A/N: Holy moly it's been a long time since I've worked on this story. I'm
sure you don't wanna hear my list of excuses, but since it's summer vaca
now, I'll have more time to write fics! Ha, yeah right! *sarcasm* Maybe I
can fit it in between baby-sitting, volunteering at the library, reading 5
books for AP English, taking notes and writing essays for AP History, and
SLEEPING! To tell the truth, I've been in sort of a writer's block for a
while. I've felt like writing but just had no inspiration. I've been
looking for a humor fic to write, but no ideas! If anyone has any
suggestions, please E-mail me! And I've always wanted to do a collaborative
fic, too. So if anyone is interested, PLEASE E-mail me! And please review,
too, k? I won't write anymore unless you review this one! Thankies! Now
let's just see how long it'll take for me to get another chapter out. -_-
;;;;
Disclaimer: insert standard disclaimer here If you really want one, see
my other fics. Or anyone else's fic, for that matter. The only thing I have
to add is Incubus. I only used one line from their song, but it's not mine!
That is, not yet, anyway.~_^ MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (evil laugh)
Chapter Eight Silence. A shocked silence settles over the table as Filia and Xelloss finish the tale of the conception of their daughter and then her transference to another universe. Lina's jaw hangs open. Amelia gapes at them with huge eyes. Zelgadis stares into space apathetically. Gourry picks up a fork and adds it to his little play, having become bored of the drama and automatically accepting this new piece of information. For once, Xelloss looks serious and somber. Filia, true to her nature, is starting to weep. And Miranda just sits, studying the grain of the table and avoiding eye contact with everyone. After a moment, a single tear rolls down her cheek and hangs off her chin. Quickly, so as not to let anyone see it, Miranda reaches up and rubs away the tear. "Um. I don't know what to say." the blonde mumbles, trying to fill up the dead air. "Then you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. But I must say, we're rather curious as to how you got here." Xel hints. "Oh, yes. Well, actually, so am I." Miranda says, glad for something that will take her mind of the current family crisis. "What do you mean? I though Filia and Xel said you live in an alternate universe. Did you perform some kind of spell or something?" Lina inquires. "Spell? No. Where I'm from, there's no magic. At least, as far as I know." "No magic?" Lina gasps. "You poor thing! What happens when you go out to eat and the waiter refuses to bring you any more food for no good reason? Or when someone calls you a little boy and makes fun of your flat chest? Or when bandits attack you and try to steal your treasure that you rightfully stole from them? NO MAGIC?!!" "Erm, well, none of those things have ever happened to me." she explains. "I get along fine without magic." Lina has to fan herself with a napkin to keep from fainting, but she says no more. "Miranda, don't pay any mind to Miss Lina. Continue your story," Filia urges. "It's not much of a story. I came home from Allison's birthday sleep- over and I hadn't slept in twenty-four hours, so I immediately went up to my room and lay down on my bed. I guess I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember is waking up on the side of the road about a mile from here. Then I walked to the closest building-here-looking for a phone. And that's it," she reports. "That's strange. There's no magic in your world, you say? And you just randomly appeared here?" Amelia asks. "Right." Xelloss, who, up until now, had been silent and tight-lipped, suddenly speaks. "I was afraid this would happen." he mutters. "Hm? Did you say something, Xel?" Filia, the closest to the Mazoku, overhears his comment. "Me? Say something? Well, dear Filia, you know, that is a secret!" he declares, wagging his finger and winking at her. "Good gracious, what will we ever do with you, Xelloss?" Filia mocks desperation. "I hope that's not one of the qualities you inherited from your father, Miranda!" "Me too," Lina agrees. "Oh sweet Justice, I don't know what we'd do with two annoying, secretive, fruity Mazoku!" Amelia jokes. "Well, I know what I'd do. Take a long walk off a short pier." Zel puts in. "I happen to know a very beautiful pier nearby, Zelly," Xel offers slyly. The chimera grumbles in response. "Stupid fruitcake." "ANYway, there is a very important matter at hand, here!" Amelia interjects. "Yes, you're right, Amelia! The matter of this restaurant's lack of FOOD! Where is that damn waiter?!" Lina yells, folding her arms across her petite chest. "No, no, Miss Lina. I meant Miranda! We must help her go home! I feel it is my royal duty to help anyone in need, especially the daughter of my two best friends! I shall do anything and everything in my power to make sure you arrive safely in your home world with your family and friends! Fret not, young lady, you will soon be back with your loved ones!!!!" Amelia concludes her justice speech. Lina, Gourry, and Zel are giving her the usual response to her tangents. Xel is looking a little wan and trying his hardest not to throw up. Miranda thanks the princess for her offer. And Filia bursts into tears. "Miss Filia! Oh no, what's wrong?" Amelia immediately is concerned. "Must have been your stupid little justice speech. They always make ME want to cry," Zelgadis mutters. "Nice going, Amelia, you made Filia cry!" Lina admonishes. Nourished by his fiancée's depressing emotions, Xelloss snaps out of his trance and puts his arm around her. "Filia, are you okay?" he asks. