Magic Tech Presents... A WarChild and Shaun Garin Story... Based on the works, characters, and situations of Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizum Slayers PEACE A follow up to Slayers MOMENTS A Slayers Sidestory for the Magictech Crossover Series Disclaimer: All other characters mentioned are the copyrights of their respective owners. <><><> It was silent. Yes, it was silent, so silent that if one could listen carefully, only the sounds of nature permeated the air. Well, it was a graveyard. You would expect it to be silent. Ahem. Oh... did I mention the two Zepheilian guards guarding the entrance? "HALT! Who goes there?" declared one of the guards. Oh well, so much for silence. The question was directed to a couple that was walking up the road. Both were wearing cloaks with hoods. And they had a bouquet of flowers in their hands. "That's odd. I don't remember armed guards at the gates to the cemetery." "It's been two years. And the war is on everyone's minds." "Please. Whoever you are, identify yourselves!" interrupted one of the guards. With that the two removed their hoods. "I'm Amelia Will Tes Seyruun, heir-princess to the throne of Seyruun." "I'm Zelgadis Greywords, Amelia's betrothed." The two guards stood in shock. These can't be those two, but in fact they are. It's just that Amelia was now much taller and more a refined lady as they remembered. If it weren't for the robes, they would notice her figure was becoming more and more like her older sister's. And Zelgadis... well... he's was still the same old demon/golem/human. But for some reason the human in him was more emphasized. "Ahh... gomen... it's just that we had..." the first guard started to apologize. "Vandals. There had been cases of vandalism here." the second explained. Amelia responded typically. "VANDALS?! YOU MEAN THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD CAUSE INJUSTICE TO THE TOMBS OF THE DEAD?!" Zelgadis sighed. "Calm down Amelia. I thought you had changed ever since the war began." Amelia stopped, and blushed. "Gomen. Sorry Zel-kun." The guards recovered from the princess' sudden outburst. "Yes. I guess there are people who wouldn't respect the dead. Especially if the dead are people they didn't respect alive." "It has to be expected. After all, they were feared all over." Zelgadis remarked. With that the guards stood aside and let the couple in. <><><> Like all cemeteries, the land was divided for the ordinary people, and the not so ordinary people, you know, the local heroes, knights, and any other famous people. Zelgadis and Amelia headed towards the not so ordinary area of the graveyard. They kept on walking, silent, until they came upon two life-size statues, standing on a huge marble slab. These statues, they were of ones they knew. A fiery red haired sorceress, and a blond slow-witted but extremely good swordsman. Lina Inverse and Gourry Gabriev. There were two inscriptions on the marble slab. One read: IN MEMORY OF LINA INVERSE-GABRIEV. THE BANDIT KILLER THE DRAGON SPOOKER THE ENEMY OF ALL WHO LIVES THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD The other inscription read: IM MEMORY OF GOURRY GABRIEV THE SWORDSMAN OF LIGHT THE ONE WHO TAMED LINA'S HEART THE ONE WHO WOUNDED MUU Amelia and Zelgadis laid the bouquets of flowers on the statues. "Amelia, do you ever think that this is what they wanted?" "Father was persistent. After all, both were allies of Seyruun. He thought it would be wrong to just give them simple grave markers." "But beyond their abilities and deeds, they were like all normal people. Just trying to find a living and to live it." "They weren't normal people. None of us are." said a new voice. Zelgadis and Amelia turned to see the source. It was Lina's sister, Luna. "Luna-san. I guess you got time off from your waitressing job?" "Why shouldn't I? She is and always is, my little sister." The waitress/Knight of Celphied walked up to the three. "As I was saying none of us are. Otherwise, why were we offered a chance to make that pledge? I don't think we would be given such a chance if we were normal people." "The pledge... I still don't understand it." answered Amelia. "I still can't believe she appeared after Lina died. It was almost like she was insisting to mettle with our affairs." Zelgadis added. "Do you think she intends to keep her end of the pact?" Luna asked, placing her gift of flowers on the statues. Zelgadis shrugged. "Who knows? Even now I don't understand the gods and demons anymore. And there is this other thing." "Lina and Gourry's son..." Amelia noted. "Who in all represents the joining of the Gabriev and Inverse lines," Luna finished, "If at all, the gods and demons were all wondering when this would happen. As it seems, the joining of the two lines may in fact determine the fate of humanity." "What makes you say that?" "Think about it. A powerful sorceress, a swordman who once wielded the Gorn Nova, the sword of light, and both faced the most powerful Mazoku known to man and survived. If they had offspring, would