(Author's note: WARNING! Long read ahead!)
Martina tiredly urged her horse on, knowing it was more fatigued than her, but fearing to slow down to rest. Ever since she had been separated from Zangulus she had been pursued. She wasn't quite sure what was pursuing her, only that any time she stopped she heard things crashing through the nearby brush toward her. She knew it was only a matter of time before she reached Xoana, and hopefully safety, but she also knew that her horse was about to expire - her chances of reaching safety going with it.
As she entered open land, Martina finally gave up and tugged on her horse's reins, allowing it to finally rest. She kept alert for any indication of approaching danger...
Silence.
Martina turned her head down the path she and her horse had come, looking for any sign of life.
Not a single thing, human, animal, or otherwise was to be seen.
This did nothing to calm Martina. If anything, she was all the more disturbed by the deathly silence. Even her horse refused to graze, its ears and eyes also on the alert for anything.
"Where did they go?" Martina whispered, taking small comfort in hearing herself talk. At least she knew her hearing was still good.
"That, Miss Martina, depends on who you are looking for." A voice came from nowhere.
Martina jerked up in her saddle. "Who's there?" She felt a horrible feeling of dread when a familiar face materialized before her. "You! I never wanted to see you again! Xellos, what are you doing here?" Martina gripped her reins, ready to bolt.
Xellos smiled at her and bowed. "Miss Martina, you are so suspecting of one who has never done you any harm." He tsked her.
Martina swallowed nervously. "That may be so, but you're one of them. You and your kind are horrible, awful things! It makes me sick to think I ever associated with one!" Martina made a face of disgust.
Xellos continued to smile. "That may be true, but I cannot deny what I am. Still, it's not nice to speak so poorly of others. Why, you might start a war, Miss Martina."
Martina unconsciously pulled back on her horse's reins, causing it to back away from Xellos. "What do you want with me?"
Xellos looked down at Martina, seemingly in shock. "Me?" He placed his hand on his chest, as if insulted. "I want nothing from you. Aside from your cooperation."
"My...cooperation?" Martina looked at Xellos in shock. "I would never willingly help you!"
"Oh, I know that." Xellos grinned. "Which is why I'll dispose of you first." He then lunged forward, driving his staff toward Martina.
Martina let out a shrill cry as she tugged on her horse to flee, but Xellos was too fast! Just as he was about to deal her the killing blow...
"Ra Tilt!"
Xellos was enveloped in a blue pillar of light, giving Martina time to put some distance between them. She looked back to see who had cast the spell, suddenly feeling elation. "Lina! Gourry! Darling!" Martina leapt from her horse's saddle and dashed to her husband, hugging him tightly.
"Glad we made it in time, Martina, but you're going to have to stay out of this." Lina motioned for Martina to stay behind Lina and the others, out of the ensuing battle. Martina and Zangulus both obeyed.
Zelgadis held onto his spell for as long as he could, until it finally ran out. He scowled to see Xellos was still very much alive. "You don't know when to quit." He spat.
Xelllos drooped down for a moment, before regaining his composure and standing back up to face the interlopers. "I am merely following orders, whereas you continue to stick your nose in places it does not belong." Xellos opened his eyes and looked directly at Lina.
"Hey!" Lina stepped forward, her fist balled up, "You're the one who threatened me of all people, after trying to off people I know and love! Did you really expect me to turn tail and run like a coward? I'll admit that I am only human, and that many others might have done as you wished, but that's just not my style." She glared back at Xellos in defiance, Gourry stepping up alongside her, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Xellos did not reply.
The silence emboldened Lina. "We've come to take back what's ours, and there's no way you're going to stop us."
"Where is she, Xellos?" Zelgadis also stepped forward to lend his support.
"You already know where Miss Amelia is," Xellos answered cheerily, "but if you mean that pathetic excuse for matter..." Xellos pointed behind Lina's group. "She and the others are waiting for you."
