Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Slayers For the Future: The Prophecy of Inverse ❯ Not Much Ado about Miss Justice ( Chapter 5 )

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Chapter 5

Not Much Ado about Miss Justice

~ Seven Years Later ~

"Hiero, stop wolfing down your food. You're getting most of it on your new clothes." Lina scolded, the lanky sapphire haired boy not really listening until he had clean the ten plates of turkey meat and sides in front of him. When he got a gentle bop on the head, he slowed and felt about for his napkin.

He blindly wiped the bits of gravy and crumbs on his flat chest and black shirt gently, then wiped off his mouth. His eyes were open, but it never mattered either way. He was content that his eyes could stay open in the house, keeping them closed so much made him sleepy. He started chewing what he thought was the last hunk of turkey breast slowly, looking downward.

"He inherited your bottomless pit of a stomach. Don't sass him about it. He never seems to gain any weight, just height. Let him eat." Zelgadis chucked amused at the familiar scene. Usually it was he who would be telling Lina she didn't need to eat so much and so fast. He'd get a look of death or be yelled at to stop insulting her weight. That was no longer an issue as both his son and wife had the same great appetite, his son's a bit worse than Lina's ever was. The child was hungry nearly every hour of the day, yet he never gained any weight.

"You're coddling him again. How is he going to join the clergy if he eats all their food?" Lina pouted purposely. Zelgadis nodded and moved the last remaining plates away from where Hiero sat. The boy seemed to register the sound of plates being moved and rapped his small hand on his father's, getting more pain on himself then his father, but the plate was dropped. Hiero pulled it back near him and felt it, finding food on it and scowled. "I'm not done yet." He said quietly, holding onto his food for dear life. Zelgadis shrugged and took the empty plates at lightening speed away from the boy and what plates Hiero couldn't reach or see that were still filled.

"That's enough for you. You'll get sick and have no room for the pastries your mother bought for us tonight. That's the last helping you get before dessert." Zelgadis told the boy, getting a nod. The boy was dressed all in black, in an outfit similar to the one the Hellmaster Phibrizo wore, when he'd been alive.

It was more flattering on their son's body that the Hellmaster. The boy's sapphire hair making him seem all the more angelic and kind, the growing tuft of hair just above his right eye making him look a bit more like Zelgadis looked. He still had no real friends, his eyes had ruined those dreams for him, but Zel could only blame the children and adults that judged him so harshly over such a miniscule detail. Hiero never really voiced to him that it was upsetting, but he made several comments every so often at dinner how he nearly got into fights, the bullies getting spanked by the sect members for picking on a blind boy.

He had an black circlet on his head now, his headband just too itchy for Hiero and it had the same effect on his silken, icicle-like bands, decked upon his head in perfection. He was a very beautiful child, but being blind made him a very quiet and withdrawn one in public.

"Can me and Ripper go play in the woods now? To work up an appetite for dessert?" Hiero asked. Zelgadis and Lina chuckled, both ruffling his soft hair. Zelgadis went to Hiero's room to get the dog, still thinking how much that boy loved to eat.

~

Hiero was very happy, he was getting taller, he could go outside more on his own, and his father was even teaching him how to wield a sword. His mother had loved getting an enchanted sword for her birthday and when she and his father thought they were alone, they engaged in a match. Hiero had been six when they did that and used Ripper to let him watch it. When they realized he was there, swinging a stick around and mimicking their actions perfectly, even with the whining dog in his arms, his father decided it'd be all right to teach him some swordplay.

He knew his mother stressed he never learn anything but holy white magic for the priesthood she wanted him involved in, what she deemed to be the safest place for him. Having some sword training put into him would keep him even safer.

Hiero was annoyed that she was going to turn him into a priest just to keep him safe from "the big, bad world." He hated being treated like a child, even if that's the body he was in right now. He had maybe a good 10 or 12 years before he'd be able to cast nightmare magic, giving him a good excuse for why he wasn't going to age past that point. The only way to keep his youthful body was to die, really die completely. It would take a day at most for him to heal and resurrect, but dying still hurt.

'You've got plenty of time to think about how it will go down….enjoy the rest of your childhood. Set the dog on fire when he's close to death. Paint on the walls, I have to cause a little mischief. The priestess' keep spoiling all my fun when they take the bullies away. A little blind fighting never hurt anyone, well, except whomever it's directed at. I want to at least get punished for once, they never seem to notice I can be just like Mom, a little holy terror.' He giggled inside, walking vacantly through the woods with Ripper, who as always was swinging his head around whimpering.

