DISCALIMER: I do not own the Slayers... put I've put in a good bid on Martina!
Happy April Fools Day Xelfi and TRAD fans! So, today is Slayers: Fooled 's Debut! Now I wasn't able to complete it so instead of updating everyday like Slayers: Valentine I'll be updating it every Sunday. I'm sorry about that, but I'm just to busy. However, you guys are always worth the commitment, so here you go! Slayers: Fooled guaranteed to be updated every Sunday!
Chapter One
The Plan…
Amelia sobbed hopelessly into her pillow. Her conversation with Mr. Zelgadiss continued to play itself over and over in her head. Each time it sounded more and more terrible.
"I have to go, Amelia." He had said nodding to the black dragon beside him. "Joane has assured me it's my only hope."
The dragon of course was Mr. Joane. He had a long greasy forehead, even greasier black hair, a hooked nose and tiny black eyes. His lips had been pulled back into a cruel sneer, as though he knew what all this was doing to her heart… and enjoyed it.
However, it hadn't been Mr. Joane's cruel sneer that had her sobbing on her pillow, nor Mr. Zelgadiss decision to leave ensuring her marriage to another. No these things were terrible, but it was what Mr. Zelgadiss had said next that had broken her sprit like this.
"Besides…" He had said darkly. "The odds of your kingdom approving of a marriage between us are as likely as Xelloss and Filia approving of one with each other."
Just thinking of his unwittingly cruel words caused her to break out into a fresh batch of tears.
There came a quiet knock at the door. She ignored it sullenly, and it turned into a harsh pounding.
"Hey!" Lina's harsh voice yelled. "Amelia!"
There came another huff and finally a declaration of "FIREBALL!" and then the door was blasted off it's hinges, revealing a furious sorceress on the other side.
Lina glared, fire in her eyes as she stepped through the wreckage. "Hey, Amelia what gives! You can't just… wha…"
Her rage was quelled at the sight of the small princess' sobbing form.
"A… Amelia!" She cried, running over and placing a consoling hand on her teary-eyed friend's shoulder.
Amelia turned to her, taers streaming down her face.
"Oh, Miss Lina!" She cried, latching onto her and sobbing into the horrified sorceress' chest. "It's terrible! Everything's wrong, there is no Justice!"
"Wha…" Lina blinked, terrified at what could make Amelia give such a declaration. "No Justice! Amelia! What happened?"
Amelia blinked up at her, swallowing back a fresh batch of tears and told her friend the previous day's events.
"And he's leaving by the end of the month…" She cried shaking her head. "But Miss Lina, I never knew he thought us being together was so hopeless, I mean he took my braclet, he came back, and of course daddy would accept him!"
Lina blinked shaking her head. "Yeah, you're right about that."
Amelia blinked at her, smiling at her friend's faith in her father. "Yeah, daddy definitely would…"
Lina smiled noticing the improvement and went on consolingly. "Besides, he still has hope, I mean he didn't say it was impossible."
Amelia's eyes widened in realization and Lina felt a distinct since of unease at the desperate glint in her friend's eyes.
"Oh Miss Lina!" Amelia cried, hopping to her feet and clasping her hands to her heart happily. "Of course! All I have to do is get Mr. Xelloss and Miss Filia to get married!"
"All you have to!" Lina balked, standing to her feet in bewilderment. "Amelia, that's crazy!"
Amelia tilted her head up. "That seems to be what everybody around here thinks, but I still believe in the power of love and Justice!"
Lina blinked at her incredulously before pulling on her own hair in furry. "Huh! Love! Justice! Amelia, get a clue would you! Xelloss and Filia hate each other! There is no love there!"
Amelia faltered slightly, and then quickly recovered with an easy shrug. "Well we'll just have to encourage them then, they both listen to you, and I can set the mood."
Lina blinked, attempting not to be faltered, well maybe just a little, but still…
"Look Amelia." She stated, crossing her arms coolly. "You are in this on your own. I may be your friend, but this is a fool's errand, and I don't feel like sabotaging my connection to Xelloss over this."
Amelia smirked knowingly. "Oh of course not, besides I wouldn't expect you to ever do anything for free, Miss Lina. So I pay you for your services."
Lina perked up, arching a brow greedily. "How much?"
OOO
Xelloss knelt before his mistress throne, giving a honored bow before raising his head to appraise her. "What is it that you require of me, Mistress?"
Zelas smiled coolly down at her servant. "I want Lina Inverse."
Xelloss felt his being sink inwards, like a stone in a pond. "Come again?"
Zelas smirked at the carefully masked terror coming from her servant. "Oh you misunderstand, Xelloss. I don't want her dead, I want her alive."
Xelloss swallowed. "Umm… well…" He was uncertain how to tell his Mistress that that wasn't an option either.
Zelas' grin widened. "You still misunderstand Xelloss."
Well now Xelloss was just confused and the look on his face told his mistress as much. "Um…"
Zelas chuckled, summoning herself a glass of wine and taking a sip while Xelloss tried again to see where his mistress was going. I mean there were rumors of her and the Knight of Cepheid, but even so Lina was hardly her type or was she… oh dear I should really stop while I'm ahead, she's just playing with me anyway…
Zelas smiled contently once Xelloss finally gave up and ordered calmly. "Gain her trust, Xelloss. By any means necessary, that is all."
That's all!!! Xelloss felt his jaw drop incredulously, and quickly righted it. "Hai, Mistress."
