Back-Up Copy Chapter 4
Apr. 2nd, 2011 02:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eastofthemoonHere's chapter 4 of my story, believe it or not, only 3-4 chapters to go. ^_~
Again, I want to give a big thank you to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dqbunny and ichiban_victory for beta reading this.
Title: Back-up Copy
Series: Slayers
Rating: PG
Summary: Zelgadis searches one of Rezo's labs and makes an unimaginable discovery.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Zelgadis’ celebration ended being postponed. He was exhausted, and it was late when the group arrived back to town. He could barely keep his eyes open. Next to him, Lina was barely suppressing her own yawns. Amelia suggested they let Zelgadis and Lina sleep and the celebration would start tomorrow. Zelgadis would be able to fully enjoy his new body after he rested, she explained. Lina, Gourry and Amelia began to debate about what they should do for a celebration, but Zelgadis tuned them out as he climbed the stairs, entered his room and collapsed on his bed.
He tossed his shirt on the floor and crawled under the covers. The cool sheets were soothing against his skin. It felt like merely a minute had passed from when he closed his eyes to when he awoke to find sunlight in his face. He stretched his arm toward the ceiling, rotating it from side to side as the early morning sun bounced off his pale skin. He was human. It hadn’t been a dream.
He sat up and ran his fingers through his soft hair, half expecting for his fingertips to be pricked by needles. He caught his reflection in a mirror. His eyes never left it as he picked up his new shirt and perched at the end of the bed, the shirt hanging limply from his hand. “I still can’t believe it’s over,” he muttered.
He traced his cheekbone and chin. The bendable texture of his skin was so alien and yet so familiar that it was bizarre. Feeling the texture change from smooth to rough as he stroked his chin caught him off guard. I need to shave already? He laughed at himself. Too bad I don’t have shaving cream, although Gourry probably has some I could borrow. Wait, do I even remember how to shave?
He toyed with the option of knocking on Gourry’s door to borrow some. However, the hairs were faint and not noticeable to the naked eye just yet. He decided to wait and ask Gourry about it later.
Zelgadis slipped on his new shirt. Amelia had done a good job finding him clothes that were identical to his old ones. The only thing missing was his red stone pin. He had bought it on a whim after Zolf had teased him about not having enough colour in his outfit. Still, he would have to fetch it back later. He felt odd without it.
He went to the washbasin and filled it to the brim with fresh water. He took the soap, now slippery under his smooth fingerpads, and scrubbed his face and hands. Rubbing his face against the rough washcloth provided by the inn felt like he was caressing silk. Most people would not think much of missing the sensation of washing against a clean cloth, but those people hadn’t been dealing with a pot scrubber for the last six years of their life.
There was a knock at the door. “Mister Zelgadis, are you awake?”
Zelgadis finished drying his face. “I am. Come in.”
Amelia opened the door, greeting him with a smile. “Miss Lina and Mister Gourry have ordered breakfast for everyone so ...”
“If I want to be able to eat anything, I need to go down before they eat us out of house and home?”
Amelia nodded and moved around him to get a closer view of his face. “How are you feeling? Does your new body feel strange at all?”
Zelgadis shook his head. He knew Amelia had a good reason to be worried. There was always the chance this copy was defective. That was the main reason he wanted to keep his old chimera body around, in case there was an emergency and he was forced to switch back. He preferred not to think of that. “I feel fine. Although, getting use to not having stone skin is an adjustment.”
“That’s good.” Amelia dug in her pocket. “Here, I took this before we left the lab.” She held out his red pin. "I would have given it to you yesterday, but you seemed too tired to notice it was gone.”
Zelgadis took the pin and pinned it back onto its normal spot on his shirt. “Thank you. I was feeling rather odd without it.”
Amelia tugged on his arm. “Well, let’s go. I want to eat some pancakes before Mister Gourry devours them all.”
Zelgadis nodded as he let her lead the way.
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“Hey Zel, you might want to slow down there.” Lina stabbed her eggs with her fork. “That’s your fourth pancake.”
“Miss Lina, I don’t think you’re the best expert to tell someone they’re overeating.” Amelia handed the maple syrup to Zelgadis. “Besides, he hasn’t eaten since yesterday and that copy body has been in an incubation tube all this time ...”
“I wouldn’t bother, Amelia,” Gourry grinned at her. “Lina just doesn’t want to share the pancakes.”
“Oh yeah.” Lina aimed her fork at Gourry’s plate. “Then I’ll just take one of your sausages as punishment.”
Gourry blocked the fork with his own. “Punishment? For what?”
“For not backing me up!”
“Oh, come on! Give me a break, and don’t touch my toast.”
Zelgadis ignored the ongoing battle as he sipped his tea. He was unusually hungry, but this was the first real meal in his new body. He took another piece of toast and spread jam on it at the same moment Gourry groaned in defeat as Lina speared the last of his sausage.
Gourry shook his head, then glanced at Zelgadis. His brow furrowed in an unusually serious expression. Zelgadis raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong, Gourry?”
“No, but I just realized something that I guess I didn’t notice before in your chimera body.”
