The Other Side of the Dark

By: Morri

All copyright laws apply to the owners of Slayers and to me for my plot and original characters.

Double Inverse

* DISCLAIMER* Warning! This is a very dark fanfic. It involves an alternate reality, death, violence, and is very much not the slapstick Slayers we're all used to. While it does retain a certain comic element, the core of the story is nothing if not creepy. It also retains my views on the couple situation, so there. If you don't like that, you don't have to read it. Otherwise, enjoy!

Lina Inverse paced nervously in the foyer of a large mansion. She had persuaded Xellos and Gourry to stay outside with the horses. This particular mage was not partial to strangers. She had long since regained her composure and felt much better after she had cried to both Gourry and Xellos. Both men had been tolerant and sympathetic, although Xellos was slightly less so.

Soon, a little man entered the room. Lina sat down on the floor and bowed her head to him. She held out her hand to the peculiar man. He was the size of a gnome, but with elfin ears and monster eyes. Lina sat that way for about fifteen minutes until the man finally came close to her and took her hand. He kissed it regally and swept back his tiny cloak.

"Ah, Inverse. It's been a long time," he said. Lina smiled warmly and suddenly embraced the old man.

"Teicoh! It's been forever old man!" Lina exclaimed as she happily let him stroke her hair.

"It's been far to long my girl. Oh how I can remember the days when you were still a girl. You came to me begging for a place to stay. Remember that? You were such a hard worker. So then, what brings you back to me, child?" the strange Teicoh said.

Lina took a deep breath and delved into her story. "Well, you must know who the Princess of Seyruun is, right? Well, she keeps getting attacked in her dreams. Somehow those attacks carry through to reality and she ends up almost getting strangled to death. Twice now that has happened. Then, after the first time, she and I got swept into a pocket dimension and had to battle a zombie of one of our old rivals. Then there was a dream I had last night."

Teicoh waited patiently while Lina told him the dream to him. She managed to hold her tears away this time when she explained the attack scene. She mentioned at the end that the shadow figure was actually another Lina, and Teicoh nearly lost it.

"You! It was YOU girl? This is bad, very, very bad indeed," the old man said as he began to rub his forehead.

"What? Why is it bad? Huh? Tell me? Why is it bad?" Lina pleaded.

Teicoh sighed and began his tale, "My dear, there was a prophecy about you not long before you were born. It went like this: The dark and light shall be one woman. Her name shall be Infamous One. Her hair will be fire and ice. Her voice the same. Her life shall be taken and given back. She shall be both good and evil. Evil shall side with monsters, the good sides with the dragons. The evil shall wed a Monster and their child shall bring peace to Mankind. The Good shall marry one who is descended from the Great Sage and their child shall destroy one of the races. It has been decided that the descendant shall die when his son's task is complete, as will the Infamous One. Her shell shall live on as the avatar of L-Sama eternally."

Lina stood motionless, her eyes on the verge of popping out of her skull. If this prophecy were to be believed, Lina would use either the Giga Slave or the Laguna Blade one more time in her life, thereby sealing her fate as L-Sama's avatar. Also, she would marry a descendant of the Great Sage. There were only two people she knew of that were. And the only male one was Gourry Gabriev. She sank to her knees, face still frozen in disbelief. Had Teicoh known who she was even before she came to him. She shook herself out of the stupor and decided to ask him.

"Master Teicoh, did you know about me before I even came to you?" Lina asked in barely more than a whisper.

Teicoh shook his head, "No, child. Before you came to me, I was simply a hermit, learning all that I could by reading my books here and ignoring humanity altogether. I got to know you and, if you'll recall, I was the first one to discover your incredible knack for the Dragon Slave. I taught you the spells I knew and sent you out into the world again. That's really when I started thinking about you. I somehow knew that the Demon-Dragon King was after you even before he acted."

Lina started to ask something about the prophecy, but thought better of it. Instead, she asked, "Can you help me protect Princess Amelia, Teicoh? I really do need your help. I've had a man named Zelgadis watching over her ever since the first attack but I'm not sure it'll be enough. I need some wards and a way to detect who is in Amelia's room at any given time. Please Teicoh. I'm not asking you to meet the Princess or anyone else."

