Naga and the Shadow Mirror Clones

Chapter 8
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"Jeez will a sorceress’s work never end..?" She looked around, blankly. "What the heck happened in here...?"

Lina looked at the sudden interruption, stared blankly for a minute, then screamed and promptly hid behind Gracia. "It, It's, HER!!!"

"What the HELL is going on...?" asked a perplexed Lina Inverse, as she looked from one Naga to the other...

Gracia forgot all that just happened and instinctively hugged Lina to protect her, all the while, staring wide eyed at the newcomer...

Lina Inverse looked at the Lina cowering behind Gracia and slapped her forehead.

A mixed look of fear, regret, and happiness springs up on my face as I walk over and grab Lina's sword. I kneel to offer it to her, and I start to beg for forgiveness. “They are our shadow clones Lina.”

"Hoooown, you've GOTTA be frickin' kidding me..."

“Please don't hurt them Lina, they are more scared than you think.”

"Why would she do that?" asked a perplexed Gracia.” Lina peeked out from behind her and said "M-mommy?"

"Hurt them...? Why would I want to do that..." she asked as she closed her eyes and made a fist "...when the person that I'm pissed at..." here she thwacked Naga over the head "...is YOU!?"

"OUCH! Lina if it will make you forgive me I will pay you back every single copper piece, 10 fold...”

Lina snatched the sword out of the air after it was dislodged from Naga's grasp.

"I'll take that, thank you."

Gracia was up in an instant. Call it instinct. She got between Naga and Lina. "P-please, don't hurt my mother, she suffered so much when you stabbed her... Please Miss Inverse, is it your sword you want? It's here, just take it and go, please..."

Lina came forward and stared at, well, Lina... "Mommy..." she said softly, tears standing in her eyes. She knew she'd never get Lina to be there for her like Naga had been for Gracia. Even if things weren't too good, she had talked to Gracia , given her a sense of belonging... But not for Lina...

"You're MOTHER...? Whatever... just get outta the way unless you want some too." "I'm not done with your so-called Mom yet." she snarled as she shoved Gracia off to the side, dismissively, before rolling up her sleeves* "Now where WERE we Naga” Something finally dawned on her “ - - Why... are you naked...?"

And I still love you Lina I am sorry for jumping to conclusions and I feel it is only right to tell you I am the older sister to Amelia Will Tesla Seyruun, yes, I am the lost Princess of Seyruun...”

"You're the WHA--?"

Gracia fell off to one side as Lina shoved her away. She knelt down and held a hand over her mouth, waiting to see what was next...

“How do you think I can pay you back every copper piece 10 fold?”

(Naga's... princess Gracia??! I-I well... I guess her and Amelia DO look alike now that I'm really thinking about it) Lina thought to herself as she scratched her head in bewilderment.

"Ok, coin later... and what you tried to pull before you took off with my sword...”

“NOW.”

I go down on my hands and knees and beg for your forgiveness for everything. “I just want you back Lina on better pretenses...”

Lina stress marked and kicked Naga over. "Gods Naga, when did you get so PATHETIC?"

"Ouch! Lina, you never tried to get it back, you even walked away from me. When I lost you Lina is when I got so pathetic...”

"Just what were you thinking back there - -” She turned and glared at shadow Lina. "Put some clothes on will ya... that's really embarrassing..."

Again, Gracia couldn't help herself. She ran over to Naga and threw herself on the woman. "Please! Don't hurt her, don't..." she begged of Lina, holding Naga protectively

Lina grimaced and thought to herself “I'm going to be sick...”

“Its ok Gracia, I need to do this for myself, okay, sweetie?”

Lina stress marked and muttered "This whole thing is a mess, I don't need any of it..."

Lina frowned. "What do you care?" she snapped at the real Lina. Then she joined Gracia standing between Lina and Naga. "Hey! She's my mommy too, since you don't want the job. Leave us alone."

I stand up and walk up to Lina and say “Please Lina, hear me out...”

"Heh heh... sure, I don't need any of this at all... Save it Naga... have fun with the clones... this is way to weird for my tastes." She turned to leave while strapping her short sword to her hip.

“Fine then, you can forget your money.” I say, with a look of fear on my face.

If anything would make Lina Inverse freeze in her tracks, that was it...

“I will only pay you back if you listen to what we have to say, Lina...”

"You're telling me that you're willing to pay me back every single coin that you ever jipped me out of...?" "I seriously doubt that Naga."

