Magic of Carealot : THE SEQUEL! Chapter 13: Somewhere I belong, a slayers fanfic

Carealot Strikes Back!

Disclaimer: I do not own: Slayers or anything else that ends up on this story! There are way too many crossovers for me to list them all so I'm not gonna!

EXTREME WARNING: YAY! I FINALLY GOT TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER! It is the fluffiest most cheesy and heart endangering full of sugar chapter in the whole story! YAY! So if the previous chapters didn't kill ya this one just might! By no means is it the end actually the end is pale in comparison in my opinion but it is finally here and I am happy! Oh by the way it is quite limey so if you're like Dr. Mackay and are deathly allergic to citrus please stop reading now! So basically if you are offended by such things please read no further. Thank you for reading thus far however!

Bat Bogey Curse: a spell expertly used in the Harry Potter books by Ginny Weasley to punish some bothersome slytherins!

You know I find it ironic that the angst masters of Linkin Park are the ones providing me with a perfect title (sigh) Oh well on with the show!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode 8:

I wanna heal! I wanna feel! What I thought was never real! I wanna let go of the pain I felt so long – Erase all the pain 'til it's gone – I wanna heal! I wanna feel! Like I'm close to something real! I wanna find something I wanted all along!

Somewhere I belong!"- Linkin Park

It was well past midnight by the time the party started winding down and Lina, Martina and Amelia were thoroughly exhausted. Most people would say that swordsmen weren't good dancers especially the broody and mysterious kind but they would be wrong! To be a good swordsman you had to be light on your feet and have good rhythm. So dancing was really not much a stretch for a really good swordsman! Such was the case with Zel, Gourry and Zangalus much to there beloveds' delight!

"Amelia! Did you bring it?" Martina whispered conspiratorially. Amelia made Martina a recovery potion every year so she could have her strength back by the time she returned to her quarters. With the kids gone for tonight she would have her husband all to herself and she always had "plans" for him. Amelia giggled and produced three vials from her pocket.

"Three vials Amelia? What are you up to?" Lina whispered conspiratorially as she took one for herself and downed it just as Martina had hers. Amelia blushed and downed her own. This year Lina had asked her for one too! She had "plans" for Gourry after all!

'You know full well what I'm up to Ms. Lina!' Amelia thought mischievously. The boys were outside cooling off by the well and waiting for them to come out. They were still inside the auditorium on the excuse that they wanted to sit and finish their punch. Rinoa and Aerith had done the same just minutes before leaving with their husbands!

"I wish Filia had stayed! This would work faster! Where the heck is Sylphiel when you need her anyway?" Martina grumbled. Lina groaned and stretched as she got up echoing Martina's complaints.

"Well they're waiting for us so let's get going!" Lina cheerfully declared as she scampered off to meet Gourry. Martina and Amelia happily followed her out. Amelia skipped along behind her friends with only one thought occupying her mind:

'Tonight Zelgadis will be all mine!' she cheerfully reminded herself as she skipped out to meet him…

Martina threw herself on Zangalus' back and he carried her back home that way. Gourry picked Lina up and she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him as they walked back. It was the same scene every year except that this was the first year Lina actually kissed Gourry and didn't complain as she was being lifted by him.

Zel chuckled as he watched them and had barely enough time to react to his own greeting! Amelia jumped on him wrapping her arms and legs completely around him. He would've laughed except Amelia's lips were engulfing his at the moment making it difficult for him to concentrate on anything else! Her legs slid down as her grip on him finally loosened. Zel bent down and picked her up to carry her back to her room as he did every year after one of these exhausting yet fun parties except this year she reached up to kiss him every now and then.

'Funny how things change yet they stay the same?' Brau observed amused Zel and Golem agreed. He walked along side of his friends until they were inside the palace living quarters. They said their goodnights to each other and walked away in separate directions. He looked down at Amelia her eyes were closed but he knew she was awake. It was strange usually by the time they reach her room she's sound asleep!

He didn't think too hard on it. He was certain she was exhausted either way so there really wouldn't be a chance for him to talk to her tonight. He would come back after sunrise and they'd go to Carealot. All he needed was a little more time and a little more patience! He smiled at her as she opened her eyes and reached for the door handle to open the door for him.

That part was always tricky when she was asleep! He looked around the room and wondered where the maid that usually fell asleep waiting for Amelia wasn't there. He shrugged it off. Amelia was awake so he didn't think it would be a big deal if the old maid wasn't around to help him out. He carried her all the way to her bed as he usually did and laid her gently on it.

"Good night Amelia," he said softly as she reached up and grabbed his shirt to pull him towards her for one more kiss. He bent down willing to oblige her but she pulled him too hard and he lost his balance. If it weren't for his quick reflexes he would've crushed her with his full weight but he was able to catch himself on time. She wrapped her arms tight around his chest and pulled him towards her with strength that surprised Zel!

'She's stronger than she looks!' marveled Brau surprised.

Amelia didn't give Zel much of a chance to recover. She wrapped her legs around his and pulled him the rest of the way crushing the rest of Zel's short lived resistance. Any protests he could come up with were smothered by her lips and the continued assault of her tongue in his mouth. Her deft little fingers quickly undid his shirt and immediately began a reckless exploration of Zel's body her hands reaching as far down as her arms would let her. Zel was lost…

'No Zel! We have to stop!' Brau admonished seriously. Zel and Golem were unresponsive lost to Amelia's bold exploration of his body.