Everyone turned behind them to see the phony princess - with a huge army behind her. The princess smiled evilly back at the group.
"So many people..." Sylphiel, who had been standing near Martina and Zangulus, gasped.
Lina couldn't help but feel overwhelmed for a moment herself, staring down more than 500 men in full-plate armor, swords drawn and ready for battle. "What did you do?" Lina gasped.
Xellos fazed out, reappearing next to the princess. "I do not think I need to tell you that. You already know yourself, Miss Lina." Xellos seemed to be enjoying the fear he could feel radiating from the group, content to bask in it for a while.
"No, you couldn't have...it's just wrong!" Lina stepped back, not wanting to think about her suspicions being true.
"What did he do, Lina?" Zelgadis glanced over at her warily, not wanting to take his eyes from Xellos for long.
"All of those soldiers...look at them! They're still wearing the emblems of Seyruun and Xoana, even now." Lina seemed to be in a daze.
"But they're...they are all...gone." Sylphiel put her hand over her mouth in shock.
"What?" Zelgadis wasn't quite sure what they meant.
"They're all dead, Mister Zelgadis. He must have done the same to them as he did to me!" Amelia practically shouted, causing Zelgadis to wince.
"You used Amelia as a test, didn't you?" Zelgadis glared at Xellos, who tipped his head slightly in response. "You sick... And after you realized you could take over human bodies, you did it again."
Lina nodded her head in agreement. "But why, Xellos?"
"I thought the answer would be easy." Xellos smirked. "True we have more power when humans work with us, but this way I could avoid their better natures shining through, so to speak." Xellos grimaced slightly. "Now they obey totally and completely, with no personal wants of their own. The perfect beings to do the dirty work, don't you think?" He smirked again.
Lina and the rest could only stare in shock.
"Well then, now that that's out of the way, be good little humans for once and die." Xellos frowned as he held his staff out, dropping his arm to signal his army. The soldiers began to charge en masse at the small group.
"Lina, what do we do!" Martina screeched as she and Zangulus again ran behind Lina's group.
Lina turned to Sylphiel, ignoring Martina. "Sylphiel, they're all dead, right?"
Sylphiel nodded. "They're nothing more than animated corpses, although they probably have more will than a zombie."
Lina turned her attention back to the approaching army and smiled. "Good, then I don't have to feel guilty about this. Sylphiel, I'm going to need your help if we're to survive this many enemies at once. Everyone else, get back!"
Sylphiel nodded and dashed to Lina's side, joining in as Lina began to chant.
"This is it, isn't it?" Amelia sounded worried.
Zelgadis gave a slight nod as he watched Lina and Sylphiel.
"Mister Zelgadis, I'm sorry. I never knew it would turn out like this."
Zelgadis balked. "Amelia, save it for now. We'll talk when this is all over, okay?" He grinned when he felt her mood lighten.
"Right! Be careful, Mister Zelgadis. I won't be able to help you."
Zelgadis gave a slight smile, then braced himself.
"DRAGON SLAVE!" Lina and Sylphiel cast simultaneously, causing a massive explosion within the center of the army. Everyone was pushed back by the power of the spell. They waited for the dust to settle, to see what remained.
Even before the dust settled, stragglers from the decimated army came out, still intent on attacking Lina and her crew despite the major blow they had just been dealt.
"Gourry! Zelgadis! You too, Zangulus! Get up there and take care of them!" Lina commanded, already preparing to cast another spell. There were still many more soldiers to defeat, but she didn't want to overexert herself just yet.
"Gourry!" Zelgadis called out as he cast an Astral Vine on his sword. When Gourry approached he also cast the spell on Gourry's sword. "That'll help. Good luck, Gourry."
Gourry grinned back. "Thanks, and to you as well."
The two swordsmen then charged into the thick of the soldiers, easily taking them down with their enhanced blades.
