Nightmares

by: Megumi-chan
Disclaimers: I don't own them!
Summary: The beggining of the biggest nightmare of the Slayers group
is about to fulfill when Gourry's past comes back to haunt him.


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Standing in the door of the library Gourry looked around for Zelgadiss.
Walking in silence, the tall swordsman swallowed hard, his eyes a little
histerical as he looked around.  He couldn't let Zelgadiss find out!  'What
would happen if he did anyway?'  That little voice inside him had become
more like a scream.  As he walked he looked inside the Magic/Spells area
and found nothing.  Checking the History aisle found it empty.  Where 
was he?  Seeing a girl with a handfull of books he stopped her.  
	'Excuse me.  I'm looking for someone...'
	She lowered the books and looked into his blue eyes.  Her green
one made him gasp, as if something inside his heart twisted.  'Yes?'  She
asked inthe sweetes of voices.  The girl was small, her hair fell down in a
cascade of pink.  She had hold it with a ponytail but there was too much
hair to hold.  Gourry's heart sank and he smiled.  'I'm looking for a friend of
mine.  He was here a few minutes ago right in that area.'  The girl looked at
the aisle he was pointing and smiled.  'Oh yes, the mister with the cream 
cape, right?'
	'Hai.'  Gourry watched her smiled.  
	'He just left.  He said he would be back soon with some 
permission from the Royal Ministry of Culture to open the books in the
crystal boxes.'
	Uh oh.  That meant troubles.  If Zelgadiss opened those books
he would learn about the rebelion that took place in this town 8 years ago,
and Gourry wasn't really in the mood for explanations.  He would have to
wait for him here and convince him not to open the books.  
	'Thank you.'  He said absently.  'I'll wait here for him.'  
	'Ok.'  She smiled and talking the books walked towards the 
geography aisle.  Watching her go, Gourry realized he had just spoke with
the sweet five years old sister he never got to meet.

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	'Amelia?'  Called Zelgadiss over the crowd, looking for the young
princess.  He spotted Lina and Xellos and walking towards them, tapped on
Lina's shoulder.  'Where Amelia?'
	Lina looked at him strangely.  'Why are you gonna propose to her?'
	'This is serious Lina, where is Amelia?'
	'She went over there to buy some chocolate and strawberries.  You
now this town is famous for that kind of food.'
	It certainly was.  The town of Fountains was known for the hard to
find/made deserts that most of the townsfolks made for the turist.  The town
after all, lived of turists.  Walking over the small cart of candy.  Amelia was
waiting for her order to be served and tiptoed to see the other candies on the
tall cart.  She smiled and touched the chocolate with her fingertips, sucking on
it gently.  Zelgadiss sighned and walked quickly to her.
	'Amelia?'
	The girl gasped and sweatdropped.  
	'I need your help.'
	'What's wrong Zelgadiss-san?'
	'Do you still have the the Sayruun's royal seal with you?'
	'Yes, why?'
	'I need to get some permits with it.'
	'One moment.'  She took a bag the owner of the cart offered her and
payed the order.  'Would you like some strawberries and chocolate 
Zelgadiss-san?'
	'No thank you.  All I want is take you with me.'
	'So you two are finally running away?' Zelgadiss cringed and Amelia
sweatdropped.  Xellos smiled at the two of them.  
	'No, I only want to go for a few permits to see a few books.'
	'You'd never being this talktative, Zelgadiss.  Foudn something
interesting?'
	'Perhaps.  But is none of your bussiness. Come on Amelia.'  Pulling
the girl by her hand they dissapeared into the crowd.  Xellos smile dissapeared
and looking at them, he frowned.  "Something is not right."
	
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Looking at the girl work, Gourry realized his family had survived.  Even though
he never had the heart to return to them, he could see and feel they were safe.
	'Gourry?'
	Gourry jumped and gasped.  Taking a deep breath, he looked at his
side, seeing Xellos smiling at him. 'My, my aren't we jumpy today?'
	'A guess so.'  He murmured as Xellos looked at the girl.
	'Zelgadiss already got the permits to see the books.'
	Gourry stayed in silence, turning to see the girl.  'I guess I'll have to
convince him in not seeing the books then.'
	'Yes, but how?'
	'I don't know.  There maybe powerful spells in that book, and aswers too, 
but I can't let him learn any of those answers, and any of those spells either.'
	Swallowing hard Gourry stood up and walked to one of the crystal boxes,
he looked down at it and saw the number 1 written over it.  
	

