Broken Nightmares

Act 3: Fiancée! Welcome Home Lina!

By: Sora Kazeno

Fear not I have not abandoned this story! I will finish this story but I can not guarantee a time frame. Between work and school I am rather busy and plan to work on the story between semesters. As always feedback is welcome.

...

"That is how you describe me. I am... the Lord of Nightmares…"

Seeing the figure in front of him Phibrizzo screamed in sheer terror. He stood face to face with his creator…

"It can't be! The Giga Slave... That spell... It doesn't just call upon power from you? This can't be... This can't be...! I thought the Giga Slave only drew power from you! How can you be here?" Phibrizzo screamed at the sight before him. Never had he dreamed the spell would actually summon the Golden Lord. It was at that moment he knew he would die.

...

Gasping, Lina shot up right, nearly falling out of her bed. She in hailed deeply before she opened her eyes. Why was she seeing this? Throwing the remaining blankets to her side, she slowly rose.

Walking over to the mirror, she watched her reflection. Her mirror image grinned make at her… an evil smirk…

Lina's mouth opened, but no sound came out as she jumped. Focusing her eyes back to the mirror, she saw her reflection again… it was an illusion…

Rubbing a hand against her temple Lina frowned. Lack of sleep was really starting to take its toll on her… a beaming double? Come on.

Walking over to the dresser she poured water from the pitcher into a large bowl to wash her face, hoping that would help wake her up. After she washed her face to she looked at the mirror again, she said, "I must have imagined that."

Lina hung her head hearing in all too familiar rumble… her stomach.

...

"Umm, Lina-san are you sure we should leave Naaga-san behind?" Sylphiel asked her companions.

Lina frowned, "trust me she'll find us again; whether we want her to or not."

Gray clouds, threatened to pour at any moment, covering the afternoon sun. Lina didn't pay any attention to her surroundings; she kept walking alone with her thoughts. Amelia was talking behind her, Lina wasn't really listening. Her thought kept going back to her dreams. 'I remember seeing Phibrizzo screaming and trying to run… then I was in the Sea of Chaos… with Gourry…' A slight blush creped across her face at the memory… 'What happened in the middle? How I did end up in the Sea of Chaos to begin with? Why is it so important I remember the battle?'

"Lina-san?" Amelia asked looking at her back.

"Hmm." Lina numbly responded.

"What's Zefelia like?"

"Hmm."

"When did you leave Zefelia?"

"Hmm."

" … Lina-san…"

"Hmm."

"You're about to-"

WHACK!

"Ko…ala…" Lina mumbled crumbling to the ground twitching.

Zelgadis sighed as he saw the twitching sorceress on the ground. This was an all too familiar sight to him.

...

Night was being to fall, Zefelia was in the distance. The sight of her hometown let out a lot emotions in Lina.

Lina began to yell as the buildings emerged. "We need to turn around! There is no reason to go to this city!"

Gourry grabbed Lina by the shoulders. Shocked by his action Lina became silent. Gourry said, "Food. Food. Food. Food. Food. Food." Gourry continued to repeat his mantra and he pushed Lina forward.

"Gourry!" Lina shouted as she tried to fight back. Gourry began to push her faster and he continued his mantra. Soon a cloud dust was the only thing still visible. Zelgadis and Amelia hung their head as a sweat drop emerged.

Within a matter of minutes the quintet was in the outskirts of the city. Little did they know someone stood there to greet their arrival. She smiled as her eyes met theirs.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?" sneered Kakken as she raised her hand to attack. "You make this too easy! DARK CLAW!" The dark ball of energy split into several small black orbs each aimed at Lina and company. They quickly scrambled each taking there own measure of defense. Sylphiel cast a protection spell over herself, Amelia and Gourry. Zelgadis and Lina dodged the attack.

The sounds of the blasts caused nearby pedestrians to run in panic. It did not take long for the chaos to each the middle of the city. A waitress noticed the scene and quickly put down her tray. She exited the restaurant and walked toward the scene. No one noticed the red head with large breasts as she walked in the opposite everyone ran from. Whatever caused the commotion was about to learn it was not tolerated in her city.

"FIREBALL!" Lina shouted as the red hot energy erupted from her hands. The talismans had amplified her powers and she hoped it would at least distract Kakken enough to give the others a chance to attack.

