[When I watched Try and saw Gourry with his long yellow hair and the "Mallet/Hammer of Light," he reminded me of D.C. Comic's Thor. From there my twisted old mind led me to the Scandinavian folk tale/myth of the gods Loki and Thor retrieving Thor's hammer from the giants. Thor had to dress in drag to pretend to be the goddess the giant chief wanted to wed, and, like Gourry, Thor was embarrassed and hated it.
Loki, the trickster fire god, like Xelloss, often put on a seeming of helpfulness but often had evil intentions underneath and enjoyed the pain and discomfort of others.]
Here Comes the Bride
by Anna Nimmie Tee
The usual disclaimers that I don't own the characters but bow in homage and appreciation to Kanzaka et al.
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Lina stuck her nose out of the bed covers. Wooo, it was cold in this inn, and Gourry WOULD insist on sleeping with a window open! A gesture of her hand emerging from blankets closed the source of the heat loss and a few other waves of her hand accompanied by whispered words of magic caused fresh logs to pile themselves in the fireplace. A small, well-aimed fireball lit the wood. She wiggled her backside closer to Gourry's and, burrowing down more in the covers, relished the warmth of his body. Then, to her annoyance, nature chose to call before the room had heated up to her satisfaction. As she wondered if she could hold her bladder a little longer, she heard a soft slipping noise coming from the direction of the door to the room. Peeking out from the covers again, she saw the envelope.
"Oh, yuck, I hope it's not another mysterious letter leading to yet another unprofitable adventure. Why can't mazoku just lay off?!" she thought to herself as she ducked her head back under the blankets. Reluctantly she stuck one little bare foot out of the covers, then the other, and fumbled with her feet for her slippers while the rest of her remained buried under the warm bedding. Flinging off the covers on her side of the bed, she ran for the necessary. Shivering the whole while, she finished her mission and washed her hands. She then dashed to the door and scooped up the letter. Looking at the warm bed and its occupant, then the letter, then the bed, she pondered: Read letter or jump back in bed? Her nipples sent her an outstanding message: Warm bed! She ran to that inviting piece of furniture, tossed the letter on the side table and leapt back into the bed to snuggle next to the oblivious swordsman.
"Oh, it's cold, it's cold, so cold! Brrrr!" she exclaimed from under the bedding.
"AHHHHH!" yelled Gourry as Lina's cold feet touched his bare legs.
"Sweetie, ain't I good to you?" she purred.
"Whaddaya mean!"
"I didn't put my hands on you as well!" she smirked and put them on his bare belly.
"Good gods, Lina! Get those icicles off me!" He turned on his side grabbed and held her hands away from him. "Here. Put 'em under your armpits. Eh, what's that on the table?"
"It's a letter, Baka. It was just slipped under the door."
"Well, let's warm you up first before we see what it says."
Wrapping himself around her and slipping his hand under her nightie, he held one of her breasts and nuzzled her neck. "Hmmm, now I understand the saying 'Cold as a witch's tit,'" he chuckled into her hair.
"Gourry Dah-ling, if I wasn't so damn cold and needing your body warmth, I'd kick you out of this bed so fast..." His mouth put a stop to further display of temper.
When they awoke from the 'warm-up' session an hour later, Gourry reached over Lina to retrieve the letter. Sitting up, he broke the seal and tore open the envelope. Lina snuggled up to his chest and draped a languorous arm across it while he read.
"Well, who's it from and what's it say, Gourry?"
"It's from Sylphiel's uncle. Oh, no-o-o!"
"What, what, what?! Did she blow herself up attempting another black magic spell? I told her she should stick to white magic!" Lina fumed but had a worried look on her face.
"No, she seems to have disappeared. He is asking us to come because one of the reasons she may have disappeared involves me or my family somehow. He doesn't want to say in a letter, but hopes we may help."
"She did look a little down at our hand-fasting, but she hugged me and said she was happy for us. I think she is more level-headed than to do something drastic."
"Huh?"
"Ah, never mind, Jellyfish Brains."
"Oh, you mean she might have been too depressed and done something to herself 'cause she's had a crush on me?"
"What?! You knew?"
"Yeah, that Dear Gourry thing was a tip off, but I couldn't deal with hurting her feelings and tried to ignore it. She's been a family friend such a long time. I kinda hoped she'd be like Martina and find a new guy to latch on to if I acted like I was unaware of her affection. Ow! What was that for?!"
"Yeah, I don't know why I try to pound sense into your head. It only hurts my hand. Well, I guess we'd better get ready to hit the road again. At least Seyruun is warmer than this place. Ha! Last one to breakfast pays!" She kissed him and bounced out of the bed. As her buns left the bed, he lunged across and gave them a light smack with his hand. Lina glared at him, but a self-satisfied smile plastered itself on her face as she dashed across the room to give herself a quick wash.
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"The Sword of Light has returned?!! B-b-but I gave it to that Overworlder to return it to it's proper home! It doesn't belong here!" Gourry cried.
