Disclaimer: As every one of you know, I don't own the Slayers. SO STOP %*#&ING E-MAILING ME ABOUT NOT PUTTING A DISCLAIMER IN MY LAST FIC.
-Dan Harrison
“Damn it all!” Zelgadis screamed, hurling a beaker against the wall. The liquid he had hoped would cure him oozed to the ground, forming a steaming pool below.
“Not again!” he lifted the stone lab table and hurled it into the wall, smashing it to dust.
“Master!” Jayble Westermoor, his apprentice, cried. “Please calm down!”
“Another failed attempt!” Zelgadis slammed his fist into the door, splintering it to pieces.
“We’ll find it, master!” Jayble assured. “It will just take us some time. Please! You're destroying the lab!”
Zelgadis calmed slightly. He put down the chair he was prepared to hurl out a nearby window and turned to his apprentice. “I need it NOW!” he cried.
“I know, master! But we’re not going to find it any faster if you destroy the lab. Please calm down.” pleaded Jayble.
Zelgadis looked around the ruined lab, and sighed. “Fine. Now get some sleep, we’re starting again in the morning.”
The boy bowed curtly and left the remnants of their lab.
Zelgadis sighed as he slumped into his favorite chair. He’d been looking for his cure for over a year now. Jayble was the only other human he had had contact with since he left his friends so long ago.
He let his head slip into his hands, and began to gently sob.
“I don’t think he’s up, Lina.” said Gourry, rubbing his eyes.
“Of coarse he’s up. How many times have you known Zel to go to bed before midnight?” Lina barked back.
“But there aren’t any lights on!” insisted Gourry.
“Oh, shut up and knock!” Lina snapped back.
Gourry rapped on the stone door of the little hut. The two waited outside for several minutes before the door slid open slowly. A young bow in a night cap poked his head out.
“Can...can I help you?” he inquiered, yawning.
“Yeah. Is Zel here?” Lina pushed in.
“You mean master Zelgadis? Yes, he lives here.” said Jayble sleepily.
“Great! Where is he? We’ve got to talk to him. And who the hell are you?” Lina pried.
Jayble bowed deeply. “Jayble Westermoor, apprentice to Zelgadis Greyword, at your service. The master is in the lab right now, I’ll go get him for you.”
“Thanks, kid.” said Gourry.
“Yeah, thanks.” muttered Lina.
Zelgadis was awoken by Jayble’s shaking.
“What is it, Jayble?” he asked.
“There are two people here to see you, master.” he explained.
“Guests?” Zelgadis frowned. “No one has ever come up here before.”
“Hey, Zel!!!” Lina called from the shattered doorway.
“How you doing, Zel?” Gourry asked from behind her.
Zelgadis stared at his two friends with wide eyes.
“What’s up Zel?” Lina asked, “I’d would’ve thought you’d be glad to see us.”
“I...I am. I just wasn’t excepting you, that’s all.” Zelgadis stammered.
“Yeah, well, we’re here. Nice place you’ve got.” Lina commented.
“Thank you.” Zelgadis replied.
“Now that we’ve gotten that straighted out can we talk to you, alone.” Lina pointed her thumb at Jayble.
“Go to bed, Jayble.” Zelgadis ordered.
Jayble bowed and left the lab.
Lina turned to Zelgadis. “We’ve got some bad news.” she said gravely. When Zelgadis didn’t reply she continued. “Amelia’s pretty sick. Phil want’s you to come back with us to Sairune.”
“When?” Zelgadis tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the concern out of his voice.
“Tomorrow, if we could.” Lina answered.
Zelgadis nodded gravely. “I’ll have to bring Jayble with me.”
“Yeah, whatever.” said Lina. “But we’ve got to get back to Sairune as soon as possible.”
Zelgadis woke Jayble early the next morning.
“Pack some food and clothing. We’re going to be going to Sairune.”
“Sairune!” Jayble was bristly with excitement.
“Yes, Jayble. Now hurry up, we have to get there very soon.”
The four marched in complete silence. Even Jayble, bursting at the seams earlier, seemed to sense the need for quite. A day and a half later they spied the white walls of Sairune.
“Almost there.” Lina commented to no one in particular.
“Master?” Jayble spoke for the first time that day.
