mazoku, her anger slowly dying down to heartache. The tears were flowing freely now, just as her Fireballs. Her outfit, which she had changed into her sorceress gown, was torn and tattered. Zelgadis was behind her, giving her cover and helping with emotional support.
She just wanted to fall to her knees and give up. But she was not going to give them that pleaser.
"FIREBALL!"
"Can you see anything?"
"Hold on! Wait, don't move, GAHHHH!" Both girls went crashing to the floor. Jasmine looked up at the chuckling Xellos and gave him a cross look. "You could help us, you know!"
Xellos only chuckled and stood up. He silently walked over and glanced out the window the two had been trying to look through. He really didn't want to see what was happening. Since he had lost his Mazoku abilities, he had lost interest in such things as the pain and suffering of others.
"Well?" Andre impatiently inquired, jumping up to see.
Xellos shook his head and pulled a small wooden chair for the girls to stand on. The scurried on to it and looked out the window.
Sylphiel and Amelia had their hands full with healing whatever they could. Gourry was helping Zelgadis keep the Mazoku at bay while they worked, while Lina and the remainder of the villagers and army, as well as Luna and Elkin, were taking on the offense. But off in the distance, there was a small golden dot, and it was moving towards them, fast.
"What's that?" Jasmine pointed at it from her spot. Both Xellos and Andre looked at it for a moment.
"I don't know," Xellos admitted, staring at as it approached.
"Is that?" Andre leaned as close to the window as possible, pressing her forehead on the cool surface of the glass.
"I think it is!" Jasmine exclaimed, a smile spread like wildfire on her face. "Andy! It's your mom!"
Both girls jumped down for their spot and raced towards the door. Then they began to argue about who would go first. Xellos only stood there and chuckled again.
"MISS LINA! LOOK OUT!" Amelia's outburst screamed through the leveled city reaching the ears of Lina all to late.
Lina turned to look for what Amelia had said, and met the hungry eyes of a large group of Mazoku, heading straight for her. There was no time for a counter spell; Lina squeezed her eyes shut waiting for the fatal blow that would occur. But it didn't come.
"Hurry!" Jasmine shouted, running towards the place where the giant explosion had come from. Lina had been thrown back by the force of the blow and was lying on the ground, near unconsciousness. In front of her, where a group of Mazoku had been, more were beginning to fill the space and were moving towards her.
"FLARE," Both Jasmine and Andre summoned up their energy and allowed it to form a set of bows in their hands. "ARROW!"
"Wha…?" Lina opened her eyes slowly, and met several sets of eyes. "GAHHH!!!" She shouted.
"Relax, Lina!" Zelgadis said, putting a hand on her shoulder gently. Lina began to turn to him, but stopped half way when she noticed a new character enter.
"Mom!" Andre shouted and pounced on the golden haired woman. The woman caught her without much trouble, and looked at her slightly surprised.
"Mom?" She echoed.
"Filia!" Lina jumped up, which proved to be a very bad idea, considering the fact that afterwards she fell right back down. "Oh, bad idea, Filia! What are you doing here?"
Filia smiled and dropped the youth who had tackled her. "I received a message from Amelia, it sounded urgent, and so I hurried over. Now, what's this about me being your mother?" Filia knelt down to come to eyes level with Andre, who was giggling happily.
Xellos, on the other hand, was about to fall over. "I can't believe it!"
"Believe what?" The new voice brought everyone's attention turned to the person who was walking in the door. The new person was about as tall as Lina, with aqua hair that came down to just above his shoulders. He had a golden set of eyes, which were currently looking confused.
"Uh… mom?" The boy looked to Filia, who smiled at him.
"Valteria, this is Lina, Zelgadis, Amelia, Sylphiel, Xellos, and Gourry," Filia introduced everyone in turn, and turned to Lina. "So, about this mom thing…"
"Long story, they came from the future, no time to go into detail," Lina said, trying to stand once again. "Wait, Filia, shouldn't Val only be, what, six now? He looks like he's a few years older than Amelia,"
Filia nodded, still a little surprised by the future kids. "He grew so fast! I was very surprised, wait, if she's my kid," Filia looked down at Andre, who was talking with Jasmine. "Who's her father?"
