Gourry: "Lina, what does the title of the chapter mean?"
Lina: "I have no idea."
Gourry: "Xellos, do you know?"
Xellos: "Well, it's tough to say without more research, but I think I know."
Lina: "Well, what is it?"
Xellos: "Based on what I know, it's either a statement about Gourry, or the author is in a semi-philosophical mood but isn't smart enough to-"
Gourry: "Uh, Xellos, should you really be insulting the author?"
ZAP!
Xellos: -cough- "No."
"This is kinda weird, Mr. Zelgadis." The tiny girl hung in open space, neither suspended, nor supported. "I know that this is supposed to be the physical manifestation of your psyche, but . . . " Letting her voice trail off, Amelia stared all around her.
"I know," the gruff chimera responded, "it's more than a little empty in here." Sighing, he let out a snort. "And here I thought Gourry was the most hollow-headed of us." Shrugging, he let the subject drop.
Silence hung in the air for a number seconds. Trying to fill the nothingness around them, the princess murmured, "Mr. Zelgadis, there's something I've been wondering about."
"Yes?" He raised his eyes to look at her, She had better not be asking about why I left . . .
Fidgeting under his gaze, she managed to squeak out, "How did Mr. Gourry get the Sword of Light back? He gave it to Serrius."
Sighing, Zelgadis closed his eyes and said quietly, "He got it in the mail."
"Huh?"
A smirk sprung to his lips. "Gourry got a letter and a package from Serrius. Xellos delivered it. The letter basically said, 'didn't really need this, seemed an appropriate gift for your seventeenth birthday.' The package contained the Sword of Light." After those words, he chimera fell silent again.
This silence is even worse than the one before . . . The quiet was only made worse by the lack of an environment. Nearly a minute went by before Amelia spoke again. "I'm sorry." Silently she waited for his reply.
"For what?" His voice seemed to echo, even though there was nothing for it reflect from.
Pausing, as she really had no idea what she was going to say, Amelia took a long breath and whispered what she had been longing to tell him for more than ten months. "I'm sorry I pushed you away by acting so . . . so annoying . . . "
Zelgadis' eyes flicked open, I didn't tell her why I left . . . of course she would assume that. Crossing his arms, he closed his eyes again, "Amelia," he began in his gruffest tone, "your exuberance was trying at times, but that was not the only reason I left. You are very strong person . . . I admire your courage, your skill and your ability to stand up for what you believe in."
Blinking, the princess drew a sharp breath, H-he admires me? But . . . but he's so much more capable tha-
"However, your being constantly near me was more than a little grating." Opening his eyes, he looked around the emptiness, an echo of it forming within himself. Maybe this is why our surroundings are so . . . lacking . . . "Anyways," he continued. "I was growing tired of cooling my heels. I felt like a freak in the city, because I am a freak. I was aggravated by the constant stares of everyone in the whole damn city."
Another sharp breath and another piece of the puzzle fell into place. He thinks I'm apologizing for being bouncy and energetic . . . not because I crowded and pushed him. A slight frown crossed her face. But at least I know why he left. Not because I was bubbly . . . but because I never let him be alone.
Then, for both Amelia and Zelgadis, the darkness turned white.
"Hey, Amelia . . . you awake?" Lina's soft voice drifted into the shrine maiden's ear. Eyes opening, the princess saw a blurry vision of red hair. "Miss Lina?" Blinking her large blue eyes, the image resolved into her friend's frowning face. "Did it work?"
The sorceress smiled, "Yeah, you bet it did! And I think we picked up on a lead, too."
Shifting slightly, the princess blushed as she remember where she was at the moment. "A lead?" Amelia tried to pull herself off of her friend, but found her legs were failing her.
"Hey, don't try to move, you've been through a lot. It took more magic than we thought to pull this off." She smirked and straightened, "You just channeled enough magic for a couple of Dragon Slaves. Not surprising you feel tired."
Relaxing back into her chimera perch, she smiled at her friend. "At least it worked." Yawning, she closed her eyes, fatigue pulling her back to slumber.
"Excuse me." Zelgadis' low voice growled. "Could someone please untie me now?"
Cackling Lina patted his leg solidly, "Come on Zelly, we know how much you want to stay."
