'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land
Not a Slayer was stirring ... And ... And ...
"Shut that door! It's freezing outside!"
"Well, excuse us!" the tall, red-haired man said as he ducked to get under the door lintel. Following him was what looked like a boy of about ten or eleven years old dressed all in blue. The tall man stamped his feet, knocking off enough snow to hide the rough mat that had been placed in front of the door. The two of them glared around the interior of the little inn and at the people gathered there.
"GAAV!!" several voices shouted at once. "HELLMASTER!" Hands went for weapons that weren't there and at least one voice began reciting a fireball spell.
"Hold it, hold it right there!" a voice shouted from the kitchen. Prince Philionel of Seyruun stormed in from the kitchen in full form, shoving aside guests right and left as he approached the door. "These people are my guests!" he said as he reached for Gaav's hand and shook it vigorously. Gaav stared nonplussed at the Crown Prince of Seyruun then gave Hellmaster a look that spoke volumes of what he thought of Philionel's sanity. Hellmaster just giggled.
"Phil!" Lina shouted, storming forward, with Gourry and Zelgadis behind her to provide backup if she needed it. Their hands went for weapons that weren't at their hips; Phil had insisted that they leave their weapons in the umbrella stand near the door. They settled for looking as menacing as possible. "Do you know who these people are?" Lina demanded.
"Why, of course I do!" Phil pulled Gaav into the room. "This is Gaav and Phibrizzo, the Demon Dragon King and Hellmaster."
"Then what are they doing here?" she demanded. Just then the door opened and a figure entered in a swirl of red silk. The door slammed closed, shutting out the wind, and the red robes settled. The new arrival pushed back his hood and everyone gasped.
"Rezo!"
"Welcome, Rezo the Red Priest," Philionel bellowed, causing Rezo's hair to be blown backward. Rezo retreated a step against the shockwave.
"What the hell is going on?!" Zelgadis shouted, shoving his way past Lina to confront Philionel. Gaav and Phibrizzo, seemingly forgotten for the moment, exchanged curious looks and shrugged. They wandered over to the buffet that had been set up to one side of the inn's common room.
Phil looked from Zelgadis to Lina and back, unperturbed by their furious demands. Taking a deep breath, he launched into his explanation.
"Lina, Zelgadis, I understand that you may have had some ... misunderstandings with these people in the past, but this is the time of year when people put aside their differences! We should reach out to others and try to get along!"
Everyone in the room, from Lina to Hellmaster, sweatdropped. Blissfully unaware of the effect his words were having on the people around him, Phil continued.
"The reason I have invited you all here today is to prove to you that Peace and Justice will prevail -- if you just give it a chance!! And you will give it a chance or you'll feel my Pacifist -- "
There was a screech from the kitchen. Everyone turned to see black smoke pouring out of the door to the kitchen. Coughing and fanning the smoke away from him, Xellos appeared. "Amelia-san! Your cookies are burning! Help!"
Amelia, who had followed her father in from the kitchen when the two Dark Lords had arrived, put her clenched hands to her face and gasped. "My cookies!" She ran back into the kitchen with her father close on her heels.
"I'll help you, Amelia!" Phil shouted as they plowed through the two Dark Lords, shoving them aside carelessly.
Lina stared after the two of them and shook her head helplessly. "Can someone give them clues for Christmas? You don't invite Dark Lords to -- " Suddenly realizing that both Gaav and Phibrizzo were staring at her, she broke off. "Heh heh heh ... " she laughed nervously, gave them a little wave, then grabbed Gourry by the hair and dragged him off to the buffet table. "That stupid Philionel," she muttered under her breath as she picked up a bowl of cheese puffs and commenced to munching on them.
At the door, Rezo turned to Zelgadis, who was staring daggers at him. "Merry Christmas, Zelgadis," he said cheerfully as he brushed past the young Chimera, dumping a box wrapped in shiny red paper on a table near the door on which were already piled several other gifts. "Is that food I smell?" he said to no one in particular as he made his way unerringly towards the buffet. Swirls of mist appeared around the bottom of his robes as he walked. Zelgadis huffed over to join Lina and Gourry in their corner while Hellmaster and Gaav retreated to a table as far away from the others as possible.
"Victory!" a voice shouted from the kitchen doorway. Amelia appeared, blackened with soot, Phil-just as blackened-behind her and each holding a plate of cookies. They marched proudly over to the buffet and set their plates down. "Cookies, everyone!"
Lina picked one up and tried to find cookie under the charcoal. Failing, she placed it back on the tray. "Uh, later, Amelia, after we've eaten ... " She gave Amelia a weak smile and cleared her throat. "Amelia?"
"Yes, Lina-san?"
"I know Xellos is in the kitchen with you and your father and Sylphiel is somewhere about gathering up decorations ... And now we've got Hellmaster, Gaav and Rezo here. Are there any more surprises on the guest list that you haven't told us about?"
"Surprises, Lina-san?" Amelia looked innocent. "What are you talking about?"
Lina ground her teeth and tried to control herself. "Never mind. I guess we'll find out when they arrive." She went back to her cheese puffs. "As long as you didn't invite L-sama as well."
Philionel beamed. "But we did!" Lina choked on a cheese puff and Gourry had to slap her hard between the shoulder blades several times to dislodge it.
"You invited the Lord of Nightmares?" Lina gasped.
"But she said she couldn't come and sent her regrets," Amelia added. She gave Lina a happy smile and hurried back into the kitchen, her hulking figure of a father in tow. Thick, uncomfortable silence fell over the room, broken only by the sounds of Gourry munching and the muffled sound of tuneless singing from the kitchen. The air sparked with tension as the two camps exchanged suspicious glances. Rezo sat at an out of the way table and sipped at his coffee, grinning as he enjoyed the show.
The silent battle of wills was interrupted as the door opened and let in the winter cold again. All eyes were fixed on the happily chatting group that entered and eventually separated into identifiable individuals.
"Lina!" a strident voice belonging to a green haired woman called. "Hello! Be right there!"
"Oh, just great ... " Lina groaned as Martina bounded over to the buffet.
"Gourry! Zelgadis! So nice to see you again!"
Lina nodded and muttered something unintelligible. She heard a soft snigger and looked up to find Rezo obviously enjoying himself. The sniggering stopped abruptly as another voice separated from the general ruckus.
"Well, Zangulus, some super-glue and the Howling Sword should be good as new. By the way, just how did you manage to break it anyway? I worked for hours on that sword. It was supposed to be unbreakable." A tall man wearing a white robe and red cloak followed Zangulus towards the buffet.
"You didn't count on it having to stand up to the Sword of Light, Kopii." Zangulus directed a glance over to Gourry, who just waved cheerily.
"Details, details." He waved it off with a lofty gesture and looked around the room. "Hello, everyone," he called. Spotting the tall man in red sitting alone, his grin widened. "Ah, Rezo. So glad you're here. We have so much to talk about ... " He headed over to Rezo's table just as the suddenly unamused Red Priest dropped his coffee cup.
"What a nice man," Filia ul Copt said, pulling out a chair and joining the others at the table. She blinked as everyone just stared at her. "Was it something I said?" She held the fur-lined basket in which Valgaav's egg was nestled protectively.
"No, no, no," Lina said, putting her forehead in her hand. "This is going to be a long night ... "
The appetizers and the several dozen bottles of excellent wine (brought from Philionel's private stock) went a long way towards relieving the tension in the room. The guests, while not exactly ready to break into song about how lovely the universe really was, were at least behaving themselves and chatting quietly among themselves. There were still several that were eyeing each other warily, but no open hostilities had been declared.
Rezo had left his table to refill his coffee cup at the buffet when there was a tug at his robes. "Rezo-sama!" He turned at the sound of Amelia's voice.
"Yes?" he started to say when he was suddenly pulled down by a tight grip on the front of his robes. He flailed his arms to keep his balance, but that was forgotten when she planted a kiss on his cheek. "What?!" he gasped as he straightened. His face felt quite hot.
"You're standing underneath the mistletoe," she chirped happily.
"Oh," he said, placing a hand over his racing heart. "Mistletoe. Right." Just when he'd collected himself, he felt hard hands on him, shoving him aside with demonic strength.
Rezo finally seemed to gather his wits about him. Taking a deep breath, he asked of no one in particular, "What just happened?"
