Chapter 21: The Journey Goes Onward
"Hey, what gives?" Lina gave her protector a puzzled look. "Why are you stopping?"
"I can't hear the monster anymore," Gourry replied. Lina listened quietly and realized he was right. The sound of the monsters footfalls had vanished.
"Did we out run it?"
"I don't think so," he said, looking troubled. "We haven't been running for very long."
"Then what-"
"Shhh!" He suddenly shushed her. "Listen," he hissed. The from somewhere in the distance, the sounds of fighting reached their ears.
"I need to get a better view," she muttered. Leaping out of Gourry's arms, she scampered up a nearby out cropping of rock, Gourry close on her heels (or whatever the cat equivalent is).
Off in the distance, she could see the monster was fighting… something. Whoever its opponents were, they were too far away to make out.
A dragon golem suddenly emerged out of a cliff face near the fighting. It took flight for a few moments before colliding with the monster. Lina lost sight of both of them as they disappeared beneath the treetops. For a few moments, the forest was filled with dead silence.
There was a blinding a flash of light as a pillar of blue-white flames shot up from the spot where monster and golem had disappeared.
"Whoa!" Gourry exclaimed, sheilding his eyes with one arm, "What was that?"
Lina stared, dumbfounded. "It looked like a Ra Tilt, but I've never seen one that big before!" Then it clicked. "Oh, I get it."
"What Lina?"
"Remember how when we fought Copy Rezo, Zel and Amelia cast two Ra Tilts at once?"
"I think so…" he stroked his chin.
"Well, what we saw just now was the same thing," she explained.
"Oh. So that's Amelia and Zelgadis who're fighting that thing?"
"Probably. And if we're lucky, that spell will have finished it off." No sooner had she finished syaing that, the monster reemerged from the treetops, completely unharmed.
Gourry scratched his head and grinned ruefully. "I guess we're not lucky."
"No kidding," Lina muttered under her breath. "C'mon Gourry. Let's go find them."
"Astral Vine," Zelgadis whispered. His sword hummed and glowed red with infused magical energy.
"Lafas Seed!" Amelia pointed a the monster. Glowing magical ropes appeared out of thin air, wrapping themselves around the creature's legs.
Zelgadis charged, sword at the ready, taking advantage of its immobile state. However, even though the monster's legs were trapped, Amelia had forgotten to bind its wings. Zelgadis skidded to a halt as it hovered safely above him. The monster stretched its legs, causing the ropes to snap like so much thread.
Suddenly it stopped flapping, pulling its wings close to its body. With nothing left to hold it up, it began to fall. Straight towards him.
There was no time to get out of the way, it was to close to the ground. So Zelgadis did the only thing he could think of: he launched himself upwards.
The monster, clearly not expecting this, had no time to change course. Zelgadis felt rather than saw his sword stab something soft. Judging from the monster's howl of pain, he had most likely hit a tender spot. But there was no time to celebrate. Something big and heavy slammed into his side.
"Mr. Zelgadis!" Amelia's eyes widened with horror as the monster recoiled and kicked out reflexively, knocking the chimera halfway across the clearing where he hit the ground with a dull thud. For a moment he didn't move.
Then he sat up with a groan. She breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. She moved to heal him, but he stopped her. "It's not that bad Amelia," he said, casting a Recovery on himself. "I'll be fine."
She redgarded him for a moment before turning to face the creature once again. "Fiend!" she shrieked, pointing angrily. "Prepare to face my Hammer of Justice!" Zelgadis rolled his eyes. Typical Amelia battle cry.
She charged at the monster, and it in turn charged out to meet her head on. "Levitation!" The spell carried her upwards over its head in a graceful arc. She flipped in midair for good measure, before casting another spell. "Burst Rondo!" Bolts of white energy rained down on it. Amelia landed less than gracefully a few feet away. But she wasn't finished.
"Dynast Bras!" A glowing red pentagram surrounded the creature as lightning rained down it. It took a moment for the smoke to clear, but Zelgadis wasn't holding his breath. If the monster could take two Ra Tilts at once and live, than it would have no problem surviving an attack like that. But he was sure Amelia knew that.
Already he could see from the rapid movement of her lips she was well into chanting another spell. I see. So she's using the time the monster takes to heal itself to cast another spell, he thought. Judging by the length, it would probably be something big too.
But the monster was too quick for her. Not bothering to finish it healing itself, it spewed a stream of the white liquid at her. Amelia's eyes widened. She wasn't finished chanting yet! Frantically she tried moving out of the way, but the range was was too wide. In seconds she was cocooned in white goop.
At first, finding a way to where the fighting was happening proved to be more difficult than either Lina or Gourry or expected. The part of the forest that lay between them and there was extremely thick ad filled with treacherous roots and underbrush.
But then they had a stroke of luck. The monsters bulk and weight had cut a large swathe of flattened trees and underbrush wherever it walked.
