Day Three: Good Morning
The next day Lina learns that Sylphiel was able to make some progress on Zelgadis's body, so Lina decides to head to the chamber after her meal. They are keeping Zelgadis's body in one of the lower rooms of the palace. Not only for privacy, but for safety reasons. Lina also plans on bringing Gourry with her, in order to transfer Zelgadis over to him. Lina is ready to pass on this grumpy baton. The moody astral presence is back from hiding inside Lina since late last night, after all, Zelgadis isn't strong enough to keep his presence masked for long. Lina tries to cheer him up, but poor Zelgadis is stuck in glooms-ville.
The other Slayers plans are simple and not really eventful. Sylphiel is off to bake something for Gourry, while Pokota has a private audience with Phil about future relations. Perhaps they are meeting about somehow uniting there two kingdoms? Or perhaps they are discussing future trade between their countries? Whatever their business, it is boring. Speaking of boring, Amelia has some paper work to start, but she is determined to check on Zelgadis as soon as she can get a break.
Down in the room they are keeping Zelgadis's body Lina studies Sylphiel's handy work. Apparently the priestess is actually able to make some progress, but his body still isn't strong enough to sustain Zelgadis's astral presence. For a chimera body, it is amazing that the body has been able to hold up at all. Rezo knew what he was doing when he created this form for Zelgadis.
"Alright Gourry, I'm going to hand Zelgadis off to you." Lina says.
"Um, okay," Gourry answers. He doesn't move and is not exactly thrilled about being used by Lina. Being dressed as a girl was worse for him, but the way Lina is looking at him now reminds Gourry of those days long ago.
"Come closer," Lina says.
Gourry steps a little closer.
"Closer," Lina says again.
He moves a little closer, but is not close enough to smell what she had for breakfast.
"A little bit closer," Lina motions with her finger for him to bend down a little; it is as if she is going to tell him a secret.
Gourry obediently complies.
At the last moment Lina forcefully lets out a mouthful of air onto Gourry. It smells like breakfast and it doesn't smell pleasant. Smelling breakfast being prepared is much more appealing than smelling the aftertaste from someone's mouth.
Gourry coughs as tears gather in his eyes. "Lina, your breath smells terrible and that was mean."
"Yeah, I know," Lina says. "Now if you excuse me I'm going shopping!" She quickly leaves a bewildered Gourry in the room as she dreams of new earrings. This is the reward to herself for babysitting Zelgadis last night.
Gourry decides to find Sylphiel, he vaguely remembers the priestess mentioning something about cooking some food for him. He desperately wants to rid himself of the smell plastered in his nose with something eatable.
It isn't long before Pokota also wanders down into the Zelgadis chamber. He is looking for Amelia and figures that she will be down here checking on Zelgadis, but he is left disappointed. Staring at the chimera, Pokota briefly begins to feel a twinge of jealousy. The feeling is short and he doesn't dwell on it. If Amelia likes Zelgadis so much than what does it matter to him? It's not like he likes Amelia, right? It's not like they have anything in common, right? Pokota turns to leave in mild frustration, but before he can, an invisible trickster priest begins experiment number two. This time Xellos is going to test out Zelgadis's weak vacant chimera body.
Pokota doesn't know what hits him as his soul is forcibly sucked from his stuffed animal form into a dark jar. From the jar Xellos easily transfers the prince into Zelgadis. For good measure, Xellos picks up Pokota's old stuffed body and fazes from the room right as the prince starts to remove himself from the magical machine.
"What happened, what's going on?" Pokota says with a voice that sounds like Zelgadis. He stares down at himself in horror, this can't be right. "I'm Zelgadis? That doesn't make any sense, I'm not Zelgadis I'm Pokota." He says in panic. Whoever is playing this trick on him better be laughing because Pokota certainly isn't. Pokota is lucky that he still knows who he is; after all, he has no comparison or 'brain' to tell him otherwise.
"Miss Lina? Mister Gourry? Are you still down there?" Amelia's voice calls from the hall. Again the coincidences constantly occurring in this nightmare is astounding.