Sighing, the chimera tried to retain his temper. "Lina, I'm not in a mood for games right now. Please untie me."
Purple flashed in front of his face. "Xellos," the sorcerer spat, "What do you want?"
"Now, now . . . " a gloved finger waggled in front of him teasingly. "You don't need to put such a falsity before your best friends. We have evidence that you're very comfortable where you are." The priest's face split into a massive grin as he retracted the finger.
Snorting, Zelgadis snapped derisively at the demon, "And what kind of evidence could you, possibly have?"
The sorcerer's eyes snapped over to the small sorceress as she began to snicker. Thank Cepheid, Amelia isn't awake to experience this torture. Smiling broadly, the trickster clasped his hands behind his back as he began to rock back and forth.
The redhead, bringing her escaping laughter under some semblance of control, raised her hand to cover her face. "Oh, Zelly-Zelly-Zelly . . . we've got . . . hard evidence."
"Lina?"
"Yeah?" The sorceress beamed.
"I hate you both."
"Mr. Zelgadis . . . I'm really sorry I fell asleep on you." Twisting the last leather strap in her hands, the nearly naked princess hung her head. "I-it really wasn't my choice . . . I was just so . . . "
"Tired." He finished for her. "I know. It was Lina's idea. She thought it would be proper punishment for my rudeness." Sighing, he stood from the chair and stretched his back.
"Oh," the shrine maiden said softly. "I'm your punishment . . . "
Growling quietly, the chimera didn't answer. Damn you Lina, and damn me, too.
The door swung open, revealing a elderly maid with a broom in one hand and a duster on her belt. Both the chimera and the princess froze at the sudden intruder. Several seconds passed and still, the old woman failed to notice either of them. Zelgadis lifted his hand and pointed towards the door. Nodding, the princess wrapped her arms around herself and tiptoed towards safety.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The old woman's screamed, halting them in their tracks. "Oh . . . princess, you start-" The crones voice broke off as she saw the other figure in the room. Her eyes widened, then narrowed into tiny slits.
"No-no-no! This isn't what it seems!" cried Amelia as her companion turned to bang his head into the wall. "This was all part of a-"
"Now, now dear," began the old woman, "I was young once, too. I know how it is." The ancient mouth twisted into a smile as she winked at the young girl.
"But-but," the princess stuttered, trying desperately to bring her thoughts under control.
"You know dear," the crone whispered, "I just cleaned the room next door, you should have plenty of privacy there." Cackling, the woman bent slowly down to recover their clothing. "You'll need these . . . eventually." Leaning in close to her employer, the maid continued, "He's a good catch dear. He's got muscles, but not too many, nice legs also." Her smile faltered a bit, "Just make sure he's not in it for the money, darling." She handed the princess the clothes with another wink.
Amelia's eyes widened, "Mr. Zelgadis is not in for the mon-" A sudden breath caught in her throat as she heard the words.
Cackling, yet again, the maid patted her shoulder. "Zelgadis, eh? That's a good name dear. Wouldn't mind calling it out me-ownself." Her soft laughter changed to a roaring guffaw at the thought. "Oh, don't mind this old biddy, dear, I won't say a word." another pat on the shoulder and the old woman turned from them, back to her broom. "You hold on to this one, he'd make a good looking crown-prince, he would!"
With a quiet moan, the girl hugged the clothes to her chest. "Why me?"
Letting out a deep breath, Amelia put down a picture frame and sat on her bed. What a horrible day . . . I don't think a single thing went right. Yawning, she looked out at the night sky through her bedroom windows.
It's not fair, she pulled her knees up to her chest. Every time I get a chance to be close to Zelgadis, something goes wrong. Sighing, she pulled a blanket around her, At least it wasn't me . . . not directly me anyways. Quietly, she stared around her large quarters. I never thought my room was . . . it just seems so . . . she trailed off as her eyes came to rest on the picture frame that she had set down. Empty.
"Xellos, I really need someone to talk to, could yo-"
"I'm right here." The demon said softly from where he had appeared in a shadowed corner. The princess could see that he wore a small smile as he stepped into the light. "My, my princess, inviting men into your room so late at night . . . Isn't this improper for a young lady?"
