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"Pageant events include the formal wear competition as well as swimwear and many more. Also featured will be a question answer panel for the audience to get better acquainted with the contestants," Lina read. "The judges will be members of the Lady's of Briseral Society. The grand prize winner will receive an all expense paid trip to Minowee Falls, home of the world famous 101 five star hot springs, a dinner with the Big Kahuna the coordinator of the Briseral festival, and a custom made magic lab or Gladiators arena. "Wow, a Magic Lab that's unbelievable." Lina looked up to see the boys still in shock.
"I can't believe I'm in a beauty pageant," Zelgadis hissed.
"It could be fun," Gourry offered.
"But how did you become contestants anyway," Amelia asked.
"Well it says here that every man in Briseral is considered for the pageant. The women of town cast their votes secretly for the finalists then the semi-finals are chosen by the judges. Apparently, you guys jumped right to the semi-finals because the votes were only for the two of you," Lina smiled and continued reading silently.
"I guess that means you guys have to start preparing for the pageant," Amelia smiled.
"And we have to help them," Lina looked up. "It also says that the semi-finalists will be assisted by they're Personal Image Coordinators. Ms. Lina Inverse for Mr. Gabriev and Ms. Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune for Mr. Greywords."
"What's a personal image coordinator?" the swordsman asked.
"It means we have to make sure you guys look your prettiest to win that crown," Lina answered.
"Yeah, like help pick out your clothes and other stuff," Amelia concurred.
"I don't believe this," the chimera groaned, "Is this some kind of joke? Who ever heard of a male beauty pageant?"
"Obviously the people of Briseral. This pageant has been going on for a long time; in fact this will be it's 100th anniversary. The contestants also have to make public appearances at various events during the festival."
"Lina, may I see that Pamphlet?" Amelia asked. Lina folded it up an handed it to the princess.
"I think it sounds like fun. Don't you Bubbles?" The dragon nodded.
"Fun, more like a fiasco if you ask me." Zelgadis sat with a frown on his face and his arms folded tightly across his chest in disapproval.
"Don't be such a party pooper. I'm sure you'll have fun being a beauty queen once you get the hang of it," Lina laughed, "and besides we'll get to meet the Big Kahuna and finally get some answers if one of us wins."
"But why do we have to make public appearances?"
"It's part of the voting system," the princess answered looking up from the pamphlet. "According to this there's a popularity vote the winner of which will receive the People's Choice Award, and in this everyone gets to vote not just the women."
"So I could win the Mr. Briseral Pageant and the People's Choice Award," Gourry said excitedly.
"Yes," Lina answered. "What do you get if you win the People's Choice Award?"
"A nice variety of cash and prizes," the princess read, "and what makes you think your going to win," she eyed Gourry curiously.
"I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I mean one of us could win each or both right?"
"This is going to be interesting," Lina chuckled.
"I guess we won't have a lot of time as a group with the pageant and all," Amelia thought aloud.
"But we'll be in twos so we just have to keep an eye out for each other till this thing is over," the redhead said.
"You really think I'm going through with this," Zelgadis looked at her in amazement.
"Yes, this is the chance we need to meet the Big Kahuna so that means you guys have to play along with this pageant thing." Lina stared at him, daring him to defy her reasoning.
Zelgadis huffed and nodded in agreement. "I'll do it but I don't have to like it."
"No one said you did."
"But I don't have anything to wear for a beauty pageant," the blonde realized. "Now I'll never be able to win," he pouted.
"Relax Gourry we'll get you some new clothes and you'll be a shoe in," Lina smiled.
"Hey Zelgadis is the one who's going to win, no offense Gourry," the princess amended quickly.
"None taken."
"Look they both have pretty good chances of winning Amelia, I mean they are both semi-finalists."
"Let's just get on with this so one us can meet this Big Kahuna guy and get home," the chimera growled in disdain.
"I don't think he's going to be easy to work with," redhead whispered to the princess who nodded in agreement.
Lina had decided to take Gourry shopping that day before it got to late. "Trust me I have good fashion sense. Those judges are going to be drooling all over you Gourry."
