Shira: soberly Okay, people. This is a serious chapter. And anxty, too. takes a deep breath This is what happens after you watch Vol. 8 about ten times in a row.
Lina and Gourry: sobbing
Zelgadis: eyebrow twitch I still can't believe you did that.
Shira: Be forewarned, Zelgadis fans! Well, onto the fic!
Zelgadis and Amelia heard the crash and rushed to the scene. Their eyes widened as they saw first the huge crater on the ground, then Lina kneeling on the floor with tears streaming down her face.
"What happened?" Zelgadis breathed. His heart felt like someone had just ripped it out, thrown it against the wall, stomped on it, and put it back upside-down in his chest. And he didn't have the faintest idea as to why it felt like that.
"That was Zephilia. Lina's hometown." Gourry motioned toward the crater.
Amelia knelt down beside Lina and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Oh, Miss Lina, I'm so sorry." Lina shrugged her hand off coldly.
She stood up straight, anger etched in every line of her face. At that very moment, neither Zelgadis, Gourry or Amelia had ever been more afraid in their entire lives. Lina's normally soft red eyes were hard and uncaring. Her usually lax, at ease posture was now stiff and rigid. Basically, Lina was pissed. "I'm going to find out who did this." She said in a cold, raspy voice. "And then I'm going to kill them."
"But Lina," Gourry started to protest softly.
Amelia silenced Gourry with a look. "Please, Gourry," She pleaded. "Not now."
The swordsmen bowed his head. "Hai," He whispered. "Hai."
She walked slowly across to the crater. She knelt down next to it, and sniffed the air. Lina narrowed her eyes. That power... "Damned mazuko." she whispered.
Zelgadis' eyes were soft as he looked after Lina. Such a strong girl. no, not a girl, He told himself, A woman. Every inch a woman. To have to go through all that. His heart lurched in his chest again.
"All right!" Lina screamed to the sky. "Damned mazuko! I KNOW you did this! SHOW YOURSELF!"
Xellos appeared in front of them, eyes open and peering down at the four. "I see I managed to get your attention, Lina." He said in a non-playful tone.
"What is it that you want from us?" Zelgadis demanded from behind Lina.
Xellos looked thoughtful. "All right, I suppose I can tell you now. You see, as you surmised, I am indeed a mazuko. My master gave me orders to follow you around. You know, keep tabs on Lina's capabilities."
Lina narrowed her eyes. "Capabilities?"
"Yes. She wished to see how powerful you truly are. After each of our encounters, I reported back to her. This time, she told me that you were too powerful, and has ordered me to destroy you." He looked down, shutting his eyes. "Please understand that I am under orders. I do not wish to do this to you."
He looked back up, pain in his eyes. "Forgive me, Lina." He said, then let loose a stream of purple energy. It impacted the four, scattering them around the field.
Gourry looked up at the mazuko with clenched teeth. "How dare you do this! You bastard!" He held up his sword. "Hikari O!" The Hikari no Ken blazed to life, and Gourry started to charge the mazuko.
Xellos shook his head sadly. "Don't you understand? I am not allowed to die until I first kill Lina." He widened his eyes and sent another blast of energy out from the palm of his hand. It blew the swordsmen backwards, tossing him into the side of a rock outcropping.
"Gourry!" Lina cried.
Zelgadis clenched his teeth. "I will not allow you to harm her!" He screamed. "Ra TILT!"
Xellos easily froze the attack, and balanced it in his hand. Zelgadis' eyes widened. "It would be interesting to see what would happen if I threw this back at you. you being one-third mazuko and all. But," He made the tiny blue orb dissapear, then turned toward Lina, "I do have my orders." He flung a ball of bright, purple light toward Lina.
Zelgadis' mind raced. There's no time! She won't be able to escape it in time! No shield would be able to block it. She'll be killed. All of a sudden, Zelgadis realized something. The world wasn't worth living in without Lina Inverse. The mazuko was right. The damned mazuko was right. He was in love with Lina Inverse. And now Xellos was going to kill her. Zelgadis' face twisted into an expression of pain and anger. Tears were flowing from his crystal blue eyes. "I can't let that happen!" He growled. Time slowed to an agonizing crawl as the chimera threw his body between Lina and the blast of light.
Lina's eyes widened as the light impacted Zelgadis' body. "ZEL!" She screamed. Zelgadis' body landed with a heart-wrenching thud. Amelia and Gourry gasped. All three ran over to the bleeding chimera, who was huddled into a ball about five feet in front of Lina.
Lina cradled the chimera's head. "Baka!" She screamed at him, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "What did you think you were doing?! Look out for your own damned hide and let me take care of my own!"
Zelgadis looked up at her and managed a soft smile. "But you see. I couldn't. live with myself if. I let you. die."
Lina shook her head. She didn't understand. She didn't WANT to understand.
Zelgadis reached out to touch her face with stone fingers. "So soft. what's this?" He wiped away some of her tears. "You're crying. for me?" Lina bit back a sob and nodded her head slowly.
Amelia choked back a sob. This couldn't be happening! The good guys weren't supposed to die! This went against all she was ever taught about good and justice. this couldn't be happening. her friend, companion, ally. "Zelgadis." She whispered.
Gourry couldn't look at Zelgadis. Every time he looked at Zelgadis, he had to look away. The natural place his eyes fell after that was Lina, which caused him even more pain. So, he chose to examine the bloodied dirt underneath the chimera instead.
Lina choked back a sob. "This can't be happening." she whispered, cupping his stone hand against her cheek.
Zelgadis smiled. "But it has to. I made a choice. you see. my life. for yours." He coughed, and a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He looked back up at Lina, eyes glazed over, and tightened his grasp on Lina's face. "Lina. I always loved you." Zelgadis' hand went limp.
Lina's heart stopped. "Zel. Zel. Zelgadis!" Lina shook him. "Wake up! Zelgadis! Zelgadis!"
Gourry tore Lina from Zelgadis' body, forcing her to look at his own tear-streaked face with grief that matched her own. "Lina! He's gone!" He yelled at her. Then, softer. "There's nothing we can do, Lina. Zel is gone."
Gourry's words seemed to penetrate her insanity. She sunk back to the floor, placing Zelgadis' head on her lap. "Zelgadis." Lina's body wracked with silent sobs, and she buried her head in his chest, tears flowing helplessly. Gourry and Amelia, too, cried, mourning the loss of their friend.
So Zelgadis Greywers, noble sorcerer, proud chimera, and courageous friend, died.
Shira: locks her door against ravenous Zel fans Gomen-nasai!!! I warned you!!!
Zelgadis: dumbstruck I still can't believe you did that.
Lina, Amelia and Gourry: sobbing
Xellos: ...
Shira: What, Xellos, nothing to say?
Xellos: ...
Part 6 | Fanfiction