It was ironic to Brau that after spending four years of teasing about their sexual repression it was he who now had to stop the headlong flight Amelia's hands and his heightened emotional state was rushing them towards. Zel would regret it in the morning if he didn't stop now! There was too much that needed to be said and done before this step could be taken. He had to be the responsible one this time it was much too soon for this! He gathered as much mental power as he could muster and fired his psychic spike…

Zel was hopelessly lost! Amelia's quick fingers had not only divested him of his shirt but undone his belt and the buttons on his pants as well. Not that he had remained idle! At some point Amelia had lost her blouse as well but Zel couldn't recall how that had happened. Her legs tightened around his thighs and she ground her hips against him. He groaned in ecstasy as he smothered her in another scorching kiss but just as he was reaching to rid them of the rest of their clothing obstacles Brau's mental spike hit him with the force of a hammer blow!

"Wh-what…what is it?" Amelia asked breathlessly as Zel sat up quickly holding his head and squeezing his eyes shut. He shook his head unable to respond right away. The fog of desire that had clouded most of his brain began lifting and Brau was shouting at him all the reasons why he shouldn't do this!

"Can't…too quick…" he stammered still holding his head trying to vocalize Brau's logic without much success as his head pounded painfully. She sat up and wrapped her arms around him smiling sweetly. She kissed him lightly.

"It's ok…we can take our time…" she began sweetly. Zel dropped his hands from his pounding head and put his arms around her breathing a sigh of relief. He couldn't allow himself to get carried away at least not yet. He held her tight trying to steady his breathing and get the pounding in his head to stop. He was glad that she understood.

"We have all night!" she concluded in a soft seductive tone. Zel started and pulled back a little.

"No Amelia…that's not what I meant…I think…" his protest was cut off once more by her addictive kisses.

"I think you think too much Mr. Zelgadis!" she teased and kissed him more ardently this time. It took a tremendous amount of willpower to pull her off and had to call on every ounce of self discipline to keep her lacy black bra or the soft marks he'd left near it from distracting him.

"No that's not what I meant…" he tried but was cut off once more by her incessant kisses. Again with great effort he pulled her off.

"We have to stop Amelia! It's too soon for this and you know it! We're just getting carried away by the moment! It's the wrong time for this," he pleaded and this time he moved away from her his eyes casting about for his discarded shirt as he re-buttoned his pants and re-buckled his belt. She stopped him once more as she snatched his shirt away before he could reach it. She looked up at him with dreamy eyes and a cute pout on her lips.

"Are you sure? I don't want to be alone… stay with me Zel," she pleaded holding his shirt behind her back and pouting at him in that cute way that was once more crumbling his resolve.

'Don't do it Zel!' Brau shouted sternly. He closed his eyes and took a deep steadying breath. It wasn't easy to say no! Pure joy and male pride surged through him at the thought of the one person whom he so deeply loved and desired wanted him bad enough that she wasn't even thinking about the consequences. That she didn't care what he was or whose grandson he might be to love him and want him in this manner made him happier than he could articulate. But Amelia always got carried away when she got an idea in her head and it fell to him to be the one who stayed grounded.

"No Amelia…I shouldn't…As much as I would want to you and I both know I should not stay," he countered regretfully. He looked around the floor for his boots wondering when the heck he'd taken them off. He pulled them on quickly glad for the excuse not to look at her pouting cutely at him.

"It's not fair!" she huffed annoyed but handed him back his shirt as he stood from the bed. Zel took it wordlessly and began pulling it back on somewhat reluctantly. She got up quickly then and wrapped her arms around his chest before he could close it. He sighed heavily as he held her torn between doing what he wanted and doing what he knew was right. He had to leave now!

"I have to go now…" he said softly but Amelia refused to release him.

"Just stay Zel! I want you to stay!" Amelia insisted looking up at him with pleading eyes.

"No Amelia I can't! You're not even thinking about the consequences! Everything you do affects the people around you! You're too important to me Amelia!" he countered sounding a bit desperate. With some effort he finally pulled himself away from her.

"You weren't protesting a minute ago!" she whined with her arms crossed under her breasts and pouting once more in that way that was quite effectively killing his more noble intentions. He steeled his resolve once more with Brau's help. He wondered where Golem went but Brau informed him he was unconscious. Amelia's roaming hands had been too much for Golem's psyche to handle.

"I'm sorry Amelia. I have to go now. Please understand…" he began to turn away but she grabbed his hand and stopped him.

"We're still going to Carealot later right? You're not gonna be broody and lock yourself away are you?" she asked softly smiling sweetly at him. She still couldn't understand why this wasn't working out the way she'd hoped it would. Ms. Lina had been certain that he would capitulate but it was obvious now that Zel was a much tougher nut to crack than most guys.

"Yes…after breakfast like I promised," he replied seriously pulling her hands up to his lips to put a soft kiss on her fingers. As he turned from her once more his magical senses picked up something familiar.

'One of Anzu's little devices!' Brau hissed angrily. His eyes went wide with shock and quickly he searched for the source. No way was he going to allow this incident to be the topic of conversation later today in the market! He had enough damn it! Amelia opened her mouth to ask him what happened but he stopped her with a finger laid gently on her lips. The magical amplification of sound was coming from a side wall that upon inspection looked like it was a secret door.

