Chapter 4: Filia's Decision
Lina, Gourry, Amelia, and Nahga were sleeping but Zelgadis couldn't sleep. "Such a perfect night." He thought looking up at the sky. "Not too cold… not too hot, just right." He said while he started to think about his body again. When Lina destroyed Hellmaster with the dreadful Giga Slave and the monster races barrier broke on that portion of the continent Zelgadis knew there had to be something in the other part of the continent that could cure him, and he knew that this manuscript might just be the key.
"Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia said as she walked up to him. "What are you doing, you should be resting." She said as she yawned.
"Heh… don't worry about me I'm used to sometimes forgoing sleep for days." He replied.
"That's horrible, how can you do that to yourself!" Amelia said while shaking her finger.
"Uh… It's pretty easy actually." Zelgadis replied.
"Oh, Don't be so naïve Mr. Zelgadis you know what I mean." She said. Zelgadis looked at her for a moment.
"I guess I never really saw it as abusing myself, never noticed I needed sleep after I turned into this thing." Zelgadis said.
"Oh… I had no Idea, please don't take that the wrong way." Amelia said.
"No need to apologize Amelia I understand, its just that I would really like to find a cure for this body. I just can't help but think about that manuscript copy we found…" He said. Amelia blushed, as she got closer to Zelgadis.
"Your fine just the way you are, at least I think you are." Amelia said as Zelgadis blushed as well.
"Err… Thanks." Zelgadis said while he turned to hide his emotion.
"What's all the racket, Zel… Amelia? Its really late, what's up?" Lina said.
"Mr. Zelgadis couldn't sleep so it woke me up as well." Amelia said.
"Well now were all awake." Nahga said.
"No, Gourry is still sleeping." Lina said. Nahga slowly walked up to Gourry as she yelled in his ear.
"AHHHHH!" Gourry said as he rolled a little.
"Ok… NOW were all up." Nahga said.
"What's the big idea, I was having a nice dream!" Gourry said.
"Well, now that were all up we might as well continue our traveling." Lina said stretching. "There is still quite a walk."
"But… it's the middle of the night Lina!" Gourry said.
"What is wrong with a little moon light stroll, and besides it would be good for Zel and Amelia if you know what I mean." She said with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, miss Lina you NEVER stop do you?" Amelia said.
"Hehehe, nope!" She replied. The four walked on into the night as Nahga approached Zelgadis.
"So, Lina told me you got that body because you were cursed… is that true?" Nahga asked.
"Yes, it is… I will never forget the day Rezo turned me into this thing." Zelgadis said.
"Rezo, was he the one that had that piece of Shabranigdu inside him?" Nahga asked.
"Yes, it was in his eyes and it made him blind. Because of that he could never open his eyes and frequently searched for a cure to open his eyes. But it drove him mad with anger and hate. I'd rather not talk about it right now." Zelgadis said.
"I understand, sounds like you have been through a lot." Nahga said.
"Yes, I have. But I have also learned a great deal about what it means to truly have someone who cares… even when you look like me." Zelgadis said looking toward Amelia.
"Are you talking about my sister… Amelia?" Nahga asked.
"Err… I guess I forgot you were sisters, sorry." Zelgadis said.
"HAHA, Its fine with me…" Nahga said.
"Oh, don't tell Lina any of this. She will never let me live it down." Zelgadis said.
"Your secret is safe with me!" Nahga replied as they crossed a road sign. Lina examined the sign.
"Looks like we go left in fork guys." Lina said as the others followed her lead. Lina and the others walked for hours until the sun started to come up and the moon faded.
"Lina, I need a rest!" Amelia said as she propped herself up on a rock. Lina stopped in her tracks and joined Amelia on the rock while Gourry, Zelgadis, and Nahga sat near the road.
"So… tell me more about Rezo Zelgadis, how did you guys manage to destroy him?" Nahga asked.
"Well as you know a piece of the dark lord Shabranigdu was inside of his eyes, when he finally did find a way to open his eyes he summoned to this world the dark lord himself and Rezo was engulfed by him." Zelgadis said.
"Is that so, hmmm how did you kill Shabranigdu?" Nahga asked.
"In the end Rezo realized he did a terrible thing and what was left of him inside Shabranigdu held the dark lord back from killing us… While Lina cast the Giga Slave, which she also used to destroy Hellmaster Phibrizzo." Zelgadis said.
"The what Slave… a new spell, what does it do?" Nahga asked again. Zelgadis looked at Nahga.
"You mean you don't know?" Zelgadis just looked at her in disbelief.
