Author's Notes: Huzzah!! I got such wonderful reviews on Truth, Love, and Justice that I decided to start posting the huge PLOT ridden story that grew out of that lovely lil lemon. Sorry all you lovely hentai peoples, there is no citrus in this whole section of the story, just some overtones of Z/A, L/G, and X/F (F is for FILIA, not FAITH).
However, this story does contain....well, me (hence my clarification above). I'm a sucker for putting myself into my stories. Sorry if this bothers you, I honestly didn't intend to give myself a big part, but the story had other ideas. (Yes, my stories have minds and wills of their own... yes, I'm also a bit crazy) ^_^

Oh, and for those of you who haven't read Truth, Love, and Justice, this story is set after Try (CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS!), and Zel an Amelia finally got it on. ^_^

Disclaimer: I STILL don't own Slayers, and I never shall, except in my wildest dreams.

Bonds of Friendship and Balance

* Chapter * 3 *

It had been over a year and a half since Zelgadis had set out from Seyruun, leaving his beloved Amelia behind, in order to search for his cure. He had missed her desperately at first, and almost turned back a few times; but every time he looked down at his own hands, his body, he was reminded of why he would never be happy until he found his cure. After a few months, though he still missed her, the pain had subsided and he had focused entirely on his search.

Now, though, as time ticked by and all he found were dead ends and empty hopes, he found his heart aching for his beautiful princess more and more every night. Dreams of the events of the night before he had left would fill his nights with longing, and sometimes he would wake up feeling as though there was a gaping hole in his very soul. One such night, he woke up, his chest aching and his eyes dangerously close to tears.

Damn this!! he screamed to the darkness of the forest clearing he was in. If I keep going, my desire to be back with her will drive me crazy! But if I go back, I still won't be happy, and I'd have to leave again to find this damned cure!

Talking to yourself and screaming in the middle of the night is NOT a good sign, Zel,' the back of his mind told him. Maybe you've been out here alone for too long.' Zelgadis sighed and shook his head to clear his thoughts. He looked around and figured by the lightening sky that it was close to dawn. No point in going back to sleep,' he thought with a sigh. He stood and stretched, and began to pack his things. He wanted to be at the Mystics' Cave as soon as possible. He had heard that many great healers and sorcerers of the land had used the cave as something of a library, to share their spells and information with each other.

He pressed onward through the forest until he reached an almost vertical rock face. He pressed his palm against the cold, dead stone and sighed. He looked to the right and to the left. He knew that the cave was set into the face of this cliff, and he turned to the right and began walking, following the wall of stone. His mind was restless, turning over a thousand thoughts; about Amelia, about this Mystics' Cave, what he would do if this was another dead end....and what he would do if it wasn't. He was so lost in thought that he almost walked right past the darkened opening in the rock.

He stopped and stared at the mouth of the cave. Various runes were carved around the edge of the opening, though they had been worn down by years of weathering. This was without a doubt the right place, and he heaved a deep breath. He prepared himself for the worst, not daring to get his hopes up after so many disappointments. Casting a Light spell, he stepped into the cave and began to follow it deeper into the side of the cliff. His footsteps echoed off the walls and ceiling. There was no sign of any books, scrolls, or anything that might contain the information he was looking for. In fact, except for the runes that had marked the entrance, this cavern seemed like nothing more than a big, empty cave. Zel walked deeper into the cave until at last, he found himself at the back wall. He pressed his hand against the unyielding stone and stared at it. Emotion began to boil up in his chest; despair and frustration filling him till he felt as if he would burst. He clenched his fist and slammed it against the wall, living stone smashing into unfeeling granite. A strangled sound of combined pain and disappointment tore itself from his throat as he sank to his knees and rested his head against the wall.

Another dead end. More wasted time,' he thought. He was still for a moment as he thought about where he should go next, when a soft, alto voice broke into his musings.

