"Foolish one! You claimed to be worthy of a battle." "But I am. Like I told you I killed hundreds of..." the warrior was silenced as the figure, sitting on his horse, glared at the warrior. "You may have killed hundreds, but were they even a significant challenge?" snorted the figure. "I perfer warriors who have already fought opponents as tough as I. NOW GO!" The warrior scrambled to his feet, not even getting his weapon, and quickly left the figure's sight. The figure shook his head. Surely there exists a man of a certain 'purity' out there that could give him a fight of his life. As such the figure motioned his steed and headed back deep into the ruins, where he would lie in wait for another challanger. =========================================================================== Magictech Productions Presents... A Slayers and Sailor Moon Crossover... Slayers REVOLUTION Another unlikely crossover from the minds of Shaun Garin and WarChild... And as usual, nothing here belongs to us. If they did, we'd be rich! =========================================================================== Episode 6 : What? The Strange Ruins Secret! =========================================================================== "My god, I haven't seen this many mercs since..." Zangulus mentally counted. "Since the Drag-on incident where Gourry first encountered the perils of crossdressing." He laughed at the mental image. Sylphiel sweatdropped. "I don't want to even know what's that about." "It's a long story, one that I'll tell when I'm good and ready." Zangulus reigned in his laughter as Naga swept back her hair, peering around. The trio just had come upon a sizable port town where the streets seemed to be filled with mercanaries of all sort. "I smell food," Naga announced, pointing at a sea side stand. "Seems to be clams and other assorted seafood." "Well... that place seems to be as good as any. Shall we?" Sylphiel said. Zangulus counted out his money and nodded. "We've got lots of money." Sylphiel sighed as she hung her head. Naga was already sucking down clams. "Maybe nothing by the time Naga finishes eating." "Oh no... I hoped that I would be spared from my brothers fate... but the fate are unkind to me," said the cook, as the prepared the rest of the meal. The way he said it sounded monotonish though as he worked extra hard, depleting his stock of clams with every order. "Ano... what do you mean?" asked Sylphiel. "You see that boarded up restaurant over there?" The cook pointed to a nearby boarded up building. "My brother had a booming business over there... until a group of four people came to it weeks ago, and ordered more than what my brother could handle." "Well, at least we're still along the right track. Though a week's journey is going to be hard to catch up on," Zangulus remarked, sucking down an clam. "And the two stooges have joined up too, eh?" He took another, and half sucked it down when he spat it out, coughing. "What?" Naga asked, disgusted. "Excuse me, Elf alert." Zangulus charged through the crowd, elbowing himself through the throng of people. "Strange guy. And he didn't say who he meant by the two stooges," Naga said. "Oh... it looks like that Zelgadis-san and Ameria-san seems to have joined up with Lina and Gourry," Sylphiel explained. Naga was the next one to do a spit take. "What's the matter?" Sylphiel asked, backing up a step to avoid the next spit take. "Did I say something wrong?" "Who was the second person you mentioned?" Naga asked. "Amelia-san." Sylphiel said. "Do you know her?" "Maybe... if you could tell me more about this Amelia of yours." Sylphiel figured she would be in for a long story as she sat down. =========================================================================== "How hard can it be to find one blonde Elf in a damn town?!" Zangulus ranted. "Rivendell and Lorien I can understand but here?!" Around him was almost a literal sea of men and women with hair colors of all types. "Gah." Everywhere it seemed, there was a merc, a merc, a merc, a merc, a merc... well you get the picture. Plainly, it was filled with various mercs of both male and female, young and old, tall and short, and other various ways of distinguishing them... There were a very unhealthy amount of blondes in the group, but thankfully, they were clustered together in groups. If only he could find Legolas. Gimli would be more impossible, the Dwarf being only four or five feet tall since the last time he had seen him. Legolas left hardly a trail to follow and was quiet as his people from Mirkwood were. "Hello? Hello?" he called out, hoping that he could be overheard with all the noise everybody was making. He pursed his lips angrily. Then, a thought came to him. Something that people wouldn't remember, or have heard of before. Raising his voice, he began to sing. "A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna miriel o menel aglar elenath!" After a moment, another voice chimed in from across the way. "Na-chaered palan-diriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, si nef