Chapter 21: The Universe of the Four Gods

Rezo glared at his opponents, fury written across his face as he realized what Amelia's final wish had been. "You cannot defeat me," he said, focusing his glowing red gaze on Lina. "Shabranigdu is the God of War. Even with the manifestation of Cephied, you will lose this battle. You will not risk using your wishes and being consumed by the Beast God. We are stronger than you will ever be!" he yelled as he sent a magical attack sailing towards Lina.

With a familiar dark flash, Xellos was there, blocking the attack before it could reach the priestess. He grunted as he split the energy, however, his eyes open. "Rezo is stronger than before," he grit out, quickly righting and running a hand over his smoking staff. "It must be because of the manifestation of his deity in this world. We have to work together," he called out to Valgarv, who nodded in return.

The two warriors rushed towards the priest, their attacks at the ready. Rezo met them with a laugh, his cry ringing out overhead as brilliant light exploded around their confrontation.

"Shabranigdu is the God of War!"

Lina paid no attention to her battle, her eyes focused on the giant serpent in the sky above. "Amelia," she whispered to herself as she stared at the fierce dragon. "You're in that thing somewhere, I know it!" Then louder, she let her voice ring out. "I want her back, damn it! Bring Amelia back right now! I pledge myself to thee, Cephied!"

The phoenix in the sky trilled overhead and crashed into the dragon, and the giant serpent roared with anger before convulsing once, then twice. A high-pitched ringing overrode the noise of the battle, but Lina kept her eyes trained on the sky above, motionless. Finally, she spotted a glowing blue ball separating itself from the creature's scales, rapidly taking form as it descended towards the ground.

"Amelia!" Lina breathed, her eyes watering with tears of relief as she watched the motionless body of her friend form within the light and gently drift towards the ground. Even as she moved towards her friend, another figure pushed past her, grabbing Amelia before she could touch the ground. "Naga?" Lina queried, eyeing the older girl as she sunk to the ground with her sister.

Gracia didn't respond, her own tear-stained face already buried into her younger girl's hair, sobbing with relief. "I'll be there for you and dad from now on, I promise!" she cried, cradling her sister in her arms. "I'll never leave you again!"

Amelia responded with a low moan, her eyes cracking open. "Naga?" she mumbled feebly with a note of surprise. "What happened?"

The older girl only shook her head, hugging her sister tightly once more. "Gracia… I told you, Gracia," she mumbled to her little sister. "Don't ever scare me like that again, Amelia!"

Lina held herself back from the two girls' reunion, a tiny smile briefly flashing across her face as she watched Diol carefully interrupt the girls and drape his long coat over Amelia's body. It might have taken a near-death experience, but it looked like Amelia and Gracia finally might become a family again. A sense of relief and satisfaction flooded through the redhead. "I hope it lasts," she said to herself quietly. A sudden wracking pain overtook Lina's body, and distracted, she fell to her knees.

What is this… she thought angrily, and heard the trill of the phoenix in the sky above. Looking up, she saw that it had grown brighter and larger, and was once again attacking the dragon with renewed vigour. Even as it did, the burning sensation intensified. Growling, she grit her teeth together. Oh no you don't, Cephied, she swore silently, struggling to her feet once again. I won't let you win!

- x – x – x -

Rezo grunted as he tried to ward off the attacks of the two remaining warriors of Cephied. He could feel the power of Shabranigdu coursing thorough his veins, aided by the physical manifestation of the God in the sky above. But Cephied had also been summoned in a betrayal he had not expected from his own Priestess.

"No matter," he grunted to himself, gathering his power and sending it out in a volley, throwing off his attackers. "Shabranigdu is the God of War!" he cried triumphantly. "I cannot lose!"

In the moment of respite he gained, he saw the Priestess of Cephied calling upon the power of her deity. The phoenix in the sky let out an ear-piercing screech, and Rezo's face twisted into an ugly frown. I will not let my plans be ruined by that girl! he thought furiously. His face twisted into a grin as he saw Lina fall to her knees, momentarily overcome by the power of the God she had called upon. I must strike now!

With a roar, he focused his energy into a powerful, crackling ball at his fingertips. "I was negligent to have let you live for so long. But now, I will remedy that situation!" he cried out. The unfortunate priestess looked up in time to see him release the massive build-up of energy towards her. There was a cry from her pathetic warriors, each too slow to stop his attack. Rezo's mad laughter rose above the noise, as the dragon in the sky roared in victory.

