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Disclaimer: I'll own my own stuff eventually, but this one is someone else's. Hince why it's called fanfiction. There is no intention of profit. Useless stated otherwise (Wishful thinking?)
Enjoy amigos (I am very tired)
Chapter twenty: The castlevania face off part one!
"This is certainly going to be fun!" He exclaim as his wings flapped more, bringing him higher. Crimson energy grew from his palms, and he let out a maniacal laugh as he release serial burst in our direction!
"Wind Shield!' The blue chimera shouted as a forceful wind blew around us from all directions, casting the red malice into different ways. He had managed to cast it in time to spare all of us from being hit. Though we all had grouped around poor Zel, crowding him as he did his best to concrete on controlling the gales. I'm pretty sure with Amelia, Gourry and I snug on the left while Proserpina, Pokota and Prince Phil pressed to his right. I'm pretty sure he was probably feeling uncomfortable at this point. I mean we were all practically sandwiching him.
"Awe what's wrong Zelgadis?" Pokota whisper when he took noticed to the sweat beading on the blue chimera's forehead. "Is this the first close physical contact you had with anyone in ages?" One of Zel' eyes twitched as he did his best to not to give any type of response to that one. I admit; that had to be difficult, knowing his predicament; that is probably one of the last things you'd ever want to bring up in any conversation with him. Pokota snickered to himself when he noticed nearly everyone (Minus Gourry) was giving him a rather dirty look. By that time, the attack had stop and Zelgadis released the winds onto Montreal. It blew the beast around a bit, stirring him up out of his place as it gave us a moment to make a run for it. Which we did, but we didn't get too far; we just about forgotten our good old tigress friend back there. She was approaching us before we had a chance to broad on the weathered bridge. A fireball burst forth Pokota's hands, making a direct hit again in her face (I could tell she was hit before, some of her of pure white fur was blacken at the ends.) She let out a vicious roared before steadied herself on all fours. Her back arched as she prepare to pounce, projecting herself directly in the direction of Proserpina and I. Gourry dashed out in front of me, followed by Zelgadis, as they came after her with their swords drawn. The beast leap before their swords could even strike her. She then plummets down full throttle onto the blue chimera, while knocking the blond flat on his backside. The tigress then begin to claw at Zel; tearing into his tunic. He struggled against the beast until Proserpina tackled her; they rolled until Gourry caught up, hacking the tigress in the back with his blade. A stream of vapor released from where his blade drag across her flesh, she releases a violent roar and trashes about towards us.
"She isn't going to stop!" Pokota Yelled as he shield himself in front of Amelia and her father. "We got to make a run for it!" He grabbed them and ran as fast as he could to the bridge; the tigress realizes this, and charges after them. Proserpina intervenes by grabbing the beast by the tuff; she roars as she attempts to scratch her while the pearly chimera held on with all her might. She was legit with wrestling this vampire beast man… or woman in this rare case. That's something you don't see often, Proserpina glance at us somewhat annoyed; her face flushed a light rose color.
"What the fuck …Lina! Don't just stand there!?" She bellows apprehensively in between moments as she held the tigress down. "Give me a hand here!" There wasn't much I could do, other than clinching my fist; avoiding the feeling of being completely helpless as I watch Gourry and Zel partake with her struggle.
"Lina can't fight!" The blond exclaimed as he swung his blade, striking the tigress diagonally across the shoulder, missing Proserpina's face by mere inches. "It's that time of the month-"Her claws were close to his nose as he flips backwards, getting away as fast as he could. Deep down, there was a part of me that wished she had gotten him. Zelgadis then glance with widen eyes at me, his mouth forming a "oh" as he just took note of my sudden lack of activity during this conflict. "That explains…"
'Wait…" Even Proserpina was catching on, her face more flustered when I looked at her. I could feel my face getting hot as hers turned redder. 'So you're telling me… that-"She blocks a strike from the tigress. "-when you're on your period, you lose your abilities?" I slowly nodded; it's something that happens to all women, more so greatly on those who practice in the arts of magic, such as me. The moment it starts, our magical capacity just dropped out of nowhere. Nothing that I have any control over, and if I did, I wouldn't be having it at a time like now…
"Oh damn… That sucks…" Meanwhile the tigress release a painful howl as the edge of Gourry's steel races across where her rib cage would be located.
