Huzzah! The Nez-chan has begun another Slayers multi-chapter! -dances- As warning, I do not own Slayers (that goes to some guy(s) over in Japan), other things that I know you can sniff out that I put in there to honor... and, well, umm, yeah. Now sit back, relax and grab your sports encyclopedias kiddies, it's gonna be a crazy one.
Olympians At Heart
Ichi
Gourry Gabriev closed his eyes and took in the surrounding chill of the air. He could smell the aging leather that his practice gear was made of. His palms sweated in the cozy gloves he wore. He could hear the coaches, his fellow teammates, everyone focused on the practice. Getting impatient, he slid back and forth on his skates, trying to keep his edge.
Suddenly, the coach's whistle blew! Gourry snapped his eyes open and skated forward at full speed. He caught a puck on his stick and rocketed towards the goalie. A short ways before the blue goalie's crease, he stopped suddenly. A shower of ice flew from his skate blades as he shot the black puck forcefully at the goalie.
Damn. A save. Always a save when number 79 was in net. Gourry did not mind too much though, for he got past the other goalies.
"Gabreiv! Good job!" the coach said with gusto. He stood out on the center of the ice, twirling his whistle and his pot belly rolling as he laughed.
"I did not get it in though," Gourry sheepishly replied.
"Nonsense! You are the best ice hockey player in the world and nothing can change that!" The coach patted Gourry hard on the back, right on the big 38 his practice jersey donned.
"Fine Coach," Gourry sighed. With a doubtful feeling on his mind, he set off towards the locker room to change. Practice could wait until the next day.
Coach is pushing us too hard, he thought. Sure, this is going to be Seiryuun's debut at the Olympic games, but he has to let us relax a small bit.
"Hey Jellyfish-kun!" someone shouted out. Gourry looked to see the goalie who blocked his shot, number 79, Zelgadis Graywords. With his helmet off, Gourry could see the man's grey skin was covered in his own sweat from practice.
"Why does everyone have to call me that?" Gourry whined as Zelgadis came into the locker room main to change out of his practice gear. Zelgadis just laughed and started to unstrap his bulky shinpads.
"Why does everybody have to call me 'Stone Wall Graywords'?"
"You block every shot that comes at you."
"True."
"I'm not a jellyfish though!"
"Dude, all you are good at is playing hockey. Just shut up."
"Look who is in a chipper mood this afternoon."
"Actually, I am," Zelgadis said. At this point, he was down to a towel and walked over to the showers so that he did not leave the locker room smelling like a wet dog.
Gourry glared at the not-himself-happy chimera as he disappeared behind a wall. Zelgadis was his best friend, and had been his best friend for a long time. Most of the time it was Gourry who was the cheerful one and Zelgadis the grump, yet lately it had been the other way around. It had all began when the team's manager, Amelia del Seiryuun, told everyone that the country of Seiryuun was accepted into the 2006 Turin Olympics, the first ever for the small mountain nation. It was all that was possible to scrape together teams for bobsledding, skiing, figure skating and the other random events, but putting a ice hockey team together was easy enough. There was already a national team that the country sent to relatively small tournaments, so the small, rough-and-tumble team had to prepare to take on big and powerful opponents like Russia, Canada and the United States Dream Team. All the pressure put on the players to do well had made Gourry depressed and tense, while Zelgadis laughed at his teammates' nervous tics.
"Zelgadis?" Gourry yelled over the shower water. "Am I really the best player in the world?"
"Now why would you say that?" Zelgadis asked, peeking out from behind the separating wall, soap suds settled precariously in his hair and on his shoulders.
"Everyone tells me I am the best. I want to know if I really am the best."
"Best forward and center on the team. I've got goalie covered though."
Gourry turned his head to glare down Zelgadis, who ducked back behind the wall to rinse off. Looking back into his locker, Gourry pulled out his street clothes and put them on. Dark blue jeans and an orange sweater were happily successful in replacing the plain white practice jersey and padding.
"Gourry, don't look," Zelgadis said as he came back into the main of the room. Gourry sat down with his back to his friend as he clothed himself.
"Am I really the best player?" he asked Zelgadis again.
"I do not know," Zelgadis answered. "Our league's players are a whole different game than the Olympics. We play part-timers, Olympians are professionals."
"That's what I was most afraid of."
"Hey, you knew that when you agreed to help represent Seiryuun," Zelgadis smirked, putting a hand on Gourry's shoulder as if they were not friends, but brothers. Gourry turned to see Zelgadis was dressed in his casual dark blue slacks and purple shirt, grinning sarcastically.
"Whatever, let's go," Gourry moaned. "I'm starved."
"You're paying though," Zelgadis warned.
"Yay! Food!" Gourry perked up. Zelgadis raised his eyebrow and followed his friend out into the hall. At least Gourry was still the peppy one when it came to food.
