Chapter Sixteen: Break! Are Words Mightier Than the Sword?

The evenings of Da'Kari were full of soft, warm breezes that blew in off of the sea. The sky was calm and clear; brightly glittering stars were spread across the sky like a wreath of gems. The party was camped in a grove of tropical trees. The remains of what once had been a massive fire was in the center of the grove, along with evidence of the equally massive meal that must have been cooked by it. A hammock was slung between the trees, where an unconscious Ren lay, freshly fallen coconut beside his head.

The rest of the party lay sprawled in various positions, relaxing in the peace. It was a nice change from the hecticness of the last few days. It also gave their meal a chance to digest, as the swollen bellies of several people indicated.

Arcius surveyed this scene. He was standing, leaning on a tree, absently strumming his lute softly. The music contributed quite nicely to the relaxed atmosphere.

"Lords, Ladies," he said. His voice was pitched so everyone could hear him without him appearing to be talking loudly. "I hope you have enjoyed the meal."

Someone in the assembled throng belched.

Arcius smiled. "I have an idea. Since there are so many new faces amongst us, I think we should perhaps play a game. A simple ice-breaker, so to speak. Everyone take a few moments and think of something to tell the group. It can be a fabulous, fantastic story; it can be something about yourself or your past; anything." He strummed his lute again. "I hope for this to be an entertaining way of introducing yourselves. Do give us a little past history; introduce yourself, tell us where you are from, that sort of thing. Take a few moments, and whenever anyone is ready, by all means, speak!"

After a moment, the creepy sorcerer was the first to speak. "I am Vrumugun," he began. "I awoke only about a month ago in a wrecked laboratory. I remembered only my own name and those of a few other people. Among them was Lina Inverse. I gathered some information on these people, and found you all in the underground city."

He turned to Zangulus, sitting next to him. "From what Zangulus has told me, I am one of many of myself. A clone. Where that leaves me now, I don't know. I suppose I'll go with you all for now." Finished, he sat silent, to allow the next person to speak.

Lina looked around the group before standing. She coughed a little, and asked herself again why she was willing to do this. "Alright," she began slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated sharing her past. "Alright. Throughout my life, yep, I've fought lotsa things. I traveled with a big-brea-" She stopped there, then decided to skip that portion of her life entirely.

"Ah well! Let's not dwell on the past! Well, I got away from that partner, and I was headed to Atlas City when these bandits surrounded me!" Her hands made all kinds of motions, casting twisted shadows in the firelight. "I was 'bout to take care of it when Gourry came out of nowhere, and he ran them all out." She rolled her eyes. "Well, I was sorta, um...." She thought for a moment, choosing her words EXTREMELY carefully. "He, uhh... impressed me. Yeah, that's it. And then he, um... sorta... um... Yeah, and he said he'd take me to Atlas City. Then I found out about my -- I mean, his sword, and chased him for it." She thought for a moment. "I guess I'll let him have it, cuz it's kinda dangerous without sumthin' magical, ya know?" She shrugged, then blushed brightly. "I mean, I don't want the jellyfish-for-brains getting killed, since he is my protector and all...." She said the last bit quietly. "And forever is a long time...."

Lyssa snickered the whole time Lina was talking. When the redheaded girl sat down, she smiled. "So you've been in love with him that long, eh?"

Lina blushed harder at Lyssa's comment, giving her a dirty look. "Are you ASKING for death?" she asked calmly.

Gourry sat quietly next to Lina, letting her finish talking. He felt his chest tighten when she said she didn't want him to get himself killed. She actually cared...? But why? She'd said it herself; he was stupid. But even Gourry knew that this was neither the time nor the place to discuss such things.

She had said the last bit quietly enough so that no one could hear it, but Gourry was close enough to her so that he could just barely make it out. Once she'd sat down again, Gourry leaned towards her and whispered matter-of-factly in her ear. "Forever's not that long, Lina. Forever's just as long as we both happen to be alive. And as long as I can help it, I want to spend as long as I'm alive with you."

Lina's eyes widened as she gained herself a good body blush. She sat quickly and looked over to her partner, unable to speak, her mouth stuck a little parted. Did he mean.... No! Baka baka baka! It's no time to think of these stupid things! her mind cried in fustration. Looking back to the ground, she stared intently at her very nice boots.

