Returning
By Maria Cline

Tired. I'm so tired. Ever since I left the others, it's been getting worst. I stopped often now just to catch my breath and to drink just to keep the coughing in control. This is it.

I couldn't risk getting into town like this. Some nut would notice how weak I was and maybe capture me and use me in a zoo or a sideshow. I can't allow that to happen. I wasn't sure what will happen to my corpse after I die. After my body lose all of Rezo's magic? Would I go back to being human after I die or just remain the same? I need a place to stay now so I can die a free human being.

Zelgadis trudged on through the wilderness. His body ached and groaned constantly. It had been a week since he left the gang. At first, he traveled like normal, walk all day, rest occassionally, and walk again. One of the perks of being a chimera is that he didn't have to eat so much. Lucky thing for him since for the past several months just looking at food makes him nautious. Still, he needed to rest again. "I need somewhere to stay." He said outloud, "Someplace liveable but abandoned." He closed his eyes as he leaned against a wall. "But...where?" He immediately noticed that he was leaning against a wall. "A wall?" He turned to see a small rustic looking cabin standing infront of him. "Well... that's convenient." He muttered as he circled the place and opened the door.

It was dusty but had some useable furniture inside. On the side of the door was a slightly rusty axe just waiting to be used as well as a set of clothes that was by pure chance, his size.

"Okay..." He sat in a chair and sighed. It didn't look bad at all.

Days trudged by as Zelgadis felt his body betraying him. Slowly, but surely he felt his strength leaving him. He spent the days cleaning up the soon to be abandoned again cabin and sharpening the axe. He wasn't sure why since he won't be using it. Maybe, it was his way of fighting to stay alive. He could almost hear Lina's voice the time they were preparing to fight Shabranigo. *"I don't want to go in this 'Oh, I'll go in even if I die'. No way, if I'm going to fight, I'm in it to win"*

"I will win over this." He vowed as he reached into his pouch and got out the bracelet. Amelia's arua was very strong on the item. Even with his dwindling amount of power he still had, he could still feel her. Amelia had changed a great deal from the first time they met. When, he first saw her, he thought she was a sheltered girl who didn't know reality. But, over their travels, he grew a liking to her. She had shown the ability to pick up spells faster than any mage he had ever seen. Amelia showed the potential to even surpass Lina in both power and maybe skill. Of course, he would never tell Lina or he will suffer a death by Dragon Slav.

Suddenly, an urge to cough overwhelmed him as he grabbed his cloak and started to hack out blood. He's been coughing randomly during the day and all night. Blood stained his cloak to the point that it could be mistaken for red instead of it's normal beige color.

Finally, the coughing stopped and Zelgadis lay on the floor breathing. The bracelet was still in his hand as he struggled to regain completely regain his breathing.

*tink* Over his breathing, he could feel something fall off of his face. He looked to his side to see another stone on the floor. The floor had begun to have his blue stones all over it. Slowly, he pulled himself up and leaned against a wall.

He sighed in relief as he looked up. "I think it's over." He muttered to himself.

That's when fate decided to be cruel. Pain overwhelmed every ounce of his being as he fell over and clutched his chest. "AAAAHHHH!!!" He screamed as he curled up in a fetal position. Then, darkness came.

"Am I dead?" Zelgadis wondered as he walked in nothingness. He couldn't see anything or feel anything, except for a small tug from behind.

"Not yet." A pair of voices whispered as Zelgadis looked out and saw Zolf and Rodimus standing there.

"Zolf! Rodimus!" Zelgadis exclaimed in shock as well as joy. Zolf and Rodimus had been the first friends he made ever since he became a chimera. They were loyal to him even when fighting Rezo.

"Long time no see, Lord Zelgadis." Zolf said as he bowed.

"Just call me Zelgadis." Zelgadis insisted as he looked at the two, "What are you two doing here?" He asked as he leaned down and felt the pain.

"Zelgadis!" Rodimus exclaimed as he knelt down, "You're in pain. Good!"

"Good?" Zelgadis rasped as he clenched his teeth.

"Pain means life." Another voice reasoned, "That's the way life it. Pain means you are still connected to your body." Another figure appeared.