Lina looked up, suddenly realizing that this was going to be a problem. "Uh… Xellos," She said in a tiny whisper.
Unfortunately, Filia heard. "WHAT?! THAT NAMAGOME IS GOING TO BE THE FATHER OF MY FUTURE wait a minute," Filia broke off when she looked at Xellos. "You're a Mazoku, but, your eyes…"
"He's not a Mazoku anymore, Filia," Lina explained, finally managing to stand.
"What? But, what happened?" Filia inquired.
"That's what we need to find, LOOK OUT!" Straight through the window, a group of Mazoku came flying through the window. They began to attack mercilessly. Everyone ran out the door, Lina stooped down and grabbed the two children.
As they were out side, Lina did a role call. "Wait, where's Madison?" They heard a scream from inside the house, and the place lit up in a ball of light. Madison staggered out, her eyes blank. She fell to the ground, and then disappeared.
"No! Madison!" Lina felt her eyes tear up again, but this time she held her anger inside. She called to everyone and pulled him or her towards the center of town, where the park was. She ran through the trees, which were covered in a cloud of heavy mist. She took them to the center of the park, and cast a small spell. The ground seemed to come up from it place, revealing a safe house underneath.
"Everyone! Inside now!" Lina ushered everyone into he safe house, until only she and Zelgadis remained. Lina began to ascend the stairs to the safe house, when a Mazoku appeared behind Zelgadis. "Zel! Look out!" Too late. The Mazoku pulled back and thrust towards Zelgadis. The chimera was engulfed in a cloud of white light. A small gem appeared in front of him and his eyes went blank. The Mazoku snatched the gem and teleported out.
Lina fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. Zelgadis, just like the rest, disappeared in a ball of light. Jess and Nick came back up the stairs and grabbed Lina, pulled her down, and closed the door to the safe house.
"Zelgadis…" Lina whispered, still in shock. Amelia shook her, trying to get her to wake up.
"Miss Lina! Miss Lina!" She called, only to fail. Sylphiel put hand on Amelia's shoulder and pulled her away.
"Let me try," Sylphiel pulled back and slapped Lina across the cheek. Lina's hand automatically flew to her assaulted cheek.
"Whoa, Sylphiel," Gourry said, staring in amazement. Lina looked up at Sylphiel, who had a great deal of regret in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Miss Lina, but I had to get your attention somehow," Sylphiel looked down at her friend, still holding her cheek. "But, They're gone, Miss Lina, and there is no way to get them back,"
Lina smiled, a devilish smile, and stood. "You know what, Syl? Thanks, but you're wrong. We can get them back,"
"But how?" Filia asked, staring with a calm expression, despite her shaking hands.
"We go to the root of the problem," Lina smirked, and turned to Xellos. "Xellos, you've seen that castle before, haven't you?"
Xellos stared for a moment, and then shook his head. "Yes, I have,"
Lina walked over and called the others over to her. "That castle is the root of the problem, I know a spell we can use to get there, but I need your help, Xellos."
"What an I do?" He asked walking over to join the others.
"I need you to picture the castle in your mind, so we will actually end up there." Lina looked at, and he nodded. "Good, everyone, join hands." Everyone did as they were instructed, except for the two children, who had been ignored.
"Hey!" Jasmine shouted, drawing attention to her. "We're coming too!"
"Absolutely not!" Lina said, giving Jasmine a stern look. "It's too dangerous!"
"It's dangerous here too!" Andre protested.
"And beside," Jasmine said, putting her hands on her hips. "We can take care of our selves!"
"They have a point, Miss Lina." Amelia said, letting go of Lina's hand to make room.
"Well, Okay," Lina sighed as Jasmine grasped her hand. Andre took a space between Filia and Xellos.
"Now what?" Xellos asked.
"Just picture where we want to go. Jasmine, you should know this spell. Andre too," Lina closed her eyes and began to chant under breath, as did Andre and Jasmine.
"TELEPORT!"