- x – x – x -

"No!" Lina cried out, her eyes squeezing shut as she saw the deadly spell speeding towards her. In reflex, she threw her arms up to protect herself, but it was too late. There's no time to even wish it away… she thought desperately, wondering if the blow would hurt, or if she would die instantly. Then she began to wonder how she had time to wonder. Cracking an eye open, she peered through her arms. A gasp escaped her lips. "I can cast barriers now?" she said incredulously as she saw the attack splintering off of the pulsing white shield in front of her.

Gentle, familiar laughter rang out behind her, and Lina dropped her arms and whirled around in shock.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Miss Lina," Sylphiel said, blushing slightly as she lowered her outstretched hand and bowed quickly towards the girl. "But I came here as fast I could manage."

Lina rubbed her eyes, blinking, and then stared at the purple-haired healer once again. "S-sylphiel? I thought you… I mean I saw you… how-" she began, spluttering.

Sylphiel nodded sagely, her green eyes sparkling. "Yes… it's a complicated story," she said gently.

"Aww, c'mon, Sylph, it's not that hard! Even I can get it!"

Lina spun around as another familiar voice greeted her. "Gourry?" she cried as her eyes began to water with tears.

The blond smiled goofily and strode over towards the discarded Sword of Light, picking it up and shaking out the broken metal bits from the hilt. "Yep! We came back to help you out!" he said cheerfully. He hefted the hilt towards the sky. "Hikari-O!" he yelled, calling forth the blade of energy. A boyish grin of delight crossed his face as he regarded the pulsing sword. "I'm glad I got to do this one last time. It didn't feel right to go without seeing it again!"

"Gourry! Don't joke about your death!" Lina scolded him automatically, and then covered her mouth. "How can you two be here?" she cried out, throwing her arms around them both in a bone-crushing hug as they joined her.

"I believe the answer lies with Taiitsukun," Xellos offered, approaching the group. His amethyst eyes were opened wide for once, and a small smile crossed his face. "It's her work doing this, isn't it?"

"Filia?" Valgarv added, shock clearly registering across his face as he regarded his formerly fallen companions. "Where is she anyway?"

Sylphiel shook her head slightly, a small frown creasing her face. "Filia can't interfere in our struggle directly anymore. But she allowed our souls to inhabit the bodies of the Nyan Nyans for this battle."

Valgarv nodded, clapping Gourry on the back a few times as a smile slowly broke over his face. "But you're okay now!" he said to the tall blonde.

Gourry scratched his chin and then shook his head. "Uh, not really. I'm dead!" he answered cheerfully.

Sylphiel cut into Gourry's diplomatic speech quickly. "What Lord Gourry meant to say is that this is only temporary," she explained apologetically. "We can't remain in these physical forms for very long. We're only here to stop Rezo and help you set things right in your world again, Lina."

"Yeah, so we better make it count while we're here," Gourry added, bringing his sword up with a grim look and facing Rezo, who had also approached the small group and was watching them with a bemused expression.

"I see that old bag can't keep her nose to herself," Rezo said dryly as he regarded the assembled warriors. "It doesn't matter if she sends one of your warriors, or one hundred of them," he added directly, directing his piercing, unnaturally bright gaze straight at Lina. "Even alone, I am stronger than all of the warriors of Cephied. You cannot stop me," he sneered.

"I beg to differ."

Lina froze as the cool voice drifted over her head. The warriors surrounding her smiled knowingly at each other and parted, allowing her to face the source.

His body had been restored to its original stone form, rocky and blue, and his hair was once again the strange shade of metallic lavender. But his eyes were unchanged, the same as ever, and they were staring straight at Lina. A tiny cry escaped her throat as she threw herself into Zelgadis' arms, making him stagger backwards from the impact.

"I thought I lost you forever!" she sobbed, grabbing onto the beige fabric of his cloak and tearing it with the force of her grip.

Zelgadis sighed slightly and rested his chin on her head, his eyes also closed in a moment of relief. "You just can't leave my clothes alone, can you?" he said jokingly, pushing Lina back after a moment so he could look down at her. To his surprise, he saw her face was streaked with tears, and his heart ached for a moment, seeing her unable to check her overflowing emotions. "I'm sorry I had to go, Lina," he whispered to her, drawing her back in for a close hug. "I didn't want to leave you the way I did."