Gourry left himself in her capable hands but soon felt that maybe that wasn't a good idea. They had been to two stores and Lina couldn't find anything that she approved of. Gourry saw lots of stuff that he thought looked nice, even tried on a few things that fit good too but Lina just wasn't having any of it. "You need something that's going to make a statement, something that says here I am, look at me love me. These clothes are nice but they aren't going to work for the pageant," she reasoned eyeing the items he had picked out of store number three.
"Well how about for the public appearances that I have to do. I shouldn't look over dressed for those should I?"
Lina thought about it for a moment and studied the clothes some more. "They are nice, not to showy and not to plain," she mused. Lina had already decided on the look they were going for with Gourry. "The nice easy going, cheerful guy look." She figured that was the best way to go since Gourry was always happy and friendly with everybody.
"Okay we'll get these," she decided. "This way he'll look like just one of the guys out having a good time," she thought.
"Thanks Lina do you think I should get some new boots too," he asked seeing a pair in a far corner of the store that looked his size."
"Probably two, one pair for the pageant and the other set for the public appearance stuff. Maybe I should make a list of everything we're going to need," she thought absently.
Gourry went and asked about the boots and the sales lady was more than happy to help him try some on.
"So you're a semi-finalist in the Mr. Briseral pageant," the sales lady smiled as she brought him the boots.
"Yep, I'm Gourry and that's Lina over there," he pointed at the petite redhead who had found paper and pen and was busy making her list. "She's my image coordinator. How'd you know I was a finalist?"
"Posters of you and Mr. Greywords are all over the city," the sales lady gushed. "It's the first time in the pageants history that the finalists rounds were completely skipped."
"How did the pageant get stated anyway? I mean I never heard of a male beauty pageant before," he asked standing up and walking back and forth, testing the boots' comfort.
"When Briseral was founded originally the pageant was designed to single out the best fighters and for woman to look for potential husbands by figuring out the qualities they liked best through the various competitions. But over the years things changed people began relying on their own feelings instead of the pageant to choice someone and the Swordman academy opened to train fighters and hold tournaments. A lot of the men still compete because it's a difference from the normal day to day routines and some of the events are fun. How do the boots fit," she asked, noticing he had begun hopping on one foot at a time.
"Really nice and comfortable inside, like as old pair of shoes."
"They're made from special leather that conforms to your foots unique shape. What color would you like them in?"
Gourry thought about it for a second. "Lina what color do you think I should get for the boots?"
Lina looked up form her list of items. Gourry was wearing a nice pair of navy blue boots with black trim at the top. "What other colors do you have?"
"Here, let me show you," the sales lady flipped a switch on the counter making the wall rotate to reveal a wall of the same boots in various colors on the opposite side. "We have close to seventy different styles?" the sales lady beamed.
"I'm impressed," Lina said.
"Me too," Gourry agreed.
"But why so many colors?"
"This boot is very popular in town as I was telling Mr. Gabriev, the leather conforms to the shape of your foot. No matter what size or shape it is the boot always fits comfortably and you get good support in the soles so your feet don't hurt if you're walking all day."
"That sounds pretty good considering all the walking Gourry's going to have to do during these appearances," Lina reasoned. "How about we get a brown pair since all the clothes you picked out are earthtones and the ones you have on."
"Okay, I really like these. They fit great," he smiled.
Lina watched as Gourry continued to look at clothes and smiled. The regular, friendly guy look was definitely the ticket to run with Gourry. If he doesn't win Mr. Briseral he'll easily take the Peoples Choice Award," she thought.
Amelia sat in her room and reviewed her plans. After Lina and Gourry left to go shopping Zelgadis went for a walk. She decided to get to work on being his Personal image coordinator. She had gotten a list of every event scheduled at the festival along with a schedule of the pageant events. "The formal wear will be tomorrow, then swimwear, talent and Monster Bashing. Lina must have missed that one in the pamphlet," the princess mused. "The Q & A segments were to be held each night throughout the pageant."
