"That was NOT a very smart thing to do," Actinaea snapped. Naga rubbed her face. "I don't care," she snapped right back. "I do NOT appreciate attacks upon my beauty!" Actinaea rolled her eyes. "Oh, of *course*. I can certainly understand how you would want to conserve what *little* you have...But how can we sail with the mast like that?!?" She gestured, indicating the translucent sheath of bluish ice that gripped the mast where the boom met it. "What if we need to change direction?" Naga tossed her hair. "There's no need of that. The wind is blowing from the west, we are sailing to the east. All we have to do is wait until tomorrow, when we shall land in Sandoria. It could hardly be easier." At that moment, the wind began to die down, only to spring up again from another direction. Actinaea raised one eyebrow. "..." Naga said eloquently. ===== Improfanfic Presents... Slayers Glorious! Chapter 2: Legend of the White Serpent ===== "Mariposa!" Naga shouted, turning. "Keep our course steady!" "Hai!" Naga blinked. Mari was holding valiantly onto the wheel...but it didn't seem to be doing much good. As the sorceress watched, Mari was slowly forced into a tilt, until she finally fell onto the deck with a squeal. "Well now," Actinaea said, "It seems--wonder of wonders!--the wind isn't coming from the west any more!" She glared at Naga. "What now, O great Goldfish's Feces?" Naga stood still for a moment...then she rounded on the Praetor, eyes blazing. Actinaea took an involuntary step back as she had the startling impression that the White Serpent's bosom was leaping to attack her. "Do NOT call me that!" Naga yelled in the shorter sorceress' face. "In CASE you had forgotten, *I* was the one Guildmaster Rhaen put in charge of this expedition! *I* am the most powerful sorceress here! That gives me more authority than even *you*, breastless beast, and more even than HER if *she* were here!" Actinaea realized she was unconsciously withdrawing under Naga's verbal assault, and forced herself to stand up straight and look Naga right in the eye. "Is that so!" she yelled back. "Perhaps I should remind *you* that I am a *Praetor* of the Magic Guild...And what are *you*?" She sneered her best sneer (which, considering the amount of practice behind it, was quite something). "You're a top-heavy loudmouth who made a name for herself by prancing around in purple underwear and destroying a few towns as a *sidekick* to a much BETTER mage!" Naga actually seemed to inflate. "YOU--" "Ano..." "WHAT?!?" the sorceresses screamed at the intrusion. Mari picked herself up from the floor, wincing. "Um...I just...I was just thinking maybe some of the sailors would know what to do." "What do they know about magic?" Naga scoffed. Mari sweated. "...no, I mean...um, about the boat." "...Good idea, Mariposa," Actinaea said stiffly. "Go ahead and ask them." "Hai!" Mari turned toward the stern, where a few crew members were tied up. "Ano..." "HA!" yelled the Captain. The sorceresses blinked. "...Ha?" Mari asked after a moment. "HA!" the Captain, a gray-bearded man halfway between 'grizzled' and 'wizened', yelled again. "There's no way we're helping you bitches, after the way you treated us! You're on your own!" He grinned maniacally and his crew members nodded. Naga frowned darkly and opened her mouth, but Actinaea waved her back and stepped forward. "But you're in the same situation we are," she said grimly. "If we never get to Sandoria, then we all may end up starving." Mari looked alarmed, but Naga only smirked. "It's in your best interests to help us." The Captain laughed, and his crew snickered. "Ha! I say again, Ha!" The old sailor's eyes gleamed strangely. "We live on the sea. We live *for* the sea. We ARE the sea! We can last longer here than you landlubbers!" Then he bent his head and looked at the sorceresses through his eyebrows. "...And, of course, there's...the White Serpent." ===== There was silence for a moment. Then, "What about me?" Naga asked. The Captain blinked. "What?" "What about me?" "I don't know, what about you?" "You just mentioned me!" Naga snapped. "No I didn't," the Captain snapped back. "I was just telling you about the White Serpent!" "Yes!" Naga said. "Right!" the Captain replied. "...But you ruined the mood!" "I don't care." Naga rolled her eyes. "But please continue. I enjoy hearing about myself." "What about you?" the Captain asked, frowning. "I don't know, you tell me!" "But how should I know?" "You just mentioned me!" "Why do you keep saying that?!?" "Because you just MENTIONED the White Serpent!" "Yes, I did!" "Exactly!" "But why should I be talking about you?" "But you just did!" "SHUT UP!!!" Actinaea screamed. Everyone turned to look at her. She put her hand