Upon reaching Sylphiel's uncle's home in Seyruun, they discovered Sylphiel had heard a strange rumor from a from an Elmekian trader who had sought out Sylphiel's healing powers to treat a festering wound. When asked where was he from and how he had gotten the injury, he had revealed startling news.
"Apparently a renegade Overworlder has crossed over to our world," explained the uncle, "And he has started to wreak havoc in the Elmekia Empire. I think Sylphiel left to check out the rumor. I told her to let someone else go. It wasn't a job for a young woman."
"Is that so?" Lina asked in too even a voice and began to glower.
Gourry recognized the tone and quickly added, "You mean by herself, don't you, sir?" and gave the uncle a warning look over Lina's head.
The uncle had noticed the gathering power in Lina's hand and readily agreed, "Yes, yes, I meant without a protector, of course. She is not skilled enough in black magic, while you are, Mrs. Lina. She knows the Dragon Slave, but that may be a little too drastic for most situations."
Both men gave a sigh of relief as Lina appeared to calm down a little.
"The Elmekia Empire is huge. Where would she be likely to go?" Lina queried as she tapped the side of her head in thought.
"Probably to Master Gourry's family. They are the descendants of the original Swordsman of Light, who planted Flagoon. Our two families were very friendly with each other at one time because of the Holy Tree."
Gourry turned pale. "Returning to my family is going to be rather difficult, maybe even deadly, since I, ahem, removed the Sword of Light from family dispute and then returned it to the Overworlder."
"But you did great deeds with it, Gourry. Surely they will be able to forgive you for taking it because of the honor you brought the family," Lina tried to reassure him.
"You don't know the jealousy of my brothers or the lengths they will go to to gain power over each other," he replied sadly. "When my father died without saying who should inherit the Sword, they nearly killed each other and caused much dangerous fighting in the family. I never expected to get the thing, but Mother gave it to me and told me to run out of the Empire and far away with it. She said I had the purest heart in the family and would be the one able to dispose of it or to use it for the most good."
"Does this mean you won't try to find my niece or what is happening?" the crestfallen uncle asked. "I'll pay you well."
Lina's eyes got starry.
"No payment needed as Sylphiel is a good friend. A great meal cooked by her would be enough," Gourry replied.
Lina yanked on one of his tresses to bring his head down to her level and hissed into his ear, "Expenses, Gourry, expenses."
Gourry crossed his arms, gave her a look and mildly scolded her, "We've acquired plenty of bandit loot on our way here. Plus I don't like to take advantage of friends' misfortunes." Lina pouted, but before she could argue further, he turned to the uncle and reassured him, "If Sylphiel is in danger and it involves the Sword of Light, I'll just have to take my chances with my family. We'll try to find Sylphiel and see what is happening in my homeland."
"Jellyfish, you'll have ME with you to guard your back," Lina reminded him. Her face brightened. "Since you now have the Blast Blade, when we retrieve the Sword of Light, maybe you can give it to me as an anniversary present, huh, huh?" And she gave him her widest starry-eyed look.
"I don't know, Lina. I think we have to somehow send the Sword of Light back to the Overworld. It just causes too much trouble here if it lands in the wrong hands."
Lina's temper got the better of her. "Hey! You think mine would be the wrong hands? I wouldn't let it be stolen from me or let myself get possessed, ya know!" she retorted.
Distress and hurt made a rare appearance on Gourry face. He whispered angrily in her ear, "Oh, yeah, what about those ghosts when we first met Amelia?" He clenched his fists and looked away. Despite his reputation for forgetfulness, the memories of possession by Phibrizo and the theft of the Sword by Jiris and Valgaav had not left him.
Lina touched his arm gently and uncertainly with her gloved hand. The unaccustomed sadness in his blue eyes as he turned back to her almost broke her heart. "I'm sorry, Gourry. You are right," she contritely tried to make amends as she grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. The clouds began to disappear, and he started to smile again.
The uncle, who had looked uncomfortably off in the distance during this exchange, cleared his throat.
Lina recovered with a sigh and said, "Well, I suppose we'd better say a quick hello to Amelia and Phil before we depart. Otherwise Amelia would be hurt."
Sylphiel's uncle informed them, however, "I'm afraid the Prince and Princess are away on a diplomatic mission at present. I would be glad to send them your greetings, though."
Lina scribbled a note for Amelia, and she and Gourry took their leave of Seyruun.
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Half way to the Elmekia Empire, the couple were having their usual food competition at a restaurant famous for its roast boar. As Gourry reached across the table to spear another slice from Lina's plate, four very large, very fierce warriors approached.
"Gourry Gabriev?" the largest and most threatening looking of them growled. He was six inches taller than Gourry and broader at the shoulders by a good nine inches. A scar ran from his left temple to the middle of his forehead. His long blond hair was in many braids, and a reddish blond beard bristled his broad chin and square jaw. Huge muscles bulged on his arms.