Filia squirmed uneasily in her seat of grass. She might as well tell her story.... "My name is Filia Ul Copt. I was once a shrine maiden of the Golden Dragons... but after discovering the truth about my people, I disowned them."

The dragon priestess began her tale. "I'll start my story at the point when I first met Lina Inverse. You see, I was sent by my superiors to gain her help... mostly because her sister had already declined. Before Lina knew of my dragon form, I tested her and her friends to see if they could handle the task I would set before them. And they succeeded magnificently.

"We had an adventure, and in the process, I gained myself a son. An Ancient Dragon named Valgaarv had come to hate the Golden Dragons, the Mazoku... just about everyone. He was trying to summon the great Mazoku Lord Dark Star, to create a new world. To destroy everything we knew, and to start over from a blank slate. But... but...." She shook her head lightly, gathering her thoughts. "But in the end... in the end, things worked out. And I was given a gift... a child. You see, Valgaarv was given another chance." Her hands shivered in her lap. "Yet I have lost him. I... we are looking desperately now." Putting her head down, she lay quiet.

Lyssa listened quietly to those around her, then smiled a bit. "I don't think I have a story worth telling. I've spent the equivalent of three thousand years in the Time Gate getting new memories to replaces the bad ones... the bad memories that the bandit people gave me. Whenever I get hurt, my 'Pet Time God', my Darius, makes it so it never happened. Over a thousand years ago some weird guy with green hair, blue eyes and a pentacle on his forehead told me that I was to represent Innocence, and Darius was to keep me in the Time Gate so that I wouldn't get into trouble or get hurt.

"Um, I got bored and ran away, and Darius is OK with that, I guess, 'cause he hasn't called me back. Maybe it's just the proper way time's supposed to flow, otherwise he'd've interfered and I wouldn't be here." She cast a glance around the group of strange people that she had just run into. "To be honest, I was supposed to find this girl who had stolen one of Darius's orbs... but she's not here, so I guess he musta gotten her on his own." She smiled charmingly. "For the most part, I try to make people happy and stuff even when they normally wouldn't be." She giggled suddenly. "Oh yeah, I like to help animals too."

"Bwa-hahahahahaha--" *THUD!* "OW! -- hehehehehahahaHAHAHAHAAH!"

Geltro fell from his tree-branch perch because he was laughing so hard, startling everyone who'd lost track of him in the shadows cast by the campfire. Finally managing to get control of himself, he staggered weakly to his feet.

"Oh, that's so precious. 'Oh yeah, I like to help animals too.'" The small thief shook his head with whimsy.

"So let me get this straight. Something bad happened to you a long time ago, but some absurdly powerful do-gooder made everything nice-nice for you. Not only that, now he prevents anything bad from ever happening to you, so you can go on being perky and bubbly and cute and live in a world of cuddly pink marshmallow bunnies forever and ever?"

In an instant, Geltro's face lost all humor and contorted with pain and rage. "So what makes you so damn special? Why doesn't your special friend give a damn for all the children who live in filth and fear and pain? Or were we just not freaking cute enough for him?"

Geltro was shaking, tears cutting tracks through the grime on his face, his hands clenched into fists. It seemed a certain elf had touched a nerve.

Head cocked to one side, the little elf maiden looked at the grimy boy, not smiling anymore. "Actually, I was his punishment. He did something that ticked a certain god off and was given me to take care of. If anything happens to me, he dies. More than likely, if he didn't have to take care of me, Darius'd let me die like he lets everyone else die." She looked down. "I'm sorry... please don't cry... don't be sad... please?" That was odd, even for Lyssichan. Silent now, she got up and walked over to Geltro, giving him a giant hug. "Please don't cry, because if you cry, then that means something bad happened and bad things shouldn't ever happen to anyone 'cause no one should be sad. Ever...."

Geltro, shocked, became rigid. His face hardened, and he forcefully ignored the warm body trying to comfort him. He wasn't in the mood for comfort.

Briar snorted derisively. "What a maroon. Little girl, you don't know a damn thing about the real world. Oh and don't give me that