Dawn broke over the horizon, casting everything under a brilliant glow of fire the golden hues signaling the beginnings of a new day. The crew had gathered in the dinning room, a shadow of the previous night, ready to consume a deliciously prepared breakfast seated before eager gazes. Phiria and Xellos as per usual were drinking their tea (Xellos also was borrowing from Phiria's brew once more ^^); Gourry, Lina and Willow played up to customary form...(meaning: they were already fighting each other over omelets/pancakes etc.)
The Young Priestess of Cefied sighed in disgruntled amazement elegantly spearing a piece of a very syrup covered pancake on the end of her fork. Continuing the motion with innate grace, she chewed on it carefully savoring the taste, rather than swallowing it whole. Zelgadiss sipped calmly on strong, black coffee needing the jolt of caffeine to function properly, all the while discreetly watching Ameria from the corner of his eyes. He was in a deep mental quandary; he sure could not deny that he had some kind of feelings for her. He would be lying to himself if he believed that! He needed more time...
"Chomp, munch - Gourry GIMME THAT! It's MIIIIINE!" Lina growled threateningly, her spoon clattering against his as she attempted to swipe the plumpest square of melon from a bowl of tropical produce.
"No not this time Lina. Not this time." He argued back just as fiercely, intent on his goal. The daughter of Xellos paused for a moment and lowered the half-eaten slice of toast from her lips. She blurred over to the area where the two were bickering, solving the problem by snatching the juicy, orange fruit and popping it into her mouth. A happy grin resulted when she observed Gourry and Lina's reactions to her solution. Both sat looking positively dumbfounded, and a little...shocked?
"HEY!" They both yelped simultaneously. "You stole my fruit!"
"Well now there will be no more fighting over it? So therefore I think I did us all a favor, don't you agree Dad?" She glanced at her father, noting his equally pleased expression. The half elf arched a golden brow in mock surprise, indicating she was fully aware that Xellos was sitting a little closer to Phiria than was wise. Thankfully though the Dragon Maid was either unaware of that fact, or she was content to remain where she was. The latter was far more interesting than the first Nyoko had to admit, and in return Xellos shrugged his shoulders his expression bordering on sheepish (a sheepish Xellos? That I would LOVE to see ^.~ the author gets booted into the sky).
Crash! The porcelain china cup that had previously held hot chocolate slipped from Ameria's fingers and shattered on the floor almost instantaneously. Her face was pale, waxen...deathly...and those bright amethysts Zelgadiss had come to love, were...glassy...unfocused. As if in a trance she slowly stood, and made her way over to a window. Peering outside, she discovered her worst fears had come true...the moment of reckoning had arrived.
"A Mazoku...no...The Mazoku...have come." She whispered softly, staring fixedly at a gathering swarm of lesser demons. The moment she had dreaded...feared... was now here...though she wondered dazedly what little mistake would result in the culmination of her vision.
Lesser Demons aren't too tough, if you know the precise points to hit with a sword/weapon or a particular spell to cast. Tiring though it was the group divided into pairs (making sure to even out power), taking down each monster one at a time. Lina was amazed by Willow's skill as a sorcerer. The woman had the ability to cast a multitude of spells at once, maintain a protective shield, and keep watch over the scene. For some odd reason, the Lina was sure this was from centuries of experience rather than decades. The mysteriously powerful woman never seemed to halt, or even become exhausted (Lina admitted she was starting to get a little winded and she was in good shape!). She smiled a bit back to back with her favorite companion Gourry, her black magic balancing out his new enchanted sword, a lucky break because she didn't feel comfortable working together like this with anyone else.
Poor Zelgadiss and Ameria! They, both being shamans, were split up - Zelgadiss was stuck with Nyoko (a surprisingly adept swordswoman) and Ameria was grouped with Xellos.
"Blam-Blaizer!" Zelgadiss and Ameria shouted loudly, and although Lina had witnessed this a lot during their travels, their tendency to cast the same or similar spells in sync was unnerving. Then again, when Lina thought about it...it was no worse than the silent communication system going on between Nyoko, Xellos, and Willow. "This is getting us no where!" Lina screeched in frustration prepared to fire a dragon slave (even if it blew up everything around her).
"No Miss Lina! Don't do it!" Ameria cautioned, casually disintegrating another, very ugly Mazoku. She surveyed the continuous wave of adversaries and knew she had to act now before her friends used up too much energy. The worst battle was still yet to come.
"Golden dragon, which rides the sea of chaos, gather in my hand and become my strength..."
Lina gasped as her young friend began her incantation. When did Ameria learn to call upon the Dark Lords of All Dark Lords?
"Conform to my will and desire for this servant pledges eternal
devotion,
Erase the enemies, who are not meant to be upon this realm's surface,"
Xellos blinked and grabbed Nyoko about the waist, blurring out with abrupt haste.
"Annihilate the foes that stand in our way, and let the purity of my
soul be my sword,
Giga Purification!"