Lina brought her hands up in preparation for a spell, and Gourry lightly placed his hand on his sword as he replied in a disarming manner, "Why, yes. Would you tell us who you are and join us for something to eat and drink before we discuss why you are looking for me?"
The four suddenly drew their swords and the leader cried "At last we found you!" Behind them, Lina and Gourry spied Sylphiel standing looking scared but firm. But instead of fighting, the men knelt and saluted Gourry with their swords, saying, "Hail, Lord Gabriev!" and the leader added, "Don't you recognize me? I'm your little cousin, Mikey. These men are my friends Sergei, Atanas, and Nick. Guess I've grown a lot since you last saw me."
As Gourry's jaw hit the floor and remained there, Lina picked hers up and shrieked, "Sylphiel, where have you been and what's going on here?! Lord Gabriev?!" She glared at Gourry.
Gourry quickly recovered from surprise, and tears began to run down his face. "They are dead then. Oh gods, I left for nothing." He covered his face with his hands.
"They died from their own greed and stupidity," Sylphiel softly replied as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Whether you had remained at home or left with the Sword of Light, the outcome would have been the same, except they might have killed you in their paranoia and greed for power."
"Hello, I'm here, too. Ok, when Gourry understands something and I don't, I get a little testy," Lina interrupted impatiently.
"My brothers are dead. All my sisters are younger than I. This means I'm now the eldest child. I have to inherit my father's title. I am now the Baron Gabriev," Gourry reluctantly explained.
"Your father was a baron? Why didn't you tell me..."
"I figured, given the, um, circumstances of my leaving my home and the claims of my brothers, that I'd never have anything but the Sword. Heck, I never thought having a title made anybody better anyway, especially if they hadn't earned the thing themselves. There are peasants more noble acting than some of my relatives. Besides, I kinda forgot about all that family nobility crap. It's only a small, rural barony, even though, yes, Lina, it does have a castle." He looked at the four men still kneeling. "Uh, guys, you can get up now." As the men arose, Gourry and Mikey exchanged hearty hugs, after which Gourry suggested, "Why don't you grab something to eat and drink while we talk to Sylphiel?"
"As you command, M'Lord." And the grinning men sat themselves at a nearby table. Gourry gave a deep, sad sigh.
Lina gulped down another angry exclamation, even though it made her very red in the face to do so. Then she realized, "Hey, that means I'm a baroness! A castle, did you say? Servants?"
Gourry looked disractedly at the floor and nodded in the affirmative.
"Alright! I guess following your heart can bring unexpected rewards!" Lina happily squealed, but seeing the serious look on Gourry's face, knew she had to settle down and tackle the more pressing matter of the Overworlder. "Sylphiel, what have you found out about this Sword of Light and Overworlder thing?"
"The Sword has indeed returned and is in the hands of a being not from this world. When the Gabrievs heard the Sword was in the Empire and in the hands of a stranger, they gathered a small force to try to wrest it away from Titanos, the Overworlder. It seems he has destroyed the Elmekian court and is rapidly taking over the lands of various lords. The Gabrievs never could agree with one another or other leaders. They just couldn't work together because of their suspicions and greed, and they didn't know the nature of the being who held the Sword. They were easily overcome."
"Who has survived?" Gourry asked Mikey.
"Only a handful of male cousins, your mother, most of your female cousins, your sisters and a couple of your aunts who stayed behind."
"Auntie Vasilia?"
"War woman's death. Your cousin Dora was badly wounded, but Sylphiel saved her. Her sword arm will never be the same, though."
While Gourry sadly pondered the news, Lina queried, "So what does this Titanos want? Did you find out?"
"Control of this whole world and..." Sylphiel then added very, very quietly, ducking her head into her shoulders, "you as his bride."
"Whaaat!! But I'm already married!"
Gourry spat out the sip of ale he had just tried to drink and started coughing. Four anxious warriors rose as one to come over to pound him on the back, but a purple-haired priest in a black cape beat them to him.
"Here. Cough it up into this empty bowl," the Trickster advised as he whacked Gourry on the back a few times.
"Well, if it isn't the Black Cone Man himself! Wouldn't you know it?" Lina exclaimed. "Just what we need. Mazoku meddling."
"Now, now, Lina. I'm saving your husband here, although it might make things easier if I didn't." Xelloss admonished. "Greetings, Miss Sylphiel. Looking lovely as ever, I see. You, too, Lina."
Sylphiel gave a little gasp, as she felt his true nature, but with a disgusted look on her face, Lina only informed Sylphiel, "Remember, he returned the Sword of Light to Gourry after that little incident with the Hellmaster? He can be useful. So what is it you're after now, Xelloss? As if you'd really tell us."
