The party time came soon enough! It was held in what looks like a battle arena except it's not. It was big as an arena but it had a stage for Lina's trick-playing performance, and it was decorated with great lights and flowers and music. Everybody was having much fun. To Lina, it really seemed like EVERYBODY. One of the Golden (dragon) Race, Filia, came. She was to give Lady Luna information about their doings of the Race. Soon they were done and Mrs. Filia, along with her son, Valgarv, had fun with meeting other people.
Of course the King of Seiruun, King Philionel, came. Him, Naga, and Amelia went into the Gardens for a private conversation. Lina wondered if Phil was going to believe it, if he is going to faint after hearing it. But it looks like he didn't. As a matter of fact, he was laughing and talking to his daughters happily.
Surprisingly, everyone of the Mailstar Family came. It seems that Amelia had taken care of this guy once and for all, since he was no longer chasing Amelia around anymore. It might have been because Amelia kept close to Zel, and being who he is, no one would dare mess with him, Lina wouldn't know. So the Mailstar Family went and had their fun; Mr. Mailstar trying to get Gourry to kill him and make done of his miseries, Mrs. Mailstar trying to get another fiance for her son, and the proud heir of the Mailstar, Jeffrey, trying to get a position in King Phil's army.
After awhile of being swarmed with unfamiliar faces, Lina took her leave politely to join the little group formed over to the corner. She growled lowly at the dress she was wearing; a dragging white gown. Couldn't they have made something shorter? God, I hate these things!
Finally reaching Zel, Gourry, Amelia, Naga, and Xelloss, she sighed.
"Oh look, the host have finally arrived," Xelloss teased.
"This is so boring! Why can't they just get on with this performance of mine?! I'm tripping all over the place with this stupid dress!!" Lina complained, tugging at the long sleeves of the dress.
"Ms. Lina, you shouldn't do that. It'll ruined the dress," said the second princess of Seiruun.
"OHOHOHOHOOHOH!!! Some things never change, do they my petite little friend?!" said the first princess of Seiruun.
Lina growled, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Now, now Lina. You don't want to ruin this night now, do you?" Xelloss wagged his fingers.
"That's right, Ms. Lina. You only have to survive tonight and you'll never have to be in a situation like this again. By the way, have you thought about what you'll be performing?" Amelia asked.
Lina giggled, "Trust me, Amelia. I've got one."
Amelia squealed. "What is it? What is it?!"
"Have you ever combine all the defensive white magic together?" Lina asked particularly everyone.
They all shook their heads in reply.
"Well, I'm going to do just that! It'll be great!"
"But.... nobody has done it before..." Amelia trailed off.
"That's exactly why it's going to work. It won't be perfect but it's gonna be unique," Lina said.
"So... what about after you're done with everything? Will you continue to travel like you did before?" Gourry asked.
Lina was taken aback by the question. She never have really thought about it. She didn't even travel before, Luna just gave her orders and she had to follow it. But this time..... if she is successful with this party, Luna will want her to stay home and so will the councilors. She didn't know what to do....
Gourry tapped Lina, she was looking into distant. "So are you?"
"Uh... I don't know... I can't tell if I should or not... uh.. I think I'll have to go rest for a bit..." Lina just walked off into one of the many balconies this Ballroom had.
What should I do? I want to keep on traveling with them, but I can't do that after tonight... they'll have to go and I'll have to stay here. Maybe I should run away... naw.. that will get them in trouble too. I shouldn't bring trouble to them. But what can I do? Someone came and joined her on the balcony, interrupting her train of thoughts. Naga, it seems.
"What are you thinking about?" Naga asked casually.
"Oh... nothing really," Lina lied.
"Don't lie, Lina. It's obvious that you still want to travel. But then you think you can't because you'll have to stay here after tonight, right?" Naga leaned on the balcony and looked at Lina.
"How did you -- "
" -- guessed? Lina, Lina, I've been with you long enough to know at least thoughts that appear on your face," Naga said. Lina didn't really know what to think. She was right; she still wanted to travel, or more accurately, want to tour the world. It had been so long since she was free from this ridiculous position. This wasn't her, this was just an image to trick everyone that she was Lady Luna's sister. But.... what can she do?
