Return of the Magic of Carealot

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!

Warning: this chapter is somewhat limey so if you're like Dr. Mackay and are deathly allergic to citrus please stop reading now! But you got past the last limey chapter so I guess you're ok with it! Thank you for reading!

Episode 10: Of Love and Other Demons…

Part I

"Whoa! Is she supposed to do that?" Golem asked innocently. Brau sighed annoyed.

"Yes Golem she's supposed to do that!" Brau replied annoyed. If he'd had his own eyes he would've rolled them! Golem had been an absolute worrywart since Zel and Amelia began their union. They listened quietly for a while until once more Golem's worrying got the better of him.

"Are you sure Zel's supposed to be growling like that? He sounds like he's in pain!" Golem asked worriedly. Brau let out an exasperated sigh.

"Golem for the last time! He is not in pain everything is fine!" he hissed annoyed.

"Her nails feel sharper than they look and that last moan sounded kind of pained! Are you sure he's not hurting her? Shouldn't we stop him?" Golem continued his worrying undaunted by Brau's irritation.

"NO and NO! For the love of Shabranigdo will you stop worrying Golem! Everything is fine!" he hissed furiously.

"Sorry…I'm just afraid she might get hurt!" Golem just rumbled sadly.

"Golem nothing bad is going to happen to her! Amelia is the happiest woman in the world right now! Trust me!" Brau sighed in annoyance. As if to prove his point a powerful surge of emotion enveloped Zel completely causing their conversation to stop and Golem's fears to wash away with the tide…

Amelia…

For a brief instant Brau and Golem found themselves within her mind as well. Her mind was filled with love and happiness and visions of the future she could now feel was at the tips of her fingers. It overwhelmed them for a moment as they realized that her desire for them to share in her feelings was what pulled them briefly out of Zel's mind to touch hers.

I love you…

The words that softly flowed from her mind completely shut out all other thoughts and much too soon for their liking the connection was broken. The feelings they'd shared however held on to his heart filling them with a more powerful sense of protectiveness enhanced by the love he felt for her. In her arms peacefully they slept…

"In dreams things you will see…other places…the future…the past…old friends long gone…"

Zel's dream began with those words…words Rezo had uttered when first teaching him how to get visions through meditation. It followed with the great tree of old Sairaag and he watched himself cast a simultaneous Rah Tilt powered by the sword of light with Amelia. The dream continued showing him bits and pieces of himself and Amelia together. Finally he was back in the forest where Rezo first turned him into a chimera. He looked around and realized he was standing in the very spot where Rezo had transformed him. The old familiar jingle of Rezo's staff made him whirl in the direction of the sound sword at the ready…

"Please Zel…I didn't come to harm you…" Rezo sighed sadly. For the first time Zel saw his brown eyes open to look at him directly. Sorrow and weariness etched clearly in his timeless face. He sheathed his sword and waited. Rezo had come to say something and he would give him that chance to speak.

"Zel since that day you fought Shabranigdo my soul has been earthbound…laden with the guilt of the misfortune my weakness brought to the world," he sighed once more sorrow deepening his frown. Unable to help himself Zel listened with avid interest. The little boy he had once been who wanted only for Rezo's approval spurred his curiosity.

"And since then I have followed you. My heart breaking each day from the suffering I selfishly inflicted upon you! I wanted to talk to you! To help you some how but this semi-existence is a prison that does not allow me to interact with your world." He paused as one quiet tear rolled down his cheek. It surprised Zel and he found himself smiling sadly back at him and taking a step towards him.

"After so many years I finally found a way to talk to you with your mind as open and free as it is now! I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it again so I must say all that I can now. I'm sorry Zelgadis! I'm sorry for all the harm I caused you!" Rezo's pained expression and the tears that now flowed freely down his face touched Zel and banished the last vestiges of anger and resentment that still lingered in his heart.

"I forgive you grandfather…Is there any way I can help you now? Is there any way to restore you to free you from this prison?" Zel replied truly concerned. Rezo smiled sadly and shook his head. He lifted his staff and when he struck back down on the ground the location changed and he was in the little room in Rezo's vault. Zel saw himself lying on the bed with Amelia curled up against his chest the two of them nearly buried under the blankets smiling contentedly in their sleep.

"Don't waste your time with any more endless searching! I'm fine! Just know that I am happy with what you've found! Know that I am proud of you and that I'll be watching…" he affirmed with a contented smile on his face.