"So do you get like that too?" He briefly rubbed at his chin as he eyed Proserpina, who seems nervous about being ask that, like any girl would.
"Uh…" She eyed around as everyone stopped to hear her out. "Seriously…are we really going to talk about this NOW?" Everyone resume back to what they were doing before; Pokota, Amelia and Prince Phil where in the dead center of the ancient walk way, their breaths hitched as they continue to push themselves. Gourry had regrouped himself, and was charging along side with Zelgadis, whom was charging a bolt of electricity in his hands. The chimera was the first to unleash his spell; lighten zapped and seized up the tigress's body, whilst Gourry unleashed a fury of slashes, deep gashes formed across her torso. Proserpina begin to glowed with sunlight as she powered up her attack; unleashing the full fury of scorching energy at full blast as it engulf the beast whole. There was a rumble of agony emitted as the creature crumpled to the ground. Her flesh popped and cracked as her howls echoed though the chamber.
"Lina…Let's make a run for it!" I felt Gourry squeeze my arm as he grabs me, speeding off to where Pokota and the others waited. Zelgadis and Proserpina where fast behind us and we were just about across the bridge and out of nowhere came a gust of wind that blasted at us. I almost was airborne; until a large set of arms caught me as I daggling barely inches from the edge. I watched as a good size stone roughly the size of Gourry' melon fell into the depths below. I didn't hear it hit the ground with a crash, so there is no telling how deep this trench is. I turn my head and was greeted by the sight of a battered, yet fully recovered Montreal. He was still in that hideous form as before, and he glared at us with a blood crazed thirst. His great wings smacked together again, causing another great burst of gale towards us. I could feel the heels of my boots slide as Gourry cradle me tightly to him.
"Ms. Lina!' I heard Amelia's voice as she called from the opposite side. I glimpse at her; her brows knitted together as she held her knuckles tightly. Pokota was beside her, and her daddy stood proudly behind her. "Try to make it over here as quick as you can! We'll cover you-!" she shouted as Montreal let out a cold laughter as he beat his wings again.
"Good luck little one!" His tone was nothing but sheer malice as he sneered. I glared at him from whatever space I had between Gourry' forearm and chest, gritting me teeth as my mind raced. "With your puny size, it won't take much to send you flying into the abyss below." Ugh! Here we go with people picking on my build again! Does it ever end, probably not? Even with the super powerful undead vampire bat people apparently still knows where to hit where it hurts the most.
"Come on…" He ushered as he pushed me behind him. "I'll cover you as you go!-"I could feel myself tremble as I tip toe towards them. Montreal lets out a long hiss, he then starts to dither more of his wings; accumulating more air pressure as I hasten my pace. I side-glance over my shoulder and saw both the chimeras stood their ground as the bat made it known that he was going to attack. Proserpina blasted more of the sunlight at him, while Zelgadis summoned up a Bomb di Wind, knocking Montreal out of the air as both spells made a collision at the same time. He collapses downward, fighting against both the energy that sizzled at his flesh, and the currents that continue to shift as the blue chimera kept up with it.
"Keep going Lina!" Proserpina's soft encouragement put a little pep in my step, and I was inches away from Amelia's outstretch hands…
Out of nowhere, the tigress rehashed herself as she collected herself from the rumble. She gave out the loudest animalistic call that made my skeleton rattle. Then Montreal response back to the beast in a similar fashion that caused my teeth to chatter. I could feel the princess' warm touch on my arm as she pulled me closer to them. She and the other two huddled close to me as we waited on Gourry. He was merely feet away when the tigress spotted him, I watched as the she beast lower herself, locking her deadly gaze on the blond as she bound upward. She went off at full speed, flying over both the chimeras as they made a go at her as well. The astral vine burned crimson as Zel swung his blade quick enough to catch the tigress at the thigh. She crashed below and tumbled, nearly siding off the bridge in the process. Montreal followed next, as he gathered himself enough strength to launch rapidly into the air. The aura of rage emitted from him, and he then swoop low in a fury after one of the two. Zelgadis readied his sword, and despite of the constant casting that would tuckered out even the fittest of mages, the pearly chimera huffed as golden light formed in her palms. At first, it seem like Montreal was going to charge after the both, but he hung low to the right, and swiped up the unconscious tigress. Her limbs daggled limply as he carried her above.
