Finally...
After all this time, he was finally free. No more prisons, stone, self-made, or otherwise. No more. He was free. Free to touch, to feel, to hurt. L-sama, even the pain felt good. Just knowing he could feel it.
Free to love...
"Zel!"
To be loved...
Gourry scrambled over to Zel's body, checking for a pulse. It took all his willpower not to break down in tears when he found it. Faint, but steady. Considering everything he just saw Zel go through, he'd take that as a good sign.
By the gods, was it really worth so much? Stupid question, of course it was. You... you idiot! You could have been killed! Then where would I be, huh? You didn't have to change. Not important, just... be okay now...
The swordsman looked over at the remains of... whatever that was. A strange creature with skin made of living gemstone; it's power was stronger than a Mazoku and a Dragon combined. Just remembering it made Gourry's skin crawl. A snake walking on spider legs, and that tail. Absently, Gourry traced the wound on his left arm, wincing at the sting. Xelloss said it wasn't deadly poison, but Gourry was sure he'd probably feel it later. Not that it mattered, so long as Zel...
It had taken everything they had, everything the shaman had. Even Xelloss, who had oddly enough helped them for once, wasn't able to make so much as a dent in it. Gourry himself, along with Lina and Amelia, were all wiped. Neither the Dragu Slave, the Ra Tilt, nor the Ragna Blade had worked, and nobody had wanted Lina to use the Giga Slave. They knew how important a cure was to Zel, but enough to die for?
For Zel, apparently, yes.
Gourry closed his eyes, his mind flashing back to those moments that let them all know just how determined Zel was.
"That's it, forget it, I'm going home."
"Miss Lina!"
"Look at it, Amelia. It's a snake on spider legs with a tail dripping acidic snot. Dragu Slave doesn't work, Two Ra Tilts didn't work. And I can't use the Ragna Blade because it's too damn fast and keeps phasing out. So unless you want me to use the Giga Slave..."
Everyone turned her way with a loud, resounding "NO!"
"...there's nothing, and I mean nothing, that we can do about it. And I'm not going to get myself killed for something that we don't even know..."
"It will work." Zelgadis stood up slightly, a strange look coloring his eyes.
"Oh really. And just how do you know that?"
"Because..." Zel took a deep breath. He needed to get himself centered and fast. No way I'm leaving here, not as a chimera... "Because the Ajanians were once the greatest healers of their world. It is said one of their kind even found a cure for the darkness inside the human soul, but did not administer it because it would harm the balance."
"And how do you know any of that is even true? These Aja... whatever... aren't even from our world? We don't know that thing is even made by them. We don't know anything at all, Zel!" Lina had to struggle to keep from yelling. All they needed was for that creature to find their current hiding spot because she got too loud... again.
"I know. I know the same way I know about... that spell. My great-grandmother spoke of talking to them in her dreams. Jerales mentioned them as well in her journal."
Lina went quiet for once, thinking back to the time when they found out about Zel's heritage. She didn't notice Zel getting up and heading back towards where the creature was waiting. Gourry's cry brought the petite sorceress back to the present as she looked at where the shaman was.
"What do you think you're doing...?!"
"I'm not leaving here as a chimera..." All of them watched with expressions of shock, horror, and perhaps acceptance as Zel stood in the middle of the cavern. A strong, prickly sensation played down Gourry's spine. His expression went blank, his eyes clouded as the words he hoped never to hear fell from the chimera's lips.
"Source of all souls which dwells from the dawn of time to the end of space..."
"Mister Zelgadis!"
Gourry could have smacked the Seyruun princess. Her scream caught the creature's attention, who was now focused on Zel. The shaman would have been minus a head if Gourry hadn't blocked the sudden attack. His arms felt as if they were being ripped from their sockets, but he held onto the Hikari no Ken.
"Damnit, Amelia! Everybody, keep that thing off Zel until he's through! Flare Arrow!" Lina hurled the spell at the things head, trying to blind it as they all scramble to get it away from Zel.
"...darkness waits for the coming. In the eternal and infinite, from birth of life to shadow of death..."
It's not worth this, Zel! Even as he fought off one of the hairy legs, Gourry knew that it is, to Zelgadis. Why else use such a powerful spell? Gourry prayed to whatever gods listened and cared for the chimera's safety as he and the others continued to keep its attack focused on them.
"...the cycle remains neverending. Everlasting Flame of Blue, I summon the spirit of creation. Power hidden within my soul, I summon the spirit of destruction..."
"A little faster, Zel!"
"Careful, Lina, or you'll break his concentration and we'll have to start all over again..."
"Grr... Fireball!"
"Um, Miss Lina... the monster was over there... You just hit Mister Xelloss."
"Yeah, your point?"
Gourry didn't even bother getting involved. The very air seemed alive as Zel opened the doorway to summoning the spell... his spell... The swordsman didn't have to look to know Zelgadis was glowing; the room shimmered with light and heat. The beast then knew where the real threat was and began to charge. Not that it would do any good at that point. We'd better get out of here, fast!
