Author's Note:
Let me say one thing before I get on with the usual. I've realized a lot of people here at FF.net are incredibly rude. For those of you who think you can bully an author into updating, think again. Anyone who does that obviously doesn't write him or herself or doesn't have any life outside of reading fan fiction.
My life doesn't revolve around this story or the fairy tale, and if it's anything the past three months haven't been the easiest. I am just now getting my inspiration back, so it may be a little while before I update the fairy tale, and this chapter may possibly be rewritten.
I'm sorry if I sound pissed off, but I felt this needed to be said. The author of a favorite story of mine has been thoroughly harassed because she hasn't updated, and I read what some of the people said to her and was shocked. For all of those who feel threatening to flame a story will make them update faster, think again.
If you do that or have ever done that, I suggest you stay away from the FF.net community altogether. The author you do that to doesn't deserve it, and you're also depriving others of us who appreciate the work of those authors from reading great stories.
With that said, the usual stipulations for The Mazoku Game Show apply. I will NOT tolerate flames and you've been warned about what to expect from this story. If you have any problems with this you can e-mail me at: UnearthlyEmpire@hotmail.com.
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The entire stage and audience watched silently, as a battered and trembling hand made its way out of the man sized crater Filia made on the stage. Xellos slowly pulled his body out of the hole, and gave the Dragoness a cheerful smile. "I'll take that as a yes." Xellos said happily. "He really enjoys this way too much." Lina muttered, watching Filia become angrier, if that was at all possible. (By now the panties had stopped falling, much to everyone's relief, although now they were ankle deep in lingerie.)
"XELLOS!!" Filia screamed, forcing all others in the area to cover their ears. "Filia-san, you really must work on your temper." Xellos remarked, walking towards the enraged woman. "Xellos-san, do you really have to provoke her?" Amelia asked weakly. "I don't know where he put my armor." Gourry said in a small voice, standing beside Lina. "Don't worry about it now." Lina said reassuringly. "We'll… get it later."
Zelgadis and Amelia had also gathered near the redhead, neither of them willing to risk coming in between Filia and Xellos. That happened to be an instant death wish.
They left Martina where she was, still tied up, gagged, and shooting icy glares at everyone. Xellos smiled at Amelia. "Don't worry Amelia-san." He replied confidently, adding to the princess's worry.
"This is just wonderful." Zelgadis muttered, wondering when the torture was going to end. "I want to go home…" Amelia sniffed. She didn't like being witness to what went on in Xellos's mind. Lina dropped her head to her podium, mentally slapping herself. Admitting this whole idea was her fault was going to take some work. Xellos stopped in his tracks upon hearing Zelgadis's remark. "It is!" He exclaimed, whole-heartedly agreeing. "Nani!?" Lina exclaimed, her head jerking upwards to stare at Xellos in horror. "D-d-did h-h-he just agree!?" Amelia stammered.
In their seats, Jillas and Gravos sat slack-jawed at the mazoku's statement. They were two more victims of Xellos's twisted mind. Luckiest of them all was Baby Val, who had fallen asleep on Jillas's lap, thumb in his mouth, oblivious to the commotion. Zelgadis's eyes were wide, as were Gourry's, wearing identical looks of shock. Poor Filia watched numbly as Xellos's smile twitched once before he keeled over, clutching his stomach.
This game was going to be the death of him, but it was so worth it! Her anger completely forgotten, Filia knelt by the mazoku's side. "Xellos you idiot! What are you thinking saying something like that?" She exclaimed. Xellos looked at Filia and smiled painfully. "I-" Why had he agreed with Zelgadis? Well, that was only one of a list of several things Xellos had said and thought since his game began.
One could only assume it was brought on by the onslaught of emotions Xellos was being subjected to, mostly from Filia. He really had no self-control when it came to her. Still, he had a game to finish, and if he remembered correctly it was Amelia's turn. Xellos's previous thought he had aimed at Filia would have to remain just that- a thought.
"Xellos?" Filia asked warily. She really didn't like twisted smile that quickly replaced his usual cheerful expression.