Teicoh paused thoughtfully before replying; "I will help. But I'm afraid I do need to be in the room and in the presence of Amelia and this Zelgadis as well. If they are your companions, then they are not strangers to me. You and your two friends outside should get back to the castle. You're probably needed there."

Lina bowed deeply to the old man and hugged him, "I love you old man," she whispered as she left.

"And I you, Lina," Teicoh whispered as he turned to get his things together.

As soon as the castle was in sight, Philionel burst out of the door and ran toward the wagon.

"Lina, Miss Lina! Amelia's gone! She was looking at suitors and suddenly she started shivering violently. Zelgadis was at her side in an instant and he too felt chills. Then, just as suddenly, my little girl disappeared with Zelgadis, just like last time! Lina what can we do?" Phil was nearly in conniptions. Jarred the Weapons Master walked up behind his grandson and gently laid his hand on Phil's shoulder. Gourry, Xellos, and Lina got down from the wagon and silently went up to Amelia's bedroom. Lina sat down in a spot where Teicoh would be sure to find her. Then, she waited.

"Yes, it's me," he said through his teeth. Then he deliberately reached out for her, his hand landing somewhere it shouldn't have. "Is this you?" he asked with a bit of sarcasm creeping into his voice.

"Eep! Please move your hand Mister Zelgadis!" Amelia yelped. She caught the hint and removed her own hand. Had there been any light, both would've been blushing. Luckily, neither one could see enough to tell. Amelia tried again, this time catching his hand. She sighed. She felt better knowing that he was with her. Zelgadis allowed the frightened princess' fingers to intertwine with his own. He scooted closer to her until their knees touched.

Somehow, Amelia wormed her way into Zel's arms and put her arms around the startled chimera in a death grip. Suddenly, a light came on. It was over a corner of the pocket dimension with a table and three chairs. Amelia and Zelgadis stood and walked toward the light, always on guard and ready for an attack. None came. They stepped into the light and, blushing released each other's hands. They sat down next to each other at the table and waited for something to happen.

A cloaked and hooded figure stepped into the light. Zelgadis strained to see the figure's facial features, but the hood covered them too well. The figure flipped back its cloak as it sat down to reveal a beautifully feminine body. She wore a dark blue doublet and gray hose. Her boots came to mid-calf and were also blue. Her wrists and belt were ornamented with sapphire gems. The clasp to her cloak was also a sapphire gem. Zelgadis' eyes narrowed. The woman began to speak in an all too familiar voice.

"The dark and light shall be one woman. Her name shall be Infamous One. Her hair will be fire and ice. Her voice the same. Her life shall be taken and given back. She shall be both good and evil. Evil shall side with monsters, the good sides with the dragons. Can you guess which one I am?" she said. She raised her hand and the gems began to glow.

"Amelia, she' going to use a spell, give us a barrier," Zelgadis said, standing up and knocking his chair out of the way. Suddenly, the entire place was illuminated, revealing the conference room in Phil's palace. Amelia gasped.

"Lord of Darkness of the four worlds, Grant me all the power that you possess!" the woman rasped, finishing her spell. Zelgadis cursed. He knew who this woman was. That amplification spell had belonged to…Lina Inverse. A wind began to blow. The woman threw back her head and began to chant again.

"Darkness beyond twilight, Crimson beyond blood that flows, buried in the stream of time is where your power grows," she began. Her head snapped forward and the hood fell back. Zelgadis cursed silently again. Of course it was Lina the talismans should have given her away immediately. Amelia gasped.

"Lina, NO!" Zel screamed. He reached for Amelia's hand and started running. The Lina figure laughed and continued her spell.

"I pledge myself to conquer all the foes who stand, against the mighty gift bestowed in my unworthy hand," Lina raised her glowing fist and pointed it at the fleeing twosome.

"Amelia, stay in front of me and move quickly. Keep your head down!" Zelgadis yelled as he let go of her hand and shoved her in front of his body. Luckily, Amelia caught on quickly. She ducked and wove around furniture, attempting to remain a moving target. For a few moments, Lina held her spell. But luck could not remain on Zel and Amelia's side, for Lina soon spoke the last few words of the spell.

