Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Invincible ❯ Eye of a Dragon ( Chapter 3 )

The sun blared mercilessly above. Unusually hot weather for this time of year, even if they were pretty south of their destination. Lina dragged her feet heavily, hunched over in hunger and pain. She groaned with every step until finally her legs gave up and she fell over.

"So…hungry. I need food…like… right now." Her blonde companion fell over beside her.

"Uhggn…" he let out an odd sound before dramatically closing his eyes. "It's all over…" Behind them, Alex stood looking on, slightly perturbed as she let out a sigh. Well, perhaps it wasn't so unusual when people with that sort of appetite burn out so quickly…

"Levitation!" she shouted, and she rose up slowly until she could see over the thick forest. Her eyes widened, as did her smile when she spotted a village about two or three miles ahead on the side of a hill. The architecture was unrecognizable, but she could tell some of the buildings were abnormally large. Either way, she needed to get these two goons some food before all hell broke loose.

"Lina! Gourry! Look! It's a town up ahead!" she shouted. Lina shot up and joined her faster than a track star on a bathroom run while Gourry sat up staring into space, hands clasped together in thanks to the great lords of… food?

"WHERE?!!?" The hyper redhead looked around madly before spotting the buildings. "YES! WE'VE BEEN SAVED!" She swooped down grabbing Gourry by the shoulders and off they were, with Alex trailing worriedly behind.

"Lina, don't you think you should take it easy? You hardly have any energy left! You might pass out."

"The faster we get to the town, the faster I get FOOD!" Alex just sweatdropped and decided not to pursue the conversation any further. They were about a mile away when out of the trees came…

"NOVA RAY!" A thin beam of golden light shot out from below them. Lina was able to dodge but she lost her balance and had to land on some tree branches, almost dropping her friend.

"What the hell was THAT?" she said, agitated. Gourry clung to a thick branch.

"Someone tried to kill us! Hey, where did Alex go?" He looked around. Lina did so as well, and shrugged.

"I dunno. I hope she didn't get hit…"

"Who dares trespass in forbidden territory? State your names!" a booming voice bellowed.

"I should be asking you the same question," Lina shouted back defiantly. "Show yourself!"

"Very well." The ground shook as a tall and rather strong looking black dragon raised its head. He gazed at them with bright green eyes and a smirk. "Ah. Humans… I should have known."

"What do you want?" Lina asked.

"Where are you headed, young human."

"To the next town…" Lina eyed him down cautiously. She was having a hard time distinguishing his age. He was big…but she wasn't sure how big black dragons got. She knew she was too used to the size of golden dragons. While huge, they still were the smallest, and she hadn't encountered a black dragon this close before. His face seemed youthful, though, with no signs of age, or too much experience for that matter. She finally concluded that he was a young dragon and felt a bit less intimidated.

"The next town is forbidden to humans, so I suggest you leave."

"Please let us pass," Alex said suddenly. She was standing in the middle of small grassy clearing, which was where the dragon stood. She looked up hopefully.

"Where the hell have you been?" Lina asked.

"I was hiding out. Anyway, please. We haven't eaten in days and we're starving. I promise we wont stay too long."

"Did you not hear me? This place is forbidden to humans."

"Well, I'm not human! And I am a user of holy magic like yourself, so I ask of you to let us pass. We've had a really rough past few days."

"Your problems are of no concern to me. Now, you half witted elf-girl. Take your little 'friends' and get out of here." Alex's eye twitched and Lina's face cringed with anger. She was about to lay an ass kicking on the obnoxious dragon when she noticed a burning anger emanating from her friend. She had never seen Alex that upset…

"Half witted… elf girl… THAT'S IT! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!" She pointed an all to familiar 'justice finger' at him. He raised an eyebrow and looked down with shock and confusion.

"A duel? Are you mad?" he asked. Lina shook her head.

"Alex! He's a DRAGON! A BIG dragon! Just let me…"

"NO! He has directly offended my race and me! I will not let this go unpunished! Prepare yourself!" She jumped into fighting stance and Lina just moaned.

"Uh.. Lina? Shouldn't you try to stop her?" Gourry asked.

"No. If she gets in trouble, I'll jump in. I doubt she'll need it, though. He's not as big and bad as he tries to make himself out to be."

"Heh. Fine then. Have it your way. FLAME BREATH" He shot the thin blast of fire at the girl, but she dodged it easily. She then straitened herself out, closing her eyes and starting an incantation in her native language. She raised her right hand, and in it was a small semi-precious stone. As she continued to chant, the stone began to glow and hover above her palm. She then brought her left hand to join and raised them both above her head, the stone spinning wildly between them. Finally she opened her eyes and shouted.

