A loud explosion startled Dorel from his work. He looked up as Servee dashed into the lab in fright.
"Servee? What is it?" Dorel asked.
Servee made wild gestures, pointing all the while out into the main hall. It glanced back into said hallway, before freaking and dashing behind Dorel. Dorel arched a brow in wonder, standing to check out the source of the explosion for himself. He'd not taken one step before someone charged into the room.
"You! Dorel!" A girl shouted. "We need to talk."
Dorel blinked at the girl stupidly, watching as a tall blond young man walked in and stood next to her. He had no idea why he was being intruded upon. Better play innocent... Dorel spread out his opened palms in greeting. "Why, yes, I am Dorel. How can I be of service to you?"
The girl glared. "Word has it you make chimeras." She shot a look at Servee, who was cringing in fear in Dorel's shadow.
Dorel smiled. "Why yes, I do. I'm working on making the perfect servant, you see. I mean no harm."
The girl continued to glare. "No harm? You call experimenting on humans 'no harm'?" She stared at him in silence for a moment, before realizing no one was speaking up with her. She whipped her head around, facing the hall. "Zel! Amelia! Get in here!"
"Miss, your accusations are nothing but false! What ever gave you the idea...that..." Dorel grew silent as a familiar experiment walked into the room, snarling at him all the while. Dorel sputtered, "You-you found Mino! Oh, I was so worried when it ran away!"
"Cut the innocent act." The girl quipped. "You probably thought that you tested out your experimenting on nobodies. You were dead wrong. You should never practice on unwilling humans, especially my friends."
Dorel gulped. "And who are you?"
"Hey, Lina." The young man tapped the girl's shoulder. "I thought you said we were going to get in, fix Zelgadis and Amelia, and leave."
"Gourry!" The girl swatted the offending hand away. "You interrupted my entrance!"
"Lina?" Dorel started to sweat. "Lina Inverse?"
The girl turned back around to face Dorel. "The one and only!"
Dorel grew silent, but then started to laugh. "Oh, at last! I never thought this would happen to me, but fortune has decided to smile on me!"
Lina blinked. "What?"
Dorel pointed at her. "If I catch you, Master Diol will finally appreciate me for my skill!"
"Diol?" Lina's face turned green. "Why can't I get away from you people!"
"Enough talk!" Dorel shouted, as he pulled a lever. Many of the capsules about the room opened.
"Hey...what are you doing?" Lina eyed the capsules nervously, seeing many of them housed unthinkable combinations of lifeforms. Her eyes bugged out when the chimeras all sprang to life.
"Get her!" Dorel shouted, trying to sound dramatic.
The chimeras obeyed their master, rushing at Lina. Lina in turn prepared to shoot off a spell. She lost her focus when an inhuman screech filled her ears.
Dorel leaned forward, seeing that the screech had come from a large cat monster he'd not seen before. It glared at Lina, before moving in to help dispatch the chimeras. "That's not one of mine...is it?" He watched in fascination as Mino also joined in the fray, swatting away any chimera that dared attack the cat monster.
"Why, Mino, I'm touched! You got yourself a girlfriend!" Dorel smiled when Mino stopped to look up and snarl at him. "That must mean that the experiment was a success!" Dorel scratched his chin. "She came out rather cute and unintimidating, however...but I can fix that!" He pulled something from behind him, and flung it at the cat monster.
Amelia, hearing something hurtling toward her, looked up in time to see what looked like a syringe heading straight for her. Before she could react, she felt herself get smashed into the floor. She gasped when she heard Zelgadis roar with pain, the syringe sticking out of his chest. She got to her feet and dashed to his side, biting onto the syringe and pulling it out.
"Mister Zelgadis! Are you all right?" She asked, feeling frantic. A quick glance back showed her that Lina and Gourry were still fighting what was left of the chimeras.
Zelgadis shook his head as he wobbled on his feet. He did not reply, instead falling to the ground as his muscles began to go into spasms. He let out another roar as his muscles began to bulge out, and spikes sprouted all down his back, even onto his wings. Then he began to get larger.
Amelia could only watch in fright as his size doubled. "Mister Zelgadis!"