Amelia decided to plan Zelgadis's wardrobe as well as his public appearance schedule. She desperately needed something, anything to occupy her from thinking about the realization she and Zelgadis shared not more then an hour before.
It wasn't the fact that Zelgadis knew about her dream but that her "Naughty little dream" as she had named it could very well have been real. "Which means Zelgadis and I could have actually . . ." she blushed at the thought as she stopped her planning and stared absently out the window. There was no way to tell for either of them to know if it was a dream or not. Sharing a dream was one thing, having their dream manipulated another, but being shifted into the dream world to share what they experienced was confounding. "It boils down to one of three things and we need to find out the truth somehow to figure out what comes next."
She also knew they needed to talk. If winning the Mr. Briseral pageant was the only way to find the answers they needed then they had to work together, more importantly they needed to figure out where they stood with each other regardless of what the truth may be. "But for now he needs time to take this all in." Then she returned to her planning with a new determination.
Zelgadis walked the crowded streets in confusion and perplexity. "We shared the same dream, but we don't know what really happened." He didn't like uncertainty in his life and he'd been feeling it a lot in the last two days. Zelgadis always saw a problem and one way or another found the answer. "Except this problem isn't that simple." No matter what the answer turned out to be it wouldn't change the emotions involved. Amelia had feelings for him, to what extent he couldn't say, "but this could change things significantly." As for his feelings he was still uncertain.
Zelgadis had never been overly emotional always preferring to handle life's ups and downs with a cool, intelligent efficiency, which didn't prepare him for what lay ahead. He knew he needed to talk to her but not what to say. He stopped walking and found himself standing in front of the tavern. He took a deep breath to gather his senses then stepped inside.
"Zelgadis, did you just get back?"
"Yes," he answered, not looking in the voice's direction knowing its identity.
"We need to talk," they said in unison looking at each other. Aside from uncertainty Zelgadis hated awkward moments even more and at that moment standing in front of the princess on the edge of the unsaid that hovered between them was the most awkward and uncomfortable moment he'd ever had.
Amelia noticed his discomfort and decided to start things off to ease the tension slightly. "I just came down to see if Lina and Gourry were back yet, but obviously not," she looked around to be certain. "I ordered some tea, why don't you join me." Before he could answer Amelia lead the chimera over to a small table she had staked out with her cloak slung over a chair back and a notebook sitting on the table. She motioned for him to sit down. "Is this a good spot?"
Zelgadis noticed the table was apart from the other patrons giving them privacy. "This is fine."
A waitress came bearing a teakettle with two fairies, each carrying a mug. They set down the items, smiled politely and left. Amelia poured them a cup of the steaming brew, adding sugar and lemon, leaving it to cool.
"Zelgadis, I know things are a little uncomfortable right now but regardless of that we're still friends and we need to work together to find out the truth."
"I know that but this isn't going to be as easy as finding an answer then going on like nothing's happened especially since you . . ."
"Have feelings for you," she finished.
"Yes."
"No matter what happens I still want to be your friend if nothing else. This situation is neither of our faults so I don't want you to start blaming yourself like you always like to do."
"Your right. It's just that I hate all this not knowing and awkwardness and thinking things that I shouldn't . . ."
"What things?"
"Nothing," he amended quickly, "Its nothing," he mumbled and looked off in the other direction. Amelia knew emotional outbursts were not his style. He got angry yes, even aggressive but he always maintained an air of cool composure throughout it all. "This must be bothering you a lot more then I realized."
"You don't seem to be bothered at all."
"I handle things differently then you do," she stated calmly taking a sip of tea.
"Right now we need to find out what really happened."
"It sounds like you have a plan," the chimera eyed her curiously.
"Yes as a matter of fact but are you going to be all right? If this is going to work we need to work together and we need to talk to each other if something's wrong. Can you do that?"
"Are you implying that I'm difficult to work with?"
"Of course not, but I know you Zelgadis. You don't like to talk about yourself or your problems. If what I'm thinking is going to work I'm going to need your input." She looked him in the eyes hoping he could see the seriousness in them.
"I can do that. What do you have in mind?"