"'Animi causa concipio!" With her last words, the gem rose up into the air shooting out red strings of energy, which wrapped around the dragon. They then spread, covering his body completely until all that could be seen was his glowing red form. He began to shrink, the light slowly being sucked into the gem until he was down completely in human form. He stopped glowing and the strings faded away as the gem gently fell into her hands. He looked up, his eyes burning. Just as Lina had expected, he was pretty young. About her age… perhaps a bit older. He was very handsome (most dragons tended to be attractive, so this wasn't that surprising), with jet-black hair that fell wildly, slightly covering his eyes. It was short, not reaching past his earlobes, except for a small patch and the very back and bottom of his head that was tied into a thin ponytail. He had a cut body type much like Zelgadis. His green eyes glared dangerously at Alex as Lina and Gourry had finally made their way down the tree to the ground.

"What did you do?" he asked in a clearly agitated but not so booming voice.

"I sealed your powers inside this stone, that's what. So, who's half-witted now, huh?" Alex teased. She smirked at him proudly. He stood up and straitened his back. Lina brushed herself off.

"Not bad for a nineteen-year-old elf, eh?" she said to Gourry, who was sitting against a tree stump. He nodded.

"Give me back my power!" he yelled.

"What's your name?" Alex asked.

"Xavier. Now hand over that stone…"

"Xavier, is it? Hmm. Nah. I could make good money selling a stone sealed with Dragon powers." She stuck out her tongue and started to laugh rather maniacally, obviously basking in her victory. He then lost all patience -- quite possibly his sanity and dignity along with it -- and lunged himself into her, knocking her down onto her back. She let out a rather high-pitched yelp as he tackled her clasped hand.

"Give it to me!"

"Get off me! You're heavy!"

"I SAID GIVE IT TO ME!"

"I SAID GET OFF OF ME!!"

"ARGH!" What then ensued was a childish squabble that reminded Lina of deranged seagulls fighting over a much-treasured piece of bread. Squawking included. She wondered if maybe she should stop the two but… why? It was entertaining if nothing else. Besides, getting in the middle of a quarrel involving an elf and dragon, human form or otherwise, is not usually a good idea. Gourry watched on perplexed. Soon enough, a short old man, with a staff that appeared a tad too tall for him, came out of the woods and stood before the mess. He made his way over to the two, conking Xavier on the head. It was much welcomed by Alex for she was having her hail pulled practically out of her skull. She rubbed her scalp, tears forming at the edge of her eyes as she pouted.

"That really hurt, you bastard." With that, she was conked on the head as well, and found herself looking up at a rather peeved looking old timer. He had long gray hair that was tied in a similar fashion to Xavier's, and the same striking green eyes.

"What is the meaning of this!?" he bellowed. Alex squealed, scared out of her wits while Xavier bowed his head.

"This elf girl sealed my powers in a stone and threatened to sell it."

"I wasn't really going to se--"

"SILENCE! Did I ask you to speak?" She squeaked again and scuttled a few inches away. "Xavier. That was the most despicable display of childish behavior I've ever seen. What kind of impression of our race are you trying to make?"

"I… I'm sorry. I won't do it again…"

"Of course you won't. That's what you said last time. And you? This isn't the kind of conduct I'd expect from an elf." As expected, Alex just sat there wide eyed and intimidated. She turned her head defiantly, but didn't answer and the man turned and looked at Lina and Gourry. He promptly gave them a warm welcoming smile.

"Ah, Lina Inverse! What a pleasure to have you!" he said. Lina blinked a few times, and then smiled back nervously. Alex and Xavier stared at her in shock and she could feel her cheeks redden.

It turned out that the old man, whose name is Futhar, was Xavier's grandfather, and the eldest black dragon in this particular community. Lina, Gourry, and Alex were all invited to their house where they got to finally eat and also meet the rest of the family. Xavier's parents Jadzia and Lendin, little brother Sougie, and uncle Vedrik all lived in the same building. The whole family was polite and welcomed the group warmly. Xavier was obviously the wild one. Sougie was about thirteen, and was a spitting image of his brother except for violet eyes like his father. He seemed to be very taken with Alex.

"I hear you're headed back to the Shielded land," Lendin commented while serving himself some chicken.

"Yeah, we're headed to Seyruun," Lina said, slightly bothered by the fact that it was still considered the Shield although it had been at least four years since the shield broke. At least.

"So, how long have you all been traveling?" Jadzia asked.

"About three weeks now. We're trying to get to the shore," Alex said.