Zelgadis looked up to see Rezo looking down at him. For a second, he thought it was Copy Rezo, but this Rezo had a pair of beautiful blue eyes that made him look human. "Rezo."

"Zelgadis. I'm... sorry for what I did." Rezo said as Zelgadis glared at him.

"That's all you can do, 'I'm sorry'?" Zelgadis asked as he held the side of his body. "I'm dying thanks to that damn spell."

"Fight it." Rezo insisted, "If you can make it, you will not only be alive but human as well."

"Human?" Zelgadis whispered as another stab of pain echoed in his being.

Rezo ran up and held Zelgadis to him. "Please. I can't stand to see you like this because of me."

"Shabrandigo did this." Rodimus said, "Not you."

"I... the pain." Zelgadis said as he felt the connection to his body fading. "It's leaving."

"No! You must keep connected to your body!" Rezo yelled, "You are too young to die!"

Zelgadis closed his eyes and tried to reach out to feel the pain again. But, his soul became weak. "I... can't." He moaned.

Suddenly, a bright light came up and pushed Rezo to the side. It leaned over and embrassed Zelgadis. "Who?" Zelgadis opened his eyes to see a figure forming to look like Amelia. "A-Amelia?!" The figure reached up and graced his face, giving him strength. He embrassed the figure and kissed it. He got up and moved to his body. Amelia followed him despite the fact that it was starting to dull in its brilliance.

'Amelia' began to moan and breath heavilly. "Thank you." Zelgadis said as he lay on the floor shaking. The figure of light still shone over him. "Amelia." Zelgadis whispered as he realized the light was fading as well as his connection to the magic. "Go." Zelgadis said as he reached up with the last ounce of power he had and shoved Amelia back to her own body. "Typical girl, even when she's not here, she's persistent." He laughed as he closed his eyes to sleep.

It was dark when he opened his eyes. "Oh. Lighting!" He chanted as he reached out to do nothing. All of his magic abilities are gone. He couldn't even cast a simple light spell. "Damn it." He muttered as he got up and reached for a candle and matches. In the dark, he managed to lit the candle and lift it up. The radient light shone and hit his skin. His formerly stonelike blue skin transformed into a soft human skin. He reached up and felt his hair and face. His hair was now soft, not wirey like before. His ears were now much smaller and human shaped. His face, once covered in rocks, is now smooth and soft. "Human." Zelagdis muttered. He reached into his cloak and got out a small hand mirror that he always carries but never uses. Slowly, but excitedly, he looked into the mirror to see a completely different face peering at him. His hair once lavendar is now black like the last time he was human. His entire face had changed somehow leaving it almost unrecognizable.

"I'm human again." Zelgadis realized as he got up and stumbled. The different change in weight and the fact that he's weak from the transformation left him wobbley. He smiled despite himself. He was alive and human again.

For the next few hours, Zelgadis cooked up some food that he had stored in his cloak for an emergency and cleaned up his shaman outfit. While he can't want to wear it again since he was no longer a shaman and didn't really want to hide his face, he had to clean it the best he could. He managed to get most of the blood out leaving only a few faded blood stains behind. He was now wearing the pair of clothes that was left in the cabin maybe for him. It was green with hard armor covering the upper part of his chest and on the sides of his arms. It was similiar to Gourry's in cut. There was even a pair of fingerless gloves to provide maximum protection with maximum effectiveness.

Finally, he was done. "What will I do now?" He wondered out loud as he sat in his chair. He was finally human and alive. Just a few days ago, he didn't know that he will live next week let alone for maybe years. It wasn't like he can just go into the next town and open a small shop. He never really planned on what to do after being a Chimera for so long. He sighed as he gazed over at Amelia's bracelet on the floor. It lay there almost sparkling. He remembered all the good times he had with Amelia, Lina, and Gourry, his three best friends. Despite the fact that he was frusterated when traveling with them, they still mean a great deal to them. They all never really cared about his appearence or make fun of him.

Of course, there was that time Lina used him as an anchor for that ship but that was Lina. She often sees what use to make of other people. That was the way she is. She never really noticed his chimera appearence, she just try to use his abilities to her benefit. Of course, the rest of the time, Lina would treat him like she would any other person.

