Epilogue Aw, The Show's Over?

Sirus watched as Zelgadiss suddenly shot up from where he lay, immediately leaning over Lina.

"Zelgadiss," Sirus said. "Did you find her?"

Zelgadiss did not reply, however, focusing completely on Lina. There was a tense moment as everyone held their breath, awaiting Lina to do something. The seconds ticked by, one by one. Still, Lina did not move. A minute came and went and still Lina did not move. Sirus wondered what had happened on the astral plane. He had never been there, so he didn't understand what sort of long term affects their might be if Lina was there for to long. It was not the type of lesson, though, that he wanted to learn the hard way. They waited.

Slowly, Lina's large eyes cracked open, just enough to let everyone let out an explosive breath that they had been holding. Sirus breathed an addition sigh of relief, and made a mental note to consult with Zelgadiss on how to get to the astral plane. He absently put an arm on Amelia's shoulder, holding her tight. Lina's eyes finally opened fully. Zelgadiss smiled and gently stroked her cheek. She replied by kissing him, rather passionately, Sirus noted. Zelgadiss blushed, obviously preferring this to be done in private. But then, where Lina was concerned, everyone had to expect the unexpected.

Sirus was brought out of his thoughts when Amelia pulled away, striding away from the group. Sirus followed her.

"Are you alright, your Highness?"

"Yeah," she sniffed. Glancing back at Lina and Zel, she continued. "I'll be fine. It's still going to hurt for a while, but…" her voice trailed off.

"Amelia-chan," Sirus said, holding her close to him in a friendly embrace. "Do not worry. Someday, someone will come along and not only accept your love, but return it to you ten fold. That will be the one you should marry."

"You're right," she said into his chest. "But it will still hurt for a while."

"Yes, but it will pass. You should believe in that."

Zangulas stood with Martina and their child, somewhat apart from the crowd, now that Lina was awake. Martina was cuddling their baby and making all sorts of baby talk. Zangulas merely hugged them close to him. He remembered when Drrael had taken them both in front of his very eyes and he silently vowed never to let them go again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gourry standing with the priestess, Sylphiel. Zangulas thought that he should go over there and challenge him again, but somehow, winning didn't seem all that important anymore. What was really important to him was in his arms.

"Martina, dear?" he said, getting his wife's attention.

"Yes, love?" she replied, never taking her eyes off their beautiful child.

"Do you think Zeulmelgustar would mind terribly if the two of us were to drop our search for revenge and just live happily and peacefully with our son?" Martina looked at him in surprise. Normally, when Zangulas referred to Zelmelgustar, he did so in a sarcastic, or molencollying manner. This time he was dead serious. "It's just that, after dying and coming back, revenge doesn't seem all that important to me anymore. What is in your arms right now." Zangulas watched Martina stare at him with those great beautiful blue eyes.

"Zangulas," she said quietly. "Zelmelgustar works in mysterious ways that we, his children, can not always understand. I think you've just spoken for him. Revenge isn't necessary if he's bestowed Margulas with us. Let's just go home."

"Dear, I think you're right."

Sylphiel and Gourry hugged in silence for a long time. When they finally pulled away, Gourry spoke.

"Sylphiel, I thought I had lost you," he whispered.

"Gourry-sama," she replied. He didn't have to go into words. Sylphiel understood him better than he did sometimes. Though she knew he would get enough of his smarts together to make her happy, all she ultimately wanted was for him to be happy. If he was happy with Lina instead of her, so be it. She didn't mind. Maybe she could be an aunt for their children. Though the fact that Lina had rather actively kissed Zelgadiss, not Gourry, played over and over again in her mind. Could she really have a chance with her beloved?

"Sylphiel, I'm Lina's bodyguard, but." Perhaps not.

"Gourry-sama, it's okay. I understand."

He continued like she hadn't said anything. "I know we can't have a home if she keeps wondering around and stuff, but would you marry me?" Sylphiel cast a healing spell on herself. Her hearing must be faulty. "What do you say? We'll move around a lot, and I'll still have to fight Lina for food, but we'll be together and I can keep my promise that way." Promise? He remembered the promise?

"Gourry-sama…I..I..yes, I'll marry you."

"Wahoo!!" Gourry picked her up, tossing her in the air and swinging her around. "Arigatoo Sylphiel!!" Sylphiel couldn't help but laugh. She couldn't have been more happy. After all, Gourry was happy.

Xellos stood next to Fillia watching Gourry and Sylphiel celebrate their engagement. Xellos wondered if such a thing would be possible for him. Would he ever be able to settle down? Would he, now that he was a Mazoku again, be able to share feelings that had been dull for so many centuries? Could he ever make her happy?

"So," Fillia said quietly. "Where do we go from here?"

"Well," Xellos replied, trying to be logical instead of listening to his emotions. "L-sama sort of gave us her blessings, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Think about it. A Mazoku and a Ryuzuku. Do you have any idea how much Chaos we will cause with that? The Mazoku will expel me, the Ryuzuku will shun you, and we'll be in blissful chaos."

"Perhaps, but," Fillia hesitated. "I don't think I'm all that ready for an in depth relationship right now. I mean, there's still so much I don't know about myself."

"We could always find out together."

"But some things a girl needs to figure out on her own."

"Then why not start with just a date?"

"A date?"

"Yes. It's a phrase humans use when a male and female, or male/male female/female but that's more rare; go out, normally to dinner, enjoy each other's company and start a relationship on slow, non-in depth grounds."

Fillia nailed him on the head with her mace. "I know what a date is." It felt good to be back to the old ways. He oh-so-loved to annoy her, and he had a suspicion that she liked it as well. "Okay," she answered. "A date. But no 'Sore wa himtsu desu' from you, okay?"

"But why?" Xellos demanded. After all, it was a central point in his personality. And one of the best ways to annoy her.

"Think about it, you dolt," Fillia replied. "How would you feel if someone smiled and told you 'Sore wa himtsu desu'?" Xellos inwardly cringed. His brief time as a human had taught him how he would feel in different situations and based on that, he could guess how he would feel in other circumstances.

"Okay," he conceded. Time for something light-hearted. "But for our first date, I was wondering."

"Oh?"

"Your place or mine?"

Fillia nailed him with her mace again. That did feel good. "Thank you," he said. "But aren't we supposed to wait a while before we start getting rough?" He started to fly.

"NAMAGOMI!" She started to chase him, a smile trying very hard to appear on her face, just as the smile on his face grew.

Lina continued her rather passionate kiss, ignoring Zel's muffled protests that they were in public. She really didn't care. Everyone around them knew who they were and they didn't seem to mind all that much. It's wasn't like they were in the middle of a town or something. However, all good things must end temporarily once in a while. She finally broke the kiss, more to get her breath than anything else. By now, everyone had sort of separated into pairs. Zel's face was bright red, and she thought it was rather cute.

"So, where exactly do we go from here?" Zel asked quickly before Lina could attack him with her lips again.

"Eh?"

"I don't think I'm ready to settle down yet, and I don't think you are either." Lina sat back, thinking about it. Adventuring was just too much fun. She didn't really want to give that up. Busting and burning bandits badly was one of her duties (along with getting their treasure) and there were still foods out there to sample.

"Well, you're right, I still want to adventure." She paused, thinking some more. "Why don't we just start walking and see what happens?"

"That sounds like typical, unplanned Lina-logic to me," Zel answered, putting on a stern face. "But why not?" he smiled.

"Okay everyone!" Lina shouted, getting everyone's attention. "Let's get you all home!"

The End