Chapter One: Friends in Low Places

From this high up, the kingdom looked cleaner and more peaceful than it actually was. Of course, Sairune was not exactly unclean or lacking peace, but distance improves even perfection. Ameria sighed, allowing the thin cool silk of the morning air to slide into her. She could taste the slight saltiness that signaled the sea bordering her kingdom. She could taste the wind's that waved in from the mountains. Most of all, she could taste the adventure either one promised if she could just get to them. No, not just adventure, but freedom, something more precious to her than even the chance to fight for justice as she was meant to do.

One might wonder why a princess as pampered and beloved as Ameria might want to contemplate running away from her royal duties. After all, Ameria took duty very seriously, and loved her status as a princess, and her royal father. Yet her father had finally proposed one mission for her that she found she could not complete.

To no one in particular she complained. "Marry? How am I supposed to get married?! I barely know this Prince Sawpht and am certainly not in love with him ... " At one point, when she was younger, she might have secretly enjoyed the drama of the fact that she was now promised to marry a man she didn't even know. There was a certain romance to it—pledging her happiness for the good of the kingdom, suffering to find love in an arranged marriage to a Prince. She could see that.

She just didn't believe it. Her heart didn't thrill to it. Instead, she just kept feeling as if she had to escape. What other choice did she have? She couldn't possibly get married like this…not yet, at least not without knowing…her thoughts trailed off. Her mind wandered back five years, back to when she'd traveled with the slightly strange crew of the sorceress Lina Inverse. Those times felt like a dream now, and the best part of the dream had been him. " Zelgadis" She sighed the name, allowing the syllables to travel into the wind. Where was he wandering now? Had he found a cure for his chimeric condition—the curse that turned his skin into stone and rocks, his hair into needles, and made him afraid to join in normal human interactions? When the four had parted ways, Lina and Gourry to travel for treasure, Zelgadis had gone off on his own to hunt.

Ameria scanned the scenery as she thought about him. She had asked him to come here. She had kept thinking that one day, well, one day he would just show up, perhaps cured, perhaps not. She'd even told her father about him, and asked for his permission to marry Zelgadis when he came. Phillonel, her father, had been stunned, but had humored her request, as after all, she was his beloved baby daughter. And perhaps he had guessed what Ameria had not. Zelgadis was not going to come to ask for her hand, so Phillonel lost nothing by agreeing. Instead, Phillonel had just asked her to remember that she did have a duty to marry by the age of 20.

Five years faded away, but her memory of Zelgadis remained as clear as ever in her mind. So she had refused any suitors that had approached, and as fate would have it, that had been quite a few. After all, no matter what she was like as a person, there were still the greedy ambitious men who saw her only as the key to a kingdom.

Her father hadn't been concerned with her rejection of those men. Yet he hadn't liked her reasoning. Her father thought that now, perhaps her "youthful crush" (he would never dare call it silly) had faded and she would be ready to face her duty as a princess. She was nineteen now, after all. She could no longer continue to be in love with some cursed stranger, who obviously didn't care about her.

So her father recently started pushing her to make a choice, and when she'd refused so steadfastly to even dance with any of the princes of the neighboring kingdoms, her father had arranged this marriage.

Perhaps her father had the right of it. "Maybe he's forgotten all about me." She said, her lips turning into a slight pout. "So I should forget about him." That didn't seem an answer though. Even if she could get over Zelgadis, could she really just fall in love with this prince? She didn't feel as if she could. She wanted to choose her own husband. She wanted that chance to go out on a big adventure, and to just experience life as she had five years ago. Maybe if she did that, the memories of that adventure with Zelgadis would not overpower her daily existence so much. There would be other memories, fresher ones to inspire her in her daily existence.

She stood up, her fist into the clouds surrounding her. She'd stopped climbing the spires of the castle two years ago when she'd first begun to grow. Her new longer limbs had made climbing awkward (though they made her normal movements more graceful. Since she was so tall, she no longer felt the need to ascend to high places to make announcements. Half the time she was already taller than those around her.

A strong wind pushed against her, causing her to lose her balance. She resisted the urge to curse, and instead cast a gentle ray-wing allowing herself to float to the lower parapet of the castle. She hadn't used magic in so long, she thought. The feeling charged her. She knew what she needed to do.

She ran to her chamber, and dove under her bed. Frantically she began to search under the bed. Somewhere, here, no, further, there—She smiled as she slid back holding a rather tattered looking garment. Tenderly, she stroked the smooth white silk blended with wool. Faded pink trim lined the edges along with the remains of scorches and dust that even the most experienced servant had not been able to remove with hours of scrubbing.

