'Dancer followed closely behind Zelgadis, painfully aware of his silence. She sighed softly, and moved carefully so as not to jostle her much abused stomach any more than she had to.
The path seemed to narrow and Zelgadis stopped suddenly, his hand raised indicating she should remain quiet. A cold chill went down 'Dancer's back. Someone is watching us! The duo looked around at the crowding vegetation. Not a leaf stirred, but instinctively the twosome turned back to back and drew their weapons. 'Dancer's eyes half closed as she tried to feel the presence of the threat. Her eyes widened suddenly.
"There's more than one of them." She whispered barely above a breath. Zelgadis nodded, a gesture she felt through his shoulders. What are they waiting for? She eyed the dark path from which they came, and wished, not for the first time, she hadn't suggested this route. Next time...
A twig snapped.
"DOWN!" Zelgadis pushed her away as his sword intercepted a flashing claw. The creature howled in pain as the rest of it burst through the bushes. Velocoraptor! 'Dancer rolled out from under the monster's feet. Her sais were useless against a creature of it's size. No choice. Standing she brought her hands together. Source of all pow - Zelgadis slapped her hands apart as he dashed past. "Landshark!" 'Dancer's confused/hurt look lasted until something grabbed her ankle.
"SH-AAAAAH!"
Zelgadis cussed softly at 'Dancer's scream. He spun around.
"Don't use ma - "
"Lightningwithhisrapidwrath!" Blue bolts of lightning slammed from above and into the monster holding her. 'Dancer whimpered as the velocoraptor blinked at her. It's hold on her foot didn't loosen in the slightest. That didn't hurt it????? She began flailing about wildly.
"Baka!" Zelgadis snapped, slicing the creature's claw off and catching 'Dancer before dashing down the trail at top speed. "I told you not to use magic!"
'Dancer, facing backwards as Zelgadis held her around the middle, shouted something.
"Nani?" Zelgadis asked. A blast of electricity caught him squarely in the back. Hitting the ground at a high velocity, he slid forward several meters before coming to a complete halt. 'Dancer sat up in the trench made by his unintentional stop.
"I said, look out." She winced, her forearms suffering from road rash. "Aya." She hissed, then swallowed as the velocoraptors surged towards them.
"Move!" Grabbing Zelgadis's arm she raced down the trail.
"No, stop!" Zelgadis dug his heels in, restraining 'Dancer as the bushes in front of them exploded into a pack of snarling velocoraptors. Damnit I thought these things were extinct!
"Raywing us outta here!" She yelped, dodging the charge of one monster. Zelgadis's backhand slashed open the belly of one monster, and two of it's packmates fell feasting on the dying creature. He spared a moment to glare at her.
"Don't you get it yet? We can't use magic around these monsters!"
"Why not?" 'Dancer shouted back, dashing between the legs of another monster. That monster opened it's mouth and let out a blast of lightning, knocking 'Dancer backwards, into the bushes.
"That's why." Zelgadis muttered crossly, lopping off that monster head. He glanced back at 'Dancer. Where she had been there was only a slight hole in the vegetation.
" 'Dancer?" Another landshark charged him. "Che!"
'Dancer was falling. Rolling out of control she whirled down hill at a dizzying pace. The world suddenly lit up with sunlight, and panicking her threw her arms out, desperate to stop her descent. Her already scraped forearms were further lacerated by sharp thorns and spiny grasses, but after several painful revolutions she slowed, and laying face down came to a complete stop.
Birdsong drifted over the glassy meadow were she lay, and the sun shone warmly down. 'Dancer hugged the grassy earth she lay upon, her lips moving silently in thanks.
Sacre Madre.
Her ragged breath became more even and her pulse slowed. Taking a deep breath she pulled her legs under her and sat up, looking around.
The ground crumbled.
"Noooo-!" A strong arm caught her, and 'Dancer hung there limply for a moment, watching numbly as the lip of ground fell far, far away. A bead of sweat followed the topsoil, and 'Dancer let out an exhausted sigh as she was pulled back from the chasm.
"Thanks, I-" What ever else she was going to say got caught in her throat as she faced her savior. A perfectly symmetrical face, soft dark purple hair, red robes, ...blind eyes.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!"
The Red Priest dropped her, and she scrambled as close to the edge of the cliff as she dared.