"I think she likes you," a familiar voice said near his shoulder. He jumped as Kopii nudged him in the ribs with his elbow. "You sly old dog ... "
The Red Priest stiffened and frowned. "Don't be ridiculous," he muttered and stalked off trying to avoid Kopii.
"Oi, Amelia!" Zelgadis snapped. "Just what do you think you're doing?!"
"It's a Seyruun tradition to kiss whoever is standing underneath the mistletoe!" she said.
"Then it's a stupid tradition! That was Rezo you just kissed! The man who tried to resurrect a Dark Lord! I thought he was the blind one-not you!" He found himself feeling more than just angry at her actions, something he wasn't used to feeling.
"But it's Christmas, Zelgadis-san!" She looked pointedly upwards. Zelgadis followed her gaze and found that he'd brought himself underneath the little sprig tied with a red ribbon to the crossbeam above. Before he could move, Amelia threw her arms around his neck and gave him a big kiss on his cheek.
"Amelia!" he gasped, pushing her away. She just winked at him and skipped away towards the table. He huffed and found Kopii standing behind him.
"I think she likes you better." Zelgadis backed away a step as the man grinned dementedly. "I could get used to this Christmas thing. It's fun, isn't it?" He gave Zelgadis a little wave and strolled off in Rezo's wake.
Philionel burst into the room carrying a platter on which a whole beast swimming in delicious looking juices rested. "Dinner!" he shouted at the group as he headed for the long table that had been set up in front of the fireplace. The draw proved too great for some of the group to resist, so they hurried to the table to get the best seats.
"Get out of my way, Gourry!" Lina shrieked and wrestled the chair immediately to Phil's left out of Gourry's grasp. The swordsman shrugged and simply took the one next to her without comment, although he was eyeing the roast beast and wondering how much of it would get past Lina.
Behind them Martina glared at Lina and huffed. Grabbing Zangulus' arm, she stalked to the far end of the table and claimed it for herself, shoving Zangulus into the seat at her right.
Still fuming at Amelia for her little display of public affection earlier, Zelgadis took the seat next to Gourry.
He almost jumped out of his chair as the one next to him scrapped loudly on the floor. He looked up as Rezo sat, looking as if he were desperately trying to avoid someone. "Why do you have to sit here?" Zelgadis demanded, ready to get up and go sit next to Amelia so he wouldn't have to sit next to Rezo.
"Because I don't want to sit next to him." Rezo gestured across the table to Kopii, who was grinning mildly. He pulled out the chair across from Rezo and sat.
"And why do you have to sit right there?" Zelgadis demanded of Kopii. He looked up and down the row; it was empty save for Amelia seated next to her father.
"Oh, because it'll be so much fun to torment the two of you."
Rezo cringed. Zelgadis made a disgusted noise and moved to get up but Rezo put a hand on his arm. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To sit next to Amelia."
"Oh, no. You're not leaving me here with him." Rezo's grip on his arm tightened.
Zelgadis looked heavenward and shook his head. "Why me?" he asked the universe in general, not expecting an answer and almost glad that he didn't receive one.
For some reason, Filia had decided that Kopii was an extremely nice person and had latched onto him before dinner. She set the Egg on the table and sat next to Kopii and drew him into a conversation. Rezo sighed in relief and relaxed.
"Filia-san?" Filia looked up as a familiar voice said her name. Glaring, she fixed him with a cold glare.
"What do you want?" she asked in a frosty voice.
Unfazed, Xellos indicated the seat next to her. "Is this seat taken?"
"Yes, it is," she said, looking at the Egg. Xellos just grinned and picked up the basket. Filia snatched it away from him.
"You have such a lovely sense of humor, Filia-san," he said smoothly. She gave him another glare before pointedly turning her back on him to chat with Kopii. Shrugging, Xellos turned to Martina. "Ah, Martina-san. And how have you been? Married life agreeing with you?"
Martina looked confused; she wasn't sure if she should still be angry at Xellos for toying with her poor innocent heart. However, he had helped them-not to mention he was very cute-so she decided to give him a smile and a nod. Next to her, Zangulus reached for his sword only to remember that their weapons were in the umbrella stand by the door. Grabbing up his knife, he brandished it at Xellos. "Don't talk to my wife, Mazoku," he snarled.
Leaning back and looking distinctly hurt, Xellos spread his hands. "Fine, fine. I won't." He looked around and sighed. So no one wanted to talk to him, eh? He picked up his knife and clicked it against the Egg. "How about you? Do you feel like talking?" Filia turned and glared daggers at him and he put down his knife, rested his chin in his hand and sighed again. Loudly. Finally, he simply watched Lina.
Phibrizzo and Gaav looked at one another and shrugged. Why fight it? They walked around the table towards the two seats empty next to Amelia. As Gaav passed Xellos, he paused and looked at the Egg. "You are such a disappointment to me, you realize that?"
The egg pulsed brightly twice. Gaav chuckled an evil chuckle and continued on to his seat. Filia looked up angrily as Xellos leaned close. "'Bite me' is not exactly the wisest thing to say to someone when you're an egg, Valgaav-san." Filia went pale, stared at the Egg and once again moved it a little further away from Xellos.
Coming out of the kitchen baring a platter of roasted vegetables, Sylphiel looked around the table. She went pale when she realized the only place left to sit was next to Rezo. She didn't have anything against the Red Priest himself-in fact, she'd revered his name until the business with Kopii-but the fact that he looked just like Kopii! The Destroyer of Sairaag! The man who'd killed her father, family and friends! No one looked about to give her their chair, not even Gourry-sama, who was just fighting Lina for more meat. Sighing nervously, she pulled out the chair and slipped quietly into it and moved it closer to Zangulus while trying to ignore both Rezo and Kopii across the table. Kopii happened to catch her eye and waved with a grin; she gulped and turned to Zangulus and Martina in desperation.
"More roast beast, anyone?" Phil shouted from the head of the long table. Everyone braced themselves against the blast. He passed the platter down the table to those who wanted more, however those past Lina and Gourry found themselves getting an empty platter.
"So, what have you been up to lately, Grandson?" Rezo said, seeming to delight in Zelgadis' discomfort. Zelgadis just ignored him and for the thousandth time wished he could have managed to sit anywhere except by Rezo. The man had pestered him with small talk all throughout the meal to the point where he had contemplated turning his eating utensils into deadly weapons. The only thing that mitigated his discomfort was Rezo's obvious displeasure at having Kopii across the table from him doing the same thing to him.
"So, Rezo, what was it like when Shabranigdu was reborn?" Kopii asked again. He seemed to be fixated on this subject, which Rezo completely refused to answer. Rezo frowned and turned back to the rest of his meal while Kopii just chuckled evilly to himself.
Philionel pushed back his chair and stood up, leaning on the table. "Now, isn't this wonderful?!" he roared. "This is what Christmas is all about! Getting together with family and friends," he gestured at Amelia, Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis in turn. "And making new friends!" This time his gesture included the rest of them.
The sheer force of Phil's exuberant speech set everyone's hair to blowing in the wind again. Kopii pushed Gaav's long red hair out of his face and spat out a few strands. "You really need to get a hair cut, you know that?" he said to Gaav.
"Mind your own business," was Gaav's response.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with long hair," Gourry sympathized.
"I think Kopii has a point," Zelgadis muttered as he tried to work Gourry's hair out of his own wiry hair. Gourry grimaced as Zelgadis pulled on it quite UNsympathetically a few times.
"Although, split ends can be a problem," Gourry commented, holding up what was left of his hair after Zelgadis managed to get it free.
"Oh, I don't have that problem," Gaav said. "I know this great stuff to wash it with that leaves my hair soft and silky without split ends."
Silence. Gaav glared back at them. "I may be a Dark Lord but I care about personal hygiene, too."
Gourry leaned forward. "What is it? I'd like to get some -- Oof!" He was cut off as Lina nudged him sharply in the ribs with her elbow. "What?"
Pulling him down, Lina hissed in his ear. "Do you realize that you're exchanging hair care tips with Gaav? Mister Ultimate Bad News himself?"
Gourry blinked at her and looked blank. "Yeah? So?"
Lina covered her eyes and waved him away. "All right, fine, whatever. Do what you like ... " He turned back and Lina vaguely heard Gaav tell him where he got the stuff he used on his hair. Did the Demon Dragon King really wash his hair with Kute Kira's Herbal Essence Hair Moisturizer and Conditioner, now with Rose Water? She got the most bizarre image of Gaav washing his hair and smelling like roses and buried her face in her hands. That was NOT an image she'd wanted to see ...
