Disclaimer: Slayers belongs to Kadokawa Shoten.
I know, I haven't updated in a long time. I deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and have spent the two months since my return reconnecting with my family and friends. But I'm back now, and I hope to update more often.
Faces: Finale!
Insurgents and Counterinsurgents
Gravity was a fairly new concept.
Despite the obviousness of its existence, the people on the continent, enclosed by the Mazoku barrier for a thousand years, did not truly comprehend what it was. As there was no communication with the outer world, the news of its discovery and classification never reached the ears of the sorcerers of Seyruun or the priests of Sairaag. On that continent, things fell to the ground because they had nowhere else to fall.
Yet it was gravity, a mysterious and unknown force, that caused Jeffrey to crash against the ground and mash his nose against a rock.
It didn't even faze him. He was up again less than a second later and running. Looking over his shoulder, he sighed and stopped, turning and waving his hands in the air. "Come on!" he cried in frustration. "We have to hurry!"
About a hundred meters behind him, the rest of the group walked, not ran, in the same direction. Adara was ahead of them, her white horse, Arod, stepped carefully over branches and rocks as he carried his mistress up the hill. Behind the beast walked the others, Gourry and Stevanya in front, the others bringing up the rear.
Jeffrey bit his lip and waited impatiently. "They're going to get away!" he finally cried.
"Jeffrey, they've GOTTEN away," Vanya told him, gruffly.
Jeffrey's face fell. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. In the adventures, the heroes always caught up to the kidnappers....
Well, except for that one trilogy by that one guy....
But this was different!
The minstrels, he was learning, had no idea what they were talking about.
Vanya, seeing his crestfallen expression, marched up to him. "Look," she said quietly, so only he could hear. "We're in bad shape. Only one of us has a horse, one of us is pregnant, and we're ALL tired. What would you have them do? Run all the way to Scarrin's castle through rough terrain and then fight at the end of it?"
The young man thought on this, then shook his head.
"We approach quietly, in stealth," she told him. "You want to get your Lina back, that's the way to do it. Understand?"
The boy nodded.
Vanya smiled faintly and took his shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. You'll get to rescue her and be her hero."
"I don't want to be a hero," he replied quietly. "I just want her back."
Her smile vanished as she stared at him. "I think that's the smartest thing I've ever heard you say."
"How will we even know where they went?" Amelia asked, taking the pause as an excuse to rest against a boulder.
"Vanya knows where they're going," Sylphiel piped in. She gave the kunoichi a look. "You...um.....DO know where they're going right?"
"Scarrin has a castle in the Iron Mountains, north of the Singing Vale. That's where Zero said he's holing up."
"Zero?" Gourry suddenly asked. "When did you see him?"
"Just before my sister and I left Seyruun. He was a little tongue tied at first, but I loosened it for him."
Gourry stepped up to her. "What do you think?"
Vanya looked up at him. "Honestly? Without the others able to use magic, I think we're fucked."
"What were those things?" he asked.
She looked at him and shook her head. "How the hell am I supposed to know?!" she replied. "Whatever they are, he didn't tell me about them. Just like he didn't tell me about my copii."
Gourry looked down at her in concern. "Look, I know we got off to a rocky start, but...."
"Let's not confuse things, Blondie," she interrupted in a whisper. "I'm not sorry for what I did. I did it because I wanted to free Zelgadis from a monster. Now I'm going to do it again, and I won't be sorry for anything I do then. Understand?"
Gourry scratched his head. Suddenly he smiled. "No problem!"
Vanya blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I'm not worried! Zel always says stuff like that, but when we really need him, he always show up, does a cool pose, and jumps into the fight! You're his sister, so I guess...."
She turned from him. "Yeah? Don't count on it." She walked away and kneeled next to Sylphiel, who was sitting on a rock not far away. "Back pain again?"
"Just a little," Sylphiel told her, stretching. "I can keep up."
"We really can't slow down," the ninja told her.
"I know. Don't worry about me." Vanya continued looking at her. "I'll be okay," the shrine maiden said.
Vanya thought for several moments. Now that she was part of this "team," she had more back-up. Also, with those new berserkers, the overriding reason for bringing Sylphiel along was essentially nullified. Perhaps she should take her to the next town and have her stay there until it was all over.
Sylphiel suddenly looked into her eyes with a jade fire Vanya had never seen on the woman before. Suddenly she knew all her thoughts were left bare to this woman, the woman her brother had chosen.
Vanya knew then there was no chance of having Sylphiel do ANYTHING she didn't WANT to do.
She sighed and stood up. She'd have to find another way to solve the problem. A pregnant woman was going to slow them down, and despite her words to Jeffrey, she knew time was of the essence. An idea formed, and she walked over to Adara, who was feeding Arod an apple.
"Say," Vanya said. "That's a nice horse."
AAA
Sylphiel blushed and turned away as another round of muttered insults and grumbling left Adara's mouth. Sitting in front of her, the elf grumbled as she piloted Arod up the hill. Despite her valiant attempts not to hear, Sylphiel couldn't help but catch a good deal of what the elf was complaining about.
"Threaten to turn MY horse into lunch meat, will she? Hmmph! Arod is an elf steed, not a taxi for overweight shrine maidens who can't pull their own ample weight. Hmmph! If it weren't for my dearest Zelgadis, I'd ditch the lot of them and go back to Zarak where I'm appreciated!"
Sylphiel wasn't sure whether or not to be embarrassed or infuriated. She had thought an offer of a ride from Adara sounded strange, but her back was hurting too much for her to refuse it. Now she wished she were walking.
She took a breath. Maybe if she talked to Adara, they could clear the air....
"Miss Adara?"
"What?"
The question packed enough venom to make Sylphiel draw back. "Um....Nothing."
Sylphiel sighed, suddenly wishing she were someone else. She briefly wondered how Lina was doing. Or Miss Naga. At least they didn't have to worry about fighting with their own personal rivals....
AAA
Lina's back hit the tree and nearly snapped it like a dry twig. She hit the ground and struggled to her knees. Not far away, Naga was pulling herself up.
"Okay, you bitch," Lina growled. "Fun time is over."
Naga, on her feet again but wincing as she touched a burn on her stomach, gave her an incredulous look. "What?! Excuse me?! Where was I for FUN TIME?!"
"Flaaare........"
"Freeeeze........"
"ARROW!"
"FIREBALL!"
"FREEZE BRID!"
The spells struck each other and dissipated in clouds of vapor. Suddenly, the redhead was leaping through the fog, catching the taller woman unawares. Naga felt Lina's hands wrap around her throat, and she fell backward. Letting gravity help her, she pulled her legs up and planted her feet on Lina's stomach. At the end of her roll, she pushed with all her might. Lina went flying.
Naga was up in a shot, turning and pointing. "FREEZE ARROW!"
The ice lance was poorly aimed and flew over the shorter woman's head. Lina was charging her now.
"BURST RONDO!"
"FLARE BIT!"
The women marched toward one another, launching spell after spell that were either dissipated by opposing spells or missed their target all together. When they were only five feet apart, Naga fired another.
"GAAV FLARE!"
She blinked as nothing happened.
Lina smiled. "Oh, forgot to mention it. Gaav's dead. BLAM BLAZER!"
The energy blast launched Naga off her feet. She hit the ground, dazed. Lina marched up to her.
"Ready to give....."
Without warning, Naga struck out with her foot and landed it square in the pit of Lina's stomach.
The redhead turned a drastic shade of blue and hit the ground next to Naga, who was still too weak to get up under her own power.
The two lay panting on the ground for several minutes. The only sounds that could be heard was the wind through the trees in the forest on their left and a fish jumping in the pond on their right. Finally, Lina managed to gasp a few words out.
"Twenty-four hour truce?" she croaked.
Naga just nodded quickly. A twenty-four hour truce was something they had agreed on after their first brawl three days ago. Of course, it didn't take long after a truce wore off for them to begin screaming at each other again.
At first, Naga had thought it was just like old times, and she had relished it. Testing herself against her destined rival was the only way she had ever improved her sorcery skills and she knew she had dulled in the years since she last saw Lina.
But after three days, Naga was beginning to see the truth. Lina didn't fight her because she wanted to improve, or show her up, or even out of annoyance.
Lina fought because Lina HATED her.
"Get your stuff together," she heard Lina say. "We have a long way to go."
Naga rose to her feet as Lina started walking away. "Are you still pissed about th....."
The result was instantaneous. Lina whirled on her foot and stared into Naga's blue eyes. "Yes! Yes, dammit! I'm still pissed! What did you expect me to feel?!"
"It was a long time ago!" Naga said defensively. "I figured you'd be over it by NOW!"
"Well, I'm NOT over it!," Lina seethed. "I trusted you. It took me a long time before I could do that, but I did it. I trusted you."
With that last accusation, Lina turned and started walking.
