Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers and at the pace I continue to write at, I probably never will. If I did I would have added another season to the series to introduce some of the coolest, though barely mentioned nor seen characters to everyone. This list includes Luna, Xellas, and my personal favorite, the Lord of Nightmares! How much wilder could Slayers get with those three bad asses mixed with Lina? Sigh. We'll never know.

King Philionel surveyed the damage to the palace that Lina had caused. It was not nearly as bad as the time Lina had actually destroyed part of Seyruun to save all of it from the floating piece of land. Nor was it quite as bad as the time Amelia had destroyed one of the towers when trying to determine whether Lina was a 'Good Guy' or not. But even as he grimaced to himself over the cost of fixing it, he knew he couldn't exactly get Lina to pay for all of it. Nor was he certain he could get her to fix it. He had heard about her technical drafting skills, and there was no way in the nine hells he would commission her to even try.

He looked over to where she stood, wringing her hands and biting her bottom lip. He should be yelling at her for harming his eldest child, yet the comradery between them stated quite plainly that Lina was used to blasting his daughter whenever she got out of line, and that his daughter was quite used to being blasted, and that a simple sorry on Lina's part would suffice.

And she had apologized too. And the young white magic priestess Sylphiel had healed his daughter, so Lina was supposedly in the clear as far as Gracia was concerned. Add in the bottle of wine that Gracia was currently drinking from, and it seemed she had almost forgotten the whole offense.

In fact Lina was more afraid of what he'd say about the damage she'd done to the building than the damage done to his daughter.

He sighed.

What was a pacifist like himself to do in a moment like this?

Another sigh.

He shook his head as if to clear thoughts of choking her out of his mind. He'd be the pacifist king that he was and admonish her for using her destructive magicks in the palace and then he'd set to having the damage fixed. Though perhaps a little punishment would be in order. Like no eating in the palace for a week? It would probably even cover his costs for fixing the palace. He chuckled to himself as he imagined her reaction.

She'd probably rather pay for the cost of fixing the damage.

And that would come from her blowing up all the bandits that were in any close proximity to his kingdom, thereby destroying more of his countryside that was used to feed his kingdom. No, telling her she couldn't eat at the palace was more detrimental to his kingdom. But what would suffice as a punishment?

King Phil looked at her again as he spoke up. "So Miss Lina. What do you think your punishment should be?"

Her eyes widened at the word punishment. She tapped her chin as she thought. "Pay for some of the cost?" She asked cautiously, hoping.

"And just where would the money come from?" He asked.

Amelia spoke up from where she sat next to her sister. "Maybe she could do some Good Samaritan stuff. You know, like helping out the temples or something; for at least a week.

Naga laughed. "OH HO HO HO HO HO HO HO! Lina help people? The only person she's good at helping is herself."

"You're one to talk." Lina responded, feeling very put upon.

"I'm a princess whether you like it or not. So just deal with it."

"And I met the prince you told me to meet. You know, you really destroyed my dreams."

"Life isn't pretty. You above all should know that. Besides, I see that you've found someone better than a prince. And here I thought you were going to wander alone for the rest of your life."

"Well Naga, seeing as I've attracted practically all of the Seyruun royal family to me, I would have to say that you're obviously wrong."

Naga just laughed again. "OH HO HO HO HO HO HO HO! Lina you have definitely developed some self-confidence since we last met, but perhaps that came with the chest you seem to be so happily sporting. I always told you to grow up, and I guess now you have."

Lina only grumbled, the dark looks she was sending Naga indicating that Naga was heading back into the dangerous red zone of Lina's temper.

Amelia spoke up when she realized that Lina was about to do something injurious to her sister again. "So Gracia, what have you been doing all this time?"

Naga looked thoughtful for a moment as she sipped wine from her glass. "Well, I finally managed to find all of my clones."

Everyone in the room looked shocked at this admission, except Lina who only sighed. "And where were they?"

Naga smiled, "In Zefilia actually. They had mentioned that the wine there was the best, which it was of course. But considering the tab they had built up without any bandit slayage and no funds, I knew I had to put them to work, especially since I'd get stuck with their bill in every town they visited that I happened to appear in afterwards."

"How'd you manage that?"

"By having them set up hot springs resorts. They do have good taste of course, and have my ability to recognize a good spring when they see one. So far I have eleven resorts all around the world, with my shadow clone running the more prudish one of course. I've done quite a bit of traveling since we last parted ways, but I figure it's time for me to settle down, and what better way to do so then have your own quality business."

"But don't you want the throne?" Lina asked incredulously. "I mean you are the crown princess."

Amelia and King Phil looked between Lina and Gracia perhaps also wanting to know the answer. "I don't know yet." Naga looked to her sister. "I mean, I don't think my husband is up for being a prince, and I'm certain the council would not stand for an ordinary man as a prince. And my children aren't old enough to influence my decision. And I could never love any other man." Naga smiled, a far off look in her eyes.

