The Chimera's Battle
 
One sunny day, in a town somewhere, our heroes were enjoying a meal in the
local tavern. Lina and Gourry, as always, were stuffing their faces as if
they hadn't seen food before. Zelgadis was silently sipping a cup of coffee,
pausing only to continue his meal. Amelia, sticking close to Zel, was also
having an enjoyable time. And Xelloss was indulging himself as well. Another
adventure was over and this was the meal of celebration. Afterwards they
will part and go their separate ways. Amelia was dreading the moment that
they will all part. She felt proud to be the friend of such fine warriors as
Lina and Gourry. And then was Xelloss. Infuriating and enigmatic at times
but his actions kept everyone on their toes and made the adventure quite
lively. And then there was Zel.
Amelia paused with her meal and stared into space. Amelia sighed and
wondered, as she done many times before on whether Zel really noticed or
cared about her feelings for him. He seemed so determined to find a cure for
his body that he shunned everything else out. Amelia figured that she had
taught him how to love, she was a champion of Justice after all, but she
didn't know whether he saw her how she saw him. It is unless, she came clean
and told him herself.
However she had waited many times for an opportunity to tell him of her true
feelings but not one came...
 
Xelloss got to his feet and, grinning his malevolent grin of his, cleared
his throat.
"Well everyone, its been a fun adventure but I must be on my way"
Amelia joined Lina, Gourry and Zel in bidding the trickster goodbye but
Amelia couldn't help but think that they were more pleased in getting rid of
him and his mischievous ways.
Once outside, Xelloss noticed a small urchin sulking around the tavern,
begging no doubt. Xelloss strode over to the beggar. The urchin looked up in
hope.
"Can you spare some money for a meal?" asked the urchin.
"No." said Xelloss "But I can tell you where to get some."
"How?" asked the urchin eagerly.
"Inside that tavern is a young girl of fourteen years. She has black hair
and is dressed in white. She's a princess you know.."
The urchin's eyes lit up. "A princess? Then that means, she'll have a lot of
money on her!"
Xelloss grinned. "Preciously"
 
Back in the tavern, Lina and Gourry had finished their feeding frenzy. Zel
had finished his cup of tea and Amelia polished off the last of her meal.
Lina wiped her mouth with her napkin.
"Ah, Its been a while since I've had some good food like that!"
"Yeah" agreed Gourry.
"That's fairly obvious" said Zel. "You two were gobbling down that food like
there was no tomorrow!"
Amelia felt cold at this remark. If she didn't act quickly, there won't be a
tomorrow..
Zel continued: "Hey, don't look now but here comes the waiter"
The waiter strode over with the bill and whacked it down on the table. Zel
and Amelia both reached for the bill and their hands touched. Both quickly
blushed and withdrew their hands. Too late - Lina saw this and grinned. Zel
quickly regained his composure and picked up the bill. He paid his share and
handed the bill to Amelia. Amelia paid the waiter for her meal and passed
the bill onto Lina. Lina read the bill and suddenly gave a shout.
"WHAT?!?!"
Gourry peered over her shoulder and his eyes widened. "You ate THAT much??!"
"SHUT UP!" snapped Lina.
Gourry giggled: "Ha! You certainly eat more then me Lina!"
"ARE YOU IMPLYING THAT I'M FAT?!?!?"
Zel sighed. He could see where this was heading. He motioned to Amelia that
they should both leave before things got out of hand. Amelia nodded and,
with Zel, left the tavern leaving Gourry and Lina to argue over the bill.
 
