Disclaimers: None of these wonderful characters belong to me. I'm just borrowing them and using (twisting) them for my purposes. The Slayers and Dragonball Z all belong to their respective creators and many other people and companies. In other words: DON'T SUE ME! All you'll get will be an extremely hyper dog. And by the way, Miya-chan is mine. If you want to use her elsewhere, it's cool, but contact me first or I'll send Jita after you.
Note: Okay, so this one's
dedicated to Sailor Eternity and Kuriyamimizu, just for being
cool friends. Kuri, you should like this one; it's weird. This is
very AU compared to some of my other stuff.
P.S. Count on a lot of people acting very OOC. This story is an
experiment, a WIP, not an award winner.
"Darkness beyond twilight,
Crimson beyond blood that flows
Buried in the stream of time
Is where--"
She punched the tree, and it gave a few inches to her fist.
"Damn!" she screamed to the wind, not even caring who
might hear her. This area was mostly abandoned anyway; why else
would she be bothering to practice the Dragon Slave here?
"Damn, damn, damn!"
She plopped down in the dirt and punched her fists into the
ground, ignoring the bits of gravel that flew up in her face. Her
cape billowed out behind her then settled down around her.
Followed closely was a light red tail before it wrapped itself
around her waist.
I can't believe this! she complained to herself. I can
cast the Ragna Blade so easily, but I can't cast the Dragon
Slave! It should be so easy; why can't I do it? It briefly
occurred to her that it could have something to do with said
tail, but she dismissed that theory quickly; it was unfounded,
anyway: she could cast the Ragna Blade with her strange
appendage, so she should, theoretically speaking, be able to cast
the Dragon Slave. Of course, then the next step will be the
Giga Slave, but one step at a time, Miya-chan.
She laid back in the sun and let her eyes just close.
"Mother of all things, if you actually listen to us mere
mortals, I want more power," she whispered. "I want to
reach my fullest potential, L-sama. Onegai," she finished as
she drifted off to sleep.
A crack of lightening woke her up a
short while later. She sprang to her feet, a fireball already in
her hand. This storm was nothing natural, that she could feel in
her bones. For starters, the sun still beat down on her and there
wasn't a cloud in the sky, yet a storm of titanic proportions
still raged all around her, tearing at her senses.
Two figures slowly took form before her. At first the only things
she could really see were black hair and haloes. (Angels?!?
Here?!? Not bloody likely! her mind screamed once more.) Then
the haloes faded, and their bodies began to take form. One was
taller than the other, and his hair stuck out wildly in every
direction. The clothes he was wearing appeared to be a gi of some
sort; it was a deep orange color, and he wore a blue shirt under
it. The second man was only a little taller than she was. He too
wore a gi, his of blue, with white gloves and boots. Both had
black hair and eyes, and muscles to spare. Okay, the tall
one's not my type... demo, the other one...
"Who are you?" she demanded, fireball held in
ready. Ready to toast 'em if they threatened her, ready to drop
it if they didn't. She couldn't really get too much of a sense of
their intent; it would be awful to fry a potential ally or pair
of allies.
The taller one opened his mouth as if to speak, then suddenly she
saw nothing but blackness. Thinking she'd been attacked, she let
the huge ball of fire fly. Then suddenly, from deep within the
darkness, she heard a very feminine-sounding laugh.
:Do you think to hurt me with that little attack, chibi?:
the woman asked.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her tail - and whole body
really - bristling at being called "little one."
The voice spoke again. :I am the mother of all things. I am
the one who has dreamed for years uncounted of regaining my form.
I am darkness beyond blackest pitch, deeper than the deepest
night. I am the Sea of Chaos, the source of all Chaos. I am. . .
,: a spark of gold appeared in the blackness, and the voice
apparently originated from it, :the Lord of Nightmares.:
[A.N.: And that came directly, word-for-word, from Slayers Next
dubbed.]
"L-sama?" Miya whispered. "But. . . how?"
:You asked for power, chibi. How badly do you want it?:
"Nani? What do you mean, how badly do I want it,
L-sama?"
:What are you willing to risk, to give up, for this power?:
'I. . . don't know."
:A wise answer.: The voice was silent for a moment, and
the gold expanded around her. :To find the power you seek, a
power greater than any ordinary magic you could learn here, you
must leave this world for another.:
"L-sama?"
:To learn what you need, chibi, you must find Vegita and
Kakaroto. There, with them, you may learn both power - and of
your kind. That is why I showed them to you.:
"My kind, L-sama? You mean,. . . what?"
A laugh. :Only that you are not human, chibi; you're Saiyajin.
The last female Saiyajin born on Vegitasei.:
Her legs gave out from under her, and she collapsed.
"I'm an alien?"
:Yes, you are. Do you still wish to learn your power, or do
you wish to stay here and mourn for a family that was not your
own?:
Rage flooded through her, and she sprang to her feet.