"You're afraid, aren't you? Afraid of getting any one of them in trouble?"
"......." Lina replied.
"Let me tell you something, Lina. If you want to be free of doing this, you'll have to do the right thing," Naga gave some advice to Lina, which she had gotten from someone else.
"What right thing?" Lina asked, not sure of Naga's advice.
Naga shrugged and continued, "Whatever you think is right. Or whatever you think is right for YOU, not anybody else. That's the right thing."
"Right thing? RIGHT thing?! You're saying, me running away is a good thing? I don't think so. That's not right for ANYONE!" Lina exclaimed. Looking up to the sky for some stars. Luckily, the sky was filled with beautiful little stars. Lina smiled.
"You were planning to run away? -- " Naga paused and continued, " -- ohhh... so that's what it is, isn't it? You're afraid that if you run away all of us will get in trouble for your disappearance?"
"'All of us'?" Lina repeated.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, me and Amelia are going to join the.... Slayers Ship Crew after this party. Whether you are or not, it's up to you. Listen, if you really have the means to join, do it. It'll be worth the trouble," Naga said, looking directly at Lina.
"........" Again Lina replied with silence.
"Where is Lina? It is time for her to perform!!" Someone, one of the councilors, said as he came forward. He saw Lina and dragged her by the arm and into the ballroom again. Lina followed without any arguments. As Naga stood there, silenced, the Slayers Crew came forward.
"Is that why she's been acting so strange lately?" Amelia asked, her eyes following the movements of Lina.
"So... she won't come with us?" Gourry asked.
Naga shrugged and answered, "Don't know. It's up to her, whether she wants to or not. Guys, don't blame her if she doesn't join us. It's not her fault, she's just afraid and she's not familiar with that feeling."
"Afraid of what? Us being in trouble? No, I don't think so. It must be something else," Zel put in.
"What's that?" Naga asked.
"Don't know. But it has to be something," Zel shrugged.
"Okay enough. Let's join the people inside and watch Ms. Lina's performance," Amelia suggested. Everyone agreed, for they all went inside to see Lina standing on the decorated stage. She had both her hands over her chest and was chanting. The light dimmed suddenly, everyone looked around in amazement. Lina tried to concentrate on chanting all of the white defensive magic. It wasn't easy, there was a lot so Lina just cut down to combining the easy spells; Healing, Recovery, etc.
A brilliant ball of light grow in her hands, the audiences awed. The light-ball grew and grew until Lina raised her hands high above her head. Suddenly, the light-ball popped, it burst into much smaller spheres. Kind of like snow... sweet pure snow. It's so beautiful, all the audiences noted. When Lina finally lifted her head to see her piece of work, the room was filled with great little spheres falling down onto everyone.
The audiences cheered till no end. When finally Lina stepped down of the stage, Lady Luna confronted her and whispered something in her ears. Lina smiled and Lady Luna smiled and the councilors didn't say anything but having to agree with Lady Luna that Lady Lina is no longer a disgrace to the Inverse Clan.
Dancing time came and fortunately (or is it unfortunately) for Zel, because Princess Amelia asked him to dance and refusing a princess is NOT a bright idea. So hesitantly, Zel lead Amelia to the dance floor. Now the first princess of Seiruun is more fortunate because no man would refuse a chance to dance with her. Actually, the gents all asked her first, making Lina kinda jealous.
"Jeez I wish I have a bust line like hers!" Lina complained, sitting with Gourry.
"Uh?" Gourry said, mouthful.
Lina sighed. "Nothing Gourry. Just continue to devour everything in sight."
Gourry wiped his mouth with the napkins nearby and said to Lina, "No. I heard what you said."
"Then why'd you asked again?"
"Oh I just thought I misunderstood, is all. You know, you should be happy with what you've got-"
"What did you say?!!" Lina said, holding up forks and knives.
Gourry waved. "No, no. I didn't mean it that way! I was just gonna say that you look cute as is."