Naga started after her. "Look, you're still pissed. Okay, I see that. But this attitude problem of yours isn't going to make it better! We have a lot of work to do."
Lina stopped and turned to her. "You still don't get it do you?" she asked in a whisper. "I." She stepped toward the taller woman. "Don't." Another step. "WANT YOU HERE!" She reached out and shoved Naga away.
Naga blinked then smiled. "You see? Your emotional outbursts only conceal the truth. We need one another."
"How.......I.........what? I......." Lina shook her head and started walking again.
The brunette trotted up alongside her. "It's just like the old days!" Naga continued. "Working together! Helping one another on our quests for glory and treasure!"
"You are so clueless, it's not even funny," Lina told her. "I wouldn't pull you from a lake if you had rocks tied to your shoes and you were drowning," she declared. "I wouldn't spit in your mouth if you were dying of thirst. You wanna pretend we're buddies? Fine. But don't expect me to lift a finger to help you."
She started walking again.
Naga walked alongside. "See?! That's what I'm talking about!" she said triumphantly.
Lina said nothing.
"So......" Naga began. "What's with you and the blond guy?"
"Stay out of it, Naga," Lina warned.
"I'm just curious, I mean you never used to........"
Naga interrupted herself by grabbing Lina by the hair and pulling her sharply toward her.
"AUGH!!!" Lina screamed just as an arrow shot through the space she had just occupied. "What the........"
As the words were exiting her mouth, Naga was already swinging around with her hands even with her chest. "BURST RONDO!"
Balls of red energy flew from her fingertips and into the nest of trees nearby. The energy balls tore through bark, wood, and plants, leveling a fifty meter stretch of forest.
Lina was on her feet a second later and took her cue from Naga. "FIREBALL! FIREBALL!"
The balls of fire arced into the trees and exploded, knocking down trees that might have been hundreds of years old. The creaking of falling timber was eclipsed only by the explosions of the two women's spells.
Silence.
A bird squawked, then flew across the swath of devastation in front of them.
"Did we get them?" Lina asked quietly.
Naga smiled and tossed her hair. "I'm sure we......."
THWACK!
A stone the size of Naga's fist hit the ground at her feet. The sorceress, a lump on the side of her head steadily expanding, hit the ground like a falling tree.
"Ah, shit," Lina grumbled. Turning, she saw a group of red-clad berserkers heading toward her. The group was wielding not knives, spears and swords, but sling-shots, bows and bolas.
"FLARE ARROW!" The fire dart struck the dirt in front of the group, blowing up a cloud of brown dust, but did nothing to stop the advance. "FLARE ARROW!" The second dart struck the lead berserker dead on and did nothing.
"SHIT!" Lina cried as the stampede struck her. She lost her footing and fell backward, three of the creatures landing on top of her. Flailing her arms and legs wildly, the berserkers did everything they could to subdue her.
Naga's unconscious form, in the meantime, had rolled toward the shore of the lake. Coming to as her face struck the water, she stood up and pointed her hand at a berserker with a sling.
"Freeze......."
Before she could finish, the berserker let fly, the stone striking Naga's shoulder!
Naga stumbled backwards, losing her balance. The last thing she said before hitting the water was, "ARROW!"
The ice bolt struck the water as she sank, and the top of the pond rapidly froze over, creating a three foot sheet of ice above her head. Naga saw the ice and panicked, kicking her legs and swimming toward the top.
She slammed her fists against the ice and opened her mouth to cast a fire spell. Her mouth filled with water.
She was trapped.
AAA
The Ra'achst Outpost was at the eastern tip of WolfPack Island, and hadn't seen action in centuries.
But today was an active day.
Clouds of black smoke rose from within the fort as the last of the defenders prepared to launch a last desperate attack against their unknown enemy.
Beetsk had been third in command of an outpost housing a hundred Mazoku yesterday. Today he was the leader of about forty survivors. He clicked his brown, insectile antennae together, a physical sign of agitation and looked out over the wall. He was hoping there was a weak spot in the enemy forces surrounding him.
He wasn't finding any.
Through the smoke and flames he could see a figure emerging from the crowd of enemies outside. The Mazoku around him tensed, but he put a claw up to forestall them.
"Defenders of Ra'achst," he heard the Mazoku call out to him. "You are our allies, not our enemies. We wish to negotiate a cessation of hostilities."
Beetsk hissed. "They have a member of the political caste out there," he remarked.
"How can you tell," a Mazoku asked him.
"How many of YOU know what 'cessation' means?"
The other Mazoku had nothing to say. Beetsk stood up. "You can tell Deep Sea Dolphin or Dynast or whoever you work for to go fuck themselves!" he shouted. "Ra'achst will stand with a Wolf's banner flying over it or Ra'achst will burn! No middle ground!"
"By all means, we wish you to keep your banner!" came the quick reply. "It is the emblem of our sovereign as much as it is yours."
Beetsk's antennae twitched in agitation. What kind of mind game was this? "I serve Her Imperial Majesty, Xelas Metallium!" he announced.
"As do we."
"The Grand Army does not sack her own cities!" Beetsk shouted, losing patience.
"It sacks cities in rebellion!" came the reply.
The Mazoku around him grumbled again. The voice continued.
"It sacks the cities who've taken the traitor Jinnar as their king!"
The defenders howled in rage at the accusation. Beetsk raised his claw again.
"I piss on Jinnar!" Beetsk announced. "And I piss on you...and your general!"
"This army follows the Golden Lady!" the voice announced.
Dead silence.
Beetsk hissed again. "There's no such thing!" he screamed contemptuously.
At that exact point, a Golden Dragon flew into the air before them and howled!
Every Mazoku in the fort, Beetsk included, took a step back.
"The Golden Lady, Lady Metallium, has sworn allegiance to Her Majesty and leads this army in her name!" the voice informed them. "Choose who you follow, defender of Ra'achst! Her Majesty, or Jinnar!"
The Golden Dragon landed before the fort, between it and the invaders and transformed into a blonde woman with a lock of purple hair.
Beetsk finally rallied. "It's a trick!" he shouted. "We surrender to you, and you'll kill the rest of us!"
The voice that answered this charge came from the woman before him. "Defender of Ra'achst," she said quietly, and yet everyone heard her. "My mate often spoke of your courage and devotion to the security of your queen." A lie, but it wasn't the first or last she would tell. "Lord Xellos faced his death knowing you would not surrender to a corrupt usurper like Jinnar. I am asking you, not for your surrender, but for your aid in destroying this menace to his queen and the Mazoku who's loyalty he enjoyed."
The Mazoku stared at her, transfixed.
Beetsk's antennae drooped and straightened alternately. "My Lady," he called back politely. "This is not a black and white issue, but one for which every Mazoku must make a choice. I will confer with my soldiers, and give your our answer in one hour."
Filia bowed to him. "I thank you."
An hour later, the vote came in, the doors of Ra'achst opened.........
And the defenders of the eastern outpost joined the Army of the Golden Lady.
AAA
"WHERE DID THEY COME FROM!?" Jinnar screamed, pulling at his hair. Nearby, Pixy Misa was filing her nails. "An invading army just appears out of nowhere and defeats every force sent against it?! THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!"
"So what are you going to do, mon ami?" Misa asked casually. "Mobilize the rest of the army?"
Jinnar tore up the written dispatch in his hand and growled. "If I did that, Her Majesty will know. I have to deal with this quietly." He put his finger to his lips and hmm'd in thought.
Misa blew on her nails. "Perhaps you should ask them to surrender. Maybe they'll deal."
"SURRENDER?!" he exploded. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO!? I'VE NEVER SURRENDERED TO ANYONE IN MY LIFE!"
"You've never FOUGHT anyone in your life," Misa smirked.
"DON'T BACK-TALK ME! I AM YOUR LORD AND GOD!"
"Yes, Great One," Misa replied tiredly. "Still, a parley would give you a chance to gauge my lord god's new enemy. Perhaps you should make the trip."
Jinnar looked taken aback. "Me? I don't think so! Who knows what they'd do to me!?" He smiled and looked at her. "However........"
Misa sighed. "Oui, oui........"
AAA
Lina jabbed her elbow into the last berserker's stomach and watched him double over. She turned and quickly searched the ground for the dagger she had dropped in the fight with the other two berserkers. Finding it, she reached down quickly and wheeled around again, thrusting her arm out as the berserker rushed her.
The reptile stood completely still, his head impaled on Lina's dagger through the eye. She curled her lip in disgust as the thing gurgled at her.
With one hard jerk, she pulled the dagger out and watched as the lizard creature fell forward, forcing her to take a step back to avoid the blood gushing from its wound.
She took a deep breath and looked around. The nice thing about magic, she thought, was that it could make battles decidedly cleaner. Staring at the butcher's shop around her, she suddenly wished she had been facing wizards or something else she could kill with magic.
Blinking, she realized Naga was nowhere to be found.
She looked out at the lake and saw it covered with a sheet of ice. Just beneath the translucent floor, she could see a dark shape moving frantically.