"Filia-san," she heard Xellos say to the Golden Dragon. "You may not want to keep your Egg on the table."
Filia picked up the basket. "Why not?" she demanded.
"Because Lina has almost grabbed it twice. Wouldn't want Valgaav to end up on the wrong end of Lina's fork, now would you?"
Filia gasped and set the basket in her lap. "You may be right -- but this is the only time," she said testily. With a deliberate gesture, she turned her back on Xellos and laid a hand on Kopii's arm, she asked innocently, "So tell me, how do you know Lina-san and her friends?"
Kopii got a strange look on his face and looked at Lina -- who was still trying to ignore Gourry and Gaav. "Well, that's a long story. Would you like to hear it?"
Sylphiel choked on her wine and Rezo turned to smack her soundly on the back. "You should really be more careful, young lady," he said, holding up a finger and shaking it back and forth. Down the table, Amelia choked on her wine. Phil gave her a strange look. She recovered and gave him a smile while Philionel snagged the wine jug out of Phibrizzo's reach yet again.
"Why can't I have some wine?" Phibrizzo demanded for the umpteenth time.
"Because you, young man, are underage and are not allowed to drink alcohol!" Phil said sternly at the Dark Lord. Lina cringed and tried to hide. Hellmaster, however, simply went back to sulking and picking at his food.
Finally having gotten most of the yellow hair out of his own, Zelgadis had been enjoying the temporary peace and quiet as Kopii tormented Rezo. Now with Kopii's attention distracted by Filia, and Rezo having finished dispensing sage advice to Sylphiel, the Red Priest turned back to Zelgadis. "I see you still have that little problem," Rezo commented.
"What little problem?" Zelgadis demanded.
"Being a Chimera."
Zelgadis clutched his knife until the handle cracked. Just one stroke and it'd be all over ... But that would spoil the party. So what? He sat in sullen silence as he imagined Rezo suffering in many humiliating ways.
As they finished up their meals, the guests got up from the table and drifted into small groups while the table was being cleared. The tension levels, which had dropped during the meal, were on the rise again as territorial lines were drawn and non-verbal challenges issued to others to cross those lines.
Amelia looked around desperately. "Lina-san, what should I do?" She, Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis were still at the table waiting for Lina to clear off the platters before they could be cleared away.
"Do about what?" Lina demanded around a mouthful of roast beast.
"Everyone is getting jumpy again! I have to do something!"
"Why do you have to do anything?" Zelgadis asked. "Let them kill each other then they're not our problems any more." He leaned back and crossed one leg over the other and stared at Rezo out of the corner of his eye. The Red Priest was being harassed by Kopii again. He grinned slyly at his grandfather's discomfort.
"Zelgadis-san! How can you say something like that!" Amelia was about to launch into one of her speeches but a sudden revelation stopped her. "I know!" She hopped out of her chair and headed off into another room of the inn.
Lina watched her warily. "I've got a bad feeling about this ... "
Amelia reappeared with an armful of books. She set the books on a table and began pulling everyone into a rough circle. "We're going to sing some Christmas carols, everyone!" She started handing out books.
"Amelia!" Phil shouted. "What a wonderful idea!"
Hellmaster and Gaav paled and backed away. "Uh ... We think we'll just sit over here." They retreated to a corner table.
Zelgadis and Rezo also retreated to distant corners, both muttering "Ridiculous," under their breath. They looked at one another in surprise, shrugged, and took their seats.
"Ooo! How delightful!" Xellos and Filia both said at once. Filia gave Xellos a strange look and took a step away from him. Xellos shrugged, took the book of carols and opened it while Martina dragged Zangulus into the circle and took a book for each of them.
"Gourry-sama!" Sylphiel grabbed his arm and pulled him out of his chair and into the circle. He smiled down at her as she linked her arm with his. "Isn't this nice?" she asked, beaming sappily up at him.
"Yup! Oi, Lina! You going to join in?"
"Are you kidding?" She snatched a platter that a waiter was trying to remove from the table. "Stop that! I'm still eating!" She waved a turkey drumstick at him. "Knock yerself out." Gourry shrugged and took a book from Amelia.
"Christmas carols? This is wonderful!" Kopii leafed through the book. Giving Rezo a significant glance, he said loudly, "No one ever told me about Christmas before." Rezo ignored him. Loudly.
"All right, everyone here?" Amelia looked around her little group. She flipped through her book and settled on one. "How about 'Twas the Night Before the Battle Between Ceifeid and Shabranigdu?" Everyone agreed and Amelia hummed and began conducting the song.
In his corner, Rezo flinched as Phil belted out the lines of the song in his deep, bass voice. He had to give the Prince points for enthusiasm, but he lost more on form. His actual singing wasn't abysmal, it wasn't hideous, but it wasn't good, either. He could barely hear the three women, who had voices like angels. However, even they couldn't make up for Gourry's complete incompetence when it came to singing. The swordsman sang one beat behind everyone else and only managed to get every fourth or fifth word right. Xellos had a good voice, but his singing left much to be desired. If only he could hit the proper notes on the first try ... The Xoana Princess and her husband, not good, not bad either.
The Red Priest leaned his head in his hands when he realized who the last voice in the chorus was. Is this what his copy had been reduced to? Singing Christmas carols? Where had he gone wrong? Rezo sobbed quietly to himself in embarrassment.
The singers had only gotten through the first verse of twelve when a well-gnawed hambone came flying through the air and hit Gourry in the head. "Cut it out!" Lina screamed at them. "You sound horrible! We're in pain over here!" Gourry looked hurt but shrugged and went to sit at the table with Lina.
Amelia put her hands on her hips and glared at Lina. "Lina-san! Quit trying to ruin everything! We are going to sing another carol!" she shouted at the others as the group started splitting up. Zangulus pulled Martina over to a table and sat down. Philionel noticed Phibrizzo and Gaav looking quite unhappy and set his book down and headed across the room towards them. Amelia glared at him before turning her attention determinedly back to the chorus. "Suggestions, anyone?"
"Amelia-san, let's sing this one." Xellos handed her his open book. She looked at the page and broke into a wide smile.
"That's a good one! Let's sing Wreck the Halls! Page twenty-two, everyone!"
As the group started singing behind him, Phil swept up to the two Dark Lords and clapped his arm around Gaav's shoulders. "You two don't look like you're enjoying yourselves!" he proclaimed loudly.
The combination of the singing, the happy emotions and Phil bellowing in their ears was just too much for the Dark Lords to take. Phibrizzo jumped down off the table and fixed the Crown Prince of Seyruun with a frosty glare. "We're leaving before all this Christmas spirit makes us any more ill than we already are."
Gaav shrugged off Philionel's arm and collected his sword from the umbrella stand next to the door. "Thanks for the food and the horrible time. Bye." He opened the door and the two Dark Lords disappeared into the snowy night beyond.
"Fa la la la la la la la la."
Phil stared at the door a moment then shrugged. "So much for that!" He headed back towards the chorus when a turkey drumstick bone hit him in the head. He turned and found Lina glaring at him.
"Don't! They're actually starting to sound good! Stay out of it!"
Giving her a hurt look, he went to take his seat at the table. "You don't like my singing, Lina-san?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Lina said unrepentfully.
Phil leaned his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand and listened to the chorus. They'd finished up Wreck the Halls and had started on Sing We Now of Christmas. His eyes got all misty and soon he was bawling loudly.
"Listen to them!" he said. "My little Amelia, the Golden Dragon, the Mazoku, the Shrine Maiden Sylphiel and ... and the Red Priest's copy all singing together! Isn't it beautiful?" He grabbed Lina's hand and wrung it. "This is what Christmas is all about!"
Lina tried to free her hand and was unable so she simply leaned on the table and looked disgusted. "Hai hai ... " she said, waving her other hand.
As the chorus finished up, Phil jumped up, still holding Lina's hand. "I have a great idea! Let's ALL get together and sing!" He grabbed Gourry's arm and lifted the swordsman out of his chair and propelled the two of them towards the circle. Amelia grabbed Lina's arm and held her so she couldn't escape. Sylphiel took Gourry's arm while Philionel went towards the two sulking Greywers. "Come on! I said everyone and I meant everyone!" He grabbed Rezo's arm then descended on Zelgadis.
"No, no!" Zelgadis tried to resist but found himself jerked out of his chair and dragged across the floor and shoved into the group of singers. "But I don't want to!" he protested loudly.