A hazy light bubbled about the slender form of the youthful priestess, the white fabric only accentuated by the translucent glow. It was as if a strange entity had come to life, and was now being released unto the world. The gauzy beams grew in intensity, formed into an unstoppable wave, the tumultuous power destroying every single Mazoku it came in contact with. "So that's why Xellos bugged out." Lina mused thoughtfully as the last of the seemingly unending horde was completely dissolved into thin air. She let out a low appreciative whistle at the spell's impact it destroyed their adversary without damaging the surrounding terrain. Most interesting...maybe Ameria could teach her it! Speaking of her, Lina swiveled on her heel until she was gazing at the woman responsible for this incantation, a little pale, but otherwise she seemed none worse for wear. Ameria grimaced and pulled out a tissue to stop the sudden bloody nose.
"Darn spells...always do stuff like this."
"Ameria that was damned reckless of you." Nyoko roared, reappearing behind her, glaring murderously at her frowning friend. "You realize all the consequences for a miscast of the Giga Purification...not to mention how it tips the balance of power!"
"Everything will be fine, I am a very careful caster. As for tipping the balance of power...by chanting the Purification spell, I have merely gotten us one step closer to harmony. In fact I could safely cast it several more times with out any problem, due to the frequent usage of the Laguna Blade that Lina conjures."
Nyoko and Willow gaped openly at Lina, both looking...faint to say the least.
"Just how...many times have you used the Laguna Blade?" Lina gulped and cowered behind Gourry, knowing they were going to flip out if she replied with an exact number.
"A half - dozen I do believe that was out last tally...right Miss Lina?" Xellos murmured thoughtfully, tapping on his chin as if pondering the mysteries of the universe.
"A...a...half-dozen?" This time Nyoko did pass out, and had to be caught by a very unwilling chimera. Willow wobbled, but at least she did not did not share the same fate as her shorter companion.
"Ye gods...are you nuts?" The one known as Willow choked out.
"We didn't have any options at the time!" Lina rebutted angrily, so intent on her own escalating temper she was oblivious to the entrance of a new...unwelcome guest. Although it soon made it's presence known with an incredibly volatile 'boom'. Gourry was the first to turn around and yelped in outright confusion.
"Hey it's that Phibrigdo-whatchamacallit-demon thingy!"
"WHAAAT?" Lina screeched, and when she looked at what Gourry was frantically gesturing to, finding his query accurate. Some how Dark Lord Phibrizo had come back from the dead...wonderful...just, what they needed now. Nyoko made a move to attack, but found to her surprise she was stopped by Willow...her father merely grinning and cheerfully exclaiming,
"Why if it isn't Mei-ou-sama! Who would want to resurrect your sorry ass, hmm? It's been ages, how was the afterlife?"
The child showed no real reaction, only a momentary flinch at the mention of the hell he suffered though. Yet somehow he had been freed and was now here. He replied his youthful voice laced with insulted arrogance, "How dare you insult a Dark Lord and your superior! You, who are no more than a play toy to Zelas-sama, think to show no respect?"
"Well if memory serves me correctly, you're no longer in favor with L-sama, now are you?" This impertinent declaration earning the trickster Priest a nasty glare, but he shrugged if off...giggling to himself. Phibrizo shuddered, and with a grimace conjured the dead army...using them to distract Lina and Gourry. Willow, oddly enough, did not attempt to help in the slightest...in fact she prevented Nyoko from involving herself as well. Zelgadiss grunted, stone muscles corded against the strain of holding back a blow that would have hit Ameria only he was in the way. Phiria was in full-fledged dragon form, roaring her outrage as she tried to dive onto Mei-ou. He merely shrugged, forming a tiny ball with his freed arm...yet before he could break it (that would kill Phiria) he was knocked off-balance by Xellos.
At first, he disregarded the interference, assuming it mere coincidence. Then, as he noted the almost protective way Xellos kept batting off zombies around the Dragon Maid, he finally understood. With a thoughtful smile he struck out with an awesome magical lance that Phiria would never have the chance to avoid, satisfaction engulfing his body when Xellos immediately blurred in front of her to take the hit instead.
"Ah I see how it is Xellos..." Unfortunately before he could taunt the Priest and find a creative way to make use of this newly discovered weakness, a sultry voice rang out...a familiar woman finally making a belated show at the little "party".
"Servant, you disobeyed my orders..." She stated firmly, burnished orbs gleaming with concern and intense dissatisfaction at his willful rebellion against her authority.
"Sorry M-Mother...had no choice." He grunted focusing past the pain to placate his ruffled Mistress before things got out of hand. She merely arched a brow, her glance darting briefly to Phiria before resting on his face...sounding almost hurt she ground out.
"So that's the way of it huh?" She shrugged idly then drawled in a flat monotone, "Never the less, you've been very bad...now I must discipline you." So saying she hauled up the half-collapsed Xellos and then teleported from sight...taking him back to Wolf-Pack Island to decide his fate.