I pull out of my skull necklace the seal ring of Seyruun to prove that I am not joking. “I told you I would pay you back every copper piece 10 fold and as Prince Phil’s oldest daughter I can do it with ease.”

Lina glared at the clones. "Have a seat you two." She held her hand out to Naga. "Let me see it..."

I hand it to you and you can see plane as day that it is the genuine article
Lina sighed. "Unbelievable... Alright Naga... or... should I say Gracia... spill it." She tossed the ring back, after a bit more examination.

Lina glared at Lina Inverse. How dare this strange woman speak harshly to the Mistress? Gracia just sighed and whispered. "I don't know what's come over me, I feel so protective of her now, and I was just trying to kill her myself..." Lina just shushed her...

I catch the ring and start talking. “Well what do you want to know, Lina?”

But by now the real Lina had noticed the glare, and returns it "Hold on Naga..."

I snap very loudly to get everybody’s attention.

Lina Inverse bore down on her clone. "Look... 'sister' I don't know just who the hell you think the real Lina Inverse is, but I'm not in the mood for this. If you have something you want to say, then SAY it." she commanded as she ignored the snap and glared at the false Lina for challenging her.

“Hey, she knows that she is not the real Lina.”

The two clones instinctively looked at Naga's snap, and deffered to her authority. Even Gracia seemed to be slipping into an obedience mode....

Lina heard Lina and said "I could say lots, but Mistress won’t let me..."

"Mistress...? You make me sick to look at me..." gagged the real Lina.

“(L-Sama help me to get through this) Lina just ask me what it is you want to know...”

"Look, if Naga's holding you back then I'll deal with her and you can say your piece to me later in private." said Lina Inverse to her clone. She turned to face Naga "First off Naga, I want to know why you're just telling me all of this now. Secondly, I want to know why you want me back all of the sudden now, when the main reason we broke up back then was because of your constant teasing and insults."

“Well I was very distraught over the fact that I saw my mother’s murder and I killed the assassin who was there to kill me...

"Thirdly, I want to know why you've suddenly become this quivering mass of jelly that I see in front of me now..."

“I have wanted you back since the day after all that happened...”

Lina was about to say something but Gracia took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Patience, love, patience, we better let mommy handle this for now..." she counseled. Lina slowly nodded. "Just let her try and hurt her though..." she muttered back...

“And the reason I am different is because I have finally let go of the past and have gone back to my former self, like I was before the night of my mothers murder.” said Naga. She stress marked at shadow Lina's comment. I look over to my daughters with a look to say please don't talk right now I will be fine.

"So you're telling me... that... you're Gracia now... or again..."asked Lina Inverse.

"Oooooh, you can go back to being Naga then?" Lina quietly asked Gracia. "I-I don't know... this is confusing..." the taller copy girl replied.

Again is more like it I have finally accepted that I could not have saved Mommy and that it was not my fault that she died.

"Ok... I still don't see what this has to do with me..." said real Lina, cautiously.

“I also finally see what it was that my comments have done to you, and as I said before I am willing to do ANYTHING, just to have you back.” As I say this a tear falls down my check.

Lina rustled her crimson mane in agitation. "Look Naga, regardless of what you say now... I'm not the same person that I was back then..."

“I see... So it is true then you are in love with the Blonde haired swordsman?”

"G-Gourry??"

The copy Lina said quietly to Naga "Mistress, I can be all the Lina you need, if she can't see how worthy you are, I can."

“Thank you Lina-Chan.”

Lina raised a crimson eyebrow and looks over at shadow Lina. “So... creepy to see... me like that...” she thought to herself.

“Yes I saw the way you acted around him, it is quite clear you are in love, even if you do not want to admit it to yourself.”

"Would ya shut up already?"

Copy Lina noticed Lina's stare. "Does this bother you, mommy? You do remember I have to have your opposite personality, don't you?"

"Stop calling me that... I'm not your Mom." snarled Lina Inverse.

“And my daughter has the opposite from me.”

"And I'm not... in love with Gourry, but I do... love him."

Naga sighed and replied “Lina in a way you are her mom, and as for loving Gourry, well, which one is it?

"Well... I care for Gourry but not in the way..." Lina sputtered, then in silent thought to herself she went on (I used to care for...Naga...? What the hell am I thinking?)

“And he loves you too, Lina, why do you think he takes such a beating from you and never leave you?”

