All of them were spun around being thrown left and right, up and down in the swirling portal. Going down, down till they reached the other side --
"OUCH!"
Falling flat on their faces.
The group collectively groaned, none of them had landed right. But still they had made it through and now they were in a different dimension, a different world.
"And what the hell is so different about this dimension?! It looks just like our regular one!" Lina fumed glaring at the forest around them that looked all too much like the forest they had traveled through to get to the temple.
"You know an interesting thought has occurred to me, what if that portal didn't take us to a different world, but merely transported us somewhere else on our own world..." Xellos smiled. That would have been a good prank.
"No Mister Xellos this isn't our world I can tell. The air it's spirit is different. This place only looks the same because this is what this place looks like on a different world." Gavin glanced around the surroundings himself. He knew the forest surrounding the temple quite well and things were definitely different here. For one thing the spot they were standing on should have been where the temple was. That and he felt the strong magic presence of time magic; he'd felt the transition of dimensions.
"Oh well, what do we do now? Find all of our alternate reality selves?"
"Well that was what Maldrin had suggested. But do we need to find all seven of us?"
"I'm only here as an observer and aide. We really don't need to find my 'other' self." Gavin pulled out his compass. 'Well the directions seem to be the same.'
"In fact Maldrin only 'suggested' that we find our other selves. There is no saying that we can't complete this task that we need to do without their help. But what the hell is this task we need to do anyway?!" No one answered Lina's question. How could they, it was a rhetorical one anyhow.
A few hours later they were finally walking out of the forest. (They got lost in it before who says that they couldn't get lost again?) Gavin did know the way out but because of Lina and Zelgadis' argument about where they should go, he decided to keep his mouth shut. But once out of the forest they had a decision to make. Should they go back to see if the last town they had gone in before going to the temple was the same or to venture on forward to the next town?
"You know another thought just occurred to me... This task we need to do, we have to stay here until we complete it or if one of us dies trying. What happens if we are stuck here for years and we still haven't completed the task?"
Everyone shot Xellos a dirty look.
"Say Xellos, which way do you think we should go hmm? Back to the other town? Or on to the next?"
"Well... I would say Miss Lina to go back."
"Okay then let's go." Lina leaded them walking towards the next town.
"Miss Lina? Why ask my opinion if you had already decided where to go?"
"Oh but I hadn't decided until you told me what you thought."
"But it's the opposite of what I said."
"Exactly."
Xellos frowned, but onward they went to the next town, Lenforth
Fortunately enough it didn't matter whether on not they decided to go, Lina had already went to the Lenforth before when she had traveled with Naga a few years back. The town itself looked just the same as Lina had remembered it but she had a test. At this particular town both Lina and Naga had ate and drank a good portion of the town's supplies when they had gone for dinner in the town restaurant. So much in fact that both Naga and Lina had been outlawed and banned from ever entering the town ever again. Lina smiled her usual sneaky smirk that usually graced her face upon planning to do something not so nice as she walked into the town inn. There were no whispering, no weird looks, no attention paid to the travelers.
"Well hello there travelers. I'm Ugar the owner of this place. How may I help you people?" Ugar smiled broadly at them.
Lina was a bit shocked. Back on her world the last time she saw Ugar, he was so angry that steam was almost coming out of his ears. "Um yes... Have you ever heard of a girl named Lina Inverse?"
"Inverse? Nope can't say as I have."
"She's about my height with red hair and eyes and she may have came into this town a few years ago with a tall dark haired lady."
"I have a pretty good memory and I can tell you that she's never come into this town before."
"Thought as much, thank you for the help." Lina sweetly smiled and walked off with her friends.
"Lina what was that all about?"
"Just checking to see if this really was a different dimension or not. Anyway let's split up and check around the town to see if they know anything about this dimension's versions of us. Let's meet back at here later for dinner."
Each person nodded their heads and headed off in their own respected direction.
