Look at me go! I'm back on track. I generally don't like to have overly long author notes, but I don't know any other way to respond to everyone who's been kind enough to comment. I really appreciate it.

One thing - this chapter alludes to a story that it is...well, the sequel too. Only that story was never written. Basically it deals with the Lina/Gourry relationship in this story and has something to do with Xellos. If you really want all the details, e-mail me and let me know, I'll be happy to tell you. :)

Also, I screw around a little bit with what I know of the canon as it's given in the novels. So..yeah.

Cookie - Thank you, thank you, and thank you. You make me blush. :)
Klutz82 - Boom! I like to be surprising! Careful with that bit, don't hurt your teeth! ;)
Moments of Insanity - Aww, but I like melodrama! Seriously, I'll keep that in mind, though the story is long-written, so I'm not sure...how much I'm willing to change. In any case, I'm glad you like the Grau/Grou/Amelia (Amedyn?) relationship. I'm very fond of it. Will she fight them? Hmmmm...
Gerao-A - There there Air-Jay...I like her too.
Raven Summersong - Ack! Don't be too upset! Someone will fix this! I think! Maybe! I'm thrilled that you like it though. And thank you. :)
Muffles - Seriously? WOW! You're awesome and amibitious and...and...thank you! I wish I could say that in all different ways, but you have no idea what it means to me that you like/liked it that much. :)
Hoshi-chan1 - Dynast is so inspired. ;) The story unfolds! Also I finally e-mailed you! Woohoo!

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Part VIII- Here and There and Everywhere

"Hic et ubique? Why then, we'll shift our ground..."
-Hamlet

-------

"I'm gonna murder him."

"Yes, Lina, I know."

"No, I really mean it this time."

"Yes, Lina, I know."

"I really do, jellyfish! Stop agreeing with me and listen! I really mean it! When we find him, I'm really going to kill him!"

"But why do you want to do that?"Gourry sighed. He was getting a little tired of this; Lina had been fixating on the impending death of Zelgadis for the past four days. She'd come up with at least a hundred ways to do the deed, and he'd almost begun to wish they'd run into some bandits, if only so she could let off some steam. She was getting more scary than usual.

"Because the lousy bastard left us without a word!"she stopped and ran in front of him, glaring up with her brilliant crimson eyes. "And before you say that it's not the first time he's done that, you're right. But this is different! Amelia's life is at stake, and he refused to look for her then ran off! That is just low of him."

"Well, what if he just decided to look for her himself?"

"That's not the point!

"Then what is the point?"

Lina paused, then snorted and turned away.

"Okay, I don't have one. I'm just pissed off that he'd leave without us. Sure, maybe he decided to look for Amelia, but what if he didn't? How the hell are we supposed to find him on top of finding her?"

"Lina,"her guardian placed his hand on her shoulder gently. "You know he's looking for her."

"I think it's possible that maybe he could be in a sort of way."

"No, you know he is."Gourry moved his hand over a little, gently massaging the soft hair at the back of her neck. "You and I both know that Zel likes to pretend he's completely cold, but he's not just going to sit by while one of his friends is in danger. Especially if it's Amelia." his hands moved once more, this time down her arm, raising her left hand to where she could see the sunlight glinting off the gold band he'd given her. Rubbing his thumb across it, he met her eyes and refused to look away, despite her embarrassed blush. "Because even if he's never said or done anything about it, there is something between them. You know he cares about her, and that's why you also know that he came this way, and that we'll find him sooner or later."

The fiery sorceress rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the way her mouth twitched up in a smile.

"Alright. I guess I have to agree with you there."

"Thanks, Lina."

Without letting go of each other's hands, they started walking again.

"But I'm still gonna hurt him badly."

"Lina..."

-------

Sparky's Inn was a common haunt for citizens of the Ferpeg township, but recently, people had been pouring in at an almost alarming rate. It seemed that there were a lot of travelers on the trade routes these days, and Sparky herself could hardly begrudge them for keeping her in business.

An attractive young woman whose brown hair was streaked with black, Sparky was proud of her inn, and never missed an opportunity to make a conversation with a customer. But it was late in the afternoon now, and with loads of people clamoring for tables, she was getting a little fed up with the silent guy in the corner who kept ordering nothing but coffee. Wandering over to where he sat pondering a map, she put her hands on the table and leaned on them.