the child be overlooked, or be hunted after?" "You're not saying..." "I don't know what abilities neechan's son has. All I know if she wants him to be raised and have survived the events to come, she must think of him of high importance.." Amelia sighed as she traced the feet of Lina's statue, noting the intricate detail of the statue. "How long has it been?" she asked the pair. "How long since we've been all together?" "Near shy of Six years," Zelgadis said. "Six long years since we've been all together. Six years since Lina... died." "Actually, I'm thinking of a different event." Amelia smiled sadly. "Carrot's birth." The trio shared a short chuckle as memories took a hold of them. <><><> "AAAAAAAUGH!" A huge explosion of energy erupted from the large house. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGH!" Lina screamed, "GOURRY! YOU ARE NOT GETTING ME PREGNANT AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Another explosion tore through the room as Amelia winced as she and Filia tended to Lina's childbirth pains. Zelgadis had a pitying look on his face. "Female sorcerers and childbirth. I heard rumors this happened when they gave birth." "You COULD help us," Filia snapped angrily as she coaxed Lina while Amelia kept Lina's body sedated the best she could with healing spells. Zelgadis rolled his eyes as he cast a glance at the expecting father. Gourry was soot stained from the multiple explosions of raw magical energy she gave off when giving birth. "It's coming out!" Filia exclaimed happily. Lina started to chant in ancient sanscript, almost mindlessly as she writhed on the bed. Gourry paled as he ducked under the bed, still grasping his wife's hand. Then.... "DRAGON SLAVE!" When the dust settled down, the crying of a baby was heard. Lina gasped, her chest heaving. "Celphied above...." she groaned. Filia held the baby in her arms as she cut the cord. "Here you are Lina-san. A heavenly sent baby boy." "A boy Lina," Gourry said, looking at the little babe in her arms. "Look at him... he.... looks nothing like us." Everyone facefaulted as Lina smacked him across the head. <><><> "Yeah, I remember his birth well," Zelgadis remarked. "I remember Xellos-san popping in afterwards for quick peek at Carrot, and Filia accused him of feasting off Lina's childbirth pain. What is it with those two?" Amelia added. "Heh. Speaking of which, how is Filia doing?" Luna asked. "I believe she's trying to keep the reborn Val out of harms way. Who knows what will happen during this war?" "The war..." Zelgadis stated, looking at Gourry's statue. "Because of that fiend, we lost Gourry as well..." <><><> People were screaming and yelling as the monster dragon terrorized the Zepheilia countryside. The local band of soldiers and mages were sent to dispatch the beast, but they were quickly dispatched, one by one. In the midst of all this Syphiel was pleading for Gourry not to fight the beast. "Gourry-sama, please, you heard the rumors of this beast. You can't win." Gourry turned to Syphiel, now his second wife, and the mother of his younger son, Marron. "I have to. Lina would have wanted me to fight this thing." He then looked at the sky, remembering a solemn event. "When it came to fighting Shabranigdo, Lina said it was never a good idea to charge in fighting expecting to die. Who knows, the odds may be against me, but I'm going to still take him on." "But Gourry..." "No but Syphiel. Muu has to be stopped. Not just to avenge Lina, but to stop him from bringing more suffering to us." With that Gourry took of to the site of the battle. "Gourry... no........" <><><> "Who knew...." Amelia noted. "Who knew that beast was really after Gourry for possessing that sword?" Zelgadis remarked. "We can't be sure of that. If he were, he would be chasing after Syphiel across the seas," Luna answered. "Let's hope Deep Sea keeps her word. Man, I never knew the Mazoku never liked this Muu this much," Zelgadis added, looking of the distance. "With Val now reborn as a pure ancient dragon, it was a matter of time that the remainder of Gaav's minions gather under a new leader with similar ideals. Apparently, despite not being a Mazoku, this Muu was attractive to them. This in turn attracted the ire of the remaining Mazoku lords," Luna noted, looking at the sky instead. "It is sad really. First Lina, then Gourry and Syphiel. Then Xellos and sis..." Amelia sadly stated. "We're the only ones left aside from Filia. May Celphied protect our souls." Luna stated. "The war has taken it's toll on everyone. Even the Ryuzoku and the Mazoku have joined us in our fight against Muu to several extents. Parts of the war has been fought by Dynast, while others, by the dragons of the world. And humans as well have been fighting for their lives." The three stood in somber silence as the sun's dying light vainly tried to illuminate the rest of the day. "Your Majesty?" Amelia stood to look at a messenger who was holding onto the reigns of a horse. "I bring news from the front lines." "Speak," Amelia said. "Genki and the others