"Gourry, aim this at the eyes! Elmekia Lance!"
"...called forth from the Infinite, to end thy existence from this realm, as I become an avatar of forces..."
Gourry took the charge into the Hikari no Ken, feeling the surge before releasing it directly into the reptilian eyes. The last thing he heard was the pained, indignant scream as he dove along with the others behind an outcrop of rocks. Xelloss had already disappeared, leaving them to their own vices.
"Figures he's be no help."
"Miss Lina, the spell...!"
Lina barely had a chance to croak out a shield spell before Zelgadis whispered the behemoth's eulogy.
"Ra... Lagora..."
Their world was bath in light. It burned into their vision even behind closed lids. A song both whispered and screamed ripped the air with it's melodic chaos. Somewhere in the distance a cry of defiant death echoed a quick harmony, already fading into the aftermath. Gourry thought he himself dead, the sheer power unlike anything ever experienced before, despite this being his second time near the spell. It was different... fueled by something other than half hidden memories and buried bloodlines.
Zel...
The power stayed with the chimera as he walked towards his intended. So long. Sure, it would only work during the full and new moons, but even that was worth it. And there were ways of extending a spell. At last, to be human...
To be free...
On a pedestal of dark stone, a crystal goblet sat catching the drops falling from the stalactite hanging overhead. Light peeked in from a crack near it, surrounding the cup in a strange halo. Zel could feel the faint hum within the crystal, though he wasn't sure what caused it. Didn't matter. A few more moments...
He knelt down to look at the inscriptions underneath. It wasn't a language so much as a pictograph. He looked up through the small hole, watching the moon fall into place. Now.
The power of Ra Lagora flew out and up, taking all of the cavern ceiling with it. Moonlight spilled in, lighting all the tiny crystals they had been too busy to notice before. Zel's enhanced hearing could pick up the low thrum as the magic the ancients left behind became alive once more. He knew he didn't have long before he'd feel the effects of casting that spell. Quickly he reached for the goblet, the crystal practically humming in his hand. The water was cool and strangely sweet to his lips, though he wasn't sure what else to expect. He set it back, waiting...
"...ARGH!"
"ZELGADIS!" "ZEL!" "MISTER ZELGADIS!"
The chimera doubled over, falling to his knees as his body struggled with both the fatigue and the metamorphosis taking place inside him. On some level, Zel could feel the demon and golem forced into a temporary sleep. He heard a faint cracking, not unlike eggshells being broken. He could not see what the others did as his stone skin literally flakes off. Smooth, pale skin was slowly revealed underneath. The lavender color seem to bleed from the roots of his hair, disappearing at the ends as the natural brown was restored. After several moments spinning lost in eternity, Zel lifted his face.
L-sama...
"Zel... your..."
"...beautiful..."
The world swam around him, but it didn't stop the small half-smile from playing across his lips. "...thanks..." His body finally won over his incredible will. Zel fell forward, fainting before he hit the ground.
He wasn't sure how long he had been out. He remember the feel of fingers against his throat. Not just the pressure, but the warmth, the touch he couldn't truly have while imprisoned. He felt something fall on his face... rain? Was it spring? How long? He didn't know. Didn't know quite where he was either, except it felt nice... warm... safe...
"Zel... Wake up. Open your eyes... let me know you're okay..."
"Gou..." Now he understood the secure feeling. Zel smiled faintly, resting his head on Gourry's chest.
"Gods, you're okay... I was worried..."
"Not a monster..."
"Oh, Zel, you never were. Not to me."
His dear Gourry. A little more and Zel would have given up on a cure altogether. Gourry saw past it, so nothing else mattered. But he wanted the chance to touch his lover and know the skin under his fingers. He wanted... and he would have, soon as he woke up. "Gourry."
"Shh. It's okay." Gourry lifted the shaman carefully. His chin rested in the soft crown of hair, marveling at the difference both in it and Zel's body. He feels so light... almost delicate... was he always meant to be this way? "Don't worry, you'll be okay."
"Yeah, it will." Still smiling, Zel let himself fall back to sleep, his body still out of balance. Gourry walked slowly, glad Lina had dragged Amelia off to make sure the roads were clear. He still didn't know how Lina seemed to... well... know when he needed to be alone with Zel. Almost as if she didn't mind... or maybe even approved.
The blonde sighed. Just too much to even try and think about when holding someone as beautiful and seemingly frail as Zelgadis in your arms. He started walking, his mind already thinking about the long nights ahead, trying to help his lover while not damaging his pride too much.
"Gourry..."
"Huh?" He looked down, finding nothing but a rare expression of contentment on Zel's face. He felt the shaman shift, settling even closer to Gourry. The swordsman just looked at him for a moment, drinking in this growing sense of peace before starting back towards the road.
Maybe it would be okay after all.