He wished he'd listened to the whimpers growing louder, then maybe he wouldn't have slammed into anything. On impact, he was aware he'd hit a leg, warm and smooth and whoever he'd bumped into was a lot taller than he was. He fell on his rump and Ripper ran away as a loud and cheery laugh stabbed at his ears.

"Oh, so sorry, little boy. I was just heading for town and got lost. Can you help me? Hey, little boy?" the voice said, singsong and high pitched, it made his little ears twitch terribly. "I can't help you. You scared my dog away, lady." He muttered, picking himself up, reaching out to find her leg again. He tapped into the mind a moment, then pulled out. It was entirely too happy and cute addicted for him to keep his food down.

He did and got a smack on the head, but he held on, not moving his slender fingers from the place he was holding. "Stop that, you little pervert. That's not very nice to do to a practitioner of justice, especially for a little boy." The woman was spouting.

"Justice? Your name wouldn't happen to be Amelia of Saillune, would it?" he said, regretting it. He remembered this girl, when she'd been shorter and younger. Many years had passed by since Amelia left the company of his mother, but one thing he knew from his mother's memories was that she never shut up about the glory of justice. It disturbed him that there was someone out there more full of crap than the bullies that teased him.

"I am Queen Amelia of Saillune. How did you know? This is the outside world, my native kingdom is not that well known." She said, picking him up. He was too big be picked up in his opinion, but when he found it took a while for her to get him anywhere near her rather busty chest, the chest that his head was ramming into at full speed, he gathered she was a very tall woman now.

"Ow! Lucky guess…."he tried, but he got shaken instead, his lithe body crammed up against her chest now. 'As much as I'd like my face to be hitting all that….this lady hurts.' He thought, trying to feel her clothes without seeming terribly perverted. It worked, she was too annoyed with his lousy answer. "You know the name of my kingdom and myself. That's not common knowledge, as much as I try. Tell me, in the name of all that is just and true, how do you know of me? And why won't you look at me when I talk to you?" she demanded, her voice getting to ear-bleeding highness.

He grimaced, now knowing she had on a blouse and shorts, as near as he could tell by touch. "I'm blind." He said, wanting to scare the life out her so bad by opening his eyes in her face, if he could just home in on it.

"Your eyes are shut, you're not blind." She said, laughing. His ears hurt again. 'What a horrible laugh….she could peel paint with that.' He thought, really tempted to open his eyes. "I am blind….I have been for the ten long years of my little life. You can ask my parents. They'll vouch for me, you dizzy broad." He snapped, not caring how the insult sounded.

"You have a dirty mouth, little blind child." She said, annoyed. 'Good.' He thought. "It gets dirtier if you don't take me back to my parents. They'll fireball your ass from here to L-sama! Rah!" Hiero growled, kicking a little, but the woman seemed to hold him tighter, like he was her stuffed doll.

"I thought you said you were blind? I don't know where you live….little one." She scolded. "I was using a channeling spell to play with my dog when you scared him away. I'll have to use your eyes to get me home now, much as the idea makes me ill." Hiero grumbled.

"Ok….I'll believe it when your parents tell me. Start giving directions." She spouted happily, making him feel sick. "Try walking forward, stupid. I always walk in a straight line from my house. I just need you around so I don't trip or ram into trees." Hiero drawled out, his closed eyes slanting a bit in annoyance.

"Rotten child, you need a spanking from your parents but good. You're not just at all with such a rude mouth." She said, walking forward. "Touch my butt at all and you'll be without an ear in a few seconds. Just walk." He grumbled, leaning his head across her right shoulder in defeat when she started squeezing him again.

~

"Hello, anyone? I found your son in the woods! Hello?" Amelia shouted. Her face fell when she saw a familiar someone walked down the hallway and into the kitchen Amelia was now in, the person stopping dead in her tracks with a similar shocked and upsetting expression. "Lina?" Amelia spouted.

"Mom! Help! She's crushing me! She threatened to spank me!" Hiero shouted, starting his kicking up again. One of his kicks finally hit something, one of Amelia's long legs. The justice spouting princess got a look of shocked pain on her face before leaping high into the air, dropping Hiero flat on his rump before landing and hopping up and down on her good leg.

"Hiero!" Lina cried, helping her son up as Amelia went crazily around the room yelling out in pain. "This is no way to treat a queen of justice! OOOOHH! You bad little boy!" Amelia yelped, then she saw another familiar figure come out of the hallway," Mr. Zelgadis?! You're here too? What's going on?"