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Zelgadiss thanked Amelia for the permits and walked back to the library.  There he
found Gourry looking at the book with the number 1 written on top.  Taking a deep
breath Zelgadiss walked over to him.
	'Hey.'  Said Gourry as he heard Zel approaching.
	'Hello Gourry.'
	'Where have you being?  I was looking for you.'
	'I was looking for a few permits to open that book.'  He pointed at the
book and Gourry looked at it.  'Well, go on.'  Gourry moved, and though Zel
noted he was a little nervous stood next to the box.  Zel called the girl and she
opened the box, handing them the book.  Zel smiled and walked to the nearest
chair.  Gourry close behind him.  Caressing the cover Zel opened the book and 
felt the hair in the back of his neck (If he had any) raising.  He read the first words
of the book and felt Gourry sitting right in front of him.
	'Well, what is it?'
	'It's a leyed about the beggining of this place, and the world.  According
to this book this town is the center of the world.
	'What would you know?' Whispered Gourry, drawing Zel's attention.
	'Nothing.'  He smiled and sweatdropped, turning from Zel to the girl.  He
smiled at her and she smiled back and kept working.  Turning page after page, Gourry
waited for Zel's gasp or something like that. But time passed by and Zelgadiss 
continued reading without a word towards Gourry.

When the last page was turned Zel took a deep breath.  He closed the book and  
blinked.  'That was helpful.'  He said standing and walking towards the crytal box.
	'What was helpful?'
	'I just read why a powerful sorceres that used to work in this kingdom
died.  She put a seal on magic and the townsfolks were so mad at her they burned
her alive.  Her seal dissapeared and everybody was able to have magic again.  The
last drawing represents the beggining of a great rebelion and war, but according
to the last words of the book a new general was choosen.'
	Gourry cringed and nodded.
	'But for what I've read he left before there was peace in this town.  And
the book doesn't explain why the waters of the fountains stopped running.'
	Walking to the next book, he drew the keys the girl had given him and 
trying in the box it didn't open.  He looked at the box and notice Gourry was
standin behind him.
	'Why are you here anyway, shouldn't you be back at the hotel with
Lina and the others?'  He walked to the other box and tried the key, it didn't
open.  
	'Yeah, maybe.  I should go now.'  Walking towards the door Gourry was
or seemed to be, a little dissapointed.  Dissapearing in the door, Zelgadiss moved
to the next box, tried the key, and it open.

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Xellos appeared before Zelgadiss could open the book.  He put his hand over the
cover of the old brown book and looked at Zelgadiss with a serious expression.
	'Before you read any further I should tell you a story that may shock you,
but you must keep as a secret.'
	'Another one of your stupid stories, I assume.'  He said in a irritated voice.
He reached for the cover and tried to open the book again.  Xellos stopped him
once again.
	'No, I'm afraid it is very real, and that it could hurt both Lina and your
little princess.'  Xellos looked at Zelgadiss eyes to eyes and convincing him the
chimera leaned on the chair and listened to his tale.

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{"words" is Xellos Talking
 'words' is Zelgadiss talking}

Eating less than usual, Gourry took a sip of his drink and leaned on the table.

"Gourry was once the son of a iron worker in this town.  He born and grew here."
'Impossible, he would have told us!'
"Gourry didn't tell you or anyone a thing because he was afraid of his own past"

Gourry takes a bath alone, sitting under the fountains that one had a cascade 
over the pond.  Although he is alone he doesn't seem to care.  Looking at the
stars he makes only one wish: To go soon.

"When the rebelion came, Gourry was 18.  He enlisted in the army and fought.
Killing rebelds and protecting the Queen that had just being given the crown.
According to some townfolks he was in love with her, but not as she was with
him.  Her love drove her to insanity after he left.  Cursing the water flow to all
fountains, and rivers."
'But why did Gourry left?'
"The answer Zelgadiss-san, is in that book."

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