"I'm hot".
"Were almost there".
"I'm hungry".
"Were almost there."
"I can walk by myself"
It was midday and the sun beat down harshly on the land. Lina and Goury were still a few miles from their destination. Lina sat upon Goury's horse and Goury led it by the reins. Lina hands were securely fastened behind her back. Lina squirmed on the saddle. "Stupid bandit," she thought. "If I hadn't twisted my ankle I'd have already dropped Mister happy marshall a few miles back..."
"No you can't", Goury replied in a monotonous voice.
"Why do you care??"
"My grandmother always told me to treat a lady with respect and dignity.." Goury told Lina. Lina blushed profusely and her eyes widened.
"Even if she is a hardened criminal," Goury finished. Lina's face fell.
"So what did you do?," Goury asked conversationally.
"You arrested me and you don't know??!
"I just follow orders," Goury replied the happy go lucky smile still plastered on his face.
"What if your orders are unjust?? What if they tell you to arrest someone innocent, what then?
Goury's smile wavered a bit. He said nothing more. Goury's horse plodded on in the hot mid day sun. They went the rest of the journey in silence. "I wonder what happened to my horse,??" Lina thought.
"Stupid horse", Zel muttered. He attempted to drag Lina's horse along with his own across the desert. Lina's horse was jet black with a pure white star on its forehead. It fought with everything it had and pretty much made the past two days a living hell.
"What the hell do you want anyway"?? Zel asked the horse exasperated. The horse nudged Zel's food pouch.
"NO, that's mine!! I already fed you!!" Zel cried. The horses eyes started to water and it gave Zel a cute wounded look.
"You're not getting it". The horse started to whimper.
"No I'm not going to give it too you". Zel could have sworn his own horse was giving Lina's horse disgusted looks. No of course not. There just horses. Lina's horse started to cry and did an impression of a starving Ethiopian kid. Zel's resolution wavered.
"OH here take it!!!" Zel threw the pouch at the horse. It swallowed the whole thing in one bite, bag and all.
Zel sweatdropped.
"Well the horse does fit her personality, Zel thought jokingly. As soon as he thought of Lina a wave of guilt washed upon Zelgadiss.
"What am I worried about? She can take care of herself. Besides I barely know her." Zel thoughts were in turmoil. He hesitated. He turned around abruptly.
"She's my friend and I've got to help her." Zel started walking in the opposite direction and immediately turned around again.
"What am I thinking?? You think she'd save a half-breed freak like you??," Zel told himself.
"On the other-hand". Zel turned around again. Right about this time, the horses were plotting against him. No one would ever find his body.
"She does have the other half of the map. My half is useless without it." Zel clicked his tongue and rode off at a gallop with Lina's horse in tow, content that he finally had an excuse to rescue his red haired friend.
A young girl walked down the street of a rustic town. Her dark purple hair was braided in shoulder length pigtails. Her head hung down in thought.
"I can't marry that man.", she thought desperately. Her thoughts drifted to her father's face. He had looked so happy when he had announced her engagement.
"I can die a content happy old man knowing your safe and taken care of," he had said.
"I don't want to disappoint daddy. He's suffered so much. First, mom died then Gracia disappeared; I can't inflict more pain on to him.... I don't want to disappoint him". Amelia clutched her bundle tightly around her arms. "If mother was here she would know what to do." Amelia walked into something soft and squishy. "huh??"
She looked up and met with a crowd of people hovering around the jail house. She poked the nearest.
"Excuse me what's the commotion," Amelia asked a women politely.
"The enemy of all who live has been captured!!," the women exclaimed.
"The who?"
"The enemy of all who live, the redheaded terror of the prairie, the girl who makes grizzly bears quiver in their dens. Were you raised in a barn child?? How could you not know of Lina Inverse???," the woman asked flabbergasted.
"Actually it was an estate"...
"Oh look there she is"!!! The woman pointed past the crowd. A blond marshall was dismounting and leading a young girl, couldn't have been more than 15 by a rope. Her red hair hung over her eyes and Amelia couldn't see her face. The young girl looked up and their eyes met for a brief second. The girl "Lina Inverse" looked away and walked into the court house.
"She doesn't look evil," Amelia told the women.
"Looks can be deceiving child"..
"I suppose..." and you shouldn't believe everything you hear she thought. She glanced once more at the jail house and turned continued to walk home.
Lina looked around the interior of the jail house. There were only two cells and one small window that was barred. The building had an office that extended out from the jail that served as the sheriff's office.
"Hand it over," the sheriff told Lina.
"I already got her to empty her pockets," Goury told the sheriff.
"Hand it over," the sheriff's told Lina a second time.
"What are you talking about"?? I don't have anything on me." Lina laughed nervously.
"Either you hand it over or I go looking for it". Lina gulped. She pulled off her right boot and emptied the contents out on the table. Everything from pocket knifes to strange looking red balls came tumbling out.