Lina rolled her eyes. “And what is this great revelation?” She cringed as she recalled Gourry making a similar statement about Xellos being “really old” years ago … but, Gourry had been right about Xelloss being a Mazoku, so she knew to give his words some attention.
Gourry folded his hands behind his head. “Zel looks a lot like that Rezo guy.”
Zelgadis' fork froze just inches from his mouth, syrup dripping off the piece of pancake he’d speared. “What?” he gasped.
“It’s true. If you tucked away that piece of hair covering your face, you look like him.”
Curious now, Amelia leaned forward and gently place the hair that constantly hung over half his face behind his ear. Amelia blinked with surprise. “You’re right, Mister Gourry, he does.”
Zelgadis blushed as he brushed his hair back into place. “Do you mind if we change the subject?”
“Oh, come on, Zel,” Lina said as she poured herself more tea. “You can’t tell me no one told you that before you were a chimera.”
Zelgadis sighed. “Oh, I was told. Plenty of times. It was getting so bad that it was the reason I started wearing my hair like this in the first place.”
He lowered his fork, his appetite suddenly gone. He had forgotten about that until this moment. It didn’t bother him as a child. But as he grew older, the number of people constantly telling him how much he resembled his holy grandfather irked him greatly. He didn’t want the striking resemblance with Rezo being the only thing people saw in Zelgadis. He refused to live in his great-grandfather’s shadow.
Attempting his new hair style was his small method of separating himself from the man. When Rezo turned him into a chimera, he no longer had to worry about that issue. It could be consider sacrilege to mistake a chimera for being a great holy sage. He toyed with his teacup, not noticing Gourry’s fork slip in and steal his abandoned pancake.
“So, what are your plans today, Mister Zelgadis?” Amelia asked. “It’s your celebration. Did you decide what we should do?”
Zelgadis sipped his tea. “Walk around town.”
Lina blinked. “That’s it?”
“With my hood down.” The corner of his mouth quirked in a half-smile. For once, he wouldn’t have to worry about questioning or frightened stares. He was going to enjoy every minute of it.
“I get ya,” Lina replied, sounding unimpressed. “But I was hoping for something with a bit more pizazz.”
Gourry snapped his fingers. “Hey, why don’t we book rooms at the hot springs for the night?”
“Hey, good suggestion, jellyfish brain.” Lina slapped Gourry’s back. “I knew there were some brains rattling around up there!”
“Hey!”
“What hot springs?” Amelia quickly asked.
“It’s just right outside town,” Lina explained. “It’s between here and the woods.”
Amelia racked her brain for a moment. “Oh wait, I remember going by it on my way here. It seemed like a nice place.”
Lina leaned across the table and winked. “So, what do you say, Zel? You can’t deny a dip in a hot spring wouldn’t feel good right now.”
Zelgadis tapped his finger against the saucer. “I can’t think of a good reason why not to.”
“Then it’s settled!” Lina took a second helping of bacon. “Later, we’ll meet at the edge of town and head for a dip in the hot springs.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Gourry said. “That will give me time to start cleaning up my new sword.”
Lina shook her head. “I still don’t get why you’re attracted to that worthless piece of junk.”
“It’s not a worthless piece of junk!”
As the pair began to argue, Zelgadis chewed his toast as he made his own plans.
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The possessed chimera hunted the woods. He had been here, the one who had abandoned him. The spirit sensed his magic. The trail was faint, but it glowed and beckoned like a siren’s call. Then, the magical scent hit the creature like a wave.
The creature froze as the it breathed in the magical scent like a shark smelling the trail of blood in the water. A single heartbeat passed, then the creature raced down the path. It would find Zelgadis, and he would pay dearly for his crime.
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The hot springs turned Zelgadis' new skin different hues of pink and red. Content as a cat sunning itself on a window ledge, he lazily picked up a bucket and dumped a pailful of water over his head. Gourry had all ready left the spring to meet the girls for dinner. Zelgadis promised he would be there eventually, but he wanted to soak a little longer. His day had been simply glorious. It was amazing how little things could be taken for granted.
He was able to stroll around town, enter shops, and order a cup of tea with his hood down. Nobody gave him a second glance. He could remove his shoes to walk barefoot and feel the grass, and even do the simple task of brushing his hair without a steel comb. It was not the most exciting day in his life, but it was the best normal day he ever had.
As Zelgadis’ skin began to resemble a raisin, he came to the decision it was time to leave the water. He dried himself, luxuriating in the feel of the soft towel. These were much higher quality than the ones at the inn. Funny that. As a chimera, he wouldn’t have noticed the difference.
He pulled on clean clothes and strolled to the eating hall. As he turned the corner, he saw Lina and Gourry were playing tug of war with a chicken drumstick. Amelia waved to him. “Over here, Mister Zelgadis!”
He waved back as he took a seat. “I see you already ordered. So, what do they serve here?”
Lina let go of the drumstick and Gourry gave a victory grin, even though he wound up tumbling out of his chair in the process. “Actually Zel, before you order, we got something for you,” Lina announced.
Zelgadis folded his arms over the table. “Oh?”
“Just some small gifts,” Amelia explained as she brought up a tray holding several wrapped items from under the table. “We just thought we should show you how happy we are for you.”
