The Memories Grow Black and White
By XellAn-Chan
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
You are cordially invited to attend the tenth birthday party of Adlai Graywords,Princess of Saillune, on Saturday the fifth at the Royal Palace in Saillune. Please come; we are looking forward to seeing you. RSVP regrets only.
"Looking forward to seeing us? I highly doubt that Zelgadiss is looking forward to seeing us." Xellos Metallium scoffs as he reads the invitation in his lover's hand. "I suppose Amelia wrote the invitation." The young woman agrees, "And look, Phibrizio wasn't invited, because no one knows we have him. Do you think they'll mind if we bring him?" The priest frowns. "They better not. Because I won't leave my son behind." A smile crosses her face. Xellos has, as has she, gotten used to the idea that the former Hellmaster is their child.
"Xellia, Phibrizio, come here please!" XellAn calls their children. The little girl runs in, her violet hair flying around her face. The boy follows behind her slowly; everything he does is deliberate. They stand before their parents, waiting to see what is so important. "What Mama? What?" Xellia is rather impatient. Their mother smiles. "Do you remember Adlai, Xa-baby?" She asks her daughter. The little girl thinks for a moment. "...Val's friend?" "That's right. It's her birthday soon and her Mama and Papa are having a party for her." "A party?" "Just like we have for you, with ice cream and everything." Xellia's birthday was celebrated a lot like Christmas. She was, after all, a very important Mazoku. "Val will be there, right?" was her next question. "Probably." Comes the response. She's thrilled. "Yatta!!"
Phibrizio doesn't look anywhere near as excited. "I won't know any one, Mama. I don't wanna go." She smiles, knowing he is somewhat shy, and picks him up. "You won't know any one if you don't go meet them, Phibby-Kun." XellAn tells him softly. "I don't wanna." He repeats. "I am sorry, Little One, but you are going."
Saturday dawns bright and sunny, which makes Xellia even more excited. It does nothing, however, to brighten Phibrizio's mood. He clings to his mother, buries his face in her shoulder, as they walk into the royal palace in Saillune.
They are shown into the room of the party by a maid and Xellia scampers right over to her friends. "Adlai! Zelig! Hiya! Hi, Gowan!" She looks around, "Where's Valgaav? An' who's that?"
Adlai, the birthday girl, and her brother Zelig look exactly the same as she remembers. Gowan's hair is a bit longer and falls in his eyes. The other girl is his sister, Leala, who was just a baby when Xellia met her.
Without waiting for a response, the little demon goes on. "I have a big brother now too. His name is Phibrizio. See, Mama's got him."
Amelia, meanwhile, goes to greet the demons, but stops when she sees the small boy in XellAn's arms. She goes and finds Zelgadiss and they confer together for a moment. "Is that," The princess whispers, "Phibrizio in her arms? Isn't he dead?" He husband frowns. "L-Sama did kill him...but it sure looks like him."
Gourry, at this time, greets Xellos with a hand shake. He says hello to XellAn, then asks about the boy. "Who's this?" The young woman smiles. "This is Phibrizio. He's a little shy." She tells the swordsman. He scratches his head. "I didn't know you had another kid." He sounds confused. "He was a present from L-Sama." "Oh."
Something sparks a memory in Phibrizio's mind, something about the sound of Gourry's voice, and he pulls his head away from his mama's shoulder. He looks at the blond and Gourry looks back at him, at his innocent expression. Blue meets emerald as they stare at one another. For a second, Gourry remembers Phibrizio, but the recognition is gone once the boy turns away.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Leala comes toddling over. Gourry scoops her up. "Hi, La-Chan." He grins as she hugs him. "She's gotten so big." XellAn comments. He smiles proudly. "She's two." Phibrizio looks at the little girl. She's grinning broadly, her hair falls in golden curls around her angelic face and her sky blue eyes sparkle. The small boy whimpers slightly and clings tighter to his mother.