Goury and the sheriff's jaws hit the floor.
"How..did ...you..keep all ...that...in...your ..boot...."the sheriff stammered. Goury was only able to make a few vowel sounds. Lina pulled off the other boot. Wads of dollar bills,coins, and even a gold nugget poured out of her boot. The sheriff and Goury continued to stare. Finally, after a few minutes Goury asked the sheriff..
"How did you know she was keeping all that in her boots," he asked impressed.
"I was just talking about the knife hidden under her sleeve." the sheriff told him.
"Damn", Lina muttered. Goury took Lina by the hands and led to her cell and locked the door.
Lina stuck her head between the bars. "What am I being accused of"??
Goury picked up a a small piece of paper from the desk.
"That doesn't look that bad"..Lina said. The paper unfolded to ten times its length. It was so long it dragged the floor. Everyone in the room sweatdropped.
"Daddy I'm home,". Amelia walked into the estate and handed her bundle to the maid. "Where's my father?" she asked.
"Senator Saillune is in a meeting and should not be bothered". Amelia ran to the study anyway. The maid ran after her. Amelia pushed big oak double doors open to the study. She ran to her father and hugged him.
"I'm sorry Senator Saillune, I tryed to stop her," the maid said out of breath.
"Its quite alright, Mildred." Senator saillune a towering figure dressed in a dark gray business suit dismissed the other men in the room with a wave of his hand. The maid left in an indignant huff.
"Amellia did you have a good day today"?? Senator Phil Saillune asked as he sat behind his desk. Amelia chose a soft chair beside him.
"There was a big commotion in town. A U.S. Marshall brought in someone called Lina Inverse." Phil looked slightly startled.
"Lina Inverse?? Are you sure??
"Yes positive. Do you know anything about her??
"Let me see". Phil walked over to his file cabinet and pulled out a file the size of his fist (which if you think about the size of Phils fist is pretty darn scary). "Lina Inverse," he sat back down and read, "Also known as the bandit killer. Started showing up on the scene about two years ago. No one knows about her family history or where she comes from. She's made it her ambition to terrorized bandit gangs. She annihilates the bandits and takes the loot for herself. The reports are sketchy on how she exactly does this. Not many bandits come back from a Lina Inverse attack. The ones that do are found scared out of their minds muttering hysterically along the lines of , "I'm sorry I called you flat chested." Phil sat the file down.
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "That can't be all that's in that file".
"The rest are property destruction forms," her father informed her.
"Oh.." Amelia sweatdropped.
"What do you think will happen to her?? Do you think she'll get hung??" Amelia asked worried.
"Hung?? I don't know. What ever happens justice will prevail!!" Phil smiled broadly.
"I guess so.."
"Don't worry about!! Everything will work out!!!". Senator Phil erupted into bellowing laughter that shook the house's very foundation and was shortly joined by his daughter. Off in the kitchen the maid sweat dropped. "I don't get paid enough for this............."
Goury walked into the sheriffs office and took a seat. The sheriff sat behind his desk smoking a cigarette.
"You wanted to see me"?? Goury asked.
"Yes".
The sheriff took another puff of his cigarette and blew it out in a long stream. "There' something I wanted to ask you first. How did you ever manage to capture the infamous Lina Inverse?".
"I saved her from a bandit that had her corned," Goury replied
"If you ask me you should have let them kill her. Would have saved us a lot of trouble and effort."
"It isn't our job to judge her," Goury replied.
"Speaking of judging, a message just came down from the wire", the sheriff told him. "Straight from the higher ups". The sheriff handed Goury a telegram. Goury peered at it closely.
"What!! This isn't fair!! She hasn't even had a trial yet!!!"
The sheriff grinned fiercely. "She's to hang tomorrow at high noon."
"Aren't you going to do anything about this?? "
"Not my problem." He started making smoke rings.
"I'm leaving". Goury got up and started walking out the door.
"Such a little tart isn't she"??
Goury looked over his shoulder. "Excuse me"??
"That Lina. I wouldn't mind getting a piece of that". The sheriff laughed snidely. "Handcuffs have more uses than one, you know. " He sneered and inhaled his cigarette again. Goury stared shocked. His face quickly changed from shock to anger.
"Listen here..", Goury looked at the sheriff's badge, "Cole...." If you even touch that girl I'll kill you". Goury met the sheriff's eyes in uncharacteristic anger. Goury left them room and slammed the door behind him.
"You know he ain't getting any.". Cole put out his cigarette and made his way to the his liqueur cabinet.
"I've got to get out of here". Amelia looked around for an escape. Any escape. She spotted an open window. I few broken bones she could take. Just as long as she got away from..
"Amelia my darlinggggggggggg!!!!!"