She smiled in a clever coy fashion that made him think more of those thoughts he felt he shouldn't. He also noted the look of relief that washed over her face the instant before telling him how grateful she was for his cooperation. "You have to win the Mr. Briseral pageant."
"What?"
"Hear me out. Whoever wins gets to meet the Big Kahuna and he's the only one who can tell us the truth. I know you told Lina you'd go through the motions and all but I need you to really put forth an effort," she said with determination. "Lina's already gone out to get Gourry clothes and stuff so they have a head start on us and the way I see it we need to win a whole lot more then they do."
Zelgadis knew she was right but the idea of a pageant just made him feel uneasy, especially since he was competing against Gourry who had good looks and big muscles that despite what Amelia had told him. The main reason he didn't want to be involved was because of the close scrutiny he would be under and that his chances didn't appear that good in his mind's eye. "But we need to know the truth and that's more important then any embarrassment I feel."
"So how does one go about winning a beauty pageant anyway," he asked.
"You have a few advantages that Gourry doesn't, mainly me," the princess smiled. Zelgadis looked at her in confusion. "I've planned lots of palace events for Daddy and have attended countless others. So not only can I plan your appearances I also know how to dress you for the occasion," she explained. "Trust me and we'll win."
Amelia opened her notebook and began flipping pages with one hand as she grabbed for her mug of tea with the other. "I've already planned the events you should be seen at as well as some color schemes for your clothes. The main thing we need to focus on are Q & A, talent and Monster Bashing."
"And what may I ask is monster bashing?"
"Lina forgot to mention it; it's a part of the pageant that dates back its origins. Basically you have to defeat a monster," she explained.
"Obviously considering the name but they're must be something else to it," he mused.
"You'll be rated on how you defeat the monster. In the competition you'll be evaluated on the level of destruction you cause to the area, how fast you react to the monsters attacks, how long it takes you to defeat it, how you defeat it and the condition the monsters in afterward."
"I guess I'll have to be quick and efficient if the judges are going to be looking for all of that."
"There's also the talent competition, what are we going to do about that?"
Zelgadis thought for a moment. "Leave that to me," he said quickly, "What are we going to do about clothes."
The princess smiled and flipped to another spot in her notebook. "Well, I've already found some tailors that look promising."
"Tailors, why don't we just go to a store and buy what we need?"
"Because your clothes need to fit perfectly. How many times have you brought something in your size at a store and it didn't fit completely the way you wanted it to? You need to feel absolutely comfortable in your clothes when you go out there for the competitions and public appearances. Besides custom-made assures us that we get the look we want."
"Which is?"
"Lina's going for the all around nice guy look someone who's friendly and people can relate to."
"And what look are we going for," Zelgadis asked.
"Elegance," the princess smiled, "Someone who's cool and confident, that people have confidence in just by looking at you. A person people are drawn to, that has a quality about them that when you see them you are instantly pulled in."
"I don't know if you're going to be able to get all of that out of me, Amelia. I'm hardly a person people are drawn to." He looked off into the dining area as people ate, drank and smiled happily. "He's still thinking low of himself," Amelia thought. "I guess hoping for a change overnight was a bit much."
"I won't have anymore of this negative thinking," she said aloud," If your going to win you have to believe you can," she pleaded grabbing his arm. Zelgadis saw the urgency in her eyes along with the conviction. "You are a person people have confidence in. When there's a problem you always handle things objectively. Everyone knows when something's wrong they can always turn to you because you're so level-headed and smart," she smiled reassuringly.
"I've sent out word to a few tailors while you were gone, we'll be stopping by some shops today to see they're work first hand. Don't worry I'll try not to make this too overwhelming for you." She looked down and realized she was still holding his arm tightly and released her grip and began flipping pages in her notebook frantically. "How did you send out word so quickly?"
"Through the Faster Fairies Courier Service. They were recommended by a waitress here and I found the tailors through the Briseral Business Review Guide in the bookstore two stores down."
Zelgadis was impressed; she'd gotten a lot done in the time he was gone. Her confidence in him and the quick efficient manner she was handling everything gave him a sense of confidence going into the pageant. "So I guess we're off to the shops then?"
