Chapter Five

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The cure for all ills

Xellos sat quietly beside Lina’s bed waiting for her to wake up. As he monitored her emotions, he could feel her becoming more aware. It wouldn’t be too long now, he reassured himself. As he sat there he reviewed what had been happening over the past few days, he had been too caught up with himself to really analyse the situation. No one could scheme better than him so he figured he could figure out what was going on. He was obviously being groomed for the role of Priest of Chaos, and he needed the priests stone to fully take over the position. That much was simple, Lina definitely had a major part to play and was resisting the choosing, Knight of Chaos maybe, that made sense.

The question was why now? Why were both the monsters and the dragons so upset about this, no too simple, the proper question was why were they upset to the point of threatening war? He was sure from Zelas’s reactions that she was surprised by Melee choosing him. His head spun with too many questions, “take it one point at a time” he told himself, “one point at a time.”

A change in Lina’s emotions brought Xellos back to the bedside.

“No, Luna don’t, I’ll take better care of him I promise, don’t have him put down.” she yelled out.

“Wake up Lina. I’m here. ”Xellos told her. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He remembered what she had done for him and awkwardly took her into his arms and held her.

“I hope she doesn’t kill me when she comes to” he thought to himself. Just then Lina opened her eyes, grabbed Xellos around the neck and started sobbing brokenheartedly.”

“Erk, everything’s going to be all right Lina, you have friends to, erk, back you up whatever you decide” Xellos told Lina while trying to get some air.

“I know it’s stupid but she scares me, nothing can ever measure up to her perfection. When I was seven, just after my mother died, I found a stray dog. Luna told me I could have him if I took care of him. One day his rope broke and he got away. Luna had him put down because I didn’t take care of him. I felt so guilty he died because of me.” Lina took a shaky breath. “I ruin everything I touch, I almost destroyed the world because I couldn’t let a friend die. She’s right, I always make the wrong choices.”

Untangling Lina’s arms from around his neck around he took her face in both of his hands and forced her to look at him. “Lina your sister would have killed me outright. She still would if she had a chance, not caring if I’ve changed and I’m trying to atone. You were the one who helped me and gave me a soul. Can you say that it was the wrong choice? Zel has lost his bitterness and has found a place to belong, Amelia has learned to temper her search for justice with compassion and will someday make a fine ruler for Seyruin. Filia and Valgarv have become the true hope for the dragon race. Are those mistakes.”

Xellos wiped a tear away with his thumb, “You have friends who love you, take strength from that, you were the one who taught me how precious that is.”

Lina nodded speechless, “I’ll tell them downstairs that you’ll be Okay” Xellos then leaned over and kissed her forehead.

“You were also the one that taught me that a touch can mean as much as words”

He added as he left the room.

Xellos found Lina’s three friends waiting for him anxiously as he entered the dining room.

“How is she?” Amelia asked.

“She’ll be fine, she just needed to reminded that she had friends who cared about her.” Xellos informed Amelia.

“I told you she’d be fine. ”Gourry told the rest. “Xellos can’t hurt her anymore than the rest of us can.”

“True, I don’t like being fireballed” Xellos joked”

“No I meant that you love her too.” Gourry corrected.

Xellos paled, as realisations tumbled into place. “Where is Melee? I have to talk to her.” he changed the subject.

“Haven’t seen her for a while” Zel told him after exchanging a meaningful look with Amelia.

“ I need to talk to her about those manuscripts, with the dragons getting involved I have to get the priest’s stone as quickly as possible. Gourry’s new toy will take care of the monsters but I’ll bet it won’t be any better than plain steel on the dragons.”

“Can’t you take care of the dragons, you were fairly effective against them in the past.” Zel observed.

Xellos answered by showing Zel his staff end. “A great deal of my power came from this staff, until I can replace the stone, I won’t be effective enough. We’d win but we’d take too many casualties. I won’t let them get to Lina.”