"Tell your bride I'm glad that she's part of your life. She's perfect for you take good care of her…" he added smiling as he watched Amelia sleep peacefully in Zel's arms.

"I will…" Zel smiled just then Rezo looked up suddenly a concerned expression on his face and a far off look in his eyes. He closed his eyes and mumbling something Zel couldn't understand he summoned a little ball of white light on to the palm of his hand.

"Here take this!" he said his tone shifting from sad to urgent as the ball of light floated towards Zel.

"What is it?" Zel replied mystified as he reached out for it.

"It's a very powerful spell! My greatest discovery in fact during my research of the Claire Bible! But one I was never able to cast! It required a degree of love and selflessness that I did not posses while I was infected by Shabranigdo! I think you should be able to cast it just fine!" he explained with a proud smile.

"Ok… But why are you giving me this?" Zel asked confused as he took the little ball and felt the power of it infuse him.

"You must wake up now! Return to Saillune! There is grave danger approaching it! I'm sorry that I cannot help you more! This is all I can do…" he replied his expression once more pained and guilt stricken. Brau and Golem were roused from unconsciousness then by Zel's jolt of concern. Rezo smiled sadly once more.

"Now go! All of you go now and save the world one more time!" Rezo smiled sadly struck his staff once more and as the jingle from the rings of his staff dissipated he was startled awake!

"Amelia! Wake up! We have to go back!" he said hurrying out of bed regretting at the same time having to rouse her so roughly. Amelia frowned but hurried to dress. Quickly Zel explained his vision as they dressed. Once they were ready she wrapped her arms around his chest and the two of them vanished in a swirl of light…

They arrived in the corridor where Amelia and Phil's rooms were right outside of Phil's door. They were just in time to see Anzu on a stretcher being carried out by a couple of Saillune healer apprentices and Sylphiel. Zel spotted Gen. Walker talking to Trebek just beyond the ruined door of Phil's room.

Amelia stopped to ask Sylphiel what happened and help her handmaiden. Zel rushed past them stopping barely an instant to determine if Anzu was alright. The girl burst into tears as soon as she saw them but Zel knew she was in good hands. Amelia and Sylphiel could handle things there.

"I don't know…We'll have to wait until they return…" Walker replied softly to whatever Trebek had asked. Both men looked up and were obviously relieved that Zel had returned so quickly. Zel hurried towards them.

"What happened?" he asked urgently. Amelia's handmaidens were scattered about Phil's room picking through the rubble and none of them seemed to be able to look him in the eye. Briefly Walker explained what had occurred as he directed Zel to the balcony where the sorcerers had made their escape. Amelia joined them in the balcony full of questions tears streaming down her face.

"Don't worry Amelia! Lina and Gourry are on it! And Capt Kaiba is with them too! He'll be fine!" Zel reassured her.

"Y-Yes! You're right! They'll be back soon! I'm sure of it!" she asserted in a shaky voice. Zel put his arms around her trying to comfort her at the same time feeling frustrated that he wasn't there to help prevent this. His hackles were raised when an obnoxious grating voice suddenly piped up from behind them.

"Oh dear! What happened here?" Akmed asked in a tone that suggested he knew exactly what had happened. Zel turned lightning quick standing in front of Amelia as if to shield her.

"I think you know very well happened here!" Zel retorted angrily a spell already gathering in the palm of his hand. Gaston seemed concerned for a moment but recovered quickly as Akmed responded.

"Well yes of course! The extremely extensive gossip network that runs through this palace keeps everyone well informed of everything every royal here does! Quite distasteful in fact things will have to change when I'm in charge!" Akmed replied in a most imperious and obnoxious tone. Zel opened his mouth but Amelia beat him to it.

"Some one like you could never rule this fair and just land! As the princess of this land I demand that you return my father and leave these lands forever or face the hammer of justice that I shall strike upon you both!" Amelia intoned as serious as she could manage.

Under different circumstances her threats would sound ridiculous but as Gaston looked around at the threatening looks and battle stances of Amelia's loyal staff and the spells building on her and Zel's hands he gulped and inched closer to Akmed. As if to prove her point a mushroom of fire and smoke could be seen suddenly far in the distance just before a dull blast reached their ears. The tell tale signs of Lina's mighty Dragon Slave distracted Amelia making her jump for joy knowing Lina had succeeded in finding her Daddy. Zel smirked…

"Looks like Lina succeeded! Well enough of this you two! Your problem is with me and I think it's about time we settle this directly!" Zel challenged.