"If you're expecting me to say 'That's a secret,' why, I may disappoint you, Lina, because it isn't. This Overworlder's desires do not fit my master's plans. He's actually of lower rank and possesses less power than Almayce and Sirius, but with the Sword of Light, he could be a serious inconvenience to mazoku as well as the rest of you. Apparently after hearing Sirius' description of the defeat of Dark Star, he thinks you, Lina, are so powerful and power hungry that you would make a good consort to enhance his own ambitions in this universe."
"Hey, I do have my moral limits! I just wanna be recognized for my talents and beauty and have the freedom to experience and enjoy life."
Xelloss thought to himself, "Freedom. Yes, that you and Gourry have, and I can never have. You are attached to no master. Maybe that is what truly interests us in you and creates so many possibilities for us to manipulate."
Out loud he said, "This desire of his for you may give us the opening to defeat him. The Elmekian rusulki of Deep Sea Dolphin have been spying. [author's note: In Slavic folklore vengeful female water spirits who drown unwary men.] They have informed me that he only knows Lina has red hair and is very powerful. He has no idea of her body build." Xelloss gave an evil open-eyed grin and looked at Gourry. "I have a plan. Glad to see you still haven't grown a beard or mustache, Gourry, and you still have that lovely hair that makes me so jealous."
"Eh?" Gourry gave his usual clueless look.
Lina and Sylphiel were a little quicker on the uptake.
"Yeah, If Jellyfish here went with me just as himself, he'd be in a lot of danger, especially if it became know to Titanos that we're already married," Lina declared. "But maybe I should just reclaim the Sword of Light and take care of Titanos by myself, since I can cast a spell on the blade to enhance it."
"And if it happens to be your time of the month when we get there, or something else, ahem, has developed?" So saying, Xelloss looked meaningfully at Lina's abdomen.
Lina went from rosy to purple and Xelloss found himself with a delicious knuckle sandwich, served courtesy of Lina Inverse.
"Precautions have been taken against the latter, pervert!" she hissed at him.
"Thanks for the snack, Lina. But with the picture he seems to have in his mind of what you should look like, he might not believe you are you."
"I'd show him soon enough with a well placed spell!"
"Lina, I rather think Mr. Xelloss is right. It's not a good idea for you to go." Sylphiel said. "If you yourself leave for the Elmekia Empire, bandits here may think they can return to their dastardly ways. There would be no one to stop them as effectively as you do, and people would suffer horribly while you are gone. You know the clean-up needed when you returned from the lands outside the former magic barrier."
"If they think I'm gone and emerge to start trouble, I could catch 'em by surprise and have more chances to add to our retirement funds. You got something there, Sylphiel…Hmmm… On our way here I noticed that just around the corner is Bonnie's Bridal Boutique for the Big and Beautiful," Lina mused in some glee and rubbed her hands together.
"I saw a simply gorgeous hair style with baby's breath flowers woven into it in one of my bridal magazines. It would look so lovely on him," Sylphiel added.
Gourry stood up and backed away as the candle lit. "No-o-o! Oh, no,no,no! Not again. Uh, uh. No way!"
"Not again?" asked Mikey curiously.
Gourry deeply blushed and moaned, "Lina and the princess of Seyruun made me dress in drag a few times as disguise to fool our enemies. It was hideous." And he shuddered.
"What colors did you wear? I hope pink. It'd look good on you," Mikey said thoughtfully.
"Yeah," agreed the three other Elmekian men. "Although bridal white would also be a good 'un," one added.
Gourry whimpered.
"Gourry, for you to dress in drag is a solid strategy. A good warrior tactic. I certainly know you are really very, very masculine," Lina reassured him and winked salaciously.
"Ah, ah..but my hair is the wrong color," Gourry protested as a last ditch effort.
"Silly. A henna application will take care of that," Sylphiel put in. "And after three weeks, most of it will come out, if you wash your hair and eyebrows often enough. Mascara will take care of your eyelashes."
Gourry sobbed into his hands.
Xelloss added, "Listen, Gourry, think about it, if you can. Do you want a power hungry, lesser god from the Overworld taking over your world? Who is best to use the Sword of Light for the good of this world? Your family has used it for generations and knows its dangers and its benefits. If I were to retrieve it, my master would probably ask for it, and I would have to give it over. If my master has it, it will attract the attention of the other dark lords. There is enough competition...Gourry, wake up!"
"(Yawn) Yeah, yeah."
"Ok, put simply would you want ME to use the Sword of Light? If I retrieved it alone, it would be very tempting, although not really needed with my powers."
"That would be a very bad thing. Ok, ok. Guess I gotta do this."
"If it'll make you feel any better, I be in drag, too, as your bridesmaid."
"Goody, goody! Two guys to dress and make up!" Lina and Sylphiel laughed and clapped their hands.
"You don't have to be so jubilant about it," groused Gourry.
"It's for the good of our homeland and our world," said Mikey, who slapped his cousin on the back. "We'd go with you, but we might be recognized."
"You should probably return home to help defend it, if need be," Gourry suggested.
"Your mother is capably in charge, but, yes, she may need us. We'll see you there. In the meanwhile, we'll rest up a bit."
