A/N:  Okay, I think I'm coming to the end here…what do you think? ^_^  Blake still hasn't made his part very clear, hm?  Well, trust me, he'll be very important if I keep the same line of thought that I'm thinking right now.  On with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers or anything else that isn't mine to own.

Surprises All Around

            Liona and Val stayed fixed in their positions, frozen to their very cores.  With a knowing smile, Mazolina made her way to them, slowly, confidently.  Before either could summon the courage to stand, or even close their slightly gaping mouths, Mazolina spoke her piece.

            "You didn't /honestly/ expect me not to hear you attempt your getaway, did you?"

            When she didn't hear a response, she continued.  Mazolina stretched her arms out on both sides, gesturing to the room.  "This whole place, every spacious room down to every nook and cranny, was created by me.  It represents a part of my mind.  The memory of my master combined with my complete and total isolation.  The walls speak to me.  They are a part of me.  Not a single thought can pass these walls without my knowledge.  To make it short and to the point, in this desolate fortress, in the Desert of Destruction, I am all knowing, and all seeing.  You cannot escape my eyes, if I so wish it.  Struggle would be futile."

            Liona yawned obviously.  By this time, she had found the strength to stand.  With a completely laidback expression, she smiled wanly and asked, "Are you finished now?  I know I enjoy stories and all, but that was just plain booring.  Maybe it's this place, maybe it's you, but I've had it up to here (gestures to forehead) with you stupid spirits interfering in my life, and then babbling on like a couple of babbling brooks going down a waterfall.  Maybe your current master or mistress or whatever put you up to it, but you're the one I see, and you're the one I despise.  So it'd mean a great deal to me if you could just let bygones be bygones and take your leave."

            Now it was Mazolina's turn to be shell-shocked.  Val could only watch the verbal fight from a distance, but he knew Liona was being brash.  He had a feeling Liona knew it too, but needed to get that out of her system.

            Soon, Mazolina closed her eyes as she bent her head down slightly.  With a small smile, she shook her head as if deeming something hopeless.  Then, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Liona.  She began to walk towards her again.  Liona stood her ground, even as Mazolina cupped her chin.

            Softly, barely enough for even Liona to hear, Mazolina whispered, "Such spirit, such fiery spirit.  So reminiscent of your mother, Liona-chan.  You know where that spirit comes from?  Where it /really/ comes from?"

            Mazolina bent down so that she was looking straight at Liona's eyes.  "Me.  That's who.  And you would do well to listen to your ancestors.  Right now, I say that you would make an excellent mazoku, an excellent replacement for Hellmaster, my master, my old, deceased master.  Your mother was responsible for my master's death, you know.  She's the one that cast the deciding spell.  But that's just the reason I can't use her, you see.  But her blood, the blood of the one who killed my master, and my blood, part of Hellmaster, is in you now.  You know what that means don't you?  I know you read the book Kollina wrote on Mazoku, no, you read /all/ of her books, in a very easy fashion.  That only makes you more eligible in my eyes.  /I/ am the Supreme Elector.  And now, it is /I/ that decides your fate."

            Liona's blood ran cold.  Her spine was chilled, and spread slowly, stealthily, throughout her whole body, her whole skeleton.  She was actually shaking, with her teeth chattering as she said, "I-I-I won't be-lieve it.  M-my mommy never lies to me, a-and s-she never told me about killing Hellmaster."

            Mazolina broke in as Liona shivered.  She continued to cup Liona's chin ever so lightly in touch.  Acting faintly surprised at first, Mazolina said, "She didn't?  I would think that that would be one of her finest moments.  When all of her friends are on the brink of death, she finally says the magic words, no pun intended, and L-sama takes over her body.  Using Lina's body, L-sama disposed of my old master, and then left to return to the Sea of Chaos.  But then your father, Gourry, chased after Lina's body, in hopes that she would come back.  You know /why/ she was spared that day, though?  It's simple- L-sama knew you were coming.  She knew you could easily become more powerful, with potential to spare, than your mother, even at a young age.  So, in reality, /you/ saved your parents before you were even born, and from L-sama no less.  It takes a mighty soul to do such a thing- that's why I want /you/.  You can rule all mazoku in existence, create as many more as to your liking, and have the world begging at your bidding, if you so wish it.  Doesn't that sound like a grand proposition?"