"Well I wouldn't ask something if I didn't know it already!" Nahga snapped. Zelgadis looked at her and sighed.
"You really want to know eh?" He said still looking at her in disbelief.
"YES, if Lina knows something I don't it just drives me crazy!" Nahga said.
"Well, you know about the ranks of the monsters right?" Zelgadis said.
"Yes, to an extent." Nahga replied.
"Well this spell summons to the world the mother of all chaos, the Lord Of Nightmares in the flesh, so to speak." Zelgadis said.
"The LORD OF NIGHTMARES! Is Lina crazy?" Nahga said.
"Do you really have to ask? Anyway she was successful casting the spell on Shabranigdu, and the Dark Lord went back to his slumber." Zelgadis explained.
"Uh, slumber… So he's not really dead?" Nahga said with a worried look.
"No, he's not fully destroyed because other pieces of him exist and those pieces can be used to summon him again. Luckily no one is stupid enough to go looking for them, and most people don't believe the story anyway." Zelgadis Replied.
"You said she was successful on casting this spell on Shabranigdu but what about Phibrizzo?"
"Well… Phibrizzo was a different story, he wanted to actually see the power of the spell that killed Shabranigdu for himself so he could make it go out of control and destroy the world. He almost succeeded. Lina cast the spell wrong and the Lord of Nightmares took over her body. She manipulated Lina's body, but in the end Phibrizzo was destroyed by his own desire and the Lord of Nightmares gave him what he wanted, destruction. The mother of all chaos killed Phibrizzo and we almost lost Lina, not to mention the world. If it wasn't for Gourry's determination to save her she wouldn't be here today, the Giga Slave is a horrible spell, that when cast wrong could engulf the entire universe. But the Lord of Nightmares must have been in a good mood that day because nothing good was destroyed and we got Lina back." Zelgadis explained further.
"Hmmm, maybe I don't want to know this spell after all." Nahga said.
"Heh, I think Lina is the only one capable of such a spell." Zelgadis said.
"Or maybe she is just stupid." Nahga said as she laughed.
"Yeah… that may be true as well." Zelgadis said grinning. Lina and Amelia sat on the rock looking at Zelgadis and Nahga talking while Gourry was catching up on his sleep.
"Well it looks like those two warmed up to each other fast." Lina said.
"Humph, Nahga better not try anything!" Amelia said. Lina looked at Amelia.
"Ooh, I get it your jealous aren't you!" Lina said putting her arm around her. Amelia Blushed.
"How could you say such a thing… I mean, well… You know Nahga too Lina!" Amelia replied. Lina sighed.
"Your just like Zel you know that?" Lina said.
"I'm ready to keep going Lina." Amelia said while she went to wake Gourry up and get the others.
"What… Amelia, time to leave already?" Gourry said.
"Yeah, time to leave." She said smiling. They continued further down the road when they finally read another sign.
"Holerfan, is only about another hours walk from here!" Lina yelled with excitement.
"Good, I'm kind of hungry." Gourry said.
"Heh, good old Gourry, always thinking about his stomach." Zelgadis said. They walked a little further when they heard a loud snap in the forest.
"What the…" Lina said looking into the forest. There was a faint laughter as it drew closer to Lina and the others.
"So, its true." The voice said as the person emerged from the forest wearing a robe. "You really did hurt Redin."
"Redin, that's the monster Lina told us about!" Amelia said as Nahga nodded.
"Who are you?" Gourry said.
"Redin's old colleague, my name is Kraid." He said as he walked to Lina.
"Kraid… let me guess your another monster after the manuscript right?" Lina said smirking.
"Correct." Kraid said smirking back at Lina.
"Heh, Predictable." Zelgadis said.
"You'll never get it from us!" Gourry said as Zelgadis threw him his sword again.
"As I might have guessed, I would think trying to reason with lower life forms would be pointless." Kraid said as he laughed.
"Lower life forms… Your in for the fight of your life Pal!" Lina screamed as she pushed Kraid away a few inches. Kraid stared at Lina then teleported behind her and hit her on the neck. Lina fell to the ground unconscious.
"Now where is the manuscript… I will not hesitate to finish the job!" Kraid said with one foot on Lina's back.
"He took Lina out with one blow to the neck!" Nahga exclaimed.
"Back off of Lina!" Gourry screamed as he almost brought the sword down on Kraid's head, but Kraid teleported again away from Lina, next to Zelgadis.
"If it has to be this way, then so be it… you will all die." Kraid said modestly.
"What the hell is so important about that manuscript!" Zelgadis demanded.
"Mortal, it does not concern you… only us." Kraid said.
