HOURGLASS

Takes place in the aftermath of episode one of EVOLUTION-R. Just a drabble.

Slayers is not mine, unfortunately.

Amelia and Zelgadis walked very slowly in the back of their wayward group of traveling mages.

They were now joined by a walking, talking suit of armor with a sassy attitude and a certain competitive nature towards Lina Inverse.

Amelia and Zel thought it would be best to keep their distance.

Zelgadis actually seemed to be in a good mood, despite the fact that Lina had Dragon Slaved all the magic books in Gioconda's library. Amelia was glad for that, and smiled slightly at the uncharacteristic bounce in his step.

"May I ask what you're so happy about?" Amelia finally asked her friend and official bodyguard.

Zel smiled down at her and simply said, "I guess I'm just happy to not be the biggest freak in the group anymore."

Amelia's eye twitched slightly as she looked from him to Pokota and the cackling suit of armor.

"That's for sure," she said.

"But, Zelgadis-san," she continued. "I wasn't going to say anything, but the truth is that suit of armor gives me a strange feeling. Like deja vu. As if she's someone I know."

"Oh?" Zel arched a stony eyebrow at her.

Amelia nodded. "The way she talks...the things she says...and especially the way she laughs." The last part was said with a distinctive shudder.

"Well, who does she remind you of?" Zel asked.

Amelia looked at him, nervously, as if she was afraid to voice her thoughts. But then she decided that she trusted Zelgadis more than anyone else in the world, so she might as well just say it.

"My big sister, Gracia."

Zel slowed his pace even more, and Amelia copied him. As they hung back more from the group, he softly said to her, "Amelia, do you really think it's possible?"

Amelia was relieved that he was taking her seriously. "If I didn't think it was possible, I wouldn't have said it. After mom died, Gracia ran off and I never heard from her again. I get the feeling that daddy might get letters from her sometimes, but he never shares them with me. Anyway, she was a powerful sorceress in her own right, and it's possible she would have been attracted to an artifact like that jar..."

Zelgadis completely stopped walking, and turned to face Amelia. He placed him hands lightly on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes when he said, "Amelia, while I think your idea has merit, I don't want you getting your hopes up. If it turns out to be someone else, you'll just be disappointed."

Amelia smiled warmly at him, her blue eyes shining. She just gave a nod of agreement and turned back to the group.

As they walked on, still following far behind their friends, Zel noticed that a shadow had fallen over Amelia's face. She was obviously considering what he said about how it could possibly not be her missing sister trapped in the armor.

Without a word, the chimera slipped his hand into Amelia's. She accepted it, and her expression immediately brightened.

It was a simple thing to cheer up the justice-loving princess, but he was still proud that he could always cheer her up the best.