Lina and Gourry surveyed the carnage in front of them. "And people say I'm destructive," Lina muttered.
"Still, this is good, right?" Gourry commented. "I mean, now we've got clear rad leading straight to it."
"I suppose you're right," she sighed. "C'mon, let's-"
"Oooooohhohohohohohoh!" Naga laughed at them from atop a small boulder, then only unflattened object in the vicinity. "Well, it seems that once again you're in need of my help, Lina Inverse!"
"What're you talking about?!" Lina growled, her tail swishing back and forth in annoyance. Gourry relayed it to her.
Naga smirked, and help up the notebook. "I have the counterspell you want," she said, her tone gloating, "But there's no such thing as a free lunch, so I can't just give it to you."
"Just get to the point Naga!" (Gourry translated again obviously).
"I'd be glad to perform it for you…. Provided you treat me to dinner of course." Naga didn't need Gourry to understand the furious hissing and spitting that was Lina's response.
"Whoa, calm Lina!" Gourry tried to restrain, and was rewarded painfully for his efforts.
"Damn you Naga!" Lina spat. "Alright, fine! I'll treat you to dinner! Just cast the damn spell already!"
As Naga made the appropriate preparations, Lina turned to her protector. "Gourry," she said quietly, "I want you to go ahead. We'll catch up to you when we're finished."
He frowned. "But Lina-"
"There's no point in you sticking around here," she cut him off. "And Zel and Amelia could probably use your help."
"Alright," he said reluctantly.
"Oh, and leave my clothes here," she added. He nodded again, and set down the cloth bundle he'd been carrying. Then he squatted down and scratched her affectionately behind the ears.
"Be careful," he said quietly.
Lina looked flustered by this sudden display of affection. "Uh, same to you too." He left.
It took a few minutes for Naga to finish preparing the magical circle. If Lina had taken the time to look at it more closely, she might have had the same doubts Zelgadis did. But she was eager to turn back to normal again, so she took no notice of it.
It took another ten minutes or so to actually perform the spell, and then for Lina to get dressed (what? Did you really think she would go into battle naked?).
When they finally finished, both she and Naga Ray Winged their way to the battlefield. Naga in the meantime brought Lina up to speed on what had been happening. "You know Lina," Naga remarked, smiling a little, "This reminds me of when we used to travel together."
Lina laughed in spite of herself. "I know. Pretty crazy times, weren't they?" The nostalgia suddenly gave her an idea as she remembered a past adventure. "Hey Naga, land for a minute, I have an idea."
"What is it Lina?" Naga touched down, looking confused. "Why are we landing?" Lina didn't answer, instead licking her finger to test the wind.
"Lina?" The sorceress in question turned and positioned her self carefully in front of Naga. A horrified expression crossed her self-proclaimed rival's face. "Wait, Lina, you aren't going to-" Too late.
"Bom Di Wind!" Naga hurtled out off sight towards the battlefield. Lina grinned. "Good luck Naga!" she hollered after her. "Try not to get killed or anything!" She cast another Ray Wing and followed.
"Amelia!" Zelgadis could only watch as she was buried completely under the white paste. He started running for her, but the monster blocked his path. He glared at it. "Damn you!" He started casting a spell, but the monster swiped its tail at him before he could finish. Damn! He thought, jumping to avoid it. If I don't get her out of there fast, she's going to suffocate! And with no air, she wouldn't be chant spells in there either.
The monster seemed to realize this and was make every effort to stop him. Whenever Zelgadis moved for her, it matched him to block his. He clenched his teeth in frustration. He needed to some thing fast!
"Lighting!" Zelgadis shut his eyes as he directed the flash of light at the monsters face. A howl of agony told him the spell had found its mark. Opening his eyes, Zelgadis made mad dash for Amelia.
"Aqua Create!" he aimed the jet of water at what he hoped was her head. Relief washed over him as he heard the sound of coughing and sputtering. He wasn't too late! He glanced at the monster. It was still blinking its eyes, trying to clear its vision.
"Aqua Create!" He shot another stream of water at her. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he yanked her free. "Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.
She blinked, looking disoriented. "My leg hurts…" she groaned. He glanced down. Her left leg looked broken. Suddenly her eyes widened. "Behind you!" He turned around just in time to see the monster charging them again.
His reflexes just barely saved them as he grabbed her unceremoniously and leapt out of the way.
"Get back," he told her, whirling around to face the beast again, thinking fast. The beast was currently standing between him and his sword, which lay on the other side of the clearing. Rapidly he chanted a spell. "Elmekia Flame!" Not bothering to see what effect it had, he sprinted towards his blade. Grabbing it off the ground, he hastily cast Astral Vine.
The monster charged at him again. Zelgadis simply stood there, sword poised. Closer…Suddenly he lunged, slashing at its leg with all his might. That won't stop it for long, but it might slow it down for a minute.
