Magic of Carealot : THE SEQUEL! Chapter 14: Taste of things to come, a slayers fanfic

Carealot Strikes Back!

Disclaimer: I do not own: Slayers or anything else that ends up on this story! There are way too many crossovers for me to list them all so I'm not gonna!

Ok I've been working on this simultaneously with the last chapter and the next one. I am a practicioner of what I call the Star Wars effect: everything happening everywhere at once! So it's been rather challenging to switch modes!

At any rate...on with the show

I dedicate this one to Phabrizoe! Hope you like it!

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Episode 9: "And now for a taste of things to come…" – Shang Sung Mortal Kombat

Gaston was seething! Every single one of his attempts to kill that freak had failed! His very last idea - to put a curse in his coffee - was dismissed before putting it into play because if the Nougatch-Hemlock in the soup hadn't worked it was unlikely that cursed coffee that turns you into a llama would work either! It was a good thing these Saillune goody goodies were such sticklers to the letter of the law or he'd be dead for sure!

'That Capt Kaiba though looks like he might be willing to bend a few rules! Better back off for a bit…' he contemplated as he headed for Akmed's rooms. Thinking it was time for Akmed to take off some of the heat from him! A servant ushered him into Akmed's room and the man was smirking triumphantly. Gaston resisted the urge to punch him.

"I haven't lost yet!" Gaston growled angrily.

"You have been trying for a week!" he began in an obnoxious imperious tone "He obviously can't be smashed, stabbed, blown up or poisoned! Frankly it's amazing that such crude methods haven't worked with that monstrosity!"

"So I suppose you have a better plan! Even my sword can't hurt him!" Gaston retorted already well on his way to being fully enraged. Akmed rolled his eyes.

"Please don't remind me! That was so embarrassing!" Akmed whined. Gaston flinched indeed it had been. One morning while all the off duty guards were in the training courtyard along with several of the visiting princes doing their morning workout Gaston had challenged Zelgadis to a sparring match. Zelgadis had not accepted at first saying he was not interested and dismissed him with a shrug. A younger guard accepted his challenge…

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"I'll spar with ya!" Jonouchi Katsuya piped up cheerfully. Gaston composed himself somewhat and beat the snot out of the poor kid. Jou was hauled away by his comrades to the infirmary. Several of his fellow guards immediately challenged Gaston in defense of Jou's and the Guard's honor but one by one they fell. By the time he'd worked his way through a third guard Gourry and Zangalus were riled enough to want to take him on! Capt. Kaiba had stepped forward then before Gourry or Zangalus could do anything and was about to challenge him when Zelgadis stepped in.

"If you would permit me captain I believe Gaston just wants to fight me!" Zelgadis said softly and politely. He put a reassuring hand on the young captain's shoulder and after a moment's hesitation Kaiba stepped back.

"Very well Gaston you have my attention!" Zel threw at him in challenge. Yugi ran up to him and handed Zel a wooden practice sword.

"Yugi…get Gaston a real sword. The wooden one won't be of any use to him against me," Zel added allowing a touch of arrogance into his voice. Yugi smirked mischievously and with a sharp salute hurried to comply.

"Alright Zel! Teach that guy a lesson!" Gourry cheered. Oh and what a lesson it was! Gaston had not been able to land a single hit! Zelgadis danced around him scoring hit after hit until every part of Gaston's body ached but not enough to incapacitate him. It further enraged Gaston to realize Zelgadis was holding back!

"Had enough Gaston?" Zel asked with more than a touch of condescension in his voice. Seeing red by now Gaston charged at him at full speed sword held high. Zel calmly stood his ground then spun out of his way at the very last minute and slammed his wooden sword in the back of Gaston's neck with enough force to send him flying forward and crashing into a large water barrel. Gaston was unconscious for several hours but the last thing he heard was Capt. Kaiba's laughter and it had haunted him ever since…

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"At least we learned something of value…" Akmed began.

"Excuse me?" Gaston countered ready to pound Akmed if his remark was a slur.

"Zelgadis Greywords' weakness: Saillune! Not just the princess but everything in Saillune!" Akmed enthused. Gaston being the slower of the two had to work that out for a bit.