"No Zel! Don't open that!" Amelia tried to stop him but it was too late. She had magically locked the secret door that connected her room to Daddy's to keep her old man from interrupting her plans but Zel was a powerful sorcerer and he could easily undo her spell.

POP!

The door yielded to his silent magical command and his eyes bugged out as Phil's towering form tumbled into the room. In his hand was one of Anzu's listening shells. Amelia dove into the closet looking for something to cover herself with leaving Zel alone to face her father. Zel braced himself for whatever Phil would rightfully dish out. He blinked in surprise when Phil just laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

'Umm, what's going on?' Brau and Zel wondered. Phil was saying something to someone in his loud boisterous way but he wasn't talking to Zel. Zel for his part was too in shock to really pay attention to what Phil was saying. Zel looked inside Phil's room and realized that Walker and Trebek were just beyond the door trying to look anywhere but at him.

'…A test?' he wondered and looked for Amelia who had just bounced out of her closet fully dressed in her usual more conservative traveling outfit. She smiled and greeted her father cheerfully as though nothing was amiss happily asking him what he was doing there.

SNAP!

Lust turned quickly to rage as all the pieces came together in his mind. Here he was half way dressed his boots haphazardly pulled on. It was quite obvious to anyone who saw him what he'd been up to and they were just standing there laughing and talking like it was all some big joke! Just a happy little setup nothing more… right? Something kept going "tap, tap tap" on his shoulder and he realized it was Phil who kept patting him over and over again as he talked to Walker and Trebek. He wasn't even looking at Zel.

Wild rage was hardly ever productive. It was something he'd learned from Rezo. Being able to keep his cool in most situations was something Zel took great pride in! He gathered his rage and focused his mind forcing himself to think about how best to respond to this situation. If he started blasting away half the army would likely be here in seconds and everything he'd worked hard to achieve would be destroyed. Instead he took a deep breath and schooled his features into his usual neutral expression. He took a step back and Phil's next pat missed its mark.

"I am glad that I have been able to be of service to you…" he began his face completely impassive his voice incredibly calm and polite with the barest hint of sarcasm. Phil and Amelia just looked at him a bit confused. Walker took a step towards Phil he was the only one who noticed the storm of emotions that had brewed in Zel's eyes just a minute ago. Cordell couldn't really blame Zel he would feel just as humiliated if it were him! However he was sure Phil and Amelia didn't see it that way! Zel took another step back.

"I'm glad that I have been able to provide a worthy amusement for the members of the royal house of Seyruun as well as all the citizens of your country these past few days your highnesses," he continued his voice ever formal and polite but adding just a little more sarcasm and a dash of cynicism. Phil frowned uncertain as to what Zel was talking about. Zel took one more step back.

"I apologize but I am at this moment no longer able to provide you with any more entertainment and must adjourn for the time being," he concluded with his very calm polite tone dripping with sarcasm by now. He bowed deeply and formally. Walker burst the rest of the way into the room then…

"Wait Zel! You've got it wrong!" he exclaimed but he was too late. Zel cast his teleportation spell and disappeared in a swirl of white light. Phil and Amelia just looked at each other bewildered. Cordell turned to Trebek who at a gesture from Walker left the room in a hurry to find Kaiba and to check Zel's room and see what sort of damage control could be done.

"What just happened?" Amelia asked confused. Cordell shook his head and turned to Phil.

"I hate to say it your highness but I told you so…" Cordell began ruefully he had disagreed with all the trials Zel had been put through from the start. He had argued that in his case it wasn't necessary trying to dissuade Phil. He was a soldier however under Phil's service and in the end did as he was ordered. He pulled Amelia and Phil to a seat so he could explain. After all Cordell had once been a loner broody too and he could very well understand how Zel was feeling right now. He couldn't help feeling guilty for his part in Zel's accidental humiliation…

A scream of utter anguish ripped from Zel's throat and reverberated through the empty halls of Rezo's abandoned treasure vault. It was the only place he could think of to retreat to. How ironic that it would be Rezo who would provide him in the end with the only refuge available to him? He collapsed onto the stone floor exhausted.

Teleportation required a lot of energy the farther you went and Rezo's vault was two weeks' travel away from Saillune capital city. Tonight he had expended quite a bit of it at the party then later in Amelia's room. It was the reason he hadn't teleported to Saillune when he finished making Amelia's gifts in Galbadia…he hadn't been left with enough magical power for a teleport right away.

'Maybe it's just a misunderstanding…' Golem began sadly as Brau caught him up with recent events. Zel's anger had brought him back to consciousness but even he – the usually optimistic Golem – didn't believe it. With some effort Zel picked himself up from the floor and stumbled towards the little office where he'd set up living quarters for the many days and nights he'd spent researching Amelia's gifts. He knew he had a spare set of clean clothes there. He stumbled about in the dark and found his spare. He conjured a little light spell and walked deeper into the vault down a passage that led to an underground spring. The water would be ice cold but it was just what he needed right now.

'You'll have to go back soon Zel,' Brau pointed out seriously. Zel agreed he'd never run from anything in his life and he wasn't going to start now! No matter how embarrassing or humiliating he had to return and face them.

'Let none say that Zelgadis Greywords ever ran from anything!' Brau hissed proudly. True even if the entire kingdom would know what happened in Amelia's room, knew how he'd been tricked and used and was laughing at him at this very moment he would return. He wanted to know at least why! He at least deserved an honest answer. He had opened himself and allowed his heart to guide him and he got stabbed for his effort. He wondered now if all those prince-lings hadn't shown up if Amelia had been as receptive to his feelings.