Lina linked her free arm through his. Through clenched teeth, she growled, "If I have to be here, so do you." She grinned evilly up at him. "At least this time you don't have to sing about pink peaches and white pegasoi."
Feeling brave, Zelgadis glared at her. "Or little breasts."
"ZEL!" Lina growled, holding up a fireball in her hand.
Zelgadis felt a tap on his shoulder and looked up to see Kopii standing next to him. Holding up a finger, Kopii waggled it and said, "Be nice to the ladies." He gave Zelgadis a grin worthy of Beastmaster's General Priest.
Gulping, Zelgadis moved closer to Lina. Kopii nodded and moved to let Rezo into the circle. "There's room here, Rezo," he said, indicating the space.
Rezo's mouth twisted. Only for a moment; it relaxed into his usual smug grin and he stepped forward into the circle between Zelgadis and Kopii. "As you wish. These carols, are there any with 'red' in them?" he asked.
"Shabranigdu was a red-eyed Monster," Xellos sang. Everyone in the room turned to stare at him. "And if you ever saw him, you would even say they glowed." Noticing that people were staring, he paused and looked around. "What? He asked about carols with red in them and that's one."
"But that's not how we sing it," Amelia said nervously.
"It's the Mazoku version." He grinned at them.
"All right. Are there any other carols with red in them?"
"Who cares?" Lina groaned. "Let's just get this over with!"
Philionel raised his hand. "On the count of three! One, two, three! We wish you a merry Christmas ... "
Slowly at first, then with growing enthusiasm, the group sang. Even those who were not inclined to feel Christmasy found themselves possessed of the spirit of the season like they'd been possessed by a Dark Lord. Their voices mingled and if they didn't sound like a heavenly chorus, at least they sounded merry. Even Zelgadis lightened up enough to give Lina a grin and squeeze her hand. Surprisingly, it was Rezo who seemed to become infected with the spirit most. He jingled the rings on his staff in time with the singing and seemed genuinely to be enjoying himself.
Outside, a little ways down the mountain, a woman dressed in a black fur cloak and not much else save some leather underwear and boots was making her way up the trail to the inn. She paused within sight of the inn and the warm lights shining on the snow.
Two figures, one very, very tall and one the size of a child came around the bend of the trail ahead of her. The woman stopped and stood in their way so they were forced to stop.
"Get out of the way," the tall one said in a menacing voice.
"Just a moment! Do you know if this is the place where Philionel of Seyruun is having his party?"
"You're going to that? Yeah, it is. Up there." The short one jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the inn.
"I've finally made it!" She struck a pose, throwing back her cloak to reveal her frightening endowments (which caused both figures on the trail to choke). "I, Naga the White Serpent, have finally made it! OH HOHOHOHOHO!!" She put her hand to her mouth and laughed an incredibly obnoxious laugh.
Up the mountain, a dull roar could be heard. The two Dark Lords looked up just in time to see a wave of snow come washing down the trail. There wasn't even time to teleport away before the snow engulfed them and washed the three of them down the mountain. "SHIMATAAAAA ... ... ..!!"
The snow flowed to a halt and the night was still and quiet again. The inn had miraculously been untouched by the avalanche and the sounds of singing could faintly be heard under the twinkling stars.
Several carols later, the chorus broke up and wandered over to the tables to sit down and refresh themselves. Sylphiel disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a tray laden with bowls of nuts and chocolates, plates of sliced cheeses and crackers and cookies. She set this on the main table and hurried back into the kitchen and came back with a tray laden with cups filled with a creamy liquid. "Drinks, minna-san!" She handed out the drinks to everyone and took one for herself.
Philionel took his cup and stood up. "It's a tradition to exchange gifts on the night before Christmas. Would anyone care to volunteer to hand them out?" He waved his cup towards the table near the door on which the presents were waiting.
To everyone's surprise, Rezo stood up. "I'd like to do it," he said. Without waiting for an answer, he swept over to the table in a swirl of red robes and picked up a wrapped box. He held it a moment, a bemused look on his face, then shrugged. "This is for you," he said to Lina. He picked up another box and passed it to Xellos. "Here." He continued handing out the gifts.
Xellos looked at his box curiously. "Lina-san, you shouldn't have," he said with a giggle.
"Don't flatter yourself, Xellos," she said as she ripped the paper off the box. Lifting the top off the box she stared at the contents then reached inside and pulled out a black whip. "Eh?"
Xellos opened his present and pulled out a silky black one-piece lingerie. Holding it up, he went very red and looked very surprised. "Oyaoya ... "
"Hey!" a voice down the table shouted. "That's not for you!" Gourry leaned over and tried to grab the teddy out of Xellos' hands.
"Oh, Gourry," Xellos purred. "I didn't know you cared!" He snatched the black silk out of reach. "And black is my color." He grinned at the big swordsman, who was turning various shades of red.
"That's for Lina!" Gourry blurted out. Everyone looked at Lina then ducked as she grabbed the whip and cracked it over Gourry's head. She was a bright shade of red herself.
"Kurage!" she shouted.
"Quiet!" Rezo said to her. "Sit down and behave yourself."
"Lina!" The sorceress turned to face Martina. The green-haired girl snatched the whip out of Lina's hands and shoved it into Zangulus'. "That's for Zangulus, from me!" Lina eyed Martina and Zangulus warily and moved her chair away.
"Thanks for sharing ... I think," she muttered. She stiffened when she saw Xellos holding the teddy up to himself.
"So, Lina-san, do you think this will look nice on me?" he asked.
"Give me that!" she snarled and leapt across the table. She snagged it and quickly stuffed it into the front of her blouse. "Pervert!" Xellos giggled, which then turned into a whimper as she bonked him on the head with her fist.
"What sort of joke is this?" Zangulus demanded as he held up an extremely cute pink teddy bear. Rezo paused and turned to him.
"Wait a minute," he said. "That's for Zelgadis." He took it from Zangulus and shoved it towards his grandson.
Zelgadis looked dumbfounded as he slowly reached out and took the bear. "Uh ... " he managed to get out, unsure of what exactly to say. "Uh ... "
Rezo just grinned and turned back to the task of handing out gifts.
"Gourry, this is for you." He handed the blond man a small, shiny black box. Gourry pulled on the bow and pulled the lid off to reveal a slip of stiff white paper. As he was pulling it out, Xellos' eyes bugged out and he leapt across the table to try to grab the box. He ended up holding the box but Gourry had already pulled the paper from it. Unfolding it, he read it and turned red. He looked at Lina.
"That's not for you, Gourry," Xellos said, reaching for the paper. "Give it to me."
"Why?" Gourry said, doing his best clueless act.
"Because it's from me -- "
"Pervert!" Gourry stood and leaned across the table and bonked Xellos hard on the head.
"Itai!" Xellos rubbed his head. "No, it wasn't meant for you! The present, that is!"
"Oh. Sorry." The swordsman made as if to hand the card back to Xellos. Just as he was about to take it, Gourry pulled it away. "Then who was it for?"
"It was for Lina-san -- ITAI!" he shouted as Gourry bonked him on the head again.
"And just why are you giving THIS to Lina?" He held up the card, so the others sitting near him could finally see what was written on the card: A KISS FROM ME TO YOU. Lina turned yet another shade of red and reached across to hit the Trickster Priest on the head.
"Pervert!"
Gourry tossed the card in the priest's direction. "Keep it. She won't be needing it." He glared at the Mazoku, who was rubbing his by now very sore head.
"You're all being so mean to me," Xellos whined as he picked up the card and placed it in the box.
"Deal," Lina said.
Kopii pushed back his chair and walked over to Rezo. He shoved the Red Priest towards the table. "You're messing the whole thing up because you can't see who you're giving the gifts to."
Rezo, if he had had his sight, would have given Kopii a cool look. "Fine. Do it yourself," he huffed and moved over to the table, still carrying one gift. He sat down and pulled the wrapping off of it to reveal a book. "Oh, rub it in, why don't you?" he muttered, throwing the book on the table.
"AH!" Amelia dashed down the table and snatched it up. "This was for Zelgadis-san!" she said. Turning an hesitant smile on Zelgadis, she handed it to him. He took it and looked at the cover. Any embarrassment he'd felt momentarily for not getting her something evaporated as he read the title: So You're a Chimera: A Survivor's Guide. He managed to keep himself from rolling his eyes too much and nodded at her.
"Uh ... thanks. I think." Amelia gave him a small smile and returned to her seat.