aearon!" And out of the throng of enchanted people who had stopped to listen to the flowing elvish singing, came two. A elven prince of Mirkwood, and a stout Dwarf. They soon turned to the only human that was singing, and smiled. "Well... if it isn't Zangulus. Thought I never see you here," said the elven one. "Nor did I," the dwarf remarked. "I had expected to see you when Sam had crossed to Haven. Come come, Zangulus! What brings you so close to Haven?" Zangulus startled. "We're near haven?" he asked excitedly. "So that is why Gandalf sent me the letter so quickly!" "Letter?" when the elven one. "Gandalf sent you a letter?" "Yes, he did," Zangulus said. "Legolas, you must know that Merry and Pippin are on the continent. Strange that they would be so far away from the Shire, but they are here." "Ahh... that's interesting to know. But why are you here?" asked the dwarf. "I'm travelling to find a few friends of mine, Gimli," Zangulus said. "I actually live on this continent." The two blinked. "You're from here?" "More or less." Legolas laughed. "Very well then! We are still travelling but I am sure we can accompany you to where ever you need to be." "True," Gimli added. "My axe has hewn nothing more than trolls, bringing my total to fourty seven. I would like to offer my services to you as well." "Right now... I just like to know," began Zangulus. "What the heck is up with this town? It's like Mercenary City!" "There is reports of a creature within the towers," Legolas said, pointing towards the large tower that hovered a few miles out of town. "They say they are here to challenge the beast within." "Indeed," Gimli added. "Legolas and I had tried our luck, but failed. My axe has recieved another notch, as it's armor is almost as hard as Frodo's mithril coat!" "A beast in the towers?" Zangulus faced the towers. "A Mazoku?" "Verily, I do not feel the same darkness when I fought it," Legolas said. "It was testing us for something." Zangulus had a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness it is not a servant of Dynast. I don't want to do with deal with them." Gimli chuckled. "Come, let us partake of food. Legolas and I have eaten, but have enough gold for a decent meal." "How about a drank instead? I already ate. Hopefully my comrades don't mind," Zangulus replied. "Comrades?" asked Legolas. "See those two women? I'm traveling with them." Zangulus pointed to Naga and Sylphiel at the seafood stand. Gimli chuckled. "You have odd tastes in travelling companions. Two women, one a maiden of some god, and another who appears to be some kind of magic user." Zangulus chuckled. "You haven't been here long, have you?" "Nay," Legolas said. "We had arrived a while ago, on the boat I had built." He pointed out a large grey boat that sat in the dock. "I see. Well... you haven't seen anything yet, especially once you see the people I'm looking for... if you manage to happen upon them," Zangulus said. "I am feeling up for some adventure," Gimli remarked, stroking his red beard, now starting to whiten at the tips like his father, Gloin's had done. "We are planning to travel and could use a small education of this land." "Why not? It would be good to be able to talk about guy stuff.... considering I'm a married man traveling with two unmarried girls," Zangulus responded. Legolas laughed heartily. "Very well! Let us eat, and retire for the night. Then, we should set out in the morning if you are willing as our guide." =========================================================================== "And frankly... that's the whole story," Naga sighed. She didn't understand it. She never told anyone this story before. But everything basically spilled out and she told Sylphiel pratically everything. Sylphiel sat. She cleared her throat. "So that's why..." "But I would never imagined that she, by chance would happen to travel with Lina-san. I heard the rumors, but I thought she wouldn't consider Lina-san a worthwhile traveling companion... considering all the things Lina does in her hunt for treasure," Naga remarked. "But not to only know she did travel with Lina... but was with Lina during those major catastrophes." "Yes, but with the few times I had met Amelia, I found her to be very... enthusiastic to say the least. There was something about her that refused to give up." Sylphiel smiled. "Besides... you could say she was in good hands when she was traveling with Lina-san." "That's what I'm worried about," Naga deadpanned, taking a long drink of wine. Sylphiel sighed daintily as she looked over. A faint blush came over her face. "Oh my." Naga looked over in mid drink and put the mug down. "Hot elf," she remarked as the trio walked up. "I thought I would check on you girls before I have a drink with my pals," Zangulus explained. "The elf here is Legolas, and the dwarf here is Gimli." "Madam," Gimli said, bowing while doffing his helmet in respect. "Gimli, son of Gloin at your service." "Legolas Greenleaf," Legolas added, bowing. "Interesting accents," Naga remarked, a bit flushed from the gallantness