And Phibby Makes Four
By XellAn-Chan
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AN: this is a section of my XellAn Metallium series that features the Hellmaster, Phibrizio. I decided that i had to include him in my stories because he's cute and i love him, so i've given him a second chance as XellAn and Xellos "son." more of this will follow...so review. ^_^
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"Tell me, My Child, how many years has it been since I returned your soul to you?" A very pretty blond woman, seated in a throne, her finger tips pressed together, asks her companion. "It was twelve years ago." The response comes from a young woman who looks to be about eighteen. "Twelve years already?" The first woman, who is none other than the creator of all, the Lord of Nightmares, ponders. "Twelve years...and the little one, she is four now?" The other woman nods. "Yes, L-Sama." She says quietly.
The creator looks at her creation: the sullen, yet beautiful XellosAngel Metallium, mother of the most precious and powerful Mazoku. XellAn is one of the Beastmaster's minions -the servant to her priest- and had been for thirteen years, after being killed by Xellos.
"XellosAngel," She goes on, "I am most pleased with your performance. I had my doubts when Xellos killed you, wondered if what he'd done was for the best. You have surpassed my expectations of you. You are giving Xellia an extraordinary life." The demon woman smiles slightly. She has the feeling that this is leading up to something, but is unsure what. "I have another job for you, XellosAngel, but I must make sure it is a task you can handle. ...has Xellia ever requested a sibling from you?"
That is not a question XellAn ever would have expected to come from the creator's mouth. She is at a loss for words, then finally says. "Yes. Ever since she met the small Ryuzoku, Valgaav, she has been asking why she does not have a brother." She says slowly, "But surely, O Great One, you do not wish me to have another child. Cypress spoke of how close to death I was." The Lord of Nightmares smiles. "No, that is not what I had in mind. You and Xellos do not need to create another. If you remember," She pauses a moment, "It is also twelve years since I destroyed Phibrizio. I am beginning to think that, perhaps, he deserves a second chance."
XellAn blinks. "You want me," She states placidly, as if it is no big deal, "To raise the Hellmaster." The creator shakes her head. "I do not wish you to raise the Hellmaster. I wish you to raise Phibrizio. Cypress rules the nine hells now. Phibrizio will be but a Mazoku child, quite the way you were. I will give him to you at the tender age of six, for then will he be an older brother to Xellia, but also very innocent and uncorrupted still. Raise him as you are your daughter."
She snaps her fingers and a small, bewildered child steps from the shadows. He has dark hair that spills over his forehead and into his green eyes. "Phibrizio," She looks amused, "Do you know who I am?" He bows before her. "You are the mother of all that lives. Hail, Mighty Lord of Nightmares." She points at the demon woman. "That, Phibrizio, is XellosAngel. Do you know her?" He, having no recollection of his past, shakes his head. The creator's smile widens. "She is going to take care of you." The child smiles. "You are my mama?" He asks shyly.
XellAn can't help but smile. He is a very cute little boy, his innocence is refreshing. "Yes, Phibrizio," She says softly, "I am your mama." He steps forward hesitantly, then stops. She holds a hand out to him. "It is okay. Come here." He clutches her hand in both of his. "Are you really my mama, XellosAngel?" He questions. She rests her other hand on his dark hair, "I am not the mama that created you, but I am going to be your mama from now on." He grins. "Good enough."
"XellosAngel." The Lord of Nightmares' voice is full of warning, "Give him the best you can. His past existence is not to be repeated. I do not want him to remember." XellAn scoops him up into her arms. "He will not remember. I swear on my soul, he will not." She hugs him to her, fearful that he will know what they mean. But he just wraps his small arms around her and rests his head on her shoulder. The young woman relaxes a little. She feels some attachment to the former Hellmaster and knows she will come to love him.
The Lord of Nightmares bids them leave and XellAn winks out of her temple and back to her home on Wolfpack Island. The room in the Beastmaster's palace that she and Phibrizio appear in is Xellia's room. The little girl isn't in there -she's somewhere with her father- so XellAn sits her "son" down on the bed. He yawns as he looks curiously around the small chamber.
