Zel: Unfortunately for the Zel-loving reviewer, has memorized this bit so he gets it right the first time each episode Hello, my name is Zelgadis Greywyrs. A typical manic depressant human-turned-chimera by my grandfather/greatgrandfather Rezo the Red Priest. In trying to find my cure I have unknowingly transported myself to the mysterious world of El Hazard without a means of return home. What is going to happen to me in this unpredictable place?
"I just can't believe it!" Ifurita moaned after Zelgadis gave her a detailed explanation on what evil was. "All this time I was trying to make my old master proud by learning how to be really evil, and that was what he wanted me to do? How horrid! It's a good thing you don't want me to do anything like that, I don't want to do it anymore."
"That's great!" Alielle exclaimed, "Makoto will be so happy you're fighting for good instead of evil!"
Zelgadis frowned. "You're forgetting, Alielle, that I'm her master now. And as such she will be a bit too busy helping me find a cure to go around squashing giant bugs for you."
"You mean you don't care about El Hazard at all? Even after you've seen so much of it's beauty and wonder? Even though there's so much more to see?"
'Damn,' he thought, 'I really blew my chances with her. The first girl I really care about who doesn't turn out to be a guy in drag. But maybe I can still recover...' "More, you say? And what more is there to see?"
Alielle thought for a bit. "Well, there is the Shrine of Fire still to visit, and Rashtaria's capital is spectacular to view at sunset..." 'The things I do to make him think I have an interest in him.'
"And don't forget the Eye of God!" chimed in Ifurita. She was only trying to be helpful. But Alielle smacked her and started to tell her not to talk about it. The details of this conversation is lost due to the fact that we are concentrating as much on Zel's thoughts as Zel himself was.
'Eye of God? Sounds a lot like the spell I used to get here. I'll have to ask Ifurita about it when Alielle isn't around to shut her up.'
"Ok, so where is this Shrine of Fire, Alielle?"
Alielle and Ifurita stopped talking to each other. "It's across the five deserts that way." She pointed off in the direction Ifurita's whirlwind had gone. It wasn't going to bother them, mostly because it did have intelligence enough to know that they would want to destroy it and probably have the means to do so. It also knew better then to get too strong, thus attracting attention to it.
"Well then, let's go." Zelgadis had always believed that the only way to get somewhere was to start moving. Nevermind that his new ability was an exception to that rule.
* * * * *
Chico yawned as he woke up. Ifurita sure was taking a long time to get back. He figured that she completely forgot what she was supposed to be doing and was chatting with whoever she met up there. Chances were that she was telling them all about Jinnai's plans. Either way, she probably wouldn't think about him until after she returns to Jinnai to report. Now was the perfect chance to pay a visit to Nanami and maybe confess his feelings to her. She might not return in kind right away, but Chico didn't care. He was willing to wait for her for as long as she may need. He couldn't be ashamed of his love forever, could he?
After he left, the rock he had been using lifted up and a smaller bugrum came out of the hole that it covered. This little bugger was one of Jinnai's normal spies, and had been under top secret orders from him to spy on Chico. The real plan all this time had not been to actually kidnap Alielle, but to get Chico to try to warn Nanami about it. Chico himself would then be kidnapped in front of Nanami, and they would have to go rescue him because they were the good guys. It goes further, but Jinnai will announce his plans soon enough.
"It's perfect!" Jinnai shouted as the spy network reported on Chico's movements. "Groucho! Margaret! You two go to Rashtaria immediately and arrest Chico on charges of treason! But make sure they watch you arrest him!"
Just then, Diva walked in. "I knew you shouldn't have sent him with Ifurita," she began, "Now he is going to ruin your plans that you so carefully laid out."
"On the contrary, my sweet Diva. Everything is going according to plan." Jinnai paused to give an evil smile before going on. "After they see Chico being captured, Makoto and his friends will have to go and rescue him. But instead of getting the real Chico, we shall let them rescue an imposter. And this imposter Chico will be given free run of the palace once rescued by them. This is merely my first phase of Operation Checkmate!"
"Operation Checkmate! So intelligent! You're just toying with them!" Diva's praise was as usual quite undeserving. Jinnai didn't really know what the next phase of this plan should be. All he knew was that he had a traitor, and that Makoto didn't. This plan would change all that.
* * * * *
Lina and Gourry were sitting down to another meal. Ever since they first stopped at the All-You-Can-Eat-For-A-Silver-Piece restaurant, the two had forgotten all about Zelgadis and decided to stay in the town. They had no intention on leaving unless the owner kicked them out. And the owner had no intention on provoking the famous Dragon Spook- I mean Bandit Killer.