Amelia has called Lina into the small conference. the red-head looks ill at the thought that Phibrizio is in Saillune. Sure, she'd had her part in destroying him, but it'd nearly destroyed her in the process. And Gourry...the Hellmaster had kidnapped him!
"What are you three whispering about?" Xellos has appeared in the midst of their huddle. Three sets of eyes wander to where XellAn stands holding Phibrizio. Xellos' gaze follows theirs. He smiles knowingly. "You recognized him. And now you are afraid." He states.
"Is it...is it really him?" Lina asks weakly, "The Lord of Nightmares killed him...when I cast the Giga Slave. Is it him?" Xellos grins. "Sore wa himitsu desu!" Zelgadiss grabs him by the collar. "Don't play games with me, Xellos! You're not going to ruin my daughter's birthday. Is it him, or isn't it?"
The priest grins as Zelgadiss glares at him from under his dark brown hair. He is reveling in the fear they are all experiencing. Zel's cobalt eyes are piercing him like knives, yet, somehow, he is not as threatening as before. Perhaps it is because he is human...
Xellos sighs. "It is Phibrizio and he is very much alive. But he is no longer Hellmaster and he knows absolutely nothing of the time in which he was. He's just a shy little boy." Lina raises an eyebrow. "A shy little demon boy." A nod from the priest. "Yes, but he is not your typical Mazoku. He cries a lot. He has nightmares. The past plagues him, yet he knows nothing about it. It would be best if he -and Gourry, for that matter- do not recall the Giga Slave incident."
Filia arrives with Valgaav while Xellia is busy trying to persuade her brother to play with the other children. When the small demon sees her beloved friend, she gives up on Phibrizio and runs towards the dragon. "Val!!!" He, much to Filia's dismay, grins and catches her up in a hug.
The kids run outside together, all of them but Phibrizio. He falls asleep in XellAn's arms and she lays him across the loveseat. She forgets about him; leaves him there. When he wakes up and doesn't see her, he cries. And Gourry finds him.
"Why're you crying, Phibrizio?" The swordsman asks. "Where's m-my mama?" The child sobs, "Sh-she went away an'...an' left me here!" Gourry smiles kindly. "Your mommy didn't go away." He lifts the boy off the couch, "C'mon, we'll go find her."
Phibrizio and Gourry look at one another for the second time and there is something between them again, but neither is sure exactly what. Every time their eyes meet, there is some familiarity that they both feel, like they know each other. But from where? And how?
The little boy doesn't like the creepy feeling eh gets when he looks in the blonds eyes, so he turns away. "Where is my mama?" He asks softly. "She's outside with your sister. We'll go find her." The child is silent for a moment. "Gourry-San, you are Gowan and Leala's papa, ne?" He asks. "Yeah." "And Lina-San is their mama?" "That's right." "And you'd never hurt them, right?" "No. Why? Do your mommy and daddy hurt you?" "...No. But some one did. I just can't remember." He sighs. "Don't feel too bad. I never remember things." Gourry smiles. "But...it's something important; somethin' I should remember." He frowns, "An' when I look at you, I start to remember, but then I ferget again." The swordsman nods. "I know whatcha mean, Kiddo. You remind me of some one, but I don't know who."
XellAn is pleased to see her small son talking to some one other than his family for a change. She takes him from the swordsman and he smiles. "Missed ya, Mama." She hugs him. "Are you goingto play now? Xellia wants you to meet the other children." He nods. "I guess so." He says softly. "That's my good boy." She watches as he shyly joins his sister and her firends. It makes her happy to see him opening up.
Xellia, Adlai, Gowan and Valgaav run around together, playing a tag of some sorts, with Lealascampering behind and trying to keep up. Phibrizio joins Zelig in his sandbox. The small prince is the exact oposite of his sister, very quiet and introverted, despite the fact that she is the one who inherited their father's curse. "May I paly with you?" Phibby asks quietly. Zelig nods. "Guess so." The two boys putter around for a while before they begin to talk. "How old are you?" The prince asks. " 'M six." "Me too! ...My daddy had a curse on him, but Mommy loved him any way. That's why Addy's blue." "Papa's a priest."