Lina stood there for a long moment.
AAA
Naga pounded against the ice with the last ounce of her strength. She was so cold, and her vision was getting blurry.
She watched as the last tiny bubble emerged from her mouth and floated upward.
She sank.
A bright light above her nearly woke her, but she was far too gone to notice. The touch of someone's hand on her's nearly jarred her in consciousness, but to no avail. No, nothing woke her until she felt the water's grip on her leave and air entered her lungs.
She coughed as someone dragged her across the ice. Coughing up a gallon of water, she looked up and saw Lina standing over her.
"I owed you that one," Lina told her before turning and starting down the road again. The bodies of several stabbed berserkers lay nearby.
Naga watched her and continued coughing.
AAA
"All in all, I think it's going rather well," Callisto said off-handedly. He dipped his paw in a bowl of water and began to clean himself.
Filia paced back and forth in her tent and nervously wrung her hands. "Are you sure?"
"Quite," Callisto told her. "Keep in mind that this is the first army in ten thousand years to get even this far. Of course, the fact that people genuinely dislike Jinnar helps."
Sethra entered the tent and cleared her throat. "Beetsk is here, Filia."
Callisto hopped down and took his place by Filia's feet. "Send him in."
The priestess disappeared through the tent flaps, and a moment later Beetsk stood in her place. Filia raised her head regally.
"Captain," she greeted curtly. She held her hand out, knuckles up.
The insectoid knelt before her and took her hand, brining it to his antennae. He was the fourth Mazoku commander to go through with this ritual. Callisto insisted she do it as it was not only a gesture of respect, but an inconspicuous way for her new commanders to sense that she was, indeed, a blended being.
Beetsk seemed startled for a moment, then rose. "We are at your command, My Lady," he told her.
"I thank you," she said simply. "Be sure your soldiers are prepared to leave tomorrow morning."
Breetsk bowed and left.
Filia let out a breath and went to the small chair in the corner. "Every time I do that I wonder what will happen if they smell something they don't like."
"They would kill you," Callisto told her shortly, striding up to her. "But they won't. I picked these targets and the Mazoku to convert based on their past performance. Beetsk, in particular, is a good addition. He was a friend of Jinnar's late rival."
"Will Amara be okay?" she asked him.
"Jinnar is an opportunist. He won't kill your sister unless it somehow elevates his position," Callisto told her. He suddenly hopped up into her lap. "And I intend to keep my word."
She smiled. "You're like Xellos was in a lot of ways, Callisto," she told him. She started to pet him. "I'm starting to think Amara was right. Maybe there is a way for our two peoples to live together."
"Perhaps not together," he replied, purring slightly. "But peacefully. I can see why Xellos chose you." He looked up at her.
The look was all too familiar.
Filia suddenly stood up. Callisto landed on his feet. Before either could say a word, Sethra entered again.
"We have a visitor."
AAA
"I don't get it," Amelia whispered as they gazed down the ridge at the ravine and the narrow bridge that crossed it. "Why not go through the Singing Valley?"
Gourry didn't answer right away. He pointed at the bridge. "There. Two copii women at the far side of the bridge."
"And probably more at the gate," Vanya finished.
"I think I know one reason," Syphiel told the princess. "It's the straightest path to Scarrin, so it'll probably be where the heaviest concentration of berserkers are."
Gourry and Vanya nodded.
"Oh," Amelia said.
"There's another reason," Gourry told them. "It's the way Lina's going." He smiled. "And if Lina's going that way, we can't even be sure the valley will BE there later."
"So what do we do?" Jeffrey whispered. "Fly over?"
"Every berserker, orc and troll for eight miles will see us," Adara hissed. "And I'm not leaving Arod either."
Vanya grabbed Jeffrey's wrist. "Jeffrey and I will cause a diversion," she told Gourry. "While Amelia and Sylphiel fly you and Adara to the other side under the bridge."
"What kind of diversion?" Amelia asked.
"Those are copii women, right?"
AAA
Stevanyahachi waited as Stevanyanana walked up to her. "How are things here?" Stevanyanana asked with a heavy lisp.
"Same as always," Stevanyahachi croaked, hefting her staff. Both copiis wore white veils over their faces. Originally supposed to be assassins like the first three, able to blend in with a crowd, the two of them, along with several others, had found themselves unable to do so. Regenerative fading had taken hold by the fourth copii, and without the original, it was impossible to create more without serious defects. Scarrin put them on guard duty as a result.
Stevanyanana looked up sharply and hissed. Stevanyahachi turned and raised her staff.
From the other side of the bridge walked two figures, one a short, thin man and the other a kunoichi like them. The man held a dagger to the copii's throat.
"LET US THROUGH!" the man shouted. "LET US THROUGH OR I'LL CUT HER THROAT!"
Below them, Sylphiel and Amelia carried Gourry and Adara across the ravine.
"GO AHEAD!" Jeffrey shouted at them. "DO SOMETHING! I'VE KILLED THE OTHER TWO, AND I CAN JUST EASILY KILL THREE MORE! GO AHEAD!"
The copiis ran to the center of the bridge and lifted their staffs.
Jeffrey regarded them for a second, then dropped the dagger and went for his sword. The arm around her throat gone, Vanya went for her katana.
They both cried out a second later as the copiis' staffs struck their hands. Their swords hit the bridge with two distinct clangs.
Before they could reach for them, a smoke bomb went off between them.
Jeffrey coughed and tried to see through the smoke, but all he saw was a staff whip through the air and strike him. Raising his arms, he tried to block the attacks, and grit his teeth through the pain.
After the third whack, he saw Stevanya through the smoke step past his attacker and strike her in the back of the head with her elbow. He heard the kunoichi go down.
The wind started to blow the smoke away, and Jeffrey looked up as he heard a battlecry. The second copii was running toward him with her staff held high. He braced himself for the attack.
A foot seemed to come out of nowhere and strike the copii's stomach. The kunoichi doubled over as that same foot lashed out again and struck her face. Over the rail she went and into the ravine.
Jeffrey nodded to Vanya and picked up his sword. At this point, two more copiis were running across the bridge toward them.
AAA
Gourry, Amelia, Syphiel and Adara stood at the far gate. Past the steal door lay a tunnel that would lead them to the forests east of the Singing Valley.
Gourry examined the lock for a moment and raised his sword. Sparks flew as steel struck steel.
"Got it!" he exclaimed. "How are Jeffrey and Vanya doing?"
Amelia looked around the corner and saw Jeffrey running back and forth across the bridge, leading his copii attacker on what looked like a very frustrating chase. Vanya was rolling around on the ground with another copii, trying to choke the life out of her.
"Well, they're distracted," Amelia told him.
"This is stupid," Adara muttered, marching past her. She raised her bow and set an arrow.
AAA
Vanya rolled on top of her copii and wrapped her hands around its throat. Squeezing as hard as she could, she felt the copii thrash below her. She saw the veil slide off and swallowed back disgust as her own eyes stared back at her. The face on this copii, for some reason, was hideously malformed. It had no lips, and its nose consisted of two holes in the middle of its face.
She squeezed again and watched its eyes glaze over. Cautiously, she released her grip. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Jeffrey continue his game of keep away with the other copii.
The young knight ran to one side of the bridge and then the other, trying to stay out of reach of the pair of nunchucks the copii held. Suddenly, the copii went rigid and fell over, a white fletched arrow sticking out of her back.
"I....um......won," he said.
AAA
Naga tensed and drew her dagger automatically before catching herself again. The sound of flutes and chimes, just didn't seem natural in such a bare, barren place like this. Rock walls climbed to the sky on either side of them. There were only a few scraggly bushes and cacti. No water, no other life.
"I still don't like this place," she muttered. "At least the name fits." She patted a nearby boulder. "How do you suppose it works? Wind rushing through the valley?"
Ahead of her, Lina continued to walk. "It's said that long ago, a famous diva and her orchestra were traveling through this area and a storm struck. Because there's no place for the water to go, it floods easily. The band and the diva climbed on top of a boulder to seek refuge from the rising waters, but it didn't stop. Their calls for help weren't loud enough, so they unpacked their instruments and started to play, hoping some traveller would hear them. None did, and they perished here. The music you hear is their spirits, constantly playing, calling for help."
Naga stared at her. "You know, I really didn't need to know something quite that creepy."
Lina continued on. Naga bit her lip and followed. Straining her ears, she thought she could hear the band's song, lightly touch her ears upon the wind.
"Oh, help!" the soft voice sang. "We're all gonna fucking die! Oh help! The water's get getting high, high HIGH!"
She put it out of her mind. Smiling, she called out to Lina's back. "Hey, Lina, do you remember the time....."
"Yes, leave me alone," Lina threw back.
Naga frowned. "How many times am I going to have to tell you I'm sorry?!" she cried.
Lina stopped and turned to her. "How many times am I going to have to wonder if it's just an act?"