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Zelgadis and Gourry walked into the sports bar and sat down at the counter. No one really noticed them, for the regulars knew the other regulars and they went to the place often enough to be a regular, therefore being left alone despite their newly accumulated fame nationwide.
"Usual boys?" the bartender-waiter asked as he dried off a dish with his rag.
"We have a usual?" Gourry wondered.
"Yeah Chuck," Zelgadis answered, rolling his eyes at the baffled man to his left. Gourry was pretty dense in every area but eating and ice hockey. He did not even notice that he ordered the same thing every time he walked into the joint.
"You know," Gourry started. "I think I have been playing this game too long."
"Miya?" Zelgadis said, turning his head and making it clear he wasn't listening. He had been trying to concentrate on the television instead. There was an Australian footie game on and he really found it captivating.
"I have been playing hockey too long," Gourry repeated.
"What makes you say that?"
"I don't know. Just a feeling, I guess."
"Well, I got in when I was eight." Zelgadis started to count on his fingers to keep track. "You came in when we were both eleven. Both of us have been playing on the same teams every year since... If anyone should be sick of playing hockey, it is me."
"Well, something seems like it is missing."
"Get a girl."
Gourry's left eye twitched.
"What?"
"Get yourself a girlfriend. That is the problem: you are horny."
"You don't have a girlfriend!"
"At least I've had one."
"Wait, I thought you and Elena were just friends, but you were dating her and now you broke up with her? Huh?"
"Yeah, well, we sort of did this mutual consent split. No hard feelings, just no more serious dates."
"They never were serious," Gourry grumped. "Too hard to tell if you guys were dating or not. How many girlfriends have you had?"
"Six... give or take..." Zelgadis said casually.
"We have been best friends since we were kids, we have the same job, we play the same sport, we share the same freakin' apartment and somehow... you've been dating and I did not know it."
"Dur. Those Friday and Saturday nights when I go out and then come back to find you passed out on the couch in front of the classic movie channel covered in potato chips, yeah, that is when I go out on dates."
"I feel so stupid," Gourry said.
"Well, you should... and your favorite movie channel is for old people. Hey, food's here!" Chuck the bartender put a plate down for each of the guys, both piled high with french fries and a really big cheeseburger. For a moment, Gourry forgot all about being depressed and wolfed down his food. Once it was all gone from his plate, he looked over at Zelgadis, who was taking his time and then remembered his gloomy state.
"Hey Chuck!" a random man by the dartboards yelled. "I think the news is on!"
"Ah! You are right!" he said, scurrying to find the master remote control for the televisions. He found it and all at once, changed the numerous television sets to FSN, just in time for the show. A man and woman news anchor appeared on the screen, looking confidently into the camera.
"Hello Seiryuun, I am Martina duZonoa and this is the Seiryuun Sports Report," the female anchor said.
"Hi, I'm Zangulus Zomoulgustar. Our top story today, the Seiryuun Olympic Committee has finally announced their whole list of people and teams that are to represent our country in the upcoming Olympic Games in Turin. The list was kept quiet to keep up suspense, but there was a feeling all across the land of who would end up on it."
"Yes," Martina cut in. "Here is some footage of the press conference, recorded earlier today."
Zelgadis chucked slightly in his soda pop. The woman now on the screen was the team manager Amelia del Seiryuun. She was on the country's Olympic committee as well as many other things, including being the country's heir to the throne. It was not really obvious at first glance, but Seiryuun still loved the ancient monarchy. Actually, it was not necessary to have the royal line anymore since the People's Council was formed a century before. Prince Phil and his daughter Princess Amelia though, were still loved as heads of the state, even if they tried to lead semi-ordinary lives complete with jobs and the renouncing of most royalty pleasures. Amelia had even gone to the local public schools as a child, befriending many of the citizens her age and developing average relationships with them, a rarity only achieved so far in Seiryuun.
"I, Amelia del Seiryuun, along with the other committee members have chosen the team we are to send to Turin for the Olympics. First in skiing is Filia Draconis, then..."
"That girl makes me laugh," Zelgadis snickered to himself.
"What about her? She's just our manager. Be nice."
"Chivalric as ever are we?"
"Why does she make you laugh?"
"Something... haven't figured out what yet."
"You like her."
"Do not! She's... royalty!"
"...point being...?"
"I hate you."
"Well, I hate you too, so there." Gourry stuck out his tongue and turned back towards the television.
"...and finally, our most anticipated set of athletes is our national ice hockey team, they Seiryuun Slayers, going to represent our country with the other participants." Amelia's voice cut off and went back to the news anchors.
"See, you made me miss the rest of the team," Gourry hissed.
"Shh! Talking!" Zelgadis whispered back, pointing at the television.
"In news related to the subject," Zangulus said. "The head coach of the national ice hockey team, Buck Lang, had resigned earlier today. He is to finish out the week and then the team has to find a new coach, only months before the Turin Olympics."
"Coach? Wha...! He did not seem like he was quitting at practice!" Gourry squeaked.
