"I'm hungry-!" Lina whined. Lina Inverse, sorceress extraordinaire, enemy of all who live, someone even dragons don't mess with, and owner of more morbid titles than aforementioned, was hungry.
Which meant that her travelling companions had better get her some food and fast, or she'd toast them all with one of her infamous black magic spells.
"Uh, Lina, how about that restaurant over there?" Gourry pointed.
Gourry Gabriev was known for his brains; the lack of one, to be exact. Dense and slow, his mind allowed him the happiness of fools. For example, he traveled with Lina Inverse and still wasn't scared for his life. No, he actually smiled at the face of Certain Death every morning-oh, excuse me, I meant the face of Lina (see what I mean about being the owner of many morbid titles?). However, he was tough as a rock (his skull was proof of that) and very skilled with a sword.
"Gourry, unless you've got a load of money, don't eat there. It's a really classy place with food to die for.... I'm HUNGRY-!"
The group winced.
Zelgadis Greywers looked at the sorceress many feared and even more knew of. There were times when he wondered why he bothered travelling with her. Being a chimera hadn't dulled his senses in the slightest, but even so he knew he should avoid her at all costs.
But he'd only run from Lina Inverse, enemy of all who live. He was travelling with Lina Inverse, savior of the world several times over, killer of bandits, and an excellent friend.
So he decided to stick around.
However, there was still the food problem...
It was at this point that the sugary sweet adolescent princess of the group decided to bounce with love, justice, and hope. On top of a boulder, no less. "Lina, we shall triumph the evil of hunger! Hunger is and evil which must be abolished! But, since suffering strengthens the courage of the body and mind, let us embrace it to ensure our ability to recognize others' pain and thus smite it from the ends of the earth! We, the fighters for justice shall blah blah blah..." Amelia, Princess of Sailoon, was known for her speeches of justice and love from atop high places. Not to mention the length of said speeches.
Lina groaned. "Now I'm hungry and I have a headache! Anybody got aspirin?"
The group shook their heads.
"Anybody got money?"
The group shook their heads again.
Lina looked crushed.
"I've got some," a voice said cheerfully from behind Lina, who jumped.
Xelos, trickster priest general of Mazoku lord Zelas Metallium, had an annoying tendency to disappear and come again at will. He seemed to enjoy startling the group while doing both.
DONG!
Of course, the fact that he was one of the most evil and powerful Mazoku in existence did nothing to protect him from Lina's quicksilver punches.
"Don't do that! And you've got money?" Her tone changed from annoyed to hopeful.
Xelos rubbed the back of his head, grinning. "That wasn't very nice, Lina-chan."
"You're not very nice." she pointed out.
"I'm evil and nice. Evil is having malicious intent towards pretty much everything and everyone in the world, or else the tendency to have an agenda behind every move, not necessarily for good. Nice is polite, smiley, friendly and willingness to put up with certain quirks from certain people."
Gourry looked puzzled. "Xelos, why are you talking about Lina?"
WHACK!
"Owww..."
Readers, I am sorry to say even Gourry's thick skull has its limits. Zelgadiss commented, "Gourry, you forget that Lina isn't polite nor smiley. So therefore Xelos is talking about himself." He took this chance to pull Amelia off his body. Somehow she always found a way to hug him. A very annoying ability, come to think of it.
"So your little group is as happy as ever, I see, Lina-chan." Lina looked at Xelos. "Look, I'm in no mood for your games and schemes. If you've got money, let's eat and then talk. Otherwise, I'm perfectly willing to blast your Mazoku butt back to the astral planes, or possibly to L-sama's own domain."
Xelos smiled. "As charming as ever, Lina-chan."
Lina made a polite suggestion not involving Xelos' charm that made the Princess of Sailoon blush.
"Is it possible to do that?" Gourry wondered out loud.
"Trust me, you're better off not thinking about it." Zelgadiss suggested not unkindly, his face an odd greenish tint.
"Oh. Okay."
The group settled down in a restaurant and ate. Zel had a coffee. Amelia didn't quite pig out the way Lina and Gourry were, but she ate a decent portion.
Zel didn't trust the trickster priest. But instead of making an issue of it, and seeing no signs of Lina or Gourry slowing down, he started worrying about practical things. "Xelos, you've got enough money to pay for all this, right?"
"Ah, but that is a secret."
"Just tell me whether I should get a head start out of town."
Xelos only smiled.
After the pig fest was over and Xelos had proved he could pay for everything the gang talked.
Rather, Lina, Zel, and Xelos did. Amelia was asleep, and Gourry had lost track of the conversation since it started.