Since Gavin didn't need to find his other dimension self he went with Lina to help her. The two of them weren't having much luck. Whatever information they could get about this dimension's Lina Inverse was all about what she did almost a year ago. After that it was almost as if she had disappeared from the face of the planet.
"Hmm... maybe she got killed."
"Killed?! And just how could she get killed?! She's me for crying out loud!"
"Not necessarily Lina. She could look and talk like you, but that doesn't mean that's she you totally. For all we know she may have grown up without having Luna as an older sister." Gavin smiled at that thought. Life without Luna... that would have been great.
"Maybe, but then she may have grown up without having a little brother. In any case from what information we've got it seems like as if she was a traveling sorceress just like me. I wonder what happened to her... And where the hell is everyone else?" Lina tapped her foot impatiently. True they had not been able to find much, so they went to the decided meeting place but no one else had shown up. Of course this was bugging Lina because she was hungry. Gavin himself was starving, but then what would you expect from an Inverse?
"I don't know Lina, but they will probably be here soon."
"And how can you be so sure of that?! I'm so hungry I want to eat now!"
"Lina we can't we have to wait for them."
Lina snorted and sat down. Her eye's darted back and forth scanning the area for her friends but seeing none of them. What she did see was someone staring at her. Lina didn't get a good glimpse of the person all she saw was someone dressed in a dark cloak. Once Lina noticed the person, the person walked off suddenly.
"Who?" Lina ran to see if she could find out who it was only to bump into Amelia.
"Ouch! Miss Lina what did you do that for?"
"Damnit that person got away!" Lina fumed. The cloaked person had vanished into the crowd.
"Who got away?" Zelgadis appeared behind Lina. He helped her up while Gavin helped Amelia to her feet.
"I don't know, just someone following me. So where's Sylphiel, Gourry, and Xellos?"
"I'm right here Miss Lina. Miss Sylphiel and I ended up searching together." Xellos and the shrine maiden walked over to them from Lina's right.
"So now we have to wait for the dumbbell Gourry?! He could be sleeping in one of the libraries for all we know!"
"Miss Lina I'm sure he'll show up soon."
"I don't care I'm hungry now! I feel like I'll die from hunger..."
"I don't think Gourry would care too much if we started eating without him -- " Zelgadis started off, and with that Lina bolted to the restaurant.
What they found at the restaurant was definitely a sight that made Lina furious. Gourry was already sitting at a table eating a very large amount of food.
"Now Miss Lina don't do anything rash..."
"Rash?! Who say's I'd do anything rash?! Oh no I'm just sitting out there starving my ass off waiting and he's already porking out on dinner! I'm gonna kill you Gourry Gaberieve!!!!!" Or Lina would have if Gavin, Zelgadis and Amelia didn't hold her back.
After a few lumps later (did you really think they would be able to hold her long?) they were all sitting down at the table finishing off their meal. Ugar was glaring daggers at them with his pitch fork ready in his hand.
"So what information did you all find?" Gavin munched on a chicken leg. Only Lina wasn't surprised at the amount of food Gavin consumed. He ate almost as much as Lina had.
"Well from what I can tell my other self is searching for a cure like me. A man that I had talked to told me that he had helped him out once. But I also found out that my other self is currently traveling with a blond swordsmen who can wield a sword of light, the crown princess of Sailune, a strange purple haired man that calls himself the trickster priest, and a raven haired shrine maiden."
"So then everyone is traveling around together without this dimension's Lina Inverse? What the hell is up with that? The only information that I have been able to find out about this world's Lina is about what she did a year back. It's almost like she totally disappeared."
"Maybe she's dead."
Lina glared at Xellos. Funny how he says the exact same thing as Gavin. The great Lina Inverse dead, dying without anyone knowing about it?! Ha! If I was going to die I would either die very old or fighting against some powerful demon or monster. She angrily flipped through the dessert menu ranting off to the waitress on what she wanted.