"Here, Gourry, these are for you." Kopii handed Gourry two presents. The one on top was smaller and neatly wrapped, while the one on the bottom was larger and more sloppily wrapped with scraps of paper taped over the box in places where the ends didn't meet. Lina went pale and sat back in her chair.
"Two? For me?" he said, picking up the top box and ripping open the paper. Inside the box was a pair of knitted blue gloves with his initials and a small Sword of Light on the backs picked out in white. His face lit up as he pulled them on. "Great! I needed new gloves," he said. He looked at Lina and held up his hands. "They fit perfectly!"
Lina sat there with clouds of steam rising from her face.
Sylphiel leaned across the table, beaming up at him with her eyes filled with stars. "I'm so glad you like them, Gourry-sama!"
"Oh, you made these, Sylphiel? You do wonderful work." He gave her a wide smile as he pulled them off.
"I even put clips on them so you won't lose them," she said with a giggle.
"Good idea." He put the gloves back in the box and pulled the other box towards him.
"Uh, on second thought, don't open that," Lina said, reaching for the box.
Gourry pulled it out of her reach. "No! It's mine!"
"Gourry!" she growled, but he held it away from her. "Give it to me! It's my present to you so I can take it back if I want!"
"No you can't!" He stood up and held the box up where she couldn't reach it. He ripped off the paper and dropped it on her head while he opened the box. Lina snatched the paper down and stopped trying to get the box away from him, instead standing there looking quite embarrassed and very small.
"Hey, a scarf!" Gourry pulled out a blue scarf and handed her the box. The scarf looked as if it had been knitted by a demented grandma: The stitches were uneven, the rows even more so and the fringe looking raggedy. He wrapped it around his neck as if it were the best scarf in the world. He put his hand on her shoulder and leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks," he said with a sincere smile.
"All right, all right," she said stepping back and fanning herself. "Cut it out." She turned away but not before she noticed Zelgadis and Amelia grinning at her. "What are you looking at?" she shouted at them. She turned her glare on the rest of the group, who quickly covered their grins before she could get really annoyed. Xellos just sat there with a strange look on his face, toying with the box with the note in it. She glared at him even harder just for good measure and sat down.
Amelia sat down in her chair looking a little disappointed. Zelgadis felt her eyes on him and sighed; he knew he should have gotten her something. She'd never say anything, but he knew the fact that he hadn't brought anything to give to anyone had hurt her. Looking down into his lap, he found himself playing with the teddy bear Rezo had shoved into his hands. Holding it up, he considered what he was going to do with it. It wasn't as if he wanted to keep it ... Sighing again, he stood up and walked over to her. "Amelia," he said.
She looked up at him. "Zelgadis-san?"
He pulled the vacant chair next to hers out and sat down in it. "I'm sorry I didn't bring anything ... " he began. How lame, he thought to himself. Just give it to her and be done with it. "Here. I'd like you to have this." His voice was more brusque than he'd intended so he forced a smile to soften the gesture.
She took the proffered pink teddy and gave him a big smile. "Thank you, Zelgadis-san," she said quietly, hugging the bear to her. He found that the smile wasn't quite so forced.
Xellos watched from across the table and nearly gagged. Leaning his chin in his hand and his elbow on the table, he shoved the box with his present to Lina away from him and played with his eggnog cup and sulked. A soft cough behind him drew his attention around. Sitting up, he turned to find Filia standing behind him holding a gaily wrapped box. "Here," she said, holding the box out to him. "It's for you."
The Trickster stared at her in shock a moment while he metaphorically picked his chin up from the floor. "For me?" he asked as he reached out for the box. "I ... I don't know what to say." He was truly speechless.
Filia looked cross. "Don't flatter yourself," she snapped. "I brought presents for everyone." She shoved the box into his hands.
Chuckling, Xellos unwrapped and opened the box. "A ... vase," he said, lifting the item out of the packing material. "Why ... thank you ... I think." It was white and pink and decorated with flowers and looked very, very cheery and very much like a vase.
"I'll have you know it's a very expensive vase. Don't break it." She turned away with a flare of her skirts and stalked away to talk to Kopii again. Xellos grinned and put the vase back in the box.
"Philionel sure knows how to throw a party, doesn't he?" Gourry asked Lina as they hovered close to the table where the munchies were spread. Lina nodded as she loaded down her plate with more cheese and crackers.
"He is a prince-even if he looks like a troll. And he's got money to spend! All on food, delicious food!" She snagged another candied apple and bit into it.
Philionel walked by and waved at the two of them. "Enjoying yourselves? Good, good ... " Lina held up her apple and smiled pleasantly, hoping he wouldn't stop to talk. Gourry looked up and waved. "Oi, Phil -- UNGH!" Lina punched him in the side to keep him from attracting attention.
The prince, however, was on a mission. Rezo had retreated to his corner and was looking anti-social. Phil descended on the Red Priest and pulled him out of his chair. "Rezo! I understand that you're Zelgadis' great, er, grandfath -- , uh, related to Zelgadis! I really think we have to talk." Rezo sweatdropped and clutched his staff as Philionel dragged him over to the main table and pushed him into the chair next to his. Dropping into his chair, Phil rested his arms on the table and leaned in close to the other man.
"About what?" Rezo finally managed to get out.
"About Amelia and Zelgadis!" Phil whispered conspiratorially-loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. Amelia and Zelgadis, sitting further down the table, both stiffened and tried to make themselves look invisible. Amelia turned and glared at her father. "Do-san!" she shouted.
"What?" Phil shouted back. He noticed her embarrassment and spread his arms wide, nearly hitting Rezo with one of his hands. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Amelia! He's a fine young man! Never, ever be embarrassed by your Love for another!"
Amelia's eyes went starry. "Yes, do-san!" She turned this look on Zelgadis and he merely rolled his eyes heavenward and looked away. Why did these things have to happen to him?
"So, anyway, it appears we have lots of things to discuss," Phil said to Rezo.
"Ooh?" Rezo said, suddenly understanding what Phil was talking about. "It appears that we do, don't we?" He leaned forward and "looked" in Zelgadis' direction. "It seems you've been busy while I was gone, Zelgadis-chan. You've gone and got yourself a girlfriend!"
Zelgadis cringed and muttered under his breath. "Someone just kill me now ... " Behind him he could hear Phil and Rezo making arrangements for some sort of function in Seyruun involving him and Amelia. To his horror, Amelia joined in, throwing in suggestions. "Amelia ... "
Across the room, Filia was strolling aimlessly around the room next to Kopii who was telling her about himself.
"It wasn't really fair of them to expect me to be well-adjusted right from the start. After all, I woke up one day and found that I was merely a copy of another man. Not just any man, but the great Rezo. That one, over there." He waved in Rezo's direction. He looked at Filia and said earnestly, "Do you realize how hard it is to live up to that? I tried, but I just snapped one day. Everything was always Rezo, Rezo, Rezo! And I was just Kopii!" His face contorted momentarily and he clenched his fists.
"Stop," Filia said quietly, laying a hand on his arm. "You mustn't think you need to live up to him any more."
Kopii's face smoothed out and he smiled at her. "You're right. You really are the most understanding woman I've ever met. Not that I've met many. There was Eris, but she just wanted him -- "
"Excuse me," a voice said next to Filia's elbow. She and Kopii moved apart and she looked up into Xellos' face.
"What do you want?" she asked, if not exactly polite then at least civilly.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but you're standing under the mistletoe." Xellos pointed upwards.
Filia looked upwards and saw the sprig above her. Then she realized that Xellos was grinning and leaning forward. She cringed and shut her eyes in disgust.
Kopii put an arm between Filia and Xellos and politely but firmly moved the Mazoku out of the way. "I believe it's tradition to kiss the person standing under the mistletoe," he said and leaned forward to kiss Filia's cheek.
She shrieked and lashed out blindly, punching Kopii and sending him staggering several feet backwards before he tripped on his robe and sat down hard.
"Oof!" he exclaimed and rubbed his head. "I don't think I like that part of the tradition."
Filia opened her eyes and looked around. What she saw was Kopii sitting on the floor several feet away and Xellos grinning from ear to ear. "Oh my!" she gasped and hurried to Kopii's side and helped him stand. "I'm so sorry! I thought that freak was going to kiss me and when you did, I just ... " She broke off helplessly.
"It's all right, it's all right," he assured her, patting her hand, although he was a little unsteady on his feet. "I think I'd like to sit down now," he said quietly and let Filia lead him away to a chair.