"Listen, sugar, either buy some food, buy a room, or get a move on. You've been here for hours."

The man didn't respond, but kept studying the paper before him. Sighing with exasperation, Sparky slapped her hand down right in the middle of his gaze and was very satisfied when he jumped.

"Feel like listening now? I said-"

"Does this map show all the villages up to the ocean?"

Sparky blinked - that hadn't been the reaction she was expecting. "Huh?"

"Does this map show all the villages up to the ocean?"he repeated patiently.

"Uh..."she moved her hand and looked down at it. "I think so. No, wait..."she pointed up at the top of the line that indicated land. "There's a small township called Merrid that has a port to gods-know where right here. It's at the end of the trade route."

"A port?"

"Yup. Now, do you mind-"

"Actually, would you mind telling me if you've seen someone recently?"

"Look, hon, I've got a lot of people who'd like to sit down and..."she trailed off as the man raised his ice blue eyes to her.

"It's very important to Prince Philionel of Seyruun." Zel said, hoping the mention of the huge city would be enough to make her stay.

"Seyruun? What does Seyruun want with me?"

"The princess is missing."he motioned her to a seat, and was pleased when she took it. "And it's thought she may have been kidnaped and taken in this direction. So I was wondering if..."

"If they passed through here. I've got no idea. What does she look like?"

Zel gave a description of both Amelia and the strange party guests, surprising himself with how much detail he used on the small girl. When he was done, Sparky pursed her lips and thought a moment.

"I can't say I've seen anyone that looked like that, or that even comes close. You're sure they're going north?"

"That's the only lead I've got."

"Well, maybe they went on through here. But Merrid's the last stop. You can't get much further north than that, unless you want to take a boat off into oblivion. Sorry I can't be more helpful than that."

"It's alright." Sure, he'd hoped she'd seen something, but he'd known it was only a slim chance. "Er...how far is it to Merrid?"

"Ah...hmmm. Depends how you go. Horseback, maybe a month. On foot it would be at least double that."

"I see. Thank you."

"So, are you going to order anything else?"

"I would, but I've got a long way to go." the Chimera fished into the pouch at his side and handed her some coins. "Thank you."

"No problem..."Sparky counted the coins idly as he left. He might not have been an exciting patron, but he sure paid well. Feeling a little bit wealthier for the new silver pieces in her pocket, she walked back to the bar, failing to notice the person sitting not far away that had watched the entire conversation between herself and Zel.

Outside, Zel stepped into the sun, pulled up his hood, and then decided that maybe it would have been better if Lina had killed him earlier.

"Oh. Shit."

"Hiya Zel!"Lina Inverse herself grinned at him, her voice dripping with deadly sweetness. "Feel like buying a girl dinner?"

Looking past her, Gourry's expression told him that he'd better do it, or risk something very, very bad. Spinning on his heel with a cringe, he started to walk back to Sparky's.

"Right this way, Lina..."

-------

"Oh, you are so lucky you decided to buy this, Zelgadis Graywords, or else I woulda-"the rest of Lina's sentence was dissolved in chewing as she tore apart yet another chicken leg.

Zel rolled his eyes and studied the huge pile of plates on the table. It might have been the pathetic way out, but at least if she had food in her mouth, she couldn't yell as loudly as usual.

"Yes, Lina, you would have done something awful to me. I know you."

"Damn straight!"she declared, slamming her mug down on the table. "But since you did buy us dinner, I suppose murdering you like I had planned would be kinda rude."

"Just a little bit."

"Well..."Gourry leaned back in his chair and folded his arms behind his head. "We found you, Zel, and that's what's matters. So now we can look for Amelia together."

Zel blanched.

"What makes you think I'm looking for her?"

"Bullshit."Lina grinned at him. "Don't even try to fake it. You're looking for her, and you didn't want us to come because you didn't want us to know you gave in."

"Gave in to what?"

"Not so much 'gave in' as started to consider something."Gourry put it. With a meaningful glance at his friend, he added, "Take it from someone who knows that sometimes you don't need to have things said to know they're there."

Zel felt a twinge of guilt; he'd forgotten the nasty things he'd said to the swordsman before he left. But they were still wrong. What was going on inside him was nothing like the emotions that had existed unspoken between Lina and Gourry.