"Kaasama and Tousama may not have been related to me by
blood, but they were my family!" she screamed,
regardless of any consequences.
:Good,: the voice in the darkness stated out of the blue.
Miya blinked in surprise before her scowl returned. :You'll
need that anger. Build it up, and wear it as a shield around you.
Otherwise, you shall fail.:
"You were baiting me, L-sama?" There was no answer,
but amusement rippled in the air around her. "I want the
power, but may I say good-bye to Kaasama and Tousama before I
leave?"
:Of course, chibi.:
"Then I only have two more questions. How am I here
instead of on this Vegitasei? And why are you helping me,
L-sama?"
:You survived the destruction of your homeworld through my
will. I brought you here to be trained in magic for the same
reason I am helping you now: you, chibi, are one of my Avatars,
just like your adopted mother. That is why I saved you, and that
is why I'm helping you now.: The voice sighed, and the golden
darkness began to fade. :Go. Say your farewells. Then return
here, and I shall show how to go where you must.:
"Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu, L-sama."
She finished speaking just as the presence faded, and the
blackness was replaced by the lonely, empty meadow where she had
been practicing the Dragon Slave.
"Kaasama, Tousama, it's me,"
Miya whispered as she knelt beside the matching stones. A few
steps away was another set of two matched graves. "Tousama,
I don't know if you know how to hear me now. Demo. . . I really
miss you. I'm not going to coming to see you and Kaasama for a
while. I'll be training; I'm sure you'll understand, Tousama; you
always did."
Wiping tears from her face, she turned her attention to the other
grave. "Kaasama, I'm sorry; I still can't cast the Dragon
Slave yet. Nadia-chan will be keeping things up for me while I'm
gone, so you just worry about keeping Tousama in line." The
tears flooded down her face now as she traced her mother's name
written on the stone. "I miss you so much, Kaasama. I wish
you could go on this adventure with me. I think you'd enjoy a
whole new world. L-sama has promised to show me the way."
A breeze rippled the grass across the clearing, and Miya felt a
shiver run up her back. It felt almost like cold fingers.
"Kaasama?" she whispered. The breeze dried the tears on
her cheeks and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Kaasama?
You don't want me working with the Lord of Nightmares, do you,
Kaasama? That's why you always warned me against using her power,
isn't it?"
"That's right, musume," a voice echoed, this time a
voice she recognized very well. Only one woman called her that.
"Kaasama?" A thin specter appeared before her, and she
scrambled to her feet. "How are you here?"
Her mother winked. "I may be dead, but I'm still one of the
greatest sorceresses ever. So you're going on an adventure of
your own, are you?"
"Hai, Kaasama, I am."
"Do you have everything you need?"
"Nani?"
The specter before her sombered. "The world you're going to
is going to be very dangerous, or so Enma Daiou tells us. There's
going to be a few things you'll need before you leave." A
light shimmered between the two women and slowly took shape.
"Your father sent this for you, musume, with his love."
"His sword?" Miya whispered in disbelief, her
fingertips dancing over the hilt, scarcely daring to believe it
was really there and physical enough for her to touch.
"Go on, take it; it's real enough," her mother
prompted. She grabbed the hilt - and it certainly felt real.
"And from me, musume." There was a second sparkle of
light, then a small bag dropped into her other hand.
She almost dreaded opening the velvet pouch. Her mother had
occasionally been known to be something of a trickster. Four
large silver claps with red stones fell out. "Your talismans
to increase power? Kaasama, I can't . . ."
"Do you think I have any need for them up there? Take 'em,
and do me proud. No daughter of mine is going into a fight
under-powered."
"Kaasama, you knew. . ."
Her mother frowned and seated herself upon her own gravestone,
one leg tucked up under her and her head resting on her hand.
"That you weren't our daughter?" Miya nodded. "Of
course. You showed up when you were four; your father and I were
still just friends at the time you were born. But we loved you
like you were ours."
"You did, Kaasama."
"You didn't seem to remember anything before showing up at
our dinner table, so we left it at that. Good enough?"
"Hai, Kaasama." She paused, chewing her lip in thought.
"Kaasama, what do you know about Saiyajin?"
"Just what I pick up from Enma Daiou. Something about them
being one of the most dangerous and powerful races in the galaxy.
One Saiyajin is said to be more than a match for the most
powerful sorcerer."
"Doomo arigatoo, Kaasama. Now I know what I'll be dealing
with."
The form before her flickered, and her mother glanced behind her.
"Looks like my time's up," she sighed. "Anything
you want me to tell everyone?"
"Hai. Tell Tousama arigatoo for the sword and I love him.
And give my love to Ojisama and Obasama. And I love you so much,
Kaasama."
"I love you too, musume." She smiled. "Come here,
Miya." Without hesitation, she moved closer to the ghost.