Chaos was everywhere as everyone fought tooth and nail to defeat the army. Although heavily armored, they were no match for Gourry's skill and Lina's spells. Within a matter of minutes only Lina's group stood.
"You may want to rethink your belief about the human spirit, Xellos." Lina spat dirt out of her mouth as she scowled at the Monster.
Xellos backed away from the group, keeping the princess close to his side. "Impressive as always, Miss Lina, but they did succeed in one thing. You are basically spent and won't be a challenge for me to destroy. No hard feelings, of course." He grinned.
"Ra Tilt!"
Suddenly the clearing was filled with horrible laughter, causing everyone to grip their heads in pain.
"Of all the timing in the world, she had to choose now to make her entrance." Lina grumbled to herself.
Xellos staggered forward, twice now being caught in the same spell. He looked to the source of the offending laugh. "You! How did you survive!"
"Oh ho ho ho! You dared to underestimate Naga the White Serpent!" Gracia, again decked out in her infamous battle bikini laughed down at the stunned Monster from her perch atop a tree branch. She then launched herself from the tree, landing gracefully on the ground below.
"Why does everyone do that? Is it a family thing?" Zelgadis muttered, getting bad vibes from Amelia in return.
"Nice to see you alive and laughing, Naga." Lina winced, but then turned her attention back to Xellos. "I don't know how much you know about my partner here," Lina gestured to Gracia, who puffed her chest out proudly, "but she's nearly as good as me when it comes to spellcasting. If you want to live, you better back off. Now."
Xellos tried to maintain his footing, but he was finding it difficult. He hung his head, having not wanted to do what he now knew he must. He looked back to Lina. "I know the situation looks dire, but you are foolish to underestimate me." Having said this, he took his staff and drove it through the princesses' gut.
The princess let out a small gasp of shock as she crumpled to the ground. But even as she perished, Xellos seemed to recover his strength.
"Oh!" Amelia gave her own gasp of shock, and then Zelgadis felt her forced from him. "No!" Zelgadis lunged forward, but was held back by Gourry.
"That does it. You're going down, Xellos!" Lina screamed with rage, Gourry dashing forward to clash with Xellos.
While Lina and Gourry worked to take out Xellos, Zelgadis staggered forward in shock. He looked about, frantically trying to see what had happened to Amelia.
(Perspective change...)
Amelia shook her head in an attempt to clear it, having suddenly been jerked out into the world again. She looked down on the battle knowing she should be feeling worried and excited at the same time, but instead she felt...peace? She watched on with interest as Sylphiel and Gracia tended to her body far below.
"Amelia."
Amelia jerked up. That voice. Could it be? Was it possible?
"My dear daughter." The voice called again.
Amelia turned around to see her father standing before her. She dashed to him and jumped into his open arms. "Daddy! Daddy, you're okay! I was so worried! I missed you!" She cried into his shoulder.
"It's okay, my daughter, I am well." Phil silently comforted Amelia, rocking her back and forth as he held her.
Amelia continued to cry, too overcome with seeing her father again to speak. She stopped when she felt another presence nearby. One she had not felt for a long time...
"My beautiful little girl has grown up." A voice spoke, much calmer and sweeter than Phil's.
Amelia raised her head, looking up with wonder. She studied the woman a moment before lunging forward to embrace her as well. "Mommy!"
"Shh, it's okay, Amelia. I'm here." Her mother hugged her back while Phil looked on.
"I never thought I would see you again," Amelia sobbed. "I've missed you so much!"
"It's all right, I know. I know." Her mother stroked the hair on Amelia's head.
"Amelia," Phil placed his hand on her back to get her attention, "you need to make a choice."
Amelia looked up at her father in confusion. "A choice? What do you mean?"
Phil gestured to the battle still taking place below, specifically to the two women trying valiantly to save a life. "If you do not return to them soon, your body will die."
"I have to go back?" Amelia looked down at the people who seemed so far below.