XellAn and Amelia watch their sons. "Is he really the same demon who was the Hellmaster?" The princess questions. "Yes." XellAn nods, "But he is not the Hellmaster any more and never will be again." "So he's just a little boy now?" "He's just a little boy."
The priestess Slyphiel arrives while they are outside. She's a pretty girl, with long dark hair and a smile on her face. But her happiness masks a great displeasure. The reasons for her sadness are a mystery to XellAn, but they taste good -a mixture of jealousy, self-pity and angiush- and the demon woman is curious.
So she asks Lina about the priestess. "What's wrong with her? Why is she so unhappy?" The sorceress sighs. "She hates to see our kids." A strange look crosses XellAn's face. "Why?" She gives a side-long glance at the other woman. "Because of how she feels about Gourry. She loves him. And there were times I was afraid he'd go off with her. I guess hse never got over him." A nod from the demon. "I understand. Her pain tastes extraordinary. She must be suffering greatly."
Phibrizio too feels the priestess' pain. It seeps into him, his first real "meal" since eh was reborn, and he smiles to himself as he eats it up. Every one else at the party is quite happy and carefree. Only Slyphiel is upset about anything and her raw emotions are as delectable as any gourmet food.
The priestess greets the birthday girl warmly then proceeds to say hello to all the children in turn. There are hellos for Valgaav and Gowan, a curious look at Xellia (whom, she realizes instantly, is Xellos' daughter)and when Leala hugs her, fresh emotions spill forth. the toddler looks just like her father and that causes Slyphiel much grief.
Then she comes to the sandbox. Zelig is greeted pleasantly enough, but Phibrizio...she's speechless when she sees him. The way she looks at him makes him uncomfortable. As he stares at her through wide emerald eyes, images flash through his mind. Then he begins to cry. "What's wrong, Phibby?" Zelig asks, "Why're ya cryin'?" The demon sniffles. "I keep rememberin' bad things. An' 'm scared. Where'd Mama go?" The other boy points. "She's over there with Filia-San."
Slyphiel watches as the boy goes crying to his mother. Then she looks back at the prince. "What did you say his name was, Zelig-Kun?" She asks. "Phibby." The boy responds. She turns pale. "Is it just 'Phibby' or is it short for something?" She goes on. "His real name's Phibrizio. Some a us just call 'im Phibby." "Oh..."
She looks at him again. He is in his mother's arms, his face buried in her shoulder. XellAn is still taking to Filia and Slyphiel wonders just who she is, where she came from, and why the Hellmaster is her child.
Her curiosity gets the better of her and she approaches the two women. Up close, the Mazoku looks to be no more than a teenager. "Excuse me," She says politely, "But I don't believe we've met." The young woman smiles placidly. "Konnichi wa." Her voice is light, with a seductive air, "You are the priestess Slyphiel, ne?" She's a little taken aback. "I am." A pause. "Who are you?" The young woman's smile widens. "My name is XellosAngel Metallium." "You are a relation of the priest's" She questions the demon. "You might say that." Comes the off-handed response, "I am the mother of his child."
That is not what Slyphiel expected. "The little purple-haired girl, she's your daughter?" A nod. "Hai. And this is our son, Phibrizio." XellAn's saying that makes it true, There had been a slight chance that Zelig had been wrong. "You mean the-" She begins. XellAn cuts her off. "No." She says firmly, "I know what you are going to say. The answer is 'no.' He's not." Slyphiel blinks. "He looks just like him." Th demon nods. "Of course he does. He was him." The priestess backs away. Phibrizio pulls his head away from XellAn's shirt and looks at her. "Why is she afraid, Mama?" His mother smiles sadly. "You remind her of some one, Phibby-Kun." "Who?" "It was along time ago. it doesn't matter." She assures him and he lays his head back on her shoulder.