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just. I just. Hearing Miss Amelia talk about Miranda's family and taking her home makes me realize that she really isn't our daughter! We contributed our genes, but we were never there to raise her or to love her and now she's got parents and a family who are probably worried sick about her right now. And I can't help but regret sending her away in the first place." the Ryuuzoku sobs. While Xelloss and the others comfort Filia, Miranda remains seated, feeling really awkward and out of place. Hesitant to allow her naturally compassionate side kick in, she restrained herself from trying to cheer up the woman just in case that would be considered crossing a line in this new and strange land. "Look, Miss Filia, maybe you weren't the world's most involved mother," Amelia starts to reassure her friend, but only causes her to sob even louder. "No, wait, I'm not finished yet! Maybe you weren't there to raise Miranda directly, but you were still a loving parent. You loved your daughter enough to realize that she would be better off somewhere else and you gave her up for her sake. So you see, Miss Filia, even though you sent her away, it was out of love, and you're really not a bad parent, nor a bad person at all!" Filia's tears abate and turn into little sniffles. "It's like that expression: if you love something, set it free," Miranda adds quietly. Amelia nods enthusiastically. "Now, Miss Filia, you've got an opportunity to make up for your absence! You've got to help her find a way home. And while you're together you can get in some quality mother-daughter bonding time, too!" "You're right, Miss Amelia," Filia says, bringing her grateful eyes up to meet the young princess' concerned gaze. She straightens her posture, and wipes her eyes dry of tears. Then she turns to Miranda. "I know I haven't been the ideal mother, but I still love you with all my heart. And I vow to do anything and everything in my power to find you a way home," Filia declares firmly. "If that's what you want." she adds hopefully. "That goes for me, too," Xelloss pipes up. "Except for the mother part. Make that father," he says, winking, and giving his wife's shoulders and extra squeeze. "And if you don't mind, we'll tag along. We've been wandering around together for weeks now; we need a good adventure!" Lina speaks for herself, Gourry, Zel and Amelia, who all nod. (Yes, even Gourry and Zel) Miranda grins. "Thank you so much, Miss Lina! This really means a lot to me. Mom and Dad." At that, Filia tears up again and commences crying again. "Oh no, Miss Filia, what's wrong this time?" Amelia asks. But Filia is too emotional too speak. So Xelloss explains. "She's not sad at all. No, they are. oh, what did she call them? Tears of joy. She did the same thing when I proposed to her." "Okay then. Well now that that's settled, let's get some more food over here! WAITER!" Lina screams. "Miss Lina, we can get more food on the road. Let's leave this poor man alone," Amelia pleads, glancing at the horrified face peeping around the corner. "But whyyyyyyy? Lina whines. "I REALLY want some chocolate mousse!" "Lina, I think she's right. That guy has been tortured enough for one day. Besides, we should really get going soon. Ah, where are we going anyway?" Zel realizes that they have no idea exactly how to go about returning Miranda to her own world. "Good question, Zel!" Xel chirps. "I thought we'd go back and take a look at the spot in the road where Miranda woke up. Can you remember where that is, Miranda-chan?" "I think so. There are so many trees around this place, but I do remember I woke up in the middle of a ring of trees. I don't know what kind, but they didn't really look like anything I'd ever seen before anyway," Miranda says. "A ring of trees? That's odd," Lina comments, seemingly to herself. "How so?" Zel asks, frowning. "Well, actually, when I decided to travel out here with you guys it was because I was looking for a circle of Hitori trees. Usually they grow only one to a forest and are sometimes used as very potent magical amplifiers. Because they're solitary organisms, they're hard to find, but there's a legend about a ring of Hitori trees growing somewhere in the area of Rothon. If it's true, then it would be a really magical place. A whole bunch of those trees gathered together would be a colossal amplifier and maybe even something more." "Like an interdimensional portal?" Zelgadis suggests, grinning oh-so slightly. "A doorway to another world! Maybe there's another portal back in your world that you accidentally