'She isn't someone who can lie very well we can get the truth from her easily enough,' Brau reasoned calmly. Doubt assaulted Zel. So what if that's all there was? What if she had just been caught in the fantasy of the moment? What if at the end of the festivities and her political goals and agendas start taking flight she dismissed him? There had been that long silence after he made his confession…

"Thanks for the good times! Have a nice life Zel!"

He dreaded hearing those words but all of a sudden they seemed like a very real possibility. He stepped out of the frigid water at Brau's urging and quickly dressed. If that was how it was going to be then he'd better get it over with quick! He still had two gifts to give and he didn't go through all that hardship making them just to have them sit here in Rezo's vault and collect dust. They were her birthday presents and he just simply wasn't going to be petty and keep them just because he was angry. He made his way back to the study/living quarters deciding he'd rest for a while then teleport back.

"What was I thinking listening to those bears?" Zel cursed wondering why he let True Heart and company talk him into "opening his heart". His instinct had said not to listen but he just let himself get caught in the illusion anyway! Every event since his arrival was now put under the bright lights of suspicion. Why was he being put through all those tests? Why had all those princes been allowed to roam around the palace boasting which one had the better chance to win Amelia's affections not put through what he'd been through in this week from hell?

He arrived to find the prince-lings lounging about the palace taking advantage of all the luxury and hospitality of the royal family and making life a living hell for Kaiba and his people. He came and saved the day and for his trouble he was attacked from every direction! His clothes were chosen for him, his privacy invaded, his character questioned and tested repeatedly and as was the case tonight in the most embarrassing and humiliating way! Even attempts on his life he'd tolerated! To top it all off if he wasn't dodging some unwanted presence or conquering some hidden obstacle he was left out and ignored! It was almost not worth the trouble. He wondered if he'd been better off leaving things the way they were…

'I still think it might be a misunderstanding! We should give her at least the chance to explain! She would do the same for us!' Golem insisted. Zel and Brau agreed. The fact of the matter is that despite how angry and embarrassed he felt he loved her! That wasn't going to change even if she gave him the "goodbye…have a nice life…" speech! Besides despite recent events more than five years of friendship shouldn't and couldn't so quickly be dismissed.

'Especially if there is even the slightest possibility that it might be a misunderstanding,' Golem argued but neither Zel nor Brau seemed willing to put them selves in that vulnerable state of hopefulness again. There were other factors to consider Saillune is the white magic capital of the world and he's one third demon. Under the current circumstances he wondered if it were even possible that someone who was in any way related to a demon could have a place in Saillune's royal family in any other capacity other than a friend.

"Let's go!" said Zel to the empty room and cast his spell teleportation spell. The other two gifts were sitting in his quarters in the palace so he decided that's where he would go first…

Meanwhile Cordell explains it all…

Mortified Amelia paced the room wiping the occasional tear from her face. She still couldn't believe that Zel thought she had set him up for one of daddy's tests! That would be unjust! Certainly he knew she wouldn't do something like that! Certainly he knew she wasn't using or misleading him! Certainly he was aware how important he was to her! Certainly he knew it hadn't been her intention to ignore him! Certainly he knew how much she loved him…didn't he?

"Oh what have I done?" she asked herself for the millionth time since Gen. Walker had explained everything. In all honesty she really had set him up in a way. She had dismissed the maid that waited for her. She had given her handmaidens the day off so they wouldn't find him here in the morning. She had taken a recovery potion. She had learned a birth control spell from Lina and she had magically locked the secret door. All was done so she could freely have her way with Zel!

'I didn't even stop to think about his feelings! How unjust of me!' she thought desperately racking her brain for some way to make it up to him. Phil just shook his head a look of awe on his face. Gen. Walker quietly excused himself to check on the progress of the search for the princess' missing beau.

"Amazing!" Phil intoned softly. Now that Phil finally put himself in Zel's shoes he could see what a rough time Zel was having! He shook his head ruefully. Like it was typical of him he got carried away and as a result both Zel and Amelia were now suffering. Still he was so proud of Zel! He had done way better then any other man in his position! Oh how he had enjoyed stuffing it down the throat of even the staunchest naysayer every time Zel performed above and beyond expectation. He got up and rushed back to his room. Amelia hardly took notice of his absence until he burst back into the room.

"Come here Amelia!" he crowed a wild and excited look in his eyes. She gave him a desperate look she was in no mood to hear daddy's ideas but at his insistence she relented and sat next to him at the edge of her bed. He had a small black velvet box in his hand when he opened she saw a simple silver ring with the Seyruun family crest on it. It seemed too big for a woman's finger so it couldn't be her mother's but it was too small for her father's fingers.

"It belonged to my grandfather!" Phil answered her unspoken question. With a wistful smile he took the ring out of the box and studied it for a moment. He recounted that his grandfather had been a man of great self-control and poise. He had been a very wise and influential leader that fostered many reforms that spurred Saillune to the prosperity it still enjoyed today. He was a powerful sorcerer but also a great martial artist. He didn't care much for the pomp and ceremony of his royal upbringing and much preferred quiet contemplation. He had a keen intelligence and a great amount of wisdom but spoke rarely.