"Are you tired, Phibrizio?" She asks softly and he nods, so she goes on. "This is my daughter's room. You may sleep here until we have arranged something for you." He frowns slightly. "I have a sister?" A nod from his mama. "Yes. Her name is Xellia and she's four years old. She's wanted a brother for a year now." He nods, then yawns again. "Mama, if I go to sleep, will you still be here when I wake up?" He asks deliberately. "I may not be in this very room with you, Phibrizio, but I will be nearby." She assures him. She knows that L-Sama had left him to die. Now, apparently, he is afraid of being abandoned.
Satisfied with her response, he settles down on the bed. She brushes his hair from his face. "Sleep well, Phibby-Kun." He smiles sleepily. "G'night, Mama." She tucks the blanket around him and sits on the bed until he is asleep.
Then she leaves the room. Xellos needs to hear of this strange development in their lives. While he and Phibrizio had once been pals, she is sure he will not take well to the notion that the former Hellmaster was to be their child.
The priest is in the temple, teaching his daughter to read. They are both seated on the floor, he with her on his lap. He's pointing to words in the Claire Bible and she is attempting to sound them out.
"Xellos?" The young woman says softly, "I do not wish to interrupt, but this is very important." He looks up at her, then back at Xellia. "Aka-Chan, you run along and play. Mama wishes to speak to me." The little demon smiles. "Hai, Papa." Then she scampers off and Xellos arises.
He and XellAn face one another. "What is it, XellAn-Chan? You look very troubled." He smiles his characteristic smile. She thinks for a moment. "Xel-Chan, you remember how Xellia asks about a brother?" One of his violet eyes winks open. "Are you trying to tell me that you are pregnant?" He questions. She frowns. "No. No, I am not. L-Sama has assigned me a task, however. I am to raise Phibrizio." She waits for the news to sink in. It takes only a moment. Then both his eyes are open and he stares at her. "She has given the Hellmaster his existence?! And you are his mother?!" She shakes her head. "He is but a child, Xellos. Cypress is the Hellmaster now. Phibrizio cannot know of his past."
He looks at her a moment longer. "Why? Why is she doing this, XellAn? She's the one who killed him." XellAn searches for the right words. "She says that he deserves a second chance," She begins slowly, "That he will try again. Without the position of Hellmaster, perhaps he will not act so reckless and careless. He's only six years old, and I don't just mean physically. I mean mentally. And a more innocent child I've never seen. He calls me 'mama' already, Xellos. I do believe he will be happy here." His eyes meet hers and he knows she is sincere in her words. "You wish to keep him, don't you?" She nods. "Yes. I do." He sighs. "Very well." She kisses him. "It's not like we had a choice, but thank you anyway."
They sit Xellia down and XellAn explains the situation to her. The boy, she tells her daughter, Phibrizio, he is to be your big brother. He was a gift for us from L-Sama." The child's eyes widen and sparkle with excitement. "Where? Where is my brother?" She asks eagerly. "He is asleep, XA-Baby. He was very tired." XellAn knows being reborn is an exhausting procedure. "But I wanna see him! I wanna play wif him now!" The child exclaims. "Not now, Xellia. You must wait." Her mother says patiently.
"Mama?" Comes a childish voice from the doorway. Phibrizio has awoken and wandered into the room. XellAn turns to look at him. "You are awake, Phibby-Kun." She smiles, "Come here." He comes to here and clutches her hand. "What is the matter, Phibrizio?" Her hand rests on his hair, "This is your papa and your sister, Xellia." He smiles shyly from where he is hidden behind her. "Konnichi wa." Xellos grins. "Hullo, Phibby." Xellia studies him curiously. "This is my brother?" Her mother nods. "Yes."
The little demon girl peers at him for a long time. She looks at him, at his dark hair (which is longer then hers), into his vivid green eyes, at his clothing (the exact same style as her own only blue and grey as opposed to her family's traditional red, purple and black.). Then she smiles. "You'll do, I guess."
