But when the group arrived, the only person in the tavern did not look at all like the last member of a band of heroes. Instead, she looked a great deal like one of the dark army. She had long dark hair, a necklace with a skull-shaped centerpiece, a flowing black cape, and shoulder-pads each adorned with a row of steel spikes. Underneath the cape she wore an outfit so skimpy that Tenchi clapped his hand to his nose to avert a nosebleed, and Ayeka attempted to cover Sasami's eyes.
The first thing the woman said seemed, if anything, to confirm she was one of the villains. "Oh ho ho ho ho!" The condescending laugh was guaranteed to annoy anyone with a functioning nervous system. Everyone winced, except Amelia, who froze in shock. " So you couldn't stay apart from me, Lina Inverse!" continued the woman.
"Me?" said Lina, recovering. "Come on, Naga, you were the one who kept following me like goldfish po--"
But Amelia had come out of her immobilized state. "Gracia?" She shouted.
"Amel--I mean, you must have me confused with someone else, young lady!" said Naga.
"Don't give me that, Gracia!" snapped Amelia. "You're still wearing Mother's outfit that you absconded with!"
"Well, you couldn't wear it," retorted Naga, "and a classic like this shouldn't be stuffed in an ebony chest and forgotten!"
"And how did you know it was in an ebony chest?" asked Amelia. Naga gave an embarrassed grin.
"Wait--hold on--Naga is your sister!" demanded Lina.
"Naga is her middle name." Amelia announced. "She is Gracia Ul Naga Saillune, and she ran away when--"
"Is every female here a princess but me?" Lina stamped her foot.
"I'm not, at least," Ryoko gave a sidelong glance at Ayeka, "and I must say, I'm rather proud of it."
"And what is that supposed to mean, Ryoko?" demanded Ayeka.
"Ahem!" said Cotu, holding up his watch. "Given our time problem, I think we had better postpone family discussions until we're safely out of here." He quickly explained the dark army's take-over of the planet.
"Oh, is that why the bartender turned into a werewolf?" said Naga. Lina looked, and sure enough, there was a crouching werewolf frozen in a block of ice behind the bar.
"Yes, along with many other things." replied the Commodore. "So we have to get to the station and board the Galaxy Express immediately."
"But I haven't finished my ale." Naga protested. She indicated a stein big enough to bathe a cat in.
"Did I mention the Galaxy Express' pantry is generously stocked with vintage wines and fine saké?" said the Commodore.
"Lead on!" Naga came to her feet. Tenchi noticed that Ryoko looked more enthusiastic as well.
"How are we doing on time?" asked Washu.
"Eight minutes, and we're almost at the station." answered the Commodore. "We should make it easily."
But as they ran into the square, an unwelcome spectacle met their eyes. A crowd of monsters of many types, so numerous they took up a good third of the square was blocking the way to the station on the far side. And in front of the grim-looking mob was a tall figure, almost radiating power and menace, who could only be Amaroth himself. Cotu came to a stop, anxiety showing on his face.
Amelia, on the other hand, could scarcely have been happier. "So, villain, at last you show yourself!" She declared, striking a valiant-looking pose. "Prepare to face the power of Justice!"
"Now I understand why Naga went nuts and ran away from home," Lina said sotto voce.
The Commodore leaned toward her as if to return her joke. "Lina, I recommend against the Dragon Slave spell. Amaroth is too powerful to be destroyed by it."
"I see," Lina said neutrally.
"Foolish girl," Amaroth regarded Amelia with contempt, "you are too young to grasp the reality of power. But you will learn when others wield it over you -- when I wield it over you."
"Have to take us first," Ryoko's mouth had tightened.
"Very well." Amaroth gestured, power crackling from his fingertips. An answering glow formed around the entire group except for Sasami and Cotu. Their eyes narrowed, and they began to turn slowly toward Cotu.
But one by one, they stopped. First Ryoko, then Lina, then the others said "No!" The glow faded, and they turned back to face Amaroth again, with even more determined expressions.
"Their wills are too strong even for you, Amaroth." The Commodore spoke with the satisfaction of a man proved right. "You won't twist them."
"Your servants? Strong-willed?" Amaroth laughed derisively. "Let us see!" He made another pass in the air, summoning more magic.