Pokota freezes as horror grips him once more; he doesn't want to be seen like this. For a moment he just stares at the door, unable to move for the fear and confusion that is consuming his mind. As the doors handle jiggles Pokota is forced back into reality. After waking from his befuddled trance, Pokota attempts to reorganize his thoughts. Searching high and low, the prince tries to find his body or at least a place to hide from Amelia.
"Zelgadis is that you?" Amelia asks as she looks at Zelgadis's back.
Pokota doesn't say anything; he doesn't know what to say. Their blue eyes lock onto one another. Amelia doesn't seem to notice her friend's confusion and runs forward giving Pokota a loving hug.
"Oh Zelgadis, Sylphiel's healing spell worked, that's wonderful. I knew that as long as we all tried our best nothing bad could happen to you," Amelia nearly dances as she grips him. "I'm so glad you didn't die, Mister Zelgadis."
At first Pokota doesn't react, he doesn't know how to, but he soon finds himself hugging Amelia back, as the happy girls concern and love washes over him. It feels wonderful. For a while they stay like this in each other's arms. Amelia is shocked at Zelgadis's show of affection, but is enjoying every minute of it. As she studies his eyes she can't help but see a difference. His eyes are not nearly as cold, they are warm and cheerful. Amelia is amazed and realizes that being at deaths doorstep must have had an impact on Zelgadis. Nearly dying because of a cure probably hit him hard. Anyone who lives through that is going to need a hug that's for sure.
Slowly Amelia and Zelgadis stop their embrace. Before Pokota has a chance to explain himself, Amelia remembers her unfinished paper work. Now she wants to get her chores done as soon as possible in order to spend more time with Zelgadis. She also wants to break the awkward silence between them and push away the fact that she is actually hugging Mister Zelgadis.
"I really need to get back to work, I promise that I'll see you later alright Mister Zelgadis," Amelia says as she begins to blissfully skip away.
"Wait," Pokota calls after her.
Amelia stops and turns towards him, maybe she won't have to do her paper work. "Is something wrong?"
"Would- would it be alright if I came with you?" Pokota asks, maybe being Zelgadis isn't such a bad thing.
"Of course!" Amelia says grabbing his hand and leading him to her study. The princess is so thrilled by Zelgadis's interest that she doesn't consider the oddity of taking his hand. Normally Zelgadis would refuse such a friendly gesture, but Amelia justifies her actions in a heartbeat.
In the study Amelia and Pokota set to work. The disguised prince helps Amelia with her paper toil and enjoys the quiet company the princess is offering him. Before the body switch, he was planning on doing this with Amelia anyway, but now in the form of Zelgadis he is rewarded by the glimmering gaze Amelia offers. Amelia must only look at Zelgadis like this and Pokota is thrilled to have her look at him like that right now.
But then again, he thinks to himself, she isn't looking at him with those caring eyes, she is looking at Zelgadis with those eyes. As Pokota finishes reading over the last document he clenches the pen in frustration, successfully snapping the pen in two. Pokota isn't use to this body. As a stuffed animal with no bones or muscles he can't break a pencil with two fingers if he tries. Unless he uses magic.
"Amelia?" Pokota asks.
"Yes, Mister Zelgadis?" Amelia replies.
"I know this is a strange question, but what do you think of Pokota?" The prince can't help but ask. He wants to know, and this is his best and only opportunity to do it.
"What about him," Amelia is thoroughly confused, but doesn't want to let it show. The happiness in Zelgadis's eyes is enough to satisfy the princess. She likes the new look in his eyes.
"Well, I was just wondering whether or not you liked him," Pokota is trying to come up with a Zelgadis like thing to say, while getting the answers he wants. "After all he is a prince . . . and you're a princess." Pokota grabs one of the documents and points at it. "It would be good for the countries of Seyruun and Taforashia."
Amelia smiles, she figures it is in Zelgadis's personality to talk business. "Well, Mister Pokota is a wonderful prince and I'm sure he'll do wonderful things for Taforashia. I suppose a contract between our two countries would bring justice and prosperity to a lot of people, but I'm not sure I want to spend my life with him. I'm not really ready to make a decision like that. But when the time comes I know daddy will support any decision I make." Amelia has stares dancing in her eyes as she thinks of her happily ever after.
"It's because he's a stuffed animal isn't it," Pokota asks as he turns his gaze down onto the paper in his hand. He isn't really looking at it, but he rather look at the white parchment than Amelia at this moment.