Zel nodded, his unspoken question answered as well. “ In other words as soon as Lina is ready we’re on the road again”

“No, she needs a nights rest first and some stress free time with everyone.” Xellos disagreed.

“I’ll take her to the baths and the magic shops” Amelia said happily, “ You guys are in charge of getting a special meal ready.” she frowned then added. “Just make sure Mr Gourry doesn’t eat it all first.”

“Excellent idea Amelia. We can always count on you to know how to brighten someone’s day. Right Zelgadis?”

Zel choked on his coffee and glared at Xellos. “Right.”

Amelia happily planned the outing as the men went to question the cooks staff. Xellos shot a look at the door as he left and smiled to himself as he felt Lina’s touched feeling. “You are worth a thousand of the witch you can a sister.” he thought angrily. “We will keep you safe no matter what.”

Melee giggled from her hiding place, things were going well, maybe they could save the balance the unwilling was less so and her priest was definitely balanced, he could handle the stone and he wouldn’t be as lonely as she had been.

“Time , time. Will time run out?” she asked herself as her hands flickered in and out of view.

The day went well, Lina was touched by the demonstration of caring her friends showed her and went to bed feeling that she could take on the world. Xellos was right, she had done some good things, the fact that she had such caring friends was proof of that. Getting into bed she smiled, who could have ever guessed that Xellos would turn out to be such a wonderful person. Remembering the kiss on her forehead she flushed, “such a Good Friend” she reminded herself firmly.

Meanwhile outside, Xellos sat quietly in the dark staring up at the stars. Seeing Melee nearby in the shadows he told her to come out. “We have a lot to talk about, grab a hold of your sanity and plop yourself down here.”

Melee fluttered down with a sad look on her face, “What is it child?” She asked.

“First of all, how long have you been on this plain of existence? ”Xellos asked.

“Since the beginning of all, Mother made me when she created the world and charged me with keeping the balance. I have not done well lately.” Melee responded.

“Why me? Why now? ”Xellos continued.

“I want to go back to Mother, I’ve been so lonely and I just can’t hang on any longer. I found you 500 years ago and I have waited for you to be ready.” Melee smiled. “you are very precious to me child and I have been guiding you as much as I could.”

“What is Lina’s role in this?”

“Lina, beautiful chaotic Lina can you not tell? Her essence draws you, as does yours her. Her last contact with the Mother of All scared her and now she is afraid to take up the sword. She is to be the Mother’s Knight, you will not be as lonely as I was and it will take two to rebalance the scales.”

“You realise if she doesn’t want this I will fight you to keep you away from her.”

“Of course child, I knew that. Just give me a chance to show her why she is needed and let her make a true choice, not one dictated by fear and misunderstandings. Do you have any more questions?”

“Just one? When I truly become the Priest of the Mother will I become as batty as you?” Xellos asked sharply.

“No, I’m dissolving into Chaos, it is hard to keep a grip on myself when my being is being pulled in two directions. You and Lina are the only things that are keeping me here.”

The next morning found them on the road again. “What is it about us and old temples” Lina grumbled. “There’s something about a guardian spirit in the manuscript as well.”

“Mr Zelgadis knows all about temples” Amelia proclaimed happily. “He’s searched enough of them for his cure. Excuse me Miss Melee you’ve been around for a while do you know anything about a cure for Mr Zelgadis?”

Melee swooped down and grabbed from behind Zelgadis. As she hung on from his neck she blew into his ear she then laughed and flew away as he turned red. “When the time comes he’ll take the shape to which he was born, it’s not time yet. Wait Amelia he’ll stop search before you’re grey.”

“That’s a help” Zel snorted said quietly to Xellos, “Have you seen the pictures of Amelia’s family, they tend not to grey until their seventies.”

Melee watched closely as the group travelled onward, she could see the bonds between the members of the group growing stranger, looking closely at the lines leading from Xellos she felt a particular sense of satisfaction. After she had chosen him the lines were faint almost unnoticeable, now, they were bright and shining. The connection between him and Lina was the strongest, it was going well Xellos would need those lines when he met the guardian of the temple.