"So how does that help us?" Gaston asked unable to figure out how his humiliation was an advantage. Akmed sighed in exasperation.

"If we hurt Saillune in just the right way we can force him to give up his claim on her!" Akmed announced in a nasally obnoxious tone. Gaston's eyes went wide with renewed excitement.

'And my dreams of conquering the world will be one step closer!' Akmed crowed to himself.

'And my dream of possessing the most beautiful princess in the world will be one step closer!' Gaston crowed to himself.

Though their goals were slightly different they both involved Amelia's relinquishing her love for Zelgadis in favor of one of them. Akmed wanted to rule the world but to do so he needed the vast resources of Saillune. Gaston on the other hand had a more mundane and vulgar goal. He wanted Amelia to be one more of the trophies on display in his palace! Just one more trinket to assert his manliness to the world…

Disgusting…

"But first we need to distract Lina Inverse! Things could get deadly if she starts blasting away!" Akmed pointed out smartly. Gaston nodded his agreement seriously. He had noticed that she had barely been restrained the first few days and even though she seemed calmer now she was famous for her hair-trigger temper. He had seen what her fireballs could do when she was just playing around so he'd hate to see what her infamous Dragon Slave could do! Especially if she's angry!

"So we'll create a diversion…" Gaston said already planning on how he could accomplish getting Lina out of the way and possibly getting rid of the much hated Capt. Kaiba! He and Akmed bent over a table to make their nefarious plans at the same time realizing that they could both get what they want if they pool their resources.

Phil whistled happily to himself as he went on his way to his next duty. Amelia and Zelgadis hadn't returned from Carealot yet which he could only conclude was a good thing! According to Walker they were already kissing when they disappeared on their way to Carealot. He sighed fully content dreaming of the grandbabies that would surely start coming soon!

'Hmmm…I wonder if they'll be chimeras like that little girl from Orange Grove?' he wondered absently not really caring if they were or not. At the very real prospect of his baby girl getting married he suddenly couldn't wait to be a grandpa! Phil was in heaven! He couldn't wait to end these celebrations with a wedding announcement! Or perhaps even a wedding!

'And maybe by this time next year I'll be Grandpa Phil!' he hoped cheerfully and laughed loud and boisterously much to the passersby's bewilderment unwittingly providing fuel once more for the gossip mill as he headed back up to his room…

The maids and the townspeople were all a-buzz with speculation! Phil was overflowing with good cheer, the princess and her beau were no where to be found and what's more is that not even their closest friends had heard from them since last night after the Guard's Party.

"Do you think they eloped?" Yuffie asked the rest of Amelia's half awake handmaiden's assembled in the princess's room. Anzu startled awake from her spot on the couch. She'd had a really late night with Yugi and had barely dragged herself out of bed and got into uniform to get to the princess' room only to find she'd been gone since last night and Phil wasn't saying where.

"She better not!" Anzu grumbled grumpily. On top of that she'd forgotten Amelia gave them all the day off so she'd gotten up and into uniform for nothing! She could've very well have stayed curled up in her bed with Yugi instead and slept off the hangover. By the time she returned to her apartment he'd already dressed and gone to his post. With nothing better to do she went to back to Amelia's room and found her co-workers there nursing various degrees of a hangover. Her hangover was the worst!

"But I'll bet she got as lucky as you did Anzu!" Raven teased. Anzu blushed and went back to dozing on the couch. Everyone had seen Anzu leave with little shy Yugi last night. It was no secret what they were up to!

"You and Yugi have been seeing a lot of each other lately haven't you?" Chelsea interjected. Anzu smiled but didn't answer as the other girls giggled mischievously.

"Hey did anyone see where Captain Kaiba went last night?" Yuffie asked changing the subject again. All the girls looked up and exchanged glances wondering which one of them had taken Capt Kaiba home with them last night. Eyes settled back on Yuffie…

"Don't look at me! He was dancing with me and it looked kind of promising but then I spotted Honda and I went to play with him instead!" Yuffie explained blushing intensely. They turned to Mai then. At the New Year's Eve guard party Mai had been the one hooked up with him afterwards…

"I didn't take him home! I took Jou! Who was he dancing with last?" Mai replied unabashedly to their unspoken question.