Amelia can't ignore and dismiss Zelgadis's strange behavior any longer. His personality just isn't adding up. "Of course it's not about his stuffed body; I could care less about what a person looks like on the outside. I thought you knew that Mister Zelgadis?"
Pokota can't help but feel offended slightly, it's as if she's calling his insides (Pokota's insides) unsatisfactory, but this is only because he is comparing himself with his Zelgadis shell. He stares down at Zelgadis's blue hands and grits his teeth. Pokota realizes that he shouldn't be comparing himself to Zelgadis, he shouldn't even be playing around with this body at the moment, and it isn't right or fair to Amelia. Pokota sadly gazes at the princess. It's only recently that he notices how much he cares about her, she has the same ideas and principles he does. They both love their countries and are devoted to doing what is right no matter what. But he can't be himself, while he is stuck in a form that is not his own. It's just one giant lie.
The false prince stands abruptly from his chair, "Amelia, I'm sorry but . . ." Pokota stops as his head begins to spin. Something isn't right, but he wants Amelia to know the truth. "You need . . . to know . . . that,"
Amelia stands from her desk and quickly makes her way towards Zelgadis. His quivering hands and shaking head doesn't go unnoticed by Amelia and she asks, "What's wrong? Are you feeling alright Mister Zelgadis?"
"I'm fine, but you need to know. . . that you're an amazing person and that I'm willing to wait and that I'll be happy even . . ." Pokota doesn't have the opportunity to finish as his body collapses onto the hard ground.
"Mister Zelgadis! Mister Zelgadis!" Amelia cries as she races towards her friend's fallen form. She calls for some help and the guards quickly hook Zelgadis' body back into the machine.
Silently, Amelia blames herself. She should have known. He just isn't strong enough and yet she let him leave, but she just didn't know. She couldn't have known.
With one last silent sigh Amelia grips her fists in determination. In a flash, the unyielding young woman makes her way out of the room in search of Sylphiel. It is almost lunch time so it shouldn't be difficult to locate her.
Meanwhile, Gourry has been enjoying Sylphiel and Zelgadis's company. Zelgadis is in a better mood, even with Gourry constantly almost blowing his secret. Gourry keeps talking to Zelgadis out loud instead of inside his mind. Lucky for Zelgadis, anytime something strange comes out of Gourry's mouth, Sylphiel only smiles and nods at Gourry. Zelgadis is positive that this girl must have a huge crush on Gourry, because of her abundant amount of patients and constant hue of blushing red. In an attempt to be kind, Zelgadis asks Gourry whether or not the swordsman likes Sylphiel. Gourry happily answers in the positive, which forces Zelgadis to consider whether or not Gourry even realizes the implications of the phrase. In the end Zelgadis accepts the fact that Gourry is a simple and happy idiot and leaves the issue at that. The astral spirit is sure Gourry will be fine, whatever his decision.
Immediately following Xellos's experiment with Pokota; the Mazoku begins to implement experiment number three. This time he wants to test out Zelgadis's transfer technique for himself, by forcing the hand of fate slightly. Fate happily allows Xellos to implement his plan. Destiny isn't working the way it is supposed to anyway, as has been apparent for the last couple of days. The trickster priest wants to know just how much control Zelgadis has over who he possesses.
Once Xellos becomes uninterested with Zelgadis and Gourry's endearing mind games, he begins the secret operation he is happily referring to as 'oops I fell'.
With his invisible staff Xellos trips Gourry, forcing the man to blindly fall on top of Sylphiel. Normally the swordsman isn't so clumsy, but even he can't avoid an invisible force orchestrated by Xellos. Sylphiel and Gourry are shocked, while Zelgadis curses his bad luck once again. Gourry hears Zelgadis's curses as he carefully gets up and helps Sylphiel to her feet.
"I'm so sorry Sylphiel, I don't know what happened?" Gourry says as he looks around the room. He is actually searching for Zelgadis, but no matter how many times he thinks about the blue man he can't find him. Gourry has figured out that he can talk to Zelgadis anytime he wants to inside his mind, even though he still doesn't quite understand the process.