"I didn't know, okay?!" Naga screamed. "How could I have?"
"You could have put it together, Naga!" Lina shouted. "You could have connected the dots! It didn't occur to you for a second, that maybe she wasn't looking out for either of us?!"
"At the time," Naga said quietly, "She sounded like she had a good case."
"If it was such a good case, how come you never told me?" Lina demanded. "I had to find out from HER! I had to look at that smug face while she told me she had been keeping tabs on my EVERY FUCKING MOVE FOR TWO YEARS THANKS TO HER RAT FUCKING SPY!"
She turned on her heal and started walking again.
"Did you ever think of me, As your best friend?"
Naga turned at the sound of the voice, searching the ravine walls.
"Did I ever think of you? I'm not complaining."
She shivered and walked on.
"I never tried to feel. I never tried to feel. This vibration."
"I never tried to reach. I never to reach reach. Your Eden."
AAA
Filia sat at the head of the table. The tent they used for council meetings was larger than the others, almost a mobile throne room. Torches lit every corner, and all ten of her Mazoku and fellow dragons could be seen plainly. Callisto hopped up onto the table and sat next to Filia.
"Show her in," Filia ordered regally.
The tent flaps opened, and Sethra led a familiar blonde inside. On her right, Mira tensed.
"Pixy Misa," Callisto intoned graciously with a bow of his head. Misa saw him and was taken aback for a moment.
"Lord Callisto," she replied. "I take it you're in charge here."
"No, Captain," he told her with an unctuous smile. "Our Lady leads this army." He nodded toward Filia.
Misa looked her up and down. "Hmmph. Sorry, I thought it was the pet."
The conversation was held entirely in the Mazoku language, so all Filia knew was that suddenly, her Mazoku generals were on their feet with brandished weapons.
"Stop!" she ordered. Standing, she addressed Misa as she might an errant young dragon. "Ms. Misa, I'm sure you did not come all this way to insult me and my generals."
Misa smiled and stood straighter. "Lord Jinnar, GENERAL PRIEST of the Grand Army of WolfPack Island, orders you all to return to your posts and dispose of your leader. If you do, he promises he'll spare all your lives."
Callisto hopped onto Filia's shoulder and translated Misa's words. Nodding to him, she spoke her language. "I cannot abandon Her Majesty in her hour of need. I will stay my course. But that is only for myself. My generals and their Mazoku must make their own decisions on the matter."
The feline finished translating for her, and Misa snarled, turning to the other generals. "How can you betray your queen like this, mon amis?" She asked, beseeching them. "Are you loyalties so cheap a common dragon whore can buy them?"
Callisto finished translating for Filia as Beetsk stood. "Lady Metallium has led me and mine for about a day, and already has shown more competence and skill than Jinnar. If we follow Jinnar, WolfPack will become weak with his corruption."
"You'd ally yourself with the dragons?" Misa asked contemptuously.
"We'd ally ourselves with anyone if it meant safeguarding Her Majesty," another general spoke up.
"It is not your decision to make!" Misa shouted at them. "You are sworn to obey the orders of Her Majesty and the officers SHE appoints!"
Callisto finished translating for Filia then turned to Misa. "Point of order, Captain," he said. "As Her Majesty's political advisor, I have the power to grant battlefield appointments. Lady Metallium is acting in this regard until such time she can present her case to Her Majesty in person. If you and your forces are willing to step aside and let her enter Castle WolfPack...."
Misa slammed her hands on the table and stared into the cat's eyes. "This army will never reach Castle WolfPack," she hissed.
"Then why are you so afraid?" Callisto asked her quietly.
"Misa," Filia began, "You will return to Castle WolfPack and deliver our terms of surrender. Inform your master that this will the last opportunity granted to him."
Callisto began to translate, but paused. "How do you want that last sentenced worded?" he asked.
Filia blinked. "As I said it."
The cat nodded and finished his translation. Misa's face contorted in rage, and the generals began to snicker.
"What's funny?" Filia whispered to Mira.
Mira whispered back. "The word Callisto used for 'master' means 'owner of a dog.'"
Filia blushed.
"I'll deliver your message," Misa hissed. A moment later, she disappeared.
AAA
"I'm telling you, I don't like it!" Birdy declared in a hushed whisper. The other dragons, minus Filia, were assembled in a small tent near the edge of the army's encampment. "She's too close to them."
Willzaren nodded and rubbed the stump of his amputated arm. "I think she's right. I think she's starting to buy into this 'Golden Lady' stuff."
"And I think you're a bunch of fools," Sethra hissed, her tail waving angrily behind her. "We're alive for one reason; Filia saved us."
Taloon nodded. "Yeah. I shit you not, guys; the happiest moment in my life was when Filia waltzed through that door."
"Yeah, and even back then she was still acting like a Mazoku noblewoman," Birdy continued. "And then she goes into that room alone with that creepy cat and comes out acting like she owns the place!"
"You think Callisto did something to her?" Mira asked.
"Hell if I know!" Birdy replied. "But all she's done since is order us around."
"She has to!" Sethra argued. "She has to keep up the act!"
"Of course YOU'D say that," Will grumbled. "The two of you have been buddy- buddy since the beginning."
"Willzaren! What is THAT supposed to mean!?" Sethra cried.
"It means that Golden Dragons stick together," Birdy told her pointedly.
"You're the one who dragged us out here!" Sethra bit back. "Black Dragons sticking together and all that!"
"Can we please stay on topic here?" Taloon begged.
"Look," Birdy said, "All I'm saying is that we need to keep an eye on her. If she starts getting a little too involved in her role....... We might have to do something about it."
"Like what?" Willzaren asked.
"All I know is this," she replied. "I've never heard of a Mazoku army this successful. What if Filia decides to take it to the continent?"
"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Sethra told her.
"Fine!" Birdy told her. "Take the risk. I won't. I'm a dragon, not a Mazoku. I know where my loyalties lie!"
Sethra said nothing.
"And if I have to, I'll act," Birdy finished.
AAA
"ME!? THEY WANT ME?!"
Misa nodded. "They say if you step down as General Priest, they'll stop advancing."
Jinnar's shoulders shook. "BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
The blonde stuck her fingers in her ear. "Could you, like, warn me before you do that?"
Jinnar was grinning madly. "They seem to forget that I have the wild card! All I have to do is parade that dragon tart in front of them, and I'll have Xellos No Name's mate in the palm of my hand! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Misa grimaced. "Dude, seriously. I'm not going to warn you again...."
"BRING HER TO ME!"
AAA
Leaning against the wall next to the door, Iffy overheard everything.
If one was close enough to the Mazoku's head, one might have heard the sound of three hamsters waking up, running to a nearby wheel and begin jogging furiously, thereby sparking the mind of the former lackey.
"Hmmmmm......"
AAA
"But I don't get it," Amara whined again as she was dragged by the arm down the hall. "Why can't I be by my mate's side?"
Iffy turned back and smiled at her. "Because, Evil Princess Amara, Lord God General Priest Jinnar can't fight if he's worried about you all the time."
Amara pouted.
"But don't worry," Iffy beamed. "I'm taking you to the safest place on the entire island!"
The dragon blinked. "Really?"
Iffy nodded. "Yuppers! You'll be totally safe. Nothing can hurt you there unless Her Majesty herself wills it!" She started dragging the dragon again.
"What? Is it like a shelter of some kind?" Amara asked.
"No......" Iffy replied. "It's more cozy than that.
The two came upon a set of wooden doors surrounded by cast iron flower vines. Iffy slowly turned the knob and quietly pushed the door open.
"Through here," she whispered. "Shhhh."
Amara nodded and entered the room. "Thank you, Miss Iffy," she whispered.
Iffy grinned. "It was my pleasure." The door closed without a sound.
Alone, Amara turned and took in the sights of the room before her. It was huge, and surprisingly full of life. Plants, flowers and vines of every size and shape filled the room from wall to wall like an arboretum.
Amara noticed a path in front of her and started down it. The plants on either side of her began to move. She saw a fly buzz around her head and land in the middle of a purple flower.
She watched as two small vines appeared at the flower's roots and crept up to the fly. The insect tried to fly away, but one of the vines snatched it. A second later, the other one wrapped around its small head and twisted. The fly's head fell from its body, and the vines retreated.
The flower resumed being pretty.
Amara shivered and continued on. Her foot struck something, and down she went with a cry.
"Itai....." she muttered, rubbing her head. Turning, she saw a dog's tail wagging in the middle of the path, the dog's body hidden in the foliage next to the path. She must have tripped over it.
Amara smiled and knelt on the ground. "Hey there, pup," she cooed. "Come on out."
The tail stopped wagging. The bushes rustled, and standing before her in a gardening hat and a pair of gloves was a woman.
"What the hell are YOU doing here?" Xelas asked her with a sneer.
AAA
End Notes:
The song Naga hears in the Singing Valley is "Eden" by Sarah Brightman.