"Yes your right on that account…JAFAR!" Akmed called. In a puff of smoke Jafar appeared beside Akmed. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Akmed commanded him to kill Zelgadis. Just because he was a bottle genie now it didn't mean that the same restrictions as a lamp genie didn't apply in fact there were even more restrictions! Besides even if he could he wouldn't do it! Of course Akmed didn't need to know that. Zelgadis, the powerful grandson of his sorcery academy rival Rezo could certainly be of great use to him at some point in the near future.

'I'll just save you for later…I guess what you don't know CAN hurt you after all!' he thought amused as he raised his snake head staff…

"Jafar! Kill Zelgadis! NOW!" Akmed ordered. Zel didn't wait for it to come he threw his first fireball and it splashed harmlessly on a shield around Akmed and a slightly worried Gaston. Amelia's hit with equal effectiveness. But just as they were setting up for their simultaneous Rah Tilt Zel was engulfed in flames and with one slight grunt of pain he disappeared. The charred remains of his cape fell with a heavy thud and the box with Amelia's final birthday gift slipped slightly out of the pocket it was hidden in.

"No…" Amelia whispered softly in disbelief. She fell to her knees next to the spot her beloved Zelgadis had just stood seconds ago staring at the black spot on the ground in utter shock. Her shaking hands reached out to touch the cloth…

"You have one week! At the end of said week you will hand over your kingdom to me and be banished to the mountain kingdom! If you do not comply we will take what we want by force!" Akmed instructed imperiously to the stunned princess. Her staff in equal disbelief couldn't react to what was happening right away. Tifa was among the first to recover however and as she launched forward to reap her vengeance on Akmed so did everyone else.

'So many useful people!' Jafar smirked slightly as their attacks were deflected by Jafar's shield but he was careful not to harm them. Tifa – like the rest of Amelia and Phil's loyal personal staff – had a strong will and strong (yet too compassionate for their own good) heart she would be useful. They would be most useful indeed. General Walker recovered then too!

"We would rather die! Then let you rule us!" Walker challenged as Amelia's staff moved quickly to surround the too stunned to move princess. Akmed looked worried for a second but drew himself to full height.

"One week General! Be sure to tell Prince Philionel when he returns!" Akmed commanded.

"Don't worry General the princess will be well taken care of in my kingdom!" Gaston added in a smarmy tone as the three of them vanished in a puff of black smoke…

"Hey guys! We're back!" Lina called out cheerfully as they arrived then feeling pretty good about them selves. Kaiba transformed back into a human as soon as Gourry and the prince got off. When no one turned immediately to look at them they knew something was horribly wrong.

"Hey guys what's going on?" Lina asked as she hurried to the other side of the balcony where everyone was gathered around one little spot. Phil pushed past Walker and Trebek to find his daughter on her knees staring in shock at a black spot on the ground clutching a piece of charred cloth to her chest.

"Amelia…" he shook her slightly but she was unresponsive. Walker knelt next to Phil and briefly explained what happened. Phil shook his head…

"No…it's not possible…it can't be! Not now! Not like this!" a tear slid down Phil's cheek as he gathered his precious daughter in his arms. Amelia was finally aware that he was back and she cried. She cried long and hard unaware that all her staff was doing the same even the mighty Lina Inverse buried her face in her husband's chest and sobbed quietly. Her Zelgadis was gone taken from her by greedy selfish men. It seemed impossible but there it was and Amelia knew that from this day forward she was in hell…

Zel opened his eyes and found himself in a strange place that smelled of rotting flesh and sulfur…

"Where the hell am I?" he asked the empty room.

"That's exactly where you are!" An ominous disembodied voice laughed. "Welcome to Hell Zelgadis Greywords!" the voice laughed as it dissipated.

"Wait! Who are you? How did I get here?" Zel demanded.

"I am Mundus the emperor of the underworld but do not worry Mr. Greywords we will have plenty of time to acquaint ourselves!" it laughed once more and then disappeared completely.

"Damn!" Zel cursed loudly as he looked around what seemed now like a cell. He tried to cast a fireball at the heavy wooden door but even though he could feel the magic gathering inside him he couldn't get anything to happen. The silence outside the cell was interrupted by sounds of shrieking and dying creatures, the unmistakable sound of a sword hitting flesh and loud rapid blasts. Again he tried to cast his magic but nothing happened.

'We're in trouble!' he thought as the battle sounds came closer and closer to his cell. Golem and Brau wordlessly agreed as they braced themselves for the worst…

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