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The FFML Refugee List

Thunder crashed close by, turning the wet and cold night into a blinding
white and black panorama. The young girl limped onwards. Her hair was
slicked down; her cloak soaked clear through. Large baubles of rounded red
crystal were wrapped in gold around her wrists and on her shoulder guards.
Her leather-clad hands clutched a large sword to her chest.

But it was her eyes that spoke volumes. Grief and pain were etched across
her features as the wind roared and slashed rain against her shivering
frame. She barely winced as she put weight on her injured foot. The rain
lightened for a moment, showing the ruts in the road ahead of her.

"So, what's a girl like you doing out on a night like this?" boomed a deep
voice. A large and bedraggled rough man stepped out of the forest. Behind
him stepped out three more thugs.

Lina Inverse vaguely noted the presences. Her red eyes had almost seemed to
be dimmed to a deep gray, flecked with red. Lift the left foot, put it
forward (wince) and then lift the right foot to follow. Again. And again.

"It's a ba-ad night to be out. There are things out there that might hurt a
little girl." He cleared his throat. "Say, you could pay us to protect you.
We'll take you to the nearest town."

"You... wouldn't be bandits, would you?" Lina said, her voice almost gone.
An almost invisible glimmer of anger sparked to life in her eyes.

"Why, us? How right you read us!" the leader said jovially. "So let's not
have a problem now."

"Kurgy. Kurgan Laturse. That's you, isn't it?" Lina said slowly, dredging
the childhood name up. Her eyes were becoming redder by the moment. The
sword clattered to the ground, almost forgotten.

"Eh? Oh, it's Little Lina. Say, we never got to repay you for fireballing us
when we wanted your money. You were going to be our first victim!"

The sorceress's lips parted in a snarl. "You... you... started me... on the
path of the Bandit Killer. The Dragon Spooker. You lied to the town
 council."

"Eh? What are we supposed to do? Say we became bandits and the town wimp
blasted us to stop us from robbing her? Get real, Little Lina." Kurgy wiped
the water off of his brow. Damn rain. Say, did she say Dragon Spooker?

"I... hate that name. I am... Lina... Inverse... Enemy of All Who Live. And
you, Kurgy, made me." A flicker of light grew in her cupped hands. An old
fire had been lit in her eyes.

"What are you talking about, Little Lina? You? Lina... Inverse... the Bandit
Killer? Oh, crud." Kurgy and his band suddenly realized their error. They
had become more skilled in the intervening years, but even in Zefielia, they
had heard of the Enemy of All Who Lived. They had wondered why she had never
ventured near the town. Now they had a faint glimmering of an idea.

"FIREBALL!" Lina yelled, throwing the spell and catching the bandits by
surprise.

With predictable results, the four men were comatose and crisped. Luckily
for them, the rain cooled them down, mitigating their burns and waking them
up just a few minutes later.

Lina Inverse was far down the path by that time. The cloud of her depression
had retaken her. She almost hadn't noted the town when she walked down its
little lane. Small houses and larger buildings lined the row, dark and
foreboding.

"Inn. Cold. Food? No." Lina mumbled to herself as she walked down the lane,
looking for an open inn or tavern. Warm laughter dragged her slowly down the
road. Without even looking at the sign, walked in, to the light.

The laughter died, slowly, as one by one, the patrons became aware of the
bedraggled girl, cloak torn and ripped pants. All eyes followed her as she
walked to an empty table. One hand had a white knuckled grip on a large
sword. The other shifted the shoulder guards and cloak onto the back of her
chair with practiced ease.

The bartender tilted his head. The dark haired girl looked almost familiar.

"Drink." The request carried across the room clearly. Lina's gaze drooped
down to the table. She just didn't have the energy to raise it again.

Barton just sighed. He'd seen too many people come in like that. Just
wanting to drink their life away. The swinging door to the kitchen opened,
letting his waitress in carrying an overloaded platter of food.

The waitress looked around in surprise. All of their attention seemed to be
focussed on that girl dripping on the floor and table.

Barton filled a large mug with ale from a cask. "She wants a drink." He
handed it to her as she slipped it onto the platter.

The talking started up, as the interest in the unusual girl fled. The
waitress dropped of the food at two different tables, taking the payment
with a quiet smile.

