Hiyas! This was just a little thingy I thought of last night around 3 am... The idea just sort of appeared there, so I decided to type it up. It seemed a cute idea at the time...

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Shira: Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the first annual Slayers Spelling Bee, 2002!!

Audience: *applause* *whistle* HOORAY!!!

Shira: I am Shira, and I will be tonight's judge. Now, let me introduce you to our competitors! We have Gourry Gabriev...

Gourry: Hi! *waves*

Shira: Lina Inverse...

Lina: *grin* Hi, all!

Shira: Xellos Metallium...

Xellos: *wink* *wave*

Shira: Filia Ul Copt...

Filia: Hello, everyone! *smile*

Shira: Zelgadis Greywords...

Zelgadis: ...

Shira: And Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun!

Amelia: *v-sign*

Audience: *round of applause*

Shira: Okay, here's how the Spelling Bee works. I will ask the first person in line to spell a word. If they can't spell it, they have to go sit down, and the next person tries to spell it. After someone gets the word right, I move on to another word, until there's only one person standing. Everybody understand?

Gourry: Uh... fifteen?

Lina: Gotcha!

Xellos: Sore wa himitsu desu!

Filia: Yes, ma'am!

Zelgadis: Sure.

Amelia: Understand!!

Shira: Good. The prize for this year's winner will be a five-foot gold trophy filled to the brim with gold coins!

Lina: $GOLD$

Shira: Okay, we'll go right along the line and start with Gourry. Gourry, spell pickle.

Gourry: What? You want me to spell it? Okay... um... pickle? That's... P-I-K-L... right?

Shira: Sorry, Gourry, but that's wrong. You'll have to go sit down...

Gourry: *shrug* *sits on a chair at the back of the stage*

Shira: Okay, Lina, spell pickle.

Lina: Sure. P-I-C-K-L-E.

Shira: That's correct!

Audience: *applause*

Shira: Okay, Xellos, spell namagomi.

Xellos: Sore wa himitsu desu! *wink*

Shira: Sorry... wrong... sit down...

Xellos: *sits on a chair at the back of the stage*

Shira: Filia, spell namagomi.

Filia: Easy! N-A-M-

Xellos: X...

Filia: *grits teeth* A-G-

Xellos: P...

Filia: *is angry* Shira-san, may I start over?

Shira: Yeah, you get one start over.

Filia: N-A-M-

Xellos: P...

Filia: A-

Xellos: D...

Filia: G-

Xellos: Z...

Filia: Z-- NO!!!

Shira: Sorry, Filia, but that's wrong...

Filia: *turns to Xellos* NAMAGOMI!!! What were you thinking!?!?!

Xellos: *wink* Sore wa himitsu desu!

Filia: Humph!!! *sits on a chair at the back of the stage*

Shira: Kaaay... Zelgadis, spell namagomi.

Zelgadis: N-A-M-A-G-O-M-I.

Amelia: Hooray Zelgadis-san!!

Shira: That's right!!

Audience: *applause*

Shira: Kay, Amelia, spell justice.

Amelia: *smile* All right! J-U-S-T-I-C-E. Justice!!

Audience: *applause*

Shira: That's right!

Amelia: *v-sign*

Shira: Okay, we've got three contestants out, and three left at the end of the first round. Now we start at the beginning again with Lina. Lina, spell Shabranigdo.

Lina: Right. Sure. Shabranigdo. Um...

Gourry: Shabadingo? I remember him!!!

Lina: Shabadingo... S-H-A-B-A-D-I-N-G-O. Shabadingo.

Shira: Lina... that wasn't the word.

Lina: Huh?

Shira: I asked you to spell Shabranigdo. You spelled Shabadingo.

Lina: *glares at Gourry* Gourry no baka!!!

Shira: Sorry, but you'll have to sit down...

Lina: *storms over* *conks Gourry* *sits down*

Shira: Okaay... Zelgadis, spell Shabranigdo.

Zelgadis: S-H-A-B-R-A-N-I-G-D-O.

Shira: That's correct.

Amelia: YAY!! Zelgadis-san!!!

