A/N: This is my first attempt at writing for Amelia X Zelgadis, so there will probably be a whole lot of OOCness. For all the reader/writer fans of the pair, or of any of the characters that show up in this fanfic, please tell me if the characters are too OOC. I would love to do every character of Slayers as best I can, so don't be shy in giving me constructive criticism!
This fanfic is also inspired by Beauty and the Beast, but with a Slayers twist! I wanted to use elements of the story to lead this fanfic, rather than fill in the Slayers characters into the Disney's version. It'll make more sense once I get a couple chapters in.
I also wanted to make a disclaimer that another fanfic written earlier was also inspired by Beauty and the Beast. "Meganekko and the Chimera" was written by Nehszriah and is a great story that made the awesome connection before I did. If anyone else had also written a Beauty and the Beast fanfic for the Amelia X Zelgadis ship, please tell me so I can add you onto this disclaimer as well!
Time Frame: After Slayers Try but before Slayers Revolution and Evolution-R. So, spoilers for anyone who hasn't finished Slayers Try!
Chapter 1: The Enchanted Rose
The heat was smoldering, and the wind unforgiving in the large desert. Any normal human might have turned back, but one man had not. In fact, he had been walking through the desert for days, pushing through numerous sandstorms and battling various monsters that called the desert home.
Unlike a normal man, this man had blue skin as hard as stone and silver sharp wire for hair. Darker stones were scattered on his face and on the rest of his body. While baize robes covered him from head to toe, so that only his blue eyes and a few strands of silver wire were visible. Two dark brown belts were tied around his slim waist and were held together by a red talisman. A sword sheath hooked between the belts and within it held his magic sword.
The man's reason for risking his life in such a dangerous terrain was to follow a lead he had found in the city of Seyruun. The lead had been on a mystical crystal that held the power to break any curse. It was said to be hidden in a cave in the vast desert near Seyruun.
The book he had found the lead in was accredited by the Prince of Seyruun himself, a truly honest man that could be trusted to know such information. Not to mention the only lead he had found after returning the city's princess to Seyruun. The man had the itch to travel, and despite the Princess' ability to stay in the castle, he could not remain stationary with her.
The thought of the Princess brought the man's attention to his canteen, and the bracelet wrapped around it. A gift from his friend, the Princess, before he had left on his journey. She told him that it would serve as a symbol of Seyruun's protection wherever he went, and he could show it to gain an audience with her when he returned to the city.
The wind had finally died down, and the man rested atop the edge of a hill top. He eyed the bracelet for a moment more before he took a drink from the canteen and retied it to the belt on his waist. He had just started to relax when the presence of another set him on edge. He jumped to his feet and whirled around just in time to spot a familiar Monster in dark priest robes standing a few feet away from him. A long staff was in the Monster's left hand, further promoting the fake priest persona that he so enjoyed portraying.
"Hello, Zelgadis," the Monster greeted with a seemingly friendly smile and a wave.
"Xellos," Zelgadis sneered while grinding his teeth, "what are you doing here?"
"Well, now that is a – "
"Don't even say it," Zelgadis interrupted while holding up a hand and heaving an angry sigh, "I'm not in the mood for you today,"
"Surely, I'm not that bad," Xellos replied with a chuckle, "you're only exaggerating,"
"No, I'm not," Zelgadis ground out, "either tell me what you want or leave,"
"How cruel," Xellos remarked with a slight frown, "I've only been polite to you. Couldn't you show me the same regard, Zelgadis?"
"I could offer you a lot of things," Zelgadis answered with a toothy smile, "but politeness is not one of them,"
"Well, then I'll get straight to the point," Xellos replied cheerfully, his creased eyes hiding the mischievous glint within them, "I've found the cure to your curse!"
"You what?!" Zelgadis yelled before he took hold of the monster's robes, "why didn't you just say that to begin with?" he seethed as he held the monster above the ground.
"I wanted to get through pleasantries first!" Xellos offered, his cheerful smile still in place even when Zelgadis looked like he was about to rip him to pieces.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Zelgadis huffed before he let the monster go, "now, tell me about this cure,"
"Yes, of course," Xellos replied before he revealed the magenta irises beneath the creases of his eyes, "It has to do with the Ancient dragons,"
"The...Ancient dragons?" Zelgadis repeated. Valgaav was the only Ancient dragon he had ever seen, and he hadn't gotten the chance to learn more about their race once he was reborn. It would be years before Valgaav could give him any information, if he even remembered anything that had to do with his past life.
"Yes! I'm sure you remember how Filia could transform from her dragon form to a humanoid one?"
"Of course," Zelgadis replied, not quite sure what Xellos was getting at, but he would be patient. He knew Xellos enjoyed tip toeing around the main point, and holding it like a prized item from those who wanted the information.