Dorel watched in silence, making mental notes of what was happening. "Fascinating..."
When his muscles finally ceased twitching, Zelgadis got to his feet. He stared dumbly at Dorel.
Dorel threw his hands in front of himself, as if to shield him from harm, but when nothing happened, he looked back at the bulky chimera. "Mino?"
'Mino' snorted, but did nothing else.
Dorel's fear turned to glee. "I am a genius! The extra dose must have totally overridden any free will he had left!" Dorel smiled at Mino. "Mino! I order you to catch...that!" He pointed at Lina, who had just finished killing off a small chimera.
Zelgadis growled, his eyes glowing a deep red. He turned away from Dorel and stalked toward Lina.
Amelia yelped as she dodged out of Zelgadis' path. She knew she had to act, had to do something! She had seen him the last time he was under Dorel's control. She was powerless to do anything the last time, but now Lina and Gourry were in danger! She dashed ahead of the lumbering brute, then stepped directly in his path. If anything, she could distract him long enough for Lina and Gourry to finish off the rest of the chimera threat.
"Mister Zelgadis, stop! Don't do this!" Amelia shouted, doubting he could hear her, but wishing for it all the same. If nothing else, it helped her feel stronger standing up to him.
Zelgadis stopped in his tracks, his eyes wandering from Lina directly onto Amelia. He growled in warning, but when the obstruction didn't move, he swatted at her with his massive claws.
Amelia easily jumped up and out of the way.
Zelgadis snarled in anger, then lunged at her, trying to crush her in his jaws. He blinked in surprise when his obstructor was suddenly clinging to his face, keeping him from opening his mouth. He shook his head back and forth, trying to shake her off, but she held on tight. He growled again, then tried to claw at her once more.
Amelia again jumped away from his reach, but released her hold on his jaws in the process. She landed back on the ground, never taking an eye off of him, waiting to react to his next move.
Zelgadis swat and bit at her again and again, before another idea came to him. He swatted at her again, but this time when she leapt out of the way, he followed up with a swift swing of his spiked tail. He watched in satisfaction as his tail connected, smashing into her side, and sending her skidding across the floor. He snorted and stomped up to her, ready to finish her off if she tried to get in his way again.
Something struck him as wrong as he approached. He couldn't decide whether it was the fact his foe wasn't moving, or that her eyes were wide, and unseeing. Suddenly he was reliving another time, another place. He could only watch in horror as the girl he loved collapsed in front of him. As he cradled her in his arms, she tried to assure him all the while that she was fine. And then she had died, he dying along with her.
Looking at the lifeless creature in front of him brought back that horrible feeling. Zelgadis staggered, suddenly feeling nausea overtake him. "Amelia!" He collapsed beside her, nudging her with his snout. He felt a small sense of relief when she gave a small gasp. "Amelia, I'm so sorry!" Zelgadis felt like crying when he saw the look of fear in her eyes.
"Amelia..." Zelgadis nudged her gently again, but didn't get a response. He could feel himself dying again, could feel the grief and anger building up, but this time it was his fault. His fault...for having ever come to Dorel for help. Zelgadis snarled as he got back up to his feet, staring down the man. He roared with rage as he charged at Dorel, knocking him to the ground. He placed a foot on the terrified man's chest, as he slowly began to apply pressure.
"Zelgadis! Stop!"
Zelgadis was startled from exacting some sense of revenge, looking up to see Lina and Gourry looking at him in shock. Lina ran up to his side, and shoved his foot off of the scared man.
"Get off of him, you brute! You can't kill him yet!" Lina then picked up Dorel by his shirt as she throttled him.
Zelgadis snorted in disgust, before his attention was drawn by the sound of labored breathing. "Amelia!" He was instantly back at her side. "Amelia, are you okay? Say something to me." He pleaded with her as he knelt down next to her.
Amelia gasped for breath, trying to speak. She was in so much pain...all she could muster were a few squeaks.
Zelgadis could feel his heart breaking. "Amelia, I'm so sorry!" He shook his head. "This should have never happened to you. You don't deserve to be a monster. To be treated as a monster, like I am."
Amelia's eyes started to tear up, as she fought for breath. "Y-you're not...a monster." she gasped.