"Someone get me some ice!" she shouted.
Across the room, Rezo laughed quietly into his cup of eggnog. "There is justice," he muttered softly.
Both Amelia and Philionel heard this and stood up, brandishing their fists. "Justice!" they shouted together. "Of course there's justice!"
Rezo shook his head. "And you want to marry her?" he asked Zelgadis.
"I never said that!" Zelgadis protested.
"So you don't want to marry her?"
"I didn't say that either!"
"Make up your mind -- "
"Mind your own business!" Zelgadis snapped, getting out of his chair and heading off to another part of the room. He dropped into a chair next to Gourry, who was leaning back with his feet propped up in another chair and his arms behind his head and snoozing. Lina and Sylphiel were "discussing" something, which meant that Lina was lecturing and Sylphiel was looking upset.
"It's a Christmas tradition, Sylphiel! You cut down a tree and bring it inside and decorate it! It's not unnatural because in the fall we plant another one to make up for it. It's called Arbor Day."
"But how can you just cut down trees for your own perverted pleasure?" Sylphiel, near tears, demanded.
"Who are you calling a pervert?" Lina demanded. "It's Christmas!"
"It just isn't right, Lina-san," Sylphiel insisted. "Trees are people, too!"
Lina drew up short. "Eh?" She reached over and took Sylphiel's cup away from her. "All right, that's enough for you. You're getting tipsy!"
"I am not, and I won't let you change the subject! It's just wrong to cut down trees for the mere purpose of bringing them inside to decorate them then throwing them away like so much trash when they're of no use any more!" She broke into tears at this point and ran off into the kitchens.
"Anone," Lina muttered as she leaned on the table. She found Zelgadis looking at her.
"Yes," he said in agreement to her unspoken complaint. "Life's a bitch."
Lina sighed and raised her cup in agreement. "Sometimes I think you're right." She downed her eggnog in one gulp.
"Has anyone seen my Egg?" a voice said from across the room.
Lina paused with her cup still raised. She met Zelgadis' eyes across the brim and carefully set her cup on the table feeling just the tiniest bit sick. All across the room, everyone else who had been sipping the eggnog were doing the same thing. Except for one person, who helped himself to another cup of the stuff from the bowl on the buffet table.
"Well, dragon cuisine is well-known for being the best that can be had. Cheers." Xellos held up his cup in Filia's direction and drank it down.
SCREECH! The Golden Dragon reached for the first thing that came to hand -- which happened to be the expensive vase she'd given Xellos earlier. Raising it over her head, she brought it down with all her not inconsiderable might on the Mazoku's head. The vase shattered, Xellos' eyes turned into little Xs and he dropped like a lead weight on the floor. When she'd realized what she'd done, Filia wailed.
"Filia-san, what's wrong? He'll be okay, I'm sure of it." Kopii took her arm and lead her away from the unconscious Mazoku and tried to console her.
"Oh, him," she said as she wiped away her tears. "Who cares about him? This was an expensive vase!" She held up the sad remains for him to see. "Priceless, in fact. And I broke it!" She started to wail again. "Over his head!"
Kopii took the broken neck of the vase and patted her arm. "There there, my dear. I'll make it all better." He held the shard in both hands and concentrated. The shard began to glow as did the other pieces scattered around Xellos. They lifted into the air and sped over to join the shard in Kopii's hands. They did a little swirling dance in the air as they arranged themselves, then with a burst of light and a POP! they sealed themselves back together to form a whole, unbroken vase. Kopii handed it to Filia with a wide smile. "There you go. Good as new."
Across the room, Rezo muttered, "Show off. Who does he think had to study all those years to get that power, eh? Me, that's who." He went back to listening.
"Thank you!" Filia said with sincere gratitude. She cradled the vase then remembered she still hadn't found the Egg. "I've got to find my Egg!" she said, her voice rising in desperation. "Surely someone has seen it!"
"Perhaps we should look in the kitchens," Kopii suggested while offering her his arm. "It may have gotten cleared away when the dinner things were cleared away."
"Oh!" she exclaimed and dragged him into the kitchen. "Everyone FREEZE!" Kopii stumbled along in her wake and disappeared after her into the kitchen.
Philionel marched over to the fallen Mazoku and bent over him. "Oi, Xellos-san!" he said loudly, poking him. "Are you still alive?"
"Just barely," came the muffled response. Xellos sat up and rubbed his head. "Tell Rezo to stop jingling his staff."
The Prince looked over at the Red Priest. "Rezo isn't jingling his staff, Xellos-san."
"Oh." Xellos looked up at him and blinked. "How many of you are there? And turn off the blinking lights."
Philionel pulled Xellos to his feet. "I think you need to go sit down and rest." He hauled Xellos to a nearby chair and handed him a fresh cup of eggnog. The Trickster took the cup, raised it to his lips and was about to take a sip before he realized what was in the cup. He pushed it away. "No, thanks. Eggnog was what got me in this situation in the first place. Got any water around here?"
"Water it is!" Philionel bounded off to the kitchens demanding water at the top of his lungs.
"What do you mean you put it in the freezer?!" Filia screeched. Everyone in the common room flinched. "Get it out of there! NOW!"
Phil returned with the water for Xellos and shoved it into the priest's hands. "There's a delicate situation in the kitchen that needs my attention. If you don't need anything else ... ?"
Xellos waved him away, concentrating on trying to figure out which of the three hands holding a glass of water was the real one. "Hai hai. Go, please." He found the real one and took a long drink. Phil dashed back into the kitchen.
"Valgaav! Speak to me!"
"Filia! Please, don't fireball the staff!"
One glass of water later, plus the tasty negative feelings radiating from the kitchen and Xellos was feeling much better. He sighed and shook his head, pressing a hand to it; he'd have a nasty headache for a couple days though. Stupid woman; couldn't take a joke. He looked around the room and noticed that Lina had gotten up and wandered over to chat with Amelia who was standing by the tree straightening the decorations. His gaze wandered upwards and spied the little sprig of mistletoe that hung directly over the spot in which Lina was standing. Suddenly feeling much better, he seized his chance and pushed himself out of his chair and headed for Lina.
Across the room, Gourry startled out of a light doze and looked around blearily. Zelgadis was sitting nearby but Lina was nowhere to be seen. Swinging his legs down, he looked around for her and spotted her standing by the tree with Amelia. A long red ribbon leading up into the shadows of the ceiling directed his attention upwards and realized that Lina was standing under some mistletoe. Grinning, he stood and headed over to carry out a time-honored tradition.
Philionel burst out of the kitchen, ushering a still distraught Filia in front of him. She was cradling the frost-covered and decidedly blue-tinted Egg against her breast to warm it. Kopii followed him and took Filia's arm and led her to a table.
"Dessert, everyone!" Philionel called as a bevy of waiters filed out of the kitchen and placed several scrumptious looking treats on the table.
"Food!" Lina exclaimed and with Amelia in tow headed for the food. Behind her she dimly heard a thump and some very passionate kissing but the draw of even more free food was too great and she ignored it.
Under the mistletoe, two very surprised people opened their eyes. Pushing away, Xellos glared at Gourry. Gourry glared at Xellos.
"You're not Lina!" they shouted at the same time. "Neither are you!"
Gourry let go of the Mazoku and stepped away from him. "Pervert!" he shouted and bonked Xellos hard on the head.
Xellos stumbled away, rubbing his head. "Cut that out! I didn't mean to kiss you, you big dummy! It was meant for Lina!"
BONK! The Mazoku slid to the floor and just sat there, watching the pretty lights dance in front of his eyes. "Would you people please stop hitting me on the head!" He put his head in his hands and groaned. "This just isn't my night," he mumbled.
Gourry gave him one last glare then went to find a washroom to wash out his mouth. He shuddered at the memory and hoped he wouldn't have nightmares. Imagine, kissing Xellos of all people! "Yuck!"
Feeling extremely miserable by now, Xellos hauled himself into a chair and leaned his arms on the table. This whole evening had turned into one giant fiasco. First, Rezo had gotten the gifts mixed up so that Lina didn't get his present to her, then that stupid swordsman had to get it. L-sama, but he had hard fists. The memory of Gourry's punches made him wince and he rubbed his head. Then there was Filia, who he didn't want to think about, and she could hit just as hard. He had the bruises to prove it.