He is still in her arms when Martina, Zangulas and their children show up. The four older kids run off to play, the youngest clings to her mother's hand. When Martina sees Phibrizio, she recognizes him as the little boy she'd given a piggy-back ride to. "Hey Cutey." She grins, "What're you doing here?" He blinks his large eyes. "Why wouldn't I be here? Mama brought me to have fun."
XellAn freezes. Martina knows Phibrizio. She was around when he had been Hellmaster. "Phibby-Kun, why don't you go play with Zelig again?" He smiles. "M'kay." And slides out of her arms. Then she looks at the aqua-haired woman. "Do not do that." Martina blinks. "Do what?" "Remind him of things he should not remember." The former princess gives her a funny look and she goes on. "He is not the same Phibrizio you met. He's only a little boy now, not the Hellmaster. And he doesn't know what he used to be. So please don't remind him." "Oh. Okay."
All of them are puzzled by what Phibrizio has become. He was, at one time, the strongest Mazoku under Shabranigdo. Now he is a scared child, which makes it even stranger. Mazoku are not supposed to have fear. He is an attractive child, and looks the way he did as Hellmaster, but the innocence lighting his eyes now truly is innocence.
The hostility towards the small demon begins to wan. He is a charming little boy, very shy and reserved, and it is hard not to like him. But Phibrizio, he just doesn't feel comfortable. He feels like he should know them all, like he'd met them before. And it bothers him that he cannot remember.
So he spends a lot of time clinging to XellAn, his face buried in her shoulder. Looking at them is what causes the flashbacks, so he doesn't want to see them. Xellia, on the other hand, scampers around between her friends, quite the little socialite.
Adlai is quite the happy birthday girl. Her father dotes on her, her mother adores her and she the is heir to the throne of Saillune. Zelgadiss, in actuality, feels quite guilty after what he'd "done" to his daughter. She'd inherited his curse and, although Amelia had no problems with bearing his "cute little chimera children," he felt horrible that his daughter was stuck with the traits that had made his life hell.
Phibrizio was curious about Adlai and Valgaav. It' not often you see a human child with blue skin or a horn. So he asked them about their unique traits. "Val-San, why do you have a horn?" He asks softly. "I am a Ryuzoku. Ryuzoku have horns." Phibby nods. "I see." Then he goes to Adlai. Zelig had made a comment about her skin color, and it had got him curious. "Why is your skin like that, Addy-San?" She blinks her narrow cobalt eyes. "Mom says it's because she loved Daddy while he was still cursed. He looked worse than me. But love conquers all and I was born."
The boy becomes very quiet and it is obvious he is deep in thought. He looks very ponderous for the rest of the day and remains that way until XellAn puts him to bed.
"Mama? Why don't I have a birthday? When was I born? Where did I come from?" He asks quite seriously. She brushes the hair from his eyes. "You have a birthday, Phibby-Kun. The day you came to me is your birthday. Where you came from does not matter. What matters is that you are my son and I love you." She tells him softly.
"Why did it seemed like I knew all of them? Why was I so uncomfortable? Why were they afraid of me?" He asks sleepily. "Child, humans always fear the unknown. But they now love you. You seem to know them because they are my friends and Papa's friends, and the love we have for them is the same as we have for you." She does not know what to tell him, so she says anything she can. "Now go to sleep, Little One. Do not fret over memories that are not real."
He yawns and closes his eyes. She kisses his forehead, shuts off the light and leaves the room. His memories are very real and she knows they will only cause difficulties.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: about the names of the Slayers' children
Gowan: a name that (i think) refers to flowing water...i gave him this name as some one who will be a sorceror and conjure water spells.
Leala: means "faithful." this name was given to her because of Gourry's devotion to Lina.
Adlai: refers to nobility...she is the crown princess...
Zelig: "blessed" i don't know why i named him this, it just seemed good.