"You don't have to if you don't want to, Amelia." Her mother spoke in a soothing voice. "You can choose to pass on if you wish."
"I have to choose? What should I do?" Amelia wondered. She knew she should go back to her friends, but the love and peace she felt felt better than anything she had experienced in a long time. And to finally see her mother and father again...
"Princess Amelia." Another voice spoke up.
Amelia looked up and gasped, letting go of her mother so she could fall to her knees. "Lord Rezo!"
Rezo knelt down and grasped onto her hand, pulling Amelia back up to her feet. "Princess, please, I am not one to be revered. I did many unforgivable things during my life," his gaze rested on his grandson far below, "some I can never expect to be forgiven for. But you, you were able to help my grandson in ways I never could. If he loses you, I fear he may turn down the path that I did." Rezo hung his head.
"Lord Rezo..." Amelia could see the deep remorse on his face.
"Your Highness, he is right."
Amelia looked up to see two men standing before her, the older one bowing down to her. "Who are you?"
"You never knew us while we lived, your Highness. I am Rodimus, and this is Zolf." Rodimus continued to bow. "We worked for Lord Zelgadis long before he met you. He is our friend."
Zolf stepped forward. "What Rodimus is trying to say is that we've seen you two together, and we were overjoyed to again see Master Zelgadis being more...human, I guess. He was our superior, but he still treated us as friends. When we died I feared what would become of him, but then he met you."
"Me? But I..." Amelia looked back to her parents.
Phil smiled. "They all need you, my daughter. You give them hope."
Amelia shook her head. "No, Miss Lina does that. They don't need me for that..." She watched her friends.
"Who do you think helps give her courage?" Amelia's mother placed her hand on Amelia's shoulder. "Also, look at your sister. She has been lost for so many years, and now she is struggling with what she must do. We can no longer help her, but you still have that choice. Gracia needs you, Amelia."
"But it's going to hurt to go back..." Amelia felt tears come to her eyes. She looked up at all the people asking so much of her, suddenly spying a man and a woman standing far off from the rest. They gave her silent looks of pleading. Amelia felt her heart soften as she realized who they were.
Amelia stood up a bit taller as if to show she could accomplish everything. "You're right. You're all right. I'm still needed, so I have to go back. But, umm...how do I do that?"
Phil smiled. "You have already made your choice, so it's just a matter of time."
Amelia returned to her parents and hugged them both. "I'm going to miss you."
"My dear daughter, we never left your side. We will always be here, watching over you." Phil smiled down at Amelia.
"Amelia, please let your sister know. She needs to know that she never lost us." Amelia's mother waited for Amelia to nod her head. "Good girl. I'm so proud of you."
Amelia gave one last look to all the people around her, and then everything went dark...
("Let's end this...")
Xellos leaned heavily on his staff for support as he glared at his opponents. "Perhaps it was foolish to expect to defeat you so easily."
"Gee, you think?" Lina glared as she tried to catch her breath. "Compared to Shabranigdo, you're easy, Xellos." Lina smirked when she saw Xellos falter even more.
With a cry, Gourry lunged forward, causing Xellos to defend with his staff. Gourry kept coming at Xellos again and again, keeping Xellos on the defensive.
"It's time to end this." Lina steeled herself for one last spell, concentrating on it fully, knowing that Gourry would keep Xellos too busy to retaliate. She smiled when she felt the energy course through her, using as much concentration as possible to refine the spell. "You should have never attacked us, Xellos."
"Gourry! Move!" Lina leapt forward to replace where Gourry had just been, yelling, "Ragna Blade!" Xellos could only look on in horror as the magic sword came down on him, cleaving him in half.
Xellos gave out a cry of utter agony before he disappeared, leaving nothing behind. Even his staff crumbled to nothing.
Lina came crashing down to the earth, sucking in air like there was no tomorrow.
