Hi there! Before we start, I would like to make it clear that I am an adamant Zel/Amelis, Lina/Gourry fan. If you don't like these couples, well bite me.
I'd like to thank my friends Tyler (my editor and internet access) and Matt (the supplier of my anime). Any constructive critisism would be apreciated.
Disclaimer: As every one of you know, I don't own the Slayers. SO STOP %*#&ING E-MAILING ME ABOUT NOT PUTTING A DISCLAIMER IN MY LAST FIC.
"Damn it all!" Zelgadis screamed, hurling a beaker against the wall. The liquid he had hoped would cure him oozed to the ground, forming a steaming pool below.
"Not again!" he lifted the stone lab table and hurled it into the wall, smashing it to dust.
"Master!" Jayble Westermoor, his apprentice, cried. "Please calm down!"
"Another failed attempt!" Zelgadis slammed his fist into the door, splintering it to pieces.
"We'll find it, master!" Jayble assured. "It will just take us some time. Please! You're destroying the lab!"
Zelgadis calmed slightly. He put down the chair he was prepared to hurl out a nearby window and turned to his apprentice. "I need it NOW!" he cried.
"I know, master! But we're not going to find it any faster if you destroy the lab. Please calm down." pleaded Jayble.
Zelgadis looked around the ruined lab, and sighed. "Fine. Now get some sleep, we're starting again in the morning."
The boy bowed curtly and left the remnants of their lab.
Zelgadis sighed as he slumped into his favorite chair. He'd been looking for his cure for over a year now. Jayble was the only other human he had had contact with since he left his friends so long ago.
He let his head slip into his hands, and began to gently sob.
"I don't think he's up, Lina." said Gourry, rubbing his eyes.
"Of coarse he's up. How many times have you known Zel to go to bed before midnight?" Lina barked back.
"But there aren't any lights on!" insisted Gourry.
"Oh, shut up and knock!" Lina snapped back.
Gourry rapped on the stone door of the little hut. The two waited outside for several minutes before the door slid open slowly. A young bow in a night cap poked his head out.
"Can...can I help you?" he inquiered, yawning.
"Yeah. Is Zel here?" Lina pushed in.
"You mean master Zelgadis? Yes, he lives here." said Jayble sleepily.
"Great! Where is he? We've got to talk to him. And who the hell are you?" Lina pried.
Jayble bowed deeply. "Jayble Westermoor, apprentice to Zelgadis Greyword, at your service. The master is in the lab right now, I'll go get him for you."
"Thanks, kid." said Gourry.
"Yeah, thanks." muttered Lina.
Zelgadis was awoken by Jayble's shaking.
"What is it, Jayble?" he asked.
"There are two people here to see you, master." he explained.
"Guests?" Zelgadis frowned. "No one has ever come up here before."
"Hey, Zel!!!" Lina called from the shattered doorway.
"How you doing, Zel?" Gourry asked from behind her.
Zelgadis stared at his two friends with wide eyes.
"What's up Zel?" Lina asked, "I'd would've thought you'd be glad to see us."
"I...I am. I just wasn't excepting you, that's all." Zelgadis stammered.
"Yeah, well, we're here. Nice place you've got." Lina commented.
"Thank you." Zelgadis replied.
"Now that we've gotten that straighted out can we talk to you, alone." Lina pointed her thumb at Jayble.
"Go to bed, Jayble." Zelgadis ordered.
Jayble bowed and left the lab.
Lina turned to Zelgadis. "We've got some bad news." she said gravely. When Zelgadis didn't reply she continued. "Amelia's pretty sick. Phil want's you to come back with us to Sairune."
"When?" Zelgadis tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the concern out of his voice.
"Tomorrow, if we could." Lina answered.
Zelgadis nodded gravely. "I'll have to bring Jayble with me."
"Yeah, whatever." said Lina. "But we've got to get back to Sairune as soon as possible."
Zelgadis woke Jayble early the next morning.
"Pack some food and clothing. We're going to be going to Sairune."
"Sairune!" Jayble was bristly with excitement.
"Yes, Jayble. Now hurry up, we have to get there very soon."
