Author's Note: Here's chapter three. For those of you who have been waiting, Zelgadis will be in this chapter, along with Gourry, Lina, and Amelia.

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"Filia-san, how is little Valgaav doing? I've missed you both, you know," Xellos said as he dispersed his fog spell. He smiled a condescending trickster smile.

"Namagomi!" Filia shrieked, holding the frightened Valgaav protectively against her body. "How dare you interfere in my life like this!"

Jillas relaxed slightly, but still looked like he was ready to attack at any second. The fox gave the Mazoku a sidelong glance. "Xellos, why are you here, anyway?" he asked.

Xellos immediately responded, "Sore wa himitsu desu!" and winked at Filia.

Filia's tail lashed behind her. "Xellos, why did you have to scare poor Val so badly?" she said dangerously. Valgaav sniffled and ventured a glance at the Mazoku trickster priest. After a pause, Filia continued, "Oh, that's right, you're a Mazoku. It's your job to be inconsiderate and stupid, unlike us dragons."

"I didn't know the little snot was standing right there," muttered Xellos, opening one eye to glare at Filia. "And I think that dragons are much stupider than Mazoku. We don't loose our tempers as easily for starters…"

Filia's temper flared higher, and Valgaav began to cry again. "So you came here to harass us!?"

"Actually… I heard that Lina and Gourry were having a party. And I knew that you were heading to it… so I thought I'd join you." Xellos smiled broadly. "I'm sure you'll enjoy having a Mazoku to keep you from getting lost."

Filia's eye twitched. "Actually, I think that you should just go away and never come near me again."

"Awww, Filia, you're mean," Xellos said with a fake-looking pout.

"For all you stupid Mazoku, that means GO AWAY RIGHT NOW!" Filia yelled.

Xellos actually stepped back, raising one arm slightly in defense and opening his eyes. He relaxed a second later, shrugging and muttering, "Fine. If you really feel that way, you'll never see me again." And then he vanished.

There was silence for the next few minutes, broken only by Valgaav's quiet sniffling. Jillas looked at Filia, then at the spot where Xellos had been, then back at Filia. Filia glared at the ground like she was trying to burn the grass with her gaze.

Jillas was the first one to speak. "Filia-san…?" he said softly.

"I hate him," replied Filia, as she stomped back to the fox's wagon, taking Valgaav with her. Jillas shrugged and followed.

Soon, they were on the road again. Valgaav dozed in the wagon while Filia sat near the front and chatted with Jillas, listening to him tell stories about the places he'd been. Filia hadn't traveled much at all since she adopted Valgaav and settled down in her pottery shop, so she greatly enjoyed hearing about the rest of the world. Time passed quickly that way, and by early evening, the trio had arrived in Seiryuun. They planned to spend the night there and go to Lina and Gourry's farm the next morning.

That night, Filia had nightmares about Xellos. She typically didn't sleep well when she stayed at an inn, but she also typically did not wake up in a panic from a nightmare, let alone multiple ones. Fortunately, Valgaav slept soundly, as he was unpleasant when he was tired.

After one particularly frightening nightmare, Filia awoke to discover that it was finally morning. She dragged herself out of bed, and after dressing for the day and getting little Val ready too, she joined Jillas for breakfast.

"Sleep well?" the fox asked as Filia and Valgaav sat at his table. Valgaav nodded and smiled broadly.

"Yes, lots of pleasant dreams about my worst enemy…" Filia muttered sarcastically. A look of concern crossed Jillas's features, but he figured talking about Xellos around Filia would just make her angry, something that was usually bad for anyone around her.

"Well, I've eaten already," he told Filia and her adopted son. "You two enjoy your meal. According to the maps of the area I've seen, it shouldn't take more than an hour to get to any of the farms outside the city."

After a small but tasty meal, Filia, Valgaav, and Jillas all got on the fox's wagon, and set out for Lina's farm. Filia wanted to sleep, but she had to sit beside Jillas and help him with directions, as he had never been to the Gabriev farm before. Valgaav sat in Filia's lap and asked countless questions as kids his age usually do.

A short while later, they arrived at Lina and Gourry's farm. A Seiryuun royal coach parked beside the house indicated that Amelia was there already, perhaps with Zelgadis. Filia stepped down from Jillas's wagon, excited at seeing her friends after so long. She stepped up to the door with Valgaav and Jillas following closely, and knocked.

Gourry opened the door after several moments, and stared at Filia. The golden dragon could see that he hadn't changed much. He was clad in all blue, like he had when he and Lina were still adventuring, but wore no armor. On his feet were stout black boots, good for traveling or working on a farm. Gourry still kept his blonde hair long, although he now wore it in a ponytail.

"Hello…?" He said. Then he turned over his shoulder and called, "Lina! There's a blonde lady with a green-haired kid and a fox at the door!"

Filia tried to suppress a giggle when Lina replied, "That's Filia, Valgaav, and Jillas, you moron! Let them in!"

"Oh…." He turned to Filia and her two companions. "Lina says you can come in," he told them humbly as he stepped to the side, allowing them to enter. Filia took Valgaav's hand and lead him inside, and Jillas followed them. Lina met them in the hall.

"Filia!" the sorceress said, coming forward to hug Filia. "I haven't seen you in so long!"

"I missed you and Gourry, Lina-san," Filia replied.

"I see you brought Valgaav and Jillas with you too," Lina said, releasing Filia and looking at her two companions. Jillas smiled and waved, and Valgaav mimicked the fox.

Lina hadn't changed much either in the last two years, except that her shape had changed considerably because of the child developing in her. She wore a fairly plain yellow dress though, something that she never would have done willingly four years ago.

She began to talk to Jillas, asking him how his life had been and how she was surprised that he'd just happened to turn up. Gourry took Filia and Valgaav into another room where two of Filia's other old friends were waiting.

Amelia, unlike Lina and Gourry, looked very different. She had grown up, and had longer hair. She wore a fine dress, fit for the princess of Seiryuun. When she saw Filia, she smiled and waved excitedly, calling, "Filia-san! Valgaav-kun! I knew you'd come! Did you hear that Zel and I are engaged?"

At her side stood a man Filia barely recognized. His pale skin contrasted with his deep blue eyes and the ends of his delicately pointed ears stuck out of his silky-looking lavender hair. His bangs covered his right eye, and he was dressed to match Amelia, which were the biggest clues to his identity.

Filia smiled as she recognized him. "I'm happy for you both, especially you, Zelgadis, since it seems you've finally found your cure."

Zelgadis shifted nervously. "Well, not exactly…"

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This chapter is a little long, but I thought I'd just make all the people who wanted to see Lina and Company happy. As for the Zelgadis finding his cure thing, I know it's overdone, but I had a bit of a different idea about it. I'll explain in the next chapter, promise. ^_~