Amelia knew she was crying, it came simply. Here she was trying to find Zelgadis to profess her love for him and she'd found him, with Lina of all people and rude little blind boy. A boy that still refused to open his eyes, but he was sure as hell sticking his tongue at her, or rather up to the side of her until his mother aimed his head. "Amelia? What the hell are you doing here?" Zelgadis balked," And abusing my son, to top it off!?"

"You….y….you're this boy's father? Then…Lina is his….Oh no….how could you, Lina-san? I love Mr. Zelgadis, not you. I do!" Amelia whined. Zelgadis just gave her a shocked and hurt look, as if the words were poison to him. "I love Lina, not you, Amelia. And don't you insult Lina or Hiero….it's unjust to be such a brat about not getting your way." Zelgadis protested with a stern expression.

"Yeah, so beat it, bimbo!" Hiero yelped, rubbing his bruised rear end. He got a smack in the head from his mother. "Hiero, no name-calling! That's for adults….Gods, Amelia, how the heck did you find this place….insults aside, for now?" Lina said, pulling her son along to his chair at the dinner table. "I came to find Mr. Zelgadis when this boy and his little dog rammed into me…."

"Your legs, I know what legs feel like. She is a tall woman now. I thought the Justice Freak was short." Hiero commented, this time Amelia smacking the back of his head. He didn't cry out, only furrowed his small brow. 'I am not built for this kind of abuse. Why can't she smack herself?' Hiero thought heatedly

"Hiero…."Zelgadis warned.

"What? She hurt Mom's feelings by never sending a letter, or anything at all. She's a rude and evil witch!" Hiero snapped, banging his hand on the table. Amelia had no doubt the little boy was Lina's, he had her rotten temper and big mouth, but he looked hauntingly like Zelgadis, with his skin being the only natural difference. She was shocked the chimera curse hadn't affected his skin, looking as human as any normal boy, except he was acting very adult-like for his age.

~

"Yes she's very tall, and almost familiar looking. But forget about that, you've found him, Amelia, now what are you going to do? Try and take my husband away?" Lina challenged, actually enjoying the fact that Amelia was hurt. She'd hurt Lina first by betraying the friendship she thought they had years ago and now she was all broken up that Lina and Zel were married and very much in love, and had already had a child.

'Least she has more taste in clothing than Naga. It's actually the complete opposite of that big-breasted bonehead. She even looks a little like Naga, other than the fact her chest isn't as large, but its big enough.' Lina thought silently as the elder princess pouted. "But Miss Lina….oh….phooey, I should have returned sooner. The fight for truth and justice is a very time consuming battle as well as the responsibilities of a princess about to become Queen. It can really make you lose track of time, Miss Lina." Amelia cried out at first, then got all thoughtful. She was currently thinking aloud and looking up, tapping one of her fingers on her chin.

"Oh goodie, she's having a thought." Lina muttered, but once Amelia started to think, there was no getting through to her. Gourry had been easy to get out of thinking, or attempting it, since it usually was very painful for him. 'Could have been much worse, that thoughtless jellyfish for brains could have bumped into him and poor Hiero might have hit him with Ripper or broken his ankles.

"Your son is strange, he looks like a mix of Mr. Xellos and Mr. Zelgadis. He may be cute, but good looks can not forgive being cruel to a good soul." Amelia concluded. 'Not much of a thought….insulting my child again….uh-oh, no Hiero, why did you do that?' her mind grumbled, looking towards her son, finding he had opened his eyes and sent the taller Amelia into hysterics. "Boo!" the little boy said, his eyes aimed at the door, but Amelia had gotten a good look at the Mazuko eyes, though the hysterics were filled with both fear and joy.

"Ahhhh! Mazuko! An evil one!! It's not Mr. Zelgadis' son after all, its Mr. Xellos'." Amelia squealed, quickly latching herself to an astonished Zelgadis' arm. He tried to shake her off, but she was lot bigger now, making it very difficult to break free. "Get off my husband, Amelia! Hiero is Zel's and my son, not Xellos'. I'd never sleep with that fruitcake! Amelia! Grrrr!!!! LET GO!" Lina screaming, trying to yank the princess off her husband as Amelia tried to land kisses on Zel's fearful blue face.

"This is ridiculous…."she heard Hiero comment and saw him crawling across the table, feeling around from something. He stopped a moment as Lina tried once again to stop Amelia's desperate affections, his little hand picking up a black, squirming creature.

