Chapter 2: A Set Up?
Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis were walking through one of the many forests that lead to the road to get to Filia's shop.
"Ooh, I can't take this I need something to eat." Lina complained.
"Well, we have been traveling for awhile but we'll just have to wait until we find the next town." Zelgadis said.
"I hope that's soon because I'm about to chew on my shirt." Said Gourry. Lina perked up a bit and got wide eyes.
"Say Gourry that's not a bad idea! When is it going to be ready?" She said with hunger in her eyes.
"Come now Lina its only been a day… I'm sure we can go weeks without food." Zelgadis said sarcastically.
"Maybe you can with that body of yours… I sure as hell can't!" Lina said.
"Yeah, I'm with Lina." Said Gourry.
"Well we still have a while before we get to the next town so just be quiet about it will you?" Zelgadis said.
"Don't think I won't eat ALL of your shirts." She said with a crazed laughter.
"I don't think it will come to that." Zelgadis said. They continued down the long forest path until they reached a sign.
"Great… leads to another winding path down another more boring forest." Lina said as she read the sign.
"Well we might as well follow the sign." Zelgadis said.
"Are we even close to the town yet?"
"No Gourry I'm afraid we may not reach another town for awhile." Lina said. Gourry sighed as the group continued walking down another path until Lina stopped in her tracks.
"D…do you guys smell that?" Lina said with excitement, as her eyes grew huge.
"I sure do… Food!" Gourry screamed.
"Now wait you two, don't you think this is a little convenient?" Zelgadis said.
"Who cares, we need food!" Lina said.
"Fine lead the way hound dog but I've got a bad feeling about this." Zelgadis said.
"Woof!" Lina said as she ran to into the forest.
"Lina, Gourry wait up!" Zelgadis yelled out trying to follow the both of them. Gourry was running as fast as Lina as they were dreaming about the smell ahead, when they finally stumbled onto a house.
"The divine smell is coming from that house Lina!" Gourry said.
"Yes… fooooooood!" She said as they ran toward the house.
"Now I've got an even worse feeling about this." Zelgadis said as he followed the two into the house. The three entered the house and saw a huge feast in the middle of the room.
"Food!" Lina and Gourry screamed as they ravaged the table.
"Give me some of that Gourry!"
"No way… there is plenty here get your own Lina!" The two argued over the food while Zelgadis sat and ate a few apples he remembered he had stashed away in his pocket. There was a huge flash of light in the room. Lina and Gourry were nowhere to be seen.
"What the… Guys?" Zelgadis said. As he approached the table he saw two little wooden dolls on it that resembled Lina and Gourry. "Damnit, I knew this place didn't feel right." Zelgadis said to himself as he heard someone walking down the hallway.
"Heh, you played strait into my hands… just like puppets." The shadowy figure in the hall said as he stepped out into the lit area.
"What have you done to them!" Zelgadis said.
"It's a wonder though how did you resist my enchanted food?"
"Enchanted food? Luckily I brought these apples with me and I was not too hungry to begin with." He said.
"I know who you are, now you have something that belongs to me." The man said. Zelgadis looked around for a few seconds.
"What do you want from us?" Zelgadis said with a stern tone.
"You know what you took, and I need it."
"Who are you!"
"My name is Redin and you must be Zelgadis. Correct?"
"Turn my friends back to normal or I will kill you." He said.
"Well if you do that then they won't ever be able to come back, the jewel around my neck keeps them that way and if I die the power of the jewel dies as well."
"I bet if I smash it with you still alive they would came back, wouldn't they?" Zelgadis said as he gave a crooked smile.
"You wont lay a hand on me, now hand over that manuscript!"
"The manuscript? Now I know for sure its of value to you, I'll burn it if you don't let them go free." Zelgadis said.
"I see… so it has to be this way does it?" Redin said as he disappeared and reappeared behind Zelgadis. "Do you really think that those bandits were real? The map was the only real thing because I was ordered to make it for you… split in half so that you and your friends would be searching for the same thing; you are the most powerful humans around aren't you?"
"But, why did you need US to unseal the barrier. Couldn't you have just as easily broken it?" Zelgadis said.