Once outside, Zel and Amelia turned to face each other. Amelia suddenly saw
an opportunity. Better tell him now, while you still have the chance...
"Umm. Zelgadis-san." She said
"Hmmm?"
"There's something I've been longing to tell you."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Well." began Amelia, her speech uncertain and reeking of shyness.
Suddenly Amelia stopped. She turned to see a young street urchin picking her
pocket. Her hand shot out and she grabbed the little thief.
"What are you doing?"
The scene was interrupted by a stern voice. Zel turned in the direction
where the voice came from to see a deputation of young men striding over to
the two adventurers. They fixed both Zel and Amelia with their steely gaze.
"Is there a problem here?" inquired Zel.
"We were informed of two strangers attacking a child outside this very
tavern."
Amelia turned around at this remark and she dropped the urchin. The urchin
scampered off into a darkened alley. However the urchin was not alone -
Xelloss lurked in the shadows and sniggering at the events that were
unfolding before him.
Amelia, however, soon forgot about the urchin and leapt out in front of the
Zel. Zelgadis raised his eyebrow - he could see what was coming next...
"By the code of justice I will crush you!" proclaimed Amelia. "That little
thief was picking my pocket and that was an unjust act!! I was going to
enlighten him of the Code of Justice when you interrupted!! But now it seems
to me that you need enlightening as well!!!"
The deputation were clearly unimpressed. Their leader cleared his throat.
"We don't take kindly to strangers around here" he said coldly. "Especially
lunatics who talk about justice and deformed freaks."
Zel immediately reached for his sword. Amelia, also sensing danger, prepared
to cast a spell. Suddenly Gourry and Lina emerged from the tavern.
"Hey, what's going on?" demanded Lina
"There she is! Lina Inverse!" shouted one of the men.
Suddenly the men drew forth various weapons and prepared to do battle.
Zel turned to Lina. "I'll explain later."
 
And so the deputation circled the four adventurers. Lina looked unperturbed.
"Do you fools know who you're dealing with?"
"Silence!" snarled the leader. He then motioned to attack. The young men
charged and the battle was joined. Gourry and Lina got stuck in with the
fighting with swords and magic flying all over the place. Zel, however,
donned the familiar mantle of the protector: He positioned himself in front
of Amelia and prepared to take whatever could be thrown at him. Amelia
blinked. Maybe he did care for her! He was risking his life to protect her!
Hey, He could do with some help...
Both Zel and Amelia kept the men at bay with his swordplay and their spells.
But Zelgadis didn't see the man coming up behind him with the iron bar..
 
Zel was knocked unconscious. Amelia stopped dead in her tracks. ZEL!!
Suddenly, before she knew what was happening, she was scooped up by one of
the men. The man fled from the fight with two others. Amelia, realising what
was going on, tried to shout out to Lina, but a rough hand covered her
mouth. She tried to wriggle out but her captor's hands held her in place.
The men and their prisoner left the town and into the wilderness.
"You can let go of her mouth now, none of her friends will hear her" said
one of the men.
The man holding Amelia did so. Immediately Amelia launched into one of her
justice speeches:
"YOU DARE HARM A CHAMPION OF JUSTICE?!?! BY CODE OF..."
The men, regretting their decision, quickly covered her mouth back up and
hurried on their way.
Eventually they made it to a cave in the mountainside. Around the cave was a
small settlement of various ramshackle buildings. They hurried to the centre
of the buildings and set Amelia down. Without hesitation she launched into
another one of her speeches:
"YOU MUST BE PUNISHED BY THE BLAZING LIGHT OF.."
The men were getting quite annoyed with Amelia and her speeches. "SHUT UP!!"
they snapped. But Amelia wasn't prepared to stop that easily.
"I WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOU ARE.."
"What's all the noise about?" inquired a cold voice.
Everyone paused as a tall, stern yet savagely handsome, man strode in.
Covered in black plate armour and holding a wicked sword, he approached his
minions. They recovered their wits and greeted him.
"Hello Boss! We got Lina Inverse just like you said."
"IDIOTS!" the armoured man roared suddenly; his face now a storm of fury.
"This isn't Lina Inverse! This is one of her friends!"
"Still" he continued, "The little wench could still provide some use for
us."
The armoured man approached Amelia and grinned evilly.
"You may call me Estebar" he said arrogantly. "You, my pretty, are going to
be bait for your friend Lina Inverse."
Immediately Amelia reacted: "VOMER.. ."
But Amelia didn't finish her sentence. Estebar cast a spell from his hands
and it knocked Amelia unconscious.
 