“And, it gave Amelia and I an excuse to shop,” Lina added with a wink.
Gourry wiped his fingers with a napkin. “Open my first, Zel, it’s the one in the middle.”
Zelgadis picked up the present and tore off the brown paper. He rotated the small, ornate wooden box in his hands and removed the lid to find a bottle of shaving cream and a sharp razor.
“I figured you needed some,” Gourry replied as he propped his elbows on the table.
“A beard wouldn’t suit him to begin with,” Lina commented.
Zelgadis smiled as he put the lid back on the box. “I do need one, thanks, Gourry.”
“Open mine next,” Lina stated as she pointed to the present nearest him. “I picked it out especially for you.”
“You’re giving me a good reason not to open it by saying that.” Zelgadis was more cautious opening the second gift. He anticipated having a snake or a pair of a fake bunny ears inside the box, or even having the box explode. Instead, he found a bottle of hair gel and a large brush.
“You can give yourself a new hairstyle,” said Lina as she got up from her seat and moved behind Zelgadis.
“I’ve never wanted to before.”
“Yeah, but now that you’re human again you have the option. Go for a brand new you. I’ll even help you.”
Zelgadis tucked the items back into the box quickly before Lina could grab the brush. There was no telling what he’d look like if he let Lina Inverse style his hair. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll stick to the old me for now.”
Lina shrugged. “Suit yourself, but I think a mohawk would do you wonders.”
“You think?” Gourry asked as Lina flopped back in her chair. “Hey, you think you could make him look like that Black Fox guy from awhile back?”
“I was thinking more of a Halcyform style, but that’s not a bad idea.”
“Here’s mine, Mister Zelgadis.” Amelia pushed the present in front of him as Lina and Gourry began to discuss outlandish hairstyles. It was the largest of all the gifts. Unlike the others, it did not seem to be in a box and it was tied off with a large, red bow. He carefully untied the ribbon and tore off the paper. He blinked at the pair of blue silk pajamas.
He looked to Amelia who was blushing a little. “I thought you might like to sleep in something more comfortable. I hope I got the right size.”
He lay his fingers against the smooth texture. “It’s fine. Thank you, Amelia.”
Lina snapped her fingers. “Damn, you didn’t buy him lingerie. Looks like I lost the bet. I owe you a gold, Gourry.”
“MISS LINA!”
“Relax, it’s a joke!”
Zelgadis looked down to hide his red face and tried to change the subject. “Well, thank you for the gifts, but you didn’t have to do this.”
Gourry shrugged. “It’s not like they cost much, and you are finally human now. That doesn’t happen everyday.”
“Speaking of which,” Lina said as she eyed him seriously. “How is the new body? Any complications?”
Zelagadis shook his head. “I keep forgetting this originally wasn’t my body, to tell you the truth. Everything is working normally.”
“Good,” Lina nodded as she picked up another drumstick. “Last thing we want is to rush you back to the cabin because we have to switch you back.”
“While we’re on the topic,” Amelia stated. “We should go back tomorrow and store away Zelgadis’ chimera body properly.”
Lina nodded. “We will, but you don’t have to worry so much. It’s not like the thing is going to get up and walk away.”
Zelgadis nodded, and then began the debate of what he should order for dinner.
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Zelgadis was never a huge fan of silk. It was not a durable fabric, and he never cared much for looking fashionable even before he was transformed into a chimera. Yet, he still put on the new pair of pajamas Amelia had given him. He did appreciate the thought she put into it, and he had to admit he did enjoy the smooth fabric against his skin. If he still had his old stone skin, the silk would have ripped to pieces by morning.
He climbed into bed, sinking blissfully into the luxurious mattress. He had no clue what he would do once the group stored his chimera body, but he didn’t care. This was the first time in years he didn’t have a goal in mind, and he wanted to enjoy it just a bit longer.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he startled awake. Moonlight still streamed through the room, and he heard his doorknob rattling for a moment before the door creaked open. It was too late for the girls or Gourry to be entering his room. He laid still as he heard the steps move closer. The hair on the back of his neck rose as the intruder breathed heavily like a wild animal. It was too dark to tell if it was a man or a woman, although its frame was lean and it was no taller than Zelgadis.
Beneath the blanket, Zelgadis gradually reached for the sword he had placed near the side of his bed. “Kill traitor, kill traitor,” he heard in a creepily familiar voice.
Zelgadis chanted under his breath. The stranger raised its arm. Zelgadis bolted from the bed, blinding his enemy with a light spell as he sprung up. He pivoted, sword in hand to strike. The intruder howled in pain as it stumbled forward in front of the window. Any plan of attack Zelgadis had formed was lost as he stared in shock at the intruder. The moonlight gave him a clear view of the attacker. It was either himself, or someone playing a very twisted joke.
No, Zelgadiss realized with growing horror. It was his chimera body. It had sported long hair and grew sharper claws in the hours since they’d left the hut, but it was his old body none the less.
The chimera recovered from the blinding light and stared directly at Zelgadis, the lack of pupils in its eyes caused him to wonder if he was trapped in a nightmare.
“Kill Zelgadis,” the chimera chanted in a possessed voice.