"Touching," Rezo said coldly, interrupting their reunion. "Pointless, but touching. I will be kind, and let you die in your lovers' embrace!" he said, raising his staff and attacking them. Sylphiel and Xellos were already in motion, combining their magic powers to form a larger barrier around the entire group. The mixture of white and dark energy pulsed and crackled noisily, but held against Rezo's powerful attack.

"Gourry! Let's do it!" Valgarv growled, holding out his flaming staff. The tall blond gave the bandit a curt nod and swung his sword around. With a cry, they thrust the magic weapons towards Rezo, the blazing energy of the Sword of Light mixing with the holy flames of Vessegace. As before, the two energies twisted and churned against each other, before combining into one huge column of light and blasting through the shield and into a surprised Rezo, who was thrown forcefully to the ground.

In the sky above, the dragon roared with pain as the phoenix rose above it. Then she heard a loud curse from Valgarv, as they watched Rezo impossibly rise to his feet once more. Lina, still encircled by Zelgadis' arms, looked up to the sky to watch the two monsters battling above. "This won't work," she said softly to the surprised chimera. "Not as long as that dragon is still up there. Shabranigdu is the god of War and Fighting. We need to cut off Rezo's power at the source."

"What are you saying?" Zelgadis asked her, his eyes narrowing. "Lina?"

She stepped out of his arms and faced the sky. "Zelgadis, you're going to have to end it with Rezo, once and for all." She raised her hands upwards. "Are you ready?"

Zelgadis paused, taking the moment to memorize the sight of Lina standing before him, her arms raised to the darkened sky above and her face set with determination. The wind still whipped around them, sending tendrils of her hair flying around her face with a life of their own. Gone were the ritual bathes, the extravagant robes, and the ceremonial temple. But even bruised, dirtied, and with her tear-stained face, her petite body cut a clean form across the violent horizon. She looks like… a true Priestess of Cephied, he thought suddenly. It was a sobering and yet calming realization, and when she opened her eyes questioningly to gaze at him, he was able to meet them and give her a firm nod.

"Return to the book! Cephied and Shabranigdu! I seal the powers of the Beast Gods away from this world forever! I pledge myself to thee, Cephied!"

A burning sensation rose in her chest, and Lina swayed slightly as she fought against the pain. It was Cephied, she knew, trying to deny her last wish. It's time for you to return to where you belong, she though coldly even as she overcame the internal resistance to her wish. The roar in the sky from the two deities became deafening. And then, as though they were some odd, supernatural lightshow, their forms melted away in the sky, raining towards the ground in sparkles of blue and red light which disappeared as they touched the earth. Everyone who was still conscious was mesmerized by the strange beauty, frozen momentarily in place. It was not everyday that one was allowed to see the death of a God, much less two. And though relieved, Lina also felt an equal amount of sadness as she watched Cephied disappear from her world. She caught a red sparkle in the palm of her hand, watching it dance momentarily across her fingertips. "I'm sorry," she whispered quietly as it vanished.

The bright glow faded from Rezo's eyes as he watched the remains Shabranigdu swirl and disappear all around him. "What have you done, you little fool…" he mumbled softly. As the power leeched from his body and his vision rapidly faded, his lip curled into an ugly snarl. He turned towards Lina with sightless eyes and began to stumble towards her. "No! NO! I will not allow—"

Rezo's angry tirade was cut off by Zelgadis, who stepped in front of him and held him back with a stony hand. "It's over," the chimera said firmly. "You have no power anymore, Rezo."

The red sage closed his eyes, raw, discordant laughter bubbling up through his throat. "You are the fool, Zelgadis!" He moved his staff quickly, and was rewarded by the chimera's painful gasp as he pushed the staff, crackling with energy against Zelgadis' throat. "Shabranigdu may have forsaken me, but I know the old ways! My power is but a fraction of what it once was, but it is still enough to kill you!"

But it wasn't, even as Lina gasped and the other warriors moved to intercept the two struggling men, Zelgadis wrenched the staff away from Rezo's trembling hands and struck a solid blow to sage's temple. Rezo dropped to the ground weakly, his body only a shell of its former power. The swirling red robes that he draped himself in were no longer intimidating piled around his body; rather, they accented how thin Rezo's frail body actually was. He looked blind, weak and lost as he struggled futilely to return to his feet; a far cry from the powerful magician and torturer of Zelgadis' memory.