"One Darkwoods Ale. That'll be two silver."

"Sure," Lina mumbled, pulling out a small bag from her cloak and dropping it
with a heavy thunk on the table. "Take what you need." A creeping sensation
tried to form on her neck, but was overwhelmed by pity and loathing.

The waitress seemed to roll her eyes, even though you couldn't see them
under her long bangs. She slid the drink to the small girl. She then opened
the bag to reveal a pile of gems and wards, the glittering magic showing in
their depths. "Do you have anything smaller?"

The drenched redhead slammed her drink back, like a pro. She finally saw her
waitress as she twirled one of the smallest gems. "L-L-L-L-L-Luna!" Lina
shrieked, kicking back away from the table. Her chair teetered for one
second, finally crashing to the ground.

The entire room looked on in astonishment, never having seen such a great
reaction before. Lina crab-walked backwards while she hyperventilated. Her
eyes were big and round, panic easily evident. She had only made it five
feet before she slammed her head into a wooden beam that held up the
ceiling.

"Lina?" Luna stuttered in surprise. What was her sister doing here? Her
countenance darkened. What did she think she was doing, coming back here?

Fear, pain and loss were finally too much for the young woman. Crying, she
dragged herself back the fallen sword. "J-just leave me alone." She clutched
the sword to her chest. "All I want is a drink and someplace to sleep."

The bartender's frown mimicked the crowds. "I thought your sister wasn't
ever coming back? We don't need her sort here."

"Lay off, Bart. I don't think she's here to cause problems." This time, Luna
added silently. She slowly crouched over the girl who was hugging what
appeared to be a fairly normal sword. "Hey, Sis." Her only response was a
muffled sob.

Even Barton was having a hard time keeping his old anger firm. "Just get her
out of here. You can have the evening off."

"Sure. Thanks, Bart." Luna reached out and touched the girl's shoulder.
"Come one, Lina."

Overwhelming fear rose up at the touch, fighting against numbing pain. But
Luna wasn't dragging her kicking and screaming down to the Pit. Maybe...
maybe she wasn't going to hurt her. Maybe... With a sob, Lina launched
herself at her older sister, holding on to her with desperate strength. "Oh,
Sis. He's dead. And I wasn't even there for him."

Luna felt a cold fear wash over her. What could cause such a radical change
in Lina, the little terror known as her kid sister? Uncomfortably, she
returned the hug. "Come on, Lina. Let's get you to bed."

Lina just sobbed, letting Luna lead her around. Luna for her part was
confused. This must have been some guy, if it had Lina in tears. She hefted
the almost drowned looking girl into her arms, carrying her as easily as if
she were a baby. Lina' rumpled cloak and shoulder guards were grabbed and
the two disappeared into the rain.

An old man scratched his bald head in bemusement. With a shrug he went over
and looked at the bag. "Yup, hasn't change a bit. Still robbing people.
You'd think she'd learn."

"What do you mean, Warry?" a tall, thin, academic looking fellow said. He
pushed up his glasses to look at the older man.

"That Little Linna is trouble. We caught her thieving and gave her the old
heave ho. Don't hanker for that sort of problem in our town." Warry lifted
his tankard and saluted, then drained it.

"Ah. And that was her sister?" His glasses reflected the firelight, yellows
and reds flickering ominously.

"Yup. Luna Inverse. Quite a gal. Needs a husband. Why'd you ask, Otto?"

Otto blinked. Did he just say Inverse? "So that would have been... Lina
Inverse."

Warry blinked rheumetically. "Er? So?"

Several of the other bar patrons had turned to listen to the outlander
historian. Barton nodded as he cleaned a glass.

"I had heard that Lina Inverse had come from around here. Just imagine the
stories that you could learn about the famed and dangerous Lina Inverse. The
Bandit Killer. The Dragon Spooker. The Enemy of All Who Live!" Otto seemed
to be almost beside himself in happiness. The crowd around him seemed
stunned. "It's even rumored that she helped kill a part of old Ruby Eye
himself, although that is probably just exaggeration! No one can be that
powerful."

"You must be talking about another Lina. That one ain't been a bit of good
since her mother passed away."

Otto deflated. "I was so hoping. Were there any other girls named Lina
Inverse from Zefielia?"