"But it's not like that."he said quietly. "I don't quite know what to feel. I don't know if I feel anything. What matters to me now is making sure that she's safe. And I figured I could do it on my own without bothering you."

"Yeah, maybe."Lina rested her chin in her hand. "But if you recall, you wouldn't let me go to Sairaag alone. What made you think we weren't going to come after you the minute we knew you were gone?"

"Oh, I knew you'd come. I was just hoping I would have gotten to her before you came after my head."

"Be that as it may, you haven't found her, and neither have we. But you've got an idea where to look, I'm guessing?" The sorceress pointed to the map tucked into Zel's belt.

Zel pulled the map out and unrolled it.

"All we know is that the people who took her were from the north. I've been through all these towns.."he indicated the places circled in red. "And no one has seen her or the guests from the party. Now the innkeeper here told me that there's a town not on that map that's right on the ocean. Merrid, she said. And it's the last point on the continent."

"Hmmm..."the red-head perused the map. "Then I guess that's where we're going, stopping everywhere between here and there."

"The thing is, Sparky said it was at least two months on foot. If we walk it, and stop at every town..."

"She'll be with whoever it is that much longer."Gourry finished.

"Right."Lina said gravely. "And the longer she's with them, the better the chance she'll get hurt. But I don't think we have any other option besides searching each place."

"I don't think that will do much good." A new voice broke in- that of the man who'd been listening earlier. "You could look here and everywhere, and you'll never find her."

The newcomer found Lina's chair planted in his face the next moment, and received a knock on the head from Gourry.

"How dare you even think about showing your face around us you sneaky lying little bastard of an asshole!"

"Calm down, Lina-san..."Xellos pulled the chair from his face and put on his most innocent expression. "I have no idea what you're talking about..."

"Yes you do."the swordsman glared at him. "You used both of us to play your stupid little games."

"I think you should be thanking me. After all, would you two have ever admitted anything if I hadn't given you that shove?"

The General Priest himself was shoved into a wall for that comment, leaving Zel to look back and forth between his companions.

"Care to explain?"

"Later."Lina seethed.

Never one to leave well enough alone, Xellos stumbled back to the table.

"And I really don't think that's anyway to treat the only one who knows where the princess is..."

Zel was on that in a second. Gripping the Mazoku by his cape, he dragged the purple-haired annoyance onto the table.

"What have you done with her, fruitcake?"

"I haven't done anything with her, Zelgadis-san. But I happen to know who did."

"Who? SPIT IT OUT!"

"Zel, I don't think he can talk when you're shaking him like that..."

"Fine." he released his hold and dropped Xellos to the floor. "Talk."

Climbing onto the bench, Xellos smoothed his hair back and beckoned Sparky over. After ordering a glass of water, he turned to the other three.

"Well now. I'm sure we all remember the party in Seyruun, yes?"he smiled sweetly at Lina and Gourry, who growled at him. "I see that we do. So then we might have noticed some people who didn't happen to be on the guest list. I'm sure Zelgadis-san knows exactly who I mean."

"The people from the north."

"Right."

"You noticed them first, didn't you? And that's when you left Amelia and I alone."

"Correct again." Xellos slowly opened his lavender eyes. "Of course, what you might also have picked up, is that they weren't really people."

"They were Mazoku?!" It was both a question and a statement, and it came from Lina and Zel simultaneously. They looked at each other strangely for a moment, then back at Xellos.

"We're just getting everything right tonight!"he clapped his hands. "Yes, they were Mazoku. A pair that I hadn't seen for a very long time. Not since the Kouma war, I think; as far as I know, that was the last time they did anything particularly outstanding for their master."

"So who are they?"

"Lina-san should get this one. Let's run through our Dark Lord roll call, shall we? There's BeastMaster-sama, and you know I'm her only servant. Gaav and Hellmaster are dead, and so are their minions. So that leaves two others."

"Deep Sea Dolphin and Dynast."Lina said thoughtfully. "But neither of them...wait a minute..."

"It's coming back, isn't it?"

"Shit."Lina pounded her fist on the table. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Huh? What?"Gourry looked between his lover and the Mazoku.

"I believe that before we met, you and Lina-san ran into a girl with blue hair. She attacked you, and you defeated her. What you didn't realize-"

"Is that she was Sherra, Dynast's general. Of course."

"Brilliant as always."