"What's wrong, Zelgadis?"
"Y-y-you-you're dead! You can't be here, this isn't happening!!!" 'Dancer shook her head, trying to clear the fog that shrouded her mind. Wait, he called me-
"Wishful thinking does not a death make. Come along, Zelgadis, we have work to do." Rezo held out his hand to her. 'Dancer shook her head violently.
"No, no! I am not Zelgadis! I am 'Dancer Saisan! I am not that soul you twisted!" 'Dancer's ragged voice grew hoarse, as she struggled to a half kneeling position.
Rezo sighed patiently. "This again Zel-chan? How much longer are you going to hide in your delusion the 'Dancer, Warrior of Righteousness?" The taunt was a cruel knot of pain. Did he really think that of her? Unbidden she thought back to the first time she saw 'Dancer, leaning over him, snow gently falling down around her. But she hadn't met 'Dancer until after Lina had killed Rezo - what! "No!" she growled, grabbing her head. "Get out! Get out of my head! I am not Zelgadis, I am - I am - " Shaking she barely noticed the sympathetic hand placed on her shoulder.
"I so sorry Zelgadis. I had no idea that in giving you power you would also become so stricken. I can try to heal you of it, if you will let me."
Heal you. Wasn't that what she had done to 'Dancer when she lay bleeding and broken next to her, after managing, somehow, to teleport them back to her home world? She hadn't the power to heal herself back in that magic dead world, she had had to rely on such primitive measures, cauterization. The memory made her side ache. 'Dancer couldn't possibly have known the depth of pain, and yet, she seemed more hurt by the procedure than she, Zelgadis, the recipient of the fire-pain, had been. Wait, no this was wrong, she wasn't - I'm not -
Looking down at her hands, she felt as if her heart was going to stop. "No." She whispered, her hands blue. Trembling she reached up and touched her face. Rocks, the same ones that left an imprint on 'Dancer's hand when she had slapped her mocked her.
"No, no I-I am - "
The Red Priest's voice sounded far away. "Let me help you, Zelgadis."
"Let me help you! Damn it Zel, if you're going to go running around an unfriendly world, at least take a friend with you! Let me be that friend!" 'Dancer's sharp words stung her memory. Why had 'Dancer insisted on staying with him that night back at the inn? She made friends so easily with the inn staff, she could have effortlessly fit into village life there, gotten a job, hell, gotten married even, and lived a fuller life than one on the road with her. Why-?
"I don't want to go home. I don't want to face that type of pain ever again." So, you were just running away for the pain, weren't you 'Dancer? I was just a handy excuse, not a friend? Am I anything to you, 'Dancer, other than an excuse? Why didn't you tell me -
"Because it's none of your business!" "I knew you could be cruel, but only now I realize how evil you are." Pain, like a knife twisting in her gut, caused tears to spring to her eyes. 'Dancer, why-?
"Oye, she doesn't mean it." Were you acting then, when you touched my hand and looked at me with your stormcloud eyes? Were you just pretending to be my friend when we were trapped in your memory? Am I your friend, or a convinent excuse?
"Zelgadis?" Rezo's voice broke through the storm in her brain. Her lip, hidden by her wiry purple hair curled up in disdain. It didn't matter what 'Dancer was or what she was to her. Delusion or not, she wasn't here and the thrice damned pain giver was. Slowly, her trembling stopped and she put a hand on the ground. Earth below me, summit to my will... Looking up with blazing hatred at the red priest, her hand suddenly clenched into a fist.
"DAGU HAUTO!"
A spire of rock thrust out from the earth, skewering the red-robed man as she doubled over, gasping in pain. Blood, red as any human's, poured out of her mouth as she puked. She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the agony. Zelgadis doesn't get sick for using magic. That thought pierced her pain-numbed mind like an arrow. I am not Zelgadis. Opening her eyes, she saw her hands, flesh and blood-spotted, supporting her. The sunlight and meadow disappeared, replaced by the silent darkness of the Forest. Madre mia, what's happening? Unable to do much more than pant she collapsed and rested among the dead leaves.
Zelgadis finished off the pack of landsharks before he dared to follow 'Dancer. Then glancing once more at the dead monsters he stepped through the hole in the brush after her.
And stepped into sunlight.