"Perfect" She said as she slipped out of her gown and struggled into the pants and shirt. She hopped, wiggled and eventually ended up on the bed with her feet straight up into the air. "COME ON!!" She shouted. The pants slid up, close to her skin and tight, and not like the loose garments she'd remembered. They were also far too short, only coming to her knees. The top itself felt way too restricting. She frowned as she tugged it down. Rather than covering her knees, the top now came to her lower hips, and stopped. The cape, rather than swinging down to her calves also only reached her hips.

If she had time, she would tell the royal seamstress to sew her another sorceress costume. However, that would take a few days at the least, not to mention the time necessary to enchant the garment. If her newly formed plan would work, she couldn't do that. She needed to get moving right away. She'd just have to get used to this garment fitting this way, she decided. She tugged on a pair of long socks, and then knee high riding boots. Luckily, she found her magic bracelet. She strapped the star with the pink strap onto her wrist, and smiled. Her scheduled engagement meeting with Prince Sawpht was that afternoon—two hours.

She looked down at the puddle of blue silk her dress had formed. She had to admit, she did like the gown he'd sent. She bent and gathered the garment to her, and then folded it neatly into a bag along with the few other things in her room she thought she might need. Mostly, money, a map, and a few other assorted things.

On the bedside, she left a small note.

Leaving a heavy gold ornament on the piece of paper, she crawled to the window. With a dramatic twirl to survey the room, she climbed

Was this how Gracia had run off ten years ago? Surely her father could not fault Ameria for trying to find her long lost sister now. The cause seemed appropriate and noble. After all, how could she get married without her sister attending, or at least, without trying to have at least found her sister?

Who knew, maybe Gracia would agree to return to the castle, and then Ameria wouldn't need to get married…Gracia was older after all. Shouldn't she be the one to carry on the royal line? Ameria nodded satisfied with her own logic.

She dove into the air and fell into the sheer exhilaration of the spell sweeping her up into the air.

She was on her way.

The first night of sleeping under the stars alone passed by uneventfully, and Ameria woke to a beautiful rosy day still full of the growing happiness that starting a new adventure brings. She hoped it would bring some adventure for things had been decidedly boring so far. Not a bandit, or a thief or even a muddled headed lower-Mazokou to make things interesting. Lina once complained that Ameria attracted disaster, and Ameria now wondered if Lina had been telling the truth. So far everything seemed so quiet and peaceful that one would wonder where all the terrors had gone recently.

With somewhat less spring in her step than usual, she marched into the Forrest ignoring the song of the birds. Small animals scurried out of the way of her stomps, which became heavier with every mile she passed.

As she reached a clearing, her mood had definitely curdled. Perhaps adventuring was not the same thing she remembered. All this walking grew irritating when you were walking alone, so peacefully with nary a bad guy in sight. What happened to all the daring fights in the name of justice? Or at least, in the name of Lina's hunger? Surely some bad sorts were about that she could vanquish. She'd even settle for some good folks in need of help from her, however small. Something. Anything. Just so she didn't have to be alone by herself.

Just as this thought sprung into her headd, she saw a figure up ahead desperately struggling with his shoe. He leaned over a fall tree trunk, his hands locked around a boot that would not budge. As she walked closer, she observed more details of his plight. His boot, a nice rich red leather, seemed to be stuck inside a knot of the tree.

She didn't stop to wonder, as anyone more practical might, why this young man's boot had lodged itself inside the knot of the fallen tree.

She didn't care. Here was (finally) someone she could SAVE!! A chance to be the heroine, to do some GOOD, and not be cooped in the castle useless and listless. She smiled wide as she approached him.

"Do you need some help?" She inquired sweetly, striking a slight pose as she leaned one knee on top of the log.

"OH yes.." He grovelled, as his dewy eyes looked at her. He wasn't crying, but the look of anguish and frustration on his face hinted that he held back tears. Very calmly, he explained his situation. "I stopped to admire the view, and to my dismay my foot caught in this knot....and I've been stuck for some time...and I'm afraid I need to..." He blushed. "I had a lot of water before, so..."

Ameria blushed and nodded, her face a picture of polite understanding. "Oh, don't worry. I'll get you out!"

His smile beamed brighter than a flare bit as he gushed "Thank you! You are a savior, Miss...as kind as you are beautiful!"