to her face and rubbed the bridge of her nose, sighing, then reached out like she was trying to grab onto something. "...What...White Serpent, exactly, are you talking about?" she said slowly. "...The White Serpent," the Captain said, valiantly trying to regain his earlier 'maniacal old man' aura, "is a huge sea serpent that swims these waters! All ship captains around here know the rites and rituals to let their ships pass by unharmed...but *you* three do not! Therefore...if you don't let us free, you'll all be EATEN! EATEN, I TELL YOU!!!" He launched into a mad cackle. "I think our Captain's a few runes short of an incantation," Naga muttered. Raising her voice again, she laughed. "OOOOOOHOHOHOHOOO!!! Well, let me tell you something, 'Captain'!" She began to stride forward, the heels of her boots nearly cracking the deck with her mighty footsteps. "*I* am the White Serpent, the one, the true, the original, the inimitable Naga the White Serpent, inestimably powerful and lovely sorceress extraordinaire!" She leaned over the hapless Captain, who sat frozen like a deer in the path of oncoming headlights. "...And no *snake* is going to steal my name." She stood, tossing her hair. "I can help," a new voice called out. Naga blinked, and looked down. It seemed that Mari had tied up four men, arranging them with their backs to each other. The Captain was facing her, the two on either side of him were obviously sailors, and the fourth... Naga walked around the group to get a look at the fourth man. He seemed to be dressed in brown leather armor with a wide-brimmed hat, with a sword at his side. He looked up at her, his face looking just old enough for him to avoid being called 'kid' by veterans, and grinned. "I'm not a sailor," he said. "I'm just along for the ride. But I do know a little about where the sails are supposed to point, so if you untie me I'll be glad to help." The Captain and his men muttered darkly, trying to look back at the man. Naga crossed her arms, and raised one eyebrow. "If you're not a sailor, why are you here?" "Well..." He looked around, then grinned again, a bit sheepishly. "I was going to book passage, so I was standing around with the crew...and then you three came along...and the next thing I know, the young one is tying me up." He shrugged. "I figured it was best not to, ah, rock the boat, if you see what I mean." "Let him loose!" Actinaea called. "We definitely need someone to fix the great White Serpent's mistakes!" Naga glared, but before she could respond the man interposed. "I only know about ships because I travel so much. You're actually quite lucky to have found someone like me. Just, untie me and I'll help. That's not very much to ask, is it?" He smiled hopefully. "...Oh, all right," Naga snapped. "Mariposa! Untie him!" She glared downward. "We'll see what you can do." "Hai!" Mari said, running over. She busily began to untie the ropes as Naga went back to the bow to pace, exchanging looks with Actinaea. "Um...so, what's your name?" Mari asked. "Getehl. I'm a freelance mercenary." The ropes fell away, and Getehl stood up, rubbing his arms. "Ah, much better." He began to do a routine of stretches. "...So?" Actinaea snapped. The mercenary turned, still stretching from side to side. "Oh, right. Well, first of all, that ice has to go." "But of course," Actinaea said, and raised her hands. Her face tensed, and a red glow began to build in front of her. "Flare...LANCE!" A ribbon of fire streaked from in front of her, arcing forward to slam into the sheath of ice, blasting it into half-melted chunks that skittered across the deck. "...You FOOLS!" the Captain yelled suddenly, eyes bulging. "You'll set the whole SHIP on fire!" "Hmph!" Actinaea tossed her head, braid bouncing. "I am a Praetor of the Magic Guild! I know how to cast spells." This elicited a sarcastic chuckle from Naga, but the mast and sails were indeed almost entirely unsinged. "...Uh...yeah. Good work," Getehl said, rubbing the back of his head. "Now, uh...let me see." He turned and looked off to port. "The wind's coming from the north..." He turned to the bow. "And we want to go east...therefore the sails..." He stepped forward. "The front one has to come all the way around, and they both have to go at about this angle..." The warrior stepped up to the mast, gesturing, and the four set about turning the newly freed sails. "...'Front one'!" the Captain muttered. "Oh, these lubbers..." Getehl moved the boom into position. "Okay...and...there! Right there." "LY BRIEM!" The mercenary dove across the deck as *another* sphere of ice zapped into existence around the mast, freezing it into place. "OOOOOOHOHOHOHOOO!!!" After a moment, Getehl got to his feet again. "...Uh...Naga-san, why