The next morning the three adventurers set out on horse back. Naga was openly envious that they could go while affairs of state kept her tied to the throne, but that was the way of it. Besides, she had an expedition to the pole to prepare.

The three went with what blessings they could be given, and were well provided for in terms of provisions and money. It was agreed that only Filia would use magic if it was needed, and the others would only use their powers as a life or death last resort. So, with some trepidation, they rode along. But it was an uneventful trip and one morning they found themselves riding into Zefielia city, and asking the way to the house of Luna Inverse.

It surprised them to find that most of the people they asked didn't know who they were talking about and Lina began to wonder if something had happened to her sister, when an old man after a moment of thought, pointed them to a small, well run inn, and said "He, he, caught me buy surprise you did. Inverse was her maiden name..." Lina breathed a sigh of relief and led the way into the house.

The first person she met was a youth of about twelve or thirteen with long blue hair. But that alone wasn't the most shocking thing. He looked for all the world exactly like "Rowdy?" asked a stunned Lina. "Rowdy Gabriev?" The young man was trying to play the role of waiter but the weird old lady was clearly confusing him. "Uh, yeah, that's me, can I help you guys?" Lina was stunned. "I left you in the past a thousand years ago on the island of Mispross! What are you doing here? Is Joyrock back?" Lina was vibrating a bit as seeing Rowdy again brought a rush of memories over her from the time she had helped Rowdy rescue the elves, and the island, of Mispross from the attack of the demon being Joyrock.

What ever memories Lina was having were obviously too much for Rowdy as he gave a frightened "Yowp!" and ran out yelling "Mom! Dad, there's a crazy woman in the Inn!" "Nice one Lina..." said Zel.

Lina buried her face in her hands. "He's the spitting image of Rowdy, I'm sorry, I was shocked. Wait, did he say his name WAS Rowdy?"

But there was no time for further speculation as there was a bang and a few thumps and a man rushed in from the kitchen with an axe in his hands. From his bare chest and sweaty skin it was obvious he had been splitting wood. It was also obvious he knew a thing or two about fighting.

But what really carried the day was the reaction of the three travelers when they saw his face, framed by his long pale blond hair. "Oh, it's you!" said Filia, relieved. Zel was shocked, but recovered quickly and began to laugh.

Lina, well, that was another matter. The world swam for a minute, and she staggered back into Zel. Then her head cleared and she gave a scream. "Gourry?" The blond swordsman looked at her in shock, then lowered his axe and said, quietly, "Lina!" Lina vibrated for a minute then got ahold of herself. "Y-you're here..." She felt faint again.

She took a breath and then stepped towards the blond swordsman who used to be her self appointed bodyguard. With a trembling voice she spoke. "Gourry, I have wanted to say this for a long time but never could find you. I am sorry for what I said and how I said it. I never ment you to go, and not a day has gone by that I haven't regreted it. And look, you are revenged, for I have made such a mess of my life..."

Gourry shot a puzzled look to someone behind Lina and said "I think you can put that down now." A woman's voice replied with a chuckle "Well, I don't know about that, she's not getting you back you know..."

Rowdy entered again with an older girl, a redhead, obviously a sister, who said "Told you so. Leave it to mom and dad to turn a fight into a joke." Eh?" said Gourry turning to the children. "Hey you two, this crazy woman is your long lost aunt Lina!" "Go on!" said Rowdy. "We have a crazy woman for an aunt?" "Seems so..." replied Gourry.

In days gone by Lina might have said something, well, thermally unpleasant to that remark, but she didn't hear it this time, as she was busy staring at the woman who was behind them, a woman with long purple hair, just begining to show traces of gray. Oh, and a big stick she was slowly lowering to her shoulder. The bangs were gone though, letting the intense purple eyes sparkle through. "You?" she said to the woman. "Him?" she added, looking at Gourry. Then she really did faint. "Must be age," said Zel as he lowered her to the ground. "She does that a lot lately." Filia smiled at the woman and curtsied. "Good Morning Lady Luna!" she said.

Lina came around in a few minutes and woke to find everyone staring at her. After a good cringe she managed to smile and even get out a feeble "Hi sis..." Luna gave her a suspicious look, then started to chuckle and threw a big hug around Lina.

"Where in the hell have you been all these years you twirp!" she laughed. But Lina's reaction ended that as the younger sister suddenly curled up and cried "No, don't say that!" Luna was puzzled. "What, twirp? You want me to go back to Lina the Pink?"

Lina shook her head and Zel quietly interjected "No, hell. You see, Lina's going there, as are a lot of people, and we need your help." Luna was dumbfounded. Lina was sat up and her story coaxed out of her yet again. If Luna was dumbfounded before, she was a hundredfold now.

"I never heard of such a thing!" she finally said. Filia explained what she knew from the golden dragon's point of view. Zel then brought up the matter of the south pole and asked if there was anything Luna could do to help. "I'm going to have to search what memories of Ceiphied I'm allowed to access, and that will take time I'm afraid." replied Luna.

Lina spoke up. "First, I want to know how you and Gourry ended up married!"

Luna chuckled and said "Well, simple. A wandering mazoku names Xellos showed up one day and challenged me to a fight. Said something about how Beastmaster had heard that I was stronger than he was and wanted to find out if that was true. Let's see, I was, thirty, um one then. And I was helping in the fields at harvest time, so yup, you got it, no sword, just a basket of grapes. Well, he was apologetc, but he also attacked with all he had. If I had my sword... Anyway, he was winning, when a man from the next field over ran up and put himself between us and yelled at Xellos to go away. And he swung a sword.