"In the name of justice, you will pay for that!" Amelia said as she flew in the air at Kraid. "Fire Ball!" Amelia yelled as the ball off fire shot out of her hands. Nahga looked around and decided she had to help.
"Let me help, Elmekia Lance!" Nahga yelled as the beam shot out of her fingertips. The two spells hit Kraid at the same time.
"We got him!" Amelia screamed as she smiled at Nahga. The dust cleared and he was nowhere to be found.
"Did… no it couldn't have been that easy!" Zelgadis said as he looked around. "Amelia look out!" Zelgadis said as Kraid appeared behind her. Amelia stopped cheering and turned around.
"Foolish girl." Kraid said as he hit her into a tree.
"Amelia!" Zelgadis said as he looked at the unconscious Amelia.
"Damn you!" Gourry exclaimed as Nahga joined at his side. Kraid laughed then floated over to Gourry.
"Now, where is the manuscript!" Kraid demanded. Gourry swung at him and missed again as Kraid teleported next to Nahga.
"I bet YOU know!" Kraid said as he saw a piece of paper dangling out of Nahga's shirt pocket. Kraid slowly picked Nahga up by the neck.
"Put her down!" Zelgadis yelled. "Damnit! Gourry distract him I'm going to try another Rah Tilt!" He yelled as Gourry acknowledged. Zelgadis started to chant.
"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 yelled out as the brilliant light covered Kraid.
"Ahhhh!" Kraid yelled as he dropped Nahga. Nahga coughed a bit and got back up on her feet and ran back to join the group.
"Thanks!" Nahga said.
"Don't mention it, I think that may have finished him off." Zelgadis said checking the pulses of Lina and Amelia. "Their still alive, they were just knocked out… as if their sleeping." Zelgadis said. There was a moment of silence as the three-dragged Amelia, and Lina to them.
"Fools!" A booming voice said. Zelgadis looked on in shock as Kraid revealed his true monstrous form. "You are as powerful as they say, you actually managed to destroy my outer shell, but now you will face my true wrath!" Kraid said charging toward Gourry. Gourry dogged his charge by swinging to his right side and slashed him in the leg. "HA! No mortal weapons can harm me!!" Kraid yelled as right before Gourry's eyes the wound closed.
"What the…" Gourry said as Kraid smacked him away from the group. "Ugh!" Gourry said as we went tumbling.
"We may be down but were not out!" Nahga said as she smirked. "I've also learned a few new tricks. Freeze Rain!" Nahga said as a blinding amount of ice crystals hit the monster. Kraid slowed his running as he eventually stopped because he was frozen.
"That was some freeze spell!" Zelgadis said looking at Nahga.
"Heh, it was nothing!" She laughed.
"Huh?" Zelgadis looked at the ice where Kraid had been incased, Kraid then teleported out of the icy tomb.
"Damn, this guy doesn't know when to quit!" Nahga said as Gourry ran back to Zelgadis and Nahga.
"Now it is time for you all to die!" Kraid said as he shot beams of light toward their direction. There was a large explosion as the monster looked to confirm his target had been vanquished… "Time to get my manuscript." Kraid muttered as he closed in the area of the blast, but as the dust cleared he saw that they were still standing.
"What, impossible!" Kraid muttered. Zelgadis looked surprised as he looked around.
"I thought for sure we would have been hit by that!" Zelgadis said. "What happened?" There was a moment of silence between them as they finally heard another laugh in the wind.
"Huh… it can't be, you!" Zelgadis said as Nahga looked at him strange.
"Now, now I just saved your life. Don't get all angry." The figure said as he slowly descended to the ground.
"Xellos!" Zelgadis said. "If your involved in this I…"
"Relax Zelgadis I'm on your side, conveniently you and I have the same enemy at the moment. My orders were to protect you…" Xellos said as he gave that crooked smile to Zelgadis.
"Who's he?" Nahga asked.
"Bad news… he's a monster that loves to follow us around." Zelgadis said.
"Not really Zelgadis, its just once again you and your friends have proved to be an item of convenience for me and my, boss." He explained.
"A monster fighting for us, doesn't sound too bad…" Nahga said.
"Yeah until he decides to double-cross us." Gourry said. Kraid looked at the Mazoku.
"Ha, don't act so confident!" Kraid said as he charged Xellos.
"My, my quite a temper on him isn't there?" Xellos said as he teleported above Kraid's head.
"What?" Kraid said looking confused.
"Oh… I guess I forgot to mention, I'm a monster too!" Xellos said as he touched Kraid on the head.
"Don't bother me, your just a common fly!" Kraid said as he swung at Xellos. Xellos teleported behind him as the now enraged Kraid perused him. Lina got back up off of the ground.