"Paine!" piped up Lisa sleepily from one of the comfy chairs in the sitting area of Amelia's room.

"Yea but Paine left with someone else," Jessie added pensively trying to recall the night before. She too had taken a turn feeling up Kaiba early in the evening but left the party with Slater. The girls were awake now trying to work out the mystery of why none of them had a new Kaiba hook up story. Almost every one of them did except for Anzu. She was the only one who avoided him like the plague!

As cold and emotionless as Kaiba seemed to be on duty… he was pure fire when placed in an intimate setting. He wasn't the type that made empty promises to get to you and he wasn't the type to make commitments to anyone other than his brother and his job. As long as you understood that breakfast the next morning was as far as he went you were in for a special treat!

Tifa arrived then with an armful full of goodies to eat and treat the hangovers from her father's tavern. The girls gleefully dug in!

"Hey Tifa! Did you see who left with Kaiba last night?" Yuffie asked. Tifa laughed.

"I almost did! But after he talked to the priestess from the outer world he seemed kind of out of it. I walked home with someone else!" Tifa replied cheerfully.

"You mean Ms. Filia? But she's…I don't mean to be rude but she's such a prude!" Yuffie replied astonished.

"He didn't leave with her. She left alone and Kaiba got summoned away later by Comm. Trebek under orders from Gen. Walker. He didn't come back after that…" Tifa added pensively her clever mind putting all the pieces together.

"You know I think Kaiba's got a serious thing for Ms. Filia…" she voiced softly. The girls grumbled protests and assertions that Kaiba was married to his job. All of them except for Anzu…

"You know I think you're right Tifa!" Anzu exclaimed suddenly at the sustained disbelief of her co-workers she continued "think about it you guys! He's way more polite - to the point of downright sweet - with HER! He's never that way with any of the princess' other friends! Not even the ones who ARE princesses! He's always looking out for her little kid and acting all daddy-like around him! And no little kid in this country save for Mokuba gets that kind of treatment from him!" and on she went ignoring her pounding post-hangover headache she jumped up from the couch and paced excitedly as she spoke.

"OH sweet Cepheid Kaiba's in love! When did that happen?" Yuffie shrieked excitedly. And so a new subject was born as Tifa and Anzu finally put the pieces together. Excitedly they put their heads together to pinpoint the exact time in which this had happened and whether Filia or anyone else was aware. They decided right away however they would keep it to themselves and perhaps ask Lord Greywords when he returned if he'd noticed.

"I think that if anyone else has noticed it's definitely him! They do spend a lot of time together!" Lisa pointed out smartly.

"I agree! Kaiba listens to everything Lord Greywords says!" Jessie added seriously her statement echoed in various ways by her coworkers. Jessie paused as she heard some unusual noise coming from Prince Phil's room.

"Do you guys hear that?" she asked and they too paused to listen.

"Let's go check it out!" Raven suggested and reluctant to leave their comfortable seats the others followed…

Intent as the girls were in their new subject they were unaware that a large group of intruders were lurking quietly outside. Intruders with no intention of listening to girls gossiping! The head of the intruders sneaking into the palace stopped to listen at Amelia's door. Determining that there was no threat in the room they began putting into effect their plan. Quietly they snuck towards the end of the hall where Phil's room was.

He signaled the men to stop and he listened once more. Phil was definitely inside. He was laughing and talking to Gen. Walker it sounded like. Thanks to the rampaging gossip mill getting information about where everyone was; what everyone was doing and when the best time to attack would be was easy. Lina Inverse – the greatest threat to his group – was no where near his position and by the time she responded they would be long gone. He picked the lock quietly and as one the commando team burst into the room launching their all out attack.

Walker burst from his seat! Battle honed reflexes saved his life by less than an inch as he leaped away from an arrow and soon he was engaged in hand to hand combat with several men as they surrounded him swords in hand. His fists and feet whirled around him taking down one after the other. Phil also fought as well as he could. Walker couldn't help the smirk as Phil lectured the intruders of the unlawfulness of their actions as he went. One of the intruders finally snuck past Walker and reached Phil.