The cousins embraced once more, and Lina and Sylphiel grabbed Gourry by the arms to take him shopping. Xelloss followed with a wider grin than usual as he fed off the distress of the swordsman.
Loki, the trickster fire god, like Xelloss, often put on a seeming of helpfulness but often had evil intentions underneath and enjoyed the pain and discomfort of others.]
Here Comes the Bride
by Anna Nimmie Tee
The usual disclaimers that I don't own the characters but bow in homage and appreciation to Kanzaka et al.
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Lina stuck her nose out of the bed covers. Wooo, it was cold in this inn, and Gourry WOULD insist on sleeping with a window open! A gesture of her hand emerging from blankets closed the source of the heat loss and a few other waves of her hand accompanied by whispered words of magic caused fresh logs to pile themselves in the fireplace. A small, well-aimed fireball lit the wood. She wiggled her backside closer to Gourry's and, burrowing down more in the covers, relished the warmth of his body. Then, to her annoyance, nature chose to call before the room had heated up to her satisfaction. As she wondered if she could hold her bladder a little longer, she heard a soft slipping noise coming from the direction of the door to the room. Peeking out from the covers again, she saw the envelope.
"Oh, yuck, I hope it's not another mysterious letter leading to yet another unprofitable adventure. Why can't mazoku just lay off?!" she thought to herself as she ducked her head back under the blankets. Reluctantly she stuck one little bare foot out of the covers, then the other, and fumbled with her feet for her slippers while the rest of her remained buried under the warm bedding. Flinging off the covers on her side of the bed, she ran for the necessary. Shivering the whole while, she finished her mission and washed her hands. She then dashed to the door and scooped up the letter. Looking at the warm bed and its occupant, then the letter, then the bed, she pondered: Read letter or jump back in bed? Her nipples sent her an outstanding message: Warm bed! She ran to that inviting piece of furniture, tossed the letter on the side table and leapt back into the bed to snuggle next to the oblivious swordsman.
"Oh, it's cold, it's cold, so cold! Brrrr!" she exclaimed from under the bedding.
"AHHHHH!" yelled Gourry as Lina's cold feet touched his bare legs.
"Sweetie, ain't I good to you?" she purred.
"Whaddaya mean!"
"I didn't put my hands on you as well!" she smirked and put them on his bare belly.
"Good gods, Lina! Get those icicles off me!" He turned on his side grabbed and held her hands away from him. "Here. Put 'em under your armpits. Eh, what's that on the table?"
"It's a letter, Baka. It was just slipped under the door."
"Well, let's warm you up first before we see what it says."
Wrapping himself around her and slipping his hand under her nightie, he held one of her breasts and nuzzled her neck. "Hmmm, now I understand the saying 'Cold as a witch's tit,'" he chuckled into her hair.
"Gourry Dah-ling, if I wasn't so damn cold and needing your body warmth, I'd kick you out of this bed so fast..." His mouth put a stop to further display of temper.
When they awoke from the 'warm-up' session an hour later, Gourry reached over Lina to retrieve the letter. Sitting up, he broke the seal and tore open the envelope. Lina snuggled up to his chest and draped a languorous arm across it while he read.
"Well, who's it from and what's it say, Gourry?"
"It's from Sylphiel's uncle. Oh, no-o-o!"
"What, what, what?! Did she blow herself up attempting another black magic spell? I told her she should stick to white magic!" Lina fumed but had a worried look on her face.
"No, she seems to have disappeared. He is asking us to come because one of the reasons she may have disappeared involves me or my family somehow. He doesn't want to say in a letter, but hopes we may help."
"She did look a little down at our hand-fasting, but she hugged me and said she was happy for us. I think she is more level-headed than to do something drastic."
"Huh?"
"Ah, never mind, Jellyfish Brains."
"Oh, you mean she might have been too depressed and done something to herself 'cause she's had a crush on me?"
"What?! You knew?"
"Yeah, that Dear Gourry thing was a tip off, but I couldn't deal with hurting her feelings and tried to ignore it. She's been a family friend such a long time. I kinda hoped she'd be like Martina and find a new guy to latch on to if I acted like I was unaware of her affection. Ow! What was that for?!"
"Yeah, I don't know why I try to pound sense into your head. It only hurts my hand. Well, I guess we'd better get ready to hit the road again. At least Seyruun is warmer than this place. Ha! Last one to breakfast pays!" She kissed him and bounced out of the bed. As her buns left the bed, he lunged across and gave them a light smack with his hand. Lina glared at him, but a self-satisfied smile plastered itself on her face as she dashed across the room to give herself a quick wash.
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"The Sword of Light has returned?!! B-b-but I gave it to that Overworlder to return it to it's proper home! It doesn't belong here!" Gourry cried.
Upon reaching Sylphiel's uncle's home in Seyruun, they discovered Sylphiel had heard a strange rumor from a from an Elmekian trader who had sought out Sylphiel's healing powers to treat a festering wound. When asked where was he from and how he had gotten the injury, he had revealed startling news.
