After traveling al day the weary group set up camp. As Quate and Zel went to look for firewood, Gaeriel and Thalos started to build a lean-to.
"Nice job back there. You're quite the fighter," Thalos complimented.
"It was nothing! It's kinda strange though ..."
"What's strange Gaeriel?"
"I had the weirdest feeling of deja-vu."
"Deja-vu? How come?"
"I don't ..." images went flashing through her mind. A child was being charged at. Gaeriel shook her head. "I just don't know!"
"Who was the kid?"
"Wha ..."
"Dragons are telepathic. I'm part dragon. If you picture something in your mind, I see it too."
"Yeah ..." Gaeriel turned bright red and covered her face with her hands.
"It's quite apparent that you like Gourry."
"You saw that?"
"Believe me, I tried my hardest not to."
"This is more than embarrassing!"
"Don't be embarrassed," Thalos assured her, smiling mischievously.
Meanwhile Quate and Zel had found an old lean-to in the thick bushes.
"All the wood here is dry." Quate flew down to the makeshift tent. "The moss will make great tinder."
Zel walked towards the small dragon. "This is perfect ...ah!" Zel cried stumbling backwards.
"What's wrong, Zel?"
"Whoever stayed here last," Zel brushed the dirt off his cape, "put an evil repellant spell on the area."
"But you aren't evil!" Quate stated.
"I am part golum," Zel sighed.
"Golum- shmolum! It shouldn't matter!"
"Don't get so worked up, Quate. It's only a spell."
"Not for long!" the little dragon perched on a tree branch. "Guardian called, go back to your world!"
A small tiger appeared and looked at Quate. "A dragon is sending me back!" it snarled, disgusted.
Zel spoke up, "Would you rather have a Chimera send you away."
"At least a dragon won't diminish my honor," it snapped.
"If you plan on living, shut up, now!" Quate hissed.
"You don't have enough magic to hurt me, little dragon!" the tiger laughed.
"She may not have the power but I do!" Zel informed the arrogant little creature.
"Black magic won't hurt me!" it taunted.
"Then I'll use white."
"Impossible! A white chim ..." it stopped bowing, "please forgive me, Zelgadis. I did not know it was you."
Quate and Zelgadis looked at each other, puzzled.
"How do you know my name?" Zel questioned.
"All guardians know of the three who killed the dark lord. The sorceress, the swordsman of light, and the white Chimera," it informed them, still bowing.
"What's your name?" Quate demanded.
"I am Keera. Guardian of land."
You're Keera?" Quate shrieked.
"I am. If I am entitled to ask," Keera looked up; "who are you?"
"Quate. Quate Leion."
"Are you related to Thalos?" Keera asked.
"Sister."
"It would be an honor to be sent back by either of you. Please forgive my previous judgements."
Quate smiled, "I can't send you back yet. You've got to meet Thalos."
Zel grabbed an arm-full of wood-moss mixture and started walking back towards camp. Quate and Keera followed.
"I remember you! You called me to watch some eggs!" Keera recalled.
"I knew I remembered you from somewhere!" Quate exclaimed.
By the time they arrived back at camp Quate had told Keera their whole story.
"So you're finally back!" Gaeriel sighed dramatically.
"Who have you brought with you?" Thalos questioned.
"I am Keera, Miss. Leion."
"Please, call me Thalos."
"Then, Thalos, are you in need of a guardian?" Keera asked.
Gaeriel spoke up, "It couldn't hurt."
"Yes, you would be helpful in our little war," Thalos reflected.
"Little war?" Keera said, dumfounded.
"Gemitar has begun the ‘War of Dragons' again."
"Not the ‘War of Dragons' So many innocents have died in the previous wars!"
"Hold on a minute! ‘War of Dragons'?" Zel asked, puzzled.
"Sorry about that guys," Thalos apologized. "The ‘War of Dragons' started when Zanifpher was made. The dragon lord swore that if any descendant of creatures of Zanifpher lived that war would be waged on them. Over the years many ‘wars' have occurred and some have wiped out entire cities. The creatures have always seemed to slip away though. I am obligated to kill Gemitar. It's in every dragon's blood." She finished with her fist in the air, dramatically.
Everyone was awe-struck.
"Whoa," Zelgadis commented.
"I know," Thalos gushed, "I should've been an actress!" Thalos sighed, daydreaming.
"You're not that good," Gaeriel informed her.
"I can dream, can't I?" snapped Thalos, happily.
Quate shrieked, "A group of bounty hunters!"
A group of 100 or more men were walking towards the startled group.
"That reward will be mine!" yelled one of them.
