Author's notes: It takes so long to write and so little to read. Anyway, enjoy! And remember, it takes me about 4xs as long to write the chapter as it does for you guys to read it.

Fatal Assumption

Amelia wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. She turned to the others outside of the barrier; they seemed to be planning something. All she could do was stand still and hope that she would be forgotten by the monster general who was taking his time in dealing with his fallen prey.

Norst's sword was pointed down at Xellos' head. The general had a twisted smile on his face that made Amelia feel queasy. If she didn't try anything, Xellos was going to die… She had to do something!

"Source of all souls which dwell in eternal and infinite. Everlasting flame of blue, let the power hidden in my soul be called forth from the Infinite..." she chanted under her breath. The spell needed to be strong. She needed to by her friends some time.

The monster general regarded her lightly.

"Still fighting are you? I must admit I expected you to have run away by now…"

There was a fire in Amelia's eyes as she focused the spell. With justice on her side, she could do anything! This monster wasn't going to defeat her or her companions of justice! Well, Xellos really wasn't a follower of justice, but after the battle with Dark Star, she was sure justice could make one exception.

"Ra-Tilt!" she shouted as the blue flame leapt forward. Norst smiled as he vanished from his place. The spell darted past and the general reappeared with his sword raised over Amelia.

"To slow!" he shouted bringing the weapon down. The princess was only just able to get her head out of the way, but the blade struck and entered her shoulder. Blood spattered everywhere and she cried out in pain before being flung to the ground.

Gourry swung at Norst with his enchanted sword, forcing the monster general back. Lina had broken through the barrier, and she was fast approaching with the Ragna Blade still in her hands. Milgazia appeared from behind the sorceress and went to rescue Amelia while Lina and Gourry faced down the monster general.

"Let's get him Gourry!" Lina said as she glanced sideways at her companion.

The swordsman nodded. "Yeah."

Norst smiled cruelly as the duo came at him. He focused on avoiding the Ranga Blade while he took out the sword in Gourry's hands. The swordsman watched dumbfounded as his sword flew across the battle field and landed far out of his reach.

Lina swung the Ragna Blade one more time, panting hard. Norst dodged it, and the spell dispersed. Before the monster general could use this to his advantage, Milgazia put up a barrier of his own, giving them a moment to regroup.

"How's… Amelia...?" Lina asked out of breath.

"I can heal her," Milgazia replied simply. His hands were up holding the barrier. "But not while I'm keeping this barrier…"

Norst took up his sword, and swung his blade at the barrier. Milgazia strained against the power of the monster general. One more hit, and the barrier would break.

"Hey Norst…" Xellos called weakly as he struggled back to his feet. His staff was in his hands, and he was using it to support himself. There was a large gaping hole in his being that nearly severed his arm. "Forgot me already…? You really are… too easily distracted."

The general watched his victim with a look of superiority. He turned away from the group behind the barrier and strode over to the weakened monster. With his sword in his hands, he smiled a devilish smile. This was what he had been waiting for. This was a glimpse of the old Xellos he wanted to see before the priest's demise.

Xellos glanced at Lina and she nodded slightly. The monster beamed at Norst before he reverted into his astral form and lunged. Norst was about to withdraw back into the astral plane to escape, but Xellos' being caught hold of him and held him in place.

"What do you think you're doing?" Norst demanded.

"You really are… too easily distracted," Xellos' voice repeated as Milgazia dropped the barrier and Lina came at the monster general with another Ranga Blade. The general had underestimated his opponents.

"Xellos you bastard!" he shouted before Lina's spell tore through him, and his being dissipated.

Filia had been watching from the safety of the mountainside. When she saw that the enemy monster had been defeated, she immediately left to rejoin the others… but something didn't feel right, and she soon discovered the reason why. Norst's form suddenly reappeared from below Lina, and the sorceress was caught unaware. She screamed as the monster's blade cut into her leg, but she managed to leap to the side before anymore damage could be done.

"Xellos made a nice shield," he taunted as he emerged from the ground. His eyes fell on Filia who stood off in the distance. His eyes narrowed and he readied his sword as he turned back to Lina who was clutching her wounded leg. Her hand was glowing. Soon she would be completely healed.