By XellAn-Chan
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
You are cordially invited to attend the tenth birthday party of Adlai Graywords,Princess of Saillune, on Saturday the fifth at the Royal Palace in Saillune. Please come; we are looking forward to seeing you. RSVP regrets only.
"Looking forward to seeing us? I highly doubt that Zelgadiss is looking forward to seeing us." Xellos Metallium scoffs as he reads the invitation in his lover's hand. "I suppose Amelia wrote the invitation." The young woman agrees, "And look, Phibrizio wasn't invited, because no one knows we have him. Do you think they'll mind if we bring him?" The priest frowns. "They better not. Because I won't leave my son behind." A smile crosses her face. Xellos has, as has she, gotten used to the idea that the former Hellmaster is their child.
"Xellia, Phibrizio, come here please!" XellAn calls their children. The little girl runs in, her violet hair flying around her face. The boy follows behind her slowly; everything he does is deliberate. They stand before their parents, waiting to see what is so important. "What Mama? What?" Xellia is rather impatient. Their mother smiles. "Do you remember Adlai, Xa-baby?" She asks her daughter. The little girl thinks for a moment. "...Val's friend?" "That's right. It's her birthday soon and her Mama and Papa are having a party for her." "A party?" "Just like we have for you, with ice cream and everything." Xellia's birthday was celebrated a lot like Christmas. She was, after all, a very important Mazoku. "Val will be there, right?" was her next question. "Probably." Comes the response. She's thrilled. "Yatta!!"
Phibrizio doesn't look anywhere near as excited. "I won't know any one, Mama. I don't wanna go." She smiles, knowing he is somewhat shy, and picks him up. "You won't know any one if you don't go meet them, Phibby-Kun." XellAn tells him softly. "I don't wanna." He repeats. "I am sorry, Little One, but you are going."
Saturday dawns bright and sunny, which makes Xellia even more excited. It does nothing, however, to brighten Phibrizio's mood. He clings to his mother, buries his face in her shoulder, as they walk into the royal palace in Saillune.
They are shown into the room of the party by a maid and Xellia scampers right over to her friends. "Adlai! Zelig! Hiya! Hi, Gowan!" She looks around, "Where's Valgaav? An' who's that?"
Adlai, the birthday girl, and her brother Zelig look exactly the same as she remembers. Gowan's hair is a bit longer and falls in his eyes. The other girl is his sister, Leala, who was just a baby when Xellia met her.
Without waiting for a response, the little demon goes on. "I have a big brother now too. His name is Phibrizio. See, Mama's got him."
Amelia, meanwhile, goes to greet the demons, but stops when she sees the small boy in XellAn's arms. She goes and finds Zelgadiss and they confer together for a moment. "Is that," The princess whispers, "Phibrizio in her arms? Isn't he dead?" He husband frowns. "L-Sama did kill him...but it sure looks like him."
Gourry, at this time, greets Xellos with a hand shake. He says hello to XellAn, then asks about the boy. "Who's this?" The young woman smiles. "This is Phibrizio. He's a little shy." She tells the swordsman. He scratches his head. "I didn't know you had another kid." He sounds confused. "He was a present from L-Sama." "Oh."
Something sparks a memory in Phibrizio's mind, something about the sound of Gourry's voice, and he pulls his head away from his mama's shoulder. He looks at the blond and Gourry looks back at him, at his innocent expression. Blue meets emerald as they stare at one another. For a second, Gourry remembers Phibrizio, but the recognition is gone once the boy turns away.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Leala comes toddling over. Gourry scoops her up. "Hi, La-Chan." He grins as she hugs him. "She's gotten so big." XellAn comments. He smiles proudly. "She's two." Phibrizio looks at the little girl. She's grinning broadly, her hair falls in golden curls around her angelic face and her sky blue eyes sparkle. The small boy whimpers slightly and clings tighter to his mother.