His face falls. "What did you expect?" He asks softly. She shakes her head, as if he knows nothing. "You are not at all like Val-Chan." She says plainly, "You look like a girl." His eyes fill up with tears. "Mama, she doesn't want me." XellAn smiles kindly as she hoists him into her arms. "Ne, Phibby-Kun, she just doesn't know you yet." He sniffles and buries his face in her shoulder. Xellia appears to be very upset. "You're not his mama! You're my mama!" She pouts. "She hates me!!" He sobs.
"What is going on here!?" A sharp voice demands. the Beastmaster has appeared in the room, Xellos -who has filled her in on everything- is behind her. By this time, both children are crying. Xellia is clinging to her mother's skirt as XellAn rocks Phibrizio in her arms.
Xellia is suddenly silent as she hides behind her mother. Phibrizio is still crying as XellAn rubs his back. "Please stop." She whispers, "It's okay..." He just cries harder. "Make him stop." Zelas orders. "I cannot make him. He will stop when he is ready." The young mother says softly. The Beastmaster eyes narrow. Xellia notices and grins. Now's her chance to get her "brother" in trouble. "I'm good, Ne, Juuou-Sama? I'm not crying. I know only weak Mazoku cry."
The Mazoku Lord smiles at the little demon. "Yes, Little One, you are good. But Phibrizio has been reborn and he is in a new place; he must be scared." Xellos meanwhile, turns to his lover. "Let me take Phibby, XellAn, so you can tell Juuou-Sama what you told me." He holds out his arms and the little boy shrinks away. "Mama...no. I wanna stay with you..." He whimpers. "Go with Papa, Phibby-Kun. I need to talk to Juuou-Sama alone. Be Mama's good boy and go with Papa." She tells him calmly, "Can you do that?" He nods bravely and extends his small arms to Xellos.
The priest takes him in his arms. "I'm not so bad, Phibby. C'mon, tell me and Xellia about yourself. She needs to learn about her brother and I need to know about my son." The boy smiles faintly and looks over his shoulder at XellAn. She nods encouragingly and he looks back at Xellos. "Hai, Papa." He says softly.
He takes the two children into a corner of the room. Xellia listens as Phibrizio talks briefly about himself. There is not much for him to tell; he cannot remember a lot about who he is. But Xellos keeps his attention focused on the two women discussing the former Hellmaster's fate. He can hear bits and pieces of their conversation, XellAn pleading for the Beastmaster to accept Phibrizio as part of the family. "I do not wish to have another child in my palace." Comes the velvety voice of the Mazoku Lord. "But you didn't want Xellia either and you got used to her. You can get used to Phibrizio too!" Counters the desperate plea of XellAn, "And L-Sama requested I raise him. it was not my idea. I did not wish for this."
Zelas is less than thrilled. She's glaring at XellAn as she explains L-Sama's request and she appears very angry. Phibrizio, knowing that they are talking about him, watches through his emerald eyes as the two interact. The Beastmaster looks particularity vicious and XellAn seems very frightened. He sees Zelas raise a hand to slap his mama and -in that single second- images flash before his eyes; memories he'd forgotten that he even had. The pitiless look of L-Sama, the pain, the blinding light engulfing him. Then nothing. Nothing for a long time, until his mama hugged him.
He is instantly between his mama and the Mazoku Lord, his face shining with defiance. "Mama didn't do anything. I'm the one causing the problems. I will take whatever abuse you want to give Mama." Zelas stares at him for a moment, then a smile crosses her face. "Such nobility. What a loyal little creature. You may keep him, Pet." Phibrizio' childish grin lights his face. He jumps into XellAn's arms and she hugs him. "I'm proud of you, Phibby-Kun."
This is too much for Xellia. "You don't love me!" She accuses, "You don't want me! Only Phibrizio! He's new, so he gets all the attention! What about me? Ain't I your Xa-Baby anymore?" XellAn and Phibrizio look at her. Her face is distorted with anger and her violet eyes are full of tears. Phibby slides out of his mama's arms. The two children look at one another. " 'M sorry if I'm not what you want," The former Hellmaster says softly, "But I'm gonna stay here and be yer brother forever. Mama promised. An' I don't understand why you don't like me." She glares at him. "I hate you!" And he disolves into tears again. Then he runs out of the room.