"Hopefully one of these will pan out an we can get your measurements done tonight. We'll need a rush order on the clothes considering this thing officially starts tomorrow." Amelia took another sip of tea and set down her mug. "The one part I need to seriously talk to you about is the swimsuit competition. I figured it would be the event you'd dread the most."
"And you're so right," he said dryly. "I'll manage as long as I don't have to wear anything skimpy." He watched as Amelia fought the urge to laugh.
"Okay, so we've got clothes for the public appearances and a list of events for the festival," Lina said checking off items on her list. "Now we need some formal wear and swimwear. We also need to figure out what to do for the talent competition. Gourry do you have a talent for something?"
Gourry looked at her from behind the pile of clothes boxes he carried. "I don't know, I'll have to think about it."
"Okay we've got two days to figure that one out and the Monster Bashing is going to be child's play I think."
"You mean I have to beat up some monster," Gourry looked surprised.
"Looks that way."
"How come you didn't mention that earlier?"
"I missed that section of the pamphlet, don't worry you've fought monsters before this'll be easy," Lina smiled.
"But Zelgadis has magic and I don't."
"The way I figure it Zel's got his magic . . ."
"And is pretty good with a sword," Gourry interrupted.
"And is pretty good with a sword," Lina agreed, "You're good too but you also have the Sword of light. The way I figure it what each of you has and doesn't balances you guys out to an equal match."
"I hope you're right," the swordsman said as they entered another shop.
"Of course I am, now lets think about that swimwear competition."
Deep Sea Dolphin Swimwear as the shop called itself had a wide selection of beach and swimwear for the sorceress and the swordsman to choose from. It turned out that the owner of the store had placed her vote for Gourry and was more then willing to help them find something right for the competition.
Lina thought they should show off as much of Gourry's physique as possible an picked out a selection of Speedo's in various colors. Gourry blushed profusely as did the saleslady, though Lina could tell she was dying to see him in it. After an hour of begging, pleading and all other manner of argumentation they were able to convince Lina that the Speedo's wouldn't be appropriate for the pageant.
"And besides," the owner explained, "this particular suit was custom-made for a prominent customer and it's only a sample item. I don't think he'd be too happy to know that his favorite style was worn by someone else."
"Your most prominent customer," Lina asked.
"Yes, I asked him once why he liked them so much all he would tell me was that's a secret."
Lina groan at the realization of who this prominent customer was an blushed bright red as she conjured a mental image of Xellos in a Speedo. "I'm sure its just because they're so well made and comfortable," Lina reasoned.
They finally decided on a pair of trunks that were comfortable, modest but very flattering. The owner was also able to recommend a shop that dealt in formal wear. They stopped at the tavern so that Gourry could unload his boxes of clothes. Lina found Bubbles outside playing with some local children an asked a waitress if she would keep an eye on him until they returned.
"So what do we do now," Gourry asked.
"Head over to the Palisades, since that's were the pageants going to be."
So far they had visited two tailors who did nice work but wasn't as good as Amelia would have liked for Zelgadis. The third tailor however had a broad selection of fabric types and colors. The tailor also showed samples of his workmanship that impressed the princess so much she decided that Fantasies Alive Tailoring would be the perfect place to have the chimeras clothes made.
Zelgadis went along quietly as they went from different shops to the one Amelia finally selected. He didn't see the differences from one to the other and wondered why she was being so particular.
"It's simple," she explained, "This is going to be a rush order, we need someone who can do good, quality work very quickly with excellent stitching. Along with a large selection of colors and fabrics already in stock." Then Amelia grabbed him and handed him over to the tailor so he could get the chimera's measurements.
Amelia watched as the tailor asked him to remove his sword and shoes and began to pull out his tape measure. While they worked she decided to pick out colors for the clothes. She had originally thought of dark colors like black or navy blue to compliment and flatter his features as well as clothes with long lines that flattered his physique. But upon seeing the tailor's selection she immediately changed gears. The selection of dark colors was broad with deep, rich hues and satiny looking fabrics that the princess just knew would compliment Zelgadis beautifully. "There is no way he could lose formal wear with all these colors to choose from," she thought.