"Lina you have to remember that maybe you would do things a particular way, that doesn't necessarily mean that this world's Lina would do the same thing. Like I'm a bit surprised that this worlds Zelgadis Greywers is traveling with them in the first place."
"Why do you say that Mister Zelgadis?"
"Well if it hadn't been for Lina then I wouldn't had met most of you let alone travel with you guys. Gee I wonder if Rezo is alive here..." Zelgadis shuddered at that thought. Maybe Rezo the Red Priest had been a good man at one point in his life but for all of Zelgadis' life he had been the crazy madman that would go as far as curse his own great-grandson.
"Did you find any leads on where they were heading towards?"
"A few months ago they passed through here heading west. I guess we'd best head west like them. The trail may be cold but maybe we'll find some more leads."
"Yeah sure, but not till later. Where's my dessert?!" Lina was definitely cranky, but she was pushing it a bit.
Lina patted her stomach, she was full and content. They were just about to go and see about getting a room for the night when Ugar checked his food stock. Next thing they knew they were being chased out of the town with all the townspeople waving various items that they were using as weapons. You know, pitch forks, shovels, hammers, pianos... (Relm: Huh? Pianos? Carbunkle get away from my keyboard!) Thankfully they managed to get away without getting hurt too bad.
"Heh, heh well it's just like last time."
"What do mean Lina?! You did this before?!"
"Um, well let's just say if you visit Lenforth when we are back in our dimension don't go around saying that you are friends with Lina Inverse. Heh, heh..." Lina smiled innocently and everyone sprouted sweatdrops.
"Does this mean that we are camping out tonight?"
"Looks that way Amelia."
"But Miss Lina this isn't our world! Who knows what could happen to us while we sleep!"
"Well we'll just have to decide on watch rotations. Any volunteers?"
Zelgadis grumbled. And just how did I end up taking the first watch? Since Xellos wasn't trustworthy and Gourry has a tendency to fall asleep anyway is was between Lina, Zelgadis, Amelia, Sylphiel and Gavin. Amelia offered to take last watch and it was decided that since Sylphiel and Gavin aren't used to adventuring, that Lina and Zelgadis would take the other two. Lina solved that problem by immediately falling asleep thus leaving Zel with the first watch.
Zelgadis poked at the fire, he nothing much else better to do. That was the bad thing about standing watch, staying up alone with everyone else sleeping was very boring. Usually Zel didn't care and was able to deal with it fine was this time he was a bit uneasy. Being in an alternate dimension itself was a little odd, he had no idea of what things were different about this world compared to his. Imagine I find out how to rid me of my curse only to forget how when I go back. He mentally sighed and glanced around at his friends. Amelia was mumbling in her sleep again, Gourry was smiling like goof (must be having a nice dream, probably about food), Sylphiel herself looked very content, Xellos was actually sleeping which in itself was pretty odd, Lina was curled up in a little ball like a cute red cat and Gavin well Zelgadis could tell that he wasn't sleeping.
"Having trouble sleeping Gavin?"
"How could you tell?"
"You don't fake sleep very well. What's wrong?"
"I'm not used to sleeping on the ground. It's a bit uncomfortable. Do you mind if I stay up and talk with you for a while?"
"Sure why not? I was bored anyway."
Gavin stretched and sat himself next to the blue stoned chimera. Zelgadis' appearance was very intriguing to him that he couldn't help but stare.
"Do you find my appearance disturbing?" Zelgadis spoke in one of his infamous cold tones.
Gavin was unfazed by Zel's question. "Oh not at all. It's just that you remind me of someone I know."
"And how many chimeras do you know?"
"Hmm... that's a good question. Um I'd say at least twenty but I could be forgetting a few of them."
Zelgadis was a bit dumbfounded by that answer. He wasn't expecting Gavin to know any. "And I remind you of one of them?"