Giggling, Amelia, sat up straighter, "Mr. Xellos, you're not a man, you're my friend."
Broadening his smile, the priest sat in mid-air, setting his staff against her table. "I'll take that in the light you intended."
Reddening slightly, the girl giggled again. "Sorry, Mr. Xellos, I haven't been able to think straight today."
Keeping the smile in place, he forced cheerfulness into his voice, "Well, that's more than understandable."
The girl put a hand to her mouth and frowned, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I haven't even asked how you've been!"
"No, that's quite alright." Waving her concern aside, he moved to a chair nearby. "I've been doing much better lately," he said calmly, "with a great deal of help from you. Thank you."
She smiled at the demon, lowering her hands to her lap. "I needed help too. It was good to get a monster's point of view. Actually, Daddy helped a lot, also."
"Philionel?" The priest raised an eyebrow, "You told him about what you discovered?"
Nodding, she replied happily, "And he agrees with me, too!"
"Hmmmm . . . " the violet haired demon raised a hand to his chin, "So, your father just categorically believed that there was one god higher than the others?"
Pulling the blankets tighter around her, the girl nodded again, "He says that there's too much evidence to support the idea, and not any to contradict it . . . Daddy's always believed that everything has the capacity to choose between good and evil . . . that what we are is up to us."
Noticing the slight chill in the room, the demon gestured over to the fireplace. A bright flash and the room was suddenly lit by a hovering flame nestled in the hearth. "Yes, you told me about how your father tried to reason with both Orcs and 'evil' ghosts. How he seemed to believe that all things, regardless of nature, chose their path, . . . even your uncle." He paused, hoping the subject wouldn't upset her.
Sighing, Amelia nodded slowly, "I don't know why I never really thought about what I'd seen. Miss Lina and Mr. Gourry being returned to us; the Ragna Blade being able to drain Galvera's shield; how Miss Lina's talismans were sealed . . . and the image we saw floating in the air when Valgaav was reborn."
"Not to mention how the destructive force of the Dark Star weapons was altered when we introduced magic fusion into them." Lowering his head, he heard his own words again. "The chaos force is changing from nothingness into creation . . . look now!" Raising his eyes back towards his friend he saw a match for his own considering expression on her face. "What do I call her now?"
Jolting, the princess shifted her gaze back to him. "I don't know . . . 'Lord of Nightmares' doesn't really fit her . . . maybe . . . just a higher god?" She shrugged her shoulders and a small smile flickered over her face.
"God . . . even that seems . . . small." His own mouth grew into another grin. "Her other name among the monsters, 'Mother of All Things', sounds right, doesn't it?"
A grin started on her face too. "I like that . . . "
"You just like the idea of a greater god being a woman." The demon chuckled.
For a moment, she giggled along with the Beast-master. "You've changed a lot, Mr. Xellos. It makes me happy that you did."
Silence hung in the air as Xellos weighed her words. "Yes," he began, "I believe I have. And I believe that I . . . like the change." Her caring eyes pinning him, he coughed and said quickly, "What about you Amelia? How have you been?"
Dropping her eyes, the girl's smile slowly fell. "I'm worried . . . and scared." Her hands clenched the blanket tightly.
Her fear . . . it's so powerful . . . and . . . I don't . . . like it. "About Zelgadis," he said softly. I still gain energy from it, but . . . I don't like her being afraid . . . Surprise flew along the corner of his mind. What am I surprised about . . .
A jerky nod brought his attention back to her. "I haven't seen him in so long."
Nodding again, he forced himself to push aside his thoughts. "Almost one year, yes?"
Listlessly, she stared at the far wall, "Three hundred and twenty-one days."
A drop of sweat appeared on Xellos' forehead. "Ah . . . you've been keeping track, I see."
The small girl let out a deep sigh, "Why . . . " The priest noticed a single tear roll down her cheek. "Why won't he let me help him?"
Drawing a deep breath, the demon priest leaned forward and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "He's afraid that you'll be hurt by helping him."
"WHY?!" The shrill cry shattered the quiet of the room. "I've risked my life to save the world, why does he think he's any different?" Tears ran freely down her face, drenching her blanket.