Her mother untied the black bandanna from around her forehead and
then tied it around Miya's. "There. Now you look like a true
Inverse sorceress." A serious look passed over Lina
Inverse's face. "You know, I am with you always and I'll
help you however I can."
"I know, Kaasama. I know."
"Ai shiteru, Miya-chan." The specter completely
vanished.
"I love you too, Kaasama," Miya whispered as she slowly
left the clearing.
:That didn't take long,: the
voice in the darkness stated. :Are you ready now, chibi?:
"I'm ready."
The darkness grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. :Hmm.
Interesting ensemble. You dress like your mother. But I don't
think it's particularly proper for the place you're going. I
believe armor might be more appropriate.:
"Armor?" She looked down. She now wore a black
bodysuit with white and gold armor over her chest. Her sword was
across her back with the talisman bag tied around its scabbard.
"Is it going to be that bad, L-sama?"
:Probably it will be, chibi, but you are ready. Relax
now. I will take you where you need to be to enter this other
world; unless you call upon me, you will be on your own from then
on. Understand?:
"I understand, L-sama," she responded, pushing her
bangs out of her face. "Let's go."
:Amusing child.: The blackness swirled then was replaced
by endless, glaring white. :This is the door to this world;
it's called the Room of Spirit and Time. Remember all I have told
you, chibi. Keep your anger close, trust no one, find Vegita and
Kakaroto, and call on me if you need help.:
"The Giga Slave?" Her voice echoed in the vast
emptiness. "But it's been sealed."
:Yes, by your mother, my last Avatar. Only another Avatar
could unseal it. So call me if you need my help.: The voice
faded out, and she could sense that she was truly alone now.
"The Room of Spirit and Time, eh?" she mused aloud.
"Then there must be a door, ne?"
It was looking like it was going to be a beautiful day in Heaven. The sun was bright, the temperature was perfect; it was just wonderful. Everything seemed idyllic, so just what exactly was bothering Dende so badly?
Of course it wasn't like the re-appearance of Mirai no Trunks was helping any. He'd said he was only visiting as per his mother's orders, but still. . . it worried him.
Very faintly he could pick up a tapping noise, but he couldn't quite place it, couldn't exactly locate its origins. Then, as faint as a whisper, he heard the words, "Fire Ball".
The doors of Heaven exploded outward toward Dende and Mr. Popo. As debris flew around them, Dende saw a figure fly out of the destruction. "Oi!" a female voice yelled. "Answer when I knock next time!" She gripped him by the front of his robe and flew above the dust, a few feet. Her hair was a sooty black color, and her eyes were nearly the same shade of dried blood. She was very short and dressed in. . . Saiyajin armor. "Where's Vegita and Kakaroto?"
"Kakaroto?" was all he was able to choke out around her stranglehold.
"The other two Saiyajin?" she prompted.
"Other?" He looked down from her face; a light red tail floated behind her. "You're Saiyajin too?"
"It appears that way, doesn't it? Where are they?"
"I. . . don't know."
"Then I'll find them on my own, since you're not going to be any help." She let him go then took off.
As Dende picked himself up and dusted himself off, Mr. Popo cleared his throat and then asked, "Kami-sama, should we contact Gokou-san-tachi?"
"Before she finds them, you mean?" he returned, surveying the charred trees and bushes around him. "Popo-san, what she used. . . I've never seen anything like it before."
"Okay, the little green guy was useless," Miya muttered to herself as she traisped through the woods, "and I don't have anything to do a location spell. Great." Sarcasm rolled heavily off that one word. "Looks like I'll have to find them the old-fashion way."
A clearing appeared, and she spied a couple out on a picnic. At first glance, she thought it might be a father and daughter, but looking again, she decided these two must be a couple. The blonde-haired woman looked to be considerably younger than her greying husband, but they seemed happy enough together. It sort of reminded her of her own parents: her mother had never aged over twenty-five, but her father had. He lived until he was almost sixty then died in his sleep; her mother had followed three days later.
She felt a tear trickle down her face and wiped it away furiously. Now wasn't the time for that; she had to find Vegita and Kakaroto. But she did need to blend in better; if the blonde's clothes were any indication, armor was not the standard fare here and nor were her sorceress garb. So she needed to find a place to acquire new clothing. She examined her money pouch: two gold pieces, hardly enough for a decent few sets of clothes, but maybe she could work the rest of it off.
A few hours later, she stepped out of a clothing store with five bags of clothes (one of which was her armor, bodysuit, and sword) and a pocket full of zenni. It had been rather amusing, she mused, to watch that shop keeper's eyes bulge when she'd handed him the gold. Apparently, gold must be fairly rare here, she thought, gripping the other coin in her pants pocket; it would come in handy.