"But when he did speak everyone stopped to listen! He had a deep solemn voice that had a soothing effect to it! I always looked up to him even though I was twice as tall as he by the time I was sixteen!" Phil concluded with nostalgic chuckle. He smiled and turned to his daughter who just looked at him bewildered.

"Sound familiar?" he asked in a light teasing tone. She frowned and thought about it for a moment.

"It sounds like Zelgadis!" she exclaimed surprised. Phil chuckled lightly and nodded.

"This was his favorite ring! He didn't like wearing any signs of royalty but he was very fond of this ring!" Phil handed her the ring along with the box.

"I never quite knew why he loved this ring so much but he always told me that to be good ruler you had to first be a good person." Phil explained

"I think Zelgadis is a good person," he intoned seriously. Amelia realized as she studied the ring that while it wouldn't fit her father it would fit Zel. She looked back at her father in surprise.

"Daddy!"

"I think grandfather would approve of who I'm passing his ring to! I hope after all I've put him through he will still want it," Phil concluded apologetically.

"Like you said daddy…Zelgadis is a good person…" Amelia replied with a reassuring smile. He got up then and gave his daughter a kiss on the forehead.

"He may be angry and embarrassed but I have a feeling that he won't be gone long," Phil concluded tiredly. He excused himself admonishing Amelia to get some rest. She nodded and said her good night but as she sat in bed she realized that she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight! She got up every now and then and paced her room clutching the ring to her chest finding different places to sit when she was tired of pacing. She was sitting at her rocking chair nervously rocking herself when she heard familiar voices outside the hall. She bolted up from her chair and waited in front of the door…

Zel arrived in his room realizing it was just before dawn and was surprised to see Capt. Kaiba there…

"There you are sir! Gen. Walker asked me to find you he seems worried! What's going on?" Kaiba fired at him by way of a greeting. It surprised Zel that Kaiba didn't know what had happened in Amelia's room. Kaiba was a junior officer but usually managed to keep himself very well informed. Zel nodded in solemn greeting and offered a simple "Good morning Captain" in response then moved to his desk and retrieved two silver boxes that contained Amelia's two remaining gifts. It was unlikely too that Kaiba had any part in the "tests" Zel had been subjected to in this week from hell.

'Kaiba had his hands full keeping the "idiot gang" under control…remember?' Brau hissed annoyed. Yes it was all Kaiba could do to keep the rejected princes from getting out of hand when they were leaving! They all threw fits of one sort or another and the young captain spent most of his time running interference to protect the service staff! And the ones that stayed acted like spoiled brats making nearly unreasonable demands of the servants. In fact if he had one trust worthy ally among the staff it was likely Kaiba!

"I'm grateful for the general's discretion," Zel replied calmly but Seto didn't miss the note of bitter sarcasm that crept into Zel's voice. They left the room silent for a moment while Seto studied Zel putting all the pieces together. He sighed…

"They finally went too far didn't they…I won't ask what they did sir," Seto said solemnly he stopped and turned to Zel with a serious look on his face. "For the record sir I refused to take part in any of those tests!" he intoned spitting out the last word with a disdain that intrigued Zel.

"So you knew about them?" Zel replied a little more harshly then he intended. Seto almost flinched…

"I would've warned you sir but I have already lost a month's wages for not following orders and there was too much work to be done for me to push my luck! I wouldn't have been of any use to her highness if I had gotten suspended!" he answered guiltily. Zel stared in shock and barely managed an astonished "why?" If there was one thing Kaiba never, ever did was disobey an order. Seto smirked sadly and added that he had thought it the honorable thing to do.

"Those tests were unnecessary! You've already proven yourself!" he added proudly and began walking again. Again Kaiba surprised him.

"Thank you captain! You're support means a lot to me but you didn't have to do it! I would've understood!" Zel countered solemnly already trying to figure out a way to make it up to the captain.

"I know sir but it seemed hypocritical to follow that order. It went against everything that I've been taught and what they're usually preaching!" Seto added proudly then shrugged and began moving again. Zel listened in astonished silence as Seto ranted bitterly how unjustified Zel's treatment was and citing copious examples of Zel's obvious goodwill towards the Seyruun royal family specifically Amelia.

According to Kaiba it was obvious to even the densest townsperson that unlike all those morons that had been parading themselves like peacocks for nearly two weeks Zel actually cared about the princess and that there was simply no one more capable of ruling Saillune at her side! Seto's irritation grew as he ranted on that Zel obviously had more talent and a far more impressive lineage than those so called "nobles" that had been running him and his men ragged! His anger finally started getting the better of him when he pointed out that instead of harassing Zel they should've been busy running all those idiots out of town! Especially the ones trying to kill him!

"I don't see what the problem is! If you really were a dishonest person out to take advantage of our princess you had plenty of opportunities to do so before now!" Kaiba concluded angrily. Zel just stared at him in shock while Kaiba continued to complain how difficult it had been to keep all those princes in check and how nobody took any notice of what the important issues really were because they were too busy gossiping and spying on the wrong people!

"I had no idea…" Zel marveled softly. Slowly his doubts began to lift and Brau and Golem wondered if this was how the rest of the people in Saillune felt about him. They were also very impressed by the young captain's abilities!

"It's not your fault sir! I can handle it! If you don't mind me saying so sir I'd rather be doing my job for free than be in your shoes with all the crap you had to go through this week!" Seto countered with a casual shrug. Zel chuckled slightly.

