Pre-A/N: Ah… Yes, finally, another chapter. Actually, I was debating with myself whether or not I should actually continue this fic; regardless of praise I've received. (Gawsh... You peoples are just so nice *tear*) So, for the past (what three?) three months the constant 'muuurrr' in the back of my brain was: Keep it? Kill it? Keep it? Kill it? Keep it? Kill…. Etc. Finally- after much er… thinking- the former finally won. Hurrah for me!!

Also, if anyone has noticed, I've spelled 'seryuun' two different ways. One is 'sailune' which I've used as Ame's last name, the other is 'Seryuun' which is what I've used for the city. I did this because I think at one point I've said Amelia wil (such and such) Sailune of Seryuun. It just looks better with two different spellings.

Anyway, as promised, thankies for the reviews from so many wonderful peoples.

Chap one praise-

 Luen-Chan- Ah, Thankeis for the review. And (though it's probably a little late to be saying this) er.. HAVE A GOOD DAY AT SCHOOL!!  ^^;;

Raven_Summersong- Really? It's interesting? Wow! Thanks.. Oh and I'm glad you like my intro!

Winged Dancer- Thanks. I'm not sure if I really liked the premonition idea, but I'm assuming you did. And the one word thing? Ahhh, I found it odd personally, generally not the type of stuff I'm willing to read, but ooookaaaaay… if you liked it.

XellAn-Chan- I'll keep going. You keep reading. Mutual agreement here?

Shira- Well, whatever you say. I still think it's corny, but really appreciate the support. I'll keep writing! You wanna keep reviewing? Puh-wease?

Minimerc- Yup. It seems our little princess has got slightly more to her ne'? Mystic pooowers and alllll *insert- however corny- ominous music here*. Uhh, I have yet to develop the person who does it. YES! Of course the slayers gang's gonna help out (I wouldn't have it any other way *grin*). And our cute lil chimera is off brooding somewhere. But of course he'll show up!! Heh.. I mean, where's a Z/A fic when it's missing 'Z'?

Miguel- Thank you… I'll keep writing.

Chap two praise-

XellAn-Chan- OOooo Thank you for pointing that error (capitalizing 'daddy') out for me. And the last thing I'm gonna think you as is: nit-picky. Keep pointing that stuff out if you catch it, I hate grammatical errors in other's writing so I hate it doubly in my own. THANKS!

Chibi-Chan- Heh.. New chapter? Well here it is! I like Z/A stories too… That's why I'm writing one! ^_^

Miguel- Thank you. Here's your praise. (Heh! Just kidding Professor!! I'm not saying THAT boredly.. Is that even a word?)

Well, that's all for reviews, onto… (Insert corny music):

Unhindered Imagination

Chapter 3— Fire's Release

                     (No pun intended by the title!!)

--Fic written by-- The One And Only FIRE (NOT FANG FOR THE LAST TIME!!!)

            Amelia sighed as she flopped down into the tall grass, her dream from the previous night still heavy in her thoughts. She'd finally decided that she had sat at her desk long enough and had dismissed herself, naturally without telling anyone. Evenings and nights, she was starting to find, were the only times she had to herself anymore. And more than she welcomed the affections and constant attention of her father, servants, and the occasional suitor… She welcomed the silence. It wasn't often anymore, that she could detach from the world.

            It was when she was very young, that she had found this field, unoccupied and, from what she could tell, soulless. She had been so used to being surrounded with people, and for the first time in her small life, she found herself utterly alone. She, with her youthful and eager mind had conjured up the pretty idea of exploring the world. And at the age of six, of course this meant outside the palace walls.

            Over the years, the little fielded clearing in the forest had remained unoccupied and as she aged and life grew more stressful, she had gone there to think. Now she was finding herself there almost every night and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Was it that she was too stressed? Or perhaps that she was trying to escape the life that she was destined to lead? It disturbed her how she didn't have a clear answer before her anymore. Although it was still amazing, life wasn't as 'wonderful' as she had once thought it to be.

            She was torn from her thoughts as she realized that tears were gathering in her eyes, and shocked as well.

            "Be strong…" She whispered to herself. "What would Zelgadis-san say if he saw you like this… Be like Zelgadis-san…" She shook her head. Zel had seen her in tears over nothing before; it wasn't as though he would have said anything different. But still, she had idolized him and Lina-san, and had done everything in her power to be just like them, as she was doing now. However, she wasn't even sure of the cause of her tears and thus couldn't fight them.