Some time later, Zelgadis regained consciousness. Who or what hit him? How.
Wait.
Amelia!
Where is she? Zel looked around. But she wasn't anywhere in sight. He
quickly forgot his throbbing headache and got to his feet. Nearby, Lina and
Gourry were seeing off the rest of the men. The men fled but neither Lina or
Gourry took up pursuit. Lina turned to face Zel with a grin of triumph.
"Yes! Once again I, Lina Inverse - bandit killer, have emerged triumphant!"
Gourry withdrew his sword. "Say, Zel why did they attack?"
Zel quickly explained the events that occurred since he and Amelia left the
tavern.
Then he asked: "Where's Amelia?"
Gourry looked blank. Unsurprised, Zel turned to Lina who was equally at a
loss.
"Those bandits must have taken her with them!" said Lina.
"But we don't where they've gone" said Gourry.
"You don't know anything don't you?!" grumbled Lina
"I know" said a voice.
Out stepped Xelloss, his permanent grin still etched into his face.
"You know where Amelia is!? Tell us quickly!!" said Zelgadis.
Xelloss cleared his throat.
"Those men you fought took Amelia with them. They are members of a gang of
bandits. They are led by a man named Estebar and their hideout is up in the
hills."
"What are we waiting for!" yelled Lina.
She dashed off with Zel and Gourry in hot pursuit. Xelloss meanwhile
chuckled to himself. Only he knew the true extent of Estebar's power. It
was, after all, a secret..
 
Elsewhere, Amelia woke up. Where was she? How did she get here... Wherever
here is? She looked around at her surroundings - it was one of rocks. She
was inside a cave. She tried to move but she was chained to the rock.
Examining the chains, she saw they were of ornate construction and were
covered with bizarre sigils. Suddenly she heard a noise. Looking up she
noticed someone enter. It was Estebar.
"Ah. You're awake." He gloated. Then he noticed Amelia struggling to get
free.
"It is futile trying to escape" he continued. "Those chains are made to
resist any magic attacks whatsoever."
Amelia slumped back defeated. Then she said "What do you want from me?"
"You are one of the companions of Lina Inverse?"
"Yeah.."
"Well, you are the bait for a trap for Lina. You see, I want the Sword of
Light and I understand that she has it with her. And when I kill Lina and
get the Sword of Light no force on Earth will stop me!!! Muahahahahaha!!!!"
Amelia fell silent. She couldn't believe that this fool was that stupid
enough to challenge the power of Lina. Furthermore, she didn't have the
Sword Of Light, Gourry did. And there was no way he was going to give it up
that easily.
She just hoped and prayed that Lina and Gourry won't be stupid enough to
fall for the trap. She also hoped that Zel would come to her rescue...
 
Elsewhere, Gourry Lina and Zel were making their way through the forest. In
search of the hideout of the bandits that Xelloss told them about.
"Hey Lina" asked Gourry. "Should we be following directions from Xelloss?"
"If it's to save Amelia, then it's good enough for me!" Lina replied.
Zel said nothing.
Eventually, they came across their destination - A bunch of ramshackle huts
situated at the foot of a mountain. The trio stopped to gaze upon the
settlement.
"Looks like this is it!" Lina observed brightly.
"And Amelia is somewhere inside one of those huts?" Gourry asked.
"Appears that way" Zel mused. "But which one I wonder?"
"Well" Lina said as she set off towards the huts. "There's only one way to
find out!!"
Zel blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Simple!" Lina said over her shoulder. "We go in and trash every one of the
huts!!"
"WAIT!" Zel shouted.
Lina stopped and turned, looking very irritable at being delayed.
"Perhaps I should sneak in and locate Amelia myself..."
Lina didn't look thrilled at Zel's idea.
Zel continued. "And then while I rescue Amelia, you and Gourry deal with the
bandits!"
Lina brightened at this plan. "Great idea!"
Zel drew his hood up and headed for the village. "Wait for my signal!" he
shouted.
 