"Yes you're right! I don't blame you for thinking that way!" Zel laughed briefly then. A different possibility started appearing in his mind. Phil had put him through all that because he believed Zel to be the best choice for his daughter and wanted to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt. The other losers had been tolerated and pampered simply to keep them out of the way and prevent possible negative repercussions with their countries. In no moment were they taken seriously by anyone who mattered in Saillune's ruling class. He on the other hand was being taken VERY seriously!

It was so obvious to him now that he almost felt ashamed that he had doubted Amelia. He turned serious once more as they approached Amelia's room. Gen. Walker was pacing back and forth in front of Amelia's door. The captain's honesty put into question his previous insecurities and renewed his confidence. He would definitely have to find a way to make it up to the captain! The general looked up and hurried towards them a relieved expression on his face. Zel turned to Seto.

"Thank you captain for all your help!" Zel declared solemnly. Seto smirked and nodded tiredly.

"Of course sir…Any time!" he replied then they both turned to greet the general. The general's return greeting sounded more than a bit relieved.

"Well done Captain! Inform Comm. Trebek that he can stop searching!" he ordered unable to hide the relief in his voice. Kaiba bowed formally since they were out of uniform and technically the captain was off duty protocol did not require him to salute. He walked crisply away from the two men to follow one last command for the evening. Cordell opened his mouth to offer an apology but Zel didn't let him.

"General you said I had it wrong…what did you mean by that?" Zel asked curtly as Kaiba walked away. Cordell flinched slightly and sighed.

"I knew the Prince got wind of the princess' plan through her chaperone and had ordered Anzu to make another device for him. I was there to try and persuade him to stop! It was going too far! The princess is old enough to know what she's doing!" Cordell explained meeting Zel's stern gaze unflinchingly. Zel nodded calmly mulling that new bit over.

"Zel…I suppose saying I was following orders is too weak an excuse but the prince had good reasons!" Cordell began in a somewhat apologetic tone. Zel's calm expression did not change.

"Soldiers often justify atrocities behind that excuse! You know that better than anyone general, you preach it to your officers often enough and Capt. Kaiba seems to have learned that lesson quite well by the way," Zel countered evenly. Cordell smirked not minding that his words were being thrown back at him. He knew without a shadow of doubt now that Amelia had indeed chosen very well.

"However, I would like to know those "good reasons" if you don't mind. I knew Phil would test me but I wasn't expecting an all out assault!" Zel retorted adding a touch of annoyance to his voice. Cordell nodded and continued.

"At first it was merely to prove to the few members of parliament who thought you were an inappropriate choice for the princess that they were wrong but…" Cordell began but Zel cut him off with an exasperated sigh and a roll of his eyes.

"Phil got carried away! Am I right?" his tone clearly indicated he knew the answer to his own question! Cordell smirked and again he nodded. Zel remained stoic he was not amused! Cordell explained that after Zel had done so well at Alex's banquet and the incident in the garden with Charmles he got really excited at the thought of being able to not only prove the naysayers wrong but also to gloat over his daughter's great choice! That took Zel by surprise!

'Phil…is gloating…' Brau began incredulous.

'…because of US!' Golem added equally astonished.

"And you did better and better each day! So Phil just kept going upping the ante every time! But I knew you were starting to reach your limit of tolerance when you wouldn't have lunch with me and Trebek the other day! I wanted to tell you then what was going on, I even went looking for you but the librarian wouldn't let me near you! She threatened me with a Bat Bogey curse if I didn't leave you alone!" he explained ruefully he also explained he'd looked for Zel yesterday but by the time he found out he was in Orange Grove with the Ingalls it was too late to ride out there. He thought he'd wait until this morning but that turned out to also be too late.

"It was not intended to be an assault I assure you!" Cordell concluded seriously. Zel just stared this night was becoming full of interesting revelations!

"Yes well I wish I had known sooner it would've made things easier to deal with…Is Phil inside with Amelia?" he asked finally feeling a bit more at ease. Cordell shrugged and said he'd been there when he left but wasn't sure whether he was still there now. Cordell reached for the door handle and pushed the door open. The two of them walked inside…

Amelia watched expectantly as Zel and Gen. Walker walked in. She had rehearsed a few words that she would tell him when she saw him but they flew out of her mind as she flew towards him. Zel's arms wrapped around her and tightened as her shoulders shook from her soft sobs.

'Great! Look what you did! You made her cry!' Brau hissed annoyed Golem grumbled guiltily. Zel smiled and resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"I'm sorry Zel! Don't leave! I love you!" she sobbed softly. Zel sighed and his arms tightened a little more as Golem rumbled at Brau that he was right and it was a misunderstanding! Her honest and heartfelt confession finally banished what remained of his insecurities.

"It's ok Amelia…I'm not going anywhere without you," he reassured gently. She looked up at him hopeful.

"Carealot?" she suggested. He smiled back and nodded. He turned to Gen. Walker who was about to leave.

"General…would you please tell Phil that we'll be gone for a while?" Zel's serious request was answered by a solemn affirmative nod.

"We'll be back before dinner!" Amelia piped up and turned to answer Zel's surprised look "we have a lot to catch up on!" She replied in a tone more serious than he was used to hearing from her.