'Gross, he's touching roaches again….what's he doing?' she thought, watching him sit himself in the center of the table and hold out both hands, one pinching the struggling roach in his fingers and the other an open palm aimed at the hyper Amelia.

"Sorry, Mom….she's molesting Dad, she's trying to take my family away from me with her stupid crush and desperation. I won't let her take MY family away!! Enhance Calm!" he yelled, tears brimming in his Mazuko eyes, but never falling free as he clenched his teeth with rage. The spell smacked Amelia in the back of the head, making her go still in place.

"Now….you will let go of my father and stop this lunatic crush of yours." Hiero ordered, his voice dangerously close to growl, a kitten's growl since it was in a child's voice. Lina had never seen Hiero so mad, he'd never even thrown a temper tantrum over anything except the priestesses always bailing him out of fights. She never understood what he had to gain from the fights. Right now he looked like she did when Gourry called her flat or took food from her plate.

Amelia just swayed between Zel and Lina, looking blankly yet calmly ahead of herself. "Now say you're sorry for being a mean witch to my parents and myself." He told her.

"I'm sorry for being a mean witch to Mr. Zelgadis, Miss Lina, and little Hiero." She said blandly, still listless and not touching either Lina or Zel. "Goodie, now go back home and tell all of Mom and Dad's friends they'd better not hurt my family or else. My Mom will Dragon Slave them and Dad will Ra Tilt them right out of the Sea of Chaos! Got that, bimbo princess?" the little boy sneered, almost matching one of Xellos angry expressions.

"Understood." Amelia chirped, leaving the house without another word, leaving Hiero's parents in a state of temporary shock. Hiero squished the bug between his fingers, satisfied with its usefulness once Amelia had left. Lina took all of ten minutes to twitch and let an angered look cross over her features. "You are grounded!!" she shrieked, hurting both her husband and son's ears so badly they fell over in pain. Lina ignored it and grabbed Hiero by the seat of his pants and carted him off to his room, spanking him all the way.

Hiero didn't bother crying or yelping, he just kept a look of pain on his face mixed with annoyance, to look stubborn. 'Punished for the dumbest thing imaginable….but its still punishment. Maybe they'll stop with the perfect crap now….maybe. Being blind is one thing, but being me is nowhere near perfect, Mom, if you only knew how imperfect I truly can be inside. Someday, you will. Man, she's hitting harder! Oh that's a book now. Ouch!' his mind was explaining, his eyes growing large as his pupils got real small from the book being smashed into his rear.

'Maybe this wasn't such a good, Ow, idea. Oh well, just pretend it was that time is Rigas where you got special treatment from their chief's daughter….Ow! Nah….this is my mother, she sees me smiling about this I might get a fireball up my rear end.' He mentally added, resorting to squirming and flailing his legs and arms with tiny cries when she hit his rear end again.

His mother finally stopped when his father Ray Winged him out of her grasp and shook his stony head at her. "You'll break his butt at that rate. He did get rid of Amelia, though I admit it was rather mean in spirit. I guess this means he can start his magic training for the priesthood again. He's old enough if he can cast a spell with a roach as his sight. Not very clean, but its something…."his father was saying, then eyed the sore little boy," But you're still grounded. You let a lot of filth come out of your mouth, young man, and you manipulated someone with magic. No pouting of any amount will change our minds over that."

"Yes, Dad, yes Mom. I just didn't like her….she was mean to Mom, lousy justice freak." Hiero grumbled, burying his little face against his father's shoulder with false tears. His father didn't see through it, and that made him happy.

He wasn't sorry he used Amelia like that. He recalled from most of what his parents thought were private conversations that they had friends other than the princess of justice the jellyfish brains swordsman, some of them not as hurtful to his parents as those two had been, but then again weren't really around.

'Do I care….when I am old enough, those two will be too old to swat flies….if not, I'll make it that way. I'm in charge in this life, not Delphine. I'm in charge….Yes, I'll make good on this life on my own terms….for family." He thought hungrily, gripping his father's shirt even as he was set down on the floor.

"Grounded also means no dessert tonight. Maybe tomorrow, but not this night. You get ready for bed, kid. Daddy and I….will go look for Ripper, again." Lina said harshly, slamming the book on the floor before passing by her son and husband, grabbing Zel roughly by the hand to drag him out behind her.

'Remind me never to piss her off ever again….I love a woman with spirit, even if it's my mother. Makes this family thing all the more fun….Much more fun to come too. Hee….hee.' he mused with a wicked smiled, shutting his door and then resorted to feeling along the walls to find his bed.

To Be Continued….