have found the Phoenix. It is only a matter of time until we have the power to beat Muu." Zelgadis sighed. "So the end is coming. The end of either us, or them." "It cannot be helped. Muu instigated the war, now, he will be the cause or effect of the end." Luna then sighed as well. "We must be prepared. Contact the front lines, tell them to prepare for the return of Genki and his friends." "Yes ma'am." "Our last hope, lies with the Phoenix and that young boy," Amelia said. "Let us hope we have the strength to move on after this." <><><> Twenty years later... A soft footfall was heard as the two guards spun. "Who's there?" they demanded. A group of young men and women stepped out of the forest that surrounded the graveyard. The leader of the group, a tall willowy woman with raven black hair held out a letter. "From the Spooner Continent, we come to visit." "And who are you?" the second guard asked curiously. "I am Sylphiel De Rada, formerly of Sairaag." The pair gasped. "Miss Sylphiel! Please, come in!" The small group crossed towards the remote part of the graveyard where hence, a group of people once stood twenty years ago. Sylphiel laid a hand on the statue of Gourry and then of Lina, murmuring a soft prayer. "So this is mom," Carrot said, touching the statue. "It's been so long since I've seen her." "And father," Marron added. "I never knew they did not look much like us." Sylphiel giggled. "That was the understatement of the day when Carrot was born. Gourry's first words were, 'A boy Lina... look at him... he looks... nothing like us.' It was rather hilarious at the time being." Carrot drew his sword and then with a click of the handle, let the blade fall and dig into the ground. "Light come forth." The brilliant blade of Swordbreaker appeared in his hands as he swung it around. "So.... that's Swordbreaker," Gateau mummured. "It's so beautiful," Tira breathed. "So lovely." Chocolate added. Syphiel looked at the magical sword, once thought to be created by Dark Star, but in reality created by Vorfeed. Over twenty years ago Muu attacked Zelphilia in hopes of reclaiming the sword. Gourry fought him, even having Syphiel cast the Dragon Slave on the magical blade in order to even have a chance to at least force Muu to retreat. Despite his best efforts, Gourry died in the end. Luckily Luna came just in time with some Dragon forces to drive Muu away for the time being. It was then when she had to leave, to protect the children and the sword. Over twenty years. Had it been that long? "Has any of Lina's friends visited recently?" Syphiel as the guards. "Only her sister. It seem all the others died in the war years ago," the guard explained. "No... not the others..." Syphiel cried. "Princess Amelia and her consort Zelgadis disappeared after a raid on Seyruun. They were never heard from again. The dragon-priestess Filia I believed died in another raid. As for Seyruun, it's citizens as well as the peoples of their allies recently banded under a man named Endymion," the guard continued. Syphiel had a pleading look at the guard. "It's been over twenty years since I left. Can you come with me and tell me everything you know?" The guard nodded, and left with Syphiel to the inn. Marron took note of their second mother leaving the area. "Come brother. Rooms are waiting for us. We should pay them another visit later." Carrot nodded as he lowered the blade. Then, he turned to Lina's statue. Reaching out, he gently carved words into the base of the statue. "Mother. Now and Forever. Carrot Glace Gabriev and Marron Glace Gabriev. The Sorcerer Hunters." Then, the Sorcerer Hunters took their leave. Chocolate then gasped as Carrot was at her side. "Chocolate!" "It's okay hon," Chocolate breathed. "The baby just kicked." Tira smiled. She also was pregnant, roughly seven months, just shy of eight like her sister was. Carrot loved them both so they pleaded him to give them his child. Through Big Momma's consent, they had children and now, names were being picked out for them. "What's the boy going to be called?" Gateau inquired. "Parn. Parn Gabriev." Chocolate answered, running a hand over her stomach. "And the other?" "Philia. Philia Blueriver Gabriev." And thus, the cycle of life continued, as Parn grew up to become a great knight in the island state of Lodoss, and Philia became the mother of David Blueriver, who's line continued down the years until a man known as Kane Blueriver was born. Parn's line also continued having married Deedlit, the first born always a male. To the time of the present day, the line was always male, until only a female heir was born, and thus, the stage set for future developments of the Inverse-Gabriev line. And thus, as the sun sets on the horizon, another day's tale has been told. <><><> Fin. <><><> Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this work. It's more of a emotional piece, unlike the other stories in the Magictech Crossover Series. If you didn't know, this story plainly helps set up for the events in the other Magictech Crossover Series stories.