"Who's running now, ugly?" I found myself shooting after them as the soar away in the distance. It wasn't my place to say that, rather I feel like that should have been something Proserpina or even Gourry would have chimed instead of me. Even though my powers are not what they usually are, my pride remained. I guess that can be a good thing; I was feeling really useless earlier with everyone but me fighting! I'd go with it was something I felt obligated to do. There! At least I did something. TeeHee!
Shortly after Montreal and the tigress completely fled from the scene, we took no time in hesitating to leave the area, and search for any kind of way out. We soon found ourselves back to the stream where we all came from.
"I did come from this way," Proserpina pointed to the opposing side of the rushing bank, meaning she took the risk and either crossed or jumped it. Most likely she ace over this thing probably a lot better than any athlete I know of. That's not bad for a woman that's part dragon, you know.
"I went across this when that one dude was chasing me," There was a small clearing between two giant boulders. "I was about to go though there but he caught me before I could."
"That could be a way out…" There was a hint of hope in Pokota's tone as he took a glance at where she was gesturing at (But I think he was staring at her more than he was at the opening that lies beyond the bank). "But how are we going to get across this water? We all can't crossed that!-"
"We could fly over it…" Zelgadis lowered his eyes as he muttered lowly and I snapped my fingers. "Gosh darn! I was thinking the same. We still have at least four people who can do process the knowledge of magic-"I was eyeing at Amelia, Pokota, Zelgadis and Proserpina. Both Gourry and Prince Phil seem rather left out of the equation, and I currently 'disable'. Sorry guys! "-Also, someone is going to have to carry me across… Whaddya say? Who's up for that?" I fluttered my eyes and held my hand together. I even made sure to say please the nicest way I could. Proserpina was the first to agree, but Amelia insisted that she do it instead. Zel agreed to carry Gourry and Pokota would tote her father. She lifted me as she shouted "Levitation!" The wind whipped though our hair and cloaks as she flew over the waters. We landed softly and turn and waited for the others.
"Nothing personal-"Prince Phil said as he wrapped his arm around Pokota' neck. "But don't take this the wrong way. He chuckled at the other man's joke as he soars to where we were. Followed shortly was Zelgadis and Gourry, Proserpina was last, as she lean forward like she was going to take off in a full sprint. She was here in a matter of seconds, along with a strong gust of wind.
"Impressive…" Pokota muttered as we all allow her to pass to the front, where we stood in front of a huge entrance crafted from natural stone. The stairs (Here we go again!) were that of ancient marble, it glittered with golden specks as torches lit on their own accordance.
"I wonder how old this place is…" Gourry whispered in awed as his hand brushed softly against the smooth stone. "This has to be very old to be in a place like this…"
"You may be on to something, Mr. Gourry…" Amelia sounded somewhat amused and astounded at the same time as she tagged close to both Zel and I. "I don't think I've even seen this before."
"I venture a lot in my days." Prince Phil barked from behind Zelgadis. "And I've never seen anything like this before."
"It's really beautiful…" Pokota was marveling that even despite of the stone's age, the color and lustrous remain in a new condition. "I would love to have this in my palace. What do you think Proserpina?"
"Huh?" She had stopped in her tracks after hearing her name being called. "Oh this stuff?-"Her fingers raced softly on a slab nearby. "This is sunstone. It's all over the place in my world." Well how did it get here then?
"-Beats me-" She shrugs indifferently as she resumed her pace. "I'm sure that all worlds share some of the same type of materials, yes?" Well yeah, I would assume that naturally, but Gourry was a different case.
"Wait so you have the same things in your world as we do with ours?" He quipped from behind Prince Phil. I heard Zelgadis groan as I rolled my eyes. Amelia sighed deeply to herself as her father just silently shook his head.
"You would think Gourry…" The left side of Pokota' face twitched as he pressed his temples. "That all of the worlds created would have many similarities, even though they could of evolve differently. " One would think that even though Dark Star' world may had a more advance setting than that of the Ruby Eye's, they still had many things that made it the same, like life for insist, would exist in all four worlds, but how it took on and played out, depends on the different deities in charge of each universe acted within its individual creation. Proserpina is another good example of other worldly beings, even though her world took on in advancing in chimerism for survival; she still was human in the beginning. Though to my knowledge, she is the closest thing to an actually person, while Armace was a god.