Zelgadis didn't give Kakken a chance to attack and met her with another attack, "BRAM BLAZER!"

Kakken smiled and redirected the attack toward Gourry. Gourry was able to block the attack in time due to the Sword of Light. "You have an interesting sword there. However, mine is more powerful!" Dark energy formed between her hands. Lina started the energy formation afraid it was a spelled she had used at times. "RUBY-EYE BLADE!" Kakken rushed forward her eyes focused on Lina.

Lina saw the attack and tried to best to create a protection spell since there was not enough time to counter with Raguna Blade.

"ICE BLADE!"

The attack from behind caught Kakken off guard, shards of ice began to encircle her. The shards began to enclose her. She quickly fired a heat spell at the shards; however, the seemed to close in that much faster upon her. The shards broke into smaller pieces and attacked her like knifes. Magic of this nature could not be cast by just anyone. Kakken turned about to face the one that attacked her.

Once she saw the red head's face there was no mistake of her identity. It was Luna Inverse. "This does not concern you Luna, my business is not with you."

"It is my business when you disrupt my town," said Luna as she raised her right hand. A red ball of energy formed in her hand. "You have 3 seconds."

Kakken looked over at Lina and then back to Luna. Kakken knew it would be impossible to defeat Lina in Luna's presence. "It's one thing to be a colored sorceress but another to be a Knight of Cephied. We will meet again Lina," Kakken said as she disappeared from sight.

Luna smiled as her adversary vanished. She gestured her hand the red ball of energy evaporated.

"Oi Lina, she's a Knight? Where is her sword?" A confused Gourry asked Lina who stood next to him.

The mention of the name Lina made Luna turn her head to face her younger sister. "Lina!"

The color drained from Lina's face. She hoped to avoid her sister. Her sister was the main reason she wanted to not return home. Lina stood there frozen; escape was no longer an option.

"Mom and Dad will be so excited to see you!" Luna exclaimed as she approached.

Lina snapped out of her daze and at that moment and tried to run away. She was too late and Luna was too close.

Luna grabbed her arm as Lina began to protest. Luna began to drag Lina further into the town. Lina began to scream.

The others stood in shock of what just happened. "… what just happened?" Amelia asked as she stared at Lina's retreated form.

"Maybe we should follow them?" Sylphiel asked the others.

Zelgadis stood silently with a sweat drop above his head. Things always seemed to happen to their group. The only bright side to this scene was Kakken no longer attacked them thanks to Luna.

...

Luna continued to drag Lina home. Lina's screams could be heard throughout the town. Residents peeped out of their windows at the spectacle before them. The slight of Luna forced them to look the other way. Residents had learned years ago to leave the Inverse family alone and let them handle their own business. Luna was the pride of the family, the ideal daughter and Lina was the black sheep.

Tears streamed down Lina's face as she cried out, "I should have let Hellmaster kill me!"

Zelgadis hung his head as he followed the shrieks.

"At least she's easy to find?" Amelia shouted to the others. It was hard to hear anything but the sound of Lina.

The screaming came to an end. Lina was pushed into a house. Everyone quickened their pace.

Lina entered her house and was greeted by her parents. "My baby is back!" Lina's mother shouted as she ran over to Lina to hug her. Lina's father stood quietly behind her.

Lina began to gasp for air after the near death grip by her mother. Lina's father stepped forward. "Lina, how could you abandon your friend?" He asked her as he stepped to the side to reveal a familiar figure.

"Oooooooohooooo Ohooooho!"

Lina cringed. "I knew she would find me," she mumbled.

"Lina-san!" Amelia exclaimed as she entered through the open door. "You disappeared so suddenly!"

Lina mentally thanked Amelia for the diversion. "Um, Mom, Dad, these are my traveling companions." Lina introduce everyone and hoped the spotlight would be off of her for a little while. This gave her some time to think of an escape plan to get out of Zefelia. She almost wished Kakken would come back and attack them for a diversion to leave the city. Lina's ears perked up at the sound of that name. He was another reason she had to leave home. Her parents were too old fashioned and wanted everything just so.

"Bob will be so happy to see you!" Luna exclaimed as she disappeared into another room.

