DISCLAIMER: I still do not own the Slayers... (n.n)
Whew! Almost didn't make it home in time!
Hee, but I did. (n.-)
Enjoy!
- Nicci
Special Thanks To:
Humi
That's right! And she's the only princess who does! (n.-)
fantasia-49
Heh, definitely gonna be fun for us I'd say! (n.n)
Shadow Ice Maiden
Hee! Hopefully Zelgadiss can help her pick 'em back up again. (n.-)
Esil
Not to worry, this will be nothing like the last time, I assure you. (n.-)
Hizeki
Hee, tada! (n.-)
Chapter Three
Welcome to Mt. Vailis...
"Here we are!" Amelia cried happily, directing a hand to each direction of the small mountain town. "Mt. Vailis! Food, art, and Relaxation!"
She giggled happily, doing a little twirl before latching on the chimera's arm and pointing forward to a gaggle of shops. "Come on Mr. Zelgadiss! Let go look around!"
"O…okay." He replied, allowing the princess to happily drag him away.
"Woah." Gourry breathed, motioning quickly to Lina. "Lina! Come here! Read this restaurant's sign!"
"What it is, Gourry?" She asked eagerly, standing on her toes to read in full. "Mountain Cuisine!"
She looked at Gourry with wide food-lusting eyes the size of dinner plates and he nodded fervently. "Keep reading!"
"Yak, goat, and Yeti!" She read aloud greedily.
"Yeti!" Gourry echoed in awe.
"You know what, Gourry…" Lina stated, latching an arm around his pleasantly. "I'm buying!"
"Yeti!" Gourry declared once more, this time in victorious affirmation as he and Lina marched into the restaurant.
"But…" Filia murmured, realizing that now she was completely alone.
Well…
Not completely…
"It says here that Mt. Vailis' hot springs are frequented by honeymooners and lovers across the world." Xelloss read aloud informatively. "Due to this an economic boom has transformed this mountain town in to a region of mass commerce as well as a place for relaxation and recreation."
Xelloss looked up from the book to find Filia staring at him.
"What?" He asked nonplussed. "I always read with my eyes closed!"
"Why are you still here?" Filia asked, mildly suspicious.
"I'd keep it a secret, but why bother?" He sighed, shaking his head in bemusement. "It's because Lord Beastmaster thinks it's funny."
Filia giggled, covering her mouth to try and stop herself but the bizarre closed eyes glare Xelloss gave her just made her giggle more.
Xelloss sighed, closing the book loudly.
"Why do you have so many tour guides anyway?" Filia asked, arching a brow curiously.
"I really think that answer should be obvious." He replied wanly, closing it and placing it back into his pack.
"Wait…" Filia stated slowly, waiting till his closed met hers curiously.
"What else do you have in there, Xelloss?"
O O O
"Over here Zelgadiss." Amelia ushered in an awed whisper, pointing to the sign above the shop.
"Cold as Ice Sculpting." He read curiously, standing beside her and staring in awe through the window.
"They're beautiful..." Amelia whispered in awe, placing a hand against the glass as she appraised a glass sculpture of a beautiful ice princess; snowflakes in her hair instead of flowers.
They really are. Zelgadiss thought, glancing down at the princess with a little smile as she took in the rest of the shop through the window.
They really are…
O O O
"Wait…" Lina repeated slowly, still holding the menu as she gawked at the waiter. "We get to pick our own goat?"
"Why yes, good lady." The waiter replied, capping his hands together twice and five goats were led out before them. "As you can see they are all in prime condition, not too young, and certainly not too old."
Lina and Gourry stared at each other in jaws dropped in silent shock.
"That's…" Lina breathed, a small evil grin complete with fangs lighting up her face. "Awesome!"
Gourry nodded eagerly, banging his fork and his knife on the table with enthusiasm.
"Wait…" Lina trailed, off apprising Gourry with curious eyes before arching a brow at the waiter.
"Do we get to pick our own Yeti?"
O O O
"Ha!" Filia cried, slapping cards on the table and discarding quickly. "GIN! I win! Now show me what's in the bag!"
Xelloss sighed, letting his own cards fall to the table. "I knew I should have cheated."
"A deal's a deal, Xelloss!" Filia declared smugly, sitting up tall and eagerly clearing the table. "Now come on! Let's have it!"
Xelloss smirked, mentally replacing the contents with ease.
"I don't know, Filia!" He chided mischievously. "Are you sure want to know what a mazoku keeps in his traveling bag!"
"Oh, please!" She replied, waving off the thought. "You're the only mazoku I know who has one!"
"I'm the only mazoku you know period." He muttered under his breath, causing both of them to twitch.
"Fine then." He replied, arching both brows and pulling himself up fully as Filia leaned in curiously. "Here you are, Miss Filia!"
O O O
"Oh, Mr. Zelgadiss!" Amelia cooed, spinning around in delight. "Aren't they all so very lovely! I just love them all!"
Zlegadiss smiled softly, unseen by the princess' closed eye, and certainly not by the sculpted eyes of the multitude of glass sculpted music boxes. Ballerinas and fools, princes and monsters; with all of them playing music this way he found himself drawn to the memory of the fairies he'd lost back in that glen.
Yet with that joyful smile of mirth and jubilee on the Princess' face as she twirled to and fro, arms stretched out wide almost as if she could feel each music boxes harmonic tune…
Zelgadiss found he couldn't really feel so bad about it anymore...
O O O
"Best… meal… ever…" Lina breathed, slipping down in her chair and patting her now full belly.
"Em-hm!" Gourry agreed, picking his teeth with a small bone as he relaxed with the other hand on his knee as he propped his leg up on the table, the other stretched out as long as it could go.
"Now we only have to try dragon cuisine." She stated with an eager grin, drooling a little despite feeling so very full.
She winced briefly, nodding to herself before arching a knowing brow at Gourry.
"But maybe we should wait till Filia is no longer traveling with us…"
O O O
Filia watched in silent terror as the contents of the bag spilled out covering the table.
It was horrible!
Nothing in the world could have prepared her for this!
Nothing in the world could have prepared her for…
"SCONES!!!"
On A side note, I met the goat I was to have for dinner once... I'd prefer not to have to do that again! (o.X)
See ya tomorrow! (n.n)