XellAn starts after him, but Xellos stops her. "Let him be alone for a while." he picks Xellia up and hands her to her mother. The little girl is confused and her way of expressing her confusion is through anger. "I...I don't really hate him, Mama." She says very softly, "He's just so different from Valgaav. An' I...I..." She doesn't even know what to say. XellAn hugs her. "I know, Xa-Baby. You didn't mean it. I understand."
When XellosAngel takes Xellia to put her to bed, they find Phibrizio already curled up on her bed. His face is wet from all the tears he cried and he's scrunched up in a little ball. Xellia climbs up and sits next to him among the pillows and blankets. "Phibby?" The girl asks quietly. "What?" His response is very soft and it's almost as if he didn't speak. "I'm sorry. I don't hate you. An' I do want you for my brother." He sits up and wipes his eyes. "I'm glad you changed your mind." He smiles slightly. "Are you gonna stay in here all night?" He shrugs. "I 'unno. Am I, Mama?" XellAn smiles. "If you want, I suppose. Papa can bring a bed for you."
She settles her children down to sleep and Xellia gives two of her blankets and a pillow to Phibrizio. She hugs each of them and gives Phibrizio a kiss on his forehead. He looks at her sleepily. "...Will you still be here when I wake up?" He whispers. "Of course I will, Phibby-Kun. And Xellia and Papa will too. You are part of our family now." Then she pulls the blankets up around him and turns of the light. "Sleep well, My Little Ones."
She finds Xellos waiting for her in their room. He's sitting on the bed, a ponderous look on his face. "We have another child, XA-Chan. He's not even ours, but we have him." She smiles. "He is very much ours, Xellos. L-Sama gave him to me. And as long as he's a good boy, she will have no reason to take him away." She sits beside him. "Our family keeps growing...It's never going to be just me and you again." That thought almost seems
to make him sad. "Yes, there are four of us now." She rests her head upon his shoulder, "But you will come to love him. He will be your son. There is love in there somewhere, lost within your empty heart. You love me, you love Xellia and you will love Phibrizio." He smiles and they kiss. "You know me all too well, My Dear. It's you and me and Xellia and Phibby makes four."
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By XellAn-Chan
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AN: this is a section of my XellAn Metallium series that features the Hellmaster, Phibrizio. I decided that i had to include him in my stories because he's cute and i love him, so i've given him a second chance as XellAn and Xellos "son." more of this will follow...so review. ^_^
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"Tell me, My Child, how many years has it been since I returned your soul to you?" A very pretty blond woman, seated in a throne, her finger tips pressed together, asks her companion. "It was twelve years ago." The response comes from a young woman who looks to be about eighteen. "Twelve years already?" The first woman, who is none other than the creator of all, the Lord of Nightmares, ponders. "Twelve years...and the little one, she is four now?" The other woman nods. "Yes, L-Sama." She says quietly.
The creator looks at her creation: the sullen, yet beautiful XellosAngel Metallium, mother of the most precious and powerful Mazoku. XellAn is one of the Beastmaster's minions -the servant to her priest- and had been for thirteen years, after being killed by Xellos.
"XellosAngel," She goes on, "I am most pleased with your performance. I had my doubts when Xellos killed you, wondered if what he'd done was for the best. You have surpassed my expectations of you. You are giving Xellia an extraordinary life." The demon woman smiles slightly. She has the feeling that this is leading up to something, but is unsure what. "I have another job for you, XellosAngel, but I must make sure it is a task you can handle. ...has Xellia ever requested a sibling from you?"
That is not a question XellAn ever would have expected to come from the creator's mouth. She is at a loss for words, then finally says. "Yes. Ever since she met the small Ryuzoku, Valgaav, she has been asking why she does not have a brother." She says slowly, "But surely, O Great One, you do not wish me to have another child. Cypress spoke of how close to death I was." The Lord of Nightmares smiles. "No, that is not what I had in mind. You and Xellos do not need to create another. If you remember," She pauses a moment, "It is also twelve years since I destroyed Phibrizio. I am beginning to think that, perhaps, he deserves a second chance."
