This is a little essay on how I changed from being a fan of the alternative couples in Slayers to becoming the traditional couples fan I am today.

I began watching Slayers right with the first tape of the first season. Then, interest piqued, I bought tapes two and three. For a month or so, I only owned those three tapes. This means I was only acquiainted with Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadiss (as a bad guy). Zelgadiss quickly became my favorite character. Being the romantic fangirl that I am, I decided that my favorite should have a romantic interest. Lina was the only main female character so far in the series, so I decided that Zel and Lina made a great couple. I had become fond of reading fanfiction a few months earlier when I discovered Pokemon, so I went forth on the Internet to find Zel/Lina fics.

As I had not yet seen tape four, I did not know what Amelia was like in the series. Everything I knew about her was based off of what I read on the 'Net. I was frequenting mostly Zel/Lina sites at that time, so the impression I got of Amelia was that she was a pest, who's only purpose in the show was to glomp Zel and hang all over him. I had a crush on Zel at the time (really, I did!), so I probably felt rather jealous of Amelia. Anyway, the point is, I did not care for her at all during that period.

Then, I bought tape four and soon after, tapes five through eight of the first season. After I had seen Amelia for myself, she didn't seem so bad. She was rather clumsy and immature, but she didn't glomp Zel all the time. In fact, I didn't see her glomping him, at all! My opinion of Amelia began to change. I had also found "Slayers in Dreamland" during this time in my fandom. The fic strongly influenced the way I looked at Amelia as a character, and Amelia/Zel as a couple. I began to look upon both positively.

A note about Amelia's klutziness and immaturity in the first season: Keep in mind, she was only about fourteen years old at the time. Of course she was going to be more immature than the rest of the gang! She had not yet experienced the realities of the world outside of Saillune, unlike the rest of Lina's group.

I went on to Next with Zel/Lina continuing to be my favorite couple. Then, I saw Xelloss. He rapidly took Zel's place as my favorite character. And, as I stated a few paragraphs ago, I felt that my favorite should have a love interest.

So, with Martina, Amelia, and Lina as choices, I decided that Lina would be the best girl for Xelloss. I immediately searched out any fics with Xelloss and Lina as the main couple. Zelgadiss and Lina was no longer my couple of choice.

I began to like Zel and Amelia as a couple more and more as Next progressed. Amelia was maturing and quickly becoming one of my favorite characters.

I pretty much ignored Lina and Gourry as a couple, even with the ending of Next. I felt that Xelloss should have a romantic relationship, and Lina was it. (Yes, I know that he's a Mazoku and shouldn't be able to love. I still think he is capable of the emotion. It's just very strongly repressed, what with his position in the hierarchy and all.)

A couple of months later, I began to read about Filia on websites. Filia and Xelloss began to appeal to me. There was a period in which I read and supported Lina/Xel and Filia/Xel about equally. Which of thosre two couples I focused on during any given day depended largely on my mood. Some days, I felt like reading a good Xel/Lina fic. Other days, Xel/Filia was just what I was looking for. Then, I bought myself the entire Try series at one time through a fansubber during this period. After seeing Filia and Xelloss interact for myself, they began to appeal to me as a couple more and more. Eventually, Xel/Lina fics just didn't satisfy me as much as they once did. Xel/Filia became my couple of choice.

That brings me to today. I am now a strong supporter of Xel/Filia as a couple. Zelgadiss/Amelia has become my second favorite couple. I also believe that Lina and Gourry make a wonderful couple. ^_^

As you can see, I've gradually changed from an alternative couples fan to a traditional couples fan. (I personally believe that Xel/Filia is a Trad couple. Click here for more on this topic.)

True, there are some couples I do not like to read about in fics. However, I do not believe that fans of those couples should be bashed for their preferences. In short, respect my views, and I'll respect yours in return.