"Sougie, can you pass the gravy," Xavier requested, trying to snap his little brother from gazing at the girl. It worked for all of two seconds while he handed the bowl over. She hadn't noticed, but Lina sure did and decided to later get back for all the teasing Alex had done for the past few weeks.

"So, are you really an elf?" the young boy asked finally. Xavier rolled his eyes and gave a disgusted look. Alex turned her head and blinked in surprise.

"Oh… yes." She smiled warmly.

"Woah. I've heard of elves a lot from my sensei. He says they're really powerful with all sorts of special magic. And how beautiful they are." At the comment, Alex felt her face turn a very bright red while Lina chuckled happily to herself. Xavier looked as if he were going to vomit.

"Well… I… um… "

"SO, the nearest port town is quite a ways from here, actually." Xavier said, breaking the moment.

"Right. It's called Merison. Very popular, actually. They have frequent trips back and forth between continents. Especially your own." Jadzia added.

"I wonder why our homeland is so popular," Gourry asked as he stuffed a small tomato in his mouth.

"It's because of the high concentration of advanced magic. Mainly the Dragons and Elves use such magic outside of that area. And both races have a tendency to isolate themselves from everyone," Futhar explained. "I'm not sure of the reasons for the elves, but I know that many dragons feel superior to other creatures and as a result, they like to flaunt their power and authority in sometimes immature ways." A quick sharp glace was aimed at Xavier before he continued. "It's sad, but true."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Lina agreed as memories of Filia reprimanding herself for meddling with someone like Xellos flashed across her mind. She couldn't help a smile. She knew how much she missed her friends. Even Xellos himself in a strange and twisted sort of way. But his appearance only meant trouble, and she new it well. The rest of lunch was eaten along with random friendly conversation. Afterwards, Jadzia went about cleaning up the dining room while Vedrick left to go to work along with Lendin. Futhar took the guests out on the front porch, along with refilled supplies and a map. Xavier sat next to him and young Sougie knelt behind his brother, shyly hiding from the group.

"Well, if you want to reach your destination soon, I'd suggest you take off now. You can reach Merison within a day or two if you take the shortest route," the old dragon said.

"Right," Xavier agreed smugly, happy to finally get that retched girl away from his home. He decided to be annoying and add his own little tib-bits every few words.

"And you'll need to use the map to get there. These forests can be confusing and dangerous."

"So be careful."

"You may need a guide to get your through as safely and quickly as possible."

"The faster, the better."

"And so Xavier will be accompanying you to the shore."

"Exact… what? WHAT?" The youthful man's eyes popped out of his head. He stared at his grandfather in shock.

"You heard me. And don't raise your voice, young man."

"But… Grandpa, you've got to be kidding! WHY?"

"Because it would be healthy for you to get out some. Travel around a bit. See the world."

"Wait a minute… I thought you wanted me to take them just to the port town."

"What kind of getaway would that be? I want you to go with them, have some fun, and bring me back a souvenir, ok? Good boy. See you when I see you!" The older man gave his younger descendent a good old slap on the back. Xavier just stared out in shock.

"But… but… I'm not ready for this…."

"Nonsense. I had your mother pack your things right after lunch. She thinks it's a marvelous idea!"

"No…."

"I'll go if you don't want to, Xavier," Sougie added shyly. The older brother just huffed and looked up defiantly.

"No, no. I'll go. Just pray that I don't lose my mind before I get back." Lina looked around nervously and decided to end the awkwardness the best she could.

"Now now… this'll be fun. A nice little outing, right?" All she got in response was a blushing Sougie, a confused Gourry, a smug Futhar, and a Xavier and an Alex giving each other psychic death threats. And funny thing was, it all seemed way too familiar.

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The port town was unsurprisingly busy with the hustle and bustle of port town life. The center was where all the government buildings, like the courthouse and jail, were located. The church and random shops were also here, and surrounding them were the residential areas with houses, apartment buildings, ect. It was the boardwalk, however, where most activities ensued. Just about everything, and everyone, was located along the sunny shores. Casinos, hotels, arcades, sports clubs… you name it, they had it. It must have been a big tourist area. Gourry and Lina were in awe at how so much could be packed into such a small stretch. It took no more than half an hour to walk to the length of the boardwalk. Everything was separated neatly and even. The more commerce-oriented side was where you could find various business offices, and where boats used for shipping cargo were docked. The beaches here were rocky and used mainly for fishing. As one worked their way down, it slowly turned into the more attractive tourism oriented section, with bright colors, vacationers, and restaurants. It was here that you could find our beloved troop chowing down and planning their next moves.

"So, what was the best deal you found?" Lina asked while fiddling with an empty fork. Alex whipped out a few broachers and pamphlets.