Slowly the men looked back and forth, slowly shaking their heads. There had
only ever been one family of the Inverses, and they had only two daughters.

"Well, maybe my information was wrong. After all, that waitress sure didn't
look like a Knight of Ceiphied." Otto beamed and took a swig of his drink.

Everyone just stared at Otto. How had he known that? And how did that relate
to the little girl known as Lina Inverse?

-

Lina woke up to what she thought was a nightmare. To anyone else, it would
look like a normal girl's room. Small dolls were lined up, awards for spell
casting on the walls and bright yellow ribbons laying on the little table.
She started to hyperventilate, eyes flashing left and right.

Suddenly, an incongruity realized itself in her mind. Her amplifiers and
cloak sat on a chair, totally out of place in her childhood home.

"That's right. I'm... home," Lina said to herself. She found it odd, that
even after so long and after so much had happened, that this was still home.

A few minutes later, she walked down the stairs, following the elusive scent
of breakfast. She slid into her normal seat slowly, leaning the large sword
up the wall. Her mind was cataloging the changes to the kitchen. Just a few
small things.

"I was beginning to think that you were going to sleep until noon,
sleepyhead." Luna walked in from the living room and slid the pots closer to
the hot part of the stove.

Lina paled, her grip becoming white-knuckled on the edge of table.

Luna heard the stressed wood creak and looked over her shoulder. Unseen eyes
seemed to scrutiny her younger sister with an intensity that was unrivaled
by even Mazuko. "Relax. Nothing's gonna happen right now."

The red haired girl started to breath again. Plates of food started to
appear in front of her. Luna nodded in understanding when Lina just started
to nibble, totally uncharacteristically.

"Wanna talk?"

Linna just looked down at the table top. "About what?'

"Him. Why you came back?"

Linna seemed to sag deeper into herself. "He... he was the best traveling
companion that I'd ever had. Not too smart, but he was really loyal." She
blushed for a second. "He was dashing and handsome, coming to my rescue.
Once he found out I was a sorceress, we just kind of ended up together."

"So what happened?" Luna asked as she cleaned some dishes.

"I... it was that time of the month. I'd hurt my ankle and we'd had to stop
in a town. Normally, I'd just get Zel or Amelia to heal it, but they had to
go do their own things for a while. Since I couldn't walk, Gourry went to
get a healer in the next town." Lina's voice almost broke. "I'd just bought
him a new sword. The next morning, a wagoneer came into town. It was no big
deal. I came out with everyone else to see what was going on. He... he had a
body, wrapped up in a blanket. I wasn't worried." Tears started to stream
down in small rivulets. "Then the merchant pulled out Gourry's new sword. I
don't remember much. I think he said something about an avalanche. I...
kinda freaked out."

"So how come you came home?"

"Really didn't mean to. I just cast a Ray Wing and flew off into the forest
until it failed. Then I just wandered. Knew I was pretty close, but I didn't
mean to come... back."

Luna opened her mouth to ask another question, when shouts could be heard
out front.

-

"Come on out! Come out you little hellion! We warned you what would happen
if you came back."

A crowd of forty men had gathered out in front. Out in front of the other
houses, wives and children watched on, morbidly drawn to the mob scene.

"We don't need you and your thieving ways here!" a blacksmith shouted, as he
waved his hammer threateningly.

"You aren't back even one day and you're already robbing our innocent
townsfolk!" an ancient man managed to warble out.

"I'm not gonna protect you Lina. If you broke the law, you gotta pay." Luna
glowered over her much smaller and petite sister.

"I haven't stolen nothing!" Lina snapped back, anger overcoming her fear for
just a moment.

"Got nothing to fear then." Luna stood up and walked to the front door.
"Come on."

Lina reluctantly followed her onto the porch. The sun was shining brightly.
Lina felt an odd sense of d�j� vu. It had been a bright spring the last time
too.

And look at how that had ended up? She'd been exiled for stealing!

"There she is!" a man in a baker's apron yelled.

"What is going on!?" Luna yelled out, silencing them all.

"She robbed four of our fine upstanding boys last night!"

"They tried to rob me last night. I blasted them to teach them a lesson. I
didn't even stop to take their stuff like I do when I fry bandits." It's
going to happen again. They're going to exile me again. All because of Kurgy
and his band's lies.