Ameria's blush deepened, but a certain self-satisfaction grew stronger and she linked her arms around his waist and tugged. While ordinarily she may have been more reserved about such a familiar hold of another person, the situation called her to forget the normal rules of personal space.

She tugged, and he didn't seem to move. Muttering a spell under her breath, she flew back a little, dislodging his foot from the boot.

They ended up sprawled on the ground.

His endless green-eyes held hers for the longest heart-beat Ameria had experienced since she'd said goodbye to Zelgadis.

"You saved me." He breathed against her face, the words turning into a caress.

"It was nothing." She said blinking. The setting sun turned his red-gold hair intesnely coppery. A perfect romantic moment, she thought, her heart still racing from the exertion. "To you." he replied. "How can I repay you?" He said, his eyes lowering themselves to her lips.

His hands moved along her sides to her waist. "For you I would do anything."

She felt a sudden surge of panic, and certainty that the mood had suddenly grown uncomfortably seductive. With a quick twist she rolled away and stood up. "Oh, no reward is necessary, Good man." She said lightly and avoiding eye contact. "I was just doing what justice required...well, now that you're fine, I'll just be on my way."

"Farewell then fair maiden. Your memory will shine in my heart." The red-golden-haired stranger said in a now calm and melodic voice. He picked up his boot, and replaced his foot in it. "I dream we shall meet again." With a confident stride, all trace of the exasperated, pained man banished, he approached and took her hand in his. He lowered his lips and kissed her fingertips.

Ameria blushed, and found herself exiting so quickly she was almost running away. She wasn't sure why, but her stomach felt as if she'd eaten stones. As soon as she was reasonably far from the clearing she sunk to the ground, her back against a tree. Why had that man's kiss and flattery make her feel like screaming? He looked like a poet and not a pirate. She couldn't deny he was extremely good looking either, not with those luminous green eyes, the red-gold hair, and skin as smooth as her own. She was a princess after all, and not everyone could claim that. Besides, he didn't seem an unsavory sort either, but gentle and romantic. His appearance announced a poet and not a pirate, but somehow, his manner had unnerved her. She just wasn't used to being romanced, she thought thinking of the kiss.

She could still feel the touch of his arms around her, and his lips pressing against her fingers, with his hand holding her wrist. Wasn't that a bit too forward for such a simple rescue? That was what bothered her. Yet why did it bother her so much she felt almost sick? And not for what he did, but because, well, she'd enjoyed that, though it had surprised her.

Did she owe something to her memory of Zelgadis? Could she not appreciate a beautiful man appreciating her without thinking of that long held fantasy? While anything happening between her and the blonde man would have been ridiculous given their short acquaintance (Ameria toopractical to believe in acting on love at first sight), why had she felt as if she were betraying Zelgadis to even allow another to court her? In all the years, that had been her father's biggest complaint.

So what was the answer, Ameria thought. Out of long habit she began to twist her royal ring, but noticed she must not have worn it when setting out on her journey. She sighed. Another old habit she would have to give up, she thought, just like her feeling for Zelgadis. If she saw this new man again...well, who knew what she would do. Ameria vowed though, that she knew what she wouldn't do. She wouldn't run away quite that fast.

Ameria sprinted out of the Inn she'd chosen to stop at. Only luck saved her from being taken out by the frying pan the cook hurled at her retreating form. His apron showed the picture of a scowling, skinny short red-haired girl, over which a circle with a line through had been drawn.

"AND DON'T COME BACK..EVEN IF YOU HAVE GOLD NEXT TIME! " The pot banged into a wall with a spectacular crash. "YOU ARE JUST LIKE THE EVIL ONE!!!"

Ameria sighed. She never would have ordered so much if she'd even dreamed she'd lost her gold pouch of newly minted coins. How could this have happened? She wasn't really forgetful, despite her ability to be distracted easily. Without gold, how could she travel, or accomplish any of her tasks? And the worst part was, she hadn't even been allowed to eat dinner.

"HA...that's why you pay before you get food!" The cook laughed like a maniac "And if you order and can't pay in gold, I will make you pay another way!"

A knife lodged very close to her ear as she turned a corner.

Unlike Lina, Ameria did not feel she could survive off of robbing bandits. If she did conquer any bandits, Ameria knew she would take the coins back to those who had been robbed or give it to a local poor house.

She paused her thoughts, but continued to dodge the kitchen projectiles hurled after her. She was a good person. So eventually her luck would turn. It had to. That was a rule of life, wasn't it?