This time sparkles appeared in the air around each of the group. Several of them started to leap out of the magical field, but then relaxed.
"You call this an attack?" Lina said. "It's making us stronger!"
"Yes, it is." Amaroth replied. "And how will you use that strength? To follow Cotu blindly? He has offered you nothing. Join me, on the other hand, and you will become great."
"We would just be your underlings," Ayeka pointed out.
"You would be leaders in an empire vaster than you can now believe possible." Amaroth's voice grew ever more seductive. " I assure you, there would be wealth and power enough to bring each of you whatever you desire."
"We will never serve evil!" Amelia proclaimed.
"And who is to say what is Good and what is Evil?" Amaroth said reasonably to Amelia. "Think. Is not that which you call Good is simply fear of being harmed? There are many who believe that all royalty is evil, including princesses." Amelia looked stunned. "And why? Because they fear the power that royalty has. But you know that power can be wielded for good." Amelia looked relieved, and then even more confused.
"We don't want to rule," Sasami spoke up, "we just want to be with our friends."
"I may not be the foremost expert on Good," Ryoko chimed in, "but I've learned how to recognize real Evil. And mister, you're eligible for membership in that club." Out of the corner of his eye, Tenchi noticed Ayeka struggling valiantly not to say anything, and for once, winning.
In the background, Lina began to recite. "Lord of the dreams that terrify. Sword of cold and darkness…"
The Commodore stepped forward. "Your attempt to philosophize comes late, Amaroth, and I'm afraid we are very pressed for time just now."
"Oh, no." Amaroth smiled, and held up a small black box with red numbers on the side. His smile grew even broader at the Commodore's chagrined expression. "This world has as much time as I wish--and so do you. But that last may indeed be short."
Ryoko turned to Cotu. "That's the timer for the planet-cracker, isn't it? I hope you have a back-up plan."
"Yes, I do," answered the Commodore, "get ready…"
"…Ragna Blade!" Lina completed her spell. From her hand, black energy bloomed like a lethal bouquet. Like tongues of dark fire, the energy twisted into a blade as tall as Lina herself. "Now, let's see how invincible you are, Amaroth!"
Amaroth brought out a massive curved sword, power pulsing through the blade as though tiny neon tubes ran in an intricate net down its length. For a moment everyone stood still, watching what looked to be a classic sword-to-sword duel. But then Amaroth flung out his other hand, and a bolt of yellow magic struck the ground just in front of Lina. The pavement shattered, sending stones flying. Two hit Lina, and she cried out and went down, the dark power dissipating as her concentration was broken.
"You have shot your bolt, sorceress." Amaroth's voice was smug. "A potent spell, but I can sense how it drained you." He raised his sword and stepped toward her.
"I can't let you hurt her!" said Tenchi. He began to move forward. Amaroth made a dismissive sound and sent a massive blast of magic at the youth. There was a searing flash, and a cloud of smoke. "Tenchi!" cried Sasami.
But three spokes of white energy emerged from the cloud, and a transformed Tenchi came behind them without a scratch. He was now wearing white robes, and had a war symbol on his forehead. "The Light Hawk wings! Well done!" said Cotu.
Amaroth tried another blast of magic, and then another. Nothing got through. With a snarl, Amaroth brought his sword up to the ready position. Tenchi reached out and took one of the Light Hawk wings in his hand. It transformed into a sword that seemed to be made of crystallized energy. Amaroth began his charge, and Tenchi dashed forward to meet him. They closed, and the two swords flared with power.
The two foes halted, each having gone a few paces past the other. Crackling lines of magic surrounded both. Tremendous strain showed on their faces. But the energy around Tenchi faded, while that around Amaroth seemed to resolve itself into a line from his neck to his chest. Amaroth gave an unearthly howl of rage and pain, and then his right arm came off at the shoulder and fell to the ground. Tenchi gave a gasp of relief, and then went down on his hands and knees.
Amaroth clapped his remaining hand over the wound, and made for a large doorway to one side of the square. "Slay them all!" he roared to the crowd of monsters. "Their two most powerful are down!" And it was true; both Lina and Tenchi were clearly too weak to stand yet. Amaroth retreated through the door, out of harm's way, and the crowd of monsters moved in for the kill.