"..Bob?" Sylphiel repeated. She looked over to Lina for an explanation.

Lina shrugged her shoulders in response. She really hoped this would not be brought up. She had to think quickly to try to get out of it.

"Surely you haven't forgotten about Bob! We raised you better than that Lina. He was devastated when you left but he will be so happy know that you are back. We start planning the wedding tomorrow!" Lina's mother exclaimed joyfully.

At that moment a tall man with black hair came into view with Luna. He stared at Lina for a few seconds and little hearts formed in his eyes. "Lina, my love, you have come back to me!" Bob ran over to Lina to engulf her in a hug.

Lina stood their stunned for a moment her face became a crimson shade. She snapped out of it as Bob was steps away from her with his arms wide open. Lina did the first thing that came to mind she kicked and pushed him away. "It's not happening!"

Zelgadis, Amelia, Sylphiel, and Gourry stood there in shock of the events that transpired before them.

Luna broke the awkwardness of the moment when she screamed. Everyone turned toward her and followed her hand that pointed toward Gourry. "He's an elf! Why is there an elf in this house!" Luna ran from the room in fear.

Gourry scratched his head as he mumbled, "I'm only part elf…"

Naaga smirked as she stated, "there are a lot of elves in Mipross…" She turned her glance toward Lina.

Lina stood there with her mouth hung open. She wondered why she didn't notice this before. All the similarities between the kid with the sword of light she once saved and Gourry. Lina walked over to Gourry and asked, "how are you related to Rowdy?"

"Eh? You know my grandfather?" Gourry asked in a confused tone.

Lina fell face. "But but but elves are really smart… and Rowdy was… knew a lot of stuff… how..? It doesn't make any sense!" Lina screamed.

Zelgadis, Amelia, and Sylphiel watched in utter confusion with a collective sweat drop.

"Lina, honey, what are you talking about?" Lina's mother asked.

Lina sighed and figured she would have to explain to Gourry anyway, "a few years ago I went to Mipross and-"

"Oooooooohooooo Ohooooho!" Naaga interrupted Lina's story. "I was there too you know. Without me you never would have made it back!"

Lina's father quickly walked over to Naaga and said, "Thank you Naaga-san for looking after our daughter and to keep her safe."

Lina almost lost it. "She'd didn't help keep me safe! I have to save her from getting killed too many times to count!"

"Lina! You are not being a proper hostess but treating a guest that way!" Lina's mother scolded her.

Lina bite her lip and returned to her story. "Anyway, we," Lina said as she turned to face Naaga went to Mipross. We ran into this mazoku named J-Rock that tried to kill us a few times. Then this old man was giving me dreams, or rather nightmares about some event in the past. J-Rock then went into the past and the old man had me go back into the past too to stop J-Rock so he wouldn't mess with the future. The person I helped in the past turned out to be a younger version of the old man named Rowdy that just happened to the wielder of the Sword of Light. Who as it turns out is Gourry's grandfather." Lina explained matter of fact.

"If was you that defeated J-Rock?" Gourry asked as he scratched his chin. The light bulb seemed to click and he hit his hands together. "I remember that the person that defeated J-Rock was flat-chested and short… it makes sense!"

The next thing Gourry saw was Lina's fist into his face.

Zelgadis looked at the familiar sight before him. "Sometimes never change."

"Lina-san! Please stop! You're going to hurt poor Gourry-sama!" Sylphiel exclaimed as she tried to pull Lina off Gourry.

After a few minutes Lina gave up and got off Gourry. Unfortunately, Gourry decided to ask another question. "Oi… what's a finance again?" His question was promptly answered with another a fist to his face.

...

Phibrizzo looked in horror at the event that unfolded before him. "It' can't be! The Giga Slave… that spell… it doesn't just call upon power from you? This can't be… this can't be! I thought the Giga Slave only drew power from you! How can you be here?" Phibrizzo screamed from the floor he sat on.

The Lord of Nightmares looked at him and stated, "my mind is my power. My power is my mind. When uncorrupted by other elements, my mind is my pure power."

Phibrizzo knew his end was at hand. Phibrizzo stood and laughed. "I honesty never expected this to happen. After finally having my wishes so close to being fulfilled, to have this sudden reversal waiting for me at the end! My… my plan! To have this happen to it… All my calculations… My plan, with all my perfectly set schemes! So close to its fruition! So close to its fruition…"

...