"Sadly the barrier was placed there by the golden dragons because the gods ordered them to, our kind can't break seals of a god I'm afraid even if the orders were given to the golden dragons." Redin said.
"Your kind?" Zelgadis said as he reached for his sword.
"That's right we used you as pawns and spread some Rumors about the place, then I created the illusion of bandit gangs to further lure you there… I'm a monster and you'll never really know the true story, plus what you know now is irrelevant because I'm going to have to kill you." Explained Redin.
"How can you be a of the monster race? Your energy feels different." Zelgadis said.
"Maybe in the this world, now prepare to die." He said. Zelgadis reached for his sword and started swinging at Redin.
"Pointless!" Redin said as he used his power to throw Zelgadis against the wall of the house. Zelgadis knew before he used a Ra Tilt which is a light spell most effective against monsters and would probably kill Redin, he had to destroy the crystal around his neck to save Lina and Gourry.
"Astral Vine!" Zelgadis yelled out as his sword started to glow red. He lunged at the monster and the monster disappeared only to reappear behind him again.
"Your truly pathetic Zelgadis, if you think you can win." Zelgadis noticed that he could see the monster in the mirror when he made himself invisible.
"Come on give me your best shot, I've seen flowers more deadly than you."
"Such words mean nothing!" Redin said as he became invisible and flew at Zelgadis.
"Heh… perfect." Zelgadis mumbled as he took his sword and by watching the mirror he used it to slice off the crystal.
"Impossible!" Redin said. Zelgadis shattered the crystal and saw Lina and Gourry flash back to normal.
"That's the second time I've been turned into a doll and I'm starting to really hate it!" Gourry said.
"Putting a spell like that on food is pretty low pal!" Lina stated.
"Watch it Lina, he claims he's a monster." Zelgadis said.
"Yeah, I heard the whole thing while I was a doll and your not getting the manuscript creep, Zel use it." Lina winked.
"Sure." Zelgadis replied.
"Source of all souls which dwells in the eternal and the infinite. Everlasting flame of blue. All power hidden deep within, be called forth here and now: Rah Tilt!" Zelgadis said as Redin screamed and the light engulfed him. Zelgadis and Lina looked at each other and let out a sigh of relief. But as the dust cleared Zelgadis and Lina looked on in disbelief as the creature dumped its human body and transformed into a hideous two-pronged creature.
"Uh… Lina what now?" Gourry asked.
"Well, now we try to kill its true form I suppose." The newly transformed Redin looked onward at Lina, Zelgadis, and Gourry.
"Hahaha, are you truly the humans that destroyed the dark lord? You are truly pathetic for the most powerful humans alive!" Redin said in a booming voice.
"I think its time to show you what we can really do." Lina said.
"No more games!" Gourry said while reaching for his holster. "Oh yeah… I forgot I don't have my sword anymore." He said.
"Heh, here Gourry use this. I'm going to concentrate on using spells." Zelgadis said as he tossed his sword to Gourry.
"Uh, thanks Zel I'll give it back when were done."
"Don't count on winning fools!" Redin said while slashing at them.
"He's going to make the house crash around us how quaint." Zelgadis said while watching the beast smash the ground.
"Defense Barrier!" Lina said while casting it around Gourry and Zelgadis.
"Now you all die!" Redin said as the house fell to pieces. The house fell and there was dust everywhere, there was a moment of silence until Redin crawled out from the rubble. "HAHA, how could Dark Star ever have trouble with the likes of you." He said.
"You obviously have a lot to learn." A voice said under the rubble. There was another explosion and out from the rubble emerged Lina, Zelgadis, and Gourry.
"What, but I saw it… you were crushed!" Redin said.
"Oh, come on you think that a house falling on us would kill us after all we have been through?" Lina said.
"You must be the stupidest monster I've ever seen." Zelgadis said while laughing.
"Shut up! I'm tired of fooling around." Redin said.
"So are we." Lina said. Redin lunged at the three as it hit Zelgadis in the arm.
"Damn! He may not be too bright but he packs a punch Lina watch it." Zelgadis said while pinned against the wall by Redin.