"…here and now: Rah Tilt!" Amelia and Zelgadis finished their spells, and a pair of thunderous explosions erupted, scattering many of the attackers. A barrage of laser fire from Mihoshi and Washu, along with a few shots from the Commodore, tore into the ranks. Gourry charged in to cover Lina, mowing down the monsters nearest her. Ayeka barreled in from the other side to protect Tenchi, the force field around her smashing skeletons to bits. A dozen harpies and gargoyles took to the air, only to find Ryoko standing in mid-air with a fierce smile and her red energy sword. The monsters wavered, then began to retreat.
"Dark army, stand fast!" came a voice like the rending of tree trunks. A figure in a black cloak appeared, eyes glowing red, and the remaining monsters halted.
"Elemekia Lance!" Amelia's spell went straight toward the new leader. There was a crackling and a brief burst of energy. But it vanished, and the cloaked figure emerged unharmed. "Gaav Flare!" Zelgadis fired his spell, with no more effect.
"Shimatta!" the Commodore cursed. "Amaroth has summoned the leader of the Ringwraiths!" Gourry and Ryoko moved as if to engage the new enemy, but Cotu shouted, "Stop! Any sword that touches him is destroyed!"
"Quite true." The dark figure continued to advance, beckoning his followers onward. "Aye, shrink back, mortals. For know also that no living man can slay me. And all who have tried have perished."
But he had finally encountered an ego greater than his own. "Oh ho ho ho ho!" rang out Naga's nerve-flaying laugh, and even the Ringwraith lord made as if to cover his ears. "Don't be over-impressed by whatever feeble opponents you've beaten -- now you face Naga the Serpent!" She gestured dramatically at the massive stone building to her right. "Royal Spiritual Curse!"
"Royal Sp -- what under the Eye are you talking about?" demanded the Ringwraith.
The answer came in another moment, as a wave of magical energy made the entire front of the building ripple. The stones moved out of their places, and, like a puzzle being solved by a giant on double-strength expresso, stacked themselves to form an immense stone golem. Two earth-shaking strides brought it face to face with the Ringwraith -- or would have if the golem hadn't been many times taller. "Mommy!" squeaked the Ringwraith, and the next moment he was obliterated by a fist the size of a bathtub.
The remaining hobgoblins, skeletons, ogres, cyborgs, and other assorted monsters promptly decided to start their weekends early. Those who could fly, flew like spooked sparrows. Those who could run, ran as though muscle cramps were a myth. In a few moments, the way to the station was clear. Amelia ran up to where Gourry was helping Lina to her feet, and put her hand on Lina's shoulder. "Recovery!" Amelia intoned, and strength flowed back to the red-haired sorceress. The Commodore had gone over to Tenchi, and likewise touched the youth's back. "Recovery!" Cotu recited, and Tenchi seemed to shake off his exhaustion.
"Do you know where we're going?" Lina asked as the group charged through the station doors.
"Yes, platform nine. This way." The Commodore took the lead once more. It was out of the question to move silently through the station, since the party was both large and in a great hurry. Ryoko and Zelgadis flanked the Commodore in case of ambush. But there was no ambush, indeed, there was no one at all. Their footsteps echoed through empty corridors until they reached platform nine. Waiting there were three figures dressed in the uniforms of a conductor and two porters. With caps, gloves, and high collars, only their eyes were visible.
"Welcome, Commodore!" called out the one in the conductor's uniform. His eyes glowed green, marking him as a robot. "Everything is ready for departure!"
"Splendid." The Commodore answered. "I have--"
"All right, let's see this transport of yours." Ryoko interrupted. She flew around the three crewmen, and then halted in mid-air at what she saw.
It looked exactly like an 1890's-style steam train. A line of green railroad cars, looking freshly painted, stood on shining steel wheels. At the front was a powerful-looking black locomotive with gleaming brass pipes and bell. "The Galaxy Express!" The Commodore gestured proudly. "She's a beauty, isn't she?"
Mihoshi's eyes lit up. "Oh yes! Just like the toys the Earth boys to play with!"
But the other reactions were less positive. Lina and her friends looked uncertain, Tenchi looked worried, and Ryoko looked highly displeased. "I knew we shouldn't have left Ryo-Ohki at home." she announced.