"Well, he is finishing out the week, look at it like that."
"Zelgadis, it is Thursday."
"I am trying to be optimistic for you, so shut up."
"I hate you."
"I hate you too."
"Go away."
"Fine, pay the bill. See you later."
"No, you pay. We agreed."
Gourry was not really feeling like listening. Zelgadis had pissed him off. Both guys were just not themselves and it was driving each other barmy. Gourry puffed away, ready to punch something and leaving the ashamed Zelgadis to pay the bill.
Damn, I wonder who the new head coach is going to be? Zelgadis wondered as he started back for home. He was about halfway to the apartment complex when he heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Hey! Zelgadis-kun!"
Zelgadis turned his head to see Elena, the mousy-haired girl who he had just ended a quite dull, in the perverse sense, relationship with. She jogged up to him and gave him a tackling hug, just like she did when they first met as children.
"Hey, I just heard the news about Turin. My family and I are very excited," she said. Zelgadis looked at the young woman with her pale green eyes and skin turning a rosy pink from the cold. Yes, Zelgadis knew that it had been definitely hard to break up with this one. Not only was she pretty, but into sports as well.
Hey, they were still friends, right?
"I will be sure to wave for you guys," Zelgadis said, laughing a slight bit. Elena just laughed harder.
"Did you not hear the whole list the Princess said?"
"No..."
"My brothers Carson and Daniel are assigned to the skeleton team! They are going to the Olympics as well! Harry is going as a snowboarder and Gabriel and Ian were recruited for the curling squad!"
Now, Elena had many brothers, the two older ones Carson and Daniel, a twin brother Frederick, along with four younger brothers, Gabriel, Harry, Ian and Jacob. Her whole family was highly sports-oriented and they all were very good at athletic events, particularly the winter ones. It really did take Zelgadis by surprise that Jacob the teen-speed-skating-wonder was not going to participate in the games. He truly thought the entire male sector of her family was going to go play sans Frederick, who was part of the national ice hockey team's managerial staff.
"I will look out for them then," Zelgadis said nervously. "See you later, I have to go!" He started off in a rush.
"See you before you go?" Elena yelled out.
"I'll try!" Zelgadis yelled back. He was glad Elena and him were friends. At least he knew there would be a rioting fan back home. Quickly, he returned to the apartment he and Gourry shared. It was small, but comfortable enough for the two guys to share. Zelgadis walked into the living room to find Gourry sitting on the couch, watching the original Ocean's 11 movie starring the Rat Pack.
"Well, if it isn't the lech, back from womanizing," Gourry growled. He paused the movie, freezing Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin plotting their infamous casino heists.
"I did not see anyone," Zelgadis answered.
"Don't lie," Gourry said. "Oh, and there is a message on the answering machine that I think you might like to hear." Zelgadis grouched over to the telephone and answering machine and turned on the blinking device.
"You have one message," the metallic voice said. It was Elena's brother Frederick.
"Zelgadis, Gourry, I want you both at the rink's conference room tomorrow morning at ten sharp. It is about the new head coach. Nothing bad, just important. Dress nice. See you then. End message."
"What could be so important that we have to dress up?" Gourry muttered as Zelgadis made his way towards his bedroom.
"Maybe we get to meet the new one," Zelgadis said, making it sound even more obvious.
"I hope he does not smell like Coach Lang did," Gourry said randomly.
"...or yell like Coach Brakett did," Zelgadis laughed, recalling Bantam hockey from when they were younger.
"The high school coach... Coach Mickleson," Gourry added with a chuckle. "He drank a whole lot and we all knew it because he could not stand at the end of a losing game night."
"Yeah, well, I'm getting some sleep. Night."
"Night."
So, without even knowing it, their friendship was mended in less than a minute and things were back to the way it should have been, sarcastic Zelgadis and happy-go-lucky Gourry. Little did they know that as they slept... and passed out in front of the television... their lives were changing forever as one person flew into the city.
First chapter done! -meip- I hope everyone can find that... understandable. Now, some of you might be confused with references in this fiction, since they are quite all over the place. Actually, I am listing all references at the end of each chapter... like this:
References/Parodies I Do Not Own So Please Do Not Hurt Me
The Olympic Games- Ultimately, belonging to the Greek gods and Turin in 2006.
Seiryuun Sports Report- Parody of Detroit Sports Report, property of FSN (Fox Sports Network)
Elena and her brothers- The fact that they exist is an exaggeration of my brothers and me, except I am not a twin or one of eight, and their names are in alphabetical order, like the brothers in Seven Wives for Seven Brothers, a really good musical.
Ocean's 11 and the Rat Pack- Yes, I like old movies, yes, Ocean's 11 with Brad Pitt was a remake and yes, Frank Sinatra and two buddies of his were called the "Rat Pack".
Right. Now since that is taken care of, please review. Tell me your thoughts! Give that input! Light them blowtorches! Arigato ne!