Well, the chapter that many of you have been waiting for. This is the introductory chapter into the mess that is Mariah. Pay close attention and don't forget to review. Enjoy you guys! As with all fanfic… I don't own Slayers…or the characters. Now on with the fic!

Mariah Sunshine

The melody played beautifully across a crystal ball room filled with townspeople and royalty alike. Women were seen swirling and raising their gowns as their partners clapped and stomped their hands to the music. In the middle of the room Gourry was seen mingling with Amelia and Zegaldis, baby in arms. His black and white satin tux glimmers wonderfully under the torchlight, as sweat drops for on his head from the heat. Little Mariah is dressed in a baby pink gown with a matching headband. She has a tiny bib on that's beautifully embroidered with pink and white flowers, and small imagines of Lina and Gourry. Lina thought it adorable, and even forked over the vast amount of money to have it made. Gourry thought it ridiculous, especially since he could easily buy another arm piece to his armor with it for it but kept his mouth shut.

Amelia was holding tightly to her annoyed husband's arm, giggling with Gourry while couples and friends danced around them. Zegaldis said something aloud, which went unheard due to the loud music, but sent Amelia and Gourry into another fit of laughter. The townspeople were happily dancing around their royal highnesses and Mariah happily clung to Gourry, bouncing every once in a while because of the melodies. Lina was the one that got her caught onto music. Sometimes late at night she would sing to Mariah… but only if she thought Gourry and the rest of the world was sleep. Her voice was surprisingly in key, and she sounded marvelous. Speaking of, Gourry checked for Lina once again in the room. She was more than likely still upstairs getting ready. Women often took a long time to get ready, he reminded himself. Even little Mariah took a few extra minutes to get dressed. That could be because her pink headband was on backwards, or because her frilly petticoat was no where to be found. Or the fact that Gourry didn't know how to put on the pink gown to begin with.

Soon the melodies stopped and the dancing stopped and everyone turned to the staircase. Gourry continued laughing with Amelia, until she turned as well, after a nudge from Zegaldis. Gourry looked up, and saw the fairest lady in the land. Lina descended the stairs, and with her flew her beautiful white gown. It had a sweetheart neckline, which boosted her bust-line and curved into a tight bustier waist. Her arms were draped in beautiful tight sleeves that showed off her petite arms, and her beautiful hands. Her gown was full at the bottom and beautifully decorated with sequins, beads, but most importantly pearls. Her hair was up in a tight bun with cascading curls that were decorated with a crown of gold, silver and pearls. She raised a hand up, and waved gently to the people and the bottom of the staircase. Gourry amazed, gently handed Mariah to Amelia and went to the edge of the steps to greet his beautiful wife. Men and women alike held their breath and whispered words of beauty about the ambassadors before them. Mariah merely stuck her foot in her mouth and sucked on her toes happily. Gourry walked slowly to the edge of the steps, and knelt at before Lina. Gourry's hair was for once in a tight braid, and it made him look very distinguished, as kneeled before the royal staircase. Taking her cue, Lina slowly steps down each step, careful not to embarrass herself by falling. Her dress is lifted by her ungloved beautiful fingers and the fronts of her glass slippers show. Amelia squeals with pride, to see her beautiful shoes on her dearest friend's feet. When Lina finally reaches the bottom, she turned to her right, and faces Gourry who is still kneeling. She reaches down for his hand, and he takes it, and kisses it gently. Then standing up, Lina and Gourry turn and face the crowd before them. Women clasped on to their husbands arms, and children grabbed to their parent's legs. In unison Gourry and Lina raise their hands and the crowd goes wild. Their faces lit up wit bright smiles and shining teeth as they wave to the crowd before them. Lina is in awe for one of the first times in her life. All these people screaming and cheering her name. All these people waiting and looking for her. It seems the party really was in honor of the Gabriev family, maybe she should have came on time.

Gourry takes Lina's hand and leads her to the middle of the dance floor. The crowd splits and each couple bow and Lina and Gourry walk past. Behind them proudly walk the crowned Prince and Princess, Zegaldis and Amelia carrying a now very fussy Mariah. Gourry finally stops under the large crystal Chandelier. Lina looks up, and watches as the gold, silver and gems sparkle above her. Had it not been for the fact that this was her friend's home, she would have surely taken it and put it in her own room. Suddenly the band begins to play and Lina and Gourry take part in their first dance of the night.