"So what's up, Xelos? If I remember correctly, you've never treated any of us to a free meal before. And you've never done anything for us without reasons of your own." Lina added.
"Well, I figure that, since starting tomorrow you'll be living through hell, a good meal and a good night's sleep might be good for morale."
"Excuse me?"
Xelos smiled almost dreamily. "You're the Chosen. By Dragon Rights, by Mazoku Desires, by the Lord of Nightmares, you've been chosen over and over again. The is one prophecy that slaps you in the face and says, 'pay attention!'"
"Cut the crap and get to the point."
"Do you know of 'The Prophecy'?"
Zel stiffened.
"No."
Xelos smiled at Zel. "Care to enlighten us?"
"I-I came across it in one of my searches for a cure. But that's..." Xelos beamed at Lina. "Congratulations, Lina! You've just been nominated to save the world again!"
"Wha-Could someone tell me what's 'The Prophecy'?"
Xelos lost the smile. "You've really never heard of it?"
"Yeah."
Zel winced. "That's the final evidence, if my interpretation's not wrong..."
Xelos eyed Lina for a long time, until she started squirming. "What?"
Xelos answered softly, "Just wondering if you're up to the task."
Lina looked alarmed.
Zel's face became notably more depressed.
Xelos leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtful. "I suppose I should tell you. Even if I claimed it as one of my secrets. Zel-buddy here will probably tell you.
"Okay, that decided, let's get started! Ahem 'The Prophecy'. By authors unknown and long dead, brought to you by Xelos productions." He grinned at Lina.
"'A final test
The End of Everything
The Beginning of Everything
She who is Chosen
By Dragon Rights
By Mazoku Desires
By the Lord of Nightmares
Chosen unawares
She who does not know
Black and white magic
To prevent the Deaths of all
Three races unwilling
Protected by one
In a journey wrought with pain
Ending in joy
The final test
On the Dark Maiden's Eve
All is decided
Of Life and Death.'"
"...Xelos, do me a favor and translate that."
"He can't." Lina glanced at Zel. "'The Prophecy' was written down all right. But the punctuation has been lost in the sea of time. There are several dozen different copies of it, each with its own punctuation method. That one he just told you is without any punctuation whatsoever, probably because even he doesn't know the correct form."
Xelos grinned. "I didn't say that."
Zel snorted.
Lina sat down. "Okay...But how do you know it's me that's the Chosen?"
"Ah, but that's a secret." Xelos grinned. "Besides, you'll find out soon enough."
"Oh. Typical. Well, I'm going to bed. Hey, Gourry! Wake up! We're going to sleep!"
After Amelia and Gourry were dumped into appropriate inn rooms and Lina had said good night, Zel and Xelos remained at the table.
"You didn't tell her the rest of the prophecy."
"She'll find out soon, like I said."
"You bastard..."
Xelos smiled. "Why, thank you." Then the smile faded. "What do you think her chances are?"
"You're asking me, a lowly transformed former human?" Zel's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Gosh, I don't know what to say."
"It wasn't a polite request."
Zel took one look at the promised pain in Xelos' eyes if he didn't talk and decided to lay off the sarcasm. "I honestly don't know. She's going to go through a lot. Her luck has always been very good, but she also tends to get thrown into the worst of things. But then, that's all part of 'The Prophecy.'" He glared at Xelos. "Let me make one thing clear to you, Mazoku trickster priest: You allow anything to hurt Lina willingly and I'll kill you. I don't care if you're more powerful, faster, smarter than me, I'll find a way to kill you. Understood?"
Xelos contemplated it. Then, lightly, "With everything that's about to happen, Zel, she's going to be in enough pain without me intentionally adding to it." He grinned widely at Zel. "Besides, her pain isn't something I want..."
Zel shuddered. "Unfortunately for me, 'The Prophecy' was clear on what you wanted. And what the Dragons want. But L-sama's wishes were a little fuzzy..."
"L-sama is chaotic. If you pin her down with a prophecy she'll find a way to break through, even if it means destroying the world." Xelos smiled. "Now then, why don't you get some sleep? I know that the fact that your having a vague idea of what's about to happen isn't going to help you any. Want to me to put you to sleep?"
Zel paused in his leaving the table. "Why would you help me?"
"Think about it, Zel-buddy." When Zel failed to answer, Xelos sighed and said, "We have one common interest. Only one."
Zel sighed too. "If you please, wait till I get into bed before putting me to sleep. Sleeping on the ground, sprawled across several chairs and a table leg, tends not to make one fit for 'The Prophecy.'"
Xelos smiled. "My pleasure."