Naga and the Shadow Mirror Clones

Chapter 2

The two women ended up by the lake. After some calling out, and stopping to pick a few plants on Shadow Naga's part, they moved on. "I'll bet she's looking for berries in the old fire glade." she said as they walked through the woods.

I follow you in silence all the while thinking back on my adventures with my Lina, which makes me cry silently as I walk along behind you.

Eventually they reached the glade. "Lina? Lina!" called Shadow Naga as they entered. There was no response at first, but after they moved around and called again a voice answered. "Yes? Oh, Naga, love, come here and help! The gooseberries are out early this year!" shadow Lina said."

"Oh, yummy! I'll be right there my precious! But we have a visitor!" shadow Naga replied. A little red head popped up from the brush. "We do? Well, welcome visitor! Who is it?" she asked. "Oh, just come and see!" was Naga’s reply.

I wait till she gets close, and then…"Ooooo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo! Ooooo, hoo, hoo, hoo! So we finally meet again Little Lina!” I say this as I flip back the hood and smile a very warm and genuine smile of delight.

"GYAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" screamed Lina, falling on her behind and dropping her basket of berries...

"Love? Are you alright?" gasped shadow Naga as she knelt beside her and gave shadow Lina a protective hug.

I drop to my knees very sad and say “I am so sorry Lina. I just wanted to surprise you just once seeing as I have not seen you in so long.

Shadow Lina looked back and forth between the two of them, then finally relaxed and started to laugh. "Oh my, Miss Naga! I never ever thought we'd see you again! Well, you certainly surprised me..." Then she realized about the basket as she sees all the berries on the ground "Oh NO! Wahhh, my berries! And I pricked myself so many times on those bushes getting them too..." she practically wailed.

Shadow Naga hugged her tight and said "Hush, hush, it'll be okay. We will all pick them up and your basket will be full again in no time!" She set to work picking. As did Shadow Lina.

I even give you a hand picking them up and as we do so I ask “So, how have you two been doing as of late. I haven’t heard a word about you two since we went our separate ways. So, please give me an update!”I ask, happy once again.

"Well,” said shadow Lina "we wandered around for a bit, trying to be nice to people, but they didn't understand us, so we ended up settling down here in an old abandoned cottage which we were able to fix up enough to be livable. The local villagers eventually accepted us, and realized we weren't you and Miss Lina, so they left us alone and we even made some friends. Not deep friends mind you, but they talk to us, and we can go and buy things and Naga, I mean my Naga has a part time job with one of the seamstresses in town, so, between that and the herbs and things, we make a living. And it's nice and quiet here, so yeah, that's what we've been up to. We keep hearing stories about you though. Are you still wandering around?"

“Yes, I am, as always. I never have been able to settle down so I keep wandering around the land” I reply.

"Well, well..." shadow Lina said. Then, she realized her basket was finally refilled and beamed as she held up the bounty.

”We should go back home." said shadow Naga. "It's starting to get dark."

“Ok! Sounds like a plan.” I enthuse, “And I cannot wait to try some of the pie that will be made from these berries.” I add as I lick my lips.

The girls giggled at that, and then they all walked home. "So, Lina, did you find any mushrooms?" asked shadow Naga.

"No, I didn't, well, plenty of buttons, but they need one or two days before they open fully, so it's back again tomorrow I think, Naga." was the reply. "Err, I mean..." she said, looking between the two Naga’s.”This is going to be confusing..." she sighed.
“You may call me Naga, and if my daughter doesn’t mind being called Gracia, then that will make it easier don't you think?” I suggest.

"Uh?" said shadow Lina.

Eager to please, the now renamed Gracia piped up, "Oh that would be fine, Gracia is a lovely name don't you think?"

"S-sure it is!" smiled shadow Lina, sounding a bit unsure. "And I guess I get to just be Lina, he, he, he..." she giggled. Then, with a smirk she added “I wonder what my Naga will think when she finds out I have a Gracia?" she added.

"We'll just have to find out, won't we?" giggled Gracia in reply.

I laugh a normal laugh at this as I walk along, happily. “So tell me, girls, you say you don’t have much to do with the villagers. Do you live alone then? No friends at all? Or do you have anyone special, lovers perhaps, of your own? I ask, prying a bit.

The girls gave a little jump, in sync yet, and then blushed, and giggled... they couldn't bring themselves to say the words, but, after a minute they shyly reached out and took each other's hand. They hoped Naga would get it, and they prayed she wouldn't mind...