And then Lina was standing under the mistletoe and everything seemed fine! But no ... He couldn't be so lucky! Damn the girl and her bottomless appetite! If she'd've just stood still-well, maybe that wouldn't have been any better considering he'd intercepted Gourry on his way to do the same thing. He sighed, put his face in his hands and just sobbed quietly to himself.
The kitchen staff appeared one more time, this time bearing a big bowl. Philionel stepped forward. "And now for the final touch," he boomed and gestured towards the bowl as it was placed on the table. Bowls were stacked nearby and spoons laid out. "Time for the snow cream!"
"Snow cream!" Lina and Martina screeched and rushed forward to grab a bowl. They dug into the cream and sugar covered pile of snow, helping themselves to heaping piles of the stuff.
"What's this?" Kopii asked Filia.
She looked blank. "I don't know."
Philionel came up behind them and put an arm around their shoulders. "It's another Christmas tradition!" he boomed. "Snow cream is served last. In the cream is hidden Ceified's Tooth -- "
Filia and Kopii looked at one another with identical expressions of disgust.
"No, no! It's not a real tooth! It's an almond that's called Ceified's Tooth! Who ever finds it is the Knight of Ceifeid."
"Oh?" Kopii drawled. "What happens then?"
"Why the Knight gets to appoint Shabranigdu!" Philionel said with great pleasure.
"Why would anyone want to do that?" Filia asked, clearly dismayed by the whole thing.
"Because whoever gets to be Shabranigdu has to do the cleaning up!"
Kopii looked puzzled. "This is a tradition?"
"All the way back to the Battle itself!"
"Indeed." Kopii gently extricated himself from Phil's grasp, did the same for Filia and escorted her over to the table to get their servings.
Everyone stood around eating their snow cream, save for Xellos, who was having a sulk at his table, and Gourry. Lina looked around for him and spotted him coming back from the washroom.
"Where have you been?" she demanded as he came up. "You almost missed the snow cream!"
"I did? Damn!" he grabbed a bowl and scooped up the snowy confection into it. Before he could take a bite, he hiccuped and several bubbles came out of his mouth. He blushed and took a bite of snow cream.
"Gourry ... ?" Lina asked as he watched a bubble float upwards. "What have you been doing? Eating soap?"
"Kinda ... " he muttered into his cream. She looked at him and he blushed and turned away. "It's a long story. Forget it."
Lina just looked at him, wondering what could have brought this on. Without looking she put a spoonful of her cream into her mouth and bit down on something hard. Her eyes went wide and she pulled it out and held it up for the others to see.
"I found the tooth!" she shouted triumphantly. She cackled and jumped up and down.
Martina pouted and glared at her. "No fair! I wanted the tooth!"
Lina jumped on a chair and pointed down at Martina. "You can't handle the tooth!" She gave Martina an evil smile and looked around the room. "Okay, so who's going to be Shabranigdu?"
The room was silent as everyone turned as one person and stared at Rezo. Feeling everyone's eyes on him, he looked up from his coffee. "What?"
Lina grinned diabolically and pointed at Rezo. "You're Shabranigdu, Rezo!"
He started and dropped his cup of coffee. "No, I'm not! Not any more! Damn, but will you people ever let me live that down?"
Philionel strode over to the Red Priest. "No, no! You've been chosen to be Shabranigdu for the night! It's a great honor!"
"Gee ... " Rezo said, uncertain as to just how much he wanted this honor. "Thanks ... I think." He paused and thought about it. "So ... What does it really mean?"
"It means you get to do the cleaning up!"
" ... "
"It's only appropriate, Rezo, considering what a mess you made of things when you really were Shabranigdu!" Lina shouted.
"You're never going to stop, are you?" he asked.
"Never," and a cruel chuckle was his answer.
Sighing, he got out of his chair and wandered over to the buffet table. "How am I supposed to clear this stuff away? I'm blind, remember?"
"Don't give me that. How could you walk across the room from the table over there without bumping into anything?" Lina demanded.
"Oops," he said with a half-hearted grin. "Guess I let the cat out of the bag. So I have to clean this all up?"
"You got it, Aka-chan," Lina said, blowing him a kiss.
Rezo straightened and "looked" in her direction. "Aka-chan?" he demanded. "Mind your manners, young lady."
Lina just grinned and handed him her bowl. "Get started, Shabranigdu!" Chuckling to herself, she turned and wandered away from the table.
The crowd was beginning to break up. In fact, she spotted Martina and Zangulus heading upstairs to the rooms. Good. She just hoped they'd keep it down-No, she was NOT going to think about what might be going on in their room; she didn't want to get an upset stomach.
She patted the item in question. Ah, but Philionel knew how to throw a party. She was feeling pleasantly full and thought about going off to her room to sleep for about twelve hours. That sounded like a wonderful idea. She stretched and looked around to tell Amelia and the others she was heading upstairs and spotted Xellos sitting all alone at a corner table by the tree. One elbow was on the tabletop and he was leaning his chin in his hand, looking extremely depressed. His free hand was playing with something small and white. She recognized the card that had been in his "present" to her. Something caused her to head towards him when he pushed himself out of his chair and headed for the door. She stepped up her pace and reached out to catch his arm.
"Hey," she said. Quickly leaning forward, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Xellos drew up short and nearly fell over with surprise. He looked down at her. "Lina-san?"
She winked at him and pointed upwards. "Look."
He looked upwards, half suspecting to see Gourry's fist descending. Instead he saw the dangerous sprig of mistletoe. As this sunk in, he chuckled and looked down. "That was nice." He gave her a happy grin. Maybe this wasn't such a bad evening after all.
"Good night," she said and gave him another kiss then headed off towards the stairs. He watched her go, smiling happily to himself. He chuckled --
BONK!!!
Xellos looked up through some gaily blinking lights at the tall blonde swordsman who loomed over him. "What was that for? She kissed me that time! Go hit her!" He groaned and put his head in his hands.
Gourry bonked him again just for good measure. "I'm not that stupid," he said rubbing his fist. "Look, Xellos, I'm getting tired of hitting you -- "
"I'm getting tired of you hitting me!"
" -- So why don't you just stay away from Lina, alright?" Without waiting for an answer, Gourry stepped over him and headed for the stairs.
Xellos glared at the big man's back as he left the common room. Slowly, however, his happy smile returned and he covered his cheek with his hand. "It's a start." He climbed unsteadily to his feet and headed off to his own room.
Amelia and her father carried over one last cup of eggnog to a table. "Ah, what a wonderful party!" Phil shouted, leaning back in his chair and putting his feet on a nearby chair.
"It was fantastic, Do-san! Everyone was getting along so well! It just proves that Love and Purity of Heart will overcome all differences!"
"Exactly right, Amelia!" He sat up and held his arms out wide. "Musume!"
Amelia threw her arms wide, too. "Do-san!" They threw themselves into each other's arms and hugged the other hard.
Zelgadis rolled his eyes heavenward and sipped his coffee. "I'm going to bed," he said to no one in particular. Standing up, he spotted Rezo and broke into a grin. "Hey! Rezo!" he shouted. "Here!"
Rezo looked up. "What?"
"Come take this away!"
"You know, I can still put you over my knee, young man," Rezo said as he came over and took the cup and saucer from Zelgadis. "Don't forget to whom your talking."
"Hai hai, but for tonight you're Shabranigdu and have to do what I say." Zelgadis clapped his grandfather on the shoulder. "At least this time you're cleaning up the mess." He waved and headed for the stairs.
Rezo's lip curled in a snarl but he said nothing. "Fine. Be that way. I'll just stay here and clear up the dishes -- "
"It's your job," Kopii said from across the room.
"You stay out of this!" Rezo huffed and carried an armload of dishes into the kitchen.
Kopii shook his head. "I can't believe how ill-tempered he is. I mean, I'm nothing like him, am I, Filia-san?" he said, taking her hand in his.
"Certainly not!" she said in agreement. "You're so kind and gentle -- "
"Kind and gentle?" Rezo scoffed, startling them. He leaned between them to gather up the dishes on the table. "Ever heard of a place called Sairaag?"
Confused, Filia looked up at the Red Priest. "No, can't say that I have ... "
"I'm not surprised, considering this 'kind and gentle' copy of myself blew it up."
Kopii shoved his finger in Rezo's face. "You stay out of this!"
Rezo just grinned. "Ah, ah, ah. It's not polite to point." He picked up the last mug. "Oh, and ask him about Zanaffar, Filia-san. I'm sure you'll be very interested to hear about that little incident." He chuckled and headed for the kitchen, leaving a very red-faced Kopii behind him.