“What is it, Jayble?” replied Zelgadis.
“Why are we coming here?” the boy asked. “Why did we leave so suddenly?”
Zelgadis stared at his apprentice for several moments as they walked. Finally he answered, “We have come to see an old friend of mine. She’s gotten very sick.”
“Oh,” was all Jayble could say.
“Ms. Lina Inverse, Mr. Gourry Gabvriev, Mr. Zelgadis Greword, and Mr. Jayble Westermoor!” the guard announced from his post outside of the door.
“Show them in.” Prince Phillionel called, his voice hoarse.
The door swung open, and in walked the four companions.
“We’ve brought him, Phil.” Lina looked at Amelia’s form, huddled on the bed. “Has she gotten any better?"
Prince Phil looked at her with red rimmed eyes, and shook his head no. It was all he could do not to burst into tears.
Phil walked up to the group and embraced them (all save Jayble, who he didn’t know). “I’m glad you came, Mr. Zelgadis.”
Zelgadis nodded slowly, walked past Phil, and knelt next to Amelia. Her face was flushed crimson and sweat poured from her brow. Her hair had thinned and dry. She looked to be no more than skin and bones.
“What happened to her?” Zelgadis asked.
“We don’t know.” answered Phil, “She complained of seeing spots about a week ago, and about being dizzy...” he trailed off.
“The healer was able to stabilize her, for now, but until they know what’s happened to her there isn’t much they can do. They’re trying every...” Lina began
Zelgadis cut Lina short. “Come here, Jayble.”
“Master?”
“What do you think happened here?”
Jayble looked down upon Amelia. He grabbed her wrist, placed his head upon her chest, and listened.
“What is he...” Lina began.
“Hush.” Zelgadis silenced her.
After a few moments he brought his head up. “May I examine her, your majesty?”
Phil’s face brightened, “Of coarse! Use whatever you need.”
Jayble came out of the room about an hour later.
“I have found out what ails the princess.” he said gravely.
“What is it?” bellowed Prince Phil. “Can it be cured? I’ll pay any price.”
“The princess has been struck down by a magical curse. I am experienced in the art of healing so I was able to find out the problem. Luckily I am familiar with this type of curse, and it can be cured.”
“How?” Phil leaped upon the boy and lifted him off his feet. “How can I heal my daughter?”
Jayble looked terrified, “Please, sire, put me down!”
Prince Phil put him down. Jayble ran behind Zelgadis.
“How can we heal Amelia, Jayble?” Lina asked gently.
“Ms. Amelia is under the effects of a certain mind altering curse. It puts the victim to a dream like state where the person who levied the curse can reek havoc. A kind of perpetual nightmare. If I have the right ingredients I can make a potion that will allow one person to enter her mind and, hopefully, defeat whatever nightmare she’s having.”
“Let’s get to it then!” Prince Phil bellowed. “What do you need?”
“I’ll need to take a look at your healing supplies, first.”
“Well, Jayble, do they have the supplies?” Zelgadis asked.
Jayble shook his head sadly. “I still need four otter ingredients.”
“Do you know where we can get them?” Prince Phil pressed.
“Yes. But they’re generally very hard to get to.” he answered.
“It doesn’t matter.” returned Phil. He turned to Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis. “Go get my fastest horses, split up, and find the ingredients.”
“But there’s only three of us!” Gourry objected.
“Hmmmm.” Phil cupped his chin with his hand (Gourry style).
“Can I go, too, master?” Jayble pleaded. “I know where the ingredients are, and I would make four.”
Zelgadis stood silently for several minutes. Finally, “I suppose. But be careful.”
After being briefed on the location of their designated ingredients the companions met at the gate.
“Well, guys, I guess I’ll see you in a couple of days.” said Lina.
“Yeah. Try not to blow up to many town while your gone, Lina.” Gourry clapped her on the back.
Jayble leaned over to Zelgadis, “Do they always act like that, master?”
“Yes.” he answered as he leapt upon his horse.
No one noticed a pair of crimson eyes staring at them from the shadows.
Gourry rode through the night. He needed to find a huge tree, towering twice as high as all the others.
“It should be pretty easy to find.” Jayble had assured him.
“Where the hell is it?” Gourry moaned.