Zelgadis broke out of his stunned state long enough to cast Astral Vine onto his sword. The sword glowed red as the creature pounced.
Zelgadis hit the floor, rolling to dodge the attack. He swiped at its arm. The chimera ducked, slashing at his side. Zelgadis used the moment to cut the chimera’s arm again. As the claws cut into his flesh, Zelgadis realized his fatal error.
He screamed in pain and rolled onto his back, clutching his wound. Warm blood dripped down his fingers, a reminder that he was human now. Zelagadis cursed at himself. How could he forget he no longer had stone skin to rely on during battle? The wound was almost burning. The chimera wasted no time to strike again.
Zelgadis raised his sword, but knew he was done for.
“Elemkia Lance!” The arrow of light struck the creature hard. It sailed back to the far wall and slammed against the floor. Amelia, dressed in pink silk pajamas that looked like a mirror image of his own, rushed to Zelgadis’ side. “Are you all right?!”
He hissed, gripping his side. “Never mind me.” Zelgadis pointed. “Worry about that!”
The creature climbed to its feet and hissed. “Kill the traitor!”
Zelgadis opened his mouth to warn Amelia, but was cut off by Gourry as he raced in, sword in hand. “What the hell? Zel, isn’t that your body?!”
Lina shoved herself past Gourry. “I don’t care if it’s Zel’s grandmother,” Lina snapped. “It needs to be toasted now!” She took a stance, a fireball blooming to life between her cupped hands.
The chimera flexed its claws like a panther and bared its sharp teeth. Lina threw the fireball. The creature turned and crashed through the window moments before the fireball hit it. The glass shattered, spraying into the room just as the fireball exploded and took out the rest of the wall with it.
Gourry grabbed the girls and immediately turned so his back caught the brunt of the debris. Amelia quickly cast a Freeze Arrow, dousing the flames. Once the flames died down, Lina and Gourry dash to look out through the giant hole while Amelia knelt by Zelgadiss.
“Well?” Zelgadis asked.
Gourry shook his head. “It’s gone, but I doubt we've seen the last of that thing.”
“We need to go after it.” Zelgadis hissed in pain as he attempted to move.
“You’re not going anywhere!” Amelia demanded, chanting a healing spell. “You’re staying put so I can heal you.”
“We’re not going to be able to find it in the dark,” Lina added. “We don’t need to go anywhere until we figure out what the hell just happened.”
“Zelgadis got attacked by his old body,” Gourry commented. “I thought that was rather clear.”
Lina yanked off her slipper and whacked him with it. “I know that! Don’t you think it’s strange for it to be moving on its on?”
“It’s not.” Zelgadis relaxed as he let the warmth of the healing spell spread through his body. “It’s possessed. I don’t know how, but it’s possessed.”
“Hey,” Gourry cried, slamming his fist into his palm. “Maybe it’s another chimera.”
Lina rolled her eyes. “The chances of encountering a chimera that looks exactly like Zelgadis, minus the bad hairdo, is slim. Plus, even if that was the case, doesn’t explain why it’s so kill-happy with Zel.”
“Something must have happened at the lab,” Amelia replied as she let the healing spell subside. “I would suggest going there now to fight the evil that caused this, but Mister Zelgadis should rest for now. That was a nasty wound.”
Zelgadis grimaced. He did not want to be reminded of how he had foolishly injured himself.
Lina nodded. “Go sleep in Gourry’s room. It’s not likely it’ll attack twice in one night, but having an extra pair of eyes to watch your back isn’t a bad idea. Amelia come into my room ...”
“But before that,” Gourry commented. “There’s another thing we need to take care of first.”
“What’s that?” Amelia asked.
Suddenly, a pair of heavy boots raced down the hall. “What the hell are you people doing to my inn?!”
“Someone needs to pay the innkeeper for the destroyed room so he doesn’t kick us out.” Gourry said sagely.
Lina groaned as her coin purse cried out in pain.
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I need to give thanks to both of my beta readers Ichiban_victory and DQBunny and a a bonus for the wait. Here's an omake of an alternative version of that gift scene that was made by DQBunny. I hope you guys enjoy it:
Zelgadiss lifted the lid of Lina's gift. His jaw dropped as his face turned as red as the apples in the bowl on the table. He slammed the lid back down.
"What is it, Zelgadiss-san?" Amelia asked innocently.
"I'm. Going. To. Hurt. You." Zelgadiss seethed.
Gourry looked at Lina, then Zelgadiss, then at Lina, then his eyes widened. "Oh! You gave him the magical ..." His words were cut off as Lina shoved a whole potato in his mouth.
"Just something to help you now that you're human again," Lina said cheekily, giving him a wink.
"Here." Zelgadiss shoved the box at her. "I'm sure you and Gourry will get far more use out them than I will."
"But, but, but," Lina stammered.
"Isn't that what your potion is for, Lina?" Gourry asked as he managed to chew through the potato.
Lina's fist somehow found its way into Gourry's stomach with enough force that he went flying across the room into the wall. "No, you keep them," Lina ground out.
"What are you talking about?" Amelia asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Absolutely nothing." Zelgadiss grabbed the box and shoved it in his cloak just as Amelia reached for it. "Why don't I open your gift now, Amelia?"