Amelia has called Lina into the small conference. the red-head looks ill at the thought that Phibrizio is in Saillune. Sure, she'd had her part in destroying him, but it'd nearly destroyed her in the process. And Gourry...the Hellmaster had kidnapped him!
"What are you three whispering about?" Xellos has appeared in the midst of their huddle. Three sets of eyes wander to where XellAn stands holding Phibrizio. Xellos' gaze follows theirs. He smiles knowingly. "You recognized him. And now you are afraid." He states.
"Is it...is it really him?" Lina asks weakly, "The Lord of Nightmares killed him...when I cast the Giga Slave. Is it him?" Xellos grins. "Sore wa himitsu desu!" Zelgadiss grabs him by the collar. "Don't play games with me, Xellos! You're not going to ruin my daughter's birthday. Is it him, or isn't it?"
The priest grins as Zelgadiss glares at him from under his dark brown hair. He is reveling in the fear they are all experiencing. Zel's cobalt eyes are piercing him like knives, yet, somehow, he is not as threatening as before. Perhaps it is because he is human...
Xellos sighs. "It is Phibrizio and he is very much alive. But he is no longer Hellmaster and he knows absolutely nothing of the time in which he was. He's just a shy little boy." Lina raises an eyebrow. "A shy little demon boy." A nod from the priest. "Yes, but he is not your typical Mazoku. He cries a lot. He has nightmares. The past plagues him, yet he knows nothing about it. It would be best if he -and Gourry, for that matter- do not recall the Giga Slave incident."
Filia arrives with Valgaav while Xellia is busy trying to persuade her brother to play with the other children. When the small demon sees her beloved friend, she gives up on Phibrizio and runs towards the dragon. "Val!!!" He, much to Filia's dismay, grins and catches her up in a hug.
The kids run outside together, all of them but Phibrizio. He falls asleep in XellAn's arms and she lays him across the loveseat. She forgets about him; leaves him there. When he wakes up and doesn't see her, he cries. And Gourry finds him.
"Why're you crying, Phibrizio?" The swordsman asks. "Where's m-my mama?" The child sobs, "Sh-she went away an'...an' left me here!" Gourry smiles kindly. "Your mommy didn't go away." He lifts the boy off the couch, "C'mon, we'll go find her."
Phibrizio and Gourry look at one another for the second time and there is something between them again, but neither is sure exactly what. Every time their eyes meet, there is some familiarity that they both feel, like they know each other. But from where? And how?
The little boy doesn't like the creepy feeling eh gets when he looks in the blonds eyes, so he turns away. "Where is my mama?" He asks softly. "She's outside with your sister. We'll go find her." The child is silent for a moment. "Gourry-San, you are Gowan and Leala's papa, ne?" He asks. "Yeah." "And Lina-San is their mama?" "That's right." "And you'd never hurt them, right?" "No. Why? Do your mommy and daddy hurt you?" "...No. But some one did. I just can't remember." He sighs. "Don't feel too bad. I never remember things." Gourry smiles. "But...it's something important; somethin' I should remember." He frowns, "An' when I look at you, I start to remember, but then I ferget again." The swordsman nods. "I know whatcha mean, Kiddo. You remind me of some one, but I don't know who."
XellAn is pleased to see her small son talking to some one other than his family for a change. She takes him from the swordsman and he smiles. "Missed ya, Mama." She hugs him. "Are you goingto play now? Xellia wants you to meet the other children." He nods. "I guess so." He says softly. "That's my good boy." She watches as he shyly joins his sister and her firends. It makes her happy to see him opening up.
Xellia, Adlai, Gowan and Valgaav run around together, playing a tag of some sorts, with Lealascampering behind and trying to keep up. Phibrizio joins Zelig in his sandbox. The small prince is the exact oposite of his sister, very quiet and introverted, despite the fact that she is the one who inherited their father's curse. "May I paly with you?" Phibby asks quietly. Zelig nods. "Guess so." The two boys putter around for a while before they begin to talk. "How old are you?" The prince asks. " 'M six." "Me too! ...My daddy had a curse on him, but Mommy loved him any way. That's why Addy's blue." "Papa's a priest."