“Where is what?” came a voice from behind him.
Gourry span around in the saddle (which led to him becoming hopelessly tangled up and eventually falling off completely)
“Who are you?!” he cried, fingering his sword.
The stranger, wrapped in a heavy brown cloak, through up his hands. “No need for violence, friend. You seemed lost, and so I am here to offer my services.” the stranger bowed low. “Rengar, at your service. Now what do you need to find?”
Gourry couldn’t believe his luck. “Great! I need to find this really big tree. Do you know where it is?”
Rengar snickered. “You mean Dentrag’s tree, don’t you? I must say, you certainly must be brave. But I would suggest that you return to where ever you came from.”
“I can’t. A friend of mine needs some of that, uh, Dantoog’s tree.”
“Dentrag’s tree. Why on earth would your friend need something as awful as that?” Rengar asked.
“She’s really sick, and this kid said that I needed to get her some bark from that Duntag’s tree.” replied Gourry.
“Dentrag’s!” Rengar cried, then calmed himself. “I see. Well, she must be very important to you for you to come all this way. Very well, I’ll help you find the tree.”
“Gee, thanks.” Gourry clapped the little man on the back.
“I do require something in return, however.” said Rengar.
“I’ll give you whatever you want, but I got to get to Dontruge’s tree!” Gourry pleaded.
“Dentr... oh forget it.” Rengar shook his head.
“Well, what do you want?”
“You’ll see, just as soon as we reach the tree.” Rengar began to chuckle.
Gourry and Rengar moved quickly through the dense forest, leaving the horse in a nearby clearing.
“How far is it?” Gourry asked.
“Oh, not far.” Rengar answered. “Just over that hill, in fact.”
“I don’t see it.” insisted Gourry.
“Oh, but you will.” Rengar chuckled.
Gourry nearly fainted when they crested the hill. The top of a gigantic tree poked out from a deep, dark hole in the ground. A strange smell wafted up from the pit, making Gourry’s eyes tear.
“There’s the tree.” Rengar pointed.
“But it’s...it’s...” stammered Gourry.
“In a really deep hole. Yes, I know. That’s why you couldn’t see it. Now about the payment.” Rengar chuckled wickedly.
“Huh? Oh yeah! I don’t have all that much money.” Gourry admitted.
“Oh, that’s okay. We can work out an alternate payment.” Rengar voice began to change dramatically. The cloak he wore bulged and tore. When the last bits of cloak were shed a creature standing at least ten feet tall stood slobbering before a bewildered Gourry. The creature’s rows of razor sharp teeth dripped acid, and it’s talons tore at the ground it stood on.
“Let me properly introduce myself. I am Dentrag, and this is my tree.” he licked his green lips, “And I really hate visitors.”
“You...you...you...you are really, really big!” stammered Gourry.
“Yes, yes I am.” replied Dentrag. “Now let’s get to the point. I am going to eat you.”
“What?!” cried Gourry.
“I...am...going...to...eat...you. Damn, are you ever dense.” Dentrag began to stalk forward. “Now hold still, it makes it a lot easier on us both.”
“I don’t think so!” Gourry pulled his sword out. “Light come forth!”
Dentrag’s eyes widened as Gourry’s sword burst with light.
“Impressive! But I’m still going to eat you.” he said after several tense moments.
As if on cue the two leapt at each other. Gourry’s sword bit deeply into Dentrag’s leg seconds before his talon’s ripped the flesh from Gourry’s shoulder. The blow sent Gourry hurtling into a nearby tree, snapping it in half.
“Impressive!” congratulated Dentrag. “I must say that this is the worst wound I have ever received.” he laughed. “Not that it should matter to you.”
Dentrag limped towards the Gourry, who was pushing himself up. With his shoulder torn and bleeding he leapt at the monster. Swinging wildly Gourry scored hit after hit on the wounded monster, sending it to it’s knees.
“I...don’t...think...so!” screamed Dentrag. Moving like lighting he buried his teeth into Gourry’s arm and pulled.
Gourry blacked out just as he plunged the sword into Dentrag’s skull.
Gourry awoke in a warm bed, surrounded by many creatures.
“Who...who are you?” he tried to sit up.