Lina looked confused a second as she trails off, then she got angry "LOOK, I've already told you that I'm not her MOM so get it straight."

“Why is it that you and I can never work out our problems and you join me in fabulous love once again? I still feel as much in love with you as ever before actually I love you more than ever.”

"Fabulous LO-VE...?" Lina blushed slightly. "Are you finished Naga...? Look, I'm sorry but... I... I just don't feel that way about you anymore..." (I can't...)

“Now that I have changed I can finally tell you this the reason I picked on your chest size was because deep down I was jealous. I really love the fact that yours are the size that they are and I wished that mine were smaller.

*stares at you blankly*

“It is the truth...”

*continues to stare blankly*

“Did I... say something wrong, Lina-Chan?”

Lina Inverse thought to herself “She really MUST be desperate to get back with me trying to shovel that load of bull at me...” Then she spoke to Naga "So everyone else I've ever met thinks my breasts are..." She trailed off, unable to bring herself to finish that sentence. "But, you were secretly jealous."

Copy Lina turned to copy Gracia and asked "Uh, if that's how she feels, how do you feel about me?" she asked suspiciously. "Uh..." said Gracia, sweat drop rolling down "I love you more than life, Lina, I think you are perfect..." Lina saw the sweat drop and started sniffling. "So you lied all this time didn't you? You don't like my chest after all!" Lina shouted. Gracia just hid her face in her hands and stress marked....

"Come off it Naga, you've always been proud of those over grown udders hanging from you and you KNOW it."

“Yes I was. Could you not tell when we made love? At how I paid them so much attention? Lina it was just an act. I have always thought mine where nice but I have always wanted mine to be smaller and when I saw that you were self conscious about them I discovered that I could hide the fact that I loved them by insulting them, but, did you not see the small look of pain on my face every time I did so?”

Lina blushed vividly "NAGA...!" She slapped Naga over the head with a sandal while still blushing...

“Ahhh, no, not the Bunny Slipper...”

"Could you NOT, say things like that in front of..."

“What? Not in front of the kids?”

The copy girls gasped at Lina's attack and stepped forward to defend Naga...

“No girls, I am fine, I am used to this...”

(I warned them... that's IT.) "Fireball."

“Balus wall!” I cast it around the fireball to keep the house and them safe

"Oh... is it 3 on 1 now?"

“No Lina! Stop, please.”

Lina stepped back. After the magical exchange she sighed and gave up. Next time she'd either ignore real Lina and let her attack Naga, or ignore Naga and tell Lina off like she'd never been told off before...

She resumed her conversation with Gracia. "So, you couldn't have been honest with me about how I disappointed you, could you?" Gracia blinked and said nervously "Is this a good time to talk about this?" she asked. "A-anyway, what ever I thought at the start, they grew on me the more I fell in love with you..."

"You know what, FORGET the money... this isn't even worth it." Shouted the real Lina as she turned to leave. “I must be mad...”she thought to herself.

I begin to openly cry, crumpling into a heap on the floor pleading for you not to leave.
Lina angrily thought “All this crap that I thought was over is just being dragged up all over again... I don't need this again...”

Good riddance..." said Lina seeing her go. The "...to bad rubbish" was wisely clamped down on by Gracia's hand over her mouth...

Lina, the real one, halted in her tracks once more. "Oh... that's RIGHT."

“Please Lina, I am the one you have been mad with, if anybody needs to be Dragon Slaved it would be me.”

"Come on small fry, step outside. Apparently the shadow reversal doesn't come into play in relation to the size of the person's mouth that's being cloned." (Jeez, it's like she's begging me to abuse her...)

“If that is what it takes to get you to take me back I will gladly take it...”

Lina's ruby colored eyes soften in expression slightly. "I.. really think it's better that we go our separate ways Naga..." *gaze hardens once more* "I just have something I want to take care of first."

And to tell you another truth I enjoyed getting hit with all those Fireballs it turned me on!”

"It WHA--??" *face faults*

"You're one to talk!" spat Lina. And I answer to my Mistress, you want me to do what you say, give me a reason!" she counter challenged. "You, you're always so quick to use abuse to get your way, all I am saying is "Give peace a Chance..." But you don't even know what that means do you?"

"Uh, beloved, we can't make up if you get yourself killed..." said Gracia, who had a better idea what the look on Lina's face was really warning of.