            Suddenly, Liona stopped shivering, her body went rigid, and her eyes hardened.  In that split second, Liona slapped Mazolina's hand away from her and jumped back, past the copy shards.  She landed on her hands and feets, in a crouched position.  Mazolina straightened, her eyes never leaving Liona, and a smirk tugging at her lips.

            Breathing laboriously, Liona feather-touched the area where Mazolina's hand had just been.  In a voice Liona wasn't entirely sure was hers, Liona growled, "Just what exactly makes you think that I want all that stuff you just listed?  I could care less about anything /you/ have to offer."

            Mazolina's smirk and eyes widened almost maniacally.  "Because I possess something that I know you'd die for – Your family, and your friends, and the ability to wipe out all of humankind if I so wish it."

            With a slight grimace bordering on a sly smile, Liona grudgingly stood up again.  Her eyes were a dull crimson, but there was a visible spark behind the monotonous coating.  Liona looked like she was about to burst out in maniacal laughter as she spoke.  "I have no family – war has killed them.  I have no friends- war has killed them.  I care not about humanity, for I do not even care about myself.  Just kill me now, for I have no reason to live, no reason to stay."

            Mazolina furrowed her brows.  With every sentence, confidence had seeped out of her.  This was not the Liona that she had grown accustomed to.  Had her touch awakened something within?  Never, in all the years that she had been connected to Liona's mind through her virus copies, had this ever happened.  Liona, as far as Mazolina knew, was usually soft-spoken, not wishing to harm, only to live her life in peace.  From her knowledge, Mazolina knew that Liona was truly speaking in the beginning, but that last part…was somebody else.

            Out of seemingly nowhere, the traveling group of friends and family burst through the door, interrupting the conversation.  From the second the doors opened, Angelina winced as if internally injured.  Although no one's eyes were upon her, Angelina placed a hand on her chest, in hopes of calming her heart that beat with pain as sharp as a thousand knives for every quickening heartbeat.  All eyes from the group were on the pair, Liona and Mazolina.  Mazolina pulled herself out of her thoughts about Liona for the time being, to address recent arrivals.

            Meanwhile, with what was actually only copies of Mazolina, and Xellos…

            "WHAT?!?!  Why would I want to do /that/?!"

            Xellos smiled his trademark grin.  He pointed out as he gestured with his still finger, "If you promise to leave the Inverse family and their acquaintances alone forever after the two positions are settled, I will help you fill those slots.  Well?"

            Chibi Mazolina plopped down and sat in a thinking pose while sitting cross-legged.  Her eyes were closed in apparently deep thought.  When she finally opened her eyes again to look at Xellos, she asked innocently, "Are you an 'acquaintance'?"

            Xellos nodded.  Mazolina closed her eyes again and resumed deep meditative thinking.  She opened her eyes about a quarter of an hour later and said, "Deal, but you better not be thinking of any dumb little wannabe Mazoku Lord candidates that would only bring down the integrity of Mazoku."

            Xellos furrowed his brow with mock hurt.  "Mazolina, I'm shocked that you would say such a thing!  Now why would a Mazoku higher-up such as myself /dare/ do such a thing?"

            Mazolina looked at him from the corner of her eye with none-so-well-hidden reproach.  Quietly, she murmured, "You would, if it suited your needs."

            Xellos pretended not to hear as he asked, "Now then, if I am to assist you, it would be of great help to me if I knew how you intend to make the candidates Mazoku Lords."

            Both humanoids put their heads closer as Mazolina began to lay out the plan of action.

            Back with the rest of the peoples…

            Mazolina's voice relayed a laidback fashion, similar to the one previously displayed by Liona.  "My, my, my.  What a /surprise/.  If I knew /you/ were coming, I would have prepared myself better.  What brings you to my domain?"

            It wasn't hard for anyone to sense the thick sarcasm in her speech.  Lina spat, "Can the sarcasm and give back Liona and Val."

            Mazolina continued to gesture her evident surprise.  "I don't know /what/ you're talking about.  I never 'had' them to begin with.  How can I give something I never had?"