“Stay down, brave one.” one of the creatures, a human women with butterfly wings pushed him back down.
“We are the beings who call this forest home. We thank you for saving us from the horrible Dentrag. We healed you as best we could, but I’m afraid your arm will never work again.” another said, sadly.
Gourry groaned, then sat bolt upright. “Amelia! I have to get back to Sairune with some bark from that tree!”
“Hold, brave one. You are in no condition to go anywhere.” the woman with wings said.
“I have to! If I don’t she’ll die.” Gourry cried.
The creatures looked at one another. Finally one came forward.
“You helped us, and so we shall help you. We will take you and whatever you want back to your home. But rest for now, you are still hurt badly.”
Gourry laid back down, and prayed that he would get back in time.
Zelgadis galloped through the night. When the horse could take no more the chimera dismounted and ran on foot. His destination, Mist Valley, lay only miles away, and he wasn’t about to slow down.
He came to an abrupt stop the moment he crested the next hill, and his jaw fell open.
“How the hell and I supposed to find a patch of flowers in that?!” he screamed.
The valley had been aptly named. Bellow Zelgadis stretched miles and miles of rolling fog so thick even his eyes couldn’t pierce it. With a ragged sigh Zelgadis set his chin and walked boldly into the unknown. For hours he stumbled around, cursing his luck and promising revenge to no one in particular.
Without warning Zelgadis stopped...
...because he had slammed head first into a wall.
“Oww.” groaned Zelgadis as he picked himself up. “What is this doing here?” Feeling his way around he came to a door. With no other options he knocked.
There was a long pause. Finally a small voice from within called, “Just, just a minute.”
The door creaked open and a small child poked her head out. “Yes? Who is... Oh my god! It’s a monster! Don’t kill me!” the door slammed shut in Zelgadis’s face.
With a resigned sigh he forced open the door...
...only to be struck full in the face with a frying pan.
“Oww.” groaned Zelgadis as he picked himself up for the second time. Before the little girl could smack him with the frying pan again he caught her by the wrist and lifted her off of the ground.
“I am not going to hurt you.” he assured. “I just need a little information.”
“But your a monster!” she shrieked.
“If I was a monster I would have eaten you by now.” Zelgadis reasoned.
“I...suppose.” said the girl, relaxing a bit.
“Good. Now I’m going to put you down, but if you hit me with that frying pan again you're getting tied up.” threatened the chimera.
“’Kay!” the girl smiled. When Zelgadis had set her down she offered her little hand. “I’m Kally. Pleased to meat you.”
“Then why did you hit me with the frying pan.” muttered Zelgadis. Without taking her hand he said, “I am Zelgadis Greywerd. Where are your parents.”
Kally frowned. “Their gone. I’ve been by myself for a long time.”
“I’m sor... that’s quite impressive, Kally.” Zelgadis caught himself. “Do you, perhaps know your way around this valley?”
“Kinda, why?” responded Kally.
“I have a friend who is very sick. She needs a certain type of flower that only grows here. Do you know where there are any flowers, Kally?” asked Zelgadis.
“Yeah!” Kally clapped her hands, “My parents used to take me to this place where there wasn’t any fog. It’s really pretty!” she frowned. “But we can’t go there any more.”
“Why not?!” cried Zelgadis.
“Cause there’s a monster there!” her eyes began to tear up, “It killed my parents!”
Zelgadis kneeled next to the little girl. “Kally, listen to me. I need to find these flowers. My friend needs them, and I will do whatever I can to get them.”
“But it’ll eat us!” Kally cried.
“No it won’t.” promised Zelgadis. “I’ll take care of the monster. It won’t eat either of us.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“'Kay!”
Zelgadis and Kally waked quickly through the fog. Kally chatted away and Zelgadis, well Zelgadis just kind of stood there.
Suddenly Kally stopped.
“What is it, Kally?” Zelgadis asked.
“We’re here.” she whispered back. “Only a few more feet.”
Zelgadis pulled out his sword and stepped forward. The fog ended and in it’s place was the most beautiful field Zelgadis had ever seen. Kally gripped his leg, shaking.
“I don’t see any monster.” said Zelgadis. “Maybe it left.”
“Maybe not.” came a deep voice from all around them. “I’ve been waiting for you, Zelgadis.”