"That is a lie! Who do you believe, us or that trouble magnet?" Kurgy
yelled, bandages wrapped around his head and hands.

An ancient man tapped his ornate staff on the ground suddenly. Everyone
turned to him in obvious surprise. "What were you doing out in the
rainstorm, Kurgy?" the mayor asked.

The surprised young man gaped for a moment as his mind worked over time to
come up with a good excuse. "Er, Toddy had lost one of his sheep again. Took
us a while to track it down." His gaze turned fierce. "We ran into her on
the way back to the bar."

"Yeah!" his boys chorused.

"Hmm. That seems to happen quite a bit, doesn't it." The bushy eyebrows
seemed to twitch in thought.

The crowd started to murmur in surprise. Something was up. The mayor was
questioning their story.

"I call for a test of truth! Let each party pick a champion!" the mayor
raised his staff up at his pronouncement.

"But she'll just fireball him again! That isn't fair!" Toddy shouted.

"Then it shall be a test of steel. No magic, no interference!"

Kurgy grinned evilly. "I'll be our champion!"

Lina just stared mutely at the ground for a second. Her answer was to
unsheathe Gourry's sword. Her heart rose up a little bit at their first
exchange of blows. She was no expert of course, but she could swing a mean
sword when needed. The crowd formed a circle around them.

Kurgy suddenly laughed, his sword moving in a dazzling pattern. Rips
appeared in her clothes and with the final swing of his sword disarmed her.

"I guess this shows the world who the villain really is, doesn't it?" Kurgy
said, holding the sword up to her neck.

"Say, you could have hurt someone flinging the sword around like that! Lucky
I was right here to catch my sword!" a chirpy voice said.

"G-Gourry?" Lina squeaked. Her eyes narrowed suddenly! "Gourry is my
protector! He is my Champion!" She was never so happy to say that.

"Sure, no problem, Lina!" His smile seemed to almost gleam. "Say, what am I
Championing?"

"These guys accused me of stealing from them!" Lina said, her voice calm and
detached. It was going to be different this time! She had friends.

"They what?" anger snapped in that simple question.

"Hey, the challenge is over!" Kurgy said suddenly. He had a strange feeling
in his gut as he looked at the blonde swordsman.

"No, it is not." The Mayor stood at the edge. His voice was rough and
gravelly. "I have not declared the winner. Lina Inverse has declared her
Champion! Let the challenge begin!"

Kurgy looked at the mayor, murder hidden deep within. He'd be next. Kurgy
turned to Gourry and launched into a blinding pattern of attacks. Zefielia
trained the best swordsmen in the world, though most didn't bother leaving
home. It just wasn't a challenge.

"Say, you're pretty good!" Gourry exclaimed happily.

Kurgy blinked in amazement at his nonchalance. Who was this fellow? "You're
good, no doubt! But I have just begun to fight!"

"Great! I haven't had a real challenge in a long time!"

The crowed oohed in appreciation of the high-speed blurs and clanks. Kurgy
was starting to sweat profusely. Who was this guy? His skill was insane! And
that sword wasn't even nicked. He began to feel awe at who he was fighting.

Gourry sighed. "Wish I had my old sword! I really miss it. This one just
isn't the same!" He increased his speed slightly. Guess he really wasn't
that good after all.

"What was that?" Kurgy said, even though it cost him his breath. Cuts
started to appear in his clothes.

"Oh? Just the Sword of Light. I'm hungry, so I'm going to finish this fight.
Okay?" Gourry proved that his words were as good as his deeds, his sword
disarming him in one fell swoop.

The ground gasped in shock. Kurgy had been defeated! By their laws, he was
no the one that had to prove his innocence.

"Say, Lina? Why'd you run off yesterday? It took forever for me to catch up
to you!" Gourry asked as he sheathed his sword and walked over towards her.

He was startled when the young woman collided into him, hugging him
fiercely. She seemed to be unable to say anything, her head buried in his
chest.

"Er, Lina? You all right?" Gourry asked, confused at her atypical reaction.

A minute later, Lina looked up, her tear streaked face smiling. "I'm fine.
Now." She wasn't going to let him go now.

Lina suddenly felt Gourry stiffen as she heard a meaty thump.