"So what does this mean?"Zel broke in. "This is the Dynast of 'Dynast Bras', right? As far as I know, he..." He froze, realizing exactly where his sentence was going.

"Dynast Grausherra lives in the frozen north and, because of Lina-san, has no general. Being the recluse he is, sending Sherra out several years ago was a huge move, which means he's been planning something. Her defeat and subsequent death ruined things, meaning that another measure was in order. Sending Grau and Grou out, and from the look on your face I see they did actually give you those names, was very unexpected, and it means one thing. Dynast is looking for a replacement for Sherra. And..."he took a long drink of his water before continuing, "He's finally found her."

A profound silence fell on the table, and there was no movement except for the slow clenching and unclenching of Zel's right fist. Gourry, lost in the discussion, finally decided to speak.

"So wait a minute. That blue haired girl was Mazoku, and because Lina killed her, Amelia's gone? That doesn't make any...WAH!" Insight hit like a lightning bolt and Gourry pointed at Xellos with a shout. "You're saying that Dumbass took Amelia!"

"Er...that's Dynast, Gourry-san. And yes, that's exactly what I mean."

"You can't be serious." Zel's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I am very serious."

"If there's one person that I could never imagine being taken by a Dark Lord, it's Amelia. Knowing what she did to you with her 'Life is Wonderful' song, I can't see someone higher up than you wanting to do anything but kill her."

"Admittedly, I don't entirely understand that either, but the fact remains. He did take her. I recognized Grau and Grou the moment they stepped into the ballroom. So basically, if you're going to find the princess," he reached across the map and pointed the very edge of the paper where there was nothing indicated but water, "You're going to have to go here."

"To the very far north. Lucky us."Lina rolled her eyes.

"So, what's the big deal?" Gourry asked. "We go to that town Zel mentioned, hire a boat, and go get her."

"It's not that easy, Gourry."she sighed. "Dynast is the second most powerful of the Dark Lords after Phibrizzo. Not to mention that we're going to be sailing into nearly uncharted waters to fight him on his own territory."

"And to top it off, she'll be with him at least a month before we can get to her."

"That's true too. But what I want to know now..."Lina raised her eyes to Xellos. "Is why you told us this. Knowing you, it certainly wasn't an act of goodwill."

"That's my ingenious Lina-san, there."he beamed proudly. "Of course I have my reasons for telling you. My Mistress sent me after you. That Dynast has taken Amelia-san means that there's a something in the works. Maybe it won't even take effect for another hundred years, because he'll wait as long as he needs to. But the point is, my Mistress doesn't appreciate being left in the dark about this. Especially if he's going to be making some sort of play for power."

"So essentially, she wants you to play us for fools again and go in and take him out for her."

"Ah...more or less, yes."

"Why does this always happen? Why do we always get stuck with you?"

"Fate, perhaps?"

"How or why doesn't really matter though."the swordsman broke in. "We still have to get Amelia."

"You're right. And we've got to go as soon as possible."

"First thing in the morning."Zel said.

"Right. And this time, we'll leave together." Lina smiled at him and held out her hand. "Alright?"

"Alright." Zel took her hand, and Gourry placed his on top of theirs. "We'll go together."

-------

Alone in the dark again.

Alone with the words that wouldn't go away. This was getting to be a habit.

He'd been pacing back and forth across his room for hours, until finally tiredness overcame him and he had to sit down. But Zel's mind didn't slow down; instead it persisted running in the same circles, carving deeper tracks across his thoughts.

That Amelia had been taken by a Dark Lord was just... Well, there were no words to describe it. The panic that had overwhelmed him at Xellos's words was nameless, but it was strong and unrelenting. And what made it all the more worse, was the fact that Zel knew it was his fault.

For the three hundredth time, he cursed himself. How could he not have known those two were Mazoku? He knew there was something wrong with them, but why didn't he say anything? If he'd just stopped her from walking away, if he'd gone with her, or at least followed them... If he hadn't gone back and sat down like an idiot, then this never would have happened. But he didn't. Why didn't he do it?!

Because you're a coward, he told himself. Because you're a stubborn fool who won't ever give up his hard shell. Because you couldn't let her know that her words hurt, so you had to make sure she didn't see you.

And because of all this, she was gone. It was his fault, and clenching his hand firmly, he knew he would have to be the one to amend it. If it was the last thing he did, he would bring her back.

"I promise you that, Amelia."