Zelgadis stepped forward, ready to cast a spell.
"Don't waste your energy. Those hunters are mine," Keera leapt towards the greedy hunters.
"Keera!" Zel cried alarm.
"She'll be fine, Zel. She's a guardian. She will eliminate those ... hunters," Thalos said, calming his concern.
"A cat? This is the only fighter? An easy kill!" a bounty hunter gloated.
"Oh, you think so?" Keera merely stamped her paw.
"Prepare to ..." the hunter fell silent. The ground beneath him trembled.
"Die?" Keera grinned.
The earth split, propelling the hunters into it's void.
"A simple task," Keera stated, turning towards the group.
"Nice form," Jaxom complimented.
"‘Twas nothing."
Later that evening after almost evening after almost everyone had fallen asleep by the fire, Zel and Thalos were watching the flames dance.
"So?" Thalos asked.
"So?"
"Sooo?"
"Sooo what?"
"I'm just trying to start a conversation!"
"There are a lot of better starts than ‘so'."
"We're talking aren't we?"
"I guess."
"Well?"
Zel sighed, "Things are becoming complicated."
"How so?"
"Well for one it seems that Gemitar likes you and hates me. For two Keera and Gaeriel are new people who knows! They could be traitors! And ..."
"Quit it," Thalos ordered. "You are depressing yourself and me! Let's talk about something happy."
"Like what?"
Thalos sighed, frustrated. "Like you finding the sword of life.
"The only reason I found it was because Quate had died."
"Quit being so sadistic! Think cheerful!"
"Cheerful?"
"You know happy, joyous, laughable, cheerful?"
Zel looked over at Thalos. "You mean things, like meeting you."
Thalos blushed and looked away. "Yeah. Stuff like me meeting you," she stuttered.
Zel smiled. "That was a joyous occasion."
"So you can act happy!" Thalos exclaimed jokingly.
"Who's acting?"
Thalos laughed. "We had better get to sleep! We've got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
"Yeah, we do. Good night Thalos."
"Sweet dreams, Zelgadis," Thalos sighed burying her head in her pillow and shutting her eyes.
Zel lied down. He turned his head and watched Thalos drift off into sleep. Then when he was sure that Thalos was asleep, he whispered, "Thalos, I wonder what you actually think of me?"
"I think ..." Thalos murmured, "I think you are an amazing guy. Your kind and considerate, although."
Zel's eyes widened as he realized she was sleep talking.
"Although you are hung up on being a Chimera, I think the stone gives you a look of strength. You're handsome," she finished, falling silent.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Would a sleeping girl lie?"
"I don't know!"
"Well, I tell the truth."
"The truth, huh?" Zel smiled mysteriously.
"Don't get any ideas."
"I never knew sleeping people could joke."
"Well, it almost seems to me that you wouldn't know."
Zel grinned, "Go to sleep Thalos."
"I am asleep."
"Good-night."
"Sweet dreams."
Thalos snuggled down into her pillow. She shivered.
Zel frowned. "Stupid. I don't need blankets to keep warm! Stone is always the same temperature."
He took the blankets off himself and draped them over Thalos.
She inhaled deeply and smiled.
Zel smirked and shut his eyes, going to sleep.
Thalos opened her eyes, squinting in the early morning light. She turned her head. Zel was sleeping a few feet away. Thalos looked the other way and saw Gaeriel asleep. Quate was beside her. Thalos sat up. She looked around for Ruth and Jaxom but couldn't see them. A concerned look crossed her face. She poked Zel. "Hey, are you ..." something dropped on her hand. She looked up, puzzled. "AH!" she screeched. She turned her face down and covered it with her hands in disbelief.
Zel sat up and saw her. "What's wrong?" Thalos pointed up.
Ruth and Jaxom hung suspended in the air, their necks slit.
"Bastard! He'll pay!" Gaeriel hissed seeing the dragons dead.
"Oh, Thalos. I'm sorry," Zel tried to comfort her.
Thalos stood up. "Death has struck. I summon thee." Thalos droned, holding back sobs.
The Dragon King materialized. "Jaxom and Ruth?"
All Thalos could do was nod.
"Thank you," he said, vanishing and taking the two dragons with him.
Thalos fell to her knees. Zel walked over to her. She began to cry.
"Thal ..." she held out her hand.
"Don't," she paused. Her eyes narrowed. "Revenge will be sweeter than ever. Sympathy is not needed," Thalos stated grimly. On her hand was the blood, which had fallen on her.
"You're right," Gaeriel confirmed her. "Let's go reek some havoc."
"Sounds like a plan," Thalos said, hatefully. She stood.