Outside, Amelia pulled her horse to a stop. She remembered back when she traveled with Lina, and how much she had wanted to eat here. Considering how little Zelgadis eats, it would be a waste to take him here, so Amelia decided to grab a bite now and prove Xellos wrong about Zel later.
"It's time to eat!" Amelia announced as she walked into the place. Lina quickly reconized the voice, and grabbed Gourry. The two tried their best to hide from Amelia's view. Unfortunately, not many people eat as much as Gourry and Lina. Fewer still travel with another with similar eating habits. Thus Amelia knew exactly who was sitting at the table with stacks of full plates on it, even if it was impossible to see them behind said plates. "Hi Lina! Hi Gourry! Mind if I sit with you two?"
"A-Amelia!" Lina spurted out, trying her best to sound perfectly calm and normal. "What brings you here? Shouldn't you be at the palace serving your subjects and promoting Justice throughout the land?"
"Oh, Lina. I had a little time to myself recently and I was thinking about my beloved Zelgadis. How he's off searching for his cure while I'm at home waiting for him to find it and return to me, finally feeling worthy to let himself love me. And I couldn't help thinking that it wasn't right for me to stay behind. I can help him in his search, and we don't have to be alone! After all, It's my duty as a true Warrior of Justice to help all troubled souls, no matter what kingdom they hail from!"
Lina gave Amelia a very, very scarry glare. "Don't... Ever... Stand... On... My... FOOD!!!" As Amelia had gone into the bit where she talked about duty, she had her usual subconcious desire to stand on the tallest point within the area. That place happened to be the plates of food on Lina's table. Gourry took this oppertunity to try to grab something from Lina's side of the food. So Amelia was given a chance to get down while Gourry got all the punishment for both crimes.
"And why are you two here?" Amelia asked the two when Lina got tired of pummeling mush-for-brains.
"Oh, we're going to Zel's cas---" Before Gourry could finish, Lina covered his mouth with her hand. But she was too late. Amelia was turning pale from what Gourry had already blabbed so far. 'No way... They wouldn't go there unless...'
"Xellos!!!!! There's no way he could have been there only minutes before it happened and not have something to do with it!!!!!" Amelia was fuming at the thought that Zelgadis might be dead. "I'll make him pay for whatever he did to Mr. Zelgadis!!!!!" With that she ran out, forgetting all about her horse. All Lina and Gourry could do was follow her to make sure she didn't get hurt.
"I just can't believe it!" Ifurita moaned after Zelgadis gave her a detailed explanation on what evil was. "All this time I was trying to make my old master proud by learning how to be really evil, and that was what he wanted me to do? How horrid! It's a good thing you don't want me to do anything like that, I don't want to do it anymore."
"That's great!" Alielle exclaimed, "Makoto will be so happy you're fighting for good instead of evil!"
Zelgadis frowned. "You're forgetting, Alielle, that I'm her master now. And as such she will be a bit too busy helping me find a cure to go around squashing giant bugs for you."
"You mean you don't care about El Hazard at all? Even after you've seen so much of it's beauty and wonder? Even though there's so much more to see?"
'Damn,' he thought, 'I really blew my chances with her. The first girl I really care about who doesn't turn out to be a guy in drag. But maybe I can still recover...' "More, you say? And what more is there to see?"
Alielle thought for a bit. "Well, there is the Shrine of Fire still to visit, and Rashtaria's capital is spectacular to view at sunset..." 'The things I do to make him think I have an interest in him.'
"And don't forget the Eye of God!" chimed in Ifurita. She was only trying to be helpful. But Alielle smacked her and started to tell her not to talk about it. The details of this conversation is lost due to the fact that we are concentrating as much on Zel's thoughts as Zel himself was.
'Eye of God? Sounds a lot like the spell I used to get here. I'll have to ask Ifurita about it when Alielle isn't around to shut her up.'
"Ok, so where is this Shrine of Fire, Alielle?"
Alielle and Ifurita stopped talking to each other. "It's across the five deserts that way." She pointed off in the direction Ifurita's whirlwind had gone. It wasn't going to bother them, mostly because it did have intelligence enough to know that they would want to destroy it and probably have the means to do so. It also knew better then to get too strong, thus attracting attention to it.
"Well then, let's go." Zelgadis had always believed that the only way to get somewhere was to start moving. Nevermind that his new ability was an exception to that rule.