            She sat up abruptly, pressing her palms to her eyelids as her tears spilled down her cheeks. It was hopeless… she realized for the first time. She was destined to rule a city although her heart yearned to travel, she would most likely end up with some aristocrat who didn't love her… but at least the feelings would be mutual. Over and over she had dreamed that Zelgadis would turn up on the palace bridge and carry her off somewhere, but now she was starting to doubt that he was ever coming back.

            She let herself fall back into the grass, her hands crossed in front of her waist and her tears running from the corners of her eyes and moistening the ground beside her head.

            "Sometimes…" She muttered, clenching her eyes shut as though in physical pain. "I wish I were someone else…"

*****

            Lina yawned and stretched as she walked up the stairs, ready to retire to her tavern-rented room for the night with Gourry two steps behind her. It was before she opened her door that she noticed he hadn't gone into his own room, but was behind her. She blinked, blushed, and glared, suspecting his motives were slightly less than honorable; but Gourry made no move to do anything and simply regarded her, an aura of seriousness radiating from him.

            They stood in silence, observing each other; and for minutes, nothing happened. Lina, although indefinitely more than she had used to be, was not a patient woman. Never had she been. And she felt her eyes narrowing again. Still Gourry made no move, and she was really starting to get frustrated.

            "He's supposed to be predictable, dammit!!" She thought angrily as she stared at his armor plated chest, not wanting to meet his eyes. "What the hell is this!? He's not sup-" However, before she could finish the thought, she found herself pressed against the object in which she had just been staring. Gourry's arms were wrapped tightly around her shoulders and she could feel a slight tremor in his muscles.

            "G-Gourry!!" She cried angrily, suddenly realizing the compromising (by Lina standards) position she had just been put into. She struggled slightly and when his physical strength outmatched hers, readied a fireball behind his back… That was until she heard him speak.

            "Lina… I'm kinda… Scared." He muttered into her hair, obviously ashamed of admitting it. Lina blinked, promptly forgetting her fireball. Was that Gourry the testosterone-pumped, breast-obsessed idiot-swordsman she had just heard? That couldn't be right! His arms tightened slightly, as thought his thoughts had hit a nasty bump and holding her was somehow comforting. Now that she had overcome the shock and anger and actually thought about it, it was quite comfortable… Being held by Gourry like this. But she couldn't dwell on the matter right now, something was wrong.

            "Gourry…?" She quired, not quite sure what to make of the current situation. After a three second debate in her head, she allowed her hands to rise and rest on his back, hoping to offer whatever comfort she could. One of her hands found his long hair, and she silently cursed herself for wearing gloves all the time; after all, she'd always kinda wondered what it'd feel like on her bare fingertips.

            "Lina… Everything's fine right?"

            "Huh?" Very confused now, she raised her head from his chest to peer up at him. "What… What do you mean?" She asked, horribly worried now.

            "Well," He hesitantly started, as thought not quite sure what he was going to say. "I've been having… Odd dreams… And really weird gut-feelings lately. Like… Almost like something really bad is going to happen. And I can't help think, that maybe it's not just a passing sensation. It's sorta like before Valgaav appeared, except it feels more... Intense." He chuckled lightly, stirring her hair with his breath. "I'm aware that I'm not a very smart person… And so I figured, if everything's fine with you, then everything must be fine… I mean, you always know what's going on right?"

            It was then that Lina's fears and suspicions were confirmed, like a slap in the face. It was a horrible shock that she wasn't the only one with stray feelings running ramped through her system. Something was wrong, and now she knew it was true, they both felt it. But Gourry felt scared, and Gourry wasn't one know for becoming scared. There really was no sense in him worrying about it. It would come when it came and they'd deal with it then, but for now, she just wanted him to be happy and carefree like usual. Only one of them needed to worry after all.

            "No Gourry," She lied, trying her very best to sound confidant and berating herself for the small quaver in her voice and the involuntary tightening of her arms around his broad back. "It's only you. I haven't felt anything wrong." She pulled back from him, just enough so she could see his face which was etched with concern. "Nothing's going to happen." She assured him, giving him a slight smile.

            It was as though he ran off of feelings instead of thoughts, and repaid her smile with a heartfelt one of his own.

            "Alright." He said, releasing her from his hold. She felt disappointed, she hadn't been quite ready to let go.

            "Thanks Lina. Uhh…" He blushed lightly. "Sorry for bothering you with this… and in that manner…" He finished in a rushed way, obviously just realizing his actions. She felt neither embarrassment nor any anger toward her sword wielding companion and simply gave him a nod.

            "It's alright." He let out a rush of breath as though he'd been holding it and chuckled lightly.

