It was already late morning when the group all began to awaken, and stretch with the new day. Filia woke and instantly realized that the cloak she had put over Xelloss was over her, and she looked around worried for him, only to see him leaning against a tree, carving something with a sharp talon he'd materialized. She crawled over to him, Val behind her, and sat down next to him, peering at his work as the others began to wake slowly. Lina yawned and sat up, then saw the trio and grinned wider. "Morning." She said as she stood and walked over to them. "How you feeling Xelloss?"
The purple-haired dragon smiled up at her with twinkling violet eyes. "Oh quite a bit better, though still weak, Lina-san."
She snorted, but saw the happy look on Filia and Val's faces and said nothing, but turned to the fire and re-lit it to make breakfast. "So, what are you two going to do now, er three."
Filia glanced at Xelloss questioningly, and he nodded to her still carving. "I think we've decided to go to the source of the problem."
Lina blinked then paled a bit. "You're what?"
"We're going to my homeland." Filia elaborated quietly. "To sort things out."
They all stared at them. "You're crazy...." Lina said softly. "You're going INTO the heart of the place where they want you both dead?"
Xelloss looked up slowly, a serious look on his face. "We'll never get anything settled if we don't face it head on. We can't be running from them forever."
There was silence for a while, then Amelia spoke up. "What about Val? You can't take him with you..."
Filia looked down at the young child, and smiled tenderly then stood with him and walked over to her, handing the child to her. "Would you mind caring for him until we come back then Amelia? I know he'll be in good hands with you."
Amelia's jaw practically dropped open in shock. "Wh..wh..." She gaped. "You want me to take care of him for you?!"
Filia nodded, and Xelloss slowly stood, standing beside her. "Yes." He said quietly. "There's no telling what might happen where we're going, and we don't want to put him at risk."
The others had slowly come up around him. "You're really serious about this aren't you?" Lina asked quietly. They both nodded solemnly. She sighed. "Very well then, guess I'll go with ya." They blinked at her in surprise. "What? Can't have you two going by yourselves, who knows what trouble you'll get in."
A soft smile crossed Filia's face, and Xelloss looked slightly relieved, but anxious at the same time. Gourry stepped forward, putting a hand on Lina's shoulder. "Yeah, I'll go too."
"Minna..." Filia whispered.
Zel snorted and stalked off angrily into the woods, looking as if he was leaving. Amelia looked from one to the other, then bit her lip. "Uh, well I guess I can't go if you want me to take care of him..." She hugged Val to her, who was looking distressed from being separated from his mother and father. "So... I'll go with Zelgadiss-san...." Her blue eyes looked up at them worriedly. "Be careful..."
The group nodded as the princess left, and then Lina smashed her fist into her hand. "Right! Let's go!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, fairly positive."
"But it's a hole in the wall."
"Uh, well it doesn't look that bad Lina...."
"Shut up jellyfish for brains!" smack
"Oww..."
"Will you two stop already? You're acting like children."
"Oh, and you never did."
The group was standing atop a ridge looking over a small valley beneath a towering range of mountains. It was very small, but Filia had led them here saying that this was the place they needed to go. Of course, there was no way to tell that this small town housed a very powerful gateway to the center of the Ryuzoku kingdom buried deep in the snowy mountains, hidden to all who didn't know it existed.
Filia led them down the hill into the town, which was empty except for the occasional bird flying by. They looked around nervously, but followed her as she led them to through the winding streets, until they got to an alleyway.... At the end of the alleyway, a huge golden rimmed frame stood...... it looked to the untrained eye just an elaborate decoration that was pointless..... but they knew better.
As Filia approached it, Lina glanced at Xelloss, to see him very pale and nervous. "So much energy.." He whispered softly so that no one but himself, and Lina's trained hearing could hear it.
Filia was reaching up to the wall, and muttering a certain phrase, and before them suddenly a ripple of light exploded from the lattice, and formed a shimmering portal before them. Gourry had to reach up and grab Xelloss as he nearly collapsed, white as a ghost. Filia looked back worriedly. "Xelloss? Are you all right?" She knelt by him as he fell to his knees, shaking slightly. "I... don't know if I can do this..." He whispered. "There's so much.... Energy..."
Filia wrapped her arms around him. "It's ok... maybe you should stay here....."
He shook his however. "No... I need to do this..."
She bit her lip worriedly, but nodded and helped him back up, and he took a steadying breath and composed himself. "You ok now?" She asked quietly. He nodded in response, and she turned back to the gate. "We should go now." And she gestured for them to step through. Lina and Gourry walked through the shimmering wall, then Xelloss, and Filia last.
They appeared on the other side, in the middle of a bustling town..... people with golden hair walking everywhere, and many dragons flying in the air above. They gasped, for the sight was quite something interesting and almost awe inspiring at the same time. The others seemed to glance in their direction with curiosity from time to time, but paid them no heed. They began to walk through the town, surrounded by golds. Filia looked happy being home, but Xelloss fidgeted, and Lina could guess why.... In the center of where those who had destroyed his home and people resided.