"Hold on a minute. I can deal with you setting yourself up with some hot springs deal, but married… with children? That's something I can't see ever happening, especially with you!" Lina exclaimed, almost exasperated.

Naga only chuckled, saving the ears of everyone present. "Now now Lina, just because you'll never grow up, doesn't mean others won't either. I never planned on marrying Finn, but it turns out that he's what I was searching for. I'm happy with life as far as it has taken me. I was never certain if I would find happiness. But I have, and it comes with my husband, my children and the rest of my family being happy.

"As for me wanting to be Crown Princess of Seyruun, I think my sister's doing a fairly good job so far, and far be it from me to ruin that just for a title, especially since I can always get money from my family if I ever truly need it. And my children will always be able to depend on my family as well as Finn's." Naga then turned back to her father. "For now Daddy, I think we'll just say I'm still in limbo. Amelia needs to stay here anyway to ensure the safety of the twins, and she seems to be good at what she does as crown princess anyway. I'm sure Seyruun doesn't need another wayward princess vying for the throne."

King Phil sniffed a bit at this admission from his eldest daughter and nodded. "Anything you choose Gracia, we'll always support you." There was a moment of silence while everyone in the room digested the information before King Phil bear-hugged both his daughters. After he let go, he turned a stern eye to Lina. "Let's not forget your punishment. One week of service to the kingdom."

"One week!" Lina whined. "How about three days?"

Naga spoke up. "How about as long as it takes to fix the palace?"

Lina pouted more. "But that'll take forever!"

"You did plan to stay until a little after the babes were born. And besides it may not take a week for the contractors to fix up the damage," Amelia spoke up.

"How about as long as it takes the contractors to fix up the damage, and after a week if they're not done, then you don't have to continue." King Phil suggested.

Lina looked at him for a moment before nodding. "Ok, but only two hours a day."

Amelia snorted in response. "Ha! That's not enough time to do any type of service properly. I say eight, which is as long as the contractors will work in a day."

"Four, and that's as much as I'll willingly do." At this point, Lina had folded her arms over her chest.

King Phil nodded. "It's a deal. Okay Miss Lina whatever needs to be done in the city for four hours a day, you will do in service to the kingdom. And this will be for either a week or as long as the contractors are working, whichever is a shorter time span. Agreed?"

Lina only sighed before nodding once more, knowing that somehow she was getting gypped, but also knowing it was better not to argue with three of Seyruun's royal family present. And there would have been no haggling if it had been her sister. "Agreed."

"Good, then you start tomorrow. And if you're working when Amelia goes into labor, we'll get you," King Phil said.

Lina's eyes gleamed at that, in which Naga quickly responded knowing Lina a little too well for Lina's wellbeing. "You will have to make up the time you lost if for any reason the contractors finish early."

"When did you get so conniving?"

"When my copies tried pulling the same thing you're trying to, and it won't work. My husband's a copper pincher, and he's rubbed off a bit on me."

"Then how do you get away with drinking all that you do, and that of your copies?"

"I did say I found all my copies in Zefilia."

"Yeah, so."

"Well Finn is a winemaker there, in fact the best there is."

"Is?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Meaning he's still there?"

"Yep. Oh yeah and your sister says you better get your butt home right quick. She's tired of waiting for you to show up."

Lina only paled a bit. "Anything else?"

"Nothing truly pertinent. Just get home and soon."

"Crap."

xxxx

Xellos figured it was finally time to check up on Lina again. He was avoiding the palace lately as Amelia's long lost sister was hanging around. He wasn't sure which was worse of the two, the crazy justice/life speeches, or the hideously annoying (even for him) and bone-chilling laugh. Add both of those to the insane Seyruun King and it was more than he could handle. It had been a few days since the incident with Lina's death and quick rebirth, and he wanted to see her progress.

As he located her image on the astral plane he realized she was in front of one of the Temples of Ceified. He found that quite odd, and so to determine the reason, phased in at the top of the temple to determine exactly what Lina was doing. And he nearly cackled out loud.

There she was, doing community service.

He snickered to himself as he phased in again standing in the doorway of the temple. From there he could hear exactly what was going on. He learned that Lina was ladling stew into bowls for the poor and the beggars of Seyruun, though there were very few in such a prosperous city. He could have phased in next to her, but decided to walk up to her instead. There was no reason to let everyone in the world know who and what he was.

"I never thought in all of my life that I'd see you doing something for society. Did your destruction of the city finally catch up to you, or are you actually just being a Good Samaritan?"

Lina turned and glared at him mumbling something incoherent under her breath.