In the late afternoon, a bunch of the bandits were readying a bonfire.
Suddenly one of them leapt to his feet and shrieked out a warning. And for
good reason: Lina and Gourry had entered the settlement. And were marching
up to the site of the bonfire. One of the bandits hurried to a ramshackle
bell and rang it out as a warning. Gourry readied his Sword of Light and
Lina prepared to cast a fireball.
"Hey Lina." Gourry said. "Do you think Zel would've found Amelia by now?"
"When he does, he'll let us know." Lina replied. "I know he will..."
Suddenly a horde of bandits emerged from the settlement, weapons at the
ready. They surrounded the intruders but Lina and Gourry looked unperturbed.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Gourry saw a small flare shoot skyward.
"Look Lina! There's the signal!"
Lina grinned a wolfish grin. "Good. Now lets get down to the business of
bandit thrashing...!"
Gourry looked down at Lina and smiled. "Let's go."
Lina smiled back "Why not?"
Lina cast her fireball spell and blasted it the bandits. Gourry drew his
Sword of Light and the battle was joined.
 
Meanwhile, in the cave, Estebar could hear the sounds of the battle. He
smiled to himself. He turned to the imprisoned Amelia.
"Well it would appear that your friends have found my hideout. I'll will go
and finish them off. But don't worry, I'll let you live long enough to see
their mangled corpses."
Amelia paled at this remark. Estebar just laughed and headed to the cave
entrance. But he stopped. Someone was coming into the cave. It was.
"Zelgadis!" cried Amelia.
"Who are you?" demanded Estebar.
"I am Zelgadis Greywars" said Zel, drawing his sword with dramatic flourish.
But Estebar was clearly unimpressed. "Out of my way! I must go and kill Lina
Inverse!"
"No" said Zel bluntly.
Estebar fumed with rage and drew his sword in one swift motion.
"Fool!" he snarled. "Do you know who you're dealing with?! My swordsmanship
is unmatched!!"
"Really?" mocked Zel.
"Yes Really!" growled Estebar. And with that he cut his sword across
Zelgadis' stomach. Suddenly he paused. Zelgadis was still standing. Then
Estebar noticed that his sword was chipped. He gaped at the chip in
disbelief. He then turned to Zel.
"You can't possibly hope to defeat me with your swordsmanship!" said Zel. "I
am one third rock golem! If you continue your attack, your sword will be
ruined!!"
Estebar, growling in frustration, cast his sword aside and began casting a
spell. From his hands came strange glow. Suddenly the strange glow shot out
at Zelgadis and stuck him fair on the chest. Zel was knocked back from the
blast and went flying. He eventually crashed into the wall on the other side
of the cave - next to Amelia.
"Zelgadis-san!" she cried
Although battered and dazed Zelgadis managed look up at Amelia. When he saw
who it was, he smiled in spite his pain.
"Where's Lina and Gourry?"
"They're outside fighting the bandits.." Mumbled Zel. "I managed to
infiltrate this settlement to rescue you.."
"To rescue me?!" whispered Amelia.
Zel didn't have time to answer as Estebar barged up and grabbed him. Estebar
leered triumphantly at the chimera.
"So you're one third golem eh? Well I've got news for you. See these
gauntlets? They are loaded with immense power. So much power that even your
rock skin couldn't withstand any of it!!"
And to prove his point, Estebar grabbed Zel by both arms and summoned the
power of the gauntlets. The gauntlets sprouted blue flames and began to burn
Zelgadis. Zelgadis screamed in agony. Amelia could do nothing but stare in
horror and in helplessness. Estebar just grinned a sadistic grin.
Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, Estebar released his grip
and Zelgadis collapsed onto the cave floor.
But Estebar wasn't finished with him yet! He grabbed Zel by the scruff of
his collar and rammed him against the wall of the cave. With his grin never
faltering, Estebar then proceeded to batter Zel continuously with the
energised gauntlets. By now Zel made no sound, all his screaming was
finished. He just made no movement and just took the pain. Amelia was too
speechless to move or make any sound.
By now Zelgadis' body was severely battered - so much that he began
bleeding. Zelgadis was indeed aware of this. He looked to Amelia, for hope
but it was all futile. Zel slowly closed his eyes and let his body slump.
 