Lina blushed. "Uh... thanks.. I suppose..." She turned away from Gourry's face and saw that Xelloss was dancing with every other girl in the party, Naga was dancing with every other guy in the party, and Amelia was dancing with the blushing Zelgadis. Lina had to smile. Even though they looked funny, they also looked cute. She wished SOMEONE would ask her to dance...
She was about to sigh again, when a pair of hands appeared in front of her face. Gourry was asking her to DANCE! Gourry smiled warmly. "I hope you don't mind."
Lina smiled and took his hands. "Not one bit."
Gourry lead Lina off to the dance floor and started dancing. The rest, Amelia, Zel, Naga, Xelloss, smiled and giggled when they saw this. Why were they smiling and giggling? Well then, that is a secret. Just kidding, you Gourry and Lina Couple Fanatics should know why.
The Fantastic Times ended eventually. Most of the guests went home, leaving only Amelia and Co. in the ballroom, Lina had to leave right after the guests were gone. It seems Lady Luna had been summoning Lina to her quarters. It was hard for Lina to have left without saying anything to the others. Her companions. Her friends. She would have some time to say something to them after this. That is, if Lady Luna wanted to keep her for awhile, then she would no chance in Hell to get out. This was getting very frustrating, being a Lady.
Amelia looked back to her birth place one more time. Being at the dock had some viewpoint to the whole city. She saw almost the whole mansion itself standing right in front of the mountains. In the morning, it would be so beautiful, dawning breaking and all. She also could see the Inverse Estate, lights out except for Lady Luna's room. It was sad to have to leave Lina behind like this. But she can't go anymore, she was one of the Inverse Clan now. Not as a disgrace, not as a street kid, but as Lady Luna's little sibling. A whole new life, a whole new ego, why would she leave all she had work for just to go with her and the others? It was silly to have thought Lina would go, but it doesn't mean she didn't deserve a little 'Good-bye' from her friends. Amelia sulked.
"What's the matter Amelia?" Naga asked.
That startled Amelia. "Umm... oh nothing really..."
"You're thinking about Lina aren't you?" Naga said, sighing. She thought saying all those touching words to Lina was going to at least make her come and say farewell or something.
"Well... yes, to tell you the truth... I just don't think it's right to just leave her without saying anything at all. I mean... well.. you know what I mean..." Amelia tried to explained.
Naga tilted her head slightly and said, "Actually I don't know. But in a way I think I can simplify your feelings. You want Lina to come with us but then when you think about all she have achieve for herself, you think 'Why would she leave all that behind?' and sulk as you just a minute ago."
Amelia looked at her older sister and said, "You could read people's mind like a book, Gracia. Yes, that's what I thought. I wish she would come with us. It wouldn't be the same without her."
Naga nodded sagely as the Guys came by.
"Cheer up, Amelia! We'll send Lina a postcard or something," Gourry said, as he patted Amelia's back.
"Why is it taking so long for the Seiruun authorities to bring our ship?" Zel, the unfeeling stone man said that.
"Come on Zel. Have a heart, a stone heart even, Amelia is trying NOT miss Lina here," Xelloss, the cheerful one said that. Zel snorted in reply.
"It's okay, I think it's taking them long because of the paper works I suppose. They have to have the rights to take that ship out into the ocean again," Amelia said.
"As long as it comes out the way it should be, I could wait longer," Zel said.
As the group fell silent, the ship finally arrived. Amelia and Naga reluctantly got on the ship. Following the guys onto the ship was easy, but bumping into them was not.
Amelia was following Zel, which made it much more painful, him being stoned and all.
Amelia rubbed her nose and said, "Why did you stop all of a sudden?" She looked over Zel and saw who she thought she wouldn't see for a long time.
"LINA!!!" They all yelled simultaneously.
...awhile back... in the Inverse Estate...