"Kill them all," Kurgy shouted, pulling the knife out of the swordsman's
back. "Shadow's Heart Gang, Attack!"

Yelling roared back in response, as from over a hundred voices. Rough and
tough looking men poured out of hiding, shooting bows into the crowd and at
anyone that moved.

"Gourry! No, not again!" Lina shouted as Gourry collapsed onto her, dragging
her down.

"That wasn't very sporting," Gourry muttered weakly.

"Who cares about that!" Lina shouted at him. She turned him over to check
his wound, shutting out the world. Her blood ran cold as she saw how much
blood was already flowing. He'd been stabbed right through the heart!

People screamed and ran. The mayor screamed as a dozen arrows pierced him.
Wind whirled around the elder Inverse, spinning arrows away from her.
Dragon-like beams of energy shot from her hands, rushing into her house and
back out with armor and a sword.

"Sorry, Lina. I... failed you. Supposed to protect..."

Lina felt the numbing coldness again. The sense of loss and despair at not
being able to help him. Why couldn't she do something, anything? It was too
much like... No, that memory was too painful. Even now... it just hurt her
to remember how weak in healing she had always been.

She snarled suddenly. That was because she wasn't there to help him. She was
here. Damn, where were Amelia or Sylphiel? They were the healers, not her.
Sylphiel... that was it. If she could...

Kurgy smiled as he saw his band devastating the town and it's people. They'd
become too lax, thinking that they were a superior breed. That their land
was too good to be corrupted. But in the last five years, the Shadow's Heart
had grown strong. Strong and cruel.

Abruptly, the back of his neck started to tingle. "Lina! Where is she?" he
said suddenly, looking around for the sorceress the he surmised would be
casting a spell of retribution. "What is that?" He turned a gaped, the force
of the spell weighing on his mind, making him unable to think or act.

That, was Lina Inverse who was kneeling over the fallen Gourry, bluish white
light rising off of her in crystal sparks. "...to nurture and protect from
all harm... RESURECTION!"

The sun seemed to dim, being out shown by the beam of light that came from
the sky. A bar of solid white energy slammed into the prone swordsman.
Gourry's eyed opened as feeling came back into his body with a roar. Pure
white light was all around, making the scene to vivid to be watched for more
than a moment.

The spell ended and with it, the normal sunlight resumed its hold. A quiet
stillness held the town for a moment.

"Wow!" Gourry said suddenly. "I didn't know you could cast that spell!"

"Behind you!" shouted Luna, a glowing light appearing in her free hand. With
a flick of her wrist, she tossed a fireball at a bunched up group of
bandits.

Lina felt herself picked up and moved to the side, the sound of metal
striking metal awakening her from her daze. She felt so tired and weak, her
hair faded. But for the first time in ages, she had her trademark smile on
her face. "Say, Gourry, this is that band of bandits we've been looking for
so long. Shall we show them why we deserve our reputation as bandit
hunters?"

"Sure, Lina!" Gourry replied, his sword flickering in front of him as he
fought against Kurgy again. The bandit leader was holding his own for just a
second. But he was already pulling back, letting others step up.

"FIREBALL!" Lina shouted, throwing a fireball that scorched five more
bandits. The young sorceress grunted in almost painful exhaustion. So weak.

Suddenly, from up in the air, a voice called out loudly, "Preying on the
weak and attacking the innocent is wrong! In the name of Justice and Peace,
I shall punish you!" The princess of Saillune posed for just a moment as she
flew into view. "Take that, evil bandits! Dill Brand! How dare you attack my
friends!"

Lina suddenly grinned, her hope renewed. "You guys are so toast, you don't
even realize it!" Her avid and moving gaze easily spotted a group of bandits
that had retreated to bow range to try and skewer her and Gourry. "Flare
Bit!" She stumbled, wondering why everything was going dark.

Gourry nodded in acknowledgment as he defeated three more swordsmen.
Lightning bolts flew out as several of the town's merchants started casting
spells. Lightning bolts that engulfed the six bandits that had been charging
him. "Wow! Thanks!"

Kurgy couldn't believe his eyes, as his band of bandits, the roughest,
toughest and most successful group of bandits that had ever existed in
Zefielia, was being soundly defeated. With a snarl, he cast a spell around
him. "Shadows Cloak."