She frowned when another thought crossed her mind. Not only had that greedy little man tried to take her bandanna, he'd also been eyeing her tail rather strangely. Strange, greedy little man. Well, now at least, she had her tail concealed behind her long coat. She grinned. It had given the shop keeper fits when she ripped holes in the pants for her tail.
Something small and blue collided with her legs, and she fell back a step to recover her balance. A blue-haired little girl looked up at her with tears in her huge blue eyes. She leaned down and sweetly asked, "Ohayoo, kawaii chibi. What's wrong?"
"Lost," she answered, "and I skinned my elbow."
"Poor baby," she sympathized. "What's your name?"
"Bra."
"Bra?" she repeated. That was the name of that offensive garment the shop keeper had forced her to don. She smiled. "Then where do you live, B-chan?"
"Capsule Corporation."
"Okay. Then I'll help you find your way home." She knelt down. "Let me see your elbow, B-chan." The little girl extended the injured limb, and she studied the cut, whispering a quick Recovery spell. "Why are you away from your home, B-chan?"
"Pan and I were playing hide-and-seek, and I got lost when I was hiding. The more I looked for my home, the more lost I got."
"Ah." She released the girl's arm. "There you are, B-chan. All better."
"Wow. How'd you do that?"
She winked at Bra, and Bra giggled. "Magic, B-chan. Magic. Let's go."
Bra gripped her hand and took one of the packages as they stood up. "You bought a lot of stuff, obasan."
"My money's worth a lot here. I had to buy enough for the shop keeper to make change."
"Sugoi. What all did you buy?"
"Lots of clothes."
"Oh, okay. Are they pretty?"
Miya blinked. "I. . . never really thought about that. I just wanted something functional. I think a few of them are pretty." She grabbed the sleeve of a woman walking next to them. "Capsule Corporation?"
"That way," she answered, pointing west.
"Doomo arigatoo. Come on, B-chan."
"Okay!" They got a few blocks before Bra asked, "Ne, obasan, where're you from?"
"Zefielia."
"Why'd you come here?"
"To study and train."
"Are you going to be a great scholar, obasan?"
"Probably not, B-chan. Ne. . ."
"What?" Huge blue eyes looked up at her.
"Isn't that Capsule Corporation? The big building up there?"
"It is!" The little girl ran the rest of the way there. Almost out of nowhere, a man with long purple hair appeared and lifted her up easily, bag and all. Miya winced, realizing only now that Bra still had one of her shopping bags. With a quiet sigh, she followed the little girl.
"Where have you been, Bra-chan?" the purple-haired man asked. Bra's father maybe? No, Miya's mind automatically denied; brother maybe, but not father.
"I got lost when Pan and I were playing. Obasan brought me home," Bra answered, pointing at Miya just as she came to a stop a few steps away from them. "Trunks-san, this is obasan. Obasan, this is Trunks-san."
She grinned at the girl's introduction and held out her free hand. "Miya Inverse."
He shifted his grip on Bra so that he could take her hand. "Trunks Briefs." His grip was firm but not overwhelming; he knew how to shake hands. "Thank you for finding Bra-chan and bringing her home."
"It wasn't any problem. B-chan, can I get my other bag back, onegai?"
She dropped out of Trunks's arms and handed Miya the bag. "I had fun, Miya-san," she stated.
"So did I, B-chan. Here." She reached into her money pouch and pulled out exactly the object she was looking for. "A present."
Bra grabbed the necklace and stared at the stone in wonder. "What is it, Miya-san?"
"A snowdrop. They bring good luck where I come from. Sayoonara, B-chan."
"Sayoonara, Miya-san."
She smiled at the little girl then looked back up at the man with her. "Nice to meet you, Trunks-san."
"You too, Miya-san."
She grinned and turned and walked away.
Miya flopped down on the inn (no, "hotel") bed again. This place had to be too good to be true. This was the softest bed she'd ever slept on, except the one at her home, of course.
:So what do you think of your new world, chibi?: a very familiar voice asked.
She bounded upright. "L-sama! What are you doing here?"
:I simply came to apologize for misleading you. You have a separate duty here, besides your furthered training.:
"I knew it was too good to be true," she muttered. "What is this duty, L-sama?"
:Chaotic Blue is rising in this world. Even now, its minions begin to awaken. You have dealt with monsters like this before.:
"Why do you want to stop Chaotic Blue, L-sama? Isn't it one of your own minions?"
:Yes, it is. However, I want no Mazoku branching over their own dimension. If Chaotic Blue is allowed this world, it may use the Room of Spirit and Time to take over others.:
"So this dimension's special, ne?" she retorted. "Okay, I'll do what I can, L-sama."
There was silence for a long time, and Miya again laid back down, this time more subdued. With a wicked little smile, she thought aloud, "Am I L-sama's Avatar or her Enforcer?"
20 March 2001