Washu, however, had put on a pair of goggles from somewhere and was looking the Galaxy Express over. "Hmm...clever camouflage...nice and compact...clunky power system though. Later on, you really should let me--"
"Later is a good idea." Lina cut in. "Commodore, how about you show us what this thing can do now?"
"Right," said the Commodore, "all aboard, everyone! Conductor, tell the engineer to get underway as soon as the doors close, and full steam!"
"Excuse me," interrupted the robot conductor, "may I see the tickets, please?"
"Oh, dear." said Ayeka.
"Tickets?" spat Ryoko. "At a time like this? I say we just--"
But the Commodore produced eleven stubs of paper from an inner pocket. "First Class for everyone," he said, handing them to the conductor.
The group ran across the platform and began to file into the rear-most car. Tenchi glanced down the track, and noticed that the rails began to slant upwards a short distance outside of the station. The line continued to rise, until, far in the distance, it ended in empty air.
"I have a very bad feeling about this," Tenchi said to no one in particular, but he boarded anyway.
No one could complain about the elegance of the car's interior, at least. There were polished brass fittings, soft velvet upholstery, mahogany side tables, and luxurious carpeting in abundance. The sconces on the walls looked like gas lamps, but an even, pleasant light came without any visible flame producing it.
"Everyone, please brace yourselves." said the Commodore. "We'll be underway in a moment." He put out his cane at an angle to steady himself. Ayeka took hold of a railing with one hand and held Sasami with the other. Everyone else found something to hold on to or lean against, except Ryoko, who pointedly remained standing in the middle of the car.
"Mind the doors…Galaxy Express departing!" announced the conductor, and the car doors swung closed. The train gave a lurch, and the station began to move by outside the windows. Ryoko seemed entirely unaffected. Amelia, on the other hand, lost her grip and planted her face on the carpeting. Mihoshi also stumbled, and ended up with her arms around Tenchi. Low growls came from Ryoko and Ayeka. Tenchi began to disengage Mihoshi, but just then the train tilted and began to climb up the immense ramp, and Mihoshi clung tighter than before.
Heading off the impending explosion, the Commodore spoke. "Keep watch out the windows. Amaroth may send his forces to try and sabotage the rails."
The various members of the party went to the windows, except for Sasami and Washu, who were too short to see out of them easily. "Nothing yet..." announced Zelgadis. "Wait, there's a group of gargoyles running to the arches. But we're moving too fast for them." And it was true. By the time the gargoyles had reached the base and started clawing away at the stone, the Galaxy Express was well past and still picking up speed.
"Oh, does this planet have more than one moon?" asked Mihoshi. "I think I see another one rising behind us." Everyone looked, and saw a rim of white coming up from the horizon.
"Wait a minute, that's to the West." Ryoko said. She concentrated for a moment. "That's no moon--it's a huge spaceship."
"That is my back-up," said the Commodore, "it will fire and destroy the planet as soon as we are clear."
"A bit crude and over-large," commented Washu.
"Well, since it's off the planet entirely, Amaroth can't twist it to serve him in time," replied the Commodore with a somewhat wounded air.
"Somehow," said Lina, "I think Amaroth won't simply give up. This is going too easily."
"Say, what's happening to that tower?" Gourry pointed at a tall structure some distance away. It was shaped something like a huge obelisk, but made primarily of some sort of metal latticework.
"Tower?" said the Commodore. "I don't remember…uh-oh."
The top half of the tower seemed to split, and three segments moved apart, like the spreading fingers of a hand. Arcs of energy began to sprout from them. The upper part of the structure swiveled slowly and majestically until the segments were pointing towards the western horizon. The arcs grew larger and brighter. Power concentrated in the space between the segments. Suddenly, an enormous red beam burst from the center space and raced towards the rising sphere. There was a soundless but dazzling explosion, and when it cleared nothing remained of the spherical spaceship but a few glowing fragments arcing through the sky like spent fireworks.
The Commodore grimaced. "That--" he began, and noticed the eight-year-old Sasami looking wide-eyed. "...is inconvenient," he finished.
"My guess is, we're next!" said Ryoko. The tower began to turn slowly but inexorably toward the train.