And with his retreat, the battle against the Shadow's Heart bandits ended.

Lina smiled and raised her fist in triumph. Then she collapsed bonelessly,
her hair whiter than snow.

-

"Lina!" Gourry yelled, charging and catching her before she struck the
ground. "Come on, Lina. Don't scare me like that!"

"Miss Lina!" Amelia shouted as she landed, stumbling several steps to a
halt. Her hand glowed for a second. "Her life force is dangerously low."

Gourry smiled at the young woman. "You can help her, right?"

The young princess's face froze. "No. She... has to pull through on her
own." Not quite true, but she couldn't do that to her father. Not after
Mother and her sister had to... leave.

"How can I protect her? I'm supposed to be her protector." Anguish flowed
from Gourry, a terrible wound of the heart.

"You could only help her if you were her betrothed or married to her." Luna
stood regally to the side, her sword red and dripping with blood.

"But we never... I couldn't... She would have... No. There has to be some
way," Gourry said determinedly. He picked her up, holding her close to his
chest. "Can't you cast a spell to fix her? I have to save her."

Luna looked at the young man, her expression inscrutable. "The only spell
that I know would kill the person who was trying to give of their own life
force."

"So? Will it save her?" Gourry demanded.

"Yes."

"Then what are you waiting for? Cast it on me. I'm supposed to protect her.
It's my duty," the young swordsman said plaintively. He knelt down on the
ground, laying Lina on his lap.

"Mr. Gourry!" Amelia shouted in fear.

The Knight of Ceiphied sheathed her sword in six inches of dirt. "There is a
chance that it won't kill him. It is his choice." Luna put her hand on
Gourry's forehead. Little motes of light danced from her fingertips, flowing
over and across him.

The warrior tensed as he felt his soul being pulled and stretched. With a
scowl of determination, he put his faith in the elder Inverse, pushing with
all of his might to help Lina instead of resisting Luna's magic.

With a soft crack of energy, Luna held a glowing sphere of energy. Her mouth
opened in surprise, but quickly she started to sing tones of an unearthly
choir of inhuman magic without pause.

The circle of people flocked over to watch the tense tableau that was
unfolding in front of them. Suddenly, all of them were driven back, as the
full force of Luna Inverse's gaze fell upon them. The open eyes emitted the
blinding brilliance of twin novas, seeming to scorch all with the fierce
draconic power of the Flare Dragon, Ceiphied.

Amelia shaded her eyes, awed at the power contained therein. The ground
rumbled and shook as etheric waves crashed over reality shores.

Suddenly, the light went out again without a sound, leaving the area in the
relative darkness of noon sunshine.

"Wha happaan?" Lina said groggily, red color flowing into her hair like a
stream of water. "Gourry?" Lina raised her hand to his cheek, a soft glow
coming from her hand.

"Lina, you have to follow my... what?" Luna blinked in surprise. She was
already unconsciously releasing part of Gourry's soul back into his body,
without instruction.

Gourry's comatose body suddenly took a wrenching breath, his eyes opening
with agonizing slowness. "Hey, it worked!"

"What worked, you dummy?" the diminutive sorceress asked with a fond tone.

"We saved you! You cast too much magic again!" Gourry put on his scolding
face.

Lina grabbed a lock of her hair and looked at it. "No, it's red! See?" She
missed grabbing the single white lock of hair.

"It was white. Really white. We weren't sure you were going to make it. This
lady cast a spell to let me help you."

Lina turned and looked up, fear suddenly blossoming on her face. "L-Luna!"
Her gripped tightened dangerously on Gourry's arm, the bones grating. But
she didn't fall into full-blown panic. Within Gourry's protective grip, she
calmed down and almost smiled. "Thanks, Sis."

"No prob." Luna just watched the two from behind her bangs which hid her
eyes.

"That's your sister? Your much smaller..." Gourry was interrupted by a loud,
double growl that came from the duo, their hands clapping to their offending
stomachs. "Wow, I'm really hungry."

Lina giggled. "Me too. Say, Luna, is there more breakfast left?"

"Make yourself at home. I'll be right back. Got some unfinished business to
deal with." With a flash of light, she disappeared.

