Slayers Cure

Chapter 2a

"Where am I?" Zelgadis thought when he awoke in a strange, dark place. He then realized that this was a dream. All he could do was go through this dream and try not to let it disturb him, just as long as this was not one of those dreams where Rezo killed him, which he had more than often.

He heard footsteps coming towards him. Light, padded footsteps cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter. A figure appeared before his eyes.

"Xellos?" Zelgadis cried as the Mysterious/Trickster Priest's figure became clear.

"Hello, my friend," Xellos Metallium answered, his voice somehow not as nasally. "You've been well?"

Zelgadis cocked his eyebrow at the Priest. "What do you care?"

A smile shot across Xellos's face as if he were not hurt by that expression. "We're friends, aren't we? Why shouldn't I care?"

Springing up from his sitting position he answered, "You've nearly cost me my life, not to mention my cure, for a long time! Calling us 'friends' is a definite over statement."

Xellos drew closer, fondling his staff as if it were a kitten. "Cure? You mean you haven't given up yet? Good. I was hoping you'd say that. You see, I would like to make an exchange."

Zel sat back down, listening intently. What did this monster mean by exchange?

"You see," Xellos continued, "the monster race really has this thing for you and your friends. You know quite well that they've been pissed off at you, Lina, the Princess, and the Swordsman of Light for awhile. Why, ever since Lina destroyed Shabrinigdo some years ago the monster race has been at your backs, waiting for you to drop your guard, or your sorcery powers for that matter."

"Drop our powers?" questioned the chimera.

Xellos grinned evilly. "Yes. You know, lose your powers. The only way to do that is prevent you from using them. Without practice, you'll forget your spells, in time of course. But, that may take awhile, so the monsters have come up with a new plan."

Lying back down, Zel replied, "Why should I believe a dream?"

Totally ignoring the question, Xellos continued, "I'll make a trade with you: I'll tell you where your cure is if you let me tell you what the monsters are planning."

Back up again, Zelgadis said, "That doesn't seem very fair. I'll be getting both ends of the trade. What are you planning?"

Xellos sighed. It was a light sigh, very airy, almost feminine. "Well, the monsters are planning to do something very evil to Lina."

"Why do you care about Lina anyway?"

Surprisingly, the Beastmaster blushed. "I, well, you see, it's just that..."

"Go on." Zelgadis nudged Xellos playfully as if they were best buddies. He had to get this little secret out of him.

Xellos's blush turned to a rosy red as he answered, "I love Lina Inverse."

The first thought that came to Zelgadis's mind was, "Ew." The sheer mention of "love" from a hater of life was sickening. Especially since he was in love with one of Zelgadis's close friends. Then a second thought came to his mind. This was probably one of Xellos's tricks. He said that aloud.

"You never take me seriously!" exclaimed Xellos. "I'm telling the truth. And if you don't mind, I'm a little embarrassed about it."

Zel rolled is eyes. "Yeah, but why would a monster fall in love with a human? And why would it be Lina Inverse?" No offense to Lina, of course.

"I don't know!" Xellos actually seemed mad. "I just don't know!" Another evil grin appeared on his lips. "Why, Zelly-pooh, jealous?"

Unable to control himself, Zelgadis punched the demon smack dab in the nose. "You wish!"

Regaining his normal stance after falling over from the blow, Xellos continued, "Well, I just want to save Lina for once, instead of bringing her into trouble."

"I'm really not buying it."

Xellos shrugged. "Oh well, looks like I'll just have to tell Amelia my little secret about what the monsters are planning. The fate of the world will rest in her hands. I wonder if she can handle it."

It was Zel's turn to shrug. "Why don't you just tell Lina?"

Xellos blushed. "Then she'd wonder why I would be telling her. I can't tell her I have a crush on her."

Sighing, Zelgadis replied, "I guess you're right. Well, just tell me the monster race's secret." He paused, then continued, "Actually, tell me where my cure is first, then the secret."