After two more days of travel, they finally arrived luckily, there was a stream nearby. “Ladies first” Lina yelled as she and Amelia shucked their packs. “Somebody besides Xellos make something to eat.”

“But Lina I can cook.” Xellos protested.

“Can you cook for humans?” Lina replied, then added. “non-lethal to humans”

“Of course my dear Lina, just leave it in my hands. ”Xellos answered with a big smile.

“You make sure of that or else I’ll dragon slave you to the other side of the continent” came back the threatening response.

Soon the sounds of two girls happily bathing came from the river while Xellos diced and sliced with a serious look to his face.

“Um Xellos, why did you offer to cook? You won’t eat any of it?” Gourry asked quizzically.

“He gets fed better when Lina’s happy.” Zel interjected.

“That’s part of it but I’ve found that when Lina’s happy, for some strange reason I’m happy, isn’t that strange?” Xellos threw some of the chopped vegetables into the pot blissfully unaware of the pointed looks Zel and Gourry gave each other.

Xellos looked at Melee then added “I’ll be going into the temple after Lina and Amelia get back they won’t notice me leaving if I go while they’re eating.”

“Why by yourself ? Zel asked. “It took me a long time to learn my lesson but we really do operate better as a team.”

“I won’t put Lina in danger.” Xellos answered. “Or any of the rest of you, this is my test and I should be the only one at risk.”

“But.. ”Gourry protested.

“It’s his decision, Gourry” Zel interrupted. “It may be stupid but its his choice.”

Gourry subsided as he caught a sharp glance from Zelgadis. He’d follow Zel’s lead for now.

Amelia and Lina came back and with squeal of delight they dug into the food not reacting to Xellos’s quiet departure.

“Damn he’s starting to get like you Zel” she observed after a minute. “Temple.”

“Yep” Zel answered. “Let’s give him a moment to think he’s home free and then let’s go.”

“He’s going to owe me a meal afterwards.” Lina grumbled. “ who have guessed he was this good a cook.”

“But Zel didn’t you tell him we wouldn’t follow him.” Gourry asked.

“I said that was his decision, I never agreed to be bound by it.” Zel answered. “Let’s go.”

As Xellos entered the temple he was reminded of Melee as he felt a presence surrounding him, this had the sense of danger that Melee had radiated during her confrontation with Zelas.

“I am here for the priest’s diamond. I am the chosen of Voice of the Mother and demand it so I may take on the role of her Priest.” Xellos stated firmly.

“Are you in balance, I can feel your monster side but what about the other emotions. It is time for your test.” Blackness surrounded Xellos as he felt his mind being invaded.

Xellos tried to explore the blackness searching for minds and magic as far as he could. He felt a his mind being torn apart and being examined much as when he had been chosen, this time however there was not the pain of the changes just the fear that he would be found wanting.

As the others entered the temple, they stopped abruptly at the vision in front of them. Xellos was floating in a cloud of darkness, his arms widespread, back arched, and a silent scream on his lips.

“What can we do?” Amelia asked. Zel looked at her and shook his head.

“A dragon slave would hurt Xellos as much as that fog.” Lina answered, “Astral attacks would be effective against it but again we’d end up hurting Xellos as well. This battle is being fought in the astral plane.” Lina squared her shoulders. “Melee can you help us get to Xellos?”

“Only you and Zelgadis can go the astral plane with my help. ”Melee answered, “You have met chaos before, Zelgadis is balanced by his form.”

Lina nodded, “Okay guys this is the plan, Amelia, you and Gourry can strengthen Xellos with positive emotions. Zel and I will go in and bring Xellos back.”

“On thing though ”Melee added, “You may look different in astral form, be prepared, Xellos in particular will be hard to recognise due to his monster heritage.”

“In other words don’t blast first and ask questions later as you usually do Lina.” Zel joked as he looked sideways at Lina.