"I found two, actually. It all depends on how you want to travel. There's a pretty cheap economy boat ride that drops us off at a port town near Atlass. It takes about five days, all food included, for about three hundred gold pieces a person for separate one-person rooms, or five hundred for a two-person room. I could sleep on the floor, and it'll be between one fifty and one eighty per person." Lina listened intently and nodded.

"What about the other one?"

"Right, this one's a cruise. It's more expensive, and the rooms are a bit smaller, but they're nicer. The food is included as well, and they have activities to do. It takes eight days."

"How much are the rooms?"

"About a thousand… for a two-bed room…" Alex said meekly. She had only spent a few weeks traveling with Lina and Gourry, but she quickly learned how much of an issue money is with Lina. She also learned not to mess with her food or to call her pointless quarrels with Gourry "lover tiffs", or to make fun of her size, and a few other things. But mainly the money issue. Lina looked at Alex thoughtfully. They had managed to make a good profit after defeating a few bandit gangs rather easily (much to Lina's glee, her new companion was quite a skilled fighter, using a unique combination of martial arts, magic, and swordsmanship). Did she really want to blow it off so quickly on a cruise?

"Hey Gourry. What do you think?"

"Hmm?" He didn't look up, as he was too involved with his own activities. He was stooped over various coins and watched them intently.

"What the hell are you doing?" she said, sliding over to him and staring at his work.

"Oh, I thought up a gift for Amelia. I thought it'd be a nice present to give her a coin or two from all the different places we've been to. Like a collection."

"Hey, that's a really good idea. I think she'd like that a lot."

"Yeah, I figured since she didn't get to spend too much time here or anywhere else… well, I mean, she did, but all those "princess-business trips" and the fight with Valgaav and Dark Star shouldn't really count… that it'd be-- ow!" He promptly got elbowed in the gut.

"Don't say anything about that…" Lina hissed quietly. She turned slightly to look at Alex, who was staring down an attractive young waiter, pretending not to notice the other two. Lina cleared her throat.

"Anyway, which trip should we take?" Gourry looked at her blankly.

"What?"

"Were you even LISTENING?"

"No. I was sorting out these coins… hey, do you remember where this one is fro--"

"NO! Would you pay attention more often and NOT change the subject?"

"Fine, fine. Chill out." Lina resisted the urge to bash him over the head.

"Rrrrr. Ok, listen to me. We have two choices for a way back home. There's a cheap trip that includes only food and takes five days. Then there's an expensive one, which takes longer, has a smaller room, and costs more money, but it has food, activities, and other stuff like that. Which do you think we should take?"

"The more expensive one."

"Ok… why?"

"Because even if the other one is shorter, you get bored really easily. Then… you'll start doing weird stuff like bang your head on things or poke people for no reason, and then they might throw you overboard, which wouldn't be pretty because you'd get mad and blow up the ship, and everyone would be stranded on a strategically located desert island where you'll slowly STARVE and you have no friends except my rotting corpse which is of no entertainment except to watch birds peck at my shriveled up bod--"

"Yeah, ok. I get the point. We'll take the cruise. Jeez… sometimes I wonder about you…" Lina shook her head as Gourry just shrugged and smiled to himself. Alex blinked and after a few moments, she cleared her throat.

"O…k. Do you want to get the tickets now? The boat leaves at sunset…"

"Sure, sounds like a good idea. We can buy a few things before we set sail. Oh, look. There's Xavier!"

"Hey! Miss me?" he said, as he said down at an empty seat. His face was sweaty and his cheeks were in a slight state of blush.

"No, actually. I was hoping you might of fallen on some rocks and drowned in a freak accident. No one would ever know…"

"No, dear Alex. I was hanging at a strip joint. Close enough." He stuck out his tongue at the now very peeved girl.

"You DISGUST ME! You gross vulgar piece of shit. Just wait until I tell your family what you did while you were with us."

"What! You wouldn't dare…"

"Oh HO! Wouldn't I? Watch me!"

"I swear to L-sama if you do, you'll wish you never met me!"

"I already do!"

"Dear god, here we go again," Lina rolled her eyes. This never-ending cycle… She stood up, bidding the group to follow suit and get ready to set off on their new adventure.

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Notes: Hmm. I'm not sure what to think of this chapter. I guess it's just there. Anyway, I plan on having the story focus more and Lina again rather than the OC's. I just needed to get them introduced and filtered into the story. I still need a little bit more development, especially with Xavier cuz he just came in, but that'll be done more indirectly. That's basically it for this part. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! YOU guys rock ass. XD

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