I know, I haven't updated in a long time. I deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and have spent the two months since my return reconnecting with my family and friends. But I'm back now, and I hope to update more often.
Faces: Finale!
Insurgents and Counterinsurgents
Gravity was a fairly new concept.
Despite the obviousness of its existence, the people on the continent, enclosed by the Mazoku barrier for a thousand years, did not truly comprehend what it was. As there was no communication with the outer world, the news of its discovery and classification never reached the ears of the sorcerers of Seyruun or the priests of Sairaag. On that continent, things fell to the ground because they had nowhere else to fall.
Yet it was gravity, a mysterious and unknown force, that caused Jeffrey to crash against the ground and mash his nose against a rock.
It didn't even faze him. He was up again less than a second later and running. Looking over his shoulder, he sighed and stopped, turning and waving his hands in the air. "Come on!" he cried in frustration. "We have to hurry!"
About a hundred meters behind him, the rest of the group walked, not ran, in the same direction. Adara was ahead of them, her white horse, Arod, stepped carefully over branches and rocks as he carried his mistress up the hill. Behind the beast walked the others, Gourry and Stevanya in front, the others bringing up the rear.
Jeffrey bit his lip and waited impatiently. "They're going to get away!" he finally cried.
"Jeffrey, they've GOTTEN away," Vanya told him, gruffly.
Jeffrey's face fell. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. In the adventures, the heroes always caught up to the kidnappers....
Well, except for that one trilogy by that one guy....
But this was different!
The minstrels, he was learning, had no idea what they were talking about.
Vanya, seeing his crestfallen expression, marched up to him. "Look," she said quietly, so only he could hear. "We're in bad shape. Only one of us has a horse, one of us is pregnant, and we're ALL tired. What would you have them do? Run all the way to Scarrin's castle through rough terrain and then fight at the end of it?"
The young man thought on this, then shook his head.
"We approach quietly, in stealth," she told him. "You want to get your Lina back, that's the way to do it. Understand?"
The boy nodded.
Vanya smiled faintly and took his shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. You'll get to rescue her and be her hero."
"I don't want to be a hero," he replied quietly. "I just want her back."
Her smile vanished as she stared at him. "I think that's the smartest thing I've ever heard you say."
"How will we even know where they went?" Amelia asked, taking the pause as an excuse to rest against a boulder.
"Vanya knows where they're going," Sylphiel piped in. She gave the kunoichi a look. "You...um.....DO know where they're going right?"
"Scarrin has a castle in the Iron Mountains, north of the Singing Vale. That's where Zero said he's holing up."
"Zero?" Gourry suddenly asked. "When did you see him?"
"Just before my sister and I left Seyruun. He was a little tongue tied at first, but I loosened it for him."
Gourry stepped up to her. "What do you think?"
Vanya looked up at him. "Honestly? Without the others able to use magic, I think we're fucked."
"What were those things?" he asked.
She looked at him and shook her head. "How the hell am I supposed to know?!" she replied. "Whatever they are, he didn't tell me about them. Just like he didn't tell me about my copii."
Gourry looked down at her in concern. "Look, I know we got off to a rocky start, but...."
"Let's not confuse things, Blondie," she interrupted in a whisper. "I'm not sorry for what I did. I did it because I wanted to free Zelgadis from a monster. Now I'm going to do it again, and I won't be sorry for anything I do then. Understand?"
Gourry scratched his head. Suddenly he smiled. "No problem!"
Vanya blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I'm not worried! Zel always says stuff like that, but when we really need him, he always show up, does a cool pose, and jumps into the fight! You're his sister, so I guess...."
She turned from him. "Yeah? Don't count on it." She walked away and kneeled next to Sylphiel, who was sitting on a rock not far away. "Back pain again?"
"Just a little," Sylphiel told her, stretching. "I can keep up."
"We really can't slow down," the ninja told her.
"I know. Don't worry about me." Vanya continued looking at her. "I'll be okay," the shrine maiden said.
Vanya thought for several moments. Now that she was part of this "team," she had more back-up. Also, with those new berserkers, the overriding reason for bringing Sylphiel along was essentially nullified. Perhaps she should take her to the next town and have her stay there until it was all over.
Sylphiel suddenly looked into her eyes with a jade fire Vanya had never seen on the woman before. Suddenly she knew all her thoughts were left bare to this woman, the woman her brother had chosen.
Vanya knew then there was no chance of having Sylphiel do ANYTHING she didn't WANT to do.
She sighed and stood up. She'd have to find another way to solve the problem. A pregnant woman was going to slow them down, and despite her words to Jeffrey, she knew time was of the essence. An idea formed, and she walked over to Adara, who was feeding Arod an apple.
"Say," Vanya said. "That's a nice horse."
AAA
Sylphiel blushed and turned away as another round of muttered insults and grumbling left Adara's mouth. Sitting in front of her, the elf grumbled as she piloted Arod up the hill. Despite her valiant attempts not to hear, Sylphiel couldn't help but catch a good deal of what the elf was complaining about.
"Threaten to turn MY horse into lunch meat, will she? Hmmph! Arod is an elf steed, not a taxi for overweight shrine maidens who can't pull their own ample weight. Hmmph! If it weren't for my dearest Zelgadis, I'd ditch the lot of them and go back to Zarak where I'm appreciated!"
Sylphiel wasn't sure whether or not to be embarrassed or infuriated. She had thought an offer of a ride from Adara sounded strange, but her back was hurting too much for her to refuse it. Now she wished she were walking.
She took a breath. Maybe if she talked to Adara, they could clear the air....
"Miss Adara?"
"What?"
The question packed enough venom to make Sylphiel draw back. "Um....Nothing."
Sylphiel sighed, suddenly wishing she were someone else. She briefly wondered how Lina was doing. Or Miss Naga. At least they didn't have to worry about fighting with their own personal rivals....
AAA
Lina's back hit the tree and nearly snapped it like a dry twig. She hit the ground and struggled to her knees. Not far away, Naga was pulling herself up.
"Okay, you bitch," Lina growled. "Fun time is over."
Naga, on her feet again but wincing as she touched a burn on her stomach, gave her an incredulous look. "What?! Excuse me?! Where was I for FUN TIME?!"
"Flaaare........"
"Freeeeze........"
"ARROW!"
"FIREBALL!"
"FREEZE BRID!"
The spells struck each other and dissipated in clouds of vapor. Suddenly, the redhead was leaping through the fog, catching the taller woman unawares. Naga felt Lina's hands wrap around her throat, and she fell backward. Letting gravity help her, she pulled her legs up and planted her feet on Lina's stomach. At the end of her roll, she pushed with all her might. Lina went flying.
Naga was up in a shot, turning and pointing. "FREEZE ARROW!"
The ice lance was poorly aimed and flew over the shorter woman's head. Lina was charging her now.
"BURST RONDO!"
"FLARE BIT!"
The women marched toward one another, launching spell after spell that were either dissipated by opposing spells or missed their target all together. When they were only five feet apart, Naga fired another.
"GAAV FLARE!"
She blinked as nothing happened.
Lina smiled. "Oh, forgot to mention it. Gaav's dead. BLAM BLAZER!"
The energy blast launched Naga off her feet. She hit the ground, dazed. Lina marched up to her.
"Ready to give....."
Without warning, Naga struck out with her foot and landed it square in the pit of Lina's stomach.
The redhead turned a drastic shade of blue and hit the ground next to Naga, who was still too weak to get up under her own power.
The two lay panting on the ground for several minutes. The only sounds that could be heard was the wind through the trees in the forest on their left and a fish jumping in the pond on their right. Finally, Lina managed to gasp a few words out.
"Twenty-four hour truce?" she croaked.
Naga just nodded quickly. A twenty-four hour truce was something they had agreed on after their first brawl three days ago. Of course, it didn't take long after a truce wore off for them to begin screaming at each other again.
At first, Naga had thought it was just like old times, and she had relished it. Testing herself against her destined rival was the only way she had ever improved her sorcery skills and she knew she had dulled in the years since she last saw Lina.
But after three days, Naga was beginning to see the truth. Lina didn't fight her because she wanted to improve, or show her up, or even out of annoyance.
Lina fought because Lina HATED her.
"Get your stuff together," she heard Lina say. "We have a long way to go."
Naga rose to her feet as Lina started walking away. "Are you still pissed about th....."
The result was instantaneous. Lina whirled on her foot and stared into Naga's blue eyes. "Yes! Yes, dammit! I'm still pissed! What did you expect me to feel?!"
"It was a long time ago!" Naga said defensively. "I figured you'd be over it by NOW!"
"Well, I'm NOT over it!," Lina seethed. "I trusted you. It took me a long time before I could do that, but I did it. I trusted you."
With that last accusation, Lina turned and started walking.
Naga started after her. "Look, you're still pissed. Okay, I see that. But this attitude problem of yours isn't going to make it better! We have a lot of work to do."