"The prince is right." The pearly chimera said as the sound of our boots reverted from the walls. "This world has many things that I have back home. It's just-"She paused as she turn to us. "I feel like I'm from a different time frame then it is here."
"Elaborate Ms. Proserpina!" The princess left and rushed to her side as she gazes at her with wide eyes.
"Ugh… Pre-Nightmare strain history is not my sharpest subject…" Amelia face got sudden closer as she waited for Proserpina to spill what she had. "Fine, I'll do my best. Let's say that before the virus hit the population and spread out, we already abandon the idea of monarchy and had a form of a democratic government that took it place. I think each nation has its own form of it; it gets complicated after that, and politics is my least favorite subject… I just know that it didn't matter where I grew up, but the lifestyles are so different from here." She went on telling the princess about how they had 'technology' powerful enough to cook food, and devices (Like the one she had that played the strange image of Vincent on it) and other knickknacks that were used to perform other series of task such as 'computers and Televisions." Whatever those were they sounded pretty interesting; just think a device that projects the image of life, or you favorite stage play, and ones that can play music as loud as you want, or as quietly. Her society must've been ahead enough to even visited their moons, and other orbiting heavenly bodies that were near. They even acted a bit different and spoken different words that she refer as 'slang', Jason and her brother spoke it more while their mother was more improvised on her daughter speaking properly.
"I remembered the first time I said a bad word." Proserpina's face contorted into that of displeasure. "She made me taste dish soap as punishment-BLEGH!" The princess flinches at the older woman's reaction to the memory she was having.
"Did it change after the virus?" The pearly chimera sadly nodded. 'Sadly it did very much so. I wouldn't know how drastic the changes were, but we lost a lot of our great achievements due to the infesting zombie populations. A lot of it was left behind, saving for the information on the spells the surviving families knew or chimerism that the science took with them…" A lot of their arts from vary of places survived though.
"My dad had a thing for collection guns and ammo for them. While I, had taste in music or all sorts." She included about how her brother fancy vintage games that came played from computer systems of the televisions she brief about earlier. Yet he would get angry and 'rage' out, which resulted in breaking the things, then shoving them at Vincent to fix.
"Vincent is all about computers and anything he can get his hands on that blows up." The boy again was a decent of a great science that was around before the nightmare strain; his father both carried the research and legacy his predecessor left behind about genetic manipulation.
"They thought about cloning everyone but his great grandfather thought chimerism would preserve individual DNA insist of diluting it with the same code each time. First, they ridiculed him, saying that his idea as impossible and counter reproductive. Which cause him to go insane, and he eventually turned himself into a chimera to prove a point."
"Why did he do all of that for?"
"He wanted to show that we would have more power and benefit if we merge with other sentient beings, so they sent their batch of clones, which were from the opposing side by the way, after him to destroy both him and his family.
"What happened after that?" Even Pokota got drawn into this part of their conversation.
"He killed them all. The clones where still fragile compare to the mixture he develop and changed himself into…"
"What was he?" We all had grouped closely to her, listening in as she finish telling it.
'Some type of dragon and demon; It's unclear of what species, but they weren't the best to blend with. According to his wife's notes, she stated he lost his mind as they two conflicted on the inside."
"The Dna rejected the other…" Zelgadis mumbled slowly as he stared at the floor. "Dragon and demons are enemies here, so I assumed they still don't see eye to eye where you're from." She bobbed her head again. "They represent a duality of existence, dark and light. Life and Death…" She held up a finger as she created a list. "Evil and Good, as well as chaos and order at that. They symbolize as the different layers of times and connection with the divine; even that with the demiurge and the stages of creation that lead to existence. This starts from the same place, the dark womb within the Anima Mundi." You can't ever mix the two and this was left heavily noted as the researched continued, but the predecessor of the Lee family had a hidden motive that was later kept secret until she was shown it around the time they found the toddler Vincent; He wanted to recreated the nelphilim, who were claimed to be descents of Liltha, who was some type of divine being that was nether dragon or demon."
'So he was trying to recreate a certain race?"