"Ugh, what happened?" Lina asked Nahga.
"You were knocked out, when he was in his human form Kraid hit you in the back of the neck." Nahga explained.
"Now I remember, hey… Is that Xellos?" Lina asked.
"Yeah, he just saved us from possibly being vaporized." Gourry said.
"Amelia is still out, Lina take care of this thing while Xellos is distracting it." Zelgadis said while holding Amelia.
"Right, alright buddy you've messed with the wrong people!" Lina yelled, as she got ready. "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!" Lina said as she cast it strait at Kraid's body. The explosion came, as the surrounding trees became another crater. The dust settled and Kraid's body was lying motionless on the ground.
"Ha! No one messes with me!" Lina said looking at Xellos. "Say Xellos thanks for the help, but what's in it for you?"
"Well as you could probably have guessed I'm on your side for the moment once again… but that my dear Lina. That is a secret!" Xellos said while shaking his finger and disappearing into the shadow.
"Should have seen that one coming." Zelgadis said.
"Yeah, he never really does tell us what he's up to until its absolutely necessary…" Amelia said as she came to rubbing her head.
"Amelia, your awake!" Zelgadis said as he put her down.
"Yeah, I'm fine… thanks for watching out for me Zel." Amelia said smiling.
"So, this Xellos guy he's the one the Golden Dragon can't stand right?" Nahga asked.
"Yeah, that's the guy." Lina replied while Xellos appeared in front of Gourry.
"I Almost forgot, the Overworlder wanted you to have this back." Xellos said as he threw Gourry something.
"Wow, my old sword!" Gourry said.
"They no longer needed the sword of light because they forged a replacement replica to take its place for the coming battle and decided to give it back to the man who's been looking over it for all of these years. Even though their copy isn't as strong as its original it is just enough to hold the seal to protect the Overworlders " Xellos said.
"Cool, but what about this coming battle?" Gourry asked. Xellos opened one eye.
"Oh, dear I've said too much haven't I looks like I have to go." Xellos said as he disappeared. The four looked at the remains of Kraid.
"Well Lina your right about one thing, were in over our heads again." Zelgadis said as they continued on the road to Holerfan and finally saw it come into view.
"There it is, Holerfan… Lets go!" Lina said as she ran while the others followed behind. Lina saw Filia's shop in view, she saw Jiras in front of her shop.
"But first, time to eat!" Lina said looking at the restaurant.
"Lina, we have no money and we owe King Philionel!" Zelgadis yelled.
"I know… but we can owe him a little more, Amelia will get it on her tab… right Amelia?" Lina said looking at her with fire in her eyes. Amelia sighed.
"Fine, but not the whole menu this time!" Amelia said as she complained.
"Great!" Lina said as they entered the tavern. They sat and ordered their food and as usual Lina, Gourry, and Nahga were fighting over portions. Amelia looked over at Filia's shop across the street and saw a happy Jiras inviting customers inside.
"Are you guys done yet?" Amelia said as she ate a few bites.
"Honestly you three are a sight to behold." Zelgadis said watching them ravage the table. Lina growled as she ate a turkey leg.
"Almost!" Lina said swallowing the food. "Okay… I guess I'm done." Lina said as Gourry ate the last turkey leg.
"I'm ready!" Gourry said as he looked over to Nahga.
"Oh, yes lets go!" Nahga said. Zelgadis let out a sigh of relief as they exited the restaurant while the people inside watched them leave while staring at them horrified. Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis, Amelia, and Nahga approached Jiras.
"Lina!" Jiras said. "Welcome to Filia's weapons shop, what brings you guys by?" He asked.
"Well, we would like to talk to Filia, have you seen her around Jiras?" Lina Asked.
"Oh yeah, she is in the back helping Glavos stock the shelves." Jiras said as he smiled.
"You sure took a turn for the better Mr. Jiras!" Amelia said as she hugged the fox person.
"HA! I'm really happy now… thank you Amelia." Jiras chuckled.
"No problem, and thank you for helping out Filia." Amelia added.
"It's the least I could do after she saved me' life." Jiras said.
"I suppose, well I'll see you later Jiras… we have to ask Filia something." Amelia said as she followed the others inside. Lina walked up to the counter as Filia and Glavos were at work stocking the shelves with new weapons.
"Hi Filia!" Lina yelled as Filia jumped.
"Oh, hello and welcome to my… Miss Lina!" Filia said. "How have you been, I was just stocking but now that you're here…"
"Actually we wanted to ask you to read something for us, its in your language." Lina said.