Gourry had retrieved his sword. He was prepared for another onslaught, and he had a serious look of determination on his face.

"You won't catch me off guard so easily this time."

Norst shot forward with his blade aimed at Lina, but Gourry intercepted. The two fought for a moment, and even Amelia who was barley conscious could hear the sound of metal clashing against metal. While Gourry was holding off Norst, Lina stood back and tried to form another plan. How could she defeat the Dark Lord Dynast's general?

Then suddenly the fighting stopped. The blond swordsman struck out with his blade and hit the monster through the neck when he saw that Norst was no longer attacking. Xellos' staff had appeared from the astral plane and impaled the monster general through the back. The general's head broke down and his body soon followed. Norst had finally been defeated.

"Yay Gourry!" Lina cheered as she hugged the swordsman from behind. "You did it!" When she realised that she was actually hugging the man, she pushed him away blushing. "What do you think you're doing idiot?"

"Huh?" Gourry said blinking in his confusion. "Hey Lina, where'd Xellos go?"

"How am I suppose to know?" Lina asked throwing up her arms. She took a good look at the battle field and saw the monster's staff lying uselessly on the ground.

Filia approached the group with Valgarv's egg still held safely in her possession. Milgazia was still healing Amelia, and Filia knelt down to assist him. The princess had been badly hurt, but her steady breathing was a sure sign that she was going to be alright.

Eventually Amelia's eyes fluttered open. She sat up and gazed at the people around her. Filia and Milgazia backed off to give her some space.

"Did we win?" she asked.

"Yeah," Lina replied carelessly. It had been no biggie for the all powerful sorceress; Lina Inverse.

The princess leapt up off the ground, suddenly brimming with energy. "I knew justice would triumph!" she announced happily.

"You should take it easy Amelia," Gourry suggested as he sheathed his sword that had lost its enchanted powers.

Xellos reappeared, startling everyone. His body was torn and beaten, and he had two large gouges running through him. One had been caused by Norst's sword, and the other had been inflicted by the Ranga Blade.

"Too much happiness…" he whined. "Headache.."

Amelia paled. "Oh Mr. Xellos! Are you alright?"

"I guess I did get him with the Ragna Blade…" Lina whispered to herself.

Xellos grimaced from his injuries, but managed a smile. For the first time in years, his mind had been clear. It had cost him a lot of energy, and he was in excruciating pain he was sure, but it had been worth it. His mind was already beginning to cloud over, but it had been worth it. The look he saw in Amelia's and Filia's face surprised him. Why did they look so worried?

"Mr. Xellos, you should really heal yourself," Amelia insisted.

"Can't yet," the monster replied. "Hurts…"

"What's that?" Gourry suddenly asked gesturing to the place Xellos' staff had been resting. All that was left was a few shattered remains of the once whole staff. It was breaking apart, and everyone stared as the remnants of the staff faded from existence.

Then Xellos began screaming. He clutched his face and stumbled backwards. Filia immediately went to him and put her arms around him. It did no good.

Amelia was about to prepare a recovery spell, but she wasn't sure what kind of effect it would have on the monster. She stopped herself and stood back. It was painfully clear that there wasn't anything she could do.

"What's wrong with Xellos?" Gourry asked Lina who was standing beside him.

Milgazia was suddenly behind them. After healing Amelia, he had gradually moved away from her and now he was standing near the duo.

"Surely you noticed his deteriorated state, especially when he was in his monster form."

"Huh? What do you mean?" The swordsman questioned.

Lina held her head. "The darkness that captured Norst before was Xellos' true form." She explained. "Didn't you see how much of him was missing?"

"Uh…" Gourry thought for a moment. It was a futile attempt. "No, not really."

The sorceress smacked him in the head. "Stupid jellyfish brains..." she grumbled.

"Ow Lina," Gourry whined. "What did I say?"

Milgazia sighed as he stood back and calmly watched the others. His home had been saved, and soon everything would be back to normal. At least that's what he could hope for.

More notes: Another fun chapter! I thought this one would give me trouble, but I was wrong. I wonder if I killed Norst off too quickly… Nahhh. He wasn't one of my favourites.