"Pretty much. That was also a serious subject of where I'm from. They were believed to be not of gods or demons, but something great enough for the gods to respect and the demons to fear as well as hate. Many of them were wiped out since they were taking into consideration a threat in Azzezlus' eyes some time after his resurrection." So they had a super race of beings that even their dark lord was terrified enough to kill every single one of them out, devouring their souls for his power to grow. He used that energy to recreate the subordinates he once had before both Liltha and their dragon lord destroyed him. Proserpina theorized that he may be what was corrupting the leaders over time, allowing them to let the virus seize nearly ever living being so quickly.
"Are you a priestess or something?" Phil had asked and Proserpina tilted her head. "You seem to know a lot about this stuff." This is coming from someone with zero magical abilities; of course it's just a bunch of gas to him. He may be smart enough to get it, but it would give him any help. I think it was just for the historical purposes, even if she was a bit rough about her own world's history.
"That's one of the arts that was lost or changed after all the survivors migrated to the islands, but my mother's family were protectors of the Sacred Knowledge, so I guess yes. In a way I would be a priestess. I'm also not one because as of now I'm the only one here who has belief in it." She's right, again I've never heard of such until I ran into her. None of this is spoken in any of the kingdoms and lands located within miles from where we moved. Flare dragon Ceipheel is the god in charge of here, while Shabranigdo is the main bad guy of course. There are also temples to the other servants of the Flare Lord as well as cults of those who claim to serve the Dark Lord (Even one to those made us like the annoying bratty Martina came up with... What was that things name…Monogoostar or something stupid like that?). The same goes for Armace is well; who worked for the other gods like Night Dragon Vorfeed and their chain or order as well. He was just caring orders to stop that dark lord from consuming worlds, very much in the present of how Proserpina was trying to rescue what left of hers. There was a brief of quietness that passes as well all ingest what she had told us.
"Is that what your magic is based off of?" Pokota had asked what I already assumed, because I was coming to the questioning of that of how she is able to call on it without a lot of interference? My biggest one is how was she able to even come to knowing such in the beginning? Is it really true that her mother passed this down to both of the twins?
"Well yes. It's very much like how the magic you all used her is based off of. All it is calling the energy of a higher existence to lead and connect with its power." With repercussions, of course!
"I think due to the lack of influence here, it does affect how I am able to unite. It does exhaust me more, and I know once when we make it out of here, I'll have to do some serious recharging."
The stepping upwards came to a halt as we stomped passed the final one, before us stretch a very long, wide hallway. It also felt like it went on for miles, until we stumbled into an archway; from there it broke off into two different ways. The seven of us came to a full stop, glancing at each other seeing if one of the other knew where to go next. I hate to be the one that throws this out there, but we may have to split up again.
"But Ms Linaaaa-"Amelia protested but I wasn't playing mind. "You know if we do that, then one of us is going to get lost or caught. We should just stick together." I get it, she didn't want to be split up like earlier, but again this was the only best option, and if one of us gets out first, then we will go back and find the second group. She fought with me about the whole idea, still adverse to the idea that something bad may happen if we don't stick together.
"We won't get far if we all stayed together…" Zelgadis had somewhat of a agreeing tone with the idea when shared with him, while Pokota and Proserpina felt indifferent, as in it didn't matter what was done, as long as we 'got the hell of out here'. Atlas; Prince Phil was inclined to remain at his daughter' side. Pokota volunteer right away to assist both the prince and Amelia, Zelgadis scoffed loudly as the man stuck his tongue out at him. Oh come on guys, how old are we again. Wait…speaking of years, something just dawn to me; what is Pokota' actual age? I've never asked, but I've always assumed he was forever 12 when he was stuck in that puppet's body, but it never occurred to me of if he was older or younger. Now, if you count the age that Duclis was (I'm going with his late 20s; he's has to be in the age group as Proserpina, Zel and Gourry are in) then it would mean he is older…. Yet I don't think he is used to that kind of….hormonal adjustment if you catch my drift. This is why I've picked up on this unspoken tension between the two; as the blue chimera fumed towards the younger prince. It seems like there is some competition towards the princess' attention. Though Zelgadis is the one who is at least mature about it, yet I think that Pokota is being a bit overbearing and intentionally doing this. Like he might as well just say to the guy 'Hey I have something you don't have', and that is basically what he is doing.