did you do that?" "Why, so the mast wouldn't move, now that we've got it where we want it." Naga's eyes gleamed. "And, of course, it made me feel better." Actinaea rolled her eyes. "...Ah, of course," Getehl said. "And now the rudder..." He looked around and saw Mari struggling with the wheel again, and moved over to grasp it alongside her. After several seconds of combined effort, they turned the wheel to its proper orientation, and the ship began heading east. "...FREEZE ARROW!" Getehl dove once again as the wheel was suddenly encased in ice. "I did it!" Mari clapped her hands. "Mari!" Actinaea snapped. "I can't believe you did that! You could have frozen this mercenary who's gone out of his way to help us!" "...but...hai." Mari's lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears. "OOOOOOHOHOHOHOOO!!!" Actinaea winced and clapped a hand to her ear. "Good work, Mari-chan!" Naga enthused. "Not much power, but your technique is commendable a for student of your level!" "HAI Naga-sama!" Mari beamed. Actinaea rounded on Naga. "You--!...Mariposa is MY reponsibility! *I* am her instructor!" "She can only benefit from my years of real-world experience!" Naga proclaimed. "Now, however, I feel like relaxing." She looked around. "I wonder if there's anything to drink around..." "I think the Captain has some Sandorian wine in his quarters," Getehl said. Naga perked up. "Sandorian? I suppose it will do for now! OOOOOOHOHOHOHOO!!!" Leaving Actinaea fuming, she strode toward the stairs below decks. "...NOOO!" the Captain yelled. "Not the last of my 'Maroin Vintage'!" "That--!...That--!" Actinaea gritted her teeth, and followed after Naga. "Come on," Getehl said, gesturing to Mari, "I'll show you around. I've traveled on this ship a few times before." He smiled. "Thanks!" Mari beamed and followed him. "...the White Serpent will DESTROY you for this!" the Captain yelled. "...I'm not sure the White Serpent story is working this time," one of his crew said. "...shut up." ===== Naga took a drink from her glass, then held it in the air and peered at it, watching the swirling color. "Mari-chan." "Hai?" Mari replied, from where she was organizing clothes or some such job the lowest-ranking member of the expedition was stuck with. "...Do you know anything about the Silent Bell?" Naga asked. Mari stopped folding, and blinked. "...Um...no." "...Hm. Well, that's okay." She took a drink. "...Um...didn't you say you knew Shazard Lugandi's work?" Mari asked timidly. Naga blinked and bolted upright...then relaxed again, laughing nervously. "Oh. Um...yes. Right. Well...the Silent Bell." She looked into her glass again. "It's one of the lesser-known of his works...all I've heard is that it's powerful." She considered. "And that it's...a bell." "...and...it's silent?" Mari asked. "...Could be," Naga concluded. "Could very well be." She took another drink. "You could ask the Praetor about it," Mari offered. Naga convulsed, then managed to swallow and laughed. "Oh, of course, I'm sure she'd *love* to assist the White Serpent in whatever means possible." "...She's not that bad, really," Mari said. Naga sighed, and shook her head. "Mari-chan, Mari-chan...I'm afraid you have much to learn about the world." She gulped the rest of the wine. ===== Getehl walked softly down the hallway. He really wasn't intending to, but after one or two of a certain kind of assignment, most mercenaries stopped making noise when they moved around...or, well, they stopped moving altogether. Getehl had removed his hat to see in the dim light, his sword was at his hip, and in his right hand were...towels. Suddenly the door in front of him opened. He started to fade into the shadows, but relaxed when he saw it was only Mari. Mari, however, almost ran into him before she noticed him, and then responded by jumping and squealing. "...er, hi," Getehl said. "...Getehl-san," Mari said, panting. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" "...sorry," he replied, rubbing the back of his head. "It's just sorta, y'know, natural for warriors." "...Oh." Mari took a deep breath, then let it out. Then she blinked. "Oh...are those towels?" "That's right!" Getehl smiled. "Y'see, there's actually a bath on this ship, and we could heat some water so..." "Oh...how nice! But not tonight," Mari replied. "Naga-sama is already asleep, and I have chores to do. But thank you for the towels." She took them and opened the door again. "Goodnight!" "If you needed some help I could--" Getehl moved for the door, but jerked his face back before it closed on him. He stood still for a moment, thinking, then shrugged philosophically and turned to continue down the hall. After a moment he heard footsteps approaching, and