She looked up as the higher rise of a building blocked the moon light. "This sure is creepy." She muttered as she looked down a dark alley. She'd finally lost the kitchen maniac, and unfortunately, herself as well. Cats-eyes reflected back at her through the darkness, and she heard the distinct sound of saliva dripping as a rather huge set of cat-eyes trained on her.

She took a slow step back. She wanted to find dinner, not be dinner. So when was her luck going to turn? Trying to stay calm, she bolted to her left.

Up ahead she spied a saloon's weak light in the grimy corridors of the city.

Without any thought of whether she would be safe inside the "Dragon's Jack-Ass" (Complete with a sign shaped like a braying donkey perched on a dragon), she stumbled inside.

The room, luckily seemed completely empty. Except for one figure at the end--no, two, for the one standing held the other upside down. The tall, cloaked figure nonchalantly shook the other with strong purposeful movements.

"Unhand that man!" Ameria interfered. This was a bar in the suspect areas of town, she guessed, and surely this was a brawl in progress. Just the kind of thing a true mistress of Justice needed to stop. Even if she hadn't had dinner.

"Sure." The voice said dryly, as he lifted the man higher into the air and dropped him onto his head. The stone comprising the floor could not have felt that good coming into the man's head at that speed.

Yet the man's face turned toward Ameria with genuine relief.

"It stopped." He sighed in a voice so resonant it sounded like a song.

With a gasp, Ameria realized she recognized the victim. It was the man she'd met earlier in the woods. He didn't look quite so beautiful at the moment, his face rather bashed in, with drool dripping as ungracefully as a broken tap. "Help me." He gurgled around the blood.

Ameria pointed a finger at the man's assailant."How dare you beat people up like this? The bartender may forgive you, but I, and those of good manners, will not!"

She couldn't see the attacker's reaction. He'd stepped back into the shadows the minute she began her speech. Yet she could see his bare outline. His posture told her he found her speech both amusing and irrelevant.

"Villains like you--"

"Who is the villain? He attempted to steal from me." The attacker said quietly. "And succeeded with others."

Before Ameria could say anything, she saw a small sack tossed her way. She caught it, and with a gasp realized it was her bag of newly minted gold coins.

"This gold!" She said surprised. She frowned and looked down at where the "victim" lay slowly starting to become aware of his situation. "How did you get this!?"

"How do you think?." The stranger said, allowing the barest hint of emotion to reach into his voice. "Your "victim" here had it on him, but you can keep the gold. I have no need of it. I'm after other things."

"But ..." She pointed down. "I helped him earlier! He can't be a robber!"

The man shrugged. "Possibly he is worse. Look at that gold carefully."

Ameria frowned. "I don't understand."

"Perhaps this might help." He tossed her a bracelet. In the dim light she could barely make out the star pattern and the pink gold strap.

It looked surprisingly like her own bracelet. She looked at wrist to compare, but found hers was gone. She looked at the one she held. In the center were a pair of balanced scales, like the one she'd lost.

"It's inscribed with the royal pattern of Sairune!" She said surprised. One hand stole up to her ears. Her earrings appeared to be gone too.

"He may have kidnapped or robbed the princess of Sairune." The stranger said. "I was merely inquiring where she might be when you stopped me."

"Bounty?" She said horrified.

"He hasn't seen her though. Are you done wasting my time?"

"Yes...I mean no! What do you mean bounty?"

"The Prince of Sawpht placed one on her. When I realized this was her bracelet, I thought..." He trailed off. "I should not get distracted. I'm sure she'll be fine." He said this more to himself than to her for he looked down at the ground. "You can keep the bracelet."

"I am." She said indignantly, and a bit proudly. Even though he was barely an inch taller, she managed to look down her nose at him. "It belongs to me."

He looked up swiftly. "You're Ameria Will Tesla Sairune?" His voice indicated he did not believe her.

She nodded. "So, who are you?" She said haughtily.

Zelgadis stepped into the light, lowering his hood. "You know who I am." A faint smile vanished from his lips. "What are you doing here Ameria?" He asked with some concern.

"I should ask that of you!" She said excitedly. " I haven't seen you in so long! Zelgadis, I can't believe this! Its so wonderful."

She ran forward as if to hug him, but he held out one hand to stop her.

"Not really. There is a bounty on you, and I'm afraid those men behind you have come to collect." He said as calmly as he might have pointed out that she was letting the rain in rather than a few dangerously deranged bounty hunters. "I suggest you get down."

Chapter 2   |   Fanfiction