of the elf and dwarf. She noted that the dwarf was barely four feet, coming up to the shoulder of Legolas who was at least six feet tall. "You can call me," Naga began, laughing for a bit, "Naga the White Serpant, mercanary sorceress." Legolas politely turned away while Gimli smirked under his beard. Zangulus chuckled as he slapped Gimli on the shoulder. "Nothing on Galadriel, eh old friend?" "Nay," Gimli replied, not the least bit perturbed. "Galadriel was more mysterious than.. bouncy." "Ahem..." Sylphiel cleared her throat. "Sylphiel Nels Rahda, White Priestess of Sairaag." "We have yet to met a white priestess of this continent," Legolas said, bowing deeply. "My bow is at your service." "As well as my axe," Gimli added, kneeling before her and bowing. "It is an honor." Sylphiel blushed for a moment. She didn't exactly expect this from these two. "You shouldn't need to offer her your protection. I've been helping her fight on her own with that large Glaive of hers, and she does know an attack spell," Zangulus remarked. Legolas blinked. "A white priestess, armed and with an attack spell?" "Truely this is a strange land," Gimli said with a laugh. "I fear to wonder what the Ring-bearers have gotten into at Haven." "Is it far from here? This Haven?" Naga asked, interested in meeting more elves. "About fourty leagues southwestern." Legolas said. "South? I don't think we can go South more. We've been following Lina-san, and the trail seems to be pointing Northward," Sylphiel responded. "Haven can wait then," Naga said dejectedly. "If it is your will, we will follow," Legolas said calmly. Sylphiel turned to Zangulus. "What did you say to them before you brought them to us?" "We were reminising about... more interesting times," Zangulus said. It was one thing to meet up with friends. It was another to talk about the adventure against the forces of Mordor and the destruction of the One Ring. "They more or less invited themselves in our journey to locate Lina-san." "Well, more allies will be helpful," Sylphiel said. "If they can keep up with us," added Naga. "After all, I doubt whatever they had experienced will be great compared what they will experience." "If only you knew," Zangulus said in a low mutter and smile. "Well... shall we go somewhere else to have a drink and discuss this more? I'm paying," Legolas suggested, as he patted himself for his money pouch. "Well... I think I'm paying." "Excuse me, we've got a pickpocket to hunt down." Zangulus cracked his knuckles as he whipped around towards a rodent like man. "FREEZE YOU!" The man took off as Zangulus followed him, Legolas and Gimli following quickly behind. Sylphiel just stood there while Naga gaped and watched. Finally Naga asked, "Ano... aren't you going to follow them?" "It seems that even though such an odd company as they are, they can handle themselves," Sylphiel said, yawning dantily. "Besides, it's just a pick pocket, not worth the trouble of getting ourselves involved." "Lina would definately not have held that opinion. That's why I suspect there were only a few attempts on her of pick pocketing, only because we were in places where we weren't... heard of through gossip," Naga commented. "Of course," Sylphiel said with a warm smile. "Miss Lina does have a tendancy to go overboard on the punishment. Let us find a place to stay tonight." Sylphiel picked up the massive glaive and walked into the crowd, Naga following. As it seemed, the crowd parted away as the two walked though. Sylphiel sighed. It always seems in large crowd that ever since she had acquired this weapon She was pretty sure it was the weapon. The crowds never parted for her before. Entering the nearby inn, Sylphiel noticed that the whole attention of the inn turned towards her and Naga. "Can we get a room?" Sylphiel asked. She didn't notice the look on the face of the innkeeper. Did he look... frightened? "Ano... I asked if you have rooms available." Still he didn't respond. Naga reached over, smacked him in the face. "HEY!" That snapped the man of the fright. "Y-yes?" he stammered. "We like some rooms, after you explain why did you delay so much in answering us," Naga demanded. "Well... you said Lina Inverse, right? Are you... companions of hers? That is to say..." his voice dropped into a meek timber. "is she here?" Sylphiel blinked. Is that what the whole crowd moving about. 