walked through," Amelia theorizes. "A doorway to another world on my bed? The bed that I've slept in almost every night for several years? I don't know about that." Miranda is skeptical. "Well this definitely requires further investigation. Let's go!" Xel asserts before disappearing. "Oh my god!" Miranda breathes in sharply. "He's. he's gone!" Everybody at the table giggles at the young girl's inexperience. "No dear, don't worry. He only teleported. You don't have teleportation in your world, do you?" Filia explains. "Teleportation? Like in sci-fi movies? Beam me up Scotty and all that stuff? Or like I dream of Jeannie with the head nod thing?" "Ah. sci-fi? Scotty? Jeannie.?" Filia stutters, confused. Lina, Amelia, and Zel blink in unison. Gourry looks up from his play. "Teleportation. Xelloss can go anywhere anytime in the blink of an eye. I dunno how he does it. The best Lina can do is levitation or Ray Wing." And he resumes his fork-and-lint game. "Oh. I can see there are a lot of things in this world I'm going to have to get used to," Miranda observes. "I'll say! And even worse since you're the daughter of a Ryuuzoku and a Mazoku!" Lina snorts. "It would be bad enough coming here for the first time and seeing all this magic as a normal human, not participating in it, but you've got it rough, Miranda." "Eh? Ryuuzoku? Mazoku? What do you mean I have it rough?" she asks. "Er, Miranda-chan, why don't I explain this whole Ryuuzoku Mazoku thing to you on the road, ne? Your father is waiting for us," Filia recommends, bursting with joy at being able to use -chan and 'your father.' "Um, okay, just as long as it gets explained at some point." "Let's go then! Gourry, stop fooling around, you jellyfish brain! We've got important work to do here! Gourry? Have you been paying attention at ALL?" Lina growls at her dumb, blond companion. "Hm? Oh yes, I know exactly what's going on," he reassures Lina with that killer smile of his. "Now, ah. who's that?" he whispers, motioning to Miranda. Lina pounds him on the head and drags the unconscious swordsman out the door, followed by the rest of her gang. Miranda and Filia are the last in line, walking side-by-side. "Don't worry, dear, everything will be just fine. Leave it to these guys to figure out any problem, defeat any bad guy, and steal any treasure. You know, Lina's quite a famous sorceress around here. And Amelia is a princess! And your father is a high-ranking Mazoku. So you're in good hands," Filia says. "My father is a high-ranking what now?" Miranda echoes. "A Mazoku. It's a type of monster. They feed off negative emotions, and." Filia goes on to explain the history of dragons and monsters as they slowly saunter along the wooded road. Surrounded by lush, green trees, a bright, blue, cloudless sky, and innumerable animals all calling out in their individual languages, Miranda can't help but feel. happy. Despite the fact that she's stranded on a strange planet with even stranger people who claim to be her family and family-friends, she's content to stroll alongside her. mother and listen to her explain her origin. It's like that Incubus song. And in this moment, I am happy.
Chapter Eight Silence. A shocked silence settles over the table as Filia and Xelloss finish the tale of the conception of their daughter and then her transference to another universe. Lina's jaw hangs open. Amelia gapes at them with huge eyes. Zelgadis stares into space apathetically. Gourry picks up a fork and adds it to his little play, having become bored of the drama and automatically accepting this new piece of information. For once, Xelloss looks serious and somber. Filia, true to her nature, is starting to weep. And Miranda just sits, studying the grain of the table and avoiding eye contact with everyone. After a moment, a single tear rolls down her cheek and hangs off her chin. Quickly, so as not to let anyone see it, Miranda reaches up and rubs away the tear. "Um. I don't know what to say." the blonde mumbles, trying to fill up the dead air. "Then you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. But I must say, we're rather curious as to how you got here." Xel hints. "Oh, yes. Well, actually, so am I." Miranda says, glad for something that will take her mind of the current family crisis. "What do you mean? I though Filia and Xel said you live in an alternate universe. Did you perform some kind of spell or something?" Lina inquires. "Spell? No. Where I'm from, there's no magic. At least, as far as I know." "No magic?" Lina gasps. "You poor thing! What happens when you go out to eat and the waiter refuses to bring you any more food for no good reason? Or when someone calls you a little boy and makes fun of your flat chest? Or when bandits attack you and try to steal your treasure that you rightfully stole from them? NO MAGIC?!!" "Erm, well, none of those things have ever happened to me." she explains. "I get along fine without magic." Lina has to fan herself with a napkin to keep from fainting, but she says no more. "Miranda, don't pay any mind to Miss Lina. Continue your story," Filia urges. "It's not much of a story. I came