"Don't look at me like that…" Rezo snarled up towards the chimera as he scrabbled weakly for his staff, and then gave up with a frustrated growl. "I can see it. I can see your pity, feel your stares burning into my skin!" he howled furiously.

Zelgadis stepped back from the fallen man, pity unable to completely mask the anger he felt towards the man who had caused so much destruction. "Is that why you did it?" he said harshly. "To make the rest of the world pay for your condition?"

Rezo laughed bitterly, even as the edges of his robes faded from view. "I couldn't have wished for a finer send-off," he gasped. "I would rather have your hatred than your pity!" As his fingers grew transparent, the ugly snarl faded from his face. "But… I only wanted… to be…" he mumbled softly, a wry small crossing his face. And then he was gone, his last words a faded whisper in the night air. "…real."

Zelgadis felt Lina join his side, as the other warriors filed behind them silently. "It's finally over," he said to Lina quietly. "It's funny… I thought it would be different. More difficult, and more rewarding," he confessed as he gazed at the spot where Rezo had fallen. "But now, I just find myself asking what it was all for," he said morosely. A small hand cupped his cheek and turned directed his face away from the ground.

"Isn't this enough?" Lina asked him gently, staring into his eyes questioningly.

Zelgadis gave her a small smile, but his face was solemn. "I don't know anymore, Lina. I just don't know." Then he drew her close and kissed her, a bittersweet kiss, full of sorrow and regret, but also hope. They clung to each other desperately until a polite cough from Valgarv drew them out of their private world. But Zelgadis refused to remove his arms from around Lina's waist even as they faced the others.

"Hey… why are you guys still here, if Rezo's already gone?" Lina said suddenly, her own grip on Zelgadis tightening fearfully.

"I believe I know the answer to this little mystery," Xellos said with a genial smile. As if on cue, Gourry and Sylphiel's bodies began to fade as Filia stepped into view. With a popping sound, the fluttering hoards of Nyan Nyans swirled around them, trilling happily.

"Filia!" Lina said with a gasp. "I thought you couldn't interfere!"

The blond mystic laughed softly, shaking her head at Lina. "You exceeded my expectations, Priestess of Cephied. You've done well! I thought that deserved a little reward."

"I don't feel like I've done well," Lina admitted wryly as she glanced around the devastated park. "Look at this place! How am I going to explain to the rest of the world that this was all just a story in a book?"

Filia laughed again, waving her hands. As she did so, the coloured lights and bubbles of Mount Taikyoku blinded their sight, and when it faded, all signs of their struggle with Rezo had disappeared from view. "I have restored your world completely. Only those directly involved with the Universe of the Four Gods will remember what transpired here," she said. Then, gently, she added "Your friends' time here is short. You know this, Lina. You sealed us away in the book permanently. I have the power to allow you to say farewell to your companions, but that is all."

Lina closed her eyes briefly. She knew it was coming, but it still hurt. Opening them again, she smiled at Gourry and Sylphiel, already only a dim shadow without bodies of the Nyan Nyans to support them. "Gourry… Sylphiel… I'm so sorry…" she said, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

Sylphiel shook her head gently. "Don't be, Lina. We did what needed to be done… all of us." Gourry nodded emphatically in agreement. "Yeah, I never was good with speeches. But don't be sorry! We'd do it all over again," he grinned as he grasped the healer's ethereal hand. And for once, Sylphiel smiled back at Gourry, unabashed.

Lina turned her head towards Xellos and Valgarv next. Invariably, they were arguing with each other when she saw them.

"What do you mean, you're going back to Elmekia? Damn it, Xellos, I signed you on as my advisor!" Valgarv said angrily. "Don't tell me you're backing out now for another one of your fruitcake schemes!"

Xellos shrugged in his usual manner, with a small half-smile and closed eyes. "Well well, I didn't know you liked me so much, my dear Valgarv!" he grinned. "However, we don't know if Rezo died, or still exists in our world. And someone is going to have to look after the remains of the Northern Kingdom. I think it's time I returned to my home!" he said lightly.

Lina grinned to herself and interrupted their debate just as Valgarv opened his mouth with another retort. "Guys! Hey, guys!" Seeing that she had their attention, she flashed them a huge grin. "I'm proud of you, Valgarv," she said as she smiled at the aqua-haired bandit. "You managed to make your own destiny after all. And you're ruling over more than just bandits now!"