when Actinaea appeared he nodded and smiled. "Evening, Praetor." Actinaea blinked, and eyed him suspiciously. "Getehl. Thank you for your help." "Oh, my pleasure," he replied, giving a short bow. "Just between you and me...You three dealing with the crew has let me sail to Sandoria for free." He winked. "Yes, of course," the Praetor replied. "Glad to help, really. Now if you'll..." She blinked. "What are you doing?" Getehl flicked his gaze back to Actinaea's face. "Hm? What?" "You...You were *staring* at me!" The Praetor's face darkened. Getehl held up his hands. "Now, I didn't mean any offense by it..." SMACK! "...Ow." Actinaea pushed past Getehl and strode down the hall. He turned. "Hey, if you're going to slap me, at least wait until I do something to *really* deserve it!" he called. "Like...I happen to disagree when Naga calls you 'breastless'!" The door slammed behind Actinaea. Getehl stood still for a moment. Then he sighed and turned, rubbing his cheek. ===== "...the White...Serpent!...I...warn you..." "Come on, Captain, get some sleep already..." ===== "OOOOOOHOHOHOHOOO!!!" "This is going to be a very, very long trip," Actinaea muttered. Naga took a deep breath of the sea air. "Ahhhh...a beautiful morning. And Sandoria is already in sight!" "Ohayo..." Mari trudged onto the deck, rubbing her eyes. "Ohayo, Mariposa," Actinaea said, still glaring at Naga. "Hi all," Getehl said, appearing on deck. "How's everyone today?" Naga took a moment to stretch, although since she was standing on the bow with her back to everyone else, the effect was mostly wasted. Then she turned and laughed again. "OOOOOOHOHOHOHOOO!!! Things are going quite well, Getehl-san!" Mari yawned, as Naga turned back to watching the approaching coast. "...white...serpent..." a voice croaked. Everyone turned to see the Captain still glaring insanely, though weakly, at them, along with his two crew members. "Don't worry, Captain," Actinaea said acidly, "we'll leave you alone with your ship as soon as we can disembark." She ran a hand over her braid. "It shouldn't be too long." She turned and squinted at the coast, then frowned. "Although that doesn't look like Glaris. I think we're too far south." "It's Vartia," Getehl said, pulling his hat on to shade his eyes. "Farther south than Glaris, but I personally don't mind." He decided not to react to the look Actinaea shot him. "Is that a problem for us, Naga-sama?" Mari asked. "Not at all," Naga replied. "One town is as good as another at this point in the journey." "I *beg* your pardon!" Actinaea snapped, stepping forward. "We're this far south because *you* had to incinerate the crew and freeze the mast!" "Ha!" Naga put her hands on her hips. "I didn't hear *you* complain when I mentioned we could find passage on a ship for free!" "It's this irresponsible abuse of power that has given you the reputation you have!" Actinaea yelled. "...Waaa," Mari said. "Um, Naga-sama, Actinaea-sama, please..." Getehl sighed. "Don't bother, kid..." "And furthermore--" "RRRAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!" Everyone blinked. Then they looked off the port bow. A head rose from the water...on a long neck. The head of a dragon, or a snake. Its eyes burned redly, its teeth gleamed in the morning sun, and the entire length of its body shone white as it rose from the water. "...Holy--the White Serpent!" Getehl cried. He reached for his sword, then stumbled back as a wind came out of nowhere. "...*I* am the WHITE SERPENT!" Naga shouted. She was rising into the air. "*I* am Naga! *I* am the most powerful sorceress in this world! And you... YOU are NOTHING!" She suddenly blasted through the air toward the sea serpent. Getehl gaped. "What the HELL is she doing?" Actinaea snapped. "Does she think she can--GHHK!" Getehl spun to the Praetor fall to the deck. Another glance showed the two younger sailors free of their ropes, and running forward with clubs. Getehl felt a strangely unfamiliar anger flood his body. He drew his sword and quickly judged the speed of the two enemies. The right one reached him first, with a quick sideways slash, but he ducked it and tangled his sword in the sailor's leg, sending him sprawling. The second went for a straightforward overhead clubbing, but Getehl set himself and charged forward before the strike could reach him, shoulder impacting with his opponent's chest. "Wind...BLEED!" The mercenary felt a chill and dove yet again to the surface of the deck. He heard a couple rather nasty cries of pain as the two sailors were propelled back across the deck. Getehl got to his feet, judged his opponents to be out of action, and turned to survey the situation. Actinaea was staring past him with burning eyes, and clutching