'What did you do here Lina? First that resturant owner, now this,' thought Sylphiel as she responded. "No... but we are looking for her," she began, before adding as an afterthought, "And even though we are her friends, you shouldn't expect the same from us, with whatever Lina did here." Naga snorted. "Oh.... hah hah hah.... it's just that she caused an uproar in the city for the time she was staying here, causing no end in grief for the various mercanaries that came here," the innkeeper explained. "That's Lina all right," Sylphiel said with a sigh. "What's so special about this city that Lina-san would cause an uproar, beside the high number of mercanaries coming in?" Naga wondered outloud. "There has been rumors of a powerful monster living in the ruins just outside of town, and also, a clan of smaller monsters, yet as powerful, roam the town at night. They say the smaller ones are numerous and infatiguable, and the other one can kill a person with one blow." went the innkeeper's assistant. "Miss Lina wanted a piece of the action, but we felt her involvement would do more harm than good, if the rumors of her were true. That and the various mercanaries that decided to... well... there was one young lady that traveled with Miss Lina... a lady who looked well... if a man stared at her you wouldn't take your eyes of her." Naga nodded, feeling sure of who it must have been. "Lets just say, we needed to rebuild quite a bit of the docks and part of the town. All because Lina decided she was the one who would protect her friend's honor, if you know what I mean. I don't think got whatever anything she wanted here anyway." "More likely she was jealous," Naga remarked with a smirk. "Anyway, if you promise that you don't destroy the town if any guy hits on you, and who wouldn't, I'll give you the rooms." "We won't do that," Sylphiel said innocently, mentally adding, 'but I can't promise you that if we are facing another one of Dynast's Mazoku.' With that the two girls were given their rooms, and so they headed off. =========================================================================== "You rat! Return that at once, or you'll be getting it!" Zangulus shouted, as he pursued the pickpocket. Arrows whizzed by as an incentive. Legolas' Bow of the Galadhrim sung once as two arrows thunked into a nearby cobblestone, only to be snatched up by Gimli as they ran, for the White Arrows of Lorien were enchanted to pierce the most powerful armor. "Why don't you hit him?" Gimli puffed. "I'd rather not," Legolas remarked. "Hard to get blood off of my arrows." But still undaunted, the pickpocket ran on. The trio has recently left the gates of the town and started following the him down the dirt road, without even noticing where it led to. Zangulus growled in annoyance. "This is getting us nowhere. Howling Sword Two!" The huge wind blast knocked the rattish man off his feet and onto his face. The stolen pouch however, flew foward towards the where the end of the road was. Zangulus and Gimli pinned the man while Legolas retrieved the pouch. The elf peered into it and scowled. "I am several gold short." Gimli wrestled the coins from the man's fingers as Zangulus looked up. "We've got company guys." On cue a group of masked man jumped from various hiding places, hoping to take the three on surprise. Legolas snapped into action, drawing an arrow and letting it fly, knocking the curved scimitar from the first man's hand. Gimli smacked another bandit onto the ground using the back end of his ax. The third was felled by a quick smack on the head with the flat of Zangulus' blade. Despite their numbers, Zangulus and company seemed to be fare much better than their supposed assailants did. Legolas, taking care not to kill his opponents, stabbed a man in the wrist with an arrow as he got too close, kicking him away as he clutched his wounded wrist. Gimli hewed muscle and weapons with ease, his huge battle axe shining in the light as he sent attackers fleeing without weapons or sometimes, fingers and hands. And Zangulus decided to use the powers that was within the the Howling Sword, blasting aside anyone that got too close with hard winds. In short, no one noticed the Orc band sneaking up on them, until one stepped on a twig, alerting Legolas who spun, ducked under a sword slash and cried, "ORC!" Zangulus spun and cursed. There were at least fourty or fifty of the orcs. What made it worse was that they were some of Saruman's Uruk-hai. How they got here was beyond him. But still the gleaming white insignia sat upon their helmets. "Looks like Amon Hen all over again," Gimli growled. "Let them come!" The Orc leader growled something in their language as they charged. Suddenly, a piercing cry came as a man in a cloak came charging out of the underbrush. He swung a gleaming silver colored sword as he cried out a word. "GONDOR!" The first three fell to his swipes as the others burst into action. Zangulus began to carve a path through one side of the astonished orcs while Gimli followed close behind, Legolas shooting everything in his path. =========================================================================== He watched as the three, now four, fought bravely against overwhelming numbers of bandits, and now, Orcs. Of all those, the one in the floppy hat caught his eye. For some reason he seemed to have a... 