Can I help you with something? it asked in a slightly amused tone. Zelgadis scrambled to his feet and whirled around to find the source of the voice. To his amazement, he found himself looking at a young woman, no older than himself, with strawberry blonde hair and laughing blue eyes. She was dressed in loose white cotton pants and a long-sleeved tunic of the same color. A black belt with silver clasp was around her waist and black boots covered her feet. Zel couldn't help thinking that her outfit looked similar to one he'd seen before, though he couldn't quite place it.

Who are you? he asked, deciding not to worry about her outfit for the moment, Where did you come from? She smiled impishly at him and giggled.

My name is Faith, and I should be asking you where you came from, since you are the traveler and not I. Now, can I help you with something, or did you just come here to beat on my poor defenseless cave? she asked with a grin. Zel wasn't sure what to make of this queer young woman, so he kept his hand near his sword. Past experience had taught him that even people who appeared young and harmless could be amongst the most dangerous.

I came in search of information from the Mystics' Cave, he said warily. The girl, if possible, grinned more broadly.

Well then, you are in the right place, since this is the Mystics' Cave! What information were you searching for? Zel thought for a moment, still worried about how much he could trust this stranger; but if he didn't ask, he wouldn't get an answer, and his trip would be in vain.

I'm looking for a way to change my body back to normal. To be Human again, he said. Faith stared at him and he looked away. He still couldn't stand people staring at his skin. He almost reached for his sword when Faith reached out and grabbed his chin, gently but firmly, and turned his head to face her again. She stared into his eyes as if searching his soul, then released him after a moment.


I'll see what I can do to help you...what was your name?



Ok then, I'll see what I can do to help you, Zelgadis-san. Come with me, she said, walking off to the left side of the cave, Zelgadis following close behind her. She stopped at a rock that looked like a small, round table. Patting the smooth surface of the rock with her hand, she smiled at Zel. Come, sit down here, she said. Zel hesitated and Faith shook her head slightly. I don't know if it will make a difference to you, but I give you my word that I mean you no harm and I will do all I can to help you, she said. I am simply the guardian of the knowledge here; the Librarian, if you will. Zel immediately thought of the pint-sized Auntie Aqua who had watched over the manuscript of the Claire Bible. When he thought of the Claire Bible, something tickled his brain again about how familiar her outfit looked, but he still couldn't put his finger on it. At any rate, he decided that she did seem the type to keep her word, if nothing else. So, uncertainly, he sat on the small, round table, and Faith smiled and nodded. Standing in front of him, she put her hands on the sides of his face. Reflexively, he pulled away.

What are you doing? he demanded. Faith gave him a half smile.

Trying to figure out what exactly was done to you. You can't break a curse or cast a counter spell until you know what it is you're dealing with, as I'm sure you know. Zel nodded. Do you know anything about who it was who did this to you, or how? she asked. Zel heaved a deep breath.

It was Rezo, the Red Priest, who cursed me. I don't know how, though, he admitted. Faith nodded thoughtfully, then looked back at him.

This should only take a few moments, she said, reaching out to take his face in her hands again. He tensed as she touched him, but didn't pull away. He felt a dull tingling on his cheeks and neck where she held him, and the tingle slowly spread through his body, relaxing him. The back of his mind warned that this might not be a good thing, but the rest of him was feeling so fuzzy that even if he wanted to do something about it, he would have been unable. After a few long minutes, Faith pulled her hands away from his face and he felt his body slouch over, virtually boneless. Don't worry, you'll be fine again in a minute or so, she said. True to her words, within a minute, Zel was clearheaded again, and his body was responding normally. He looked around for Faith, but the young woman seemed to have disappeared while he'd been coming to his senses.

he muttered, slamming his hand down on the table on which he sat.

Now what did I tell you about beating up my defenseless cave? Faith said, seeming to melt out of the shadows off to his left. He looked over and saw that she had a sheaf of papers clutched in her hands, and for the first time, his heart leapt with hope.