The four marched in complete silence. Even Jayble, bursting at the seams earlier, seemed to sense the need for quite. A day and a half later they spied the white walls of Sairune.
"Almost there." Lina commented to no one in particular.
"Master?" Jayble spoke for the first time that day.
"What is it, Jayble?" replied Zelgadis.
"Why are we coming here?" the boy asked. "Why did we leave so suddenly?"
Zelgadis stared at his apprentice for several moments as they walked. Finally he answered, "We have come to see an old friend of mine. She's gotten very sick."
"Oh," was all Jayble could say.
"Ms. Lina Inverse, Mr. Gourry Gabvriev, Mr. Zelgadis Greword, and Mr. Jayble Westermoor!" the guard announced from his post outside of the door.
"Show them in." Prince Phillionel called, his voice hoarse.
The door swung open, and in walked the four companions.
"We've brought him, Phil." Lina looked at Amelia's form, huddled on the bed. "Has she gotten any better?"
Prince Phil looked at her with red rimmed eyes, and shook his head no. It was all he could do not to burst into tears.
Phil walked up to the group and embraced them (all save Jayble, who he didn't know). "I'm glad you came, Mr. Zelgadis."
Zelgadis nodded slowly, walked past Phil, and knelt next to Amelia. Her face was flushed crimson and sweat poured from her brow. Her hair had thinned and dry. She looked to be no more than skin and bones.
"What happened to her?" Zelgadis asked.
"We don't know." answered Phil, "She complained of seeing spots about a week ago, and about being dizzy..." he trailed off.
"The healer was able to stabilize her, for now, but until they know what's happened to her there isn't much they can do. They're trying every..." Lina began
Zelgadis cut Lina short. "Come here, Jayble."
"Master?"
"What do you think happened here?"
Jayble looked down upon Amelia. He grabbed her wrist, placed his head upon her chest, and listened.
"What is he..." Lina began.
"Hush." Zelgadis silenced her.
After a few moments he brought his head up. "May I examine her, your majesty?"
Phil's face brightened, "Of coarse! Use whatever you need."
Jayble came out of the room about an hour later.
"I have found out what ails the princess." he said gravely.
"What is it?" bellowed Prince Phil. "Can it be cured? I'll pay any price."
"The princess has been struck down by a magical curse. I am experienced in the art of healing so I was able to find out the problem. Luckily I am familiar with this type of curse, and it can be cured."
"How?" Phil leaped upon the boy and lifted him off his feet. "How can I heal my daughter?"
Jayble looked terrified, "Please, sire, put me down!"
Prince Phil put him down. Jayble ran behind Zelgadis.
"How can we heal Amelia, Jayble?" Lina asked gently.
"Ms. Amelia is under the effects of a certain mind altering curse. It puts the victim to a dream like state where the person who levied the curse can reek havoc. A kind of perpetual nightmare. If I have the right ingredients I can make a potion that will allow one person to enter her mind and, hopefully, defeat whatever nightmare she's having."
"Let's get to it then!" Prince Phil bellowed. "What do you need?"
"I'll need to take a look at your healing supplies, first."
"Well, Jayble, do they have the supplies?" Zelgadis asked.
Jayble shook his head sadly. "I still need four otter ingredients."
"Do you know where we can get them?" Prince Phil pressed.
"Yes. But they're generally very hard to get to." he answered.
"It doesn't matter." returned Phil. He turned to Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis. "Go get my fastest horses, split up, and find the ingredients."
"But there's only three of us!" Gourry objected.
"Hmmmm." Phil cupped his chin with his hand (Gourry style).
"Can I go, too, master?" Jayble pleaded. "I know where the ingredients are, and I would make four."
Zelgadis stood silently for several minutes. Finally, "I suppose. But be careful."
After being briefed on the location of their designated ingredients the companions met at the gate.
"Well, guys, I guess I'll see you in a couple of days." said Lina.
"Yeah. Try not to blow up to many town while your gone, Lina." Gourry clapped her on the back.
Jayble leaned over to Zelgadis, "Do they always act like that, master?"
"Yes." he answered as he leapt upon his horse.
No one noticed a pair of crimson eyes staring at them from the shadows.