Darkness Beyond Twilight

Extra Chapter

Authors Note: This is the original ending for the Slayers: Becoming Stronger. Its main flaw is the character of L-Sama, who is incredibly out of character. I originally wrote this ending because it was the ideal ending my sister wanted to see, but it didn't fit the story as well as it could have. You'll also notice the repetition of the scene when Ralnker tells Zelgadis that he still looks like a monster. The scene was originally meant for the Lord of Nightmares, but I moved it earlier to the part with Ralnker instead, because I knew this portion of the chapter was going to be cut. This idea plays a key role in the sequel. Without further delay, enjoy the encounter that was never meant to be.

In a brilliant blaze of white Ralnker's hair and eyes turn gold as his clothes blaze like a fiery inferno. In golden hues the man sparks with a generous amount of power while surround in a mysterious circle of intense black.

Xellos immediately leaves with a screaming Filia.

The slayers gaze in wonder and fear as Ralnker's transformation completes itself. The energy surges in the room causing Ralnkers' hair to flail wildly around his head like a torch.

After a strangled lapse of silence the Lord of Nightmares crosses her arms and gazes at the group. Her wandering eyes rest on Zelgadis. To Zelgadis, The Lord of Nightmares does not look like Ralnker, but through his astral vision she looks alot like Lina, cloaked in golden midnight radiance. This thought, along with the Lords steady gaze at him, causes his blood to turn ice cold.

"I can see what this man has lived, I can hear what he has said, and I will tell you his wish," The Lord of Nightmares voice sounds just like Ralnker, but is restrained with no hint of the man's insane laughter or glee."This man's wish is to see me destroy myself, along with all that I am, have been, and have ever created."

She continues to stare at Zelgadis intently as she pauses in her speech, but no one says anything to her.

"But should a dragon slave destroy its master?" The Lord of Nightmares asks. "Can a Ragna Blast unmake its creator?" The Lord of Nightmares doesn't wait for anyone to answer. "No it cannot, so I have no reason to be here."

The Lord of Nightmares turns away from them in preparation to leave, but abruptly stops when a thought drops down on her. "It is such a waste to come down to this world and have nothing to do. Do any of you have a request?" She turns Ralnker's head slightly behind her in order to eye the Slayers once more.

Immediately Amelia perks up, "I wish for Jus . . ."

Pokota lunges at Amelia and claps a hand over her mouth before the word 'justice' can escape. He smiles sheepishly as the Lord of their nightmare turns completely around to face them.

Everyone tries to look somewhere other than at the Lord of Nightmares.

"If there is no wish, perhaps I shall destroy the world instead."

"I'd like food," Gourry blurts out

"That's what I want, but I want a mountain load of it," Lina says brightly.

"I want justice!" Amelia says.

"I don't want the world to be destroyed," Pokota says at length.

"I was going to wish for that next," Lina says as she gives Pokota a slight glare.

"Well too slow, flatty, I asked for it first," Pokota strikes back.

Before Lina and Pokota can start another bicker The Lord of Nightmares speaks. "None of those wishes are worth my while," she says in Ralnker's voice.

"Not even saving the world?" Amelia dares to ask.

"No," the Lord of Nightmares says evenly.

Everyone in the group looks at each other in bewilderment, except Zelgadis who is still gazing at the golden version of Lina intently.

"None of you have sacrificed anything for this man I now possess, so why should I grant any of your requests," The lord says. "He has given his life to the chaos that has held control over him for decades. Why should I save you?"

"Then why ask us for a request?" Zelgadis finally says. "Why ask if you are going to say no, because of a madman that wants you dead."

"Because he is no different from you," The Lord of Nightmares says. "Unless you think your request is worth something?"

"I won't pretend to understand that reasoning," Zelgadis says while glancing at Lina.

"That is good," she says. Calmly, the form of Ralnker walks towards Zelgadis and looks at him intently. "What do you see?"

"I see Lina," Zelgadis says truthfully.

"I like what I hear, now listen to what I see." She says. "I also see a human whose stubbornness and trust have reached beyond what they once were. You were once blind, but now you see the truth. You were once mute, but now you speak the truth. You were once deaf, but now you hear the truth."

The world around the slayers begins to crack as the Lord of Nightmares continues to inhabit their world. Zelgadis can see that the Lord of Nightmares only has the nail of her pinky finger on their world, and yet the world is still affected by the weight of her immense power.

"I also see a monster," The Lord of Nightmares says.

A hint of a smile creases across her face as she watches Zelgadis's reaction. "Did you ever look at yourself with those cursed eyes of yours?"

Without a second thought, she takes his hands and Zelgadis winces in pain at her touch. Raising them in front of his face Zelgadis is forced to see what he has never had the chance to study until now.

His skin is glowing blue with strange cracks like rock riding up and down the creases in his skin. As Zelgadis scans the rest of his body he finds the black lines belonging to a blow demon cutting through him in jagged lines that belong to a rock golem.

"Shabranigdo knew what he was doing when he made you," she finally says as she gently lets go of Zelgadis's shaking hands. "I am the Lord of Nightmares, because I am beyond what people can understand. I show people their worst nightmares, because they cannot see it themselves. But you have the power to see it all. You are a person with so many scars that it is impossible for any being on this planet to cure you."

"Maybe you will let me cure you," She says with excitement dancing behind her eyes as her gold irises flood into his mind. He almost becomes lost in them, but the abrupt shutter of a protesting earth shakes him from her gaze.

He hesitates. Zelgadis has the chance to completely destroy the monster that has been aggressively attached to him all these years and start over. The Lord of Nightmares is stronger than Shabranigdo, because she is what created him, but that is the other side of the same coin. While she is more powerful, she is also incredible dangerous. It feels like Zelgadis has the power to destroy the world, and he didn't even cast the Giga Slave. But he is the one who summoned the Lord of Nightmares.

"I want you to leave," Zelgadis says instead. "I know now that I can live with my demons."

"You are a smart child; one who has failed to realize how young he really is. Have you even aged since receiving that new body? (She pauses for a moment before continuing). Besides I would only make your cure worse. You'll find that out soon enough, without my help. This is only the beginning." The Lord of Nightmares smiles once more and turns away from him. She steps in front of Lina and without thinking or wondering why Gourry hugs Lina close. "You are still my favorite," she says.

With an earth shattering blast the Lord of Nightmares disappears from their sight.

End

AN: Ah, spoilers for the sequel, but I can't very well control what L-sama says now can I.