"SLEEP!" the man called out and Phil plummeted to the ground like a rock as the spell caught him unawares. Walker called out to him desperately wading through the attackers. He found himself suddenly with unexpected re-enforcements as Amelia's handmaidens burst into the room.

"Cavalry's here General!" Yuffie called out cheerfully as her giant Shuriken took out a big guy about to smash the general from behind.

"FIREBALL!" Anzu shouted as two more were toasted. Walker directed her attention to the sorcerer that was heading towards the balcony dragging Phil's unconscious body. Mai and Jessie struck down two more with their swords clearing a path for Anzu. The floor shook for a second as Tifa signaled with her powerful fist for the guards to come up and knocking a couple of baddies off their feet in the process.

"Called shot: HEAD!" From just outside the door Raven's un-erring aim struck a fatal blow on an attacker sneaking up behind Lisa whose deadly staff had taken out one but was whirling too late to meet her next attacker.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!" Chelsea's portable canon blasted the next three guys that were keeping Anzu from reaching the Prince. Anzu hurried towards the balcony only to find there were two more sorcerers lying in wait there. She had just enough time to put up a shield before simultaneous fireballs blasted her back into the room. Guards started pouring into the room then. Kaiba sword in hand quickly made his way to the balcony where Anzu was pointing him towards. The sounds of loud bangs signaled the arrival of Lina Inverse and what remained of the attackers began their desperate retreat.

Capt Kaiba burst into the balcony only to find the sorcerers had used levitation spells and were flying away towards the forest with their prize. Kaiba cursed as he watched them fly! He couldn't let them get away and hesitated only a second. Lina came up behind him and watched in absolute shock as Kaiba gave away his greatest secret to get the Prince back.

"Wild shape: FALCON!" he called out and his body glowed for a second then transformed into a beautiful brown and golden falcon. He turned only a second to signal Lina to follow him. Recovering quickly from her shock she nodded and grabbing Gourry's hand she called up her levitation spell and they followed…

The few intruders that remained had been apprehended quickly after that. Once they realized their escape would be impossible they surrendered. They didn't count on Amelia's handmaidens to be so tough! Soldiers poured out into the city searching desperately for their missing Prince. Trebek and his men interrogated the prisoners and it was to the staff's utter dismay that their happy spying and gossiping had led to their Prince's kidnapping!

"How do we get in contact with the Princess?" Trebek asked Walker softly. The girls despite their heroic efforts were utterly devastated as they tried to pick through the rubble in the prince's room looking for some clue to his whereabouts. Walker shook his head as he watched Anzu get carried away by the medics to treat the burns from the fire spells and broken ribs from the fall.

"I don't know…We'll have to wait until they return…" Walker replied softly hoping Lina, Gourry and Seto would find Prince Phil and bring him back soon before Zel and Amelia returned…

Lina followed Falcon-Seto as fast as she could while carrying the weight of her husband. The exertion was starting to make her testy.

"Those bandits are gonna taste my Dragon Slave I swear it!" she growled angrily. Gourry knew better than to say anything when she was in that mood! Seto circled once far ahead of them then headed back towards them and dove for the trees. Lina followed him and they landed in a small clearing. Seto transformed back into his human self.

"How the hell did you do that?" Lina snapped as she released Gourry who after years of practice managed to land on his feet with ease. Lina landed next to him and stomped over to Kaiba.

"I'm a druid. My people can transform into any kind of creature certain times a day depending on our strength," he replied simply. Lina's eyes went wide.

"But I thought the druids were extinct!" she nearly shrieked eyes alight with excitement.

"What's a druid?" Gourry asked scratching his head. Lina sighed heavily and Seto rolled his eyes barely able to contain his anxiety in the face of Lina and Gourry's inopportune curiosity.

"I'm the last one! I promise I will explain but please let us focus right now!" Seto hissed barely able restrain an angry growl. Lina looked miffed but decided it was best to get Phil first. She'd have plenty of time to squeeze information out of Kaiba later. Druids were rumored to have some very nifty spells that controlled time and weather as well as some very interesting nature related abilities. It would be great to find out how many of those spells Kaiba knew and how many of them she could acquire!