Walking in front of you two I wonder about the silence, so I turn to ask again, see you two holding hands and blushing “that” sort of blush, then I trip and fall flat on my butt. I sputter, then say “You two are lovers? Well, well… I wish you two a very happy future, then, and I hope you don't meet the same end Lina and I met…”

“What end was that, mommy? asked Gracia.

I reply “A sad one, but I will tell you about that later” as I get up and brush myself off. I resume walking and flip my hood over my face, pretending I am chilly, but really it is to hide a blush that I have on my own face…

"Well...” said one of them, "it's not like we could exactly meet people like us”

“And besides, we do have so much in common, and, well, it just felt so right..." said the other.

"Still does..." they both said."

"I'm happy for you two, I truly am happy for you" I say as cheerily as I can, but again, tears start to roll down my face as I silently cry for my Lina.

Being that Naga was ahead of the girls they didn't see the tears. On the other hand she didn't see the little stolen kiss. But then...

I go to my knees, my silence broken, and I am crying in sorrow. I feel sad, and I am also aggravated at myself for giving in as I sit there for a minute. I stay silent, then I stand up abruptly and keep going to your cottage.

The girls, being behind Naga stop in amazement, not sure what's going on. "M-mommy, are you alright?" asked Gracia. But Naga just got up and went on in silence. They looked at each other, not knowing what to make of it.

"I will be fine sweeties." I say, as I keep walking. I can't talk about it yet, it hurts too much.

The girls followed Naga in silence. When they got to the cottage they settled her in to a chair, and then gave her some of the still warm left over tea. Leaving her to settle down, they set to work making supper and, of course, pie. The meal would be ready quickly enough, though the pie was going to need at least an hour. "Wow, your mom." said Lina. "I wish my mom would show up, just once."

"I know, love, and who knows, she might. I met my mom by accident today, so anything's possible..."

I sit there, completely lost in thought as I wonder about what could have been. I stare off into nothing then realise that I am also starring at Lina...

I sigh absently as I sip on the tea.

Oblivious to the stare, Lina smiles as she and Gracia set to work. The pie is quickly set out, the vegetables are simmering, the fire is stoked, and there is even tea water heating, all in very short order. Figuring it’s okay, they give each other a little peck and giggle some more as they start to set the table.

I sit there stewing, and I get more and more depressed. I suddenly jump up and ask "Can I help in anyway? I need to do something, or I am going to go nuts!"

The girls are startled again. "Uh, well, uh..." they say as they look at each other, trying to think.”Well, if you want, but only if you want, uh, can you get us a bucket of water from the well, please?" Gracia asks.

"Yes I can sweetie! *I reply. I grab a bucket, run to the well, and grab the water. I walk carefully walk so as not to spill a drop. I don't knock as I open the door,I just walk right in.

"Oh thank you!" said Gracia as she took the bucket from Naga. "The meal is ready, please sit down and we can begin." she smiled.

"Okay!" I say. I sit down and starts to eat like a Princess does, falling in love with the food as I eat "My complements to the chefs on all of this, it is just so delicious!" I say,remembering my manners. It helps that the food really is first class too. Finally, the food is eaten, then the dishes are washed, dried, and put away...

I say "Ahhhhhh. Ok I feel it is time to tell you why I have been a wreck since I got here. The truth is, after you two were made and we left, well, Lina and I sort of fell in love. It was a cold night and as we snuggled to stay warm we started to talk about this and that to pass the time. I mentioned how I thought she was pretty, and it snowballed from there. A few months later we were a happy, but secret, couple and I thought all was well, but, of course, then it happened. She said she wanted some space for a little while and I over reacted, like I always did, and we fought. More than likely you heard about it, it was a nasty fight, lots of cursing and calling of names, and we attacked each other, then we went our separate ways." I sighed. "I have not seen her since and seeing you two happy just reminds me of what I lost. That is why I was crying so much."

The girls looked at each other, tears standing in their eyes ('cause the shadows always were softies...).

"Oh mommy, how sad for you." mourned Gracia. "But you know, knowing you as I do, I'm afraid I can't say I'm surprised, you've always been so quick to over react..."
"Yeah, well, she's not the only one..." said Lina, blushing as she remembered some of the pranks her mother had pulled. "That shadow projection thing with her big sister, Luna, for example... No, on second thought, better not go there..."