"Ok…" he replied and unable to resist he bent down to kiss her. She eagerly responded. Walker smiled as he watched them disappear in a swirl of silver light. He headed out the door to let Phil know that everything would be ok…

"Amelia! Zelgadis! Welcome to Carealot!" Tender Heart greeted cheerfully.

"Hi there! We've been expecting you!" Brave Heart added cheerfully. Amelia smiled and returned the care family's cheerful greetings without letting go of Zel's hand. Zel waited patiently for the greetings to be done grateful that he was part Golem and the vice grip Amelia had on his hand couldn't cut off his circulation! Brave Heart explained that the caring meter went down a point during the night. When they couldn't figure out what it was they thought it might have something to do with Amelia or Zelgadis! Zel smiled…

"Brave Heart if you don't mind we need a quiet and private place where we can talk and share our feelings," Zel replied looking at Amelia. She smiled back at him and nodded eagerly.

"Then you've come to the right place!" Brave Heart cheered "come this way!" he growled cheerfully. He skipped ahead of them and they followed quietly. He lead them to one of those frosted apple trees by the river and told them they could help themselves to the fruit and they knew where to find them if they needed anything. Zel nodded and thanked him as he reached up for a couple of the energy filled fruits. He sat down next to Amelia and handed her one taking a couple of bites of his fruit. He was stalling trying to figure out where he was going to start but Amelia beat him to it!

"I'm sorry Zel! I didn't even stop to consider your feelings! I was only thinking about what I wanted! I was being selfish!" she began desperately and again Zel tried to get a word in edgewise but Amelia once more didn't let him.

"I'm really am ready for a fully committed relationship. I definitely feel it's the right time for me! I also want to be Queen and I want to do something that will have a long term impact on the prosperity of my people. I want to settle down and start my own family! But I didn't stop to tell you any of this! I didn't stop to ask if you were ready for those things too! Or even if you wanted them at all!" her explanation came out all in one breath! She took a deep breath a tear slid down her face as she watched him expectantly.

He smiled cupped her face in his hand and reached with his thumb to wipe the tear away. She reached up to grab hold of his hand and again Zel was glad her tight grip couldn't cut off his circulation! He reached with his other hand for one of the boxes tucked away in the hidden pockets of his cape. It was a very small silver box and the item inside didn't contain much magical power. It was mostly for show…

"I have a dream that I gave up on when Rezo made me a chimera: I used to dream that I could have a home, a place to belong to and protect… a place where I could love and be loved!" he began wistfully and opened the little box. A slight gasp was all that he heard from Amelia but he could feel her strain to resist the urge to interrupt him. Inside the box was a dainty little silver ring a small diamond with the Seyruun family crest glowing from within it.

"I convinced myself I didn't need one and I lived my life concentrating on the next destination to avoid thinking of the fact that there was no home for me to return to and no one waiting for me at the end of my journey…" he released her hand with some effort and took the ring out of the box putting the box aside. She looked about ready to burst but she knew he wasn't done yet. It seemed to be quite the effort for her to keep from spilling out everything she was holding in!

"But from the instant that we first kissed I knew I couldn't go back to that way of thinking! I may not have realized it at the time that I made this but I knew for certain in that kiss! You are my future and the only place I want to be is at your side," Zel concluded taking a deep breath bracing him self for one more question but Amelia never gave him the chance! She pounced on him with a slight squeal of delight. He was able to catch himself before slamming back against the roots of the tree all the while relishing Amelia's enthusiastic response.

"Would you marry me?" she cheerfully exclaimed. He chuckled slightly…

"That was supposed to be my line!" he chuckled again. She giggled and kissed him again.

"Can I take that as a yes?" she smiled gleefully. He laughed again.

"Yes absolutely yes!" he replied kissing her once more and slipping the little ring onto her finger on her left hand.

"But Amelia are you sure you're people will be ok with you having a part demon husband? Your kingdom is the white magic capital of the world after all," he added a little more seriously.

"What are you talking about? My people love you! You're kind and treat everyone regardless of their status with respect! You help people out and never ask for anything in return!" she replied proudly. Zel opened his mouth to protest but again Amelia beat him to it.

"Take little Laura for example! All the Ingalls did was to give you a dry place to sleep for the night and in return you scoured the world searching for a cure for their daughter! Everyone knows that!" the admiration and sincerity in her voice sent his confidence soaring sky high! He pulled her to him and kissed her deeply.

"When you're gone I walk the streets of the city and do you know what people ask me the most?" she began her tone clearly indicating she knew the answer!

"They ask me when you're coming back…" she finished wistfully her eyes clouded and for a second Zel could see the toll on her good cheer his absence had taken. He held her tight and kissed her once more. He would never have enough of her and he knew he would never leave her again!

"Oh by the way…" she began when they came up for air and opened the hand she'd been keeping clenched tight this whole time. In it was a simple silver men's ring with the Seyruun family crest emblazoned on it.

"So that's what you were holding…" he said curious. She smiled blushing slightly.

"It belonged to my great-grandfather! Daddy and I want you to have it!" she explained seriously. Zel smiled at her and took the ring slipping it into his left ring finger.

"I like it! Thank you," he kissed her once more and then she told him what she'd learned about her grandfather and how her father had compared Zel to him.

"Daddy is really proud of you! Just so you know!" she was adding when they heard cheering coming from the direction of the castle and they looked in that direction. Amelia laughed as she saw the care family jumping and waving happily at them. The caring meter had returned to its highest position and it was cause for celebration among the happy little family.