"Fine! Fine! What next?" she replied. He explained that he had spotted a camp nearby and that he could sneak in and get the Prince out while they took out the bandits. They would have to hurry since it seemed the bandits had begun breaking camp.

"I would normally wait for re-enforcements but that seems overkill with the two of you here and there's no time for it anyway," he added distractedly as they hurried through the forest towards the camp Kaiba had seen. Just as Lina was about to make comment on how smart Kaiba was for realizing her supreme talents Kaiba transformed into a small blue jay a common enough bird in this area of the forest and flew away. Again Lina blinked in surprise once more.

"You know I bet that really comes in handy," Gourry pointed out and Lina nodded in vigorous agreement as Seto fluttered casually toward the camp. They followed as far as the cover of the forest would allow and stopped watching as Seto easily sneaked past the camps guard posts and towards a small tent that seemed to be his goal.

"Once Kaiba gets to the tent we move in!" Lina whispered in anticipation. Gourry grinned.

"Right!" and he unsheathed his sword: the Dragon Heart. A sword Lina made for him in Galbadia's temple as an engagement present two years ago. A powerful sword to be sure considering who the maker was but nowhere near the power of the sword of light. To Gourry however it was as precious as his sword of light had been because Lina used her own life to create it! People accused him of being dense but he was savvy in the things that really mattered…

"Here we go!" Lina burst forward with Gourry half a step behind her as Kaiba fluttered into the tent. With her hands in front of her she passed out her calling card:

FIREBALL!

Phil started a little as he heard the first explosion then smiled as the sounds of chaos erupted all around the tent…

"Ah Miss Lina has arrived!" he told himself with a smirk and watched with amusement as a little blue bird fluttered about the tent then landed next to him.

"Yes it's probably safer in here right now little feathered friend!" he laughed but swallowed the rest of his amusement as the little bird transformed into Amelia's captain of the guard. He opened his mouth to say something but Seto quickly cut him off as he undid the ties holding the prince to the post in the center of the tent.

"No time to explain! We must hurry!" he whispered quickly. Phil nodded massaging his aching wrists after he was freed.

"When I transform again just climb up and hold on tight!" he instructed quietly and snuck towards the entrance of the tent pulling his sword out of its scabbard as he went. There were two guards a couple of steps away from the tent. They looked like they were trying to decide whether to run away or stand and fight. Their duty was clearly forgotten. Seto surged forward and struck down both guards quickly. Phil followed closely as Seto re-sheathed his sword and with his hands joined at his chest he prepared one more transformation…

"Wild Shape: HIPPOGRIFF!" he called out and once more his body glowed and transformed into the mythical part horse part eagle creature. Phil ogled for a moment but the chaos that surrounded him didn't let him get too distracted. He jumped on to the Kaiba-griff and held on as the beast reared up and struck down attackers with its powerful hoof-claws.

"Gourry Go!" Lina yelled running towards the hippogriff that she knew was Kaiba! Gourry caught sight of what she was running towards and struck two more down before following her. Kaiba galloped towards them striking down panicked bandits that got in his way. He stopped only an instant to let Gourry climb on. Then with a full speed running start he extended the massive wings and took to the air in a giant leap. Lina followed with her levitation spell but as soon as she was out of arrow range she turned to face the camp.

"Wait! I'm not done yet! I made these bandits a promise!" Lina growled bitterly "I'll teach them to mess with my friends!"

Darkness beyond twilight crimson beyond blood that flows…

"Kaiba let's go get the hell out of here!" Gourry screamed urgently.

Buried in the stream of time is where your power grows…

"Yes! Go Captain Go!" Phil agreed urgently but Kaiba was already heading away from Lina at full speed.

I pledge myself to conquer all the foes who stand before the might gift bestowed in my unworthy hands…

He didn't need their advice he recognized those words alright and he knew quite well what would happen when those words came out of Lina Inverse-Gabriev's mouth! Quiet reigned in the forest for an instant as they felt the force of the spell gathering around Lina….

DRAGON SLAVE!

Kaiba pushed harder as he felt the heat from Lina's spell as they retreated. Gourry turned his head to see Lina hurrying towards them as a mushroom of flames engulfed the camp and anyone and everything within a few miles from it. The mushroom began to dim and Gourry asked Kaiba to slow down so Lina could catch up. Kaiba stopped and hovered watching as Lina approached with a grin from ear to ear!