Gourry too never really noticed his chimera appearence. Of course, he very rarely notice anything obvious around him. He seem to always notice things that are not obvious. Like the time he knew that Xellos was a monster before anyone else suspected. He smiled to himself as Zelgadis picked up the bracelet. "I wonder if Gourry will notice that I am really Zelgadis?" He pondered to himself as he looked down at the bracelet in his hands.

The bracelet was Amelia's. She gave it to him (well hit him on the head with it) in return for the small rock that was once part of Zelgadis. It seemed right somehow, he gave her a peice of himself and she gave him something that would be a part of herself. He never thought that he would ever like the girl, especially after that rocky start. When they first met, Amelia thought that Zelgadis was creepy looking and shouldn't be trusted and he thought that she was just some over eager princess that runs at the first sign of trouble. However, in the battle with Copy Rezo, Amelia proved him wrong when she actually flung herself infront of him and shielded him forcing Gourry to save them both. As they traveled together, Zelgadis noticed how much Amelia seemed to change. She grew more experienced in magic and in actual life. Of course, she would still preach about justice while standing on tall poles. But, she tries not to decide who's evil and who's not just by appearences alone. Gently, he kissed the bracelet and put it on the table.

"I know what to do now." He muttered as he got up and picked up the axe that was lying in a corner. He grunted when he realized how heavy the axe is now that he's no longer part golem.

* * *

*thwack* Went the axe as Zelgadis managed to chop another block of wood in half. He had been chopping wood for almost two days stopping to eat, rest, and recover. His hands became tougher and it had gotten easier for him to lift and use the axe. His once soft human skin became harder but nowhere near as hard as his former stone skin. The wood pile grew huge with every swing.

A part of him wondered if Amelia, Lina, and Gourry will be coming to the cabin. It was obvious that Amelia knew what happened and being a woman of justice, she would go off to find him and maybe meet up with Lina and Gourry and had them come along.

"Zelgadis." A whisper in the wind echoed.

The former chimera stopped and noticed Rezo standing there translucent to the human eye. "Rezo."

"I'm... glad that you're okay." Rezo admitted as he looked at pile of wood. "Do you still hate me?"

Zelgadis frowned as he stared at him. Does he still hate Rezo for what he did? "I... you betrayed my trust." Zelgadis pointed out. "You were my guardian and I trusted you with my life. You taught me everything I knew and yet... in the end you betrayed me. I was very deeply hurt."

"I never intended it to be permanent." Rezo explained, "I just needed you to be stronger than human so after I revived Shabranigdo, I would have someone to help me fight him."

"But, you never knew that Shabranigdo would be revived in your own body." Zelgadis figured. "You betrayed me and that's why I hated you. But..." Zelgadis gazed up at Rezo with clear blue eyes. "you weren't entirely to blame. Shabranigdo was the one who caused this entire mess to begin with. He influenced your mind and made you insane. It still hurt, even after I'm human again." Zelgadis explained as tears threatened to overcome him. "But... I can't hate you because you never asked to be Shabranigdo's puppet, like I never asked to become a chimera. I... can't hate you forever. I..." His face turned red as he looked down. "forgive you." He whispered.

"Thank you." Rezo said as he bowed. "I wish I could make up for it. But, I am proud of what you become. You have grown to be a fine young man. Refined, despite the fact that you were part demon. I must leave now." Rezo turned and started to walk away. Then, he looked over his shoulder and said, "By the way, Lina, Gourry, and that girl Amelia is coming here right now. They'll be here in a few hours. They won't mind you being human now."

"I know." Zelgadis nodded as Rezo walked away and vanished.

Several hours passed as Zelgadis kept on chopping wood. He couldn't help but feel anxious about what will happen. He knew that he will never be as strong as he was when he was a chimera but he did have other things going for him. He knew alot about unique technologies and he have many skills that he still haven't shown to his friends like his lockpicking.

Suddenly, a familiar shout came to his now human ears, "Hey, buddy!" He paused and peered at the source out of the corner of his eye. On schedule, Lina and Amelia were standing there.

"Yes?" He asked amused at the fact that they didn't recognize him. He wondered if he should tell them immediately or just play along for a while. **Oh what the hell.** He thought in amusement, **I might as well have some fun with this.**