her side. Mari was gently probing the area. She looked up and, upon seeing Getehl's gaze, said "It was just a piece of wood they threw. She's okay." Getehl nodded and looked at the Praetor's face. After a moment, she focused on him. "Thanks," he said, bowing again. "For the help, and for making sure you missed me." He grinned. Actinaea blinked. "...oh...were you fighting, too?" Getehl's grin became strained. "Uh...never mind. ...Anyway, where's Naga?" They looked around. There seemed to be quite a few waves around the ship, but no other sign of the combatants was visible. "LY BRIEM!" "RRAAARRRGH!" "FLARE LANCE!" "RAAARRGGHGGAAAARG!" "ZELAS GORT!" "RAOOORRAAGGGHHHH!!!" Actinaea stared. "...'Zelas Gort'?" Suddenly the serpent's head broke the surface, on the starboard side. It groaned loudly, then slumped over the railing...And Naga was standing on top of it. She stepped onto the deck, pushed her wet hair back from her face, and bounced just a little. "OOOOOOHOHOHOHOOO!!!" "What a woman," Getehl mumured. "And so I prove, once again, that *I* am the one, true, lovely and powerful White Serpent!" Naga indulged in another laugh. "...Wai! Congratulations Naga-sama!" Mari clapped. "Thank you, Mari-chan. Now...as for you." She aimed a kick at the sea serpent's head, dislodging a few jellyfish which slopped onto the deck. "Get out of here and don't bother these ships any more!" The serpent groaned again and lifted its head from the deck, then seemed to slump down into the sea... and was gone. Getehl looked around. "...well...that was certainly exciting." "You..." Actinaea took a step toward Naga, almost shaking. Naga raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "...You...You...You must STOP encouraging irresponsible behavior in Mariposa!" The Praetor shook a finger. "She is under *my* jurisdiction! You are nothing but a *bad influence*!" Naga laughed yet again. "OOOOOOHOHOHOOO!!! Well, I can assure you that I am no Guild instructor. Anything Mari-chan learns from me is due to her own initiative!" "Hai!" Mari said excitedly. Actinaea turned her finger on Mari. "...You! Will have a lot of studying to do on this trip!" "...studying?...but..." Mari's lip trembled. "...there actually was...a White Serpent..." the Captain mumbled. ===== "So this is Vartia," Naga said, looking around. "Wow, looked at all the fisherman and sailors and everything," Mari said, eyes wide. "It's a dump," Actinaea muttered. "Let's get out of here." "Ahem. Ladies?" The three turned to see Getehl smiling at them. "I was just thinking...how you seem to be on some sort of journey. And it may be a dangerous one." His eyes gleamed. "Now, I know you all are great magicians--believe me, I know!--but there are times when a sword can come in handy." Actinaea crossed her arms. "You want to join us," she said flatly. "I merely want to offer my services," Getehl replied smoothly. "I can hunt and gather if we get stuck on the trail somewhere. I can keep watch and fight and, hell, even plan an assault on an enemy fortress if necessary." "But of course you want compensation," Naga said, smirking. "Simply a small share of whatever you find," Getehl said. "Nothing more." "We are searching for one particular item," Actinaea snapped. "It's not something that can be split up into shares." Getehl rubbed his chin. "Well...I have a feeling the sort of thing you're looking for...would be in some big stash with a whole bunch of *other* stuff. And that could certainly be split up. Am I right?" "That is a good point," Naga conceded. "Wai!" Mari waied. "We're gathering traveling companions just like in all the stories." Getehl laughed. "Hey, a supporting role in a legend. I like the sound of that. Why don't I show you ladies to an inn I know here in Vartia and we can discuss it further? It's right this way." He gestured. "Yes, an inn sounds like a good idea right about now," Naga said. "You go first," Actinaea snapped. Getehl laughed nervously. "...Oh, of course. Follow me..." And the four walked off through the streets of the city. ===== To be continued... ===== Author's Note I really don't have much to say, except that I find early parts of any story to be the hardest. While writing this, I kept seesawing back and forth between whether I thought it would be good or I thought it would suck...I think eventually it turned out okay. Judge for yourself, and give me feedback. I like feedback. Thanks to Todd Harper for writing #1, and sharing a couple of ideas on where to take the story, and extra-special thanks to Xelloss!...That is, xelloss@inverse.org, for www.inverse.org, the ultimate Slayers web site which I used for reference in writing this story. Thank you. John Evans johne@mit.edu 11/21/99 Beware the Radish