Again, I want to give a big thank you to
dqbunny and ichiban_victory for beta reading this.Title: Back-up Copy
Series: Slayers
Rating: PG
Summary: Zelgadis searches one of Rezo's labs and makes an unimaginable discovery.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Zelgadis’ celebration ended being postponed. He was exhausted, and it was late when the group arrived back to town. He could barely keep his eyes open. Next to him, Lina was barely suppressing her own yawns. Amelia suggested they let Zelgadis and Lina sleep and the celebration would start tomorrow. Zelgadis would be able to fully enjoy his new body after he rested, she explained. Lina, Gourry and Amelia began to debate about what they should do for a celebration, but Zelgadis tuned them out as he climbed the stairs, entered his room and collapsed on his bed.
He tossed his shirt on the floor and crawled under the covers. The cool sheets were soothing against his skin. It felt like merely a minute had passed from when he closed his eyes to when he awoke to find sunlight in his face. He stretched his arm toward the ceiling, rotating it from side to side as the early morning sun bounced off his pale skin. He was human. It hadn’t been a dream.
He sat up and ran his fingers through his soft hair, half expecting for his fingertips to be pricked by needles. He caught his reflection in a mirror. His eyes never left it as he picked up his new shirt and perched at the end of the bed, the shirt hanging limply from his hand. “I still can’t believe it’s over,” he muttered.
He traced his cheekbone and chin. The bendable texture of his skin was so alien and yet so familiar that it was bizarre. Feeling the texture change from smooth to rough as he stroked his chin caught him off guard. I need to shave already? He laughed at himself. Too bad I don’t have shaving cream, although Gourry probably has some I could borrow. Wait, do I even remember how to shave?
He toyed with the option of knocking on Gourry’s door to borrow some. However, the hairs were faint and not noticeable to the naked eye just yet. He decided to wait and ask Gourry about it later.
Zelgadis slipped on his new shirt. Amelia had done a good job finding him clothes that were identical to his old ones. The only thing missing was his red stone pin. He had bought it on a whim after Zolf had teased him about not having enough colour in his outfit. Still, he would have to fetch it back later. He felt odd without it.
He went to the washbasin and filled it to the brim with fresh water. He took the soap, now slippery under his smooth fingerpads, and scrubbed his face and hands. Rubbing his face against the rough washcloth provided by the inn felt like he was caressing silk. Most people would not think much of missing the sensation of washing against a clean cloth, but those people hadn’t been dealing with a pot scrubber for the last six years of their life.
There was a knock at the door. “Mister Zelgadis, are you awake?”
Zelgadis finished drying his face. “I am. Come in.”
Amelia opened the door, greeting him with a smile. “Miss Lina and Mister Gourry have ordered breakfast for everyone so ...”
“If I want to be able to eat anything, I need to go down before they eat us out of house and home?”
Amelia nodded and moved around him to get a closer view of his face. “How are you feeling? Does your new body feel strange at all?”
Zelgadis shook his head. He knew Amelia had a good reason to be worried. There was always the chance this copy was defective. That was the main reason he wanted to keep his old chimera body around, in case there was an emergency and he was forced to switch back. He preferred not to think of that. “I feel fine. Although, getting use to not having stone skin is an adjustment.”
“That’s good.” Amelia dug in her pocket. “Here, I took this before we left the lab.” She held out his red pin. "I would have given it to you yesterday, but you seemed too tired to notice it was gone.”
Zelgadis took the pin and pinned it back onto its normal spot on his shirt. “Thank you. I was feeling rather odd without it.”
Amelia tugged on his arm. “Well, let’s go. I want to eat some pancakes before Mister Gourry devours them all.”
Zelgadis nodded as he let her lead the way.
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“Hey Zel, you might want to slow down there.” Lina stabbed her eggs with her fork. “That’s your fourth pancake.”
“Miss Lina, I don’t think you’re the best expert to tell someone they’re overeating.” Amelia handed the maple syrup to Zelgadis. “Besides, he hasn’t eaten since yesterday and that copy body has been in an incubation tube all this time ...”
“I wouldn’t bother, Amelia,” Gourry grinned at her. “Lina just doesn’t want to share the pancakes.”
“Oh yeah.” Lina aimed her fork at Gourry’s plate. “Then I’ll just take one of your sausages as punishment.”
Gourry blocked the fork with his own. “Punishment? For what?”
“For not backing me up!”
“Oh, come on! Give me a break, and don’t touch my toast.”
Zelgadis ignored the ongoing battle as he sipped his tea. He was unusually hungry, but this was the first real meal in his new body. He took another piece of toast and spread jam on it at the same moment Gourry groaned in defeat as Lina speared the last of his sausage.
Gourry shook his head, then glanced at Zelgadis. His brow furrowed in an unusually serious expression. Zelgadis raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong, Gourry?”
“No, but I just realized something that I guess I didn’t notice before in your chimera body.”
Lina rolled her eyes. “And what is this great revelation?” She cringed as she recalled Gourry making a similar statement about Xellos being “really old” years ago … but, Gourry had been right about Xelloss being a Mazoku, so she knew to give his words some attention.