Gourry holds tight to his tiny wife, as he spins her sweetly under the lights. Lina wasn't used to heels, and he took that into consideration as he led her slowly around the dance floor. Although Lina hated the damned things on her feet, she moved like she had worn them her entire life. Couples applauded and children cheered but they were oblivious to the couple sweetly dancing in each other's arms. Lina had become lost in Gourry's arms and he in Lina's eyes, as they twirled and spun. Husbands pulled close to their wives as they watched the couple dance in unison and singles rooted for their favorite of the pair.

Mariah who has now caught sight of Lina began to cry begging and screaming for her mommy. Amelia, who was having trouble quieting her down, quickly hands the baby to Zegaldis. Zegaldis looks down at the child and a look of surprise crosses his face. Mariah stops crying and whimpers and Zegaldis begins to make silly faces. Although okay with his surprised face, Mariah was not okay with his happy faces so begins to holler and scream demanding for Lina or Gourry to come and get her. Lina's motherly ears pick up on the child and she ducks out of Gourry's arms making her way through the crowd for Mariah. Gourry patiently waits as his wife, slowly makes her way to her baby. Her hands held her dresses' hem at bay, as she moved gracefully across the room, to their royal highnesses. The baby kicks and screams until Lina reaches her, and then cries bitterly to be removed. Lina smiles and cooing softly to the tiny child takes her into her own arms and pulls her into her chest. Hearing the heartbeat of someone familiar to her, Mariah calms down and whimpers into Lina's chest as she clings to her white satin dress. Lina kisses the black curls on the baby's head and quickly turns and walks to Gourry. The music had stopped as Lina excused herself from the dance floor. The people began to whisper and turn looking for their ambassador, and wondering where she was. When she returned bright eyed with a baby of black hair and purple eyes in her arms, the crowd went wild cheering. Everyone far and wide had heard that they now had a child, but except for the few glimpses when they exited the carriage, none had really caught sight of her. Lina walked quickly to Gourry, and Gourry pulled her close to his right side. Gourry raising his hand for silence, suddenly announces in a booming voice:

I'd like for everyone to welcome the newest member of the Gabriev family Mariah-

Suddenly the door of the castle flies open, and the winds pick up. Many women are knocked off their feet, and Lina would have been too, hand Gourry not shielded both mother and child from the strong winds. A hearty laugh is heard through the banquet hall, as all the lamps and torches as out.

Darkness, just like in my dream…Lina mutters to Gourry who is holding tight to her and Mariah. Everyone scattered about as a figure appears in the doorway of the banquet hall. Amelia and Zegaldis both armed with their swords stand in front of Lina/Gourry and the baby. Mariah suddenly begins to scream and Lina rocks her gently in her arms trying to soothe her as best she can. The man walks slowly to them and Gourry steps in front of Lina as well. Suddenly, the shadowed man lifts his arm and swishes it right. Zegaldis is picked up and thrown to the right like a simple rag doll. Amelia screams for her husband, but just as simply as Zegaldis was throw she was as well, to the left. All the protection Lina and the baby had now was Gourry. Gourry never left without his sword, so it was no surprise when he unleashed it from his hilt. The man threw back his head and laughed mockingly. He raced upon Gourry and before Gourry knew it, he was slapped to the right with Zegaldis. All that left was Lina and the baby. Lina backed into the corner and threw fireball after fireball at the shadow man but he merely brushed them off as if they were bugs. She began casting the feared Dragon slave when suddenly she felt something pulling her from behind. The wall had suddenly become like glue, and was dragging her slowly inside its depts. Just like the dream Lina though, just like the damned dream! Lina fought and struggled but couldn't break herself free. The shadow man came in front of her and stood before her laughing. Stretching out his hand he stroked her cheek gently. He then turned and deflected Gourry who was once again attacking. Gourry was thrown back and hit the wall with a terrible crunching sound. The shadow man then turned his attentions back to the mother and child. Reaching out his hand, he removed the baby from Lina's arms. The minute the child was released, Lina gave a deafening scream, causing the child to go into another frenzy of tears. The man simply laughed, and Lina lowered her head, in defeat. Tears raced down her face… no she couldn't be crying…. Not in the face of danger not in the face of HIM! Lina raised her face and gave a cry of battle pulling once again away from the wall. A little red light glowed on her forehead, as well as the baby and the man was cast back for a second and Lina was slightly freed from her goo prison. She pulled and pulled, the light glowing brightly on her and the baby's forehead until the man raised his hand and caused the glass to shatter across the room. The baby cried bitterly, and Lina howled in pain. She was then pulled back into the wall of terrible black goo. The man raised his hand and ran it across Lina's face causing both fear and anger to cascade over her eyes. Even though she was in no predicament to challenge the man before her, she spit in his face. His dark hand raised to his face and bitterly wiped off the nasty mess. Pulling back his hand he struck Lina across the face, and Lina's head turned sharply to the right. She saw her Gourry and Zegaldis lying on the floor, Zegaldis trying desperately to stop Gourry's bleeding forehead. Closing her eyes at the sight, she whispered to him.