Gourry also fell down to his knees before sitting down on the ground. "Is it over?"
Lina closed her eyes, enjoying just laying on the ground. "Yeah...it's over..."
Gourry glanced over to where Gracia and Sylphiel were still casting Resurrection on Amelia. Zelgadis was now over there hovering nearby, worry etched in his features. "Maybe not."
"Mm?" Lina asked from her prostrate position.
"They're still working on Amelia," Gourry pointed across the battlefield, even though Lina wasn't looking.
Lina groaned in protest as she raised her head to see where Gourry was pointing. "Come on, Amelia..." She made to get up, but was too worn out from using her large spells.
Without a word Gourry got up and picked Lina up off the ground, then carried her over to join the others. He gently sat her on the ground before she could regain the strength to retaliate. Lina smiled at him in thanks.
"How is she?" Lina asked Zelgadis, knowing Sylphiel and Gracia were too preoccupied to hear her.
"I don't know," Zelgadis shook his head. "She was with me one moment, and then...gone." He looked down at the body laying on the ground in apathy. Without that spark of life, it really was nothing more than an empty shell.
Sylphiel and Gracia both suddenly gasped, stopping their spells.
"What happened?" Zelgadis was instantly on alert again.
"She's back." Sylphiel smiled.
Gracia stood up to leave just then.
"Hey, where are you going?" Lina asked, confused.
"I don't want her to see me just yet." Gracia said, indicating her state of dress.
Lina bit her tongue, but then replied, "She's not going to care, Naga. Besides, she already saw you wearing it before." She grinned when she got a nervous look in return. "I'll let Amelia tell you herself."
Zelgadis meanwhile had moved over to Amelia's side, watching and waiting. His heart leapt when she finally opened her eyes and smiled up at him. Before anything could be said he picked her up off the ground and held her against him, not wanting to lose her again.
Amelia leaned into him, feeling very drained from her whole ordeal, wanting nothing more than to sleep. However, something nagged at the back of her brain. "Gracia?" She turned her head to search through the crows of people around her, "Where's my sister?"
Gracia came forward, looking very nervous. "I'm here, little sister."
Lina would have laughed at how meek Naga was being if she hadn't realized the gravity of the situation.
Amelia indicated for Zelgadis to set her down, which he did. Amelia staggered a bit on her feet, but managed to walk up to Gracia, finally reaching out to grab Gracia's arm for support, and also to be able to reach her ear. A look of surprise and then serenity crossed Gracia's face as Amelia whispered in her ear.
The two were quiet a moment until Amelia released Gracia's arm and wobbled a bit more. Zelgadis again lifted Amelia off her feet to let her rest. "What did you say to her?" Zelgadis asked quietly.
Amelia smiled, "Just something she needed to hear". Then with a yawn Amelia rested her head against Zelgadis' shoulder and fell asleep.
Lina sighed from her seat on the ground. "Amelia's got the right idea. Let's get out of here, guys." She tried to stand, but was still unable to get up. Gourry quickly stepped in and picked her up off the ground, intent on carrying her.
Gracia smirked. "Looks like Lina finally found her prince, after all."
"Shut up!" Lina shook her fist at Gracia. "Let's just go already."
"Where are we going to go, Lina?" Gourry looked down at Lina for an answer.
Martina finally stepped forward. "Come to Xoana. It's not that far away. After what you all did, it's the least I can do for you." She glanced up at Gracia. "We need to smooth some things out between our kingdoms still as well."
Gracia's face suddenly flushed. "Oh, right! Are you Queen Martina then?" At Martina's nod Gracia glanced down at her clothing. "Let me go grab my things, first. Seyruun's reputation is already suffering enough as is. They don't need to know their ruler has an alter ego."
"You and every other member of the family," Lina scoffed.
Gracia just tossed her hair over her shoulder in response before dashing off to become more decent. Everyone then proceeded toward Xoana...
(Is this the end?)