Gourry folded his hands behind his head. “Zel looks a lot like that Rezo guy.”
Zelgadis' fork froze just inches from his mouth, syrup dripping off the piece of pancake he’d speared. “What?” he gasped.
“It’s true. If you tucked away that piece of hair covering your face, you look like him.”
Curious now, Amelia leaned forward and gently place the hair that constantly hung over half his face behind his ear. Amelia blinked with surprise. “You’re right, Mister Gourry, he does.”
Zelgadis blushed as he brushed his hair back into place. “Do you mind if we change the subject?”
“Oh, come on, Zel,” Lina said as she poured herself more tea. “You can’t tell me no one told you that before you were a chimera.”
Zelgadis sighed. “Oh, I was told. Plenty of times. It was getting so bad that it was the reason I started wearing my hair like this in the first place.”
He lowered his fork, his appetite suddenly gone. He had forgotten about that until this moment. It didn’t bother him as a child. But as he grew older, the number of people constantly telling him how much he resembled his holy grandfather irked him greatly. He didn’t want the striking resemblance with Rezo being the only thing people saw in Zelgadis. He refused to live in his great-grandfather’s shadow.
Attempting his new hair style was his small method of separating himself from the man. When Rezo turned him into a chimera, he no longer had to worry about that issue. It could be consider sacrilege to mistake a chimera for being a great holy sage. He toyed with his teacup, not noticing Gourry’s fork slip in and steal his abandoned pancake.
“So, what are your plans today, Mister Zelgadis?” Amelia asked. “It’s your celebration. Did you decide what we should do?”
Zelgadis sipped his tea. “Walk around town.”
Lina blinked. “That’s it?”
“With my hood down.” The corner of his mouth quirked in a half-smile. For once, he wouldn’t have to worry about questioning or frightened stares. He was going to enjoy every minute of it.
“I get ya,” Lina replied, sounding unimpressed. “But I was hoping for something with a bit more pizazz.”
Gourry snapped his fingers. “Hey, why don’t we book rooms at the hot springs for the night?”
“Hey, good suggestion, jellyfish brain.” Lina slapped Gourry’s back. “I knew there were some brains rattling around up there!”
“Hey!”
“What hot springs?” Amelia quickly asked.
“It’s just right outside town,” Lina explained. “It’s between here and the woods.”
Amelia racked her brain for a moment. “Oh wait, I remember going by it on my way here. It seemed like a nice place.”
Lina leaned across the table and winked. “So, what do you say, Zel? You can’t deny a dip in a hot spring wouldn’t feel good right now.”
Zelgadis tapped his finger against the saucer. “I can’t think of a good reason why not to.”
“Then it’s settled!” Lina took a second helping of bacon. “Later, we’ll meet at the edge of town and head for a dip in the hot springs.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Gourry said. “That will give me time to start cleaning up my new sword.”
Lina shook her head. “I still don’t get why you’re attracted to that worthless piece of junk.”
“It’s not a worthless piece of junk!”
As the pair began to argue, Zelgadis chewed his toast as he made his own plans.
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The possessed chimera hunted the woods. He had been here, the one who had abandoned him. The spirit sensed his magic. The trail was faint, but it glowed and beckoned like a siren’s call. Then, the magical scent hit the creature like a wave.
The creature froze as the it breathed in the magical scent like a shark smelling the trail of blood in the water. A single heartbeat passed, then the creature raced down the path. It would find Zelgadis, and he would pay dearly for his crime.
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The hot springs turned Zelgadis' new skin different hues of pink and red. Content as a cat sunning itself on a window ledge, he lazily picked up a bucket and dumped a pailful of water over his head. Gourry had all ready left the spring to meet the girls for dinner. Zelgadis promised he would be there eventually, but he wanted to soak a little longer. His day had been simply glorious. It was amazing how little things could be taken for granted.
He was able to stroll around town, enter shops, and order a cup of tea with his hood down. Nobody gave him a second glance. He could remove his shoes to walk barefoot and feel the grass, and even do the simple task of brushing his hair without a steel comb. It was not the most exciting day in his life, but it was the best normal day he ever had.
As Zelgadis’ skin began to resemble a raisin, he came to the decision it was time to leave the water. He dried himself, luxuriating in the feel of the soft towel. These were much higher quality than the ones at the inn. Funny that. As a chimera, he wouldn’t have noticed the difference.
He pulled on clean clothes and strolled to the eating hall. As he turned the corner, he saw Lina and Gourry were playing tug of war with a chicken drumstick. Amelia waved to him. “Over here, Mister Zelgadis!”
He waved back as he took a seat. “I see you already ordered. So, what do they serve here?”
Lina let go of the drumstick and Gourry gave a victory grin, even though he wound up tumbling out of his chair in the process. “Actually Zel, before you order, we got something for you,” Lina announced.
Zelgadis folded his arms over the table. “Oh?”
“Just some small gifts,” Amelia explained as she brought up a tray holding several wrapped items from under the table. “We just thought we should show you how happy we are for you.”
“And, it gave Amelia and I an excuse to shop,” Lina added with a wink.