XellAn and Amelia watch their sons. "Is he really the same demon who was the Hellmaster?" The princess questions. "Yes." XellAn nods, "But he is not the Hellmaster any more and never will be again." "So he's just a little boy now?" "He's just a little boy."
The priestess Slyphiel arrives while they are outside. She's a pretty girl, with long dark hair and a smile on her face. But her happiness masks a great displeasure. The reasons for her sadness are a mystery to XellAn, but they taste good -a mixture of jealousy, self-pity and angiush- and the demon woman is curious.
So she asks Lina about the priestess. "What's wrong with her? Why is she so unhappy?" The sorceress sighs. "She hates to see our kids." A strange look crosses XellAn's face. "Why?" She gives a side-long glance at the other woman. "Because of how she feels about Gourry. She loves him. And there were times I was afraid he'd go off with her. I guess hse never got over him." A nod from the demon. "I understand. Her pain tastes extraordinary. She must be suffering greatly."
Phibrizio too feels the priestess' pain. It seeps into him, his first real "meal" since eh was reborn, and he smiles to himself as he eats it up. Every one else at the party is quite happy and carefree. Only Slyphiel is upset about anything and her raw emotions are as delectable as any gourmet food.
The priestess greets the birthday girl warmly then proceeds to say hello to all the children in turn. There are hellos for Valgaav and Gowan, a curious look at Xellia (whom, she realizes instantly, is Xellos' daughter)and when Leala hugs her, fresh emotions spill forth. the toddler looks just like her father and that causes Slyphiel much grief.
Then she comes to the sandbox. Zelig is greeted pleasantly enough, but Phibrizio...she's speechless when she sees him. The way she looks at him makes him uncomfortable. As he stares at her through wide emerald eyes, images flash through his mind. Then he begins to cry. "What's wrong, Phibby?" Zelig asks, "Why're ya cryin'?" The demon sniffles. "I keep rememberin' bad things. An' 'm scared. Where'd Mama go?" The other boy points. "She's over there with Filia-San."
Slyphiel watches as the boy goes crying to his mother. Then she looks back at the prince. "What did you say his name was, Zelig-Kun?" She asks. "Phibby." The boy responds. She turns pale. "Is it just 'Phibby' or is it short for something?" She goes on. "His real name's Phibrizio. Some a us just call 'im Phibby." "Oh..."
She looks at him again. He is in his mother's arms, his face buried in her shoulder. XellAn is still taking to Filia and Slyphiel wonders just who she is, where she came from, and why the Hellmaster is her child.
Her curiosity gets the better of her and she approaches the two women. Up close, the Mazoku looks to be no more than a teenager. "Excuse me," She says politely, "But I don't believe we've met." The young woman smiles placidly. "Konnichi wa." Her voice is light, with a seductive air, "You are the priestess Slyphiel, ne?" She's a little taken aback. "I am." A pause. "Who are you?" The young woman's smile widens. "My name is XellosAngel Metallium." "You are a relation of the priest's" She questions the demon. "You might say that." Comes the off-handed response, "I am the mother of his child."
That is not what Slyphiel expected. "The little purple-haired girl, she's your daughter?" A nod. "Hai. And this is our son, Phibrizio." XellAn's saying that makes it true, There had been a slight chance that Zelig had been wrong. "You mean the-" She begins. XellAn cuts her off. "No." She says firmly, "I know what you are going to say. The answer is 'no.' He's not." Slyphiel blinks. "He looks just like him." Th demon nods. "Of course he does. He was him." The priestess backs away. Phibrizio pulls his head away from XellAn's shirt and looks at her. "Why is she afraid, Mama?" His mother smiles sadly. "You remind her of some one, Phibby-Kun." "Who?" "It was along time ago. it doesn't matter." She assures him and he lays his head back on her shoulder.