Valgarv inclined his head slightly, a rare, genuine smile spreading over his face. "You'll always be welcome in the Kingdom of Sairoon, Lina." Then, holding up the hilt of the sword of light before him, he bowed very formally to Lina. "Thank you," he said to her quietly.

The quiet moment of respect was ruined by Xellos, who rapped his staff smartly over Valgarv's bowed head. "Come now, Valgarv, you're making me look bad!" Xellos quipped, turning to face Lina with a smirk.

"Pervert," Lina said warningly to him, though she had to stifle a grin.

"Ahh, after all we've been through, how you still wound me, my dearest Lina!" Xellos exclaimed, putting a hand over his chest in mock despair. Then, with an extravagant flourish, he unexpectedly gave a short bow to Lina as well. When he rose again quickly, one eye was cracked open and wore a smile. "We'll meet again, Priestess of Cephied. If not in this life, then the next."

Lina smiled to herself as her friends backed away, leaving her alone with the last warrior of Cephied… the one whose arms were still wrapped tightly around her. She looked up into Zelgadis' face, her smile dropping away as she regarded him.

"So I guess this is it," Zelgadis said softly.

"Yeah, I guess it is," she whispered back. "What am I going to do now?" she sighed, leaning her head against his chest.

"What you've always done before… go on, have a life, and be happy," he answered with a tight smile. Regret laced his voice, though, and they both understood the unspoken meaning behind them. Without me, his eyes told her. Lina squeezed her eyes shut, and they hugged each other tightly, saying their silent goodbyes silently. They tight grip finally relaxed when Filia's voice drifted softly to them.

"It's time," she said as a golden glow surrounded the Celestial Warriors.

Lina looked back quickly at Zelgadis, trying to memorize his stony features even as his body faded into the ethereal glow shared by Gourry and Sylphiel. "Goodbye!" she called out, choking back a sob as her friends faded completely from view. As the golden glow faded, she was left standing alone with Filia, who moved to her side. "You know," she said with a rue grin. "It's too bad I don't have any wishes left."

Filia raised one fine golden eyebrow disapprovingly. "You weren't consumed by the Beast God Cephied because your wishes weren't selfish, Lina. You could rescue Amelia because her last wish was also not a selfish one. I thought you understood that."

Lina sighed and blinked back her tears, squaring her shoulders. "I know, I know. I was just thinking, if I had another wish, I'd use it to make Zel happy," she said quietly. She missed Filia's fleeting thoughtful look as she directed her attention to her friends and family, who had gathered near Diol's rusty old truck. "Time to get back to the real world though, huh?"

Filia smiled approvingly at Lina as she also began to fade from view. "You've grown up, Priestess of Cephied, and earned your title fully. Be proud of yourself." The smiling blond woman reached out and grasped Lina's hands in her own, inclining her head slightly in respect.

"Thank you, Taiitsukun, for everything you've done," Lina answered as Filia disappeared. When the golden glow faded, all that was left in Lina's outstretched hands was the torn and tattered copy of the Universe of the Four Gods, leeched of its magic power. Lina regarded the tattered cover of the book silently for a moment, before clutching it to her chest. "I won't forget any of you. I swear it."

- x – x – x –

Several months later…

"Lina! Hey, Lina!"

Lina glanced towards the voice, lifting the mask away from her face. She saw Amelia waving wildly at her from the doorway by the bleachers, and gave her friend a small smile as she waved back. Turning back to the other students, she hefted her helmet under her arm and raised her voice. "Alright, that's it for today. Remember what I said about watching your footwork, Jamison! The tournament's gonna be in one week, so stay sharp. See you next Thursday!"

With a murmur the small group split away and drifted towards the corners of the gymnasium. Lina took the chance trot to the bleachers and pick up a towel, wiping some of the sweat from her face. She smiled reflexively as she carefully packed the thin rapier away in its case. Fencing wasn't quite a sport she'd ever thought she'd be interested in, but it was the closest she could come to reliving her adventures in Sairoon at the University. And she was good at it, too, already team captain in only her second year of college. Running for your life constantly from magicians, swashbucklers and monsters for almost six months did have a superb effect on one's survival reflexes, she mused.

