A slightly middle-aged woman, named Mona, is idly chatting with one of the girls she works with. She keeps a well-trained eye on the kids in her care, as they frolicked about. Today was a special day; they were going to put on a little play!
Pretty soon the hour Mona dreaded most, but expected and suffered through if she wanted to have a roof over her head and food on her plate, arrived. As usual... the gods were in one of their moods.
A young girl with long black hair bounces into the room. In her arms is a happily smiling baby girl; they approach the sitter.
"Hello Mom!" The brunette cries.
"Please don't call me mom, and for the love of all things Naga, DON'T LAUGH!" the poor woman replies, as Naga hands over the baby.
"Ah, okay. Well here's Amelia. I've gotta run. Bye-bye sissy! Have fun!" Naga waves and hurries off.
Mona groans quietly, 'PLEASE let this be a good day'; she begged and put the baby down in time to meet the next arrivals.
"Hello Mrs. Metallium. And hello to you too little Xellos."
"Hi Mom!" Xellos pipes, "Where's Lina-chan? He rushed, in his usual manner, and glances around. Mona silently wondered when Xellos would discover that he ALWAYS came to pre-school ahead of the vivacious red head.
"Hello Mrs. Gabriev! Hello Mr. Rada. Hello Gourry! Hello Sylphiel."
"Hi MoM!" Gourry walks over with a big smile and hugs Mona before walking off with Sylphiel.
"Ah, H.. hello Ms. Inverse."
"Hi Mom." The purple haired waitress answers. "Lina behave.. or else". She commands the spunky young red head, which gulps and slinks off after her friends.
Mona sweatdropped. "Ah Hello Mr. Garv! Hello Val!" she greeted the next arrivals.
"Oh No Val's here." a familiar girl's voice groaned out across the room.
Val snorted and stomped after the girl, devious plots of revenge brewing in his tender young mind.
Mona sighed in despair, then a tinkling sound was heard at the door. She opens it to meet Rezo red priest and his charge Zelgadis.
"Why hello Mr. Rezo. Welcome again Zelgadis."
"Hi Mom." Zel said softly before moving off to be by Lina.
"Well that's everyone." Mona sighed, "Ok kids! we have a special treat planned today!"
"What is it?!" Lina yells as she hurries from across the room.
"NOTHING SISSY!" Val whines and follows.
"I wanna do something with Lina-chan!" Xellos complains and sits at her feet.
"I'm sure it'll be fun." Sylphiel whispers from her spot.
"FOOD!" Gourry smiles blankly hugging his blanket.
Zel decides to keep quiet and give Mona a break.
"We're going to do a little school play!" Mona tells them.
Mona brings out a worn top hat, inside are several little cards. "These cards say what part you will play. that way it'll be fair! The play we will do is about an evil wizard, two heroes and a far off kingdom."
The children ooh and awe with excitement, and each eagerly grabs a card from the hat.
Xellos grabs first and he gets..
"I'm the evil wizard! Cool!"
Val grabs second and he gets..
"I'm the hero that slays the wizard! Awesome!!"
Sylphiel grabs next and she gets..
"I'm the charming queen!"
Gourry grabs after her and he gets..
"I'm a king?"
Zelgadis grabs one and he gets..
"I'm the other hero that helps kill Xellos."
And finally Lina grabs a card and she gets..
"THE STUPID PRINCESS!!! No Fair!"
"Well that leaves Amelia to be the young prince Xellos kidnaps!" Mona smiled, and sets all the young children into fits of giggles.
Mona hands out their little scripts and goes to tend to their costumes. Every now and then she stops to race across the room shouting "BABY AMELIA!! NOO!!" and making sure said child is safe on the ground once more goes back to work.
The children read over their scripts.
"Heh heh! I get to kill Fruit Cup! this rocks!" Val cackled as he eagerly browsed through the ending scene.
"Hmm says here I help you and then..." Zel paused and blushes furiously. Lina gasps and Xellos begins to rage.
"WHYWHYWHY!! Why does Lina marry Zel at the end!! She's MY Lina-chan!!" He growled as Lina bopped him on his head.
"Am Not!"
"Are Too!!"
"NOT!!"
"TOO!!"
"NOT!!"
"TOO!!"
"NOT!!"
"TOO!!"
"NOT!!"
"TOO!!"
A few hours of their adolescent arguing later Mona stood up to face the inevitable. "Ok kids! Lunch Time!"
All the kids raced as fast as their hungry little legs could carry them shouting "FOOD FOOOOOD!!!".
All hell broke loose, as it does everyday. The children tore through their meals like little cannibals. Val throwing his crumpled up paper bag at Lina, who retaliated by tossing her plastic spoon, and missing, started a small food fight. It soared into Sylphiel's pudding with a splat, and with cream on her face she began to fuss and cry. Gourry wiped it off and Sylphiel calmed down. Zel shared his gingerbread with Lina and gained a hug in return. She in turn decided to do the noble thing a decided marrying Zel wasn't such a bad thing after all. Xellos pouted and stewed for the rest of the lunch hour.