He chanted another spell. "Astral Break!" A bolt of white energy hit the monster in the chest. It didn't even flinch. Within seconds, it had healed itself and was ready for another attack.
Zelgadis braced himself for another one of its charges. Only it never came. The monster howled with pain. As it thrashed about, Zelgadis saw that the mace-like clump of spikes on the tip of its tail had been cut off.
"You shouldn't wave that thing around," a familiar voice said nonchalantly. "Someone could get hurt."
"Mr. Gourry!" Amelia cried happily. The blond swordsman stood behind the monster, Blast Sword in hand.
"Took you long enough," Zelgadis quipped. Gourry grinned sheepishly. Suddenly they heard a high pitched shrieking sound on the wind, slowly getting closer… They all looked up. Naga landed feet-first on Zelgadis' face.
"Oooooohohohohohohoh!" Everyone, even the monster, winced. Naga, apparently not aware of what she was standing on, thrust out an arm to point at the monster. "It seems that once again you have made the foolish mistake of challenging the Great Naga!"
"Gracia! You're standing on Mr. Zelgadis' face!" If Naga heard her sister, she gave no sign of it. Nevertheless, she leapt onto the ground. Zelgadis rubbed his face.
"Ow…"
"Elmekia Lance!" The monster easily dodged her attack. It leapt into the air, and then launched itself down at them again.
"Bom Di Wind!" Zelgadis' spell managed to knock it off course, causing it to land harmlessly a few feet away.
"Hyah!" Gourry charged at it, sword drawn. It swung its tail at him, but he leapt over it like a little girl skipping rope. Gourry drove his sword deep into its wing and then yanked it out. An ordinary sword wouldn't have affected it. Luckily the Blast Sword wasn't ordinary. The monster roared and tucked the injured wing in close to its body.
Gourry rushed over to rejoin Zelgadis and Naga. "That thing's not so tough."
"Don't get over confident Gourry," Zelgadis warned. "It can heal itself."
"What?" Gourry looked startled. "It can do that?!" The monster took advantage of the distraction to take a cheap swing at them with its tail.
"Vas Grood!" The monsters tail bounced off the White Magic shield. Zelgadis glanced behind him. Amelia gave him the v for victory sign.
"So if it can heal itself, how do we beat it?" Gourry asked quietly.
"We'd probably have to kill it in one shot," Zelgadis explained.
"And since it survived two Ra Tilts at once, the only one who can do that is Miss Lina," Amelia, who was done healing herself, finished. She frowned. "Where is Miss Lina anyways?"
"After we ran into her," Gourry pointed at Naga, "she told me to go on ahead while she got un-spelled." They gave Naga a questioning glance, waiting for her to say what happened next. She never got the chance.
"GRAAA!" The monster charged at them again.
"Why does it always use the same tactics over and over again?" Amelia complained as they scattered.
"Because that's what bad strategists do," Zelgadis panted, running alongside her. "They don't change their strategy as long as it keeps working."
Suddenly the monster took the air. Zelgadis and Amelia braced themselves for it to hurtle itself down at them. Only it didn't. Instead, the monster continued to rise upwards, getting smaller and smaller as it got higher and higher.
The two of them exchanged baffled looks. Had it heard them?
"Is it running away?" Gourry sounded equally confused, even for him.
"Well, let's go after it!" Naga said impatiently. "Ray Wing!" She rose into the air, Amelia and Zelgadis right behind her.
"Hey!" Gourry called out after them. "Don't leave me behind!" But they were too high up to hear him.
"Who's leaving you behind?" Gourry whirled around.
"Lina!" She grinned.
"So what've I missed?" Gourry explained it to her. She was surprised that he'd actually managed to remember that much.
"Hmmm," she looked upwards, thinking. Suddenly, Zelgadis and Amelia came plummeting out the sky. They hit the ground with a dull thud.
Lina's eye widened. "Zel! Amelia!" She and Gourry rushed over to their fallen friends. A moment later, Naga touched down next to them.
"Move over!" She shoved Lina forcefully aside, and knelt down beside them, casting a spell.
Lina was surprised. "You know Resurrection?"
"Of course. I was a Seyruun priestess too you know," was the curt reply.
Boom! The monster landed with a heavy thud, ready for more.
"Well Gourry, it looks like it's up to us," Lina said, standing up.
Gourry followed suit. "It sure does Lina." For moment, neither made a move. Then, as one, they charged.
"Flare Bit!" Lina unleashed her spell, and the monster was bombarded by a volley of a dozen or so balls of light. They lost sight of the monster as it was shrouded in smoke. Lina knew the spell wouldn't hurt it more than a tickle. Luckily that wasn't her goal.