            Lina growled deep in her throat.  Luna put a hand on her shoulder to keep her from doing anything reckless.  Before anyone else could say anything, Mazolina continued, "If you want them to return home with you, that's a different story.  Well, just for kicks, why don't you try calling to them, and see if they return to you of their own free will."

            This puzzled everyone.  At the moment, neither Val nor Liona had yet to get back off the floor.  Deciding to go along with it, Luna raised her voice to carry over to them.

            "Liona, Val.  Come back with us, return to your families and friends.

            If either had tried to get up, neither succeeded.  Liona had a vile smirk on her face as she looked at them from afar.  "Like I said before, I have no families or friends to go back to.  I don't know who you are, but you have no right to control my life.  /I/ make the decisions of my life, and /I/ decide where I am to go.  Me and nobody else."

            The large party exchanged glances, concern etched into their faces.  Angelina was breathing hard now.  Taking a deep breath, Angelina managed to get out, "Something's wrong with Liona.  She's never acted like this before.  I…I think her brain may be controlled."

            Everyone turned from Angelina to Liona.  Blake did a double take and crouched down to ask her if she was alright.  Gulping down some air, Angelina shakily nodded.

            Lina tried her direct and firm approach.  She took a deep breath to make her voice louder and more foreboding.  "Liona Gabriev Inverse, I am your mother.  Do as I say and come home with us now."

            Still looking on with deadened eyes, Liona spat back, "Why should I?"

            Everyone was taken aback by Liona's defiant words.  Lina, now slightly smoldering, replied, "Why?  Because without me or Gourry, you wouldn't be born!  You wouldn't be alive today!"

            Liona's eyes seemed to be drooping, but her defiance was still as fiery as ever.  "So what?  I'd rather die than stay alive right now.  You have no idea what I'm feeling right now.  You could never understand.  Besides, without Mazolina here, /you/ wouldn't be alive either."

            Lina stopped to think about that.  With a start, Lina realized that she was right.  Nobody was really thinking of how she felt about everything, only about what /they/ wanted.  Lina questioned, "If that's how you felt, what took you so long to say it?"

            Liona closed her eyes and turned her head down to scoff lightly.  Turning back to the group, she explained shortly, "Why?  Because nobody ever asked.  What's the point of telling someone something if they don't want to know it?"

            Luna broke in.  "You don't know that they don't want to know it if you don't attempt to tell them."

            Liona sneered, "Whatever.  Say what you will- I'm not going home.  Not now, not ever.  I have no use for a home anymore."

            Gourry asked, "What makes you say that?"

            But Liona gave no more collapse.  Right before her eyelids closed shut, her eyes returned to normal, and she murmured in her normal voice, "I-I can't do this anymore.  I give up," before collapsing in a heap.

            Everyone called out her name and started for her.  They were stopped by Val's shout.  "No!  Stay back!  This whole floor is like a minefield.  Take a step further and you're barbequed."

            All eyes turned to Mazolina.  She held her hands up in defense.  "Don't look at me- I didn't do it."

            Zel disbelievingly remarked, "Yeah right, liar.  You just don't want us to get near them."

            Val said, not moving a muscle aside from his mouth, "No.  You're close.  Mazolina didn't do it – Liona did.  She's an emotional wreck right now, and this is her form of a barrier."

            Luna asked, "How can you tell?"

            Val moved his eyes to glance at Liona's unconscious form.  "I don't know.  I can just sense it."

            Weakly, Angelina managed to get in front of the group.  "L-liona needs help.  Perhaps I can get through to her."

            With that, Angelina teleported to Liona's side.  Wincing noticeably, Angelina put her hand on Liona's medallion.  Even covered, everyone saw that the medallion glowed white, black, red, and then white again.  Angelina took her hand off with a jolt.  Softly, as if to herself, she murmured, "I see what the problem is.  Liona and her medallion have merged within her body.  But because of that, there is now undying conflict within her."

            Mazolina looked as if Christmas had come early.  Clearing her throat, she turned to Val.  All eyes became directed at her.

            "I've been paying a lot of attention to Liona, but you know, I want Val, too."

            Val started, but still he did not move.  "W-what do you want with me?"