Lina stopped and turned to her. "You still don't get it do you?" she asked in a whisper. "I." She stepped toward the taller woman. "Don't." Another step. "WANT YOU HERE!" She reached out and shoved Naga away.
Naga blinked then smiled. "You see? Your emotional outbursts only conceal the truth. We need one another."
"How.......I.........what? I......." Lina shook her head and started walking again.
The brunette trotted up alongside her. "It's just like the old days!" Naga continued. "Working together! Helping one another on our quests for glory and treasure!"
"You are so clueless, it's not even funny," Lina told her. "I wouldn't pull you from a lake if you had rocks tied to your shoes and you were drowning," she declared. "I wouldn't spit in your mouth if you were dying of thirst. You wanna pretend we're buddies? Fine. But don't expect me to lift a finger to help you."
She started walking again.
Naga walked alongside. "See?! That's what I'm talking about!" she said triumphantly.
Lina said nothing.
"So......" Naga began. "What's with you and the blond guy?"
"Stay out of it, Naga," Lina warned.
"I'm just curious, I mean you never used to........"
Naga interrupted herself by grabbing Lina by the hair and pulling her sharply toward her.
"AUGH!!!" Lina screamed just as an arrow shot through the space she had just occupied. "What the........"
As the words were exiting her mouth, Naga was already swinging around with her hands even with her chest. "BURST RONDO!"
Balls of red energy flew from her fingertips and into the nest of trees nearby. The energy balls tore through bark, wood, and plants, leveling a fifty meter stretch of forest.
Lina was on her feet a second later and took her cue from Naga. "FIREBALL! FIREBALL!"
The balls of fire arced into the trees and exploded, knocking down trees that might have been hundreds of years old. The creaking of falling timber was eclipsed only by the explosions of the two women's spells.
Silence.
A bird squawked, then flew across the swath of devastation in front of them.
"Did we get them?" Lina asked quietly.
Naga smiled and tossed her hair. "I'm sure we......."
THWACK!
A stone the size of Naga's fist hit the ground at her feet. The sorceress, a lump on the side of her head steadily expanding, hit the ground like a falling tree.
"Ah, shit," Lina grumbled. Turning, she saw a group of red-clad berserkers heading toward her. The group was wielding not knives, spears and swords, but sling-shots, bows and bolas.
"FLARE ARROW!" The fire dart struck the dirt in front of the group, blowing up a cloud of brown dust, but did nothing to stop the advance. "FLARE ARROW!" The second dart struck the lead berserker dead on and did nothing.
"SHIT!" Lina cried as the stampede struck her. She lost her footing and fell backward, three of the creatures landing on top of her. Flailing her arms and legs wildly, the berserkers did everything they could to subdue her.
Naga's unconscious form, in the meantime, had rolled toward the shore of the lake. Coming to as her face struck the water, she stood up and pointed her hand at a berserker with a sling.
"Freeze......."
Before she could finish, the berserker let fly, the stone striking Naga's shoulder!
Naga stumbled backwards, losing her balance. The last thing she said before hitting the water was, "ARROW!"
The ice bolt struck the water as she sank, and the top of the pond rapidly froze over, creating a three foot sheet of ice above her head. Naga saw the ice and panicked, kicking her legs and swimming toward the top.
She slammed her fists against the ice and opened her mouth to cast a fire spell. Her mouth filled with water.
She was trapped.
AAA
The Ra'achst Outpost was at the eastern tip of WolfPack Island, and hadn't seen action in centuries.
But today was an active day.
Clouds of black smoke rose from within the fort as the last of the defenders prepared to launch a last desperate attack against their unknown enemy.
Beetsk had been third in command of an outpost housing a hundred Mazoku yesterday. Today he was the leader of about forty survivors. He clicked his brown, insectile antennae together, a physical sign of agitation and looked out over the wall. He was hoping there was a weak spot in the enemy forces surrounding him.
He wasn't finding any.
Through the smoke and flames he could see a figure emerging from the crowd of enemies outside. The Mazoku around him tensed, but he put a claw up to forestall them.
"Defenders of Ra'achst," he heard the Mazoku call out to him. "You are our allies, not our enemies. We wish to negotiate a cessation of hostilities."
Beetsk hissed. "They have a member of the political caste out there," he remarked.
"How can you tell," a Mazoku asked him.
"How many of YOU know what 'cessation' means?"
The other Mazoku had nothing to say. Beetsk stood up. "You can tell Deep Sea Dolphin or Dynast or whoever you work for to go fuck themselves!" he shouted. "Ra'achst will stand with a Wolf's banner flying over it or Ra'achst will burn! No middle ground!"
"By all means, we wish you to keep your banner!" came the quick reply. "It is the emblem of our sovereign as much as it is yours."
Beetsk's antennae twitched in agitation. What kind of mind game was this? "I serve Her Imperial Majesty, Xelas Metallium!" he announced.
"As do we."
"The Grand Army does not sack her own cities!" Beetsk shouted, losing patience.
"It sacks cities in rebellion!" came the reply.
The Mazoku around him grumbled again. The voice continued.
"It sacks the cities who've taken the traitor Jinnar as their king!"
The defenders howled in rage at the accusation. Beetsk raised his claw again.
"I piss on Jinnar!" Beetsk announced. "And I piss on you...and your general!"
"This army follows the Golden Lady!" the voice announced.
Dead silence.
Beetsk hissed again. "There's no such thing!" he screamed contemptuously.
At that exact point, a Golden Dragon flew into the air before them and howled!
Every Mazoku in the fort, Beetsk included, took a step back.
"The Golden Lady, Lady Metallium, has sworn allegiance to Her Majesty and leads this army in her name!" the voice informed them. "Choose who you follow, defender of Ra'achst! Her Majesty, or Jinnar!"
The Golden Dragon landed before the fort, between it and the invaders and transformed into a blonde woman with a lock of purple hair.
Beetsk finally rallied. "It's a trick!" he shouted. "We surrender to you, and you'll kill the rest of us!"
The voice that answered this charge came from the woman before him. "Defender of Ra'achst," she said quietly, and yet everyone heard her. "My mate often spoke of your courage and devotion to the security of your queen." A lie, but it wasn't the first or last she would tell. "Lord Xellos faced his death knowing you would not surrender to a corrupt usurper like Jinnar. I am asking you, not for your surrender, but for your aid in destroying this menace to his queen and the Mazoku who's loyalty he enjoyed."
The Mazoku stared at her, transfixed.
Beetsk's antennae drooped and straightened alternately. "My Lady," he called back politely. "This is not a black and white issue, but one for which every Mazoku must make a choice. I will confer with my soldiers, and give your our answer in one hour."
Filia bowed to him. "I thank you."
An hour later, the vote came in, the doors of Ra'achst opened.........
And the defenders of the eastern outpost joined the Army of the Golden Lady.
AAA
"WHERE DID THEY COME FROM!?" Jinnar screamed, pulling at his hair. Nearby, Pixy Misa was filing her nails. "An invading army just appears out of nowhere and defeats every force sent against it?! THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!"
"So what are you going to do, mon ami?" Misa asked casually. "Mobilize the rest of the army?"
Jinnar tore up the written dispatch in his hand and growled. "If I did that, Her Majesty will know. I have to deal with this quietly." He put his finger to his lips and hmm'd in thought.
Misa blew on her nails. "Perhaps you should ask them to surrender. Maybe they'll deal."
"SURRENDER?!" he exploded. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO!? I'VE NEVER SURRENDERED TO ANYONE IN MY LIFE!"
"You've never FOUGHT anyone in your life," Misa smirked.
"DON'T BACK-TALK ME! I AM YOUR LORD AND GOD!"
"Yes, Great One," Misa replied tiredly. "Still, a parley would give you a chance to gauge my lord god's new enemy. Perhaps you should make the trip."
Jinnar looked taken aback. "Me? I don't think so! Who knows what they'd do to me!?" He smiled and looked at her. "However........"
Misa sighed. "Oui, oui........"
AAA
Lina jabbed her elbow into the last berserker's stomach and watched him double over. She turned and quickly searched the ground for the dagger she had dropped in the fight with the other two berserkers. Finding it, she reached down quickly and wheeled around again, thrusting her arm out as the berserker rushed her.
The reptile stood completely still, his head impaled on Lina's dagger through the eye. She curled her lip in disgust as the thing gurgled at her.
With one hard jerk, she pulled the dagger out and watched as the lizard creature fell forward, forcing her to take a step back to avoid the blood gushing from its wound.
She took a deep breath and looked around. The nice thing about magic, she thought, was that it could make battles decidedly cleaner. Staring at the butcher's shop around her, she suddenly wished she had been facing wizards or something else she could kill with magic.
Blinking, she realized Naga was nowhere to be found.
She looked out at the lake and saw it covered with a sheet of ice. Just beneath the translucent floor, she could see a dark shape moving frantically.