"Yeah, my cousin Devon. He may not be part golem like you are but he's part reptile. Kinda looks like you but he's green instead of blue and has scales instead of stone chips."
"You have a chimera for a cousin?"
"And what's so weird about that? Chimera's can be just like anybody, they just look different. At least that what I've come to believe growing up back home."
"Are there a lot of chimeras there?"
"Yup. And they are nice people too. I really don't understand what some people's problems are with chimeras and stuff. So what if they look different? How says that different is bad? But not many people are like me."
"And you don't care about appearances?"
"No and neither does Lina. Hee hee I even remember back when Lina was still at home and she beated up a whole gang of bandits for just making a few wise cracks about a little chimera girl." Gavin gazed over at her sister. She was in an even tighter ball and her face seemed a bit pained. Must be having a bad dream. Zelgadis followed his gaze. Lina was frowning, her face in a slightly fear twisted expression.
"Maybe I should wake her up..." Zelgadis was about to get up to go over to Lina when Gavin grabbed his arm.
"Are you nuts? She'd just forget her dream and fry you for waking her up. Besides she just looks like she's not having a nice dream. It doesn't mean that she is having a nightmare."
Zelgadis saw the reasoning in Gavin's logic and sat down. But if it gets worse then I'll take my chances and wake her. "I wonder what she's dreaming about... So anyways Gavin why are you studying time magic?"
"Well don't tell Lina this, it's because of her."
"How so?"
"Well when Lina was learning offensive magic, she was very... 'gifted'. Meaning that that she could summon more power that she could control at such a young age. So there were a lot of explosions. Lina destroyed far too many things that well my parents forbid anyone else living their household to learn destructive magic. I learned swordplay sharpening my skills practicing with Lina and Devon but after Lina left to venture on her own I decided I wanted to learn magic. Since because of my parent's rule I was a little limited on what I was allowed to learn. Not that it mattered that much anyway, I really don't like to hurt people unless it's necessary. It was my Grandmother that suggested time magic to me. That's her specialty. I learned under her for a while, but her magic skills are a little limited so she brought me to the temple of Raag to learn more. Just getting my parents to agree with me leaving was hard enough. My parents are a bit overprotective of me."
"Hmm..."
The two sat in silence for a little while. Gavin could tell that Zelgadis wasn't a big conversationalist. He didn't talk that much. "Mister Zelgadis why did you start traveling with my sister?"
"Zelgadis."
"Huh?"
"It's bad enough that I get that whole 'Mister' business from Amelia, so just call me Zelgadis okay?"
"Alright then."
"Well Lina helped me with a little mission I had a few years back and well I just end up bumping into her a lot. I'm basically searching for a cure for my curse and since Lina is always looking for some sort of magical treasure or willing to go any adventure involving treasure that well I just hang around hoping I'll find my cure."
"Is that the only reason you stay?"
"Well I... I don't know... I guess I also hang around with them because they are the only true friends I've got."
"Jeeze you two talk far too much!" The angry face of Lina Inverse loomed in front of them.
"I'm sorry Lina did we wake you?"
"No my dream did. But I've been trying to go back to sleep and your talking is keeping me up. And what are you doing awake Gavin? Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"I can't sleep." Gavin looked at her sheepishly.
"Lina what was your dream about?"
"That's the weird thing... I know it was a very bad and horrible dream but once I woke up I forgot what it was about. But I still have this awful feeling that had when I was dreaming. Great I'm going to be really tired tomorrow..." Lina groaned.
"And you have next watch too."
"And why didn't I get first watch instead of you?!"
"Well I wasn't the one who fell asleep." Zelgadis grinned at her. Lina glared at him and she was bit puzzled too. Zelgadis didn't smile that often.
"Anyway Lina, tell me what do you think the task we need to complete is?"
And the three of them chatted away wondering about what they were supposed to do and what would happen to them. But one thing was for sure they were hoping to find their alternate realities selves, and soon.