I look down guiltily and nod. “Yes, it is true.”
"Ok......." Lina got up and walked out the door “Can't believe she just... said that... what the hell is wrong with her... with... with THEM...??” thought Lina to herself,almost staggering at the total weirdness of it all.

I run after her quickly. “Wait Lina PLEASE...”

"Nope, that's more than enough for me Naga... you're REALLY starting to freak me out." Lina snarled as she continued walking. “And those clones are even bigger freaks than before..."

I latch myself onto you, holding on for dear life. “Please Lina, don't do this to me. I need you so very much what do I need to do for you to take me back?”

The copies walked along behind. Lina said "I hope she's going for real this time, I don't like my mommy at all." Gracia sighed, then attempted to lighten the mood by saying “Bet you a freebie something happens..." "Done..." sighed Lina. "You're just lucky I'm such a submissive..."

“Is she doing all of this just to screw with my head...? It's soooo... random... and... weird...” thought real Lina as she balked as Naga grabs hold of her.

You can feel the tears running down my face as I hold onto you for dear life.

Lina threw Naga off and began stamping on her. “NAGA I SAID cut it OUT!"

I start to smile and a slight moan escapes my mouth before I can catch myself...

Seeing Naga getting kicked was too much for the copies. Forgetting Naga's words not to interfere they rushed forward and tackled Lina.

I jump up and pull you two off and set you girls down and scold you.

"URGH...!!" gasped Lina panting heavily after getting winded. "DIGGIR... BOOOOOLT!!!" *fries the entire surrounding area*

“Lina, why did you do that to us?” I say with a hurt look and tone as I look at you.

The girls were torn apart and thrown in separate directions. Thus there was no one next to Gracia when she shook the fuzz out of her head and finally decided the worm had turned. "Lina Inverse!" she said sharply. Maybe you think it's fun to pick on our mother and Mistress, but we've had enough. You call her names and claim she insults you, then do the same yourself. One thing I cannot stand is a Hypocrite! I've never done this before, but now I think it's time!" she held her hands up and commanded "Demona Crystal!"

"WHOA – FIREBALL!"

The fireball met the incoming Demona Crystal. It was a good spell, but clumsily executed as the caster had no practice. "What?" screamed Gracia. She had her counter ready. "Freeze Arrow!" she shouted releasing a missile of ice.

At the same time, copy Lina had decided enough was enough and cast her own spell. "Flare Arrow!" she yelled, releasing an arrow of fire at the same instant Gracia's ice missile was shot.

"Amateurs..." *holds out a hand as the spells fly towards her* "Megaaaaaa..."

I cast Balus wall to stop the attacks on Lina as I glare at my two girls to make them stop.”Girls that is enough. Chill out and calm down now, you got it? I will be fine, understand?” I say with a commanding voice.

"BRAND!" Lina cast the spell, then stress marked as she realized the girls are shielded by the Ballus Wall...

“Lina. Girls. I want you 3 to calm the hell down right now.”

"Calm the HELL DOWN?! You can take that and shove it RIGHT up your ASS Naga!"

Lina balked and stopped. She was already bonded to Naga's commanding nature. Gracia hesitated, her hands still up in the air. Then the Mega Brand hit and she was down again, though fortunately she was not hurt thanks to the shield. Lina ran to her right away and grabbed her into a hug as she cried. "Why? Why?" said Gracia, tears in her own eyes, from the pain. "I'm so confused..." she said...

"I never ASKED to get involved in this twisted little love triangle of yours to BEGIN with!"

I glare at all three of you girls with a look that could strike fear into Shaburanigdu heart. “What the hell does it take to get it through your thick head, Lina, that I love you and I want you back more than anything in the world? I would even cut off my own tits just to prove that I want you back.”

"Well... I guess you can't always have what you want... can you Naga? Now if you psychos will excuse me..."

“What do I have to do Lina huh? What would prove to you that I have changed?”

"Were sorry..." said Gracia. “Please just don't attack our mother physically, we can't stand it. How would you react if your mom was being beaten on?" added Lina.

Lina Inverse turned back around "You don't have to do anything to prove to me that you've changed Naga, I can see that... but I have changed too. Don't you get it?"

“If I paid you back 30 fold would you at least give us a try?”

Glaring at the shadow clones, Lina shouted "MY mother wouldn't provoke this type of treatment to begin with, MY Mother wouldn't treat someone like crap and then come crawling back years later expecting everything to just be magically forgiven. Don't talk like you two could POSSIBLY understand ANY of this."