"Hah!" As the smoke began to dissipate, Gourry charged, plunging the Blast Sword into its side. The monster screeched. Gourry yanked it out and backed away quickly as Lina finished chanting her next spell.
"Dynast Bras!" Lina held her breath as the monster was enveloped in lightning. Did it work? Slowly the lightning faded away. The monster was alive, and had already begun healing itself. Within seconds it was back to normal.
Lina's jaw dropped. Sure, Naga had told her it could do that, but it was one thing to hear about it from someone else and quite another to actually see it first hand. Right than, no holding back.
If she was going to have to kill it in one shot, than her options became very limited. The Ra Tilt was supposed to be as powerful as the Dragon Slave, and since it had managed to survive a double Ra Tilt, her signature spell wasn't likely to work.
She was confident that the Ragna Blade was more than powerful enough to do the trick. But the monster was so fast, she couldn't be sure she'd be able to get a clear shot at it.
There was of course, the Giga Slave. Ok, maybe that wasn't really an option... and not just because it would be pretty serious overkill.
But there is one other thing I could try…
The monster began another of its Death Charges. "Gourry! Cover me!" she shouted. He nodded, charging out to meet the thing. Lina rapidly begin to chant.
"Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows…"
The monster lashed out its tail, Gourry jumped avoid it. He swung his sword at it, but missed as it leapt backwards.
"By the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!" Lina directed her spell, not at the monster, but at Gourry's sword. Gourry, who'd anticipated her moved, held out the sword as it absorbed her spell, rapidly getting sharper and sharper than he'd ever seen it before.
When it was finished, he charged at it, leaping up and slashing down with all his might. The magically sharpened blade sliced into its neck, neatly chopping off its head.
The monster's disembodied head made a gurgling noise that was supposed to be a scream, before both the head and body crumbled to dust.
Lina blinked, and then smiled. "We won."
Later…
Lina munched happily on her fish, glad that the trauma of the past few days was finally over. Things were already returning to normal.
"Hey Naga! That was my fish!"
"Hmph! You should've eaten it faster, Gourry!"
"Why are you stealing my fish Gourry?! I didn't steal anything from you!"
"She's scarier than you are Lina." Well, normal for them anyways. Amelia shook with silent laughter.
"Just what the world needs," Zelgadis murmured, shaking his head, "Another person with a bottomless pit for a stomach." Although, he and Amelia had eaten quite a lot themselves. Fighting and being healed made you hungry.
"So Miss Lina, what are we going to do next?" Amelia asked.
"Mmmmphibibm." Amelia sweat dropped.
"Don't talk with your mouth full Miss Lina," she scolded.
Lina swallowed. "Well, first tomorrow morning, we're gonna go find that Morris creep and punish him for everything he's put us through," she said simply. "And when we've finished, we'll turn him into the proper authorities for the rewar- er, I mean, cuz it's the right thing to do." She coughed nervously.
"Yeah right," Zelgadis muttered under his breath. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Then, we'll go find his bandit cronies and punish them as well," she continued, pretending she hadn't heard him.
"And after that?" Amelia prompted.
Lina shrugged. "Hadn't thought that far ahead."
"We were on our way to Seyruun before this all started," Zelgadis pointed out. "I don't see any reason why we shouldn't keep going there when we're finished here."
Lina glanced at Naga. "What about you Naga?"
The sorceress shrugged. "I'll think about it." She smirked. "But don't forget Lina, you said you'd treat me to dinner when this was over!"
Gourry snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah! She said the same for me too!"
Lina put on her best innocent face. "Huh? What're you talking about? You guys said you'd each treat me to dinner."
"Oh no, you're not fooling me this time Lina!"
Zelgadis and Amelia looked on and sweatdropped. "They haven't changed a bit…"
The next day...
"Say Bob, what do you think that noise is?"
"Not sure, Joe. Sounds like someone screaming 'mercy.'" The two men stopped to listen. Somewhere in the distance they heard a faint shout.
"Dragon Slave!"
A/N: ... did I really just finish this? Wow... -Dazed look- So, yes folks, after four months of writing this is the last chapter of Journeys. -Sniff-
This last chapter was much longer than the rest. What can I say? Writing the battle scenes was a lot of fun, and I got kind of carried away. And FYI, what Bob and Joe were hearing in the last scene was Lina and co. punishing Morris and his cronies.
Alright, I owe a lot of thanks to the KanzakaDex. That site's information on spells was really helpful for writing the battle scenes. Same to the people who contribute to it for answering my questions about the Blast Sword (I proably got some of the details wrong anyways though. Sorry!).
And of course, there's my reviewers. You guys are awesome! And even if you haven't been reviewing, you're still awesome for liking this fic enough to read it to the end!
As for future works... I've actually started writing up the first chapter of another (also Slayers) fic. I'm want to write up a few chapters before posting it here though. Chances are you'll see it within the next week or two.
Until next time, and thank you!