Of course, they couldn't have expected not to be noticed, and soon enough a squad of guards was walking down the street before them, then surrounded them almost wordlessly. The captain stepped forward, as they expected, and faced them. "You.... What business do you have..." His words trailed off as his eyes fell on Xelloss who was trying to avoid his eye contact. "You!" He said walking up and standing over him, towering over him, which was surprising since the ex-mazoku wasn't short to begin with. He eyed Xelloss warily, a strange look on his face. "You are ryuzoku, but... like none I've seen before...."
Xelloss tried to smile, but just then one of the guards came up and whispered in his ear, and the captain stood up straighter, glaring at him with hatred. "Then again...." He hissed. "You all are under arrest and will come with me to the court." He gestured, and suddenly the guards were tightening around them, and Filia watched in horror as one of the guards hit Xelloss across the head, and he slipped down towards the ground in unconsciousness, but was caught and flung over the shoulders of the guards before he hit the ground.
"Wait!" Filia cried out as she was restrained herself. "We came here to talk!"
"So you'll get your chance." The captain said tartly, then began escorting them into the court without another word.
Lina managed to whisper into Filia's ear. "Don't worry, I'm sure things will work out. If not, you've got us to blast our way out." Filia wasn't very reassured.
They were brought into the main hall, and then led into the council chamber waiting hall while the captain talked to one guard, before opening the doors and going in, then returning and leading them in. They found themselves in a large meeting chamber where a great deal of elders sat gathered at a main table, and around in the coliseum style room sat other golds. In the center, the one who they assumed to be the leader sat watching them with a sour expression. "What is this all about now that it's so important to interrupt our meeting?"
Absolute silence filled the room as the guard carrying Xelloss dumped him unceremoniously on the floor in front of them, still unconscious. They all stared silently, looks of shock and horror on their faces for a long time, before finally the elder spoke up. "What do you mean by bringing this.... THING here?"
The captain stepped forward, bowing before him. "Sir, we found these coming through the portal in the town square. Since.... Some are of importance, we figured you would like to look into it."
The elder stood slowly, eyes locked on the form of Xelloss sprawled on the ground. "That.... It is not mazoku anymore...." His eyes looked to Filia and the others sharply. "What is the meaning of this?"
Filia tried to step forward, but was restrained. She instead took a breath and spoke up. "Ano, gomen sir, but we came here to make a plea and speak before the council intentionally. We knew how you would react, and still we chose to come here on behalf of both of us to plead that you stop trying to kill both of us..."
The elder frowned. "I have made no orders to kill you, Filia Il Copt. The orders given to the representatives were to find and eliminate the remaining ancient dragon that was in your care."
She swallowed. "Yes... and in the process, your 'representatives' brutally ruined my home and business, then proceeded to attempt to kill me while searching for the ancient to whom I refuse to release to you, in addition...." Her eyes strayed to Xelloss. "We came her to beg your forgiveness on his part."
The elder blinked. "Forgive THAT? For what he did to our people? You surely joke."
Filia swallowed. "No sir, I do not. You see...." Sadness crept into her eyes. "He is also an ancient dragon. He was put into a similar position as the ex-mazoku/ancient you seek, and had no memory of his previous life as a mazoku. He had no control of himself, and as now being back to his normal self, he is not the person whom you knew before."
The council muttered among themselves warily, and stared hard at them. "You mean to say..." One council member spoke up. "That he's not mazoku anymore, and you want us to just push all his deeds away? Just cause he doesn't remember it or something?"
Filia could feel the hostility there, and swallowed her nervousness. "No, I'm saying that you should stop hunting his kind..... what happened between them and us years ago should be over, since you've virtually eliminated their entire race."
The elder slammed his hands down on the table. "I am well aware of our actions towards the ancients years ago, and this does not influence my recognition of this individual to be the one who murdered our people during the Kouma War."
"But...." Filia tried to cry out. "It was revenge for what we did to his..."
"ENOUGH!" The elder roared. "Take them both and lock them up in the dungeons, leave the two humans here for questioning, the prisoners will be executed tomorrow for their treachery."
Filia screamed out in anger and terror, and reached over towards Xelloss, who was groggily coming around as he was dragged to his feet and his arms pinned behind his back tightly. He didn't know what was happening, but realized that Filia was in danger as well as himself, and struggled against the bonds. A guard brought a hand across Filia's face, smacking her hard, and Xel's anger was brought up instantly. He bellowed in rage and started to transport them off, but as he attempted, he felt himself being shoved backwards and his head hit something hard. He focused hard as his mind swirled, and Filia vanished in mid air, as well as Lina and Gourry, however the golds holding him had slapped a containment spell on him....... So he alone remained behind, watching helplessly as the empty spots on the floor occupied his vision, and soothed his heart knowing they were safe......