"Apparently a renegade Overworlder has crossed over to our world," explained the uncle, "And he has started to wreak havoc in the Elmekia Empire. I think Sylphiel left to check out the rumor. I told her to let someone else go. It wasn't a job for a young woman."
"Is that so?" Lina asked in too even a voice and began to glower.
Gourry recognized the tone and quickly added, "You mean by herself, don't you, sir?" and gave the uncle a warning look over Lina's head.
The uncle had noticed the gathering power in Lina's hand and readily agreed, "Yes, yes, I meant without a protector, of course. She is not skilled enough in black magic, while you are, Mrs. Lina. She knows the Dragon Slave, but that may be a little too drastic for most situations."
Both men gave a sigh of relief as Lina appeared to calm down a little.
"The Elmekia Empire is huge. Where would she be likely to go?" Lina queried as she tapped the side of her head in thought.
"Probably to Master Gourry's family. They are the descendants of the original Swordsman of Light, who planted Flagoon. Our two families were very friendly with each other at one time because of the Holy Tree."
Gourry turned pale. "Returning to my family is going to be rather difficult, maybe even deadly, since I, ahem, removed the Sword of Light from family dispute and then returned it to the Overworlder."
"But you did great deeds with it, Gourry. Surely they will be able to forgive you for taking it because of the honor you brought the family," Lina tried to reassure him.
"You don't know the jealousy of my brothers or the lengths they will go to to gain power over each other," he replied sadly. "When my father died without saying who should inherit the Sword, they nearly killed each other and caused much dangerous fighting in the family. I never expected to get the thing, but Mother gave it to me and told me to run out of the Empire and far away with it. She said I had the purest heart in the family and would be the one able to dispose of it or to use it for the most good."
"Does this mean you won't try to find my niece or what is happening?" the crestfallen uncle asked. "I'll pay you well."
Lina's eyes got starry.
"No payment needed as Sylphiel is a good friend. A great meal cooked by her would be enough," Gourry replied.
Lina yanked on one of his tresses to bring his head down to her level and hissed into his ear, "Expenses, Gourry, expenses."
Gourry crossed his arms, gave her a look and mildly scolded her, "We've acquired plenty of bandit loot on our way here. Plus I don't like to take advantage of friends' misfortunes." Lina pouted, but before she could argue further, he turned to the uncle and reassured him, "If Sylphiel is in danger and it involves the Sword of Light, I'll just have to take my chances with my family. We'll try to find Sylphiel and see what is happening in my homeland."
"Jellyfish, you'll have ME with you to guard your back," Lina reminded him. Her face brightened. "Since you now have the Blast Blade, when we retrieve the Sword of Light, maybe you can give it to me as an anniversary present, huh, huh?" And she gave him her widest starry-eyed look.
"I don't know, Lina. I think we have to somehow send the Sword of Light back to the Overworld. It just causes too much trouble here if it lands in the wrong hands."
Lina's temper got the better of her. "Hey! You think mine would be the wrong hands? I wouldn't let it be stolen from me or let myself get possessed, ya know!" she retorted.
Distress and hurt made a rare appearance on Gourry face. He whispered angrily in her ear, "Oh, yeah, what about those ghosts when we first met Amelia?" He clenched his fists and looked away. Despite his reputation for forgetfulness, the memories of possession by Phibrizo and the theft of the Sword by Jiris and Valgaav had not left him.
Lina touched his arm gently and uncertainly with her gloved hand. The unaccustomed sadness in his blue eyes as he turned back to her almost broke her heart. "I'm sorry, Gourry. You are right," she contritely tried to make amends as she grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. The clouds began to disappear, and he started to smile again.
The uncle, who had looked uncomfortably off in the distance during this exchange, cleared his throat.
Lina recovered with a sigh and said, "Well, I suppose we'd better say a quick hello to Amelia and Phil before we depart. Otherwise Amelia would be hurt."
Sylphiel's uncle informed them, however, "I'm afraid the Prince and Princess are away on a diplomatic mission at present. I would be glad to send them your greetings, though."
Lina scribbled a note for Amelia, and she and Gourry took their leave of Seyruun.
*****************************************************
Half way to the Elmekia Empire, the couple were having their usual food competition at a restaurant famous for its roast boar. As Gourry reached across the table to spear another slice from Lina's plate, four very large, very fierce warriors approached.
"Gourry Gabriev?" the largest and most threatening looking of them growled. He was six inches taller than Gourry and broader at the shoulders by a good nine inches. A scar ran from his left temple to the middle of his forehead. His long blond hair was in many braids, and a reddish blond beard bristled his broad chin and square jaw. Huge muscles bulged on his arms.
Lina brought her hands up in preparation for a spell, and Gourry lightly placed his hand on his sword as he replied in a disarming manner, "Why, yes. Would you tell us who you are and join us for something to eat and drink before we discuss why you are looking for me?"