At last it was time to put on the play, and Mona handed out the costumes, and finished putting up the set.
"OK Kids! Time to perform!"
The children groaned and marched to their places.
Mona walked to her place, beside the stage and began. "Once upon a time there was a beautiful castle. In this castle lived a happy king with his happy queen."
Sylphiel and Gourry appeared and sat on the two little chairs on stage. Gourry began to snore and Sylphiel blushed.
"The happy couple had two lovely children. A Young baby prince! And a lovely little princess!"
Lina stomped onto the stage in a frilly princess dress, carrying baby Amelia.
"Then one day a terrible evil came!!"
Xellos phased onto the stage and laughed evilly.
"I am the evil wizard MINT! I have come to kidnap your son prince Tofu!" Xellos laughed. "And there's nothing you can do to stop me King Apple and Queen Cherry! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha haa!" and Xellos took the baby from Lina's arms and poofed away.
"Oh NO! My Baby!!" Sylphiel bawled, startling Gourry into wakefulness.
"Huh What?" Gourry blinked.
Lina steamed and bopped him on his head. "What ever shall we do DAD!"
"Oh umm Send for a hero!" Gourry said looking for Mona for help. She handed him his book and he began to read. "Ahm We need someone brave to find evil Mint the wizard and someone strong to defeat evil Mint the wizard!"
"When all seemed lost!" Mona continued, "two gallant heroes arrived on the scene."
Val and Zel enter dressed in hero costumes and shuffle onto the stage.
"I am the Strong hero Tapioca!" Val shouted. "And this is my Brave brother Pudding!"
Zel stared hard at his feet.
"We can slay the evil Mint guy!" Val finished.
"And so the happy kingdom sent the two heroes on their mission to the evil Pepper Tower." Mona said and everyone left the stage, changing the background picture.
"It took them three long days and three long nights to reach Pepper Tower. Once there they began their plans of attack. the two heroes marched through the gates and up the many stair until they reached the evil wizard Mint's throne room."
Zel, Val, and Xellos, carrying baby Amelia, hurried onto the stage.
"BWA ha ha ha ha ha ha haa! I am the evil wizard MINT! Who dare try to defeat me!" Xellos cackled.
"I am the strong hero TAPIOCA!!" Val shouted waving his sword.
"And I'm his brave brother Pudding." Zel added copying.
"And together we shall right wrongs and triumph over evil like you!" they finished together, much to the delight of the audience.
Val and Xellos entered into a mock battle while Zel retrieved baby Amelia. After about five minutes Val landed the killing blow, and after five more minutes, Xellos finished dying.
"stage hog." Val muttered.
Mona sweatdropped and kept going. "and so with the defeat of the evil wizard Mint, Pepper Tower crumbled and the two hero's returned to the happy fruit kingdom.
Everyone rushed to change the background and get into his or her places.
"Oh brave heroes you've rescued my son, Prince Tofu!" Gourry read from his book.
Sylphiel took the wiggling Amelia from the grateful Zel and sat back down. Lina fidgeted with her dress and Val fiddled with his fake sword.
"For your heroic deeds I give one of you my daughter, Princess Strawberry's hand in marriage." Gourry said.
"I shall give you my brave brother's hand! For I am a strong hero and I have many more evil wizards and stuff to kill." Val said as Zel shuffled forth.
"I am most delighted to marry your lovely daughter King Apple." Zel blushed and took Lina's hand in his.
"Then with the kingdom's blessing Strawberry and Pudding became husband and wife, Princess and Prince, and lived happily ever after!" Mona smiled. "The End!"
The actors bowed as their peers applauded.
Soon it was time to go home and two little children stood off in the corner.
"umm Zel?" Lina began, unsure.
"Ye.. yeah Lina." Zel stuttered.
"uhmmm..." Lina paused, "So I guess we're married now huh."
"Uh huh." Zel answered. "Is it.. ok with you?"
"Yeah, beats being married to Xellos!" Lina smirked.
"Okay!" Zel smiled, relieved.
"Lina! Zel! Your families are here!" Moan called from the doorway.
"See ya tomorrow Zel!" Lina smiled kissing the blushing boy.
"OK Lina!" Zel smiled, giving her a small peck in return. Still smiling Zel waved goodbye to Lina, who did the same.
"What's that all about?" their families asked.
"Oh we got married today!" they replied as both red priest and waitress face faulted into the tiles.
"Bye kids!" Mona said red faced!
"BYE MOM!" They answered. Mona sweatdropped. "Why do they call me that!" sigh