XellAn blinks. "You want me," She states placidly, as if it is no big deal, "To raise the Hellmaster." The creator shakes her head. "I do not wish you to raise the Hellmaster. I wish you to raise Phibrizio. Cypress rules the nine hells now. Phibrizio will be but a Mazoku child, quite the way you were. I will give him to you at the tender age of six, for then will he be an older brother to Xellia, but also very innocent and uncorrupted still. Raise him as you are your daughter."
She snaps her fingers and a small, bewildered child steps from the shadows. He has dark hair that spills over his forehead and into his green eyes. "Phibrizio," She looks amused, "Do you know who I am?" He bows before her. "You are the mother of all that lives. Hail, Mighty Lord of Nightmares." She points at the demon woman. "That, Phibrizio, is XellosAngel. Do you know her?" He, having no recollection of his past, shakes his head. The creator's smile widens. "She is going to take care of you." The child smiles. "You are my mama?" He asks shyly.
XellAn can't help but smile. He is a very cute little boy, his innocence is refreshing. "Yes, Phibrizio," She says softly, "I am your mama." He steps forward hesitantly, then stops. She holds a hand out to him. "It is okay. Come here." He clutches her hand in both of his. "Are you really my mama, XellosAngel?" He questions. She rests her other hand on his dark hair, "I am not the mama that created you, but I am going to be your mama from now on." He grins. "Good enough."
"XellosAngel." The Lord of Nightmares' voice is full of warning, "Give him the best you can. His past existence is not to be repeated. I do not want him to remember." XellAn scoops him up into her arms. "He will not remember. I swear on my soul, he will not." She hugs him to her, fearful that he will know what they mean. But he just wraps his small arms around her and rests his head on her shoulder. The young woman relaxes a little. She feels some attachment to the former Hellmaster and knows she will come to love him.
The Lord of Nightmares bids them leave and XellAn winks out of her temple and back to her home on Wolfpack Island. The room in the Beastmaster's palace that she and Phibrizio appear in is Xellia's room. The little girl isn't in there -she's somewhere with her father- so XellAn sits her "son" down on the bed. He yawns as he looks curiously around the small chamber.
"Are you tired, Phibrizio?" She asks softly and he nods, so she goes on. "This is my daughter's room. You may sleep here until we have arranged something for you." He frowns slightly. "I have a sister?" A nod from his mama. "Yes. Her name is Xellia and she's four years old. She's wanted a brother for a year now." He nods, then yawns again. "Mama, if I go to sleep, will you still be here when I wake up?" He asks deliberately. "I may not be in this very room with you, Phibrizio, but I will be nearby." She assures him. She knows that L-Sama had left him to die. Now, apparently, he is afraid of being abandoned.
Satisfied with her response, he settles down on the bed. She brushes his hair from his face. "Sleep well, Phibby-Kun." He smiles sleepily. "G'night, Mama." She tucks the blanket around him and sits on the bed until he is asleep.
Then she leaves the room. Xellos needs to hear of this strange development in their lives. While he and Phibrizio had once been pals, she is sure he will not take well to the notion that the former Hellmaster was to be their child.
The priest is in the temple, teaching his daughter to read. They are both seated on the floor, he with her on his lap. He's pointing to words in the Claire Bible and she is attempting to sound them out.
"Xellos?" The young woman says softly, "I do not wish to interrupt, but this is very important." He looks up at her, then back at Xellia. "Aka-Chan, you run along and play. Mama wishes to speak to me." The little demon smiles. "Hai, Papa." Then she scampers off and Xellos arises.
He and XellAn face one another. "What is it, XellAn-Chan? You look very troubled." He smiles his characteristic smile. She thinks for a moment. "Xel-Chan, you remember how Xellia asks about a brother?" One of his violet eyes winks open. "Are you trying to tell me that you are pregnant?" He questions. She frowns. "No. No, I am not. L-Sama has assigned me a task, however. I am to raise Phibrizio." She waits for the news to sink in. It takes only a moment. Then both his eyes are open and he stares at her. "She has given the Hellmaster his existence?! And you are his mother?!" She shakes her head. "He is but a child, Xellos. Cypress is the Hellmaster now. Phibrizio cannot know of his past."