"Miss, I've finished taking his measurements," the tailor called regaining her attention. "I don't do shoes here Miss but I know a fellow down the way who can fix you boyfriend here up with a nice pair."
The chimera and the princess looked at each other wide-eyed then turned away blushing. "H-he's not my boyfriend," she said quietly.
"My mistake."
"That's all right," the princess laughed nervously.
"Well, why don't you two look through the books to see if there's a style that catches you fancy along with some color swatches while I go write down all these measurements." The tailor went into his office while Zelgadis and Amelia began going through the books.
"Is there anything you see that you like," Amelia asked.
"To be honest, this isn't my forte whatever you pick will do nicely."
"But they're has to be something you like, I don't want to push into wearing something you think looks bad. What about colors? Do you have a favorite color that you think would look nice as a suit?"
He could see she was trying really hard to get some feedback from him. "I did promise to put forth an effort," he thought but he honestly didn't care much about clothes. "Okay, exactly how much stuff are we going to need?"
"Well let's see." She pulled out her notebook. "A suit for formal wear, one for talent depending on what you decide to do an four outfits for the public appearances along with swimwear that makes at least six suits."
"Black."
"What?"
"I was thinking about black for the formal wear. It's simple and basic and you can't go wrong with that," he reasoned.
"And I was thinking of something sophisticated but casual for the public appearances," the princess smiled.
They returned to the books and picked out patterns and colors with more enthusiasm. Amelia thought that since the talent and swimwear competitions were a little more personalized Zelgadis should choose his outfits on his own, which greatly relieved the chimera. "The last thing I want to do is try on swim trunks in front of Amelia."
It took them two hours but they finally finished all their arrangements and the tailor promised to bring everything over by tomorrow morning for fittings and last minute alterations. Amelia decided to go next door and see about shoes, leaving Zelgadis with the tailor studying some fabrics.
"I'd also like to place an order on something I'd like to be delivered separately from the other items."
"Of course," the tailor assured him.
"And could you keep this between us?"
"If that's what you'd like."
"It is and I need you to find som ething for me to go with it," Zelgadis smiled.
Lina and Gourry were returning from the Palisades with the pageant itinerary when they bumped into Amelia leaving the shoe store.
"Hey Amelia, how's it going with Zel," Lina asked.
"Good, how are things going with the two of you?"
"Great," Gourry smiled, "I got all my clothes and some other things and we picked up the pageants schedule," the swordsman beamed excitedly.
"So have you gotten your schedule yet," Lina asked.
"I believe that's next on our list," Zelgadis said leaving the tailors shop after spotting the others outside.
"Actually, I've already taken care of that," the princess smiled.
"Let me guess the Faster Fairies Couriers, right?"
"Yep. I sent someone over to pick up everything we'll need a while ago."
"Then I guess you guys are all set," Lina smiled. "Gez, she used a courier service, I wish I'd thought of that," the redhead thought silently, "I'm really going to have to work hard to keep up with her."
"Let's head back and get some dinner," the princess suggested.
"Dinner, now you're talking. We'll catch up to you in a minute 'kay," Lina smiled.
"All right," Zelgadis answered then he and Amelia headed off.
"Why aren't we going with them Lina?"
Lina looked at Gourry and smiled. "If you're going to beat Zel we're going to have to work on your beauty regimen."
"Beauty regimen?"
"I'll work one up for you tonight, in the meantime we're going to the tavern and you're eating dinner then going to bed."
"Go to bed, but it's still early."
"You'll need you beauty sleep for tomorrow," she explained then dragged him back to the tavern.
Amelia glances behind her and noticed Lina and Gourry in deep conversation.
"Tomorrow's the big day Zelgadis how do you feel?"
"Fine. Am I supposed to feel something else?"
"Well . . . no, I guess not," she said quietly and they continued on in silence.
"Tomorrow," the chimera thought. That was when he and Amelia would begin working to find the answers to they're questions. "And that's when we'll find out if the answer we get is the one we really want to hear."