Audience: *applause*

Shira: Amelia, spell evidence.

Amelia: Evidence. E-V-I-D-E-N-C-E. Evidence!!

Shira: That's right!!

Audience: *applause*

Zelgadis: You're pretty good at this...

Amelia: *blush* You too, Zelgadis-san!!

Shira: Okay, Zelgadis, spell chimera.

Zelgadis: C-H-I-M-E-R-A.

Amelia: HOORAY, Zelgadis-san!!

Shira: Yes!!

Audience: *applause*

Shira: Okay, Amelia, spell retribution.

Amelia: Right. Retribution. R-E-T-R-I-B-U-T-I-O-N. Retribution!

Shira: Absolutely correct!

Audience: *applause*

Amelia: *v-sign*

Shira: All right, Zelgadis, spell millennium.

Zelgadis: M-I- *looks over at excited Amelia* L-L- *thinks for a second* E-N- *decides* I-U-M. Millennium.

Audience: Aaawwwww...

Shira: Sorry, Zelgadis, but that's wrong. *is shocked he got it wrong*

Amelia: Poor Zelgadis-san!

Zelgadis: *shrug* *sits on a chair at the back of the stage*

Shira: But Amelia, if you can spell it right, you'll be our champion.

Amelia: Okaayy...

Shira: Now, Amelia, spell millennium.

Amelia: Right. Millennium. M-I-L-L-E-N-N-I-U-M. Millennium?

Shira: That's correct!!!

Audience: *wild applause*

Shira: Amelia, you are our champion in the first annual Slayers Spelling Bee, 2002!!

Amelia: Really? YAY!!!

Phibby: *wheels out the trophy on a big cart* *leaves*

Shira: There's your prize, Amelia!!

Amelia: YAY!!! *v-sign* Victory!!

AFTER-SHOW INTERVIEWS

GOURRY

Shira: What made you miss the very first word?

Gourry: *shrug* It sounded like that would be the way to spell pickle... P-I-K-L... pickle. Right?

Shira: Yeah, but that's the English language for you. Nothing's the way it seems.

Gourry: umm... sure...

LINA

Shira: So, how'd you get the wrong word, Lina?

Lina: Jellyfish brains said Shabadingo right after you told me to spell Shabranigdo, and then I guess I got a little confused and spelled Shabadingo instead, so it's all jellyfish's fault! I'm gonna strangle him later!!

XELLOS

Shira: Why didn't you try to spell the word, Xellos?

Xellos: Sore wa himitsu desu! *wink*

FILIA

Shira: What made you miss that word, Filia? You'd assume that you, of all people, could spell namagomi.

Filia: I know perfectly well how to spell namagomi, but that mazoku scum was tricking me by saying letters he knew were wrong. *flips her hair* He confused me.

Shira: So, you say you can spell namagomi?

Filia: Yes. N-A-M-A-G-O-M-I. Or you can spell it X-E-L-L-O-S, whichever way you prefer.

Shira: Right...

ZELGADIS

Shira: Why'd you miss that last word? It seemed almost as if you missed it on purpose.

Zelgadis: *looks around* Are you certain no one sees this interview?

Shira: *crosses fingers behind her back* Positive!

Zelgadis: Okay... It's because... well... Amelia seemed so excited about this, and I didn't want her to be disappointed by losing, so I lost on purpose so she could win.

Shira: *starry-eyed* That's so sweet!!!

Zelgadis: *blush* Just don't tell anyone, okay?

Shira: So kawaii!!!

AMELIA

Shira: So, Amelia, how does it feel to be the winner of the first annual Slayers Spelling Bee?

Amelia: Great! And yet... slightly disappointing...

Shira: Why?

Amelia: Zelgadis-san was doing so well! I wanted him to win!!

Shira: *grin* Ironic, isn't it?

Amelia: What is?

Shira: Nothiiinnngg.... *grin*

AFTER THE INTERVIEWS

Shira: Thanks for coming, everyone! Make sure to come next year for the second annual Slayers Spelling Bee, 2003!!