The four suddenly drew their swords and the leader cried "At last we found you!" Behind them, Lina and Gourry spied Sylphiel standing looking scared but firm. But instead of fighting, the men knelt and saluted Gourry with their swords, saying, "Hail, Lord Gabriev!" and the leader added, "Don't you recognize me? I'm your little cousin, Mikey. These men are my friends Sergei, Atanas, and Nick. Guess I've grown a lot since you last saw me."
As Gourry's jaw hit the floor and remained there, Lina picked hers up and shrieked, "Sylphiel, where have you been and what's going on here?! Lord Gabriev?!" She glared at Gourry.
Gourry quickly recovered from surprise, and tears began to run down his face. "They are dead then. Oh gods, I left for nothing." He covered his face with his hands.
"They died from their own greed and stupidity," Sylphiel softly replied as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Whether you had remained at home or left with the Sword of Light, the outcome would have been the same, except they might have killed you in their paranoia and greed for power."
"Hello, I'm here, too. Ok, when Gourry understands something and I don't, I get a little testy," Lina interrupted impatiently.
"My brothers are dead. All my sisters are younger than I. This means I'm now the eldest child. I have to inherit my father's title. I am now the Baron Gabriev," Gourry reluctantly explained.
"Your father was a baron? Why didn't you tell me..."
"I figured, given the, um, circumstances of my leaving my home and the claims of my brothers, that I'd never have anything but the Sword. Heck, I never thought having a title made anybody better anyway, especially if they hadn't earned the thing themselves. There are peasants more noble acting than some of my relatives. Besides, I kinda forgot about all that family nobility crap. It's only a small, rural barony, even though, yes, Lina, it does have a castle." He looked at the four men still kneeling. "Uh, guys, you can get up now." As the men arose, Gourry and Mikey exchanged hearty hugs, after which Gourry suggested, "Why don't you grab something to eat and drink while we talk to Sylphiel?"
"As you command, M'Lord." And the grinning men sat themselves at a nearby table. Gourry gave a deep, sad sigh.
Lina gulped down another angry exclamation, even though it made her very red in the face to do so. Then she realized, "Hey, that means I'm a baroness! A castle, did you say? Servants?"
Gourry looked disractedly at the floor and nodded in the affirmative.
"Alright! I guess following your heart can bring unexpected rewards!" Lina happily squealed, but seeing the serious look on Gourry's face, knew she had to settle down and tackle the more pressing matter of the Overworlder. "Sylphiel, what have you found out about this Sword of Light and Overworlder thing?"
"The Sword has indeed returned and is in the hands of a being not from this world. When the Gabrievs heard the Sword was in the Empire and in the hands of a stranger, they gathered a small force to try to wrest it away from Titanos, the Overworlder. It seems he has destroyed the Elmekian court and is rapidly taking over the lands of various lords. The Gabrievs never could agree with one another or other leaders. They just couldn't work together because of their suspicions and greed, and they didn't know the nature of the being who held the Sword. They were easily overcome."
"Who has survived?" Gourry asked Mikey.
"Only a handful of male cousins, your mother, most of your female cousins, your sisters and a couple of your aunts who stayed behind."
"Auntie Vasilia?"
"War woman's death. Your cousin Dora was badly wounded, but Sylphiel saved her. Her sword arm will never be the same, though."
While Gourry sadly pondered the news, Lina queried, "So what does this Titanos want? Did you find out?"
"Control of this whole world and..." Sylphiel then added very, very quietly, ducking her head into her shoulders, "you as his bride."
"Whaaat!! But I'm already married!"
Gourry spat out the sip of ale he had just tried to drink and started coughing. Four anxious warriors rose as one to come over to pound him on the back, but a purple-haired priest in a black cape beat them to him.
"Here. Cough it up into this empty bowl," the Trickster advised as he whacked Gourry on the back a few times.
"Well, if it isn't the Black Cone Man himself! Wouldn't you know it?" Lina exclaimed. "Just what we need. Mazoku meddling."
"Now, now, Lina. I'm saving your husband here, although it might make things easier if I didn't." Xelloss admonished. "Greetings, Miss Sylphiel. Looking lovely as ever, I see. You, too, Lina."
Sylphiel gave a little gasp, as she felt his true nature, but with a disgusted look on her face, Lina only informed Sylphiel, "Remember, he returned the Sword of Light to Gourry after that little incident with the Hellmaster? He can be useful. So what is it you're after now, Xelloss? As if you'd really tell us."
"If you're expecting me to say 'That's a secret,' why, I may disappoint you, Lina, because it isn't. This Overworlder's desires do not fit my master's plans. He's actually of lower rank and possesses less power than Almayce and Sirius, but with the Sword of Light, he could be a serious inconvenience to mazoku as well as the rest of you. Apparently after hearing Sirius' description of the defeat of Dark Star, he thinks you, Lina, are so powerful and power hungry that you would make a good consort to enhance his own ambitions in this universe."