"It's alright," Sylphiel says. She stares at Gourry as he searches his brain for Zelgadis. The concentration he is showing on his face is quite a sight. "Is something wrong, Gourry dear? Did you lose something?"
"I can't find Zelgadis, I think he fell out." Gourry says as he continues his search. The space in his brain and soul is quite large so he has a lot of places to look. That and it's empty.
Sylphiel is thoroughly confused now, she can't ignore Gourry's comment this time and she certainly can't excuse it as him being absent minded again. "But, Gourry Dear, Mister Zelgadis is in that machine, remember."
Gourry doesn't really hear her and continues to yell for Zelgadis, out loud and inside his mind at the same time. Empty cold silence meets his senses and with it, a quiet dread as well. "Lina isn't going to be happy," Gourry finally says.
"Are you sure you're alright Gourry Dear?"
Gourry smiles down at Sylphiel, "I'm fine Sylphiel, don't worry about it."
Sylphiel continues to cook as Gourry watches, hoping that Zelgadis will speak up soon.
Amelia bursts into the room as two clenched fists of justice plead for Sylphiel's help. The three slayers waste no time in rushing down to the test chamber and Sylphiel does what she can for the crippled chimera body.
"What happened?" Gourry asks Amelia.
"Don't you know? Miss Lina put Mister Zelgadis's soul back into his body. So I was spending some time with him this morning. But, his body wasn't ready and he collapsed in the study. Luckily we were able to bring him here in time, he should be alright. He isn't going to die again." Amelia tells him as she grips a hand in determination.
Gourry's confusion is obvious, "But Amelia, Lina never put Zelgadis back in that thing, I've had him this whole time."
Amelia doesn't know what to do with this conflicting information. Would Gourry forget something like this, would he lie, or is he telling the truth.
Gourry continues. "Lina mentioned that 'that' Zelgadis," he points to the body. "Wasn't ready for the real Zelgadis."
"But-but that can't be, he was right there with me?" Amelia looks at Zelgadis's body. She knows that she wasn't dreaming, but how else do you explain her story. It's not like anyone else saw them together.
"Do you think Zelgadis can be in more than one place at a time," Gourry asks. "I mean his body is here, but he was also inside my head. Maybe he's somewhere else too."
Xellos is laughing somewhere along with the Lord of Nightmares.
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way Mister Gourry." Amelia says. She is actually positive that Zelgadis can't be possessing more than one body at the same time. All of this leads to only one crossroads, a road Amelia doesn't really want to consider. If Zelgadis is inside Gourry, than that means someone else was inside Zelgadis when she was with him.
Sylphiel turns her attention towards her two companions; none of their conversation makes sense to her. She is about to ask them what they are talking about when a guard enters the room announcing lunch. The group hurries off, but the priestess is determined to get some answers.
She gets her answers, but not in the way she is expecting.
Zelgadis regains consciousness, while inside Sylphiel, right when the group settles down for their meal. Pokota is there as well but he is strangely quiet, even after Lina steals some food off his plate. The sorceress is also sporting a new set of bright yellow earrings, not that anyone notices.
"Gourry why did you trip?" Zelgadis asks as his eyes begin to focus on the food in front of him. Imagine Zelgadis's shock when he see's Gourry eating next to him.
After hearing Zelgadis's voice inside her head, Sylphiel swivels in her chair, looking right and left for the source. At this point Zelgadis is through panicking; he isn't surprised by his continued misfortune. This twisting play on his fate is getting all of the screams torn out of him for the time being. The Lord of Nightmares is going to need some new material to get more reactions from him.
Meanwhile, Zelgadis hopes that someday he'll be able to look back on this and laugh, but today there are only two people laughing.
"Sylphiel, don't panic, I'm inside of you right now," Zelgadis says.
In hindsight, Zelgadis needs to choose his words more carefully, but what's done is done. Without delay the normally quiet young woman screams, hugging herself close and searching the nearby area. Maybe she is just hearing things, or maybe she is simply going crazy. At least she hopes that these are the reasons.