"I'll keep it in mind, Flare Arrow!" She said casting it at Redin.
"You'll pay for that little girl!" Redin said as he let go of Zelgadis and ran toward Lina.
"Huh?" Lina said as the monster disappeared and hit Lina into a tree. "Ugh" she said as she got back up.
"Oh yeah almost forgot he could do that." Zelgadis said.
"Thanks for the warning Zel!" Lina said.
"Well I thought you were listening."
"Its hard to watch when you're a doll you know." Lina said.
"Heh… Guess I'll have to keep that in mind." Zelgadis said. Gourry jumped down from a tree and sliced Redin in the back.
"Fool!" Redin said as he chased Gourry around.
"Now that he's chasing Gourry… Zel help Gourry I'm going to use my blood talismans and cast a Dragon Slave." Lina said with confidence.
"A… Dragon slave? Won't that hit us too?" Zelgadis said.
"Not if I use the amplifiers to also cast a protection spell on you and Gourry which I'll do now." Zelgadis nodded as he ran toward Gourry and Redin as they started to taunt Redin.
"Hey you half-grade monster, I bet you can't hit me again!" Zelgadis yelled.
"Take this!" Redin said as he threw his prongs at Zelgadis then grew new ones.
"Whoa, Lina hurry!" Zelgadis screamed.
"Right!" She said getting in her stance to perform the spells. "Lord of darkness of the four worlds, grant me all the power that you posses!" Lina chanted as her talismans glowed white.
"Ok Gourry, Zelgadis… her it comes, Defense Barrier!" she said as the spell hit Zelgadis and Gourry.
"Thanks Lina… now do it fast before it wears off!" Zelgadis yelled. Redin continued to pursue Gourry and Zelgadis.
"Here it goes!" Lina said. "Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows. Buried in the stream of time is where your power grows I pledge myself to conquer, all the foes who stand before the mighty gift bestowed in my unworthy hands. Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I posses, Dragon Slave!" As Lina finished the spell the mighty blast of the Dragon Slave covered a good portion of the forest. Zelgadis cast Ray Wing, which allows him to fly, and grabbed Gourry as they flew fast out of range of the Dragon Slave.
As the red fog of the devastating Dragon Slave attack settled it revealed a huge crater where the rubble of the house used to be, as well as many dead trees. Then the monster fell from the sky and hit the ground.
"Victory!" Lina said as she put one foot on the very dead monster. "Zel, Gourry! Are you guys ok?" She yelled out as she went to look for them. "Oh! There you are." She saw Zelgadis and Gourry as the upper half of their bodies were underground and the lower half kicking around above the sand. "Hang on guys I'll get you out." She said pulling on Gourry's legs. "There you go." She said as she pulled out Gourry.
"Man Lina you could have given me a warning!" Gourry said.
"I thought Zel might have told you our plan… sorry hehehe." She said while pulling out Zelgadis.
"Well I didn't have much time to explain with you only focused on attacking that monster Gourry." The now pulled out Zelgadis said. "And that was a little close for comfort Lina." Zelgadis said sternly.
"Sorry, guess I got a little carried away… but at least that so called monster is dead." Lina said.
"True, however it took an amplified Dragon Slave to do it and his body isn't even vaporized!" Zelgadis said.
"There is something fishy about that guy, and why did he want this paper so much Lina?" Gourry asked.
"First of all Gourry… There was something fishy about that guy. But as far as this paper we can't read there might be more to it seeing how the monsters want it so badly." Lina said.
"Yes, now I want to get to Filia even faster if the monsters are involved. But there was something different about that monster, it seemed slightly stronger then any normal monster we've faced in the past… Minus Xellos, Hellmaster, and Dark Star of cores." Zelgadis said.
"Yeah I actually got that feeling too Zel, and I have another feeling were in over our head again." Lina said.
"So, are we still going to Filia or what?" Gourry asked.
"Yeah… lets get moving." Lina said.
"Wait Zel, here is your sword." Gourry said as he handed it to Zelgadis.
"Thanks for taking care of my sword for me." Zelgadis said.
"Heh, no problem." Gourry replied as the three continued onward to Filia's Shop.