            Mazolina let out an exasperated sigh.  "We've been over this already, you know.  In your past life, you were considered Gaav's favorite, you were known as Valgaav.  You can just tell from what he renamed you, can't you?  Anyways, according to Mazoku law, if a Mazoku Lord should fall, the second choice, or 'heir' so to speak, would be that Lord's favorite out of their minions.  Therefore, that makes /you/ next in line to take the title of 'Demon Dragon King' or whatever title you wish."

            Val was just as stubborn as Liona.  "No thanks.  I like my life as it is now.  Why do we even need five Mazoku Lords anyway?"

            "To restore balance."

            "What balance? The Water Dragon King has been reduced to the knowledge behind the Clair Bible, and the soul of the Flare Dragon Ceipheed is said to reside within Luna, the Knight of Ceipheed.  Other than that, all that's left on the side of the God's are the Golden Dragons and anyone else willing to fight for their side.  On the other hand, Mazoku have three Lords still in existence with all of their generals and priests still in tact, and five remaining pieces of Shabrinigdo yet to be unsealed.  Then, whether anyone likes it or not, there are probably thousands upon thousands of evil creatures still in existence.  So, why would you need two more Mazoku, just when we're getting a break?"

            Val had been speaking very fast in order to get it all out without being interrupted.  The whole room was silent save for Val catching his breath.

            Mazolina looked faintly surprised.  "Oh?  Well, what do you know, the Ancient Dragon survivor knows this world's history well.  Hm…For piecing that together, I'll be honest with you.  The real reason I want this is simple.  I serve L-sama, the Lord of Nightmares.  In a sense, L-sama feeds on the chaotic energy of the planes she created.  Therefore, it is my job to create more potential for chaos to reign over the worlds.  You see?  Mazoku Lords would be key initiators for such a goal."

            Blake suddenly realized something.  "Why don't you go stir up trouble in the other planes?"

            Mazolina chuckled for a second.  "Why?  Again, simple.  I can't cross over to any plane other than the one I was born in and of course, the Sea of Chaos."

            Blake raised an eyebrow.  "That's lame.  You serve under L-sama and you can't do something like cross planes?"

            "Can /you/?"

            Blake hesitated.  "Y-yes."

            There was a collective, but silent gasp.  Mazolina raised an eyebrow before squinting at Blake.  Slowly, Mazolina verified, "I should have known.  Your scent is different than the others.  You were born in this plane…but….ah of course.  You are from the (Time and Space Travel) clan.  The only clan of humans born with the ability to transcend worlds."

            Blake nodded.  In a surprisingly short amount of time, he hit upon a possible solution.  He called out, "I have an idea.  If we find a way to transfer my ability to you, can Liona and Val be spared of becoming Mazoku Lords?"

            Mazolina seemed to stop to consider that.  Out of nowhere, Xellos' voice reverberated all around them.  "Better yet, why don't you simply take what you really need from them with you?"

            Between Mazolina, Liona, and Val and Lina-tachi, Xellos teleported in, with a mini Mazolina clutching his cape from behind his leg (She shrunk to about the size of a three or four-year-old.  The little chibi-version waved enthusiastically in greeting to everyone.  Mazolina folded her arms in front of her, waiting for Xellos to continue.

            "It's actually quite simple, if you think about it.  All you really need are their mazoku counterparts, correct?  If you extracted those from them after taking up Blake's offer, you could potentially train them elsewhere to wreak havoc on the other planes.  Three planes are better than one, for your purposes, are they not?"

            Mazolina mindlessly put a fist to her mouth in thought.  After a while, she nodded slowly.  "I suppose you're right.  I mean, this plane seems to have the most action, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to look at the others as well.  There's only one problem with your plan though.  I'm incapable of power extraction."

            "I know how to do it."

            Everyone looked to Angelina.  She was wearily bending over Liona's barely breathing figure, but her eyes were on them.

            The chibi peeked around Xellos' leg to look at her, with apparent amazement.  "Wow…Really?"  When Angelina nodded, she added, "You're pretty resourceful."

            Angelina smiled wanly.  In a soft whisper, she murmured, "It comes with the territory."

            Gourry suddenly asked, "Hey, how's Liona?"

            Angelina turned her attention back to the limp form before her.  With a sigh, she answered in a half-resigned way, "I think I know something that can really bring her back, but if so, I'm going to need some help."

            Lina hastily offered, "Sure, we'll do anything we can to help.  What do you want us to do?"