Lina stood there for a long moment.
AAA
Naga pounded against the ice with the last ounce of her strength. She was so cold, and her vision was getting blurry.
She watched as the last tiny bubble emerged from her mouth and floated upward.
She sank.
A bright light above her nearly woke her, but she was far too gone to notice. The touch of someone's hand on her's nearly jarred her in consciousness, but to no avail. No, nothing woke her until she felt the water's grip on her leave and air entered her lungs.
She coughed as someone dragged her across the ice. Coughing up a gallon of water, she looked up and saw Lina standing over her.
"I owed you that one," Lina told her before turning and starting down the road again. The bodies of several stabbed berserkers lay nearby.
Naga watched her and continued coughing.
AAA
"All in all, I think it's going rather well," Callisto said off-handedly. He dipped his paw in a bowl of water and began to clean himself.
Filia paced back and forth in her tent and nervously wrung her hands. "Are you sure?"
"Quite," Callisto told her. "Keep in mind that this is the first army in ten thousand years to get even this far. Of course, the fact that people genuinely dislike Jinnar helps."
Sethra entered the tent and cleared her throat. "Beetsk is here, Filia."
Callisto hopped down and took his place by Filia's feet. "Send him in."
The priestess disappeared through the tent flaps, and a moment later Beetsk stood in her place. Filia raised her head regally.
"Captain," she greeted curtly. She held her hand out, knuckles up.
The insectoid knelt before her and took her hand, brining it to his antennae. He was the fourth Mazoku commander to go through with this ritual. Callisto insisted she do it as it was not only a gesture of respect, but an inconspicuous way for her new commanders to sense that she was, indeed, a blended being.
Beetsk seemed startled for a moment, then rose. "We are at your command, My Lady," he told her.
"I thank you," she said simply. "Be sure your soldiers are prepared to leave tomorrow morning."
Breetsk bowed and left.
Filia let out a breath and went to the small chair in the corner. "Every time I do that I wonder what will happen if they smell something they don't like."
"They would kill you," Callisto told her shortly, striding up to her. "But they won't. I picked these targets and the Mazoku to convert based on their past performance. Beetsk, in particular, is a good addition. He was a friend of Jinnar's late rival."
"Will Amara be okay?" she asked him.
"Jinnar is an opportunist. He won't kill your sister unless it somehow elevates his position," Callisto told her. He suddenly hopped up into her lap. "And I intend to keep my word."
She smiled. "You're like Xellos was in a lot of ways, Callisto," she told him. She started to pet him. "I'm starting to think Amara was right. Maybe there is a way for our two peoples to live together."
"Perhaps not together," he replied, purring slightly. "But peacefully. I can see why Xellos chose you." He looked up at her.
The look was all too familiar.
Filia suddenly stood up. Callisto landed on his feet. Before either could say a word, Sethra entered again.
"We have a visitor."
AAA
"I don't get it," Amelia whispered as they gazed down the ridge at the ravine and the narrow bridge that crossed it. "Why not go through the Singing Valley?"
Gourry didn't answer right away. He pointed at the bridge. "There. Two copii women at the far side of the bridge."
"And probably more at the gate," Vanya finished.
"I think I know one reason," Syphiel told the princess. "It's the straightest path to Scarrin, so it'll probably be where the heaviest concentration of berserkers are."
Gourry and Vanya nodded.
"Oh," Amelia said.
"There's another reason," Gourry told them. "It's the way Lina's going." He smiled. "And if Lina's going that way, we can't even be sure the valley will BE there later."
"So what do we do?" Jeffrey whispered. "Fly over?"
"Every berserker, orc and troll for eight miles will see us," Adara hissed. "And I'm not leaving Arod either."
Vanya grabbed Jeffrey's wrist. "Jeffrey and I will cause a diversion," she told Gourry. "While Amelia and Sylphiel fly you and Adara to the other side under the bridge."
"What kind of diversion?" Amelia asked.
"Those are copii women, right?"
AAA
Stevanyahachi waited as Stevanyanana walked up to her. "How are things here?" Stevanyanana asked with a heavy lisp.
"Same as always," Stevanyahachi croaked, hefting her staff. Both copiis wore white veils over their faces. Originally supposed to be assassins like the first three, able to blend in with a crowd, the two of them, along with several others, had found themselves unable to do so. Regenerative fading had taken hold by the fourth copii, and without the original, it was impossible to create more without serious defects. Scarrin put them on guard duty as a result.
Stevanyanana looked up sharply and hissed. Stevanyahachi turned and raised her staff.
From the other side of the bridge walked two figures, one a short, thin man and the other a kunoichi like them. The man held a dagger to the copii's throat.
"LET US THROUGH!" the man shouted. "LET US THROUGH OR I'LL CUT HER THROAT!"
Below them, Sylphiel and Amelia carried Gourry and Adara across the ravine.
"GO AHEAD!" Jeffrey shouted at them. "DO SOMETHING! I'VE KILLED THE OTHER TWO, AND I CAN JUST EASILY KILL THREE MORE! GO AHEAD!"
The copiis ran to the center of the bridge and lifted their staffs.
Jeffrey regarded them for a second, then dropped the dagger and went for his sword. The arm around her throat gone, Vanya went for her katana.
They both cried out a second later as the copiis' staffs struck their hands. Their swords hit the bridge with two distinct clangs.
Before they could reach for them, a smoke bomb went off between them.
Jeffrey coughed and tried to see through the smoke, but all he saw was a staff whip through the air and strike him. Raising his arms, he tried to block the attacks, and grit his teeth through the pain.
After the third whack, he saw Stevanya through the smoke step past his attacker and strike her in the back of the head with her elbow. He heard the kunoichi go down.
The wind started to blow the smoke away, and Jeffrey looked up as he heard a battlecry. The second copii was running toward him with her staff held high. He braced himself for the attack.
A foot seemed to come out of nowhere and strike the copii's stomach. The kunoichi doubled over as that same foot lashed out again and struck her face. Over the rail she went and into the ravine.
Jeffrey nodded to Vanya and picked up his sword. At this point, two more copiis were running across the bridge toward them.
AAA
Gourry, Amelia, Syphiel and Adara stood at the far gate. Past the steal door lay a tunnel that would lead them to the forests east of the Singing Valley.
Gourry examined the lock for a moment and raised his sword. Sparks flew as steel struck steel.
"Got it!" he exclaimed. "How are Jeffrey and Vanya doing?"
Amelia looked around the corner and saw Jeffrey running back and forth across the bridge, leading his copii attacker on what looked like a very frustrating chase. Vanya was rolling around on the ground with another copii, trying to choke the life out of her.
"Well, they're distracted," Amelia told him.
"This is stupid," Adara muttered, marching past her. She raised her bow and set an arrow.
AAA
Vanya rolled on top of her copii and wrapped her hands around its throat. Squeezing as hard as she could, she felt the copii thrash below her. She saw the veil slide off and swallowed back disgust as her own eyes stared back at her. The face on this copii, for some reason, was hideously malformed. It had no lips, and its nose consisted of two holes in the middle of its face.
She squeezed again and watched its eyes glaze over. Cautiously, she released her grip. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Jeffrey continue his game of keep away with the other copii.
The young knight ran to one side of the bridge and then the other, trying to stay out of reach of the pair of nunchucks the copii held. Suddenly, the copii went rigid and fell over, a white fletched arrow sticking out of her back.
"I....um......won," he said.
AAA
Naga tensed and drew her dagger automatically before catching herself again. The sound of flutes and chimes, just didn't seem natural in such a bare, barren place like this. Rock walls climbed to the sky on either side of them. There were only a few scraggly bushes and cacti. No water, no other life.
"I still don't like this place," she muttered. "At least the name fits." She patted a nearby boulder. "How do you suppose it works? Wind rushing through the valley?"
Ahead of her, Lina continued to walk. "It's said that long ago, a famous diva and her orchestra were traveling through this area and a storm struck. Because there's no place for the water to go, it floods easily. The band and the diva climbed on top of a boulder to seek refuge from the rising waters, but it didn't stop. Their calls for help weren't loud enough, so they unpacked their instruments and started to play, hoping some traveller would hear them. None did, and they perished here. The music you hear is their spirits, constantly playing, calling for help."
Naga stared at her. "You know, I really didn't need to know something quite that creepy."
Lina continued on. Naga bit her lip and followed. Straining her ears, she thought she could hear the band's song, lightly touch her ears upon the wind.
"Oh, help!" the soft voice sang. "We're all gonna fucking die! Oh help! The water's get getting high, high HIGH!"
She put it out of her mind. Smiling, she called out to Lina's back. "Hey, Lina, do you remember the time....."
"Yes, leave me alone," Lina threw back.
Naga frowned. "How many times am I going to have to tell you I'm sorry?!" she cried.
Lina stopped and turned to her. "How many times am I going to have to wonder if it's just an act?"