Amelia, the naïve sweet princess who stands for all that is "right and justice" may be too innocent to even catch on the slightest nature of the situation before her, and if she was, she was doing a great job at hiding it and remaining modest. Meanwhile, Proserpina reacted oddly nervous, as she prompted to go with Gourry and I.
"Mr. Zelgadis." He slowly turned his head at the princess as she said his name softly. "You can still go with Father and I. We could use an extra body guard, and you're great at tracking." He went with it, as he cut his eyes quickly at Pokota, who returned a nasty glare as the quad of them took the path to the left. Well, it's to the right for us then, at least it appears I may have more of the upper hand, since being 'disable' leaves me with two, very on point folks to venture with. With the combination of Gourry' might and Proserpina's wits, we may just stand a chance if something in the likes of Montreal, the tigress or Lady Karnstien herself where to make their presence known. Really, I just hope we make it out of here without confronting any of the likes of them. I hummed to myself, retaining my focus on my whereabouts as we continue on.
The four wondered deep into what appeared to be an upper layer of some sort; a door was then open, which lead them into a vast room that appeared to be a dark chapel of some sort.
The princess shivered as her eyes darted around the dark surroundings; there were crude images of young maiden, and children being slain, and some hanged by their feet, their blood pooling into containers below as depictions of older men and women with crimson eyes gathered around in awe and wonder.
"This is so evil…" She gasped to herself as she went closer to the blue chimera who accompanied them. He too, had a wary expression as they progress more into the bizarre structure. "I hope Ms. Lina and the others are doing okay."
"I think they are." Zelgadis said in an affirmative tone; he was define that the other three where doing fine, maybe more better than they are at this moment.
"Amelia," Pokota cooed as he swoops in to her side. "Are you still worried about old flatty and the gang?" The other scoffs at him as Amelia looked at the taller man with a questioning gaze.
"Oh course I'm always going to worry about the people I care about! I especially do so when it comes to both Ms. Lina and Mr. Gourry!"
"Well so much for Proserpina right?" He grunted as the princess turned a shade of pink. She nervously fondled at her fingers, seeking for the right things to say that wouldn't sound so harsh coming out.
"…I suppose she is alright. She's just…weird…" The blue chimera blinked as he forced his eyes to shut. "I've believed I've heard something similar before…" Amelia face turn more flushed as she realizes that she was being completely 'called out' on those shallow tendencies again. "She does wear a lot of black though…" She then let out a long sigh; lowering her head as she passed on the two.
"Amelia- wait!' Pokota cried as the two rushed back to her, by that time she had already caught up with her brooding, and homey father, who already held her in a loving, yet comforting embrace.
"There, there…" His low voice softly boomed as he hummed to his troubled daughter. "Just ignore it all, and focus on getting out of here." He caresses her hair lightly as she snuggle deeper into her father's arms. This warm and tender moment was ended shortly, as a violent sound of a deep snort reverted though the walls of the room. It occurred again, which snagged the attention as the four spun around, searching for the source of the unnatural sound. The third time the noise happened, the beast emerge from the shadows, it eyes glow bright red as it lowered its horns…
"Uh oh!" Pokota shouted as he begun to spark up a fireball. "He looks like it's that one horny guy from before."
"The Minotaur-!" Zelgadis shouted as his arm reached high into the air. "Everyone, QUICK!"
Authour's rant: Well here is yet another chapter I manage to pump out like hot bread. Fresh and loaded with errors that I haven't caught on to yet.
As always, I want to take the time to thank my readers for continuing with the story. You all give me motivation, and it's beautiful to experience. Again, thank you all for your time. Another chapter, maybe next Sunday. Work is hectic and I work a lot. Six days a week sometimes a couple months straight, but hey, we live in a "society" right? Meh. Bananas.
I had the cutest visitor the other day; a little chickadee flew into one of the work vans and insisted on playing hide and go seek with me as I gather tools needed for the job. It hung out for about a few hours, before my caveman of a coworker came out and scared it away with his stinky energy. Like that dude needs a saging bad. Real bad.
I'm so naughty, look at that. I've started a bit of a love triangle there. I know ya see that, but that's just the beginning of making the dynamitic changes necessary for the story to flow. Oh trust me, you will see it soon in future chapters.
Again! Thank you. MUAH!