When Amelia saw Zelgadis' eyes close, she broke out of the trance. She was
hypnotised by Estebar's merciless slaughter of Zel but not any more! Using
all her desperation for Zelgadis' safety and her magic powers, she managed
to overload the magical chains with so much power, that they shattered into
pieces. Once free, she turned to face Estebar. The man who had killed
Zelgadis. She didn't get the chance to tell Zel how she really felt for him.
Now he'd never know...
But now vengeance must be met. Amelia prepared to blast Estebar with a
Ra-Tilt.
"Are you planning to avenge the death of your would-be rescuer?!" mocked
Estebar. "Ha! You do realise that these gauntlets can withstand any attack,
as such is their power?!"
But this certainly no ordinary Ra-Tilt. Infested by the loss of Zel, the
desire for vengeance, and the inability to say things that will never be
said, Amelia produced so much power into the palm of her hand. This Ra-Tilt
was incredibly more powerful then the average Ra-Tilt.
Estebar, oblivious of the dangerous position he was in, hadn't moved. He
resumed grinning sadistically.
"The little girl wants to avenge the death of her would-be rescuer. How
amusingly pathetic"
Fuelled by the words that Zel was indeed dead, made Amelia project her
terrible spell onto Estebar. A tsunami of raw power roared from Amelia's
hands towards its intended target. However Estebar wasn't worried. He merely
held up his gauntlets. He was convinced that the power of his gauntlets
would protect him.
"You fool!" he laughed.
The tsunami struck Estebar and billowed over him in an immense storm.
Estebar continued to laugh, still oblivious to the danger he was in. He
laughed out loud, triumphantly. But suddenly all laughter stopped. He
noticed a crack in his gauntlets. The crack grew larger as the force of the
spell took its effect. Suddenly the crack grew into a web that engulfed the
entire gauntlet. Within seconds the gauntlet exploded into dust. Estebar's
eyes widened. He turned to his other gauntlet to see another large crack
evolve into another web. It was only a matter of seconds before the gauntlet
was also destroyed. Now that Estebar had lost his gauntlets, he was
powerless against the power that was engulfing him. He screamed in agony,
pain and in the loss of power.
Outside the power storm, Amelia could hear the screaming. She couldn't help
but think that Estebar was suffering the same agony she was suffering. Then
all the screaming came to an abrupt halt. Amelia knew that the murderer was
dead. The storm then gradually died down into nothingness - leaving no trace
of Estebar.
She was now alone with Zelgadis' body.
 
She ran to Zelgadis' side and threw her body over his.  She ran her fingers
over his torso but could only feel blood. She burst into tears and buried
her face in his chest. Everything has been lost. She didn't tell him how she
felt...
".Hey.."
That voice..
It was weak...
But no..
It couldn't be?
ZEL?
Amelia looked up towards Zel's face. He was still alive. His eyes were half
closed, His mouth moved weakly and he looked a total mess, but he was still
alive.
Amelia was overwhelmed with joy. She moved closer until her face was next to
his.
"You're alive?" she whispered, bursting with indescribable happiness.
".yeah."  In his weak state Zel couldn't manage more then a whisper.
Amelia was so happy she couldn't speak. Tears of joy started rolling down
her face. She continued to lay there beside Zel softly sobbing. Zel closed
his eyes. Then he opened them again.
"Is Estebar..."
Amelia looked up, her eyes wet with tears. She nodded.
"How did you defeat that monster?" Zel asked.
Amelia blinked.
"I..I... Was so distraught when I thought he killed you that I..I... used my
anger, and loss in a gigantic Ra-Tilt and destroyed him..."
"Anger?" inquired Zel. "Loss?"
Amelia stopped in astonishment. Her eyes widened. Zel looked up. Their eyes
met..
And it was then that Zel finally understood. Gently he placed his arm around
her shoulders and pulled her close. His fingers ran through her hair. Amelia
smiled. She had been waiting for an opportunity like this but now she didn't
need to say a thing.
It was all understood.
Gently Amelia brought her lips to Zelgadis'..
.And withdrew them.
Zel smiled. His eyes shone with emotion. Amelia wore an expression of relief
and utter happiness. After all, this is how it should be...
Together
Forever
And after so long in silence
 
The End