The jungle surrounding him was bright with green tinted sunshine, the air thick with the smell of humid soil. Pausing, Zelgadis leaned back his head and inhaled deeply. Gods, it was a beautiful day. Smiling cheerfully he picked up his basket of yucca roots and wandered down the path back to the village. Mother would be pleased with his find, she might even make his favorite snack, yucca cheese bread. He was temporarily distracted by a flight of brightly colored birds, swooping low as they expertly dodged the lower branches of the trees. He wondered after them. What was it like to fly, to feel the wind under his arms? Manuel said that in the city there were machine that flew, but a person was stuck inside a big metal tube, and couldn't feel the wind. A poor substitute for real flying, he'd always thought, and unconsciously raised his arms a little in imagined flight.
"Stormborn, Stormborn, always dreaming, always late!" Someone chanted nearby. He dropped his arms and faced his tormentor. Juan Jose, his 8 year old cousin stood on a log teasing him. He ignored Juan Jose.
"Where's your Queztlcoualt feathers Stormy? And the Emperor's lost treasure? Have you found the sky people's rainbow pathway?" Juan Jose asked, hopping up and down. Lip curled in disdain he turned and left his foolish cousin on the log. He knew better than to get into a fight with Juan Jose. Juan was far stronger, and besides, Mother would only punish him for fighting.
The forest edge was within several meters when every winged creature in the forest took to the sky. He stopped dead in his tracks and watched the frantic exodus, a seed of fear blossoming in his heart. Resounding gunfire made him forget his basket as he ran for the village.
He stopped short at the slight rise above the village fields and stared in disbelief. Men, dressed in camouflage and carrying guns walked through the village, shooting at the fleeing villagers. Then, as if the senseless killing wasn't enough, several of the invaders set fire to the straw roofs of the houses. In horror he watched as one boy, Manuel (!) ran into a burning hut. His eyes stung, recognizing his home as it was engulfed in flames. He held his breath, silently beseeching the spirits above and below for help. Then, amazingly, he could see Manuel helping his mother out of the hovel.
"Run." He whispered, watching as they dashed for the fields of maize. "Faster, hurry, before they see you." They were almost to the forest when Manuel jerked foreward, falling over.
"No," He moaned, as a blossom of red spread across Manuel's chest, "no, no, NO!" He threw himself foreward, as though to run to his mother's side when someone caught him and held him.
"Stormborn, no!"
Strong arms grabbed him and keep him from leaping into the fray. He twisted around, trying to face the one who restrained him.
"But Abuelito, it's Manuel!" His grandfather just looked at him with terribly sad grey eyes and held him tighter. "It's too late." He crush the small boy to him. "It's too late."
He pulled away suddenly. "What are you talking about?" He demanded loudly. "I can still save him! I can heal him!" The old man looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Stormborn, what are you talking about?"
"I can heal him! I can cast Recovery! He can be sav - " He stopped suddenly as the old man's eyes suddenly clouded over.
"Stormborn, this isn't a game. Come out of your storyteller's world." He begged holding his hand out to the young boy. The boy looked at him confused, hurt.
"I can heal him! It's one of the few good things about Rezo's transformation, I - " He stopped suddenly, baffled. Looking down his hands he saw that they were of flesh, that he was wearing a skirt, that long black hair-
"STOP IT! GET OUT!" Staggering back he held his head in his hands as a massive headache exploded in his brain. "I AM ZELGADIS!" He shouted, barely aware of the soldiers racing towards him. As they surrounded him and took aim, he looked up suddenly and snarled at them.
"BURASUTO BOMU!" Flames encircled him, incinerating everything. When the flames finally died down, he found himself standing in the dark Forest. Trembling from the close call he looked around.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Mekeio walked into the small clearing she called home. The darkness of the Forest was no different than the darkness she saw. She lay down wearily in a bed of moss, staring vacantly ahead. For two years she had lived here, in this dark refuge. The Forest had provided her with shelter, food, and power when she had had none. No sun filtered through to remind her of the terrible sunny days preceding to her ascension to power, no sounds broke the calm that calmed her soul. She lacked for nothing. Until today. Mekeio rolled over and brooded over what had transpired. The man Zelgadis, the one who wore a veil and had strange skin, he wasn't the one who bothered her. She was used to his kind, even preferred it because she knew how to deal with the anger he expressed. But the woman, 'Dancer, filled her with a feeling she hadn't had since she had come to the forest. Mekeio blinked suddenly, surprised by the moisture on her face. She was lonely. She sat up with a sniffle. The Forest, while it had protected her from others, was also a barrier. Arcane Magic could meet her every desire, except for the very human need of companionship. Mekeio stared at the heat signature of her feet, and silently cursed 'Dancer. How dare she! What right did that woman think she had anyway? Who asked her to be concerned about the Wood Witch? Mekeio brushed another rogue tear away. It didn't matter in the long run. 'Dancer was going to return to her life outside of the Forest and Mekeio would just continue like she always had. Her shoulders sagged, her 12 years feeling more like 1200.