"I didn't know, okay?!" Naga screamed. "How could I have?"
"You could have put it together, Naga!" Lina shouted. "You could have connected the dots! It didn't occur to you for a second, that maybe she wasn't looking out for either of us?!"
"At the time," Naga said quietly, "She sounded like she had a good case."
"If it was such a good case, how come you never told me?" Lina demanded. "I had to find out from HER! I had to look at that smug face while she told me she had been keeping tabs on my EVERY FUCKING MOVE FOR TWO YEARS THANKS TO HER RAT FUCKING SPY!"
She turned on her heal and started walking again.
"Did you ever think of me, As your best friend?"
Naga turned at the sound of the voice, searching the ravine walls.
"Did I ever think of you? I'm not complaining."
She shivered and walked on.
"I never tried to feel. I never tried to feel. This vibration."
"I never tried to reach. I never to reach reach. Your Eden."
AAA
Filia sat at the head of the table. The tent they used for council meetings was larger than the others, almost a mobile throne room. Torches lit every corner, and all ten of her Mazoku and fellow dragons could be seen plainly. Callisto hopped up onto the table and sat next to Filia.
"Show her in," Filia ordered regally.
The tent flaps opened, and Sethra led a familiar blonde inside. On her right, Mira tensed.
"Pixy Misa," Callisto intoned graciously with a bow of his head. Misa saw him and was taken aback for a moment.
"Lord Callisto," she replied. "I take it you're in charge here."
"No, Captain," he told her with an unctuous smile. "Our Lady leads this army." He nodded toward Filia.
Misa looked her up and down. "Hmmph. Sorry, I thought it was the pet."
The conversation was held entirely in the Mazoku language, so all Filia knew was that suddenly, her Mazoku generals were on their feet with brandished weapons.
"Stop!" she ordered. Standing, she addressed Misa as she might an errant young dragon. "Ms. Misa, I'm sure you did not come all this way to insult me and my generals."
Misa smiled and stood straighter. "Lord Jinnar, GENERAL PRIEST of the Grand Army of WolfPack Island, orders you all to return to your posts and dispose of your leader. If you do, he promises he'll spare all your lives."
Callisto hopped onto Filia's shoulder and translated Misa's words. Nodding to him, she spoke her language. "I cannot abandon Her Majesty in her hour of need. I will stay my course. But that is only for myself. My generals and their Mazoku must make their own decisions on the matter."
The feline finished translating for her, and Misa snarled, turning to the other generals. "How can you betray your queen like this, mon amis?" She asked, beseeching them. "Are you loyalties so cheap a common dragon whore can buy them?"
Callisto finished translating for Filia as Beetsk stood. "Lady Metallium has led me and mine for about a day, and already has shown more competence and skill than Jinnar. If we follow Jinnar, WolfPack will become weak with his corruption."
"You'd ally yourself with the dragons?" Misa asked contemptuously.
"We'd ally ourselves with anyone if it meant safeguarding Her Majesty," another general spoke up.
"It is not your decision to make!" Misa shouted at them. "You are sworn to obey the orders of Her Majesty and the officers SHE appoints!"
Callisto finished translating for Filia then turned to Misa. "Point of order, Captain," he said. "As Her Majesty's political advisor, I have the power to grant battlefield appointments. Lady Metallium is acting in this regard until such time she can present her case to Her Majesty in person. If you and your forces are willing to step aside and let her enter Castle WolfPack...."
Misa slammed her hands on the table and stared into the cat's eyes. "This army will never reach Castle WolfPack," she hissed.
"Then why are you so afraid?" Callisto asked her quietly.
"Misa," Filia began, "You will return to Castle WolfPack and deliver our terms of surrender. Inform your master that this will the last opportunity granted to him."
Callisto began to translate, but paused. "How do you want that last sentenced worded?" he asked.
Filia blinked. "As I said it."
The cat nodded and finished his translation. Misa's face contorted in rage, and the generals began to snicker.
"What's funny?" Filia whispered to Mira.
Mira whispered back. "The word Callisto used for 'master' means 'owner of a dog.'"
Filia blushed.
"I'll deliver your message," Misa hissed. A moment later, she disappeared.
AAA
"I'm telling you, I don't like it!" Birdy declared in a hushed whisper. The other dragons, minus Filia, were assembled in a small tent near the edge of the army's encampment. "She's too close to them."
Willzaren nodded and rubbed the stump of his amputated arm. "I think she's right. I think she's starting to buy into this 'Golden Lady' stuff."
"And I think you're a bunch of fools," Sethra hissed, her tail waving angrily behind her. "We're alive for one reason; Filia saved us."
Taloon nodded. "Yeah. I shit you not, guys; the happiest moment in my life was when Filia waltzed through that door."
"Yeah, and even back then she was still acting like a Mazoku noblewoman," Birdy continued. "And then she goes into that room alone with that creepy cat and comes out acting like she owns the place!"
"You think Callisto did something to her?" Mira asked.
"Hell if I know!" Birdy replied. "But all she's done since is order us around."
"She has to!" Sethra argued. "She has to keep up the act!"
"Of course YOU'D say that," Will grumbled. "The two of you have been buddy- buddy since the beginning."
"Willzaren! What is THAT supposed to mean!?" Sethra cried.
"It means that Golden Dragons stick together," Birdy told her pointedly.
"You're the one who dragged us out here!" Sethra bit back. "Black Dragons sticking together and all that!"
"Can we please stay on topic here?" Taloon begged.
"Look," Birdy said, "All I'm saying is that we need to keep an eye on her. If she starts getting a little too involved in her role....... We might have to do something about it."
"Like what?" Willzaren asked.
"All I know is this," she replied. "I've never heard of a Mazoku army this successful. What if Filia decides to take it to the continent?"
"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Sethra told her.
"Fine!" Birdy told her. "Take the risk. I won't. I'm a dragon, not a Mazoku. I know where my loyalties lie!"
Sethra said nothing.
"And if I have to, I'll act," Birdy finished.
AAA
"ME!? THEY WANT ME?!"
Misa nodded. "They say if you step down as General Priest, they'll stop advancing."
Jinnar's shoulders shook. "BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
The blonde stuck her fingers in her ear. "Could you, like, warn me before you do that?"
Jinnar was grinning madly. "They seem to forget that I have the wild card! All I have to do is parade that dragon tart in front of them, and I'll have Xellos No Name's mate in the palm of my hand! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Misa grimaced. "Dude, seriously. I'm not going to warn you again...."
"BRING HER TO ME!"
AAA
Leaning against the wall next to the door, Iffy overheard everything.
If one was close enough to the Mazoku's head, one might have heard the sound of three hamsters waking up, running to a nearby wheel and begin jogging furiously, thereby sparking the mind of the former lackey.
"Hmmmmm......"
AAA
"But I don't get it," Amara whined again as she was dragged by the arm down the hall. "Why can't I be by my mate's side?"
Iffy turned back and smiled at her. "Because, Evil Princess Amara, Lord God General Priest Jinnar can't fight if he's worried about you all the time."
Amara pouted.
"But don't worry," Iffy beamed. "I'm taking you to the safest place on the entire island!"
The dragon blinked. "Really?"
Iffy nodded. "Yuppers! You'll be totally safe. Nothing can hurt you there unless Her Majesty herself wills it!" She started dragging the dragon again.
"What? Is it like a shelter of some kind?" Amara asked.
"No......" Iffy replied. "It's more cozy than that.
The two came upon a set of wooden doors surrounded by cast iron flower vines. Iffy slowly turned the knob and quietly pushed the door open.
"Through here," she whispered. "Shhhh."
Amara nodded and entered the room. "Thank you, Miss Iffy," she whispered.
Iffy grinned. "It was my pleasure." The door closed without a sound.
Alone, Amara turned and took in the sights of the room before her. It was huge, and surprisingly full of life. Plants, flowers and vines of every size and shape filled the room from wall to wall like an arboretum.
Amara noticed a path in front of her and started down it. The plants on either side of her began to move. She saw a fly buzz around her head and land in the middle of a purple flower.
She watched as two small vines appeared at the flower's roots and crept up to the fly. The insect tried to fly away, but one of the vines snatched it. A second later, the other one wrapped around its small head and twisted. The fly's head fell from its body, and the vines retreated.
The flower resumed being pretty.
Amara shivered and continued on. Her foot struck something, and down she went with a cry.
"Itai....." she muttered, rubbing her head. Turning, she saw a dog's tail wagging in the middle of the path, the dog's body hidden in the foliage next to the path. She must have tripped over it.
Amara smiled and knelt on the ground. "Hey there, pup," she cooed. "Come on out."
The tail stopped wagging. The bushes rustled, and standing before her in a gardening hat and a pair of gloves was a woman.
"What the hell are YOU doing here?" Xelas asked her with a sneer.
AAA
End Notes:
The song Naga hears in the Singing Valley is "Eden" by Sarah Brightman.
