A/N: I wrote this chapter in school with two of my friends, both named Sydney and Pete, who asked me if I would put them in my story. They aren't my closest friends, but they're both really nice and I appreciate their friendship. Pete is pretty much the jokester in school, who can make everyone laugh practically whenever he wants to. Sydney is one of those crazy softball/volleyball, sports girls that does every girl-related sport, and she can get a little snobby at times, but other than that you can tell that she's a kind person. Anyway, please R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Slayers or their characters. Have fun reading this chapter. ^-^

Chapter 24: Zel's Recovery! (YAY!)

The next morning, Amelia walks downstairs to see Zelgadis sitting in a chair near the couch, as Gourry is currently occupying said couch with his snores. The chimera chooses not to say anything, and soon afterwards, the rest of their group trickles into the room.

When he confirms that everyone is in the room, and Sylphiel has woken Gourry up, Zelgadis says, "Xellos confirmed my suspicions about who kidnapped Lina. It was Beast Master Zelas' doing."

After a collective gasp, a sigh comes from Xellos. "Can't get anything past ole Zelly-poo these days. We had to admit it," he complains. He then sighs and disappears in a shower of purple sparkles.

Filia glares angrily at the spot Xellos vanished at for a few seconds before also sighing. "Guys, I'm afraid I'll have to go. Little Val has probably been tor—" With a nervous glance at Amelia, she revises her sentence. "—slightly overwhelmed by Amelia's father's size."

Amelia, ever so observant after that first comment, raises an eyebrow and barks, "Miss Filia, my father is not torturous! He's kind, brave, smart—!"

"I wouldn't say 'smart,'" Zelgadis mutters under his breath. When Amelia turns to him with a murderous glare, he flinches away and says hurriedly, "Okay, okay! Sorry! King Phillionel is a very king, brave, and...s-smart man!"

Amelia obviously isn't satisfied.

Raising his hands to cover his face, he goes down the route of flattery. "Princess Amelia, you look absolutely lovely this morning. How did you manage to find the time to part your hair so perfectly?"

Amelia beams brightly at him. "I forgive you, Mister Zelgadis! And actually, it naturally does that, no matter how many times I try to part it differently. But I'm glad you've learned your lesson!"

"Threatening doesn't help," Sylphiel murmurs quietly.

"What did you just say?!"

"Nothing, Your Highness!" the priestess squeaks in an overly high-pitched voice.

And then they hear yelling. "PETE! PUT THE CHEESE AWAY!"

"DO IT YOURSELF, YOU OLD HAG!"

"YOU'LL REGRET THAT, SCUMBAG!"

"Haha, Sydney can't even put cheese away! Some athlete you are!"

"Pete, that was TWENTY YEARS AGO!"

"Twenty, two, what's the difference?" Evidently, Pete is a lot less temperamental than his female companion.

Amelia blinks as Gourry heads over to the house next-door and peers inside. He sweatdrops and gestures for them to walk over. They all crowd the windows to see an elderly woman knitting calmly on a rocking chair. On the small end table beside her is a platter with a wheel of cheese on it. Only a slice is taken out of it, which was probably eaten just a few minutes ago. Her shoulder-length ginger hair is tied up in a bun, and she is wearing glasses with a crimson frame and probably a strong prescription.

An elderly man wearing hearing aids walks into the room with a cane. He has smile lines beside his eyes, and can't help but make a joke. "You haven't gotten up in months. You'll get fat."

Naturally, Sydney responds in anger. "I've burned plenty more calories than you have, Pete!" She puts down her knitting and picks up the wheel of cheese, throwing it at his head.

And so begins the Cheese Fight of Doom.

"TURN DOWN THE AIR CONDITIONING!" Sydney squeaks angrily.

Pete yells back, "IT HASN'T BEEN INVENTED YET, AND A VOLCANO JUST ERUPTED!"

"THAT WAS YESTERDAY!"

"SO? IT'S STILL HOT OUT!"

Zelgadis, sadly, knows these people, and knocks on the door with a sigh. "Excuse me, Sydney, Pete?"

The elderly couple glances over at him, and their cheese fight stops. Sydney exclaims, "Oh, hi, Zelgadis!"

"What's it about this time?" he asks in an almost disciplinary tone.

Pete presses his fingers together nervously. "W-well, I didn't want to put the cheese away, but Sydney's so mean! She wanted me to put it away when she hasn't moved from that spot all day!" he wails almost childishly.

Zelgadis sighs in exasperation and crosses his arms, leaning against the doorway. He tilts his nose in Sydney's direction. "And what's your side of the story?"

"Pete wouldn't put the cheese away when I wanted him to! That's what a husband is supposed to do!" she whines.

"If I'm understanding this correctly, which I believe I am, then you two are arguing pointlessly and need to stop. Can I trust you to get along?"

They pout and reply, "Yes, Zelgadis. Sorry. Oh, and welcome back to Ragna!"

The chimera closes his eyes, holding a hand to his head and muttering, "I'm getting a migraine."

He and his companions head back to the house they're occupying. Immediately, Filia asks, "Mister Zelgadis, why did you treat them as though they were younger than you?"

"We've just always had that kind of relationship. I've always acted much more mature than they have, and back when I lived here and they had first gotten married, they argued a lot, but undoubtedly loved each other. They acted more like brother and sister though, and I generally acted as though I was their father. In a way, it was like babysitting some kids." He shrugs.

"Have they always been so old?" Gourry asks.