Zelas chuckled liquidly as after he phased away. This would prove to be most interesting…
OOO
"No, no." Lina rejecting waving away the ridiculously small number.
"But Miss Lina!" Amelia cried in fury. "That's nearly an eight of the kingdoms wealth, I absolutely can't go any higher."
Lina blinked mulling over her friends argument, a greedily smirk lighting across her features. "Well then, how bout an eight of the kingdom?"
Amelia blinked. "What!"
"Yeah!" Lina nodded, linking the idea more and more. "I'm here doing services for you and Phil often enough, let make me a resident. And a noble! I've always wanted to be a Knight! My sister's a Knight…"
Amelia stared at her as Lina danced around playing with visions of nobility.
Amelia sighed and shook her head. "Fine, but after the plan. I don't want Mr. Zelgadiss suspecting anything."
"Why Amelia!" Lina chided with a sly grin. "You're being bad!"
"No I'm not." Amelia argued tilting her head up. "Mr. Zelgadiss belongs here with me, it'd be unjust to let him wander off into the desert just to come back and find me married to some prince."
"Oh my!" And annoyingly familiar voice tittered as Xelloss phased into the room. "It seems you're up to your usual schemes Lina!"
"Me!" Lina balked, waving him away with a snort. "I don't what you're talking about, this is all Amelia!"
"Wha! Miss Lina!" Amelia balked and Xelloss grinned knowingly.
"And what about that little bit about being Knighted?" Xelloss asked cracking an eye. "Hmm… Lina Inverse, Knight of Saillune, what would your sister say?"
Lina paled, and scratched her head nervously. "Oh, you heard that, huh?"
"Oh yes!" Xelloss replied cheerily, raising a finger. "And it just so happens I'm more than willing to help you in this goal!"
"Huh?" Amelia asked confused and Lina joined her.
"Yeah." She asked suspiciously. "Since when do you care about such petty things?"
Xelloss ginned. "Oh you misunderstand, I have my own reasons, but this falls into my plan."
Lina grinned, sharing a knowing look with Amelia. Amelia blinked a moment and then matched her grin, realizing immediately that Justice was on their side.
"Okay, Xelloss." Lina replied, crossing her arms as the two grinned at him, causing him to feel uneasy. "It's just great you're on board, since our plan evolves you afterall."
"Me?" Xelloss asked, pointing to himself with a wary grin.
"That's right!" Amelia chimed in cheerfully. "You showing up just proves that Justice is on our side. Afterall, our goal was to prove to Mr. Zelgadiss that our relationship isn't hopeless by getting you and Filia to get married!"
"What!" Xelloss yelped his eyes popping open in horror, all masks dropped at such a terrifying thought.
"That's right." Lina nodded, a sadistic grin widening across her face. "Still following your plan, Xelloss?"
"Gain her trust, Xelloss. By any means necessary, that is all."
By any means necessary…
His mistress' words flowed through his mind, giving him the strength to right himself, his mask back in place. "Completely! But I'm not sure it'll work, Filia is…"
His words faded away and he twitched, his smile growing strained. "But no matter! I am a master of manipulation after all!"
"Yes." Lina nodded, that sadistic grin never leaving her face. "But marriage, Xelloss. Do you really think you're that good?"
Xelloss grinned smoothly. "Oh dear! Why Miss Lina, shall I take that as a challenge!"
Lina's grin never faded. "Maybe. Tell ya what, if you can do it, I promise to help you with whatever it is you came here hounding me for. Whaddya say?"
Xelloss grinned darkly. "Done."
"Well I suppose the first thing I'll have to do is go get her, ne?" Xelloss stated, his cheery grin back in place. "See ya soon!"
And with that he was gone leaving Amelia to stare at her friend in horror.
"But Miss Lina!" She cried. "Mr. Xelloss could want you to do something horrible!"
"That may be." Lina replied with a shrug. "But he wouldn't have given up till I did it, or at least got close anyway. This way he'll be working for me, and maybe Filia will distract him enough that I can figure out what he's after."
"Oh, wow." Amelia murmured in awe. "You sure thought of that quickly."
"Yeah well what can I say!" Lina replied with a cheerful shrug. "That's just one more reason why you should be happy with our little arrangement!"
She burst out into a seris of cheerfull giggles. "I mean imagine it! Me, Lina Inverse! Knight of Saillune! Mom and Dad will be so proud!"
Amelia stood dumbstruck as Lina continued to dance around the room in glee, imagining her castle, her servents, her suitors…
"Ahh!" Gourrys voice cried as he stumbled through the door, his shirt and armor pulled over his head. "Help! Lina! I can't see!"
"Huh!" Lina bristled, turning to him with a loud sigh. "Wha? Gourry! Hang on, let me pull it off."
Amelia grinned as Lina engaged in a tug of war with Gourry's top, as he proceeded to tell her how this had all came about.
"Yeah well, you need to be more careful when playing with children, Gourry." Lina replied easily, pulling it off and tossing it to him. "They have small hands."
"Thanks, Lina." He replied in relief stretching out, causing the girls to get full view of his bare chest. "I'll be more careful next time."
Lina blushed scarlet, turning away with a smart nod. "See that you do, and in the mean time, put your shirt back on!"
"Oh! Right!"
Amelia giggled, shaking her head. Just maybe, with Justice and Lina on her side, just maybe she would have her happy ending!
Okay, it loopy, I admit it, but thats the fun of it! See ya next Sunday! (nn)