He looks at her a moment longer. "Why? Why is she doing this, XellAn? She's the one who killed him." XellAn searches for the right words. "She says that he deserves a second chance," She begins slowly, "That he will try again. Without the position of Hellmaster, perhaps he will not act so reckless and careless. He's only six years old, and I don't just mean physically. I mean mentally. And a more innocent child I've never seen. He calls me 'mama' already, Xellos. I do believe he will be happy here." His eyes meet hers and he knows she is sincere in her words. "You wish to keep him, don't you?" She nods. "Yes. I do." He sighs. "Very well." She kisses him. "It's not like we had a choice, but thank you anyway."
They sit Xellia down and XellAn explains the situation to her. The boy, she tells her daughter, Phibrizio, he is to be your big brother. He was a gift for us from L-Sama." The child's eyes widen and sparkle with excitement. "Where? Where is my brother?" She asks eagerly. "He is asleep, XA-Baby. He was very tired." XellAn knows being reborn is an exhausting procedure. "But I wanna see him! I wanna play wif him now!" The child exclaims. "Not now, Xellia. You must wait." Her mother says patiently.
"Mama?" Comes a childish voice from the doorway. Phibrizio has awoken and wandered into the room. XellAn turns to look at him. "You are awake, Phibby-Kun." She smiles, "Come here." He comes to here and clutches her hand. "What is the matter, Phibrizio?" Her hand rests on his hair, "This is your papa and your sister, Xellia." He smiles shyly from where he is hidden behind her. "Konnichi wa." Xellos grins. "Hullo, Phibby." Xellia studies him curiously. "This is my brother?" Her mother nods. "Yes."
The little demon girl peers at him for a long time. She looks at him, at his dark hair (which is longer then hers), into his vivid green eyes, at his clothing (the exact same style as her own only blue and grey as opposed to her family's traditional red, purple and black.). Then she smiles. "You'll do, I guess."
His face falls. "What did you expect?" He asks softly. She shakes her head, as if he knows nothing. "You are not at all like Val-Chan." She says plainly, "You look like a girl." His eyes fill up with tears. "Mama, she doesn't want me." XellAn smiles kindly as she hoists him into her arms. "Ne, Phibby-Kun, she just doesn't know you yet." He sniffles and buries his face in her shoulder. Xellia appears to be very upset. "You're not his mama! You're my mama!" She pouts. "She hates me!!" He sobs.
"What is going on here!?" A sharp voice demands. the Beastmaster has appeared in the room, Xellos -who has filled her in on everything- is behind her. By this time, both children are crying. Xellia is clinging to her mother's skirt as XellAn rocks Phibrizio in her arms.
Xellia is suddenly silent as she hides behind her mother. Phibrizio is still crying as XellAn rubs his back. "Please stop." She whispers, "It's okay..." He just cries harder. "Make him stop." Zelas orders. "I cannot make him. He will stop when he is ready." The young mother says softly. The Beastmaster eyes narrow. Xellia notices and grins. Now's her chance to get her "brother" in trouble. "I'm good, Ne, Juuou-Sama? I'm not crying. I know only weak Mazoku cry."
The Mazoku Lord smiles at the little demon. "Yes, Little One, you are good. But Phibrizio has been reborn and he is in a new place; he must be scared." Xellos meanwhile, turns to his lover. "Let me take Phibby, XellAn, so you can tell Juuou-Sama what you told me." He holds out his arms and the little boy shrinks away. "Mama...no. I wanna stay with you..." He whimpers. "Go with Papa, Phibby-Kun. I need to talk to Juuou-Sama alone. Be Mama's good boy and go with Papa." She tells him calmly, "Can you do that?" He nods bravely and extends his small arms to Xellos.
The priest takes him in his arms. "I'm not so bad, Phibby. C'mon, tell me and Xellia about yourself. She needs to learn about her brother and I need to know about my son." The boy smiles faintly and looks over his shoulder at XellAn. She nods encouragingly and he looks back at Xellos. "Hai, Papa." He says softly.