"Kopii?" Filia asked. "What was he talking about?"
"Uh ... Nothing. Nothing at all. Heh heh heh ... " Kopii stuck a finger in his collar and pulled at it as if it were suddenly too tight. "Is it hot in here?"
"He blew up Flagoon!" Sylphiel said from by the tree. "Our ancient, holy tree ... He tried to destroy it!" She glared over her shoulder at Kopii. "He tried to destroy it just like this poor tree was cut down for the sake of some demented tradition!"
"Give it a break, Sylphiel. You killed me once for that already," Kopii said, resting his head in his hand. And things had been going so well.
"You should have stayed dead!"
"And besides, Hellmaster came along later and cut the thing down to create his ghost city so it doesn't really matter, does it?"
"It still doesn't change the fact -- "
"Sylphiel!" Amelia snapped. "We've been getting along so nicely all evening, don't start trouble now!"
Sylphiel glared at Amelia and turned her back on the Princess. Turning her attention to the decorated Christmas tree, she put her hands together and recited a spell under her breath. The jewel on her sash glowed and she spread her hands. "RECOVERY!"
The strands of magic leapt from her hands and surrounded the tree. Kopii watched in wide-eyed discomfort as the tree began putting down roots through the plank floor. The limbs waved as if caught in a wind storm. After a brief struggle, the tree exploded upwards towards the rafters. Tinsel, ornaments and candles flew everywhere. Filia dashed around putting out small fires while Amelia rushed over to Sylphiel.
"Sylphiel! What are you doing?" she demanded.
Sylphiel looked down at her. "You speak of Justice, but where is the justice in cutting down trees for the sole purpose of dressing up their corpses for some holiday tradition?" She pointed at the tree and hiccuped. Her expression took on an insane light and her eyes went wide. She pointed at the tree. "THIS is justice! I've given back its life!" She hiccuped again and collapsed in a fit of deranged giggles.
Amelia looked upwards as the tree strained against the rafters. The force of a living tree overcame that of dead wood and the rafters burst upwards in an explosion of splinters. "AAAAAHHHHH!!!!" came shouts from above. Amelia tried not to think who might have been in the room above, but it had obviously been occupied.
"Whoa!" came a voice from above. "Did you feel the earth move?"
Everyone went pale and choked.
"I think it was a tree, Martina dear."
"Oh, honey!!!"
Amelia turned away feeling very sick. She took Sylphiel's by the shoulders. "Come on, Sylphiel-san. Time for you to go to bed." Sylphiel hiccuped and giggled again as Amelia led her to the stairs.
"I just had to, Amelia-san. It's not right!"
"I know, I know ... You told me."
Sylphiel collapsed on the stairs, sobbing. Philionel hurried over and picked the girl up in his arms and carried her upstairs with Amelia close on his heels. "I think Sylphiel had a little too much eggnog to drink."
"Whoops. I think we forgot to tell her there was more than just eggs in it," Philionel said. "Being a Shrine Maiden and all, she probably isn't used to imbibing as much as she did tonight."
Filia watched them disappear into the shadows. She looked back at Kopii. "What Rezo-sama said about Sairaag, was that true?"
"Well ... Technically, but you have to understand the pressure I was under!" He leaned his elbows on the table and put his head in his hands. "It was always about Rezo. I didn't ask to be created! I didn't ask to have to live up to his legacy! I had to be better! And well, blowing up Sairaag just ... happened."
Filia put her hand on his arm. "You poor man," she said sympathetically. "It must have been very hard for you living in his shadow all the time."
Hidden by his hands, Kopii's mouth curved upwards in a wide grin. It disappeared when Rezo's voice called from across the room, "Don't be so gullible, Filia-san. He's putting on an act."
"Hey!" Kopii said, sitting up and glaring at Rezo. "It is not an act! I was so scarred from always being compared to you!"
"Well, yes, I can see that it would have been difficult to live up to my reputation."
Kopii sputtered. "Live up to your reputation? I surpassed your reputation, Rezo! I successfully resurrected Zanaffar while you just got possessed of Shabranigdu!"
"Oh, like that's a major accomplishment. You didn't get to live to tell about it, did you? Lina pinned you to Flagoon with the Bless Blade -- like a butterfly! A big red and white butterfly!"
Kopii pushed himself out of his chair with enough force to send it over backwards. "How would you know?! You were dead at the time!"
"One hears things through the grapevine," Rezo said smoothly. He picked up another bowl and added it to his stack. "So you see, Filia, he's not the 'kind and gentle' person he's led you believe."
Kopii froze and looked over his shoulder at Filia. She was looking definitely nonplussed. Kopii sat down and took her hand in both of his. "Filia-san, do you see what I mean? How can anyone remain sane when they've got this person to live up to? Rezo the Red Priest, once considered one of the Five Great Sages, who then tried to resurrect Shabranigdu! It's impossible, I tell you!"
Filia nodded. "I understand. You poor dear ... " Rezo stumbled and nearly dropped his armload of dishes. She glared at him. "Why don't you just leave him alone?"
"Me? Leave him alone? Oyaoya ... " He left and went into the kitchen.
Kopii chuckled to himself. His chuckle broke off abruptly as Filia stood up and picked up the Egg. "I'm sorry, but it's really very late. I must be getting to bed." She covered a yawn with her hand.
Kopii stood. "Let me escort you to your room -- "
"No, that's all right. Good night." She smiled at him, and walked purposely towards the stairs.
"Shimata," Kopii said, sinking back into his chair. He sighed and leaned on his elbows.
"So, no action for you tonight, eh, Kopii-chan?" The man jumped and glared at Rezo who stood behind him. The Red Priest was cleaning off the table with a rag.
"Just what is that crack supposed to mean?" Kopii demanded.
Rezo grinned. "I know what you were trying to do with that act of yours. She's very pretty, but I really think you're too young for her. She's a dragon, you know. She's a hundred if she's a day and you're what? Three? Four? She could get into a lot of trouble for robbing the cradle."
"My body may only be five years old, but mentally, I'm the same age you are, Rezo."
"That bad, huh? Let's see ... I'm at least a hundred years old; I've lost count and well, once you've been dead, it doesn't really matter any more, does it? I think I must really be getting quite senile by now."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't know. I forget." Rezo went back to cleaning off the table while he whistled tunelessly under his breath.
Kopii watched him in amazement and shook his head. "Sometimes I have a very hard time believing we're the same person."
"The feeling's mutual." He finished up with that table and started on the next.
Kopii sat back and watched the Red Priest move around the room for a few moments. Finally, he called out, "So, why did you do it, Rezo?"
"Do what?" The priest straightened and looked in Kopii's direction.
"Resurrect Shabranigdu?"
"Why can't anyone come up with something other than that to ask me?" Rezo said with a sigh. "You know the reason: I wanted to see."
"That's the whole reason, just so you could see?" Kopii demanded. "Most people do things like that for the power and you just wanted to be able to see?"
"I already had power, and I just wanted to be able to see. Come on, wouldn't you? Do you realize that people have been calling me 'The Red Priest' for as long as I can remember and I don't even know what red is? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it a pickle? For all I know, it may be a deadly insult that I just haven't caught on to."
Kopii stared at him. "You're weird, do you know that?"
"Like you're not." Rezo finished clearing off another table and went to the next one.
"But why would you need to see? You're obviously doing fine without being able to see."
"Because using the Force just isn't the same. And if you don't get off the subject, you'll find out what I'm talking about." Rezo gave him a feral grin as he swiped at the surface of the table.
"Fine, fine. I'm going to bed." Kopii pushed back his chair and swept towards the stairs.
Rezo sighed and gave the tabletop another swipe. "Shabranigdu was a red-eyed monster ... Hmmm. Maybe not." He paused then started singing again. "Jingle bells ... "
The stars were a-twinkling, the snow shining white,
As the sound of Jingle Bells drifted out through the night.
Our story is over but for one little thing --
Let's quickly fast forward to the following spring:
Four months later, during the spring thaw, the remains of four people were found at the foot of the mountain. They could not be identified by any of the locals but a lot of red hair and some leather underwear had been found. Also found was a red suit and a large sack containing the following items: Food (frozen), two swords, the Claire Bible, the deed to a kingdom near Xoana, a vest, a love potion and a vial of poison.
Merry Christmas to all
And to all ... A good night!