Lina gasped as she bolted up in bed. It seemed as if every time she went to sleep she saw more of what happened when she was controlled by the Lord of Nightmares. She couldn't tell anyone else about what she saw. She wasn't sure how much the others remembered and it would only worry them. The last thing she needed was a team in panic due to dreams she had. She raised her arms above her head and stretched. It was another day and she had to get out of the town quickly.

Her thoughts focused on single phrase. My mind if my power; my power in my mind. When uncorrupted by other elements, my mind is my pure power. The answers she searched for was related to what the Lord of Nightmares had said. The only problem was to figure out how.

...

Lina tapped her fingers impatiently at the table. Even though her family owned a restaurant she was not going to eat there. She wanted to hurry up at eat and leave Zefelia without looking back. The waitress finally appeared with plates full of food. Before she was able to place the food on the table Gourry and Lina grabbed food and began to stuff it in their mouth.

Other customers watched on with horror at the sounds that came from the table. A black haired man got up and headed over to the table. Lina saw him approach and dropped the fork full of food on the floor. He found her, it was Bob.

"Lina, my love, I waited for you this morning. I wanted to talk to you about our wedding," Bob said as he leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. He placed a bouquet of flowers next to her on the table.

Lina turned bright red and felt like she wanted to die. The next thing she knew strangers came to the table to congratulate them on their marriage. Lina turned an even brighter shade of red. She continued to turn a deeper shade of red until she couldn't take it anymore.

"We're not getting married! I can't stay here!" Lina shouted at him and to other diners. "If you think for a one minute-"

Lina was cut off by the sight of her elder sister, Luna. Luna walked over to the company's table. "You will not leave your finance again Lina."

"It's too dangerous for me to stay here," Lina said as she looked up at Luna who stood next to the table.

"What do you mean it is too dangerous?" Luna snapped back at her. "I am the one that protects this city and you dare say it is not safe here?"

Lina lowered her voice and stated, "the Lord of Nightmares is after me. That person earlier, Kakken, will not stop until she beats me."

Luna stood there silent for a few moments as she absorbed the information she just received. She did the first think that came to mind. She threw a fireball at Lina. "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT!" Luna screamed at her. She did not wait for a response and cast more magic at her. Lina did her best to avoid the attacks.

Gourry dodged a few attacks and pull out the Sword of Light as he took on the role of the protector. Gourry used the sword to deflect the spells.

Luna's eyes narrowed as she glared at Gourry. The spells stopped for the moment. Luna turned her attention back to Lina. "Involving yourself with an elf and here I thought better of you. I suggest you leave now before this town is in danger again because of you. However, as soon as you defeat the Lord of Nightmare, you are to come back. If you don't I will hunt you down myself."

...

An hour later Lina and company were on their way to the next town. Everyone was silent as they reflected on the events that unfolded.

"I can never go there again! My sister is crazy and she will torture me again!" Lina wailed. "I told you we never should have gone there in the first place! We didn't even get a chance to finish our food!"

"Oi, Lina… how come Luna is your sister and she has such large breasts and you not?"

Amelia grimaced. She had noticed that as well while they were at the house but she was smart enough to know not to say anything.

Once again Gourry found a fist in his face.

Zelgadis sighed and wondered on many times this happened already on their journey. A normal person would be able to learn from their mistakes and Gourry never did unless it had to do with battle. How can an expert swordsman be so clueless about the rest of life? These thoughts were interrupted by another voice.

"I'm surprised you've made it this far past Kakken, Lina-san". Xellos said as he appeared before everyone.

"What do you know about Kakken?" Lina asked as Xellos lowered himself to the ground.

"She's a young lady that was in the same predicament you are in; however, the Lord of Nightmares won is now her servant. Somehow I trust you wish not to have the same faith."

"Why are you so concerned about me?" Lina asked Xellos as she took a few steps closer to him.

"It's simply really. You do not benefit the mazoku if you are dead." Xellos said with a smile.

...

That is it for Act 3. Act 4 should be out later this year entitled, "Anguish! Lina Hurt by the Sword Light!"