"Really, its written by the golden dragons?" Filia asked.
"It's written in your language yes, but weather or not your people had anything to do with this remains a mystery to me." Zelgadis said. Nahga was pulling on Lina's shirt, Lina finally turned around.
"What the hell is it?" Lina asked
"I thought Golden Dragons were supposed to be huge…" Nahga replied.
"Actually, this is my human form… I can change into my real form at anytime but I have no need to at the moment." Filia said as she smiled at Nahga.
"Yeah, she does have problems controlling her tail when she's in her human form though." Gourry mentioned.
"I have nearly mastered that problem thank you very much Gourry!" Filia exclaimed.
"Oh, sorry… no offence."
"None taken." Filia said as she smiled at Gourry. Nahga handed the paper over to Filia as she put on her glasses to read it while Glavos continued his work. She started to read.
"What's it say?" Lina said.
"So far its just a bunch of gibberish… like a piece of a puzzle." Filia said.
"Interesting, but that doesn't explain why those monsters want it so badly." Zelgadis said. Filia continued to read as her face turned kind of pale.
"It… can't be." Filia said.
"What is it?" Lina asked.
"This is one of the pieces to three that the Golden Dragons spoke of during the war of the Gods and Monsters." Filia said with a shake in her voice.
"Why then are you so frightened by this, what's wrong?" Lina asked. Filia calmed down as she started to speak.
"Long ago when Shabranigdu was destroyed the very first time the monsters wrote a spell that could revive his full power without any need of the parts of his body. The golden dragons stole this scroll from them and when they demanded it back, the Gods orders were to rewrite it in their language to confuse the monsters and when they gave it back. The monsters refused the scroll and demanded that the one they wrote be returned but the golden dragons tore the map into three pieces and sealed them inside a barrier the gods ordered them to make. Which was one of the main causes of the War of the Monsters Fall." Filia explained.
"What they could revive his full power with three pieces!" Zelgadis yelled.
"So, that explains why the monsters want this thing so badly, they would have learned the Golden Dragon's language by now!" Lina said.
"Wait, if a monster is after the pieces this could be a disaster for the world!" Filia said.
"But that doesn't explain why Xellos would be helping us." Zelgadis said.
"True… this is getting weird." Lina said.
"Xellos is involved, well this can't be a good thing!" Filia exclaimed.
"I agree something very weird is going on." Gourry said.
"Jiras, please come in here for a minute… Glavos listen." Filia said while Jiras came rushing inside.
"All I know right now is that we can't let the other pieces fall into the wrong hands!" Lina said.
"Correct Lina, and now I know these pieces really do exist I'm going with your party… Jiras, Glavos please watch the shop until I return and take care of Val." Filia said pointing to the basket with the baby dragon in it next to the window."
"Whoa, Filia… are you sure?" Lina asked.
"Please, don't leave Filia… I don't know what I would do without you!" Glavos said.
"Yeah, we can't let anything happen to you!" Jiras replied.
"Please… I will be back, watch the shop for me. The fate of the world may be hanging in the balance." Filia said.
"We'll miss ya Filia." Jiras said.
"Well… good luck." Glavos replied.
"Thank you, please don't let anything happen to Val."
"Filia are you really sure about this?" Lina said.
"Yes, if you say someone was after the scroll you have then we must find the others and destroy them, I know from the stories where they are supposed to be hidden… but the exact locations may be hard to find." She said. Zelgadis looked down and sighed.
"Sorry Zel, don't worry we'll find a cure for you yet!" Amelia said.
"Thanks Amelia, but I'm losing hope…"
"Never lose hope Zel, when your with us anyway… or we'll pound some sense into ya!" Lina said with a smile.
"Well, it looks like we may have quite a search on our hands… by the way Gourry can I have my sword back, you have yours back remember?" Zelgadis said.
"Oh yeah, here you go Zel I almost forgot!" Gourry said as he gave Zelgadis back his sword.
"Filia, can't we just destroy this one now, I mean it is a threat to our existence and all." Nahga said.
"According to legend it can only be destroyed when all pieces are brought together. The Golden Dragons only kept them to taunt the monsters." Filia said as she sighed.
"Heh, I see… good old fashion revenge eh?" Lina said.
"That would explain Redin's less than worried look when I threatened to burn the paper." Zelgadis said.
"Well, lets get moving odds are these monsters are already looking for the other pieces, with the exception of Xellos that is… ooh thinking about this makes my head turn." Lina said.
"I'll see you guys later, I promise!" Filia said. She waved goodbye to Jiras and Glavos as the door of her shop shut and the group of six set out to once again save the world…