            "Okay then… Er… G'night Lina!" He turned to walk down the hall towards his own room, all his previous seriousness gone and that small carefree bounce back in his step. As his door clicked shut, she felt a little relief. She was scared and unsure of what was to come next… But… She had Gourry, and her strength and magick. Plus, she'd dealt with demons and a varied number of Mazoku lords and underlings before. She'd take it as it came, just like she always did. No sense in dwelling on it now.

            "G'night." She called softly back, although she was well aware that he couldn't hear her. With that, she turned and entered her own room for the night.

*****

            It had been a long while since she'd had a good dream. A long while indeed. And she was, but there was something that didn't feel quite right. Almost as thought there was somewhere she should be, not here, in her field. But she didn't care. It didn't matter whether or not it was a dream or a nightmare, she would still wake up feeling grumpy, and she simply wanted to sleep some more, especially since this dream was about traveling with Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis again. Those were some of her happiest memories. But there was something still calling to her that simply wouldn't leave her alone until she awoke to investigate it.

            With a groggy 'hnn?' Amelia opened her eyes, peering up at the star-scattered sky.

            "Night already." She observed, still not fully awake and wanting nothing more than to return to her dream. But something wouldn't let her. And she was feeling seriously sick to her stomach. She sighed, standing to head back to the castle which was most likely in an uproar over the disappearance of the kingdom's only heir and she knew she was gonna hear quite a bit of mouth from the council. That was when she heard the night-muffled scream and noticed the orange tinged sky right above the trees where Seryuun was supposed to be. Panic.

            She couldn't remember much after that, but did remember sprinting through the forest in an animal like panic, gaining cuts on her cheeks and arms from the various twigs in her way.

            When she arrived at her home, the town and castle had been entirely engulfed in flames.

*****

            Somewhere, outside the no-longer-existent barrier in some desert, Zelgadis Greywers sat. It had been a year since he'd started out for his cure, and still nothing. Even through his stone skin, the night felt just a little chillier than the others, and he couldn't help but wonder if this signaled an early winter. It was odd, nights like these; he couldn't help but think of his travels.

            Before he had met Lina and the others, he had been so used to being- not only abused- but alone as well. While he was with them, it had seemed so awkward at first, kind of… Scary for lack of better word. But, soon he found himself not even thinking about it, and not appreciating it as well. He couldn't help but wonder why he could notice the loneliness only now, even though he'd been lonely for twenty-two years.

            It wasn't logical. He hated that. If something was logical, then it could be solved with a slight effort. It was nothing scary nor was it anything personal. Emotional 'crap' (as he'd labeled it) like this was, not only something that made next to no sense, but also something he wasn't good at dealing with. Maybe that's why he was torturing himself.

            Unfortunately, the attachment he had to his group was not logical in any way, shape, or form. Every time he was with them, he was deviated from finding his cure. When he traveled with them, he would have to deal with Gourry's stupid questions, be pounded by Lina and whatever enemy happened to oppose them this time and would occasionally have to pay the dinner bill. He had to live with Xellos whom he hated, and deal with Fillia's temperamental mace swingings which were, more often than not, off target. Really, he gained nothing by traveling with them! And then there was Amelia and her crazed justice speeches which…

            …He couldn't help but find adorable. He cursed.

            "When did they start to grow on me?" he thought in a very frustrated manner and the emotional mess he was in, glancing briefly at the pink and blue talisman the hung around the neck of his canteen. Ah, it was nothing that brooding over a cup of good coffee couldn't fix.

            As he leaned over his small fire to take the kettle off, he felt a small tremor on his nerves and abruptly sat up strait. What had that been? And again… it spread across his nerves, starting at his chest and spreading to the far reaches of his body. Then suddenly, pain. Zelgadis let out a small cry of surprise, although it was nothing he couldn't handle.

            However, there was a sudden panic as he recognized where he'd felt this sensation before… Every time, before Amelia got hurt. With Gaav and Phibrizzo and Valgaav. It had been there. Sheer panic erupted through him. Had something happened with Amelia!? Was she hurt!? He stood shakily, and without a thought to his cure, or even a thought in general, he gathered his belongings into a small sack which he slung across his chest,  and wondered into the night, west towards Seryuun.

Post-A/N: Wooooooah! I am TRIED!  Heh.. But I finally GOT IT DONE!! *Does a little dance* Yeah, I know it wasn't all that good, but R&R anyway?? Pleeeeease? ^_^ Oh yeah, just to let you know, I went and proof read my first to chapters and made a few INCREDIBLY minor changes. That's about it. So now, it's a little more ship-shapely! Anyway, I'm probably gonna get chapter four done very soon cause I don't think it's going to be very long. ^________^ Whoooooooo! Anyway, look forward to it!

              ----------Fire the one and only.. GOING TO BED!