Damn her! Why did 'Dancer have to remind her of life beyond the dark walls of her self imprisonment? She was safe here! She wanted it that way, away from all the others, away from - She started to her feet as something walked into her clearing. She relaxed a little recognizing it as one of the Forest's apparition. It was a tall woman, her heat signature slightly cloaked by the armor that she wore.
"Well, what do you want?" Mekeio asked sharply. The apparition paused, as if somewhat hesitant. Mekeio mentally frowned. The Forest had never been afraid of her before.
"The travelers, two," she paused. Mekeio tapped her foot. "why are they here?"
"They were stupidly taking a short cut through your domain. Leave them alone, they mean no harm." Mekeio couldn't see the apparition's expression, but she felt it's eyes boring into hers. What was up with this Forest summoned spryte?
"Then why are they spell twined?" Mekeio stared at the woman for a moment, not comprehending.
"What do you mean?" She demanded harshly. The woman tilted her head a little. "If they are to be left alone, why are they locked in spell webs?" Mekeio grabbed her scythe and raced past the apparition. The Forest spryte could mean only one thing. Summoning her magic she transformed into an owl and flew off in search of the two interlopers.
An explosion rang through the woods, and groggily 'Dancer stood up.
"Zelgadis." She whispered, doubts no longer clouding her mind. Her sides ached as she staggered from tree to tree (for support), but she pushed herself forward. If Zelgadis was resorting to such powerful magic, he might need her help. She stumbled heavily against one tree and let out a weak yelp of pain as she fell to her knees. Why wasn't she getting better? Even when she had over stepped her limits fighting the dino-toad demon she had more strength after a brief rest. She bit her lip to keep from whimpering.
A twig snapped behind her.
The pain momentarily forgotten, she grasped the pommel of a sai. There was footfall, followed by another and she tightened her hold on her sai. Forcing her body motionless she closed her eyes. If it was a velocoraptor, she'd only have one chance. A bead of sweat rolled off her face. There was a third step and she could feel it standing directly behind her.
With a wild screech she whipped around and buried the sai up to it's hilt in the flesh of the creature. Then she gasped.
"Zel!" Her hoarse whisper broke the tense silence. Zelgadis looked up from the deeply imbedded weapon and sought out her eyes.
"Do you really hate me that much?" He asked as he sank to the ground, purple blood trickling out the corner of his mouth. 'Dancer stared at him horrified. Her strike had been perfect. If it had been a velocoraptor, it would have caught the attack directly between the legs. But on Zelgadis it lodged right at the base of his throat. His dark lifeblood washed over her hands.
"Diga me las palabras a Recovery, Zel. Diga me! DIGA ME!" She cried, collapsing beside him. Tears poured unheeded down her face as she held him dying in her arms. "Oh, diosa, no, oh, no, no, Zel, diga me, Zel, please, Zel, diga me Zelgadis, please, Zelgadis, ZEEEEELLLLGGGGAAAAADDDDIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!" She screamed as the light went out of his eyes.
"No salga mí. Por favor, no salgas." She sobbed. "Zelgadis, no salgas!"
Mekeio watched from several meters away, her empty purple eyes taking everything in. 'Dancer's desolate pleas echoed those of her own, from three years ago. She brushed away some moisture from her face and walked towards the crying girl, her scythe cutting through the ribbons of magic entrapping 'Dancer. She touched 'Dancers shoulder.
'Dancer looked up, shaking uncontrollably. "Help me." She begged. "Tell me how to save him." Mekeio knelt down next to her, and pushed his bangs out of his face. Her face was void of emotions as her eyes flicked over his still features. "So that is what he looks like..." she murmured, letting his hair fall back in place. She looked up at 'Dancer.