home from Allison's birthday sleep- over and I hadn't slept in twenty-four hours, so I immediately went up to my room and lay down on my bed. I guess I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember is waking up on the side of the road about a mile from here. Then I walked to the closest building-here-looking for a phone. And that's it," she reports. "That's strange. There's no magic in your world, you say? And you just randomly appeared here?" Amelia asks. "Right." Xelloss, who, up until now, had been silent and tight-lipped, suddenly speaks. "I was afraid this would happen." he mutters. "Hm? Did you say something, Xel?" Filia, the closest to the Mazoku, overhears his comment. "Me? Say something? Well, dear Filia, you know, that is a secret!" he declares, wagging his finger and winking at her. "Good gracious, what will we ever do with you, Xelloss?" Filia mocks desperation. "I hope that's not one of the qualities you inherited from your father, Miranda!" "Me too," Lina agrees. "Oh sweet Justice, I don't know what we'd do with two annoying, secretive, fruity Mazoku!" Amelia jokes. "Well, I know what I'd do. Take a long walk off a short pier." Zel puts in. "I happen to know a very beautiful pier nearby, Zelly," Xel offers slyly. The chimera grumbles in response. "Stupid fruitcake." "ANYway, there is a very important matter at hand, here!" Amelia interjects. "Yes, you're right, Amelia! The matter of this restaurant's lack of FOOD! Where is that damn waiter?!" Lina yells, folding her arms across her petite chest. "No, no, Miss Lina. I meant Miranda! We must help her go home! I feel it is my royal duty to help anyone in need, especially the daughter of my two best friends! I shall do anything and everything in my power to make sure you arrive safely in your home world with your family and friends! Fret not, young lady, you will soon be back with your loved ones!!!!" Amelia concludes her justice speech. Lina, Gourry, and Zel are giving her the usual response to her tangents. Xel is looking a little wan and trying his hardest not to throw up. Miranda thanks the princess for her offer. And Filia bursts into tears. "Miss Filia! Oh no, what's wrong?" Amelia immediately is concerned. "Must have been your stupid little justice speech. They always make ME want to cry," Zelgadis mutters. "Nice going, Amelia, you made Filia cry!" Lina admonishes. Nourished by his fiancée's depressing emotions, Xelloss snaps out of his trance and puts his arm around her. "Filia, are you okay?" he asks. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just. I just. Hearing Miss Amelia talk about Miranda's family and taking her home makes me realize that she really isn't our daughter! We contributed our genes, but we were never there to raise her or to love her and now she's got parents and a family who are probably worried sick about her right now. And I can't help but regret sending her away in the first place." the Ryuuzoku sobs. While Xelloss and the others comfort Filia, Miranda remains seated, feeling really awkward and out of place. Hesitant to allow her naturally compassionate side kick in, she restrained herself from trying to cheer up the woman just in case that would be considered crossing a line in this new and strange land. "Look, Miss Filia, maybe you weren't the world's most involved mother," Amelia starts to reassure her friend, but only causes her to sob even louder. "No, wait, I'm not finished yet! Maybe you weren't there to raise Miranda directly, but you were still a loving parent. You loved your daughter enough to realize that she would be better off somewhere else and you gave her up for her sake. So you see, Miss Filia, even though you sent her away, it was out of love, and you're really not a bad parent, nor a bad person at all!" Filia's tears abate and turn into little sniffles. "It's like that expression: if you love something, set it free," Miranda adds quietly. Amelia nods enthusiastically. "Now, Miss Filia, you've got an opportunity to make up for your absence! You've got to help her find a way home. And while you're together you can get in some quality mother-daughter bonding time, too!" "You're right, Miss Amelia," Filia says, bringing her grateful eyes up to meet the young princess' concerned gaze. She straightens her posture, and wipes her eyes dry of tears. Then she turns to Miranda. "I know I haven't been the ideal mother, but I still love you with all my heart. And I vow to do anything and everything in my power to find you a way home," Filia declares firmly. "If that's what you want." she adds hopefully. "That goes for me, too," Xelloss pipes up. "Except for the mother part. Make that father," he says, winking, and giving his wife's shoulders and extra squeeze. "And if you don't mind, we'll tag along. We've been wandering around together for weeks now; we need a good adventure!" Lina speaks for herself, Gourry, Zel and Amelia, who all nod. (Yes, even Gourry and Zel) Miranda grins. "Thank you so much, Miss Lina! This really means a lot to me. Mom and Dad." At that, Filia tears up again and commences crying again. "Oh no, Miss Filia, what's wrong