"You're thinking about it again, aren't you?" Amelia's soft voice interrupted her thoughts as the dark-haired girl joined her side. The two years that had passed since their adventure in the book together had brought many changes to both girls. Amelia had shot up, and was quickly gaining both Gracia's height and good looks. Her time spent in the book had softened Amelia's obsessive compulsion with justice; after spending so much time with Rezo, the young girl had opted out of her study of law and was obtaining a degree in psychology. Lina had no doubt that Amelia, with her sensitive and empathic nature, would make a true healer when she graduated, even if she was only mending wounds of the spirit.

"Yeah," Lina answered reflectively after a moment, studying the handle of her fencing sword thoughtfully. "I never thought it would turn out like this," she mused pensively. Noticing Amelia's look of concern, Lina quickly pasted a broad smile onto her face and gestured at her sword. "It's a lot easier to fence when you know the person at the other end isn't trying to kill you, though," she laughed. "Though I think they're not always so sure about me!" Feeling Amelia's stare, she stopped laughing and turned to face her friend squarely. "What?"

Amelia smiled thoughtfully. "You still miss Zelgadis, don't you."

Lina frowned and pushed the sword casing closed with an audible snap. "Why are you bringing that up again? It's pointless. He wasn't even…" Lina choked, still hesitating to say the words. Real, she thought. But he was, to me. "I have to move on. He said so himself."

"I know, that's why I want you to come with me right now." Amelia smiled again, this time more broadly, and Lina's suspicious immediately went up.

"Oh no… no no no, not another blind date! No way, the last one was a disaster!" She continued to protest loudly as Amelia grabbed her wrist and began to drag her down the hallway. "C'mon! At least let me change out of my whites!" Lina sighed and gave up the struggle with resignation. "C'mon, Amelia, half of the time they only put up with me because they want to date you!" She was surprised as Amelia stopped before a pair of doors leading to another recreation room in the building, and turned to face her.

"Not this time. Gracia met him at the introductory seminar last week." Amelia smiled distractedly. "It's still kind of weird, thinking of my big sister as an underclassman…" she mumbled to herself.

Lina rolled her eyes and pinned Amelia with a glare. "Point, Amelia! Point!"

Blushing, Amelia nodded quickly and pushed open the doors. "He's also an older student, a transfer from China. He's already on the judo team, but since you guys practice in different hallways, we thought you might have trouble running into each other. And Gracia said she wanted to be there..."

Amelia's words continued, but Lina had stopped listening. Practice was over, and the members of the judo club were already dispersing towards the bleachers. But she was frozen in place, her eyes trained on the one member who was already approaching her, an equal look of surprise on his face. Vaguely, she noticed that Amelia had fallen silent and drifted away, leaving her alone with the familiar young man of dark hair and unmistakable turquoise eyes.

"H-hello," she managed to stutter as she looked up into his achingly familiar face.

"I… I think I know you," he answered uncertainly. There was a whisper of familiarity, the faint spark of recognition. Lina could only gape in response, hearing another's words echo through her head.

"Maybe I'm just a reflection after all...

and maybe there's a real me,

somewhere in the world

just waiting to meet you."

The spark of recognition died out, leaving an embarrassed flush in its place. "I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me," he said shyly. "My name is Zhi Le," he fumbled. "It's a little hard for westerners to pronounce, so you can just call me Zel." Noticing her stare and silence, he blushed again and rubbed the back of his head. "I know, it's a weird name, but you see…" He trailed off, and looked at Lina again. "Are you sure we haven't met before?"

Lina shook herself out of her stupor, and nodded slightly at the confused young man. Maybe… this won't be so bad after all, she thought to herself. And, after a moment of reflection, she directed a broad smile up towards the tall, dark haired youth with the face she loved. "I'm Lina. Lina Inverse. It's nice to meet you."

- x – - the end - – x –


AN: This is actually the last chapter and epilogue combined, it was short enough to fit into one go. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story through the years and read it. Especially the last reviewer, who got me off my duff to finish it off even if behind schedule. I hope everyone enjoyed it. I know, it's got almost nothing to do with the Slayers, and almost nothing to do with Fushigi Yugi anymore, besides names, plots and jokes. But it is a big story which took a long time to write, and in the end, I guess I'm pleased with it, even if it doesn't really follow the canon of either series. I hope you all enjoyed it too!

Illustrations for the story can be found below. Take out the spaces, and replace (underscore) with... well, an underscore.

www . sugoiweb . com / fandom / slayers (underscore) fan

Scroll down and look for works by me (Enkida) – they're all little cell-coloured illustrations I've done to go with the story.