"But I am a monster!" Zelgadis gnashed his teeth. "When I was changed, all I could think to do was to lash out, to cause people to fear me as the monster I am. You never did. You never acted anything like a monster." Zelgadis hung his head as he turned away.
"You're wrong." Amelia spoke, finally having regained some strength. When Zelgadis turned to face her she continued, "You're not a monster. A monster is heartless and unfeeling." Amelia met his gaze. "You're not a monster, Mister Zelgadis. A monster wouldn't have stopped."
Zelgadis could only shake his head. "I nearly didn't." He looked down at her, trying to find any sign of damage from his attack on her, but couldn't see anything. This puzzled him.
Amelia draped her wing closer to her side, to avoid his prying eyes. "But you did. You stopped attacking me, by your own free will. Don't you see? You are not, and never have been a monster." Amelia was silent a moment as she sucked in more breath. "Even after everything you were put through, you never lost your humanity." Amelia locked gazes with Zelgadis. "Even now, you're still human, Mister Zelgadis."
Zelgadis couldn't help but snort in annoyance. "If I'm still human, I'm the biggest freak there is." He rustled his wings, as if to prove a point.
Amelia started to cry quietly. "You still don't understand. It's not what you look like that makes you human, it's your true self. Your inner self. Look at me! I look nothing like a human, yet you still say I'm not a monster. Why, Mister Zelgadis? How can you say that?"
Zelgadis choked, feeling heat in his face when he tried to come up with a response. "You're...you are kind, and good. You treat everyone well, even those that did you harm.."
Amelia smiled slightly. "What makes you any different?"
Zelgadis hung his head. "How can you ask that? I've done horrible things, Amelia. I've killed people. I've attacked loved ones...I was a monster even before all this."
"No!" Amelia shook her head, fresh tears streaming down her face. She coughed from her outburst, trying to regain her breath. "That wasn't you. Not the real you. I know the real Zelgadis." Amelia again locked eyes with him. "the real Zelgadis is gentle, and kind. You may be a bit stubborn at times, but you were always good to me."
Zelgadis stayed silent, not wanting to cross her, instead nodding his head slowly.
"Mister Zelgadis?" Amelia rasped, her voice growing quiet. "Promise me you'll never forget that."
"Promise?" Zelgadis jerked his head up. She was sounding like she wouldn't be around to witness it. Zelgadis stared down at her, wanting to ask what she meant, but she had rested her head back on the ground. Even as she did this, Zelgadis could hear her labored breathing, and something more. There was an odd gurgling sound coming from nearby.
Zelgadis looked at her side again, feeling his heart leap when he saw her wing was soaked with blood. "No, Amelia!" Zelgadis silently screamed as he lifted the wing to inspect the underside. He felt his blood freeze when he saw the large punctures in her side, one oozing out foaming pink blood.
Unsure what else to do, Zelgadis pressed his palm against the wound, hoping that if anything he could slow the bleeding. "Hang on, Amelia." Zelgadis nearly whispered, seeing she was already beginning to show signs of severe shock.
"I'm...fine..." she rasped, but already her vision was dimming.
"Why am I always so helpless!" Zelgadis cried out in frustration. "Just hang on, Amelia." Zelgadis nudged her head with his snout. When she didn't respond, he nudged her harder, as panic started to set in. "Amelia! Amelia!"
He was suddenly knocked off balance, his sore arm aching anew. Zelgadis looked down to see Lina glaring at him.
"Get off of her! Can't you see you're freaking her out! Shoo!" Lina stomped her foot loudly, as if she were trying to spook him. Zelgadis backed away in shame, but continued to watch.
Lina knelt down and gently stroked Amelia's head, all too aware of her labored and fading breathing. "Amelia, calm down. You're alright. Just focus on breathing." Lina's gentle administrations were silenced when she felt warm breath down her neck. "Darn it, Zelgadis!" Lina whirled around, "Go look intimidating over there!"
Lina pointed to where Gourry was standing with an incapacitated Dorel. Zelgadis silently slunk off, but did growl menacingly at Dorel.