Gourry wiped his fingers with a napkin. “Open my first, Zel, it’s the one in the middle.”
Zelgadis picked up the present and tore off the brown paper. He rotated the small, ornate wooden box in his hands and removed the lid to find a bottle of shaving cream and a sharp razor.
“I figured you needed some,” Gourry replied as he propped his elbows on the table.
“A beard wouldn’t suit him to begin with,” Lina commented.
Zelgadis smiled as he put the lid back on the box. “I do need one, thanks, Gourry.”
“Open mine next,” Lina stated as she pointed to the present nearest him. “I picked it out especially for you.”
“You’re giving me a good reason not to open it by saying that.” Zelgadis was more cautious opening the second gift. He anticipated having a snake or a pair of a fake bunny ears inside the box, or even having the box explode. Instead, he found a bottle of hair gel and a large brush.
“You can give yourself a new hairstyle,” said Lina as she got up from her seat and moved behind Zelgadis.
“I’ve never wanted to before.”
“Yeah, but now that you’re human again you have the option. Go for a brand new you. I’ll even help you.”
Zelgadis tucked the items back into the box quickly before Lina could grab the brush. There was no telling what he’d look like if he let Lina Inverse style his hair. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll stick to the old me for now.”
Lina shrugged. “Suit yourself, but I think a mohawk would do you wonders.”
“You think?” Gourry asked as Lina flopped back in her chair. “Hey, you think you could make him look like that Black Fox guy from awhile back?”
“I was thinking more of a Halcyform style, but that’s not a bad idea.”
“Here’s mine, Mister Zelgadis.” Amelia pushed the present in front of him as Lina and Gourry began to discuss outlandish hairstyles. It was the largest of all the gifts. Unlike the others, it did not seem to be in a box and it was tied off with a large, red bow. He carefully untied the ribbon and tore off the paper. He blinked at the pair of blue silk pajamas.
He looked to Amelia who was blushing a little. “I thought you might like to sleep in something more comfortable. I hope I got the right size.”
He lay his fingers against the smooth texture. “It’s fine. Thank you, Amelia.”
Lina snapped her fingers. “Damn, you didn’t buy him lingerie. Looks like I lost the bet. I owe you a gold, Gourry.”
“MISS LINA!”
“Relax, it’s a joke!”
Zelgadis looked down to hide his red face and tried to change the subject. “Well, thank you for the gifts, but you didn’t have to do this.”
Gourry shrugged. “It’s not like they cost much, and you are finally human now. That doesn’t happen everyday.”
“Speaking of which,” Lina said as she eyed him seriously. “How is the new body? Any complications?”
Zelagadis shook his head. “I keep forgetting this originally wasn’t my body, to tell you the truth. Everything is working normally.”
“Good,” Lina nodded as she picked up another drumstick. “Last thing we want is to rush you back to the cabin because we have to switch you back.”
“While we’re on the topic,” Amelia stated. “We should go back tomorrow and store away Zelgadis’ chimera body properly.”
Lina nodded. “We will, but you don’t have to worry so much. It’s not like the thing is going to get up and walk away.”
Zelgadis nodded, and then began the debate of what he should order for dinner.
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Zelgadis was never a huge fan of silk. It was not a durable fabric, and he never cared much for looking fashionable even before he was transformed into a chimera. Yet, he still put on the new pair of pajamas Amelia had given him. He did appreciate the thought she put into it, and he had to admit he did enjoy the smooth fabric against his skin. If he still had his old stone skin, the silk would have ripped to pieces by morning.
He climbed into bed, sinking blissfully into the luxurious mattress. He had no clue what he would do once the group stored his chimera body, but he didn’t care. This was the first time in years he didn’t have a goal in mind, and he wanted to enjoy it just a bit longer.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he startled awake. Moonlight still streamed through the room, and he heard his doorknob rattling for a moment before the door creaked open. It was too late for the girls or Gourry to be entering his room. He laid still as he heard the steps move closer. The hair on the back of his neck rose as the intruder breathed heavily like a wild animal. It was too dark to tell if it was a man or a woman, although its frame was lean and it was no taller than Zelgadis.
Beneath the blanket, Zelgadis gradually reached for the sword he had placed near the side of his bed. “Kill traitor, kill traitor,” he heard in a creepily familiar voice.
Zelgadis chanted under his breath. The stranger raised its arm. Zelgadis bolted from the bed, blinding his enemy with a light spell as he sprung up. He pivoted, sword in hand to strike. The intruder howled in pain as it stumbled forward in front of the window. Any plan of attack Zelgadis had formed was lost as he stared in shock at the intruder. The moonlight gave him a clear view of the attacker. It was either himself, or someone playing a very twisted joke.
No, Zelgadiss realized with growing horror. It was his chimera body. It had sported long hair and grew sharper claws in the hours since they’d left the hut, but it was his old body none the less.
The chimera recovered from the blinding light and stared directly at Zelgadis, the lack of pupils in its eyes caused him to wonder if he was trapped in a nightmare.
“Kill Zelgadis,” the chimera chanted in a possessed voice.
Zelgadis broke out of his stunned state long enough to cast Astral Vine onto his sword. The sword glowed red as the creature pounced.