* * * * *
Chico yawned as he woke up. Ifurita sure was taking a long time to get back. He figured that she completely forgot what she was supposed to be doing and was chatting with whoever she met up there. Chances were that she was telling them all about Jinnai's plans. Either way, she probably wouldn't think about him until after she returns to Jinnai to report. Now was the perfect chance to pay a visit to Nanami and maybe confess his feelings to her. She might not return in kind right away, but Chico didn't care. He was willing to wait for her for as long as she may need. He couldn't be ashamed of his love forever, could he?
After he left, the rock he had been using lifted up and a smaller bugrum came out of the hole that it covered. This little bugger was one of Jinnai's normal spies, and had been under top secret orders from him to spy on Chico. The real plan all this time had not been to actually kidnap Alielle, but to get Chico to try to warn Nanami about it. Chico himself would then be kidnapped in front of Nanami, and they would have to go rescue him because they were the good guys. It goes further, but Jinnai will announce his plans soon enough.
"It's perfect!" Jinnai shouted as the spy network reported on Chico's movements. "Groucho! Margaret! You two go to Rashtaria immediately and arrest Chico on charges of treason! But make sure they watch you arrest him!"
Just then, Diva walked in. "I knew you shouldn't have sent him with Ifurita," she began, "Now he is going to ruin your plans that you so carefully laid out."
"On the contrary, my sweet Diva. Everything is going according to plan." Jinnai paused to give an evil smile before going on. "After they see Chico being captured, Makoto and his friends will have to go and rescue him. But instead of getting the real Chico, we shall let them rescue an imposter. And this imposter Chico will be given free run of the palace once rescued by them. This is merely my first phase of Operation Checkmate!"
"Operation Checkmate! So intelligent! You're just toying with them!" Diva's praise was as usual quite undeserving. Jinnai didn't really know what the next phase of this plan should be. All he knew was that he had a traitor, and that Makoto didn't. This plan would change all that.
* * * * *
Lina and Gourry were sitting down to another meal. Ever since they first stopped at the All-You-Can-Eat-For-A-Silver-Piece restaurant, the two had forgotten all about Zelgadis and decided to stay in the town. They had no intention on leaving unless the owner kicked them out. And the owner had no intention on provoking the famous Dragon Spook- I mean Bandit Killer.
Outside, Amelia pulled her horse to a stop. She remembered back when she traveled with Lina, and how much she had wanted to eat here. Considering how little Zelgadis eats, it would be a waste to take him here, so Amelia decided to grab a bite now and prove Xellos wrong about Zel later.
"It's time to eat!" Amelia announced as she walked into the place. Lina quickly reconized the voice, and grabbed Gourry. The two tried their best to hide from Amelia's view. Unfortunately, not many people eat as much as Gourry and Lina. Fewer still travel with another with similar eating habits. Thus Amelia knew exactly who was sitting at the table with stacks of full plates on it, even if it was impossible to see them behind said plates. "Hi Lina! Hi Gourry! Mind if I sit with you two?"
"A-Amelia!" Lina spurted out, trying her best to sound perfectly calm and normal. "What brings you here? Shouldn't you be at the palace serving your subjects and promoting Justice throughout the land?"
"Oh, Lina. I had a little time to myself recently and I was thinking about my beloved Zelgadis. How he's off searching for his cure while I'm at home waiting for him to find it and return to me, finally feeling worthy to let himself love me. And I couldn't help thinking that it wasn't right for me to stay behind. I can help him in his search, and we don't have to be alone! After all, It's my duty as a true Warrior of Justice to help all troubled souls, no matter what kingdom they hail from!"
Lina gave Amelia a very, very scarry glare. "Don't... Ever... Stand... On... My... FOOD!!!" As Amelia had gone into the bit where she talked about duty, she had her usual subconcious desire to stand on the tallest point within the area. That place happened to be the plates of food on Lina's table. Gourry took this oppertunity to try to grab something from Lina's side of the food. So Amelia was given a chance to get down while Gourry got all the punishment for both crimes.
"And why are you two here?" Amelia asked the two when Lina got tired of pummeling mush-for-brains.
"Oh, we're going to Zel's cas---" Before Gourry could finish, Lina covered his mouth with her hand. But she was too late. Amelia was turning pale from what Gourry had already blabbed so far. 'No way... They wouldn't go there unless...'
"Xellos!!!!! There's no way he could have been there only minutes before it happened and not have something to do with it!!!!!" Amelia was fuming at the thought that Zelgadis might be dead. "I'll make him pay for whatever he did to Mr. Zelgadis!!!!!" With that she ran out, forgetting all about her horse. All Lina and Gourry could do was follow her to make sure she didn't get hurt.