The fog that they had just passed through began to ripple. Within seconds it had formed into a solid brick wall. In fact every thing around them was changing. The field that had only seconds early been so beautiful became barren. A bubbling black liquid oozed from every crack in the ground. In the blink of an eye the ooze molded itself into the shape of a man.
“I have been waiting for you for some time, Zelgadis Greywerd.” the creature bubbled.
“What are you?” asked Zelgadis.
“I am the master of this valley. You have come for a certain flower to cure your friend, Amelia, am I correct?”
Zelgadis stared at the creature in amazement. He hadn’t told anyone besides Kally about his purpose.
“I am correct. I always am.” it chuckled.
“Who are you?!” Zelgadis cried, his sword at ready.
“I have no name. Nor do I need one. All you need to know is that I am under orders to kill you.” his arms begin to change into long, curved blades. “I am most sorry about this.”
“I thought you were master of this valley!” Zelgadis chided as he began to circle his opponent.
“I am. But I’m not foolish enough to disobey orders from Him.”
“From who?” Zelgadis asked, attempting to pry as much information as he could from the strange being.
“You won’t live to find out!” the creature lunged at Zelgadis, slashing his face with several blows before Zelgadis rolled to the side.
Zelgadis screamed, holding his bleeding face. Laughing the creature moved in for the kill.
“I really thought you’d be more of a challenge than...” it began.
“Elmikia Lance!” screamed the chimera, sending the creature flying across the barren soil.
Zelgadis leapt upon the fallen monster before it had a chance to collect itself. With unmatched fury he tore into the creature, and with a his final blow severed the head from it’s body.
“To easy.” Zelgadis smirked as he wiped the creatures entrails off on the ground.
“You know what they say about something being to good to be true, don’t you?” the creature’s voice startled Zelgadis from his boasting.
The monster had totally reformed, without any sign of injury.
“Care to try it again?” it mocked.
The two battled for hours. Zelgadis had thrown everything he had at the creature, and still it came on. Bleeding from multiple wounds and suffering from severe fatigue it seemed only a matter of time before the battle was lost.
“It seems a shame to kill you. You’ve put up such a valiant fight. But orders are orders.” the creature chatted while Zelgadis vainly attempted yet another spell.
“Shut up!” screamed the chimera.
“That’s rather rude.” said the monster as it bit deeply into Zelgadis’s leg.
“Must...get...out.” Zelgadis thought to himself bitterly. The battle was lost already.
Zelgadis noticed something in the distance as he decapitated the thing for what must have been the hundredth time. Kally, some ways away, was waving a bundle of white flowers in the air.
“The flowers!” cried Zelgadis joyously. Before the creature could react he had taken to the air.
“No!” it screamed.
As fast as he could Zelgadis swooped upon the girl and carried her into the air.
“Damn it! No!” the creature cried.
The creature sat brooding in the mist. Behind it Kally’s house lie in ruins.
“How could I lose to that freak?” it asked itself aloud.
“I would like to know the same thing.” an echoing voice came from nowhere and everywhere all at once. A pare of crimson eyes appeared in front of the creature.
“Master!” the creature flung himself to the ground.
“You have failed me.” the entity said without emotion.
“Forgive me, Lord! I was not prepared for the creature to take flight!” it whimpered.
“I do not tolerate failure.”
(At that same time)
Zelgadis and Kally sat on the ridge outside of Mist Valley. The flowers sat safely in Zelgadis’s pouch.
Kally turned to Zelgadis. “Hey. Where am I supposed to go?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Zelgadis returned.
“Well, I can’t go back home. He’ll kill me. You know a village or something I could go to near by? If you just point the way I’ll be fine by myself.”
Zelgadis stared at her for a few moments. Finally, “Do you want to come back with me to Sairune?”
“Sairune?” she asked.
“Yes. A bright young girl like yourself shouldn’t be live alone, and I owe you one.”
Kally laughed and moved closer to Zelgadis. “It’s cold.” she commented.
Zelgadis smiled and offered his cloak.
“Look at that.” Zelgadis pointed at the Mist Valley. “The fog’s starting to clear.”
At that instant an blood chilling scream filled the air, then there was silence.