"Amelia-san! Its your turn!" Xellos cried suddenly, staggering upright. Filia jumped to her feet as Xellos lost his balance, and she helped keep him steady. "Oh thank-you Filia-san!" Xellos exclaimed. "I didn't know you cared." Filia growled, calmly dropping the mazoku to the floor. "I don't." She muttered, marching back to her podium. "Xellos-san, can't I skip this turn?" Amelia asked desperately.
Somehow Xellos got back up, although he was using his staff for help. "Come on Amelia-san." He said smiling. "You'll like this game." "No! No! No!" Amelia whimpered, burying her face in her hands. "Our only way to slow him down and he uses it too." Zelgadis sighed. "I'm going to be scarred after this." Lina was heard saying. "That goes for all of us." Gourry replied in a random moment of reflection. They watched Xellos drag the tiny princess to the middle of the stage.
Censor#2 growled, and started down towards the stage. "Get back here!" #1 cried, grabbing the back of #2's jacket. "No! I'm putting a stop to this madness!" "Three! Help!"#1 exclaimed, being dragged along behind #2.. #3 waved cheerfully from their box seats. "Good luck, two!" #3 called. "Don't encourage this!" Both censors yelled at their comrade. #3 smiled and leaned back in her seat, producing an comic book out of nowhere and beginning to read. #2's face flamed red with rage, and #3 hung her head and sobbed.
The poor Slayers on stage watched the censors and felt some pity for them. Xellos was really getting out of hand this time. Meanwhile, Martina continued her sentence being tied up and gagged. The glares she had been throwing at the others were completely ignored and being restrained the way she was, Martina couldn't reach her Zomelgustav pendent. Damn that Lina Inverse! Once again the princess of Zoana was going to get beaten by that small-breasted city-destroying sorceress!
In the words of Amelia it was a complete injustice! It made Martina see red, and she was already plotting ways of getting back at that horrible Lina Inverse. "Xellos-san?" Amelia asked tentatively, looking at the priest. Xellos was staring off into space, wearing a goofy smile. "Lina-san…" The princess whimpered, pleading for her friend to help. "I don't know." Lina replied, taken off guard by Xellos's strange behavior. Usually when Xellos wanted a favor, it consisted of being caught up in some weird adventure.
This was far from weird. "Uh.. Miss Filia?" Gravos called. Filia slumped and gazed wearily back at the troll-man. "We'll be uh… taking' Lord Val home…" Jillas added, still blushing from the earlier rain of lingerie. Filia dragged a hand down her face, wishing beating Xellos with her mace could end the current madness. "Okay…" She replied, feeling slightly jealous. She was still stuck here, enduring the weird looks Xellos kept giving her.
At the moment, Zelgadis was wearing a permanent blush, and trying very hard not to look down at the ankle deep pile of lingerie he was standing in. Lina's eyebrow twitched as the sorceress's mood continued to lower. She was trying to accept that this whole mess was her fault. Gourry, having thankfully gotten all his clothes back on, wondered what torture Xellos was going to put Amelia through and poor Amelia stared at Xellos, looking scared to death.
Luckily for the princess, Xellos couldn't remember what he had planned for Amelia. "Xellos-san?" Amelia asked tentatively. "Hehehe… Amelia-san. We'll have to continue later." Xellos replied sheepishly. "I forgot what we had planned." Amelia's eyes lit up happily. "Really?" She asked excitedly. Xellos's smile wilted as Amelia ran back to her podium, looking more than relieved. The priest didn't think she needed to look quite so happy about not getting to play.
Oh well. Whose turn was it now? "Lina-san, Zelgadis-san, Amelia-san took a rain-check, I have something "special" planned for Filia-san." Xellos mused, his genki smile returning full force. "You namagomi! Stop looking at me like that!" Filia snapped. "Will you hit me with mace-sama if I don't?" Asked Xellos, going over so he was almost nose-to-nose with the dragoness. "Yes!" She snapped. "Good!" Xellos exclaimed, walking away with a bounce in his step.
Filia's mouth fell open. He-he-he just asked for her to hit him with her mace! How dare he pervert her dear mace-sama! "Xellos…" She growled. "Oh no." Lina said calmly, ducking behind her podium. "He likes this a little too much." Remarked Zel, already in the duck and cover position, as were Gourry and Amelia. Jillas and Gravos had slipped away, Val screaming at having to leave Filia and "uncle" Xellos's game.