Lina stood in front of Lady Luna. She was curious of Lady Luna's action but said nothing. Lina wondered if her sister would allow her to say farewell to her friends. It was odd that she sent all of her maids out of her room. Usually they would have to be in here no matter what. Even Sylphiel, Lady Luna's new personal Priestess, had been sent out. This didn't scare nor did it make Lina happy but it left nothing but curiosity for Lina. Why did she have to be here instead of being with her friends? At least being with them was more better than being here where no one but your sister knows you are alive. Why won't big sis say something?!
"You want to go don't you?" Luna asked.
"Uh?" Lina said.
"Go with your friends. I'm speaking to you as a Lady nor as a High Priestess of Ciepheed, but as an older sister. I am not demanding an answer, but I am requesting for one. Do you or do you not want to join your friends in their journeys?" Luna asked again.
Lina thought for a split second and answered, "..yes...I do want to join them but...."
"But you think I won't let you go. Or rather the councilors?" Luna said.
"No, it's not that I am afraid of not being able to go, I could just run away and no one would find out until morning and by then I would be out of reach, "Lina said as she looked down.
"Then why did you not do just that?" Luna asked.
"It will disgrace the whole entire Inverse Clan, will it not? You have help me off the streets and I will not disgrace this Clan. I will not disgrace your name for you have help me through my life," Lina said with what look like a determine face.
[Sidebar: Now THAT was touching! TOO touching!]
Luna smiled and said, "Even if it means you will not be able to see your friends again for a long time? Even if it means losing your chance of journeying throughout the world?"
Lina nodded slowly yet determinedly. Luna smiled.
"You have pleased me, Lina. You have matured. You well deserve all those chances you've gotten. You've done your job well at being my sibling. Do you know why I have chosen you and not any other street kid to be my sibling?" Luna said through a smile.
Lina tilted her head a bit and said, "No. No I don't know why."
"It was because I saw a worthy girl when had attack the group of bandits. I saw she had just what I wanted to see through all my years of being a High Priestess. Determination," Luna said.
"What?"
"Determination in what one wants to be done. I see that every time I see you try to do something. You had that same determination when you said you would rather lose everything than have my name disgraced. That pleases me to no end. You may go. To your friends and journey. Do not worry about disgracing anything. You are Princess Amelia's personal bodyguard, are you not? I will simply tell everyone that you are going to do your job until the Princess comes back," Luna smiled as Lina stood in shock.
"You mean, I can really go? Out there, in the ocean, again?" Lina stammered as Luna nodded.
Lina, out of pure relief and joy, gave Lady Luna a warm hug muttering a Thank You. Soon Lina was out the door to pack. She would get to be with her friends and never have to worry about a thing. She would get to travel the world like she had always wanted to. She would...she would finally get to be free of THIS!!!
...present time and place....
"Hi all! Miss me?" Lina said as others stared wide-eye. "What? You don't mine me joining you, right?"
"M-ms...ms Li-lina?" Amelia stammered.
"How come... how come you're here?" Naga asked, not believing her eyes just yet.
Lina winked and put up the victory sign. "Hey! Come on! Let's leave out the details and get going before my sister changes her mind!"
"Your sister?" Zel said, curiously.
"Come on! Come on! Let's GO!!!" Lina shouted and set sail.
Sometime later the group all had a little conversation.
"...and that's it...she let me go..." Lina had been explaining to all of them what had happened in the estate.
"Really? Just like that?" Amelia asked.
"Yep."
"Determination? Didn't know you had any," Zel said casually.
"Eh, I didn't know I had any either. Until she pointed it out to me," Lina said.
Amelia quietly said, "Wasn't that sarcasm you just said, Mr. Zelgadis?"
Zel shrugged and sweatdropped.
"So where are we going?" Gourry said.
Lina shrugged and said, "I don't know but one thing's for sure, no one will ever get in my way!!!"
"YEAH!!!" the rest of the people cheered and they began their endless journey...
They will never forget this day, for today is the day they set off into the sunset. To where they will not know. When is it they will go back home or settle down is anonymous. All they know is that they will keep going and will never stop for anyone or anywhere because they are...THE SLAYERS SHIP CREW!!!
ONE more scene!
it's the Epilogue of this story
after the epilogue, I swear it's The END! END! (and) END!!!