            Angelina hesitated for a second before responding, "I need everyone to bring their warmest feelings for Liona to the surface; clearly concentrate on them for the next few minutes."

            This seemed like a strange command, but they did as they were told.  Angelina took a deep breath before holding her hands back on the medallion and concentrating on collecting that warm and positive energy.  Her hands glowed white as she did this, and the aura gradually grew to consume her whole figure.  Simultaneously, everyone else glowed white as well.  Before too long, it faded, and Angelina let out a sigh.  They took that as an 'okay' signal to open their eyes.

            Angelina softly eased a lock of hair from Liona's face.  Abruptly, Liona started to squint her eyes and groaned slightly as she stirred awake.  Her eyes slowly fluttered open until they focused on the face in front of her.  Liona's whole expression seeped of lethargic sleepiness.  She yawned softly before whispering in a tired voice, like a child ready for bed, "I feel fuzzy…what happened?"

            Angelina continued to brush back Liona's hair as she explained everything that had happened since she became unconscious, in the simplest and most condensed form possible.  Lina, having an urge to be near Liona, now that everything seemed to be pretty quite again, took a step toward her.  Immediately, a pillar of fire exploded vertically from that tile.  When it disappeared again, Lina puffed out a ring of smoke, charred from head to toe.  The sound made Liona jerk her head up to see.  Every so lightly, Liona chuckled.  She whispered sorry before waving her hand in a wide semi circle in front of her.  Liona then motioned them to come forward.  Having a close example of what might happen to them, the visitors were a bit more reluctant to move.

            As if sensing this, Liona cleared her throat as if it were a light cough, before taking an empty bottle from her cape, and rolling it straight across the floor to them.  Since the bottle didn't erupt in flames, they took this as a sign that it was now okay to walk across to Liona.  Angelina propped Liona up to a sitting position, right before Lina bent down and gave her a bone crushing hug.  Liona seemed to be caught off guard at first, but soon sunk into it, and returned the hug with a soft smile.  Just then, Liona glowed a warm gold, but it vanished just as soon as it appeared.  Lina pulled back an arm's length to study Liona's face.

            Gently, Lina questioned, "What just happened?"

            Liona hurriedly shook her head and pulled in for another hug.  "It's nothing, nothing.  Don't worry about it."

            With deft skill, Lina swooped her hands into position and picked up Liona (She's still small enough for Lina to do that ^_^).  "We're going to have a long talk later, but let's just worry about going home right now."

            Everyone jumped slightly when Mazolina suddenly said, "Take your time; I'll be waiting for you."

            Once again, all eyes turned to the main apparent antagonist of the present.  Liona's grip on Lina tightened at the sight of her, and Lina was thinking all the same lines.  Mazolina held her hands up again in defense and said.  "Stop looking at me like that.  I'm giving you a chance to recuperate your energy, as I do the same.  Feel free to take as long as you need.  The next time I see you, however, I'll be needing my three traveling necessities."

            Mazolina made one last skimming glance at them all, before teleporting away.  The chibi Mazolina told them, "I have to be going too.  Nice to meet you all.  Oh, by the way, without Mazolina here, this place is gonna collapse and disappear, so if you don't want to sink into the sand with it, I suggest you get a move on."

            With that, the chibi disappeared as well.  As soon as she did, the walls started to rumble with a jolt.  Angelina quickly called for everyone to gather around, though most already were.  Xellos had disappeared before the chibi.  Once they were grouped together, Angelina teleported them all out.

            When they reappeared again, they were in front of Seyruun's Palace gates.  Lina looked around with a nod of approval.  "Amelia's place, huh?  Okay.  We haven't seen her for a while.  Let's go pay her a visit."  Everyone followed Lina into the castle.  Having recognized her, the guards scurried to let her pass.

            Inside, Queen Amelia welcomed them warmly.  As Angelina was about to collapse, and Liona looked almost ready to fall asleep at any moment, both were soon put to bed.  The rest of the company enjoyed a nice, peaceful buffet, at least, as nice and peaceful you could get with so many carnivores at the table. 

A/N: *YAAWNN*  :P  How'd you like this chapter?  I figure I can make do with finishing it off with an epiloque/author notes/bio chapter.  Please send in your reviews!