"Lina Inverse saves the day again. How typical." Zelas Metallium tapped her fingers against her arm rest. "Although, I must commend you for an excellent death scene, Xellos."
"A-anything to serve you, my Master." Xellos would have bowed if he were able, but he was barely back together as is. "Still, why did you pull back?"
Zelas smirked. "Even I know when to quit. That Inverse girl and her companions are a particularly powerful bunch of humans. I've a feeling no matter what we do that they would always step forward to defeat us. Better to let them think they've won so we can recoup and recover." She said this last part to Xellos, who gave a dry laugh.
"Yes, Master."
Zelas smiled at her minion. He truly was good at his work. "Besides, we've thrown the mighty kingdom of Seyruun into chaos. It will take them time to recover, if ever. That girl is an odd one." She again tapped her fingers boredly against her arm rest. "Also, humans are incredibly short-lived. It will seem a mere wink of the eye before Lina Inverse and her comrades are dead, and then nobody will be able to stop us."
Xellos grinned.
"Oh, and Xellos?" Zelas looked down at her minion. "Be sure never to show yourself to any of them again. We can't have them getting suspicious."
"Understood, my Master." Xellos again bowed his head since he could not bow anything else.
"Excellent. Now go and fully heal yourself. I want you ready for your next mission."
"As you wish, Master." Xellos gave one last slight bow before vanishing, leaving the room in darkness.
(It is! It's the end!)
Author's notes: Gasp, shock, and amazement...it's over! I'm amazed at how long it's taken me to get this out, so a special thank you to everyone who's been following this story all along! I'll admit this didn't close with a definite ending, but what's the point in tying up all the loose ends (especially when it'll drag the story out more?)
At this time I have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in continuing this story arc, so please don't ask. I'm ready to move on to stories that are a bit brighter, and that don't exclude people from the fic itself (if not the majority of the cast). If anyone else feels inclined to continue off of this story, by all means, have fun!
As for this chapter itself, I've been plotting this ending for so long now, yet it still didn't turn out how I had thought. Not that that's bad. I think the story flows well enough as is. I'll apologize to the Xellos fans who might feel slighted since Xellos was 'killed' so easily. But you have to remember, powerful as he is, he is still only the minion to a Dark Lord, so he's bound to be defeated sooner or later. (Not to mention you can battle against him in the SuperFamicom game - and win, with just four people against him.)
Oh goodness, speaking of games, this fic should be known as "The story inspired by Slayers Royal!" When I sat down to write this chapter I realized I never really said what sword Gourry was using, and even now I'm still a bit at a loss. But, since Martina and Zangulus (who only show up in the anime) are in this fic, I figure this story takes place some time after TRY, and fans will recall at the end of that series Gourry had just a regular sword. Zelgadis casting Astral Vine on Gourry's sword was taken from Slayers Royal. The game makers were EVIL and would not let you use Gourry's Sword of Light during battles (in fact the only time it shows up is in one of the last movie sequences, the cheaters), so if Gourry were to be useful against Lesser Demons and Mazoku, you would have to have Zelgadis enchant his sword so it will actually do damage. I did not make it up!
As for the scene with Amelia encountering all those people... I am of the believe that people do not just disappear after death. (Heck, animals too, but I wasn't going to stick in a random pet.) Also, I already left Gracia a wreck as is, so I wanted Amelia to be able to have something to comfort her. Wouldn't you feel much better about losing a loved one if you found out they still existed in some form?
As for the man and woman who were standing apart from the group...let's just say that Zelgadis isn't nearly as alone as he might think. (Yes, they were his mother and father.)
Oh goodness, one story done, one more to finish. Yep! I've been working on a "top secret" fanfic on the side, and I will begin to post it shortly. It won't take nearly so long to finish as this one since it is almost done. ..yet it's still almost as long as this one. (I ask for pain...)
Be on the lookout for "M is for Monster"!