"No, too late, I must know about this, so please tell me about it."reply, curious to hear about it.

"D-don't you know the tale?" asked Lina.

"No, I do not. I didn't even know Lina had a sister. What happened then?" I ask in pure interest.

Lina looked up and gulped. "Well, err, in your Lina's childhood there was this incident with Lina and her sister Luna, something about a shower and the spell called Shadow Projection...

I nod in interest. "Please, do go on." I encourage.

Uh, well, uh, I guess there had been a squabble, you know, Lina was twelve, Luna was fourteen, and they did the bickering kids do from time to time..."

"Yeah, we did that with Amelia sometimes..." said Gracia quietly, remembering some of Naga's past...

I gulp. "Yes, we did..."

"Yeah?" said Lina. "Well, Lina wanted revenge, so, she got some young men in the town to give her money, and then she did a shadow projection of Luna having a shower for them..."

Lina went on. "Of course, she was twelve, and, well, she got caught, and the rest is too horrible, I, I don't want to remember it..." she shuddered.

"It’s ok Lina." I say as I walk over and hug her. I turn to the other me. "Gracia, do you remember spying on mommy and daddy during there alone time?" I say, trying to lighten the mood. Do you remember how she used to dance for him in this very outfit I am wearing right now?"

"Oh, I remember..." said Gracia, with a blush.”And that's not all they did..."

"Yes, I know."I say softly. I lean over to Gracia’s ear and whisper "I have an idea. Why don't you dance for Lina in a outfit like mommies outfit and relax Lina while I go look for my Lina and see if I can patch things up with her?" I couldn't help but giggle excessively at the look on Gracia’s face...

Gracia looked at Naga with a very perplexed look. "Huh?" she said. "You want me to do what, while you do what???" she asked.

Laughs whole heartedly. "You know what I said, sweetie..."

"Uh, she doesn't need to do that..." said Lina, just as perplexed, and obviously having hearing just as good at the original Lina's.

"Wait, do you still have the one you had on when you were made?" I ask.

Gracia blushed deeply. "I, well, it was part of me when I was made, so I never got rid of it, but, it's well hidden. Do you want it?"

"Take me to it, and you put it on, ok sweetie? I want you and Lina to have a great time while I am gone, ok? I will help you put it on if you need me to." I offer.

Gracia was shocked. "But we don't need... and anyway, uh, that's kind of personal..."

"Oh go ahead," giggled Lina. "Indulge your mother. I already know what you've got underneath it anyway..."

Gracia blushed deeply. "Oh, alright... I can play along, I suppose..." she said. She scratched her head in puzzlement. "Are mothers always this weird?" she asked.

"Do you need to ask that? We have the same mind, basically."I say. I walk in with her. I tell her to get only the parts she needs, such as the top, bottoms, boots, gloves, tiara, and the garter. "Will you need a hand?" I ask as I help set it out."

Gracia blushed again. "N-no, I know how it goes on..." she said, gently pushing Naga out the door and closing it.”I can’t believe I'm doing this..." she sighed as she started to get dressed.

I sit and wait beside Lina so I can see her expression. Don't worry Lina, I will leave before she starts dancing, ok?"

Lina giggled. "And I know just the tune to get her dancing too..."

I look confused at that one.

Finally, there was a creak as the door opened and a very shy looking Gracia came out. She had put the cloak on and wrapped it around herself. "I, uh..." she said, stepping into the room.

"I'm not leaving till I see how it looks, and the look on Lina's face." I say.

Lina giggled. "But I did see her, when we were made, remember? And I've seen her since, even in the altogether..."

"Oh Lina!" said Gracia. "Must you? You're so naughty minded when you get going." She sighed. "Oh well, may as well get it over with. Here..." she said, opening the robe and doing her best to strike a seductive Naga like pose. It was a good attempt, even if the outcome was more comical than seductive..."

I nod my head and giggle a little, before saying "Well, I will leave you to your fun. With that I walk out the door, cast ray wing, and I am off like a shot.

The two shadow girls looked at each other and sighed. "Well, that was bizarre." said one. "I wonder if we'll ever see her again?" said the other.

After a minute, Lina gave Gracia a warm hug and said "I know that costume bothers you, let me help you take it off. You "dance" so much better in the nude anyway..."

Gracia giggled and said "How could I refuse such a fair offer?"

The girls made an early night of it...