"We should head back soon…" Zel began reluctantly. Brau had sternly reminded him Amelia had likely not eaten anything and while they could go days and sometimes weeks without eating she certainly should not! He said as much to Amelia…

"I wish we could stay here a little longer…" she replied equally reluctant to relinquish her spot curled up on Zel's chest.

"Hey Zel…You never told me what you and Mr. Aoshi talked about. Every time we come here I think to ask but you always sit by the rainbow and look so sad…" she began blushing slightly. She didn't want to pry into a painful memory but she wanted him to share his pain with her! She wanted him to share the good as well as the bad.

"Aoshi was a mirror…he taught me a lot about myself…" he began and recounted Aoshi's painful tale of loss and revenge and how the selfless love of his Misao redeemed him. Amelia smiled and sighed wiping a little tear away from her eye.

"She loved him so much! She said he was her happiness…" she added curling up against Zel a little more much to Brau and Golem's content! Playful Heart Monkey suddenly popped down from a nearby tree and cheerfully invited them to come to the castle and have some cake Birthday Bear baked and some pie Grams bear made. They agreed so they could stay a little longer.

"I would show you the letter he wrote me but I left it at the vault…" he added as they walked back and she suggested they should go get it after they ate!

"And that way you can give me that tour you promised!" she added cheerfully. It didn't seem like a bad idea to Zel…

Well Grams Bear and Birthday Bear had really outdone themselves! Birthday Bear made a gigantic three layer marble cake with whipped cream frosting topped with candy hearts. Amelia had a rather large piece! Grams Bear made at least thirty different kinds of pie and Amelia tried a large piece of every single one! Zel took a small piece of lemon pie and waited for Amelia to finish sampling every pie. Finally with some reluctance they left promising Zel would be back soon to take them to the opening of the street festival tonight!

It was dark for a moment as the magic of the teleport dissipated. At Zel's command runes on the wall began to glow providing the place with a soft white light. Amelia took a moment to look around. The main hall was a huge place with a very high vaulted ceiling. She could hear water running from somewhere deep inside.

"Come…I'll give you a little tour," he said taking her hand leading her down a hall where the spring was. He began by explaining that the vault was located high up inside a mountain near the village Rezo was born. He showed her a small vault that had a huge pile of gold in it and a few other more valuable metals.

"This is going to be Lina's! It's approximately 30 million! The price she requested for the orichalcum statue that contained the philosopher's stone when we first met" he explained "I added about 5 percent interest for the late fee," he added with a chuckle.

"Ms. Lina is going to be soo happy!" Amelia chuckled. She followed him to a library full of dusty volumes and journals similar to the lab in old Sairaag but they didn't spend too much time there. She was taken after to a larger vault. Amelia's jaw dropped! Large chests overflowed with mythril, adamantine, star fragments, etherium crystals and every manner of rare ores and crystals in enough quantities to buy Saillune's royal palace three times over! Zel didn't seem impressed…

"I think Rezo collected this stuff in the hopes he could make weapons with it…I think it was part of his research to destroy Shabranigdo. I found a journal where he'd researched the temple of Galbadia but he never was able to override its restrictions. He gave up on it early on…" he explained moving into the room a little further. He studied the treasure in the room with what looked to Amelia like resentment.

"I wonder if that's one of the reasons why he turned me into a chimera sometimes…I was able to bypass the restrictions of the temple!" he said softly glaring at a box full of mythril bars. Amelia sighed riches never did impress Zelgadis! She moved towards him and wrapped her arms around his chest.

"It doesn't matter anymore…I love you no matter what you are…" she reassured him. He smiled once more and kissed her then the two left the room. He finally showed her the office. It was a sparsely furnished room. One corner had a small bed neatly made up and the other corner had a neat desk with several books and papers stacked neatly in a corner with an ink pot and several quills arranged neatly in the other. He went straight for the desk remembering his original purpose for being there he searched through the papers as he spoke.

"And this I guess is home…or at least it has been since I found this place! Ah, here it is!" he smiled as he opened a folded piece of yellow parchment. He handed it to her and she smiled as she read it.

"He's absolutely right! I love you and it doesn't matter whether you're a demon or human hybrid!" she replied smiling up at him. She kissed him then in that needy unreserved way that made Zelgadis weaken. She did not stop this time recharged from the sugar rush of all those care bear pies Zel was no match for her! This time as she pushed him down onto the small bed however Brau shielded Golem from the onslaught of human emotion and they retreated to Zel's subconscious. This time Zel had no excuse and simply no intention to stop her. He happily submitted to the princess of Saillune's desires…

On the few lemons I have encountered involving Amelia and Zelgadis it is usually Amelia who is the aggressor. You know I think it makes sense given her overeager nature that she would be the one jumping Zel's gun! (Pun very much intended!) And Zel would be the poor hapless one who can do nothing but let her have her way! I read one a long time ago where she had actually tied him up with magical rope and blindfolded him while he was asleep by means of a sleep spell she used on him! By the time Zel awoke and realized what was going on it was too late! Hahahahahahahahahaha!

Anyway I have to thank Linkin Park (and my little son for suggesting it!) I played "Somewhere I belong" over and over while I wrote this! I was driving my husband nuts! Hahahahaha! It's become Zel's theme song!

Thanks for reading and reviewing!