Him
Skinny arms wrapped around Amelia's shoulders and she tried to resist the urge to vomit.
"Amelia my shining star of morning, my dewdrops of spring, I've missed you so much!!!" His green hair and frilly shirt rubbed against Amelia. He glomped on to her.
"I just saw you yesterday Jeffery".
"What's wrong my dear why are you shivering??" Jeffery spotted an open window. "My amebiasis what are you doing with the window open?".
"Jumping to my merciful death," she thought but instead said, "So um... Jeffery how've ya been??"
"I'm already counting the days till we meet again my love!! I have to go back to law school earlier than I had expected. I suppose the wedding will have to be postponed." Amelia tried to restrain herself from outright cheering.
"What is that?" a loud booming voice called from the hallway. Senator Saillune walked into the library. "That's no problem!!! We'll just move the wedding to tomorrow!!!" Phil exclaimed. Amelia grew visible pale.
Jeffery's beady eyes turned into little hearts. "Amelia, isn't that wonderful??!!! We can finally begin our life together!!!! You can give me tons of children!!!" The thought of little children with green and purple hair running around was almost too horrible to bear.
"We'll name one Betty Sue and one Billy Bob and Bobby Sue!!!!" We'll be together forever!!!!
Amelia felt her stomach sink
AND EVER!!!
Jeffery's eyes grew really huge and his voice rose.
AND EVER!!!!!
Amelia could have sworn she saw the grim reaper outside the window.
AND EVER!!!!!!
Amelia fainted. "I guess the excitement was too much for her!!!" Phil and Jeffery erupted in laughter . On the floor Amelia opened one eye and quickly closed it again.
"Maybe they'll think I'm dead", she thought hopefully. Off in the kitchen the maid dropped the dishes she was holding at the sound of the hideous laughter.
"Dammit....."
Lina hated jails. The jail was cold, she was wrongfully accused, and worst of all the food stunk!! One meal a day!!! It was cruel and inhuman!!! A meal was sat in front of her.
"Huh??," Lina looked up from her stupor and saw a plate heaping with food. She abandoned thought and started inhaling the food. Goury sat on a chair near the cell.
"Umm....Lina". I should just get out and say it. Goury thought.
"Your scheduled to hang at noon tomorrow". Lina started choking on her muffin.
"Mfmmfff errmff," Lina said through a mouth of food.
"Maybe you should swallow first", Goury suggested. Lina swallowed.
"What do you mean???!!!! I haven't even had a trial yet!!!!! That's unjust!!! Inhuman!!!".
"I know". Goury sighed.
"Aren't you going to do anything about it"??
"What can I do? Its out of my jurisdiction."
"So what you'd just let an innocent girl die then??" Dammit I need more time. At least my ankles almost healed." Lina rubbed her sore ankle.
"I don't know what to do", Goury thought. This isn't fair. She doesn't deserve to be hung. Sure she's loud, eats like a horse, has a bean pole figure, violent tendencies, and no manners to speak of...er what was I saying??". Goury scratched his head losing his train of thought. Lina took the quiet pause as an opportunity to inhale a few more chicken legs. Goury got up and left the room a plan forming in his brain. Well, slowly forming, but forming nonetheless.
"Pssstt..Lina."
"Call me flat chested will ya! I'll rip your arms off and beat you with them..I'll". Lina rolled over muttering in her sleep.
"Pssst..Lina wake up". Goury whispered into the cell.
"err What?" Lina looked up with sleep filled eyes. "Gourry what are you doing..". Goury put a key in the door and unlocked it.
"I'm getting you out of here". Goury grabbed Lina's hand and yanked her out of the cell.
"Not that I'm not grateful or anything but why are you doing this"?
"My grandmother always told me to follow what I believe in. Even if it isn't the popular idea at the time. "
"Well um...thanks or something." Lina and Goury tiptoed out of the cell. They made their way quietly in the shadows.
"Wow this is easier than I thought it would be". Lina whispered to Goury.
"I slipped a sleeping pill in his drink," Goury said proudly.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh the prisoners have escaped!!!!" Lina hit Goury over the head.
"I thought you said you slipped a sleeping pill in his drink!!!!!" Goury took out a bottle and looked at it.
"oops....this are caffeine pills".
"Caffeine pills!!!!!!!!!!!!".
"I'll-hAve-Your-bAdgE-fOr-tHis GAbriev!!!!!!!" The sheriff ran out of the jail like a chicken with its head cut off.
Zel snuck through the town. He had everything he needed to brake something out of jail. Zel slowly made his way to the jail house.
"How do I got about this?? Should I be sneaky?? Create a diversion?? You know, I should just walk up to her and say "Lina! I'm here to save ...ack." Zel was hit by a redheaded and blond blur.
"Zel why are you lying there in the middle of the road??", Lina asked. Zel twitched a couple times. He had footprints across his face.