What did you find? he asked her, staring at the stack of papers instead of looking at her as he spoke. She stepped up close to him and ducked her head so that she was inches from his face, forcing him to look her in the eye. Zel blinked and jerked back slightly. Grinning broadly, she backed away from him and stood a few feet away.

You've got yourself a nasty curse, as I'm sure you're well aware, she said, still grinning, And Rezo the Red is not someone to be trifled with; when he casts a spell, he doesn't intend for it to be broken. However... she said, trailing off, glancing down at the papers in her hand.

Zel said sharply. He did not appreciate what seemed to be Faiths' strange sense of humor. She almost reminded him of Xellos. She held up the sheaf of yellowed paper and Zelgadis nearly jumped up to snatch it from her hand.

However, I've found something that I'm sure will have the desired effect, she said, smiling brightly and walking over to him. He stood up and tried to take the papers, but she side-stepped him and laid the papers on the table Zel had just vacated, and he turned to look at them. What was it that you wanted? she asked him, looking down at the papers.

My cure! he said, clenching his fists. She chuckled.

I know THAT. I'm sorry, I meant what was it you wanted before Rezo cursed you? He used a part of your own desire to make the curse bind to you; so what was it you wanted? Zel sighed, frustrated that he seemed to be so close to his cure but to not have it yet. He hated having to tell this strange young woman things he didn't even like to share with his friends. But more than that, he hated this cursed body, so he swallowed his pride and answered her.

Strength. I wanted to be strong. Faith nodded and made some notes on one of the sheets of paper with a quill that seemed to materialize from nowhere.

Ok then, this should cover everything, she said handing him the sheets of paper. You can take the time to read that on your own, but I'll just tell you that you're going to need help to do this. At that, Zelgadis looked up quickly.

What kind of help?

You'll need two others, sorcerers. Preferably one who knows white magic and one who knows black, but both can be white, it doesn't matter that much, it's just for the sake of keeping balance, she said. They do have to be people you're close to, but you shouldn't have a problem there anyway, she said absently. Zel looked at her suspiciously.

What do you mean by that? he asked. Faith looked confused for a second, then her eyes widened.

Oh, um, nothing, she stammered.

You're not a very good liar, he growled, stepping forward. Faith held up her hands and glared at him.

Hey now! she exclaimed. Just because a girl knows some things is no reason to go getting violent; especially when she just got you what you've been looking for for so long! Zel paused. Look, I gave you my word I wouldn't harm you, and I give you my word that what you hold in your hand IS the cure you've been looking for. It will give you back your human body; a few years older, but otherwise just as it was. You said it yourself, I'm a lousy liar!

What are you? Zel asked her. She laughed and smiled.

Not human, not dragon, not god, not monster; just one of many stuck in between. Sort of like yourself, Zel, she said with a wink.

You are exceedingly vague, he muttered with a scowl. Her smile brightened as if he had just complimented her.

Why thank you! I've been taking lessons from a friend, she said with a giggle.

What friend? he asked almost reflexively. As soon as she replied, he'd wished he hadn't asked.

Now that, she said, striking a frighteningly familiar pose and stepping back to the shadows along the wall, Is a secret! Before Zel could react, she had stepped into the shadows and seemed to melt into them. He stood in stunned silence for a moment, then glanced at the papers he held in his hand. Quickly, he looked through them, and true to Faiths' word, they seemed to be exactly what he needed. He examined them more closely, looking for the hidden loophole that would render the spell useless; but he couldn't find one. As the realization dawned on him that he'd truly found his cure at last, that his search was really over, he drew a shaky breath and carefully stowed the papers away in a secure pouch under his tunic. His hands shook slightly as his Light spell led him back out of the cave. Stepping out into the bright sunlight of late afternoon, he looked around him.

Back to Seyruun,' he thought, still somewhat in shock. He got his bearings and turned to the path that would take him down to the long road he was going to have to follow. I have to get back to Seyruun!' And he took of at a run down the path.


End Notes:
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