"Who do you think will win, Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia asked.
"I'm not sure," Zelgadis answered, sipping his coffee.
"What are we going to do after this is all over, Lina?" Gourry asked. "Do we just automatically get out of the fanfiction and continue on our journey after this is over?"
"I don't know," Lina replied. "Fanfictions are mysterious things..."
"They certainly are," thought Xellos. "They have the power to take over the entire Slayers world. Perhaps even L-sama herself has been captured in one before. Oh well. I hope that Filia wins, though... What am I thinking??? That's the last thing I want! At least, I think so..."
***
"Since Sylphiel is the strongest link from last round, she'll start off," Luna announced. "In this round, the amount of money you bank will be doubled and carried on to the final round! Let's play... The Weakest Link! Sylphiel, what does the true Claire Bible look like?"
"A book?"
"Incorrect. The right answer was an orb. Filia, name three Overworlders."
"Almace, Sirius, and Erulogos."
"Correct! Sylphiel, who killed Seygram?"
"Lina."
"Correct! Filia-"
"Bank."
"Name the two fishmen from the original Slayers series."
"Noonsa and... Roark?"
"Incorrect. It was Noonsa and Rahonamu. Sylphiel, is there someone more powerful than the Lord of Nightmares?"
"No."
"Correct. Filia, who does the Gaav Flare call power from?"
"Uh, Gaav?"
"Correct. Sylphiel, what was the very first living creature seen in the first Slayers series?"
"Um... Miss Lina?"
"Incorrect. It was the Dragon Fangs' dragon. Filia-"
"Bank."
"What is the name of the Slayers video game?"
"Slayers ROYAL."
"Correct. Sylphiel-"
"Bank."
"Who is Zomulgoostar?"
"The being Miss Martina worships."
"Correct. Filia, name someone that turned against the monster race."
"Gaav."
"Correct. Sylphiel, in what city was the battle with Phibrizzo fought?"
"Sairaag."
"Correct. Filia-"
"Bank."
"Why-"
The bell sounded, and the round was over. "You've managed to bank quite a lot of money this round, although there is still no one sure of the conversion factors to gold pieces. We'll double that mysterious amount, and-" Luna was cut off.
Suddenly, a mailman walked onto the stage and handed Luna a letter.
"Thank you!" Luna said. Ripping the letter open... "Oh good! The conversion factor. One of you is going home with, uh, 30,000 gold pieces."
Filia and Sylphiel's eyes widened.
"Well, it's time to start the final part of the game. You will each be asked 5 questions, and whoever answers more of them correctly will walk away with 30,000 gold pieces. The other... will walk away with nothing. Since Filia is the strongest link from last round, she'll decide who will go first. Filia?"
"I... I'll choose Sylphiel to go first."
"All right. Let's play! Sylphiel, in the first season of Slayers, where was Shabranigdo actually sealed?"
"In Rezo's eyes."
"Correct. Filia, in what series was Copy Rezo featured?"
"Uh... Slayers Next?"
"Incorrect. The correct answer was Slayers. Sylphiel, what weapon is the final weapon?"
"A spear?"
"Incorrect. A bow. Filia, which other character in Slayers had a copy made of him besides for Rezo?"
"Vrumugun."
"Correct. Sylphiel, who killed the Golden Dragons in Slayers Try?"
"The monsters?"
"Incorrect. It was Sirius and Erulogos, the Overworlders. Filia, what unusual facial feature do Jillas and Grabos share?"
"They both only have one eye."
"Correct. Sylphiel, what is another name for The Lord of Nightmares?"
"The Golden Lord?"
"Correct. Filia, how many copies of Rezo were there?"
"Uh, 2?"
"Incorrect. The answer was 1. Sylphiel, who turned Zelgadis into the chimera he is now?"
"Rezo."
"Correct. Filia, in order to stay in the game, you'll have to answer the next question correctly. ... Who told Lina about the prophecy of destruction?"
Filia blinked. "... Me?"