Zelgadis hit the floor, rolling to dodge the attack. He swiped at its arm. The chimera ducked, slashing at his side. Zelgadis used the moment to cut the chimera’s arm again. As the claws cut into his flesh, Zelgadis realized his fatal error.
He screamed in pain and rolled onto his back, clutching his wound. Warm blood dripped down his fingers, a reminder that he was human now. Zelagadis cursed at himself. How could he forget he no longer had stone skin to rely on during battle? The wound was almost burning. The chimera wasted no time to strike again.
Zelgadis raised his sword, but knew he was done for.
“Elemkia Lance!” The arrow of light struck the creature hard. It sailed back to the far wall and slammed against the floor. Amelia, dressed in pink silk pajamas that looked like a mirror image of his own, rushed to Zelgadis’ side. “Are you all right?!”
He hissed, gripping his side. “Never mind me.” Zelgadis pointed. “Worry about that!”
The creature climbed to its feet and hissed. “Kill the traitor!”
Zelgadis opened his mouth to warn Amelia, but was cut off by Gourry as he raced in, sword in hand. “What the hell? Zel, isn’t that your body?!”
Lina shoved herself past Gourry. “I don’t care if it’s Zel’s grandmother,” Lina snapped. “It needs to be toasted now!” She took a stance, a fireball blooming to life between her cupped hands.
The chimera flexed its claws like a panther and bared its sharp teeth. Lina threw the fireball. The creature turned and crashed through the window moments before the fireball hit it. The glass shattered, spraying into the room just as the fireball exploded and took out the rest of the wall with it.
Gourry grabbed the girls and immediately turned so his back caught the brunt of the debris. Amelia quickly cast a Freeze Arrow, dousing the flames. Once the flames died down, Lina and Gourry dash to look out through the giant hole while Amelia knelt by Zelgadiss.
“Well?” Zelgadis asked.
Gourry shook his head. “It’s gone, but I doubt we've seen the last of that thing.”
“We need to go after it.” Zelgadis hissed in pain as he attempted to move.
“You’re not going anywhere!” Amelia demanded, chanting a healing spell. “You’re staying put so I can heal you.”
“We’re not going to be able to find it in the dark,” Lina added. “We don’t need to go anywhere until we figure out what the hell just happened.”
“Zelgadis got attacked by his old body,” Gourry commented. “I thought that was rather clear.”
Lina yanked off her slipper and whacked him with it. “I know that! Don’t you think it’s strange for it to be moving on its on?”
“It’s not.” Zelgadis relaxed as he let the warmth of the healing spell spread through his body. “It’s possessed. I don’t know how, but it’s possessed.”
“Hey,” Gourry cried, slamming his fist into his palm. “Maybe it’s another chimera.”
Lina rolled her eyes. “The chances of encountering a chimera that looks exactly like Zelgadis, minus the bad hairdo, is slim. Plus, even if that was the case, doesn’t explain why it’s so kill-happy with Zel.”
“Something must have happened at the lab,” Amelia replied as she let the healing spell subside. “I would suggest going there now to fight the evil that caused this, but Mister Zelgadis should rest for now. That was a nasty wound.”
Zelgadis grimaced. He did not want to be reminded of how he had foolishly injured himself.
Lina nodded. “Go sleep in Gourry’s room. It’s not likely it’ll attack twice in one night, but having an extra pair of eyes to watch your back isn’t a bad idea. Amelia come into my room ...”
“But before that,” Gourry commented. “There’s another thing we need to take care of first.”
“What’s that?” Amelia asked.
Suddenly, a pair of heavy boots raced down the hall. “What the hell are you people doing to my inn?!”
“Someone needs to pay the innkeeper for the destroyed room so he doesn’t kick us out.” Gourry said sagely.
Lina groaned as her coin purse cried out in pain.
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I need to give thanks to both of my beta readers Ichiban_victory and DQBunny and a a bonus for the wait. Here's an omake of an alternative version of that gift scene that was made by DQBunny. I hope you guys enjoy it:
Zelgadiss lifted the lid of Lina's gift. His jaw dropped as his face turned as red as the apples in the bowl on the table. He slammed the lid back down.
"What is it, Zelgadiss-san?" Amelia asked innocently.
"I'm. Going. To. Hurt. You." Zelgadiss seethed.
Gourry looked at Lina, then Zelgadiss, then at Lina, then his eyes widened. "Oh! You gave him the magical ..." His words were cut off as Lina shoved a whole potato in his mouth.
"Just something to help you now that you're human again," Lina said cheekily, giving him a wink.
"Here." Zelgadiss shoved the box at her. "I'm sure you and Gourry will get far more use out them than I will."
"But, but, but," Lina stammered.
"Isn't that what your potion is for, Lina?" Gourry asked as he managed to chew through the potato.
Lina's fist somehow found its way into Gourry's stomach with enough force that he went flying across the room into the wall. "No, you keep them," Lina ground out.
"What are you talking about?" Amelia asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Absolutely nothing." Zelgadiss grabbed the box and shoved it in his cloak just as Amelia reached for it. "Why don't I open your gift now, Amelia?"