"Let's get going," Zel sighed. "Just remember that rage is blinding." "Just remember, Zel, we can in force the 300 lbs. Rule," Gaeriel told him.
"What's that?"
"We weight 300 lbs. You don't," Thalos snorted.
"Good rule."
"Good answer."
The four travelers began to walk away. Anywhere but the blood bath where they had just stood.
"Where is everyone going?" asked Keera, appearing in front of them.
"Away," Thalos droned.
"Why? Has Gemitar found us?"
Thalos gave Keera the evil eye.
"He killed Ruth and Jaxom," Zel informed the confused tiger.
"How?" the cat demanded.
"Slit throats," Gaeriel stated grimly.
"It wasn't him."
"Then who was it Keera?" Thalos exclaimed.
"What the ..." Zel whispered.
"What is it?" Gaeriel paused. Thalos turned to look as well.
The town that lay ahead of them was silent. In the streets dozens of dead bodies lay in heaps.
"That ... that ... that inhuman monster!" Thalos cried. "I never thought he could do something like this."
"It wasn't him Thalos," Keera sighed.
"It was me," echoed a deep man's voice that was eerily like Zel's.
"Jath?" Zel called in disbelief.
"Jath?" Quate, Keera, Thalos, and Gaeriel questioned.
Zelgadis cast his head down in shame. "My ... brother."
"Zelgad-ass! How are you?" Jath spat.
"What do you want?" sighed Zel, angry.
"Your life for killing dad, Rezo." Jath's gaze fell on Thalos. "So you bought a woman."
"Bought?" Thalos hissed. "How dare you." She went to charge him. Zel held his arm out in front of her.
"He is my blood brother. The quarrel is only between us," Zel stated.
"Fool," Jath cried charging Zel with his sword.
"NO!" Keera cried jumping in front of him.
"Keera!" Zel cried.
Jath's sword had pierced Keera's head. She hung lifelessly from his sword.
"Cursed beast. I will return," Jath languid dissolving.
"She's gone," whispered Gaeriel.
"A guardian to the end," Thalos stated.
"We only knew her one day yet she gave her life for us," Zel contemplated.
"A true hero," Quate exclaimed.
"Let's get moving. This entire area must be cursed. No more will die," Quate ordered, flying ahead. The others followed, their faces grim.
"The quarrel is not only between you two. He killed Jaxom and Ruth! Next time ...""Thalos was interrupted.
"Hopefully next time Jath will be ..." Gaeriel paused, unsure of Zel's reaction.
"Dead," Zel finished.
After walking for many hours they stopped, surveying their surroundings. Everything around was green but all was frozen. Twilight was glowing in the horizon.
"Great! Just great! We are stuck in an ice covered garden and there isn't a town or house in sight!" Gaeriel whined.
"We'll set up camp ..." Thalos stopped, groaning.
"What?" Zel asked.
"We left all our blankets, tents, tinder, and food at the other campsite!" Thalos cried, slapping her forehead in frustration.
"So we're screwed?" Gaeriel spat.
"Totally," Zel added.
Quate began shivering.
Thalos sat down. "We are going to freeze."
"What's that?" Zel questioned pointing at a small speck in the distance that was moving rapidly towards them.
"Whatever it is I hope it's not hungry!" Gaeriel whined.
"Is it ...?" Thalos squinted.
"Keera!" called a buoyant Keera.
All four fainted.
"Guys? Guys! Wake up!" Keera yelled into Zel's ear. His eyes opened.
"Keera? But you were dead!"
"I'm a guardian and a cat. I've got nine lives."
"Oh yeah!" the bewildered group commented.
"You guys seem to be in a bit of trouble," Keera observed.
"No blankets, tinder, or food. We could freeze," Gaeriel whined. "Two words," Keera paused, "body heat."
Everyone looked at Keera like she was utterly insane.
"Would you rather freeze."
"Depends on what you've got in mind," Zel stated.
Keera snorted then lay down. "Pick a partner."
Thalos turned to Gaeriel and was taken aback. Gaeriel had lain down beside Keera. "Sorry Thal, I'm freezing and she's the only one here with a fur coat."
"I sense a set up," Thalos sighed. "Here," she took off her cape and draped it over Gaeriel. "Your outfit is a little, well, little."
"Thanks."
"Good-night," Thalos laid down.
"Aren't you going to be a little cold?" Zel asked.
"Probably."
"You nut!" He laid down beside her.
"This is only for body heat," Thalos and Zel stated in sync. They both smiled. Zel draped his cape over Thalos.
Zel shut his eyes. Thalos shuffled a little closer than shut her eyes. Zel looked over at Thalos and slid a bit closer.