He is still in her arms when Martina, Zangulas and their children show up. The four older kids run off to play, the youngest clings to her mother's hand. When Martina sees Phibrizio, she recognizes him as the little boy she'd given a piggy-back ride to. "Hey Cutey." She grins, "What're you doing here?" He blinks his large eyes. "Why wouldn't I be here? Mama brought me to have fun."
XellAn freezes. Martina knows Phibrizio. She was around when he had been Hellmaster. "Phibby-Kun, why don't you go play with Zelig again?" He smiles. "M'kay." And slides out of her arms. Then she looks at the aqua-haired woman. "Do not do that." Martina blinks. "Do what?" "Remind him of things he should not remember." The former princess gives her a funny look and she goes on. "He is not the same Phibrizio you met. He's only a little boy now, not the Hellmaster. And he doesn't know what he used to be. So please don't remind him." "Oh. Okay."
All of them are puzzled by what Phibrizio has become. He was, at one time, the strongest Mazoku under Shabranigdo. Now he is a scared child, which makes it even stranger. Mazoku are not supposed to have fear. He is an attractive child, and looks the way he did as Hellmaster, but the innocence lighting his eyes now truly is innocence.
The hostility towards the small demon begins to wan. He is a charming little boy, very shy and reserved, and it is hard not to like him. But Phibrizio, he just doesn't feel comfortable. He feels like he should know them all, like he'd met them before. And it bothers him that he cannot remember.
So he spends a lot of time clinging to XellAn, his face buried in her shoulder. Looking at them is what causes the flashbacks, so he doesn't want to see them. Xellia, on the other hand, scampers around between her friends, quite the little socialite.
Adlai is quite the happy birthday girl. Her father dotes on her, her mother adores her and she the is heir to the throne of Saillune. Zelgadiss, in actuality, feels quite guilty after what he'd "done" to his daughter. She'd inherited his curse and, although Amelia had no problems with bearing his "cute little chimera children," he felt horrible that his daughter was stuck with the traits that had made his life hell.
Phibrizio was curious about Adlai and Valgaav. It' not often you see a human child with blue skin or a horn. So he asked them about their unique traits. "Val-San, why do you have a horn?" He asks softly. "I am a Ryuzoku. Ryuzoku have horns." Phibby nods. "I see." Then he goes to Adlai. Zelig had made a comment about her skin color, and it had got him curious. "Why is your skin like that, Addy-San?" She blinks her narrow cobalt eyes. "Mom says it's because she loved Daddy while he was still cursed. He looked worse than me. But love conquers all and I was born."
The boy becomes very quiet and it is obvious he is deep in thought. He looks very ponderous for the rest of the day and remains that way until XellAn puts him to bed.
"Mama? Why don't I have a birthday? When was I born? Where did I come from?" He asks quite seriously. She brushes the hair from his eyes. "You have a birthday, Phibby-Kun. The day you came to me is your birthday. Where you came from does not matter. What matters is that you are my son and I love you." She tells him softly.
"Why did it seemed like I knew all of them? Why was I so uncomfortable? Why were they afraid of me?" He asks sleepily. "Child, humans always fear the unknown. But they now love you. You seem to know them because they are my friends and Papa's friends, and the love we have for them is the same as we have for you." She does not know what to tell him, so she says anything she can. "Now go to sleep, Little One. Do not fret over memories that are not real."
He yawns and closes his eyes. She kisses his forehead, shuts off the light and leaves the room. His memories are very real and she knows they will only cause difficulties.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: about the names of the Slayers' children
Gowan: a name that (i think) refers to flowing water...i gave him this name as some one who will be a sorceror and conjure water spells.
Leala: means "faithful." this name was given to her because of Gourry's devotion to Lina.
Adlai: refers to nobility...she is the crown princess...
Zelig: "blessed" i don't know why i named him this, it just seemed good.