this time?" Amelia asks. But Filia is too emotional too speak. So Xelloss explains. "She's not sad at all. No, they are. oh, what did she call them? Tears of joy. She did the same thing when I proposed to her." "Okay then. Well now that that's settled, let's get some more food over here! WAITER!" Lina screams. "Miss Lina, we can get more food on the road. Let's leave this poor man alone," Amelia pleads, glancing at the horrified face peeping around the corner. "But whyyyyyyy? Lina whines. "I REALLY want some chocolate mousse!" "Lina, I think she's right. That guy has been tortured enough for one day. Besides, we should really get going soon. Ah, where are we going anyway?" Zel realizes that they have no idea exactly how to go about returning Miranda to her own world. "Good question, Zel!" Xel chirps. "I thought we'd go back and take a look at the spot in the road where Miranda woke up. Can you remember where that is, Miranda-chan?" "I think so. There are so many trees around this place, but I do remember I woke up in the middle of a ring of trees. I don't know what kind, but they didn't really look like anything I'd ever seen before anyway," Miranda says. "A ring of trees? That's odd," Lina comments, seemingly to herself. "How so?" Zel asks, frowning. "Well, actually, when I decided to travel out here with you guys it was because I was looking for a circle of Hitori trees. Usually they grow only one to a forest and are sometimes used as very potent magical amplifiers. Because they're solitary organisms, they're hard to find, but there's a legend about a ring of Hitori trees growing somewhere in the area of Rothon. If it's true, then it would be a really magical place. A whole bunch of those trees gathered together would be a colossal amplifier and maybe even something more." "Like an interdimensional portal?" Zelgadis suggests, grinning oh-so slightly. "A doorway to another world! Maybe there's another portal back in your world that you accidentally walked through," Amelia theorizes. "A doorway to another world on my bed? The bed that I've slept in almost every night for several years? I don't know about that." Miranda is skeptical. "Well this definitely requires further investigation. Let's go!" Xel asserts before disappearing. "Oh my god!" Miranda breathes in sharply. "He's. he's gone!" Everybody at the table giggles at the young girl's inexperience. "No dear, don't worry. He only teleported. You don't have teleportation in your world, do you?" Filia explains. "Teleportation? Like in sci-fi movies? Beam me up Scotty and all that stuff? Or like I dream of Jeannie with the head nod thing?" "Ah. sci-fi? Scotty? Jeannie.?" Filia stutters, confused. Lina, Amelia, and Zel blink in unison. Gourry looks up from his play. "Teleportation. Xelloss can go anywhere anytime in the blink of an eye. I dunno how he does it. The best Lina can do is levitation or Ray Wing." And he resumes his fork-and-lint game. "Oh. I can see there are a lot of things in this world I'm going to have to get used to," Miranda observes. "I'll say! And even worse since you're the daughter of a Ryuuzoku and a Mazoku!" Lina snorts. "It would be bad enough coming here for the first time and seeing all this magic as a normal human, not participating in it, but you've got it rough, Miranda." "Eh? Ryuuzoku? Mazoku? What do you mean I have it rough?" she asks. "Er, Miranda-chan, why don't I explain this whole Ryuuzoku Mazoku thing to you on the road, ne? Your father is waiting for us," Filia recommends, bursting with joy at being able to use -chan and 'your father.' "Um, okay, just as long as it gets explained at some point." "Let's go then! Gourry, stop fooling around, you jellyfish brain! We've got important work to do here! Gourry? Have you been paying attention at ALL?" Lina growls at her dumb, blond companion. "Hm? Oh yes, I know exactly what's going on," he reassures Lina with that killer smile of his. "Now, ah. who's that?" he whispers, motioning to Miranda. Lina pounds him on the head and drags the unconscious swordsman out the door, followed by the rest of her gang. Miranda and Filia are the last in line, walking side-by-side. "Don't worry, dear, everything will be just fine. Leave it to these guys to figure out any problem, defeat any bad guy, and steal any treasure. You know, Lina's quite a famous sorceress around here. And Amelia is a princess! And your father is a high-ranking Mazoku. So you're in good hands," Filia says. "My father is a high-ranking what now?" Miranda echoes. "A Mazoku. It's a type of monster. They feed off negative emotions, and." Filia goes on to explain the history of dragons and monsters as they slowly saunter along the wooded road. Surrounded by lush, green trees, a bright, blue, cloudless sky, and innumerable animals all calling out in their individual languages, Miranda can't help but feel. happy. Despite the fact that she's stranded on a strange planet with even stranger people who claim to be her family and family-friends, she's content to stroll alongside her. mother and listen to her explain her origin. It's like that Incubus song. And in this moment, I am happy.