"I know, I remember her perfectly..." snapped Lina. "I have never had the privilege of meeting her, or daddy, or Luna. I only get to remember them, because I'm not real! Only it hurts like I am, thank you very much. So, Naga comes along, and it's rough, but she tries to be a sort of mother to us. What do you think we do? We take what we can get..."

“Damnit Lina Inverse, I have been trying like hell to fix this problem, I even told you my biggest secrets, and still you wont forgive me just like you won't forgive your sister Luna for what she did to you.”

"We have feelings too, Lina" added Gracia quietly. "Sad, miserable, screwed up, but still, feelings..."

I get up and walk over to my two girls and hug them both. “Its ok even if she won't come around. I will still be your mother. I may be an old maid and be physically alone but I will always be your mother...”

Lina Inverse spun around angrily and shouted "DON'T you BRING Luna into this at ALL Naga. AT LEAST she's CONSITANT!" She calmed herself with an effor then snorted at the clones "Great, everything's all settled then... you guys can have her. I've been trying to leave for over half an hour now..."

“You don't even know how she feels, do you Lina? Because you can't admit you are wrong for what you did and even go back home can you? Don't you think your mommy and daddy have missed you? I even bet Luna does too, she is probably extremely sorry about what she did Lina.”

"You are treading on very dangerous territory here Naga. "My family business is MY family business."

“At least I am willing to forgive others even if it means getting killed today. You need to open your eyes for once in your life and get knocked off your high horse like I was. For one thing when was the last time you heard from your family huh? Do you even know if your mom and dad are in good shape? If they are healthy?
Or even if Luna has been married and you are an aunt or anything like that? Or hell you might be a big sister now for all you know...”

Lina Inverse smirked at Naga, very, very dangerously "Oh girls... I think it may be time for you to start protecting Mommy again..."

I hold my hand back and tell them girls don't get involved I need to do this alone.”

Lina and Gracia cringed. "Uh, Mistress, Lina's really, really touchy about Luna..." warned Lina.

"I'm done talking, Naga." said Lina with a heavy note of finality as she turned to walk off once more.

“I know you are and if you remember last time we were an even match when it came to magic, Lina.”

"Okay..." said Gracia, leading Lina away from the battle field. Orders were, after all, orders...

“Lina you should at least go home and check on your family...”

*continues to walk*

Naga sighed. “Listen, Lina, if I got anything through that thick skull please let it have been that I will always love you, no matter what you do to me.”

*twitches visibly at the last comment and stops walking once more while clenching her fist* "..........."

“Do you remember our first night that we finally did it?”

"Ray... Wing!" *flies off fighting back tears* (Damn you Naga, why now! DAMN it...!) "DAMN IT!"

Please don't go *I cast ray wing and follow very close behind*

"Naga get away! LEAVE me ALONE, the past was the PAST!"

“Why have you changed so much that you won’t even give me a chance?”

The copy girls watched their originals fly off. "Will we see them again?" one asked. "In their caskets maybe." replied the other one, sadly. There was a silence.

"Naga?" said Lina, "I really am sorry, but I really am so weak. What do we do?"

Gracia sighed. "Lets go in and eat, then let's go to bed and I don't mean for sleep. In the morning we can talk about how to try and make things better for us..."

"Can we?" said Lina, weeping for joy. "I'd love that. I love you!" she said.
Gracia smiled. "I love you too..." There was a long kiss...

“Lina, please tell me why you won’t take me back, do you remember the moon that night Lina?”

*finally spins around and hovers while glaring at you bitterly* "Because for the longest time, I couldn't figure out whether I loved or hated you and it tore me up inside day in and day out..."

“Well, what was the verdict?”

"SCREW you AND your moon Naga!"

“Why?”

"Do you really need to ask that question Naga...? I've figured it out finally, so do me a favor and do that yourself as well." *turns and begins flying again*

“Yes I guess I do, because I want you to know that I understand the pain you feel and that it was me who did it. I just want you to see that I am not the same old Naga but a better person. Have I even insulted your chest one time today?”

Lina growled and touched down on a ledge overlooking the sea.

"Naga, this is all trivial bullshit that you're spouting at me. I do NOT want to discuss this any more. Can't you get that through your head?"

Naga gulped and gave in. Quietly, with sorrow in her voice, she said “Well if you decide you want to talk you know where I am Lina.” I fly back home to the little cabin and I walk in and slump down on the couch.

“Girls? Are you two up?”