"Hey Phil! You alright?" she called out cheerfully as soon as she was in hearing range.

"Never better Ms. Lina!" Phil called back as she finally reached them.

"I think Zel's gonna be mad that he missed all the excitement though!" Gourry added. Phil laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Yea he'll probably brood for a while! I'm sure Amelia can help him get over it!" she commented and laughed happily. Seto made a happy sounding noise then gestured with his head back to the palace.

And so feeling pretty good about themselves for their absolute victory they flew back to the Saillune Royal Palace looking forward to the triumphant hero's welcome they were sure to receive…

Gaston's sniveling little man-servant Lefou rushed towards Akmed's room where Akmed and Gaston waited for the report. Panting for breath he knocked on the door before hurrying inside.

"Well?" Akmed asked annoyed as Lefou caught his breath.

"Lina Inverse is away and the princess just returned! The sorceress among the handmaidens is injured and the soldiers are distracted trying to find the prince," he panted excitedly.

"Good! It's time then!" Gaston announced importantly. Akmed nodded and from a secret compartment in one of his trunks he pulled out his trump card. A black long necked fat bottom bottle with a black glass stopper he pulled the stopper off and black smoke drifted out of it. The smoke quickly formed itself into the shape of tall sorcerer dressed in long black flowing robes. His strange oval shaped hat made him look like a snake a perfect match for the snake head staff.

"Gaston! Meet Jafar! My genie and the means by which we will finally rid ourselves of that pesky chimera!" Akmed announced proudly. Jafar merely rolled his eyes. Though Akmed had been lucky to find the talisman that changed his lamp into a bottle which granted him unlimited wishes it cut Jafar's genie powers in less than half. It annoyed him to no end to have to serve a half-wit like Akmed and cursed Aladdin once more for tricking him into this form. However because he was in a bottle form he was one step closer to his goal of liberating himself from the genie curse.

Ok player stats:

Now I had a bit of a challenge coming up with the girls' fighting skills. Tifa and Yuffie were easy (though I used the Kingdom Hearts stats for them rather than the FF7) the rest not so much. So I tapped my husband's brain for some D&D gaming knowledge and bestowed them with D&D classes:

Raven: 15th level arcane archer. Arcane archers totally rock! My friend Wiley Elf (not her real name) plays an elf whose 15th level arcane archer/15th level ranger. I swear the only way she can miss is for her to roll a one! Even then it depends on whether she was using a special ability or not. Her shot might miss a little but hit something else.

Mai and Jessie: 15th and 13th level paladins. The knight class suits those two girl's character better in this story's context. Especially Jessie but I made her a lower level because she doesn't spend as much time working on it as Mai.

Chelsea: She was tough! I wanted one of the girls to be able to carry large futuristic type weapons. Since she's tall and has a lot of body unlike the skinny typical anime girl (she's like Millie from Trigun!) a huge portable canon works good.

Lisa: 10th level cleric. Lisa is a prissy flighty creature so I didn't level her too much. I needed someone other than Amelia who could do white magic if required. As I understand it clerics fight mostly unarmed. I've been told however when they do pick a melee weapon they tend to be in the form of a staff. I gave her the staff because there's less chance of her breaking her nails on someone's armor! Ha-ha…

Anzu: 15th level Sorcerer. Ok I had to have a magic user among them that could cast the black magic spells and considering from where I took her I thought she would fit best as the magic user of the group.

Now for Kaiba:

He is a 15th level druid. As I understand it a druid at that level can walk or run through the forest and not leave a trace. Their bodies become immune to poisons and disease. He can pass over natural traps in the forest and not activate them and what's more they can cast spells that can alter weather or the natural shape of things. Kaiba can transform 5 times per day as long as he doesn't do anything bigger than a horse or in this case a Hippogriff! I gave him the most thought and made my husband help me roll a character sheet for him! I don't play D&D much and I do have a level 12 elf Druid but the really cool stuff happens at level 15 and higher!

Ok well that's it for now on those guys!

Thanks for reading and reviewing!