"I thought so. I suppose that's what happens when you can't phase shift like me. So what are you doing exactly and why?"

Lina sighed before answering him. "I kind of blew up Naga and part of the castle with her, and this is my punishment."

"Naga?"

"Yeah, the big breasted bimbo over there giving all the orders to everyone," Lina responded pointing in a vague direction behind her.

"You mean the one with that mind-shattering laugh."

"I wouldn't have thought that that would bother you."

Xellos shook his head as if trying to shake the echoes of the laugh out. "That laugh could bother a banshee. Are you sure she isn't one?"

Lina could only laugh in response.

"So, this is your penance?"

"Yeah, it's better than some of the things they planned. And at least I only have a few days more of it. I swear, if I didn't care as much, I'd just leave."

"You could you know. Just walk out, or if you ask me nicely I can phase you out."

"I can't. First, I want to see the twins, second, I can't possibly leave Gourry like that, and third, I really should learn not to be so reckless. It was a reaction to her goading me. I'm not used to it anymore, and I kind of just reacted. I only wish I didn't have to stand out here in the sweltering heat serving cruel gruel to smelly beggars with stupid come-ons and be annoyed by my favorite trickster priest."

Though, she thought, it wasn't really that hot, and there was a nice breeze blowing through. And the cruel gruel wasn't really gruel; it was more of a stew with beef, potatoes, and carrots with some type of savory herb sauce. It was cruel because she was hungry and Naga kept smacking her hand every time she tried to take a bite. And the beggars weren't really that smelly; the temples in Seyruun provided an area for the poor to bathe at least once if not twice a week, and today was one of those days. And Xellos wasn't really being that annoying, in fact he was making the time go by faster, and she appreciated that at least.

"Favorite?" Xellos asked after a slight pause on his part.

"Okay, the only one I know and tolerate."

"Oh come now Lina, you don't need to explain yourself to me. I know your true feelings."

"Well you should, considering how you use me all the time."

"Not nearly in all the ways I'd like." He smiled his devilish grin.

Lina paled a bit, and then turned back to the next beggar to ignore Xellos as best she could.

The toothless old man she served smiled at her in thanks then spoke. "I agree with him young lady. I'd quickly trade this bowl of stew for a night with you. You redheads are fiery in and out of bed."

"Why you dirty old man!" Lina growled using the ladle to smack the old man on top of the head. Then she turned back to Xellos. "And don't you start either. I'm happy with Gourry and that's that! Why are you here anyway? You left right before Naga even showed up, and you still haven't explained things to me. You know why She manifested, you're not telling me, and I still can't remember exactly what happened in the dream except the confirmation that I need to go to Her temple."

"When do I ever tell you everything? And besides I don't really know why. That's why I left, to do some research on my own."

"So what'd you find out?"

"I'm not going to discuss it until we are alone. And when is that going to be?"

"Well, I'm not leaving here until the twins are born, and then I have to head back to Zefilia. I need to speak to sis, and hopefully leave Gourry there with her."

"So how long will that take?"

"I don't know. I just can't wait to see the twins. That's my main goal. I wonder what they'll look like."

"With any luck, they won't look at all like their father. Or at least some of the major changes on him won't rub off onto them."

"I don't know, I think it'd be pretty neat. I mean, they'd be pretty powerful sorcerers if they got any of Zel's genes. The stone flesh with all the pebbles on the skin might suck, but the demonic speed and magical power would be great."

Xellos chuckled. "Do you wonder if Zelgadis has a pebble in the right place?"

"Ewww! I don't want to think about that. He's my friend… He's… You mean you haven't peeked in on them?"

"Oh dear Lady no! The two of them, sex, no way in the nine hells!"

"I thought you were a pervert."

"Maybe only where you're concerned, but no way with Amelia involved. I can just imagine her singing Life is Wonderful during the moment of her orgasm. Dear Lady of Nightmares, I think I'd die of overexposure." Xellos said as he began shuddering in small convulsions even as he thought about it.

"Well at least I now know one way to kill you."

Xellos glared. "You wouldn't dare."

Lina only smiled as she began singing Amelia's favorite song about life. And with that Xellos phased back out.

AN: Ok, I'm a very lazy bum with no thought process what-so-ever, and the shortness of this chapter bothers me, but the length of time between chapters bothers me even more, so here it is in it's unvarnished glory. There will be a point to this story, I promise, I just haven't gotten there yet. And by then we'll all see what happens next time. The twins will be born, just so you all will know what they look like, and Lina will finally be on the road. Thank the Lady of Nightmares. Meaning there will be a plot! Yay!

On other notes, I just had to put the pebble comment in there. I've read way too many bad fics with Zelgadis having a pebble in the right place for the pleasure increase of his women. Like Rezo would really be that generous to poor Zelly!