"It's too late." She intoned, silently cursing the vows of Arcane Magic. 'Dancer wailed, bending over Zelgadis's cooling corpse. Mekeio took 'Dancer's hands in her, quietly murmuring a spell. 'Dancer's body jerk, then she compliantly stood up and followed the Wood Witch as she led her away from Zelgadis's corpse. Mekeio didn't need to look behind her to see Zelgadis's form vanish from sight. She knew all too well the tricks of the Forest, having been victim to them before her coming to power.
They had walked in silence for the better part of 30 minutes when she heard 'Dancer moan softly, and knew that the young woman had thrown off the spell she had laid on her. She turned and watched 'Dancer lean against a tree for support. 'Dancer's heat signature was weak, and for a moment Mekeio wondered if enspelling her had been the wisest course of action.
"Why?" 'Dancer asked, her voice weak, but laden with grief. Mekeio couldn't answer truthfully, and again mentally damned her vows of Arcane Magic.
"His blood was attracting predators. " 'Dancer said nothing. "Besides you wouldn't be able to carry him in your condition." Both girls were still for a long moment. Finally 'Dancer looked up, tears streaking down her face, a gesture unseeable to Mekeio.
"Come, we have much farther to go." 'Dancer nodded numbly, the fire gone out of her eyes, the hope gone from her heart. Blindly, she stumbled after Mekeio.
Zelgadis looked around, still disoriented from the last attack. At least, that's what he thought it was. He shook his head and looked around, wondering where Stormborn went. " 'Dancer." He muttered aloud, correcting himself. He frowned. Was that really 'Dancer's name? Or was he reliving someone else's memories? A bush stirred to his left and he turned suddenly, his sword in hand. Stepping out into the clearing was a short red head. She was talking with a tall blond in blue armor. Zelgadis blinked, disbelieving.
"Lina? Gourry?" He asked, stepping foreward, into hearing range.
"Doesn't just kill you how he tries to pretend that he's normal?" She said to her tall companion. Gourry nodded. "You'd think he'd just magic up a disguise or something to hide that disgusting face of his." Zelgadis froze, his voice caught in his throat. "And then there's how he acts as if by doing good he can redeem himself? Everyone knows he's plain evil, that's why Rezo did that to him. Rezo could just as easily have turned him into a gold dragon, but to warn the rest of the world he turned Zel into a chimera." Zelgadis wanted to sink to his knees. He had actually considered these two as his friends! Numbly he watched as the mismatched twosome disappeared into the forest. A twig snapped to his left and when he looked up he saw Molly laughing with Alex and Amanda.
"Tell us again how you tricked that stupid rock-boy into thinking you were in love with him." Alex begged as they withdrew back into the forest. Zelgadis put one hand against a tree for support, trying not to hear the cruel laughter. How could he have been so foolish not to see...? Anguish as crippling as any blow tore through him and for a moment he felt as if his heart would stop.
Mekeio moved unerringly towards the part of the Forest that held Zelgadis. 'Dancer shuffled behind, unable to muster the strength to do anything but follow. Mekeio wanted nothing better than to turn the both of them into birds and find Zelgadis, but she was afraid that such a transformation would only further erode 'Dancer's damaged astral threads. And leaving her was out of the question. To leave her at the mercy of the Forest... Mekeio shivered despite herself. There was something very wrong with the Forest. Uneasily she shoved that thought to the back of her mind, her thoughts sharply refocusing on the figure standing before her. She stopped with a soft gasp. Zelgadis was so completely entwined by the ribbons of magic that she couldn't even make out his heat signature. 'Dancer stopped and looked up slowly as if from a dream.
Zelgadis turned at the sound of the sharp intake, and saw 'Dancer and the accursed Wood Witch standing there, staring at him as if in horror. His sharp voice pierced the air that lay between them.
"Here to tear out my heart too?" He voice was cruel, far crueler than Mekeio could have imagined it to be. But 'Dancer was beyond hearing, and before Mekeio could warn her of the danger, she threw her arms around him, buried her face in his shoulder with a gut wrenching sob.
Mekeio flinched and looked away as the encircling ribbons of magic soundless burst off from him at 'Dancer's touch. When the unseen light finally died down, she saw them with real sight, briefly, holding each other, framed by the blackness of the Forest.