"Would you two just ..." Quate laughed, nudging them together. "Cuddling can't kill ya."
Zelgadis and Thalos looked at Quate, embarrassed.
"Just go to sleep!" Gaer groaned.
"We are!" Zel informed her.
Quate settled down by Keera. Zel and Thalos closed their eyes, falling asleep.
Zel squinted at the glare of the ice. He went to sit up but he felt a weight on his chest. He looked down and saw Thalos, hugging him. He sighed and ran his hand through her hair.
Thalos's eyes fluttered open. She looked around a bit, then seeing Zel, she quickly let him go and rolled over so that she was facing the other direction.
Silence cut the air. Zel glanced about, worried. The only sound he could hear was his own heartbeat.
"Scared?" spat an all too familiar voice.
"What have you done now, Gemitar?" Zel quetioned, standing to face him.
"Only a time freeze spell. I felt your death would be more satisfying if you were alone."
"I'm not dying."
"Someone will," Gemitar hissed, raising his hands. "Digger bolt!"
Zel dodged the lightening.
"That's your best shot?
"Rock of destruction, Stone spiker!" Zel cried.
The ground around Gemitar trembled and shot up. Gemitar smirked. "Levitation!" he called rising into the air.
"Coward. You let magic fight all your battles for you?" Zel spat.
"You're quite right. Hand to hand combat is much more satisfying." Gemitar floated to the ground.
They drew their swords, simutaneously. They charged each other, yelling out battle cries. Their swords clashed. Zel pushed Gemitar back.
"Enough of this! Magic is a much more simple way to assasinate you," Gemitar explained.
"Do you have no honor?"
"That is not an issue."
"Then what is?"
"You! You are the only one who stand between Thalos and I ..."
"Thalos and you? You jest! She would rather die."
"Your opinion doesn't matter ..."
"Deepest of black,
Lord of darkness,
Your power's now released,
Onto the world,
I ask thee to aid my cause.
Soul Switch!"
The two collapsed. Zel was the first to rise.
"It worked. I am him! He may be wretched but this is the only way to gain Thalos's trust."
Gemitar rose. "Nice try. Even though I know the reversal spell, Gemitar, nice try."
"There is no reversal spell!"
"Au contrare:
Whitest of lights,
See past this form,
Send my essence,
Back to it's own!"
Each man's essence rose into the air and drifted to it's rightful place.
"Damn you!"
Zel smiled at Gemitar's frustration. "That's Gaer's saying."
"I can still get what I came for," Gem smirked.
"There is no way you could possibly kill me."
"Not you, Thalos" Gem cackled evily. He began to vanish and Thalos disappeared along with him.
"NO!" Zel cried, running beside Thalos.
"What's going on?" she asked as she disappeared.
"He's gonna pay!" Zel hissed.
Gaeriel and Keera got up. Quate flew into Zel's face.
"Where's Thalos? Why was there a time freeze spell? Why was a 'stone spiker' cast?" Quate demanded.
Zel brought his head up to meet Quate's gaze. "Gemitar," he stated remorsefully.
"What?" Gaeriel stammered, unbelieveing.
"He took her." Zel gazed down in disbelief.
"he's a dead man if he does anything to her!" Gaeriel snapped.
"You! What the hell do you think you are doing?"
Gemitar snorted, "You don't know? Sleep, Overcome the mind."
"You're a dead ma ..." Thalso fell asleep in mid-sentence.
"Quate," Zel called, "do you know where Thalos is yet?"
Quate's eyes were closed in concentration.
"Zel!" Gaeriel growled in annoyance. "Dragon telepathy is not an instant thing."
"I'm just worried. That madman is insane. There's no telling what he could do!" Zel explained.
"Obsessing over it won't help," Gaeriel snapped.
"At least I'm concerned!"
"Obsess much?"
"Do you even care?"
"What are you implying?"
"What do you think?"
"Don't try me! I could kill you in a second."
"I'd love to see you try."
Keera walked between the two. "Have I got your full attention?," she paused. "Good. Now listen very closely... QUIT IT!" Keera screeched. "Killing each other definately won't help."
Quate flew over to them excitedly. "I know where she is!"
"Where?" they asked in unison.
"Rize-Anjour."
Thalos squinted her eyes. She knew Gemitar had captured her but she was unsure of her whereabouts. She looked around herself. She was in a room that was empty. She looked up and gasped. "That bastard! What the hell are these?" she demanded to no one in particular, gazing at the thick bracelets on her arms. "Dragon Arro ..." Thalos stopped, frozen.
Gemitar materialized in front of Thalos.