He takes the two children into a corner of the room. Xellia listens as Phibrizio talks briefly about himself. There is not much for him to tell; he cannot remember a lot about who he is. But Xellos keeps his attention focused on the two women discussing the former Hellmaster's fate. He can hear bits and pieces of their conversation, XellAn pleading for the Beastmaster to accept Phibrizio as part of the family. "I do not wish to have another child in my palace." Comes the velvety voice of the Mazoku Lord. "But you didn't want Xellia either and you got used to her. You can get used to Phibrizio too!" Counters the desperate plea of XellAn, "And L-Sama requested I raise him. it was not my idea. I did not wish for this."
Zelas is less than thrilled. She's glaring at XellAn as she explains L-Sama's request and she appears very angry. Phibrizio, knowing that they are talking about him, watches through his emerald eyes as the two interact. The Beastmaster looks particularity vicious and XellAn seems very frightened. He sees Zelas raise a hand to slap his mama and -in that single second- images flash before his eyes; memories he'd forgotten that he even had. The pitiless look of L-Sama, the pain, the blinding light engulfing him. Then nothing. Nothing for a long time, until his mama hugged him.
He is instantly between his mama and the Mazoku Lord, his face shining with defiance. "Mama didn't do anything. I'm the one causing the problems. I will take whatever abuse you want to give Mama." Zelas stares at him for a moment, then a smile crosses her face. "Such nobility. What a loyal little creature. You may keep him, Pet." Phibrizio' childish grin lights his face. He jumps into XellAn's arms and she hugs him. "I'm proud of you, Phibby-Kun."
This is too much for Xellia. "You don't love me!" She accuses, "You don't want me! Only Phibrizio! He's new, so he gets all the attention! What about me? Ain't I your Xa-Baby anymore?" XellAn and Phibrizio look at her. Her face is distorted with anger and her violet eyes are full of tears. Phibby slides out of his mama's arms. The two children look at one another. " 'M sorry if I'm not what you want," The former Hellmaster says softly, "But I'm gonna stay here and be yer brother forever. Mama promised. An' I don't understand why you don't like me." She glares at him. "I hate you!" And he disolves into tears again. Then he runs out of the room.
XellAn starts after him, but Xellos stops her. "Let him be alone for a while." he picks Xellia up and hands her to her mother. The little girl is confused and her way of expressing her confusion is through anger. "I...I don't really hate him, Mama." She says very softly, "He's just so different from Valgaav. An' I...I..." She doesn't even know what to say. XellAn hugs her. "I know, Xa-Baby. You didn't mean it. I understand."
When XellosAngel takes Xellia to put her to bed, they find Phibrizio already curled up on her bed. His face is wet from all the tears he cried and he's scrunched up in a little ball. Xellia climbs up and sits next to him among the pillows and blankets. "Phibby?" The girl asks quietly. "What?" His response is very soft and it's almost as if he didn't speak. "I'm sorry. I don't hate you. An' I do want you for my brother." He sits up and wipes his eyes. "I'm glad you changed your mind." He smiles slightly. "Are you gonna stay in here all night?" He shrugs. "I 'unno. Am I, Mama?" XellAn smiles. "If you want, I suppose. Papa can bring a bed for you."
She settles her children down to sleep and Xellia gives two of her blankets and a pillow to Phibrizio. She hugs each of them and gives Phibrizio a kiss on his forehead. He looks at her sleepily. "...Will you still be here when I wake up?" He whispers. "Of course I will, Phibby-Kun. And Xellia and Papa will too. You are part of our family now." Then she pulls the blankets up around him and turns of the light. "Sleep well, My Little Ones."
She finds Xellos waiting for her in their room. He's sitting on the bed, a ponderous look on his face. "We have another child, XA-Chan. He's not even ours, but we have him." She smiles. "He is very much ours, Xellos. L-Sama gave him to me. And as long as he's a good boy, she will have no reason to take him away." She sits beside him. "Our family keeps growing...It's never going to be just me and you again." That thought almost seems
to make him sad. "Yes, there are four of us now." She rests her head upon his shoulder, "But you will come to love him. He will be your son. There is love in there somewhere, lost within your empty heart. You love me, you love Xellia and you will love Phibrizio." He smiles and they kiss. "You know me all too well, My Dear. It's you and me and Xellia and Phibby makes four."
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