Who are you?

The man simply replied,

Aside from your worse nightmare Ms. Inverse? I am Laad, and I've come… for my daughter.

Pulling his cape tightly around the screaming baby, he quickly and quietly stormed out of the Banquet hall. The doors were shut tightly around him, and the lights and walls returned back to normal, dropping Lina to the floor. She lay on the floor in a heap as the crowd rushed all around her. A few rushed to get Gourry a healer, other's rushed to call the guards, and still other's rushed out of the building. Some in a state of shocked even began picking the glass up off the floor. Many were around Lina as she lay in a state of shock and unknowing. Her baby was gone… her husband was dying… and she was totally helpless to stop it. She rolled over on her back struggling for breathe, and Zegaldis rushed over to her shaking her violently. She stared beyond him at the chandelier or crystal and gold. She knew what she needed to do to find the answer and a small smile crept across her face and then everything went black.

The room was dark when she finally woke up and her body ached terribly. The room was pitch black and the bed felt like a thousand knives hammering into her skin. She reached over for Mariah but found nothing but a laboring Gourry. His breathing was quick and forced and his skin extremely cold. Lina sat up and using one arm for support hovered over Gourry. She casted a light spell, and placed it close to his face. There was a gash that was slightly healed across his head and his golden locked were matted down with blood. The sight almost made her sick to her stomach and she looked away quickly allowing the light spell to go out. She reached her hand across his head and laid her fingers upon his wound. Using a healing spell and as much energy as she could muster, she tried to heal him. Lina knew he wasn't absorbing her energy because she could feel it bounce right back to her fingers. From the pale shade in his face, and the way he was breathing she knew if she didn't help him soon he would die. She sat up, and almost fell over from pain. Her skin stung whenever she moved, and it felt like toxins were destroying her. Ignoring the roaring pain, she leaned over him, and placed both her hands on his forehead. She forced more of the spell into his head but it just kept returning to Lina's fingers. L-Sama! She pleaded…. Please help me! Tears began to fall from her face to his, and her forehead began to glow gently. Her lips parted as she suddenly felt her spell take effect. Her mind was traveling miles a minute, to a place of both darkness and pain. She was no longer focused on Gourry she was focused on Mariah. She heard her… felt her, far, far away from here. Someone called out to her in a soft feminine voice. In the darkness of her mind, Lina saw a streak of brown and purple, and her eyes opened. Her hands fell to her sides and the red glow on her forehead disappeared. Gourry opened his eyes and sat up, just in time to catch Lina, who slumped forward onto him. Lina opened her eyes once more to see Gourry yelling at her, but then closed them again, after whispering.

The necklace.

And so… it begins. Mariah has been taken away, and the Lina Inverse...of all people… was too weak to stop it. But then again, what has this to do, with the necklace, found on the body of a skeleton at the bottom of the lake? It wasn't Rhina's necklace nor was it Mariah's. Stay tuned to find out! I'll update soon, only if you promise to review soon. Farewell!