"So the coward shows his face!" Thalos hissed.
"I see you have found out what the bracelets are for," Gemitar informed her, snapping his fingers. Thalos immediately moved into a fighting stance.
"Magic freeze!"
"Quite right. If you try to use any magic those freeze you."
"Gem, you should know ..." Thalos set her hand on her scaled shoulder and pulled out a hidden dagger from under he scales. "I always come prepared!"
Gem snarled, "Don't make this hard on yourself!"
"I'm only making this hard on you." Thalos flipped the dagger in her hand.
"I don't want to have to hurt you."
"Fine with me, but I'm gonna hurt you!"
"I can't BELIEVE you, Zel!" Gaeriel cried, exasperated.
"We need to get to Roize-Ajours," he stated.
"But stealing a PRIEST'S cart?" Keera exclaimed.
The four travelers were riding in a pure white cart.
"We are gonna burn for this," Gaeriel groaned.
"Speak for yourself!" Zel snapped. "Would you two rather walk?"
"No, but we could've taken a normal cart!"
"Shut up! Someone's coming!" Zel called, pulling his hood over his face. Keera dove under a blanket and Gaeriel laid down under the food. Quate joined Keera.
An old man walked up to Zel. Zel stopped the horse.
"Hello," the old man rasped.
"Good morning," Zel mumbled.
"Where are you heading?" he questioned, his voice cracking.
"Roize-Anjour."
"What business do a Chimera, a guardian, a dragon, and a foul-mouthed maiden have there?"
Zel's hand went to his sword.
"Don't bother, please. My name is Aithe," he sighed.
"Aithe?" Zel repeated. "Aren't you the truth see-er from Eolern?"
"That is me."
"but the real Aithe is ..."
"4935 years old?"
"And in other words; dead," Zel stated.
"Idiot! Anyone who knows all truths is immortal."
"Hey if he says you're an idiot," Gaeriel snickered.
"Shut up!" Zel snapped.
Thalos charged at Gemitar. The small dagger in her hands, glinted in the light.
"Don't do this thalos. I don't want to have to hurt you but if you keep being rebelious."
"What are you going to do, coward?" she cried.
"The one thing, short of killing you, that will crush you."
"Yeah, so what's that?"
"You remember Zel, right?"
Thalos's eyes opened in utter horro, hen her face hardened. "You couldn't," she concluded.
"How do you figure that?"
"Before you tried to capture me, you fought Zel. You couldn't win."
"Lies!"
"So it is true."
"Lies!" he screamed.
"The utter truth."
His eyes glazed over, "Lies."
"Can you say anything else?"
His gaze fell on Thalos. He raised his hands.
"Don't you dare!" Thalos cried.
"Too late. Fire Saber!"
"What the hell is that?" screamed Thalos, backing up against the wall.
Gem had created a long sword of fire. He was aiming for Thalos. The fireblade came down.
"Eeee ..." Thalos fell.
"And then Gemitar disappeared, taking Thalos with him," Gaeriel finished, watching Aithe's reaction eagerly.
"Why didn't you just use a relocation spell?"Aithe asked, irritated.
"My magic is not strong enough to transport a dragon, a guardian, and a human that far," Zel explained.
"What about MY magic!" Quate demanded.
"Still couldn't do it," he replied.
"I can help you," Aithe offered, "for a price."
Gaeriel groaned, "Always a catch."
"Name your price," Keera demanded.
"In Eolern tomorrow they are having a festival in my honor. I need some bodyguards and ..."
"So you need us to guard you, the 'All knowing' one," Zel sighed, sarcastically.
"Do you want that relocation spell or not?"
"Sorry!" Keera snapped looking at Zel. He looked away, innocently.
"Let's go!" Quate called, impatiently.
"Are you sure?" Aithe asked. Their angry, impatient faces were his answer. "All right. The swiftest course will be unread, I summon the way of gods. Relocat ..."
A huge thunder bolt landed directly in front of Aithe.
"Aw, shit!" a distant voice called. A young girl ran into the clearing. "Sorry," she sighed. "Did I hurt anyone?"
"Xeeri!" Aithe cried, angrily.
"Oh, shit. I'm in for it now," she muttered. "Yes, Aithe?" she questioned.
"Xeeri?" Zel repeated.
"She's my apprentice."
"I'm your daughter!"
Aithe frowned at her, "Adopted!"
"Oh, you're a good father!" Quate scoffed.
"Do you want ..." Aithe was interrupted by Zelgadis.
"We know, we know. Do you want that relocation or not?" he imitated Aithe almost perfectly.
Aithe sneered.
Part 4 | Fanfiction