"Food!" the duo, plus Amelia, crowed aloud. With a shocking suddenness that
startled the onlookers, they ran into the Inverse house. The door slammed
shut, rattling the entire house.

-

Kurgy swallowed his anger. There would be other times, other places to take
his revenge against Lina Inverse. He just had to get away. All of a sudden,
a blinding light flew overhead. "What was that?" he muttered to himself, his
voice suddenly strained and taught.

In front of him, the light suddenly dropped down to the level of the ground.
"You didn't think you could escape?"

"Luna Inverse." He shifted his sword stance, lowering the point and
charging. He'd kill one problem today or die! Suddenly, she just
disappeared!

The Knight of Ceipheid hid her gaze as she walked away. It would probably
take the bandit centuries to starve to death in his slow time. He could not
affect anything not already on him.

Behind her, the almost frozen figure continued his mad charge that would
last at least a year. It would take him another year to realize what had
happened to him.

Just because you were a good guy doesn't mean that you are nice. Villains
and murderers deserved no mercy.

-

Amelia actually kept up with the two over enthusiastic eaters for a few
minutes, she was that hungry. But in a very short time, she had satiated her
hunger, while Lina and Gourry had barely wetted their appetite. At the
moment they were fighting over a large turkey leg.

"Yo, Lina. Quit acting like a pig," Luna said as she walked by on her way to
the stove.

Lina reflexively let go of the leg, letting Gourry finish it off. Getting a
hold of her fright, she smashed Gourry to the ground with a single fist.
"Stop embarrassing me in front of my family!"

"Huh? Oh, sorry." Gourry continued to munch on the leg, actually taking the
time to savor the taste as he sat up.

"You Gourry Gabriev?" Luna asked pointedly. She was quickly and methodically
preparing more food. They'd both be hungry.

"Yup!"

"You got something you want to ask me? About Lina?"

Gourry thought about that a second. He snuck a glance at Lina and then
responded. "Er, I was going to talk to her father."

"What? Why do you need to talk to Father?" Lina demanded. She felt a stab of
pain in her heart. That was something else she didn't want to bring up.

"He wasn't talking to you. Sit down an' shut up. Father is dead. I'm head of
the family."

Lina's face started to turn crimson. He wasn't really going to ask... that
was he? Her face suddenly paled at the thought of her older sister
tormenting her by disallowing it. Her stomach seemed to become as heavy as
lead. She... she wasn't going to let her sister ruin her happiness. Even if
she had to fight her with everything she had.

"Well, um, no need to..."

"Spit it out. Now!"

Gourry snapped a pleading look at Lina, who was busy trying to gather her
courage. He looked over at the smaller girl, who just had a blank,
uncomprehending expression. Finally, he looked up at Luna. "I, uh, want to
seek permission to, er, woo..."

"Sure. You've been a good influence."

"Really?" Lina and Gourry chorused out in unified relief.

"Lina and Gourry? Wow! It's sure been a long time coming!" Amelia said
happily.

"Lina? Who is she?" Luna seemed to give the impression of looking over the
youngest princess of Saillune.

"Um, this is Amelia wil Tesla Saillune, Crown Princess and sometime
traveling companion. Amelia, this is Luna Inverse, Knight of Ceipheid."

Amelia waved hello and then suddenly blinked in surprise. Did she just
say...?

"Pleased to meetcha. Been going up in the world since you left."

Lina nodded carefully.

"Don't let it go to your head. Or I'll have to take you mushroom hunting."

Lina went absolutely pale. "N-No. That's all right." She gulped
convulsively. "Did you ever get rid of... them?"

Luna shrugged. "Mostly. Hard to get rid of all of the slugs."

The red haired sorceress started to shiver. A light weight from Gourry's
hand on her shoulder worked to let her calm herself down. Only Luna noticed
that his hand glowed slightly. She frowned at that. That wasn't supposed to
happen after the spell had run its course.

"T-That's good."

"Say, why don't you talk to the town council and the Mayor. See if they're
gonna drop that stupid exile and all. It's really obvious that Kurgy and his
boys were the real villains."

Lina didn't trust herself to talk and just nodded.

"Good. See you around, Sis."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     desaix@sysnet.net
Sir Desaix, member # 116 of the Knights of the True Fiancee
              anime  fanfics available at
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