"Hey, I do have my moral limits! I just wanna be recognized for my talents and beauty and have the freedom to experience and enjoy life."
Xelloss thought to himself, "Freedom. Yes, that you and Gourry have, and I can never have. You are attached to no master. Maybe that is what truly interests us in you and creates so many possibilities for us to manipulate."
Out loud he said, "This desire of his for you may give us the opening to defeat him. The Elmekian rusulki of Deep Sea Dolphin have been spying. [author's note: In Slavic folklore vengeful female water spirits who drown unwary men.] They have informed me that he only knows Lina has red hair and is very powerful. He has no idea of her body build." Xelloss gave an evil open-eyed grin and looked at Gourry. "I have a plan. Glad to see you still haven't grown a beard or mustache, Gourry, and you still have that lovely hair that makes me so jealous."
"Eh?" Gourry gave his usual clueless look.
Lina and Sylphiel were a little quicker on the uptake.
"Yeah, If Jellyfish here went with me just as himself, he'd be in a lot of danger, especially if it became know to Titanos that we're already married," Lina declared. "But maybe I should just reclaim the Sword of Light and take care of Titanos by myself, since I can cast a spell on the blade to enhance it."
"And if it happens to be your time of the month when we get there, or something else, ahem, has developed?" So saying, Xelloss looked meaningfully at Lina's abdomen.
Lina went from rosy to purple and Xelloss found himself with a delicious knuckle sandwich, served courtesy of Lina Inverse.
"Precautions have been taken against the latter, pervert!" she hissed at him.
"Thanks for the snack, Lina. But with the picture he seems to have in his mind of what you should look like, he might not believe you are you."
"I'd show him soon enough with a well placed spell!"
"Lina, I rather think Mr. Xelloss is right. It's not a good idea for you to go." Sylphiel said. "If you yourself leave for the Elmekia Empire, bandits here may think they can return to their dastardly ways. There would be no one to stop them as effectively as you do, and people would suffer horribly while you are gone. You know the clean-up needed when you returned from the lands outside the former magic barrier."
"If they think I'm gone and emerge to start trouble, I could catch 'em by surprise and have more chances to add to our retirement funds. You got something there, Sylphiel…Hmmm… On our way here I noticed that just around the corner is Bonnie's Bridal Boutique for the Big and Beautiful," Lina mused in some glee and rubbed her hands together.
"I saw a simply gorgeous hair style with baby's breath flowers woven into it in one of my bridal magazines. It would look so lovely on him," Sylphiel added.
Gourry stood up and backed away as the candle lit. "No-o-o! Oh, no,no,no! Not again. Uh, uh. No way!"
"Not again?" asked Mikey curiously.
Gourry deeply blushed and moaned, "Lina and the princess of Seyruun made me dress in drag a few times as disguise to fool our enemies. It was hideous." And he shuddered.
"What colors did you wear? I hope pink. It'd look good on you," Mikey said thoughtfully.
"Yeah," agreed the three other Elmekian men. "Although bridal white would also be a good 'un," one added.
Gourry whimpered.
"Gourry, for you to dress in drag is a solid strategy. A good warrior tactic. I certainly know you are really very, very masculine," Lina reassured him and winked salaciously.
"Ah, ah..but my hair is the wrong color," Gourry protested as a last ditch effort.
"Silly. A henna application will take care of that," Sylphiel put in. "And after three weeks, most of it will come out, if you wash your hair and eyebrows often enough. Mascara will take care of your eyelashes."
Gourry sobbed into his hands.
Xelloss added, "Listen, Gourry, think about it, if you can. Do you want a power hungry, lesser god from the Overworld taking over your world? Who is best to use the Sword of Light for the good of this world? Your family has used it for generations and knows its dangers and its benefits. If I were to retrieve it, my master would probably ask for it, and I would have to give it over. If my master has it, it will attract the attention of the other dark lords. There is enough competition...Gourry, wake up!"
"(Yawn) Yeah, yeah."
"Ok, put simply would you want ME to use the Sword of Light? If I retrieved it alone, it would be very tempting, although not really needed with my powers."
"That would be a very bad thing. Ok, ok. Guess I gotta do this."
"If it'll make you feel any better, I be in drag, too, as your bridesmaid."
"Goody, goody! Two guys to dress and make up!" Lina and Sylphiel laughed and clapped their hands.
"You don't have to be so jubilant about it," groused Gourry.
"It's for the good of our homeland and our world," said Mikey, who slapped his cousin on the back. "We'd go with you, but we might be recognized."
"You should probably return home to help defend it, if need be," Gourry suggested.
"Your mother is capably in charge, but, yes, she may need us. We'll see you there. In the meanwhile, we'll rest up a bit."
The cousins embraced once more, and Lina and Sylphiel grabbed Gourry by the arms to take him shopping. Xelloss followed with a wider grin than usual as he fed off the distress of the swordsman.