Watching carefully, Xellos is quite pleased with the results. The priest notes that Zelgadis is able to gain consciousness much sooner than previous times, which means Zelgadis is getting stronger. Moreover, Xellos has now confirmed that Zelgadis can easily be manipulated while in this vulnerable state. Since he has no body to anchor him, Zelgadis freely flows from one vessel to the next. While Xellos needs to use a Hell Master's jar to transfer souls, Zelgadis can do it without a jar. One might think that Xellos is done with his experimentation, but as far as the Mazoku is concerned, he is just getting started. Little does the Mazoku know, but the Lord of Nightmares is using the monsters antics to orchestrate her own insane game with destiny.
Everyone in the room turns their attention to the screaming priestess. Gourry is the first to speak up. "You found Zelgadis! That's a relief." Leave it to the idiot swordsman to figure out what is happening.
"I-I what?" Sylphiel says stuttering.
Lina and Amelia glance at one another, each with their own worries ricocheting off the walls of their minds. Lina is wondering if the cat is out of the bag, while Amelia is now confirming her worst suspicions. The Zelgadis she talked with this morning is definitely not the Zelgadis waking up in Sylphiel.
"Looks like we have some explaining to do," Lina says.
As quickly as possible, Lina explains Zelgadis's condition to those present at the lunch table. King Phil is slightly disappointed that Amelia didn't tell him the truth, but after looking at the embarrassment on her face he decides that his daughter is doing it out of respect for her friend. King Phil admires that quality in his daughter so he lets the little fib slide. It's a good thing he doesn't remember Amelia's scream in the bathtub from yesterday.
Pokota doesn't say a word, he asks a few questions for clarification, but other than that he remains silent. He doesn't understand what happened to him earlier and he isn't about to admit his actions.
Pokota's silence doesn't stop Amelia from describing her experience though. Recounting all that she can recall, the ruffled princess explains how she was with Zelgadis this morning. Pokota is relieved that Amelia doesn't recount the exact words he spoke to her with a sigh of relief. The princess also apologizes to Zelgadis for letting his body out of the machine. At first Lina doesn't want to believe Amelia's story, but Sylphiel and Gourry back her up.
Scratching her head, Lina attempts to keep a cool head. Is the world going insane? "Zel you weren't the one with Amelia right?" Lina asks for clarities sake.
"I was with Gourry and Sylphiel the whole time," Zelgadis says through the priestess. Sylphiel is trying not to freak out, but she is doing a poor job of it. Part of her wants cast a Flow Break or Megido Flare spell to get rid of him. She doesn't want to be possessed against her will.
"Well than who was with Amelia?" Lina asks. No one answers, but Pokota is squirming in his seat. "Say Pokota, you've been strangely quiet, do you know anything?"
"Why would you say that?" Pokota says. He is trying to keep a straight face, but with everyone staring at him he is finding the task to be nearly impossible.
"Come to think of it, Mister Zelgadis's body did ask a lot of questions about you Mister Pokota." Amelia says softly thinking back on the words she shares with the possessed chimera.
Lina leans across the table and gives Pokota a suspicious glare. Luckily Pokota's interrogation is cut short by Sylphiel, who is growing impatient.
"Um, Miss Lina, I didn't ask for this," Sylphiel says. The normally docile priestess clenches her fists together in determination. Zelgadis may be a friend, but she doesn't like being in this situation at all. "Please tell me you know how to transfer him."
Lina grins slyly, as Pokota lets out a sigh of relief. He is off the hook, for now.
"Sure there is, weren't you paying attention?" Lina says. Actually Lina has left this portion of Zelgadis's story out, but Sylphiel doesn't know that. During Lina's explanation, Sylphiel is more concerned about her current predicament, than paying attention to minor details.
Lina briskly grabs Gourry by the arm and forces him inches in front of Sylphiel's face. Several hues of red erupt across her face and Gourry can't help but feel slightly flustered as well. The swordsman briefly realizes that he actually might have feelings for the priestess, but he dismisses it as irrational because Lina is forcing him to do something against his will again. As Gourry and Sylphiel's breath mingles together Zelgadis is forced to enter Gourry once again. Lina is purposefully holding her breath this time around; she isn't about to take any chances.
Xellos is tempted for a moment to tickle Lina so she sneezes or something, but decides against it. Gourry is easier to manipulate and there is the slight chance that Lina might figure out what is going on with his 'experiments' if he isn't careful.
Zelgadis's world blacks out once more.
Authors Note: Xellos is having too much fun.