"Come on!". Lina grabbed Zel by the hand and yanked him along. Shots ran out from behind them. Lina ducked instinctively. She glanced around.
"In here!". Lina ducked into a nearby barn followed by Goury and Zel. They all leaned forward and tried to catch their breath. Zel shot a suspicious glance toward Goury.
"What's he doing here??"
"He sprung me from jail." Lina told him. "Not that I needed the help or anything." Lina added.
The group froze as they heard footsteps approaching. Lina's gazed around the room. The "barn" was more of a storage house than a barn. There was two levels in the Barn and they was a huge window at the top loft. The barn was also cluttered with piles of hay , bags of fertilizer that were stacked in one corner, various picks and shovels lying about, and buckets of tomatoes to the right.
"Perfect." Lina smiled softly. "Guys go get the horses and bring them around the front of the barn."
"Lina what are you going to do"??
"Just trust me guys"..
Cole held his shot gun tightly. He knew he had heard noises from the old storage shed. He peered through the crack in the door. After seeing no one he pushed open the aging wooden door and walked inside. It was dark and dank in the building. Shadows danced off the rafters and the smell of rotten hay hung in the air. A brown glove was sticking out of the hay barely visible. Cole sightlessly sneered and picked up an nearby pitch fork.
"Bwhahaha!! No one crosses Cole and gets away with it!!" He stabbed into the hay with the pitch fork. His smile grew wider when he was met with a loud squishy sound as he felt his pitch fork pierce.
"Lina Inverse!! I have ...." Cole looked at the tomatoes speared on his pitchfork.
"You know cole". Cole looked up and saw the infamous Lina Inverse above him. She smiled evilly.
"You really shouldn't pick on little girls". Lina through a small red object at his hands, ran, and jumped out the window. Cole looked at the red circular object. It had a wick on it and one word written in black ink, "FIREBALL".
"What the hel..." Cole didn't get to finish his sentence as the building exploded around him.
Outside Lina jumped on her horse. Goury and Zel were already mounted. Goury glanced back at the building. "Who knew manure was flammable??" Goury exclaimed. . They all galloped off to freedom as manure started to rain on the town. The shed was now a fiery ball lighting up the night sky. Cole crawled out of the building bruised and bloody. He looked up at the sky at the manure raining down from the sky.
"OH shit...
The sky was clear and bright with stars. The three unlikely companions sat around a roaring campfire. They all were sitting down to a dinner of beans in a can. Lina and Zel had their halves of the map out and were comparing the two.
"Beans, Beans the musical fruit The more you eat the more you......" Goury sang happily.
Zel gave him a dirty look. "Don't even think about finishing that sentence."
"It seems to point to somewhere near New Mexico or Texas. Without the other half of the map though we can't pinpoint its exact location." Lina sighed and munched on some more beans.
"What's this writing on the bottom of yours"? Zel asked and pointed to the bottom of Lina's half of the map.
"Its Latin. I think. Can't your read it?"
"I thought you could." Lina shook her head tiredly and turned toward Goury.
"Hey Goury you gonna finish that"?? Lina leaned in close to Goury's can of beans. Goury held it to his body protectively.
"Didn't your grandmother tell you that a gentleman always gives a hungry lady his food"?
"No." Goury tried to inch away from Lina.
"OK then as a consolation you'll just give me the legendary silver pistol"!!!
"No way!! That's been passed down my family for generations!!!". Lina reached in for his gun and Goury pushed her away. The two started to fight as Goury tried to protect his precious can of beans.
"What have I gotten myself into"?? Zel thought. Twigs snapped in the distance. Lina and Goury froze mid struggle. Lina's hand instantly went to her gun holster. She pointed it to the bushes.
"Come out" she threatened as she leveled her gun. A young girl with dark purple pigtails walked sheepishly out of the bushes.
Lina stared surprised. Where have I seen that girl before??
"Who are you"?? Lina Inverse asked.
The girl seemed to gather her courage. "I am Amelia Saillune and I want to join your gang".
Lina facefaulted. Behind her Goury took the awkward moment as an opportunity to steal Lina's can of beans.
"My gang??"
"Yes, Miss Lina Inverse. I want to be a fighter for justice with you. I'm tired of being the nice quiet little girl always doing what she's told. I'm tired of letting the men in my life decide my decisions. I want to ride off into the sunset and be free" " And not have to marry Jeffery. Amelia added mentally.
"Um..I guess". Lina said taken completely off guard.
"Your just going to let her hang around with us??" What if she works for Rezo??" Zel whispered to Lina.
"Look at her Zel. Does she look like she works for Rezo"?? Zel looked over at Amelia who was smiling and introducing herself to Goury. Lina looked around.
"Hey what happened to my can of beans"???
Goury looked around innocently.
"Geez Lina I don't know........."