"Correct! Since the score is tied at 3-3, we're going to have to keep on playing to see who's taking home the 30,000 gold pieces. All right, we're now having a sudden death round. I'm going to ask you pairs of questions, and if one of you answers it right and the other wrong, then the one with the correct answer will walk away with the money. We'll continue asking pairs of questions until we have a winner! Let's play... sudden death!" Luna exclaimed.
By now, the people in the audience were sitting on the edge of their seats, and all eyes were glued to the television in the restaurant where the other Slayers were.
"Sylphiel, what were the two cities that were always arguing in Slayers Try?"
"Alto and Baritone."
"Filia, what was it that Valgaav said he wanted near the end of Try?"
"Purification."
"Correct. Sylphiel, how was Rezo killed?"
"The Sword of Light?"
"Incorrect. The answer was "the Giga Slave". Filia, who was Volpheed?"
"Um, a dark lord?"
"Incorrect. He was the god that battled Darkstar. Sylphiel, who were Kanzel and Mazenda?"
"Uh, insurance salesmen?"
Everyone fell over. Getting up, Luna said, "No... They were mozaku that tried to kill Lina under Gaav's orders."
"Oh..." Sylphiel muttered, embarassed.
"Filia, what was the original name of the Dragon Slave."
Filia frowned. "Um, Dragon Slayer!"
"Correct!" Luna exclaimed. "And Filia wins!"
And Sylphiel takes the Walk of Shame off the stage.
"I suppose Miss Filia deserves it," Sylphiel said thoughtfully. "It was fun being on the show, anyway.
And we're back on the set. "See you next time on... The Weakest Link!" exclaimed Luna.
The credits roll, and then the cameraman shuts off the camera. The audience begins to file out of the studio. "C'mon, Filia," Luna called. "Come back stage and I'll give you the 30,000 gold. Good thing the government isn't keeping any of it..." Luna started walking off.
"All right," Filia replied. "I'll be there in a sec." She paused in thought. She couldn't believe she had actually won! The things she could do with all this money. Val was going to have a good education! ... Suddenly, she sensed someone's presence... A familiar one.
Xellos stepped onto the stage, looking different somehow. He didn't have his usual smirk or uptight attitude. And he didn't make any wise remarks about dragons. He just walked over to Filia, and she couln't be sure, but for a moment he even looked... Sincere.
Filia looked up at Xellos, speechless as she was so surprised to have him suddenly being there.
"What is it, namagomi?" Filia whispered.
Xellos stepped closer and gave Filia a gentle embrace, to her immense surprise. "Good job, Fi-chan," he whispered back softly. And then he disappeared.
Filia blinked. And then she closed her eyes tightly as the whole studio began to move, everything inside shaking and rolling around.
As suddenly as it had happened, it stopped. When Filia opened her eyes again, she was in broad daylight, with Lina, Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadis, continuing to travel on their quest to defeat Chaotic Blue and Death Fog.
"What happened?" asked Filia, dazed.
"We're not sure, either," Lina replied. "One minute we were in the restaurant, and now we're out here again, right where we were before the stupid fanfiction took over. That author can manipulate us any way he wants to, you know? Did you get your 30,000 gold pieces or what?"
"You saw me?"
"Yup. On some thing called a.... a... Darn, now that the fanfiction is over, I don't remember what it's called anymore."
Filia sighed. "I didn't. It's just my luck that the fanfiction ended before Luna gave me the gold."
Lina paled. "PLEASE don't say that name."
"Oh, sorry," Filia apologized.
"We should be nearing an inn soon," Zelgadis spoke up. "We'll finally get some rest there."
"Yeah," agreed Amelia.
Filia was in thought. "Lina said that the author can manipulate us in any way he wants? I have to wonder... Did the fanfiction actually end before Xellos came? The show WAS over. Or perhaps it doesn't even matter. Oh well..." Filia smiled. "I can't believe it, but it actually felt nice when Xellos came... I guess being the strongest link has it's advantages..."
And from his place in a nearby tree, Xellos smiled too... and vanished.