"I realised that if I could get that sword I'd win, but things took a strange turn. When I asked for the sword the man laughed and said there was no need as he'd met Xellos before and the demon knew the sword. Xellos made some sort of concilliatory remark and, to my surprise, vanished. And I haven't seen him since. Well, of course I wanted to know who the big blond guy was and what his sword was. Imagine my surprise as he recounted his tales of traveling with you Lina. Now, of course we didn't discuss this all at once. He was helping with the harvest to make ends meet as he traveled through the lands. I convinced him to settle for awhile and got him a job helping in the kitchen, so I could keep him near. I don't know about you, sis, but I wasn't going to let him go! He's far too dreamy!"

Lina shook her head. "Xellos... Well, he never mentioned any of that when he dropped in to torment me from time to time. Oh well, I'd have blasted him and he knew it." She sook her head sadly. "I didn't intend to let Gourry go, Luna, I was just too impulsive again, as usual..." she said. "But why were you thirty one and not married yet?"

"Oh well, I never could forgive the local perv's who looked at my shadow projection, and, well, I just never found anyone..."

"I really, really AM sorry about that." replied Lina, cringing again.

"Well, you were ten, and stupid, and I was fourteen, and just as stupid, which reflects worse on me as I was supposed to be older and know better. And I learned a thing or two about making enemies of powerful mages from that, so, hey, no problem there!" Luna smiled in reply. "Besides, despite his being a jellyfish at times, Gourry..."

Here she had to stop as Zel and Filia collapsed into each other's arms, laughing. "Even Lina chuckled. Gourry sighed and shook his head. "Uh, I never had the courage to tell you dear, that's what she used to call me too..." Luna just about bust a gut. Even the kids were laughing.

Finally Luna pulled herself together. "Well, long story short, I got to know this Gabriev guy, the Gabriev's are famous in sword circles you know, and I got to learn about the Blast Blade, and the fight with Dynast, and well, over time he became quite a good kitchen helper and, provided he's supervised, a good cook, and when this place came up for sale we were able to pool our money and form a partnership and buy it and run it. We were successfull too, and we were together all the time, and we liked each other, and well, one day it went beyond like, and here we are. And now, finally, here you are, and I'm glad you're back, but I'm keeping Gourry, got it?" Luna ended with a chuckle.

Lina smiled. "Well, I admit I had my faint hopes, but I'm not surprised he's taken. And now I understand about your son Rowdy looking like and being named after the original from Mispross Island. But Gourry, I always imagined it would be Sylphiel you'd go back to."

Gourry scratched his head. "Sylphiel? Sylphiel? Oh! Sylphiel! Lina, I haven't seen her since that Hellmaster business. And I never loved her you know. I know she had a thing for me and I'm sorry if I hurt her, but she never had, well, the lively spirit you and your sister have, and well, I always wanted that in a woman. Truth is Lina, you are the first woman I fell in love with and when it ended I stumbled around aimlessly for years till I met Luna here, but I didn't recognise her from your descriptions though, must have been the bangs. Yeah, I was surprised to find out who she was, but we had established our friendship first so that had little to do with it except maybe as a common link in our pasts."

Lina smiled. "Well congratulations you two, I am happy for you. Oh but this IS funny!" she said, finally starting to laugh herself. "How are mom and dad?" she then asked.

Luna smiled. "Rowdy, Eleana! Go tell grandma and grandpa who is here and that we'll bring her along shortly! No, no arguing, off you go! Oh, and put the closed sign on the door on your way out!" The kids shambled out, as only kids can, and Luna looked at Lina and said. "Going to hell, eh? You couldn't just drop in for a visit?"

"I was going to." said Lina, "but I never got motivated to leave. Until now."

"Well, I'm going to have to have time to access the Ceiphied within me, so you better be ready to stay till tommorrow at least. But then what?" Lina told her. "You're kidding, right?" asked Luna. Lina shook her head. "Rowdy is right, you really ARE crazy! she sighed. She turned to Zel and Filia and asked "And how do you fit into this, may I ask?" They told her. Luna shook her head. "Well, as far as that goes Filia, I would be more than happy to protect little Valgaav. If they can get through me, and Gourry with his Blast Sword too, then they were more that dragons or mazoku. So please rest easy about that. And please do what I cannot, please protect my little sister. I don't want her to go to hell, but I can't leave here, so I am asking you as a favour to please go for me." "Oh yes, I will!" said Filia.

Finally she turned to Zelgadiss. "So, you are the chimera that Gourry has talked about. I have never met anyone like you before, but you know, I'm glad I finally am having the chance. Rezo eh? Yes, we've all heard of him." She shook her head. "Lina, it was a good thing you met Shabradnigdo, not me, I doubt I'd have been able to draw enough strength from Ceified to win. Nor against Hellmaster either. And that Darkstar, I didn't have the right magic for that. That's why I sent Filia to you, I know you'd do it! But now it's turning out to be not so good, eh? Hmmmm. Sis, I will do it tonight I promise. In the morning I will tell you everything I can. So, let's go see mom and dad, and cheer up for tonight! No matter why you are back, the important thing is you are here and it's been too long since we all got to tell you how much we love you!" With that they were all swept out and up the street to Lina's parents. And indeed, Lina was loved, and the strength it restored to her was everything she needed.