Ignoring Zel, Lina simply stated, “Let’s get this show on the road, I don’t think Xellos can take too much more.”

Motioning the two to lie down Melee began chanting a spell. Lina and Zel’s eyes closed as they felt themselves being transported to the astral plane.

This was not good, Xellos thought as he looked around after the darkness lifted, he was caught in the astral plain, trying to tele-port was useless. At least he still had his astral form, he consoled himself by sending out a few smaller cones experimentally.

“Now for your test.” A voice boomed out, “to gain the priest’s diamond you must destroy this village.”

Near by a village took form, Xellos smirked, “You want me to destroy some figments of your imagination, fine.”

“You are mistaken chosen of Melee, the damage you cause here will be reflected on a real village, including all deaths that you cause. It is of no consequence, you have never met these people, they have nothing to do with you.”

Xellos moved above the village readying his subordinate cones. He felt himself pausing as he watched the villagers go about the tasks daily living, it was sad but he needed the power to protect his friends. Then a small redheaded girl ran out of a hovel followed by an old dog, the girl paused and grabbed the dog around its neck and hugging it fiercely. Xellos felt something bubbling up from his soul.

“NO, this is wrong!” Xellos searched until he found where the chaos energy originated from and sending his smaller cones towards it he attacked.

The black fog appeared and the battle began.

In another part of the astral field Lina and Zel were becoming aware.

“You look exactly the same Zel” Lina exclaimed.

“Wish I could say the some about you” Zel snickered.

“What do you mean?” Lina queried.

“You look like a Lina version of Melee, not quite as...” Zel cut himself off before he could make the mistake of referring to her chest.

“Quite as what Zel?” a dangerous tone entered Lina’s voice.

“Ditzy, that’s it... ditzy.” Zel sweatdropped.

“Oookay, now look for Xellos, forget that, his power signature and his form will have changed too much, just look for a battle.”

Moving forward they each Lina scanned left, Zel to the right.

“ There!” Lina pointed, “Raywing” she flew towards the battle with Zel quickly following.

“What the...?”Lina exclaimed at the sight in front of her, a large black cone was fighting with a mass of fog. “Okay now who do we save” she asked Zel. The only answer she got was a shrug.

“Hey Xel could you wear a white hat or something, I can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys” Lina yelled.

There was no answer, then Lina remembered a stray comment Xellos had made. She closed her eyes and looked, sure enough there it was a line connecting her and Zel and the black cone. “Zel shoot the mist the cone is Xellos”

Zel shouted “Raw Tilt” while Lina chose the Raguna blade. When he spotted what they were doing, Xellos added his power to the blast. The fog exploded and they found themselves back in the temple. Xellos was now lying on the floor unconscious.

“He’s been spending a lot of time asleep lately,” observed Gourry

Lina laughed, “yeah we’ll have to talk to him about that.” She then walked over to Xellos. “Time to wake up sleepy head. ”she told him relieved when Xellos’s eyes opened and looked into hers.

“Its over.” He said quietly. “I passed the test thanks to all of you.”

“What do you mean” Amelia asked.

“Part of the test was if I had people that cared enough about me to save me, the other part.” he shuddered. “I came close to failing, I’d prefer not talking about that.”

Xellos stood up, “I can get the diamond now, we have to hurry I felt the monsters massing while I was in the astral plain.”

Moving further into the temple the group didn’t notice Lina hanging back a bit to talk to Xellos.

“Are you Okay” she asked touching his arm.

Xellos nodded. “I understand you better now, it is so much more difficult when things are not clear-cut self-interest.”

Lina grinned, “Makes life more interesting though.” she teased.

“As if life was ever boring around you.” Xellos responded with a smile. Seeing the others waiting for them at the entrance to the main chamber they walked through the archway. In front of them was a silk draped altar, on top of it, resting on a cushion was a fist sized diamond. Xellos marched up to it staff in hand, s he reached sown to a it a blinding light enveloped both him and the stone.