"That guy." Lina rolled her eyes. She studied the gaping wound, feeling a bit panicked herself. "This is going to be a tough one." Lina shook her head. "I really wish I was better at this!"
Zelgadis and Gourry both watched in silence. Zelgadis craned his neck forward when he saw a white glow gather around Lina. "Please let it work..." Zelgadis watched as Lina slowly healed Amelia's injuries.
Lina quietly concentrated on the spell, willing Amelia's damaged lung to heal, and to repair the other wounds as well. Finally Lina was spent, and released the spell. She fell back onto her rear wearily. She fought back a small laugh when she felt a gaze on her.
"You can stop looking so scared, Zel. Amelia's too strong-willed to die that easy." Lina turned and gave Zelgadis a tired wink. "I just wish I could take a nap..." Lina collapsed onto her back, staring tiredly at the ceiling.
Gourry and Zelgadis shared a look with each other, then after making sure Dorel couldn't do any more harm, moved over to peer down at Lina. "You okay, Lina?" Gourry asked.
Lina's gaze gradually rested on Gourry. "Never better." She yawned. "Just give me a moment."
Gourry knelt down, smiling at Lina. "You did good, Lina."
Lina smiled back up at him, flashing a victory sign. "'Course. I'm Lina Inverse!" She stretched once, then shut her eyes.
Zelgadis stepped past the two, content to leave them happy in each other's presence. Lina seemed to think all was well, but he had to make sure. He quietly moved back to Amelia's side, nudging her wing aside. He felt instantly better when he saw no visible signs of her previous injury.
"Mister Zelgadis?"
It had been nothing more than a whisper, but Zelgadis jumped as if someone had shouted at him.
"I'm sorry." Amelia gave a silent little laugh, looking up at her frightened companion from her place on the floor.
Zelgadis settled down and knelt down close to her. He didn't speak a word. Instead he nuzzled her affectionately.
Amelia looked up at him in shock, but quickly saw it for what it was. She gently nuzzled him in return.
"Wow, something happened while we were away! I don't know, Gourry. Think we should give them some time alone?" Lina grinned at Amelia and Zelgadis.
Gourry also opted not to say anything, instead smiling warmly at the two. He placed a hand on Lina's shoulder, causing her to look up at him in surprise, before blushing herself.
"A-anyway." Lina stammered, "we need to fix this. Dorel, if you know what's good for you, you'll cooperate."
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: At last! It's taken a few stories, and a few years, but I finally was able to get Amelia to say what I have wanted her to say from the beginning! Zelgadis' character has always bothered me in fanfiction because he's way too obsessed with finding his cure that he can't seem to think of much else. Yes, he was certainly driven in the anime, but even then he could stop to take some time to help his friends out when needed. (And heck, in the novels he's even less rigid/anal than he seems in the anime. ...you people really just need to go read the novels!)
Anyway, given Zelgadis' past that was hinted at here (back in the days when he worked for Rezo, and did do many horrible things like kill people), I've always been impressed that a 'do-gooder' like Amelia would accept him, or even have affection for him since he obviously has a bad reputation. Actually, something that always inspired my writings was a small excerpt from one of the Slayers anime film books. In the back they had character interviews with the cast (among other things, revealing blood types, and in the case of the girls, their "three sizes"). Amelia was asked about her thoughts on Zelgadis, to which she replied knowing that he had been bad in the past, but that now (remember, her words) he was fighting for justice. In short, she knew about his past, but she could look past all that to see the good in him. If only more people were like that...
Also, this chapter had a major revision! When I was originally writing this (well over a year ago) I was also reading the newly released novels. In one Lina was talking about different healing spells, and at one point mentioned Resurrection. When I first read it, I was under the misconception that Lina was saying that she could cast the spell herself. Then Nimrosette smacked me upside the head to tell me I had read wrong, which, when I double-checked, I had. Anyway, so I originally wrote Lina casting Resurrection on Amelia here, but thanks to someone who didn't fear giving me constructive criticism, I was able to avert a major disaster.
...although I don't really like that part of the story now...
So! Constructive criticism is good! Never ever be afraid of pointing out glaring errors to people.
Next time: Zelgadis sighed. Usually at times like this he was able to be a part of the conversation, not a silent listener.