'purity' of some sort. Maybe, the figure thought to himself, maybe that one will be the one. The one that will pass his test. The figure left from the window, intending to start preparing for the eventual arrival of the floppy-hat one. =========================================================================== The last orc felled, Zangulus stabbed his sword into the ground, leaning heavily on it. "What I wouldn't give for a good nights rest and soak." "Indeed," Gimli said, turning towards Legolas who was busy picking out arrows that were still usable, the count refilling his quiver. "But we need to thank our mysterious benafactor." "Ahh... yes..." With that Zangulus went face to face with the man in the cloak. "You were a great help. Thanks for watching our backs." "It's nothing. I did it... because you are my friends." He turned and removed his hood, amidst gasps. "Boromir!" Legolas cried. "But you are dead! A wraith walking the world!" Boromir laughed as he ran his fingers over his stone skin. "Dead, I was once. And sometimes.... I wish I were." Legolas walked up to shake Boromir's hands, only to realize that his hands were... "By the mallorn trees! Your hands are stoneworks!" Legolas exclaimed in shock. "Like I said, sometimes I wish I were dead," Boromir said, not looking at his friend's astonished eyes. "I'm not totally human anymore." "But you are alive and that is what matters," Zangulus said, slapping his friend on the back, wincing at the impact of his hand on stone. "I know someone who also is searching for a cure for this condition. I'm sure you will be able to find one and return to human form." "Is that so?" With that Boromir paused for a moment, thinking on what he just before he would respond. "He never found someone who claimed to have a clue on how this condition is reversable?" "Not yet, but he has been searching." Zangulus grinned. "Hate to break it to you, but that rat man stole our purse once again and made for the ruins." Gimli pointed towards the crumbling ruins. "What?" Zangulus didn't relish the thought of chasing the man who had Legolas pouch again. But he decided to do so anyway and soon the trio started chasing the pickpocket, and Boromir soon joined them afterwards, after a moment of pondering. =========================================================================== Sylphiel leaned back in her bed, pulling the sheets over herself. "The men have been gone for a while." "I suppose so," Naga said, looking at the celing, clad in what passed for sleeping clothes. "They're probably drinking as much as they can afford I bet," Sylphiel sighed. "I wonder if it is a good idea to have them tag along. I'm still concerned if we don't reach Lina in time..." "Look at it this way. The dwarf provides the muscle we need. The elf can hit things afar and Zangulus has the sheer killing power needed for this kind of mission." Naga sighed. "I hate it when I'm tired. I just say things." "Don't we all?" responded Sylphiel. "I wish I knew how Lina is truly connected to this..." Naga whispered a "quiet" as the princess-turned-mercenary strained to hear something. Finally she was able to hear it, a slight hum of sorts. "Who's that?" she whispered. "Hmmm.... who's what?" asked a yawning Sylphiel. "I think I hear... humming..." Sylphiel listened. "I think I hear it..." Then, there was a tap, tap, tap outside the window as a light bobbed under the window as the humming increased. Naga crept out of bed and peeked out the window. She blinked as a small green figure waddled under her window, followed by a literal flood of the strange lamp toting, kitchen knife wielding figures. "What are they?" she breathed. The creatures only stared at Naga, brandishing their knifes, and hummed.... "I have a bad feeling about this," Sylphiel muttered as the creatures advanced. =========================================================================== Authors Notes (Shaun) : God help me, I've included Boromir! ^_^ Yeah, that's right people, I've included the Man Who Was Shot Three Times By Lurtz. I figured, Boromir should have gotten more action considering that he died at the beginning of the SECOND BOOK! ARGH! It's not fair, having such a cool character die so early. Legolas and Gimli, they were planned from the start. Who knows? We'll be seeing more Fellowship soon. As for the roaming Merry and Pippin, they'll show up sooner or later. What can I say? I love the Fellowship so sooner or later, they'll all show up at least once or twice in this story. Authors Notes (WarChild): Goodness... what did I let my co-author convince me into allowing? First the summons courtesy of the Final Fantasy Series.... and now... the Fellowship? And all I wanted was to explore the scenario of Sylphiel having a weapon of mass destruction, with the weapon being the Silent Glaive of course... But anyway... I'm going in the flow, and with this inclusion of Boromir, I cam up with a way to better integrate him with the plot. After all, he's now a Chimera, and I'm pretty sure, even though I don't know the character, that he would do anything to restore his humanity... as long it doesn't hurt his friends. It's still a while till we have a glimpse of the real villians of the whole affair, and what their captives are thinking, but don't worry, we are not diverging from that major piece of the plot. So hopefully... we'll be back to focus on Sylphiel and the glaive... as long my co-author doesn't have any other ideas...