“My turn.” Melee flew beside him and began her quiet chanting. The light continued to become brighter.

Lina turned away from the light, rubbing her eyes fiercely, she could feel herself being drawn into the chant, a quick look at the others reassured her that they didn’t have the same problem. “I will not be drawn into the Lord of Nightmares’ power again.” she told herself not realising that the statement did not have the same obstinacy as before.

The light dimmed leaving a bemused Xellos clenching his staff, the diamond now graced the tip. He looked at Melee and whispered, “I understand now, how have you stood this alone.”

“The Mother will always be there, she is within the power you now carry. Reach out to her.” Melee told Xellos.

“Yes, time is running short, there is one last item to gain.” Xellos turned around a looked at Lina quizzically. “the unwilling...”

“What do you mean, Xellos? What is going on here?” Lina demanded.

“Now that my dear Lina is a Secret.” Xellos smiled.

Lina hurried over to Xellos and began hitting him over the head. “Oh Lina, I love it when you do that.” Xellos smiled as she backed off blushing.

“I want some answers now.” She told him.

Hearing agreement from the others, Xellos whined, “I never have any fun any more. We have to get the Chaos Sword I have reason to believe that the dragons are going to ally themselves with the monsters against us. They do not care about the greater foe to come.”

“Greater foe?” Zelgadis picked up.

“I don’t have any details on that yet, just a feeling that there is danger coming.” Xellos answered.

“Just point me in the right direction.” Gourry answered. “and out of the way of Lina’s dragon slaves.”

“Mr Xellos is this a just fight?” Amelia asked.

“Yes, without a doubt.” the new Priest of the Mother answered firmly.

“Okay.” Lina informed the group, taking charge as usual. “Let’s get rested and start out again tomorrow morning. Xellos you and I are going to have a good long talk back at the campsite.”

Recognising Lina’s determined expression from other travels, Xellos nodded in agreement before moving out of the chamber.

Supper finished Zel, Amelia and Gourry settled down to sleep. Melee found herself a tree branch and settled in as well giving Lina and the new priest a sharp look. “Convince the unwilling my child, for your own sake as well as the Mother’s” she said softly. Xellos glanced at her his sharp hearing picking up the comment, looking at Lina he confirmed that she had not heard the comment.

“I must be hard” Lina commented, “To have the Lord of Nightmares taking you over.”

“It isn’t like when you cast the giga slave, then you took on all of her power. This is just a connection to her an ability to call on her power. I can feel her with me but it is separate from me.” Xellos smiled ruefully. “The rewiring that Melee did was a lot worse and I do not regret that. It doubled my sources of food for one thing.”

With a smile, Lina patted his shoulder. “ It’s good to have friends isn’t it?”

“Can’t fool you for a minute can I? It is good to have friends, just before you arrived at the battle I felt a rush of strength, that was Amelia and Gourry wasn’t it.”

At Lina’s nod Xellos continued, “I’ve have to thank them, I would have been dead before you and Zelgadis got there if it hadn’t been for that.”

They were both silent for a minute, “What was the other test Xel? It disturbed you still does doesn’t it.”

“The guardian wanted me to destroy a village in exchange for the diamond, I almost did.”

“What stopped you?” Lina asked.

“There was a little red-haired girl playing with a dog, I remembered you story and I just couldn’t do it. Even for more power, I just couldn’t hurt her.” Xellos looked at Lina and cupped her cheek in his hand. “You did well in teaching me the lessons I had to learn.” He kissed Lina’s forehead gently and smiled as she turned away blushing confused by the feelings it evoked.

“You are my first friend and I thank you for it.” Lina felt vaguely disappointed by his words but was able to look Xellos in the eyes.

“I gain as much as you do, friendship is a two way street. She smiled Now let’s plan tomorrow’s route, you do realise that if we don’t hit an inn you owe me another meal.”

“Any time Lina dear” answered Xellos as he got out the maps.