"Alrighty then," Xellos answered, "fair enough. Now, where should I begin? Ah, yes, as you already know..."

Slayers Cure

Chapter 2b

Amelia walked slowly through the dark woods, glancing over her shoulder more frequently than not as she wiped tears from her rosy cheeks.

"Oh!" she cried. "Where am I? I am lost, I know it!" She stopped and kneeled down on the path. "Why am I so stupid? Why did I have to go after Mr. Zelgadis like that?"

An owl hooted to the left of her, a wolf howled to the right, and the bushes rustled all around her. Desperately, she cast a light spell to show her where these creatures were. Nothing could be seen, except...Amelia screeched as something grabbed hold of her.

Meanwhile, Zelgadis was still in a deep state of REM sleep, dreaming about Xellos, to his disappointment. In his dream, Zelgadis was sitting against the same, large oak he was leaning against when he fell asleep. Across the fire, Xellos sat cross-legged on the forest floor, staff on lap.

"As you already know," Xellos continued, "there are gods and Dark Lords."

The other nodded.

"The Dark Lords are in charge of all that is evil, the gods in charge of all that is good. But what is the in-between? After all, there are some things that are neither evil nor good, or they're both, for that matter."

Zelgadis replied, "Give an example."

A wicked grin shot across the Priest's face. "Well, a good example would be love, I guess."

Zel's ears twitched as he blushed at the mention of love.

Xellos continued, "It's good and full of happiness when you are first in love, but let's say your lover cheats on you, or dies. You will feel an immense pain and sadness. The gods feed on positive emotions of love, like happiness, the Dark Lords feed on the negative emotions of love, like the sadness."

The chimera rubbed his chin with his hand. "I see. But what does this have to do with my cure?"

With a smile, Xellos answered, "Glad you asked. Another example of something that is neither good nor evil nor both is time."

The other looked at Xellos with interest. "Time?" He paused. "I guess you could say that. I can't think of anything that is good, or evil for that matter, about it. I still don't see what this has to do with my cure."

"Well," Xellos said, "You have used powers from the side of good and evil. Why not try using powers from neither, like time."

"How will that help?"

The true evil of Xellos's character was shown at this moment. Not by his actions, or his attitude, but by his wicked smile. "We can manipulate it."

"How?" asked Zelgadis. "Sorcerers have been trying to manipulate time since, well, since sorcery was first discovered."

"Who said we had to ask a sorcerer? I know some one who could help us easily," replied Xellos. "He's the Commander of Time, the guy in charge of running the whole time thing. He can take you back in time to when you were 'normal' and you can prevent Rezo from transforming you into a chimera."

As he cocked an eyebrow, Zel questioned, "Why would this Commander of Time help us?"

Xellos laughed before answering, "Do you know how many people come to visit him each year? None! He'd do anything for a little company!"

"Okay, but where is he?"

The other pondered. "Well, I believe he's located about a two weeks journey from here, a week if you can get a horse. I'll show you, if you wish."

Zelgadis eyed Xellos suspiciously before answering, "Alright, but I don't want any distractions you want us to run into or whatever."

Xellos smiled. "Now why would I do that?"

"Why indeed," Zel answered. "Since you've told me where my cure is..."

"Tell you what the monster race is going to do to kill Lina?" the demon finished for Zelgadis. "Of course," he cleared his throat and said, "Going behind Beast Master's back like this could have me killed, but I'll tell you anyway. Master Zellas Metallium is going to go to the past, around when Lina was born, and kill her. Simple, eh?"

Zel narrowed his eyes. "Too simple."

The monster leaned back against the tree, stretched his legs, and yawned. Before he could finish his yawn, he replied, "Well, maybe. I don't know." He picked a leaf up off the ground and began to pluck bits off the stem as he said, "I'll meet you at the inn where Lina and Gourry are staying at called the Red Goblet. How does three in the afternoon two days from now sound?"

The other nodded.

"See you then." Xellos yawned and disappeared.