"Dragon Slave!" the blue cloaked Lina yelled. The reddish energy zoomed toward Zelgadis and Amelia at unheard of speed, giving Zel precious little time to throw up a wall. The entire room lit up with red energy and Zelgadis held Amelia close, trying to shield her as much as possible. Suddenly, the red light was gone.

"Nice try darling, but not this time," Xellos sneered. Zelgadis noticed something different about him, though. His demeanor toward Lina was different and he wore a different outfit, as did Lina. Xellos' eyes were open now and he stared fiercely at Lina.

"But Xellos! That's not fair! You never said anything about Zelgadis or Gourry," Lina pouted.

"I know dear, but you see, they now fit into my plan. Things have changed, love. I need you to come home for a little while okay?" Xellos walked forward and took Lina's chin in his gloved hand. He lifted it. Lina smiled weakly and allowed him to kiss her. Then Xellos smiled and turned to Zelgadis and Amelia. "You two may go now. I'd like to talk to my wife alone for a little while. Thank you for being such good sports about it though!"

"Wife! Does Gourry know about this?" Amelia yelled, hands on hips. Xellos and Lina looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"She's already married the swordsman then?" the other Lina asked incredulously.

"Amelia just let it go. I'll tell you about it later," Zelgadis said to pacify the little Princess. He took her hand and turned to Xellos. "You will send us home won't you?"

Xellos frowned then nodded. The dimensional pocket faded away to reveal the same restaurant Amelia had been to before, Luna Inverse's restaurant. Amelia bypassed it on her straight as an arrow flight toward Seyruun. It was all Zelgadis could do to keep up.

Teicoh stepped up to Lina and touched her cheek, "I'm sorry I'm late child. There was a bit of a…disturbance in my lab. I had to send someone to take care of it."

Lina smiled warmly, "It's okay old man. I'm just glad you're here."

Teicoh nodded toward Gourry. "Who is the swordsman? Is he the descendant? Have you already…well, you know," the old man said with a sheepish grin.

Lina's eyes went wide, "NO! Of course I haven't. But…but he is a descendant of Lei Magnus. His name is Gourry Gabriev."

Gourry smiled at the mention of his name. Lina motioned him over. He sat down on the floor next to her and shook Teicoh's hand. The old man looked at Gourry's sword in shock.

"You-you're the swordsman of Light! You are the descendant! Oh, Lina, we must get you two wed immediately! The evil one has already taken her monster husband. All she has left to do is conceive her child. Then, she's won! Lina, you mustn't let that happen!" Teicoh said in a whisper. Gourry's eyes went wide at the prospect of marrying Lina. Somehow, he always thought it'd sound worse than it actually was.

"But…but," Lina began. Then she bent to whisper in Teicoh's ear, "I don't even know if he loves me!"

"Love doesn't matter. It is necessary. Your son must destroy one of the races before the evil one's son brings them peace. Otherwise, you and your counterpart will face off toe to toe, and heaven only knows what destruction that could bring," Teicoh said, ignoring the strangled sounds coming from Lina.

Gourry looked at the red-haired sorceress and sighed. He figured now would be the best time to tell her how he felt, even if she didn't feel it too. "Lina, can I say something?"

"Yeah Gourry," Lina said as she regained her composure.

"Lina, I do love you, even if you don't love me. I just want you to know that whenever you need me, I'll always protect you. Okay?" Gourry said, blushing and keeping his eyes on his boots.

Lina's expression softened and she reached out her hand to the big swordsman. He took it and kissed her palm. Teicoh decided that he would start on the castle's wards while Lina and Gourry talked. He slipped quietly away, smiling to himself. On his way out, he came across Xellos, who nearly fainted on the spot.

"Xellos! It's been awhile, my boy," Teicoh said as he smiled and held out his arms to the frightened monster. "How is your master treating you?"

"F-father?" the monster said as he fell to his knees, dropping his staff on the ground. He embraced the old man and let tears fall. "You're still alive after all these years!" Xellos was nearly unwound by this revelation. His human father was over one thousand years old! He had been in his fifties when the Beast Master had recruited Xellos. How had the old man survived all those years?

TO BE CONTINUED

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