"Then you remember that she often had trouble keeping to one form. This was because she had to learn how to control her transformations gradually, unlike the Ancient dragons," Xellos explained, "The Ancient dragons often used talismans of transformation to go from dragon to human. Once their bodies were used to the transformations, they wouldn't need the talisman anymore. Such talismans were rare to come by, of course, and when the Golden dragons hunted them to extinction they seemed to be lost forever. Until now, that is," he added, revealing his violet eyes once more with a smile.
"Until now?" Zelgadis pressed.
"I have found one of these rare talismans of transformation in an abandoned castle near Seyruun," Xellos answered, "if it could help Ancient dragons become human, surely it could give you the ability to transform into a human," he added with a wink.
Zelgadis could barely stand still at the thought that becoming human again was within his reach. But he drew back his excitement and contemplated what Xellos said. It was a vital tip, but Zelgadis knew that Xellos never did good deeds unless he could profit from it as well.
"Why are you telling me this?" Zelgadis asked suspiciously.
"Why, to help you! Of course!" Xellos replied with a smile, his violet eyes disappearing once more.
"I'm sure," Zelgadis drew out sarcastically, "but, what's in it for you?"
"The talisman!" Xellos answered with a grin, "after you use it, I'm sure you won't have any need for it. So, I'll take it into my possession. Not a lot of Monsters can transform into humans, and such a power would do wonders for the Monster race,"
While Zelgadis didn't like the idea of Monsters learning how to transform into humans, he couldn't deny that he wanted the talisman for himself. He was about to ask Xellos where the abandoned castle was, but paused when another thought crossed his mind.
"If you want the talisman, why didn't you just take it for yourself? Why tell me about it?" he asked the Monster. Xellos' smile fell slightly at his question before his smile returned and he shrugged.
"Because I can't get into the castle," he replied absentmindedly. Zelgadis nearly toppled over at his response before he glared at the Monster.
"And why do you think I can get in?" he barked back.
"Not just you," Xellos clarified with the shake of his index finger, "two people must enter the castle together. I've tried to go alone, and I always end up transported back to the castle entrance,"
"Then how do you know a talisman of transformation is there?" Zelgadis asked back angrily, already regretting even talking to the Monster.
"Because I saw it from the window," Xellos offered happily, "it was being held in a barrier in the highest room of the castle. The talisman is an enchanted stone shaped to resemble a rose. I only know it's real because I've seen that exact talisman used before,"
"So, two people need to go into this castle?" Zelgadis asked defeatedly, "are you saying you want me to go with you?" Xellos stared at the Chimara for a moment in confusion before he let out a chuckle.
"No, not at all!" Xellos replied, "It's a castle of the Ancient dragons, so a Monster like me could never get in – even if I did have another person with me. I came to you because I know you have a relationship with Princess Amelia of Seyruun! We need to convince Miss Amelia to come along with us,"
"R – Relationship?" Zelgadis parroted back with a blush, "what do you mean by 'relationship?'"
"Well, you're friends, aren't you?" Xellos asked, "friendship is good enough for this mission!"
"Friends...yes, er, of course, that's what you meant," Zelgadis replied, trying to hide the blush that still coated his stone cheeks.
"Then let's go to Seyruun and get Princess Amelia!" Xellos stated happily while clapping his hands together.
"Wait, I haven't even agreed to do this," Zelgadis pointed out, "I still have a lead that I need to follow here,"
"Oh, do you mean the lead on a mythical crystal that cures curses hidden in a mysterious cave in this desert?" Xellos asked curiously, "do you mean this crystal?" he added before presenting Zelgadis with a shimmering crystal that floated above the Monster's hand. Zelgadis' jaw dropped in disbelief, baffled that the crystal was the same one he had seen drawn in the books where he found the lead.
"How did you – " Zelgadis began.
"Don't worry about the how," Xellos waved him off, "but this crystal is useless to you. It can cure curses, but not your curse. Here, give it a try!" the Monster grinned before he tossed the crystal to Zelgadis. The Chimara caught the crystal in his hands before he waited for something to happen. Then he waited a bit more. Once five minutes passed, Zelgadis let out a defeated sigh.
"You're right," he stated before he handed the crystal back to Xellos.
"Keep it," Xellos told him, "think of it as a thank you gift for agreeing to do this for me. You never know when something like that might come in handy!"
Zelgadis surveyed the Monster suspiciously, but didn't press the issue. It wasn't often that Xellos gave anyone anything. He wasn't about to deny his generosity now. He tied the crystal around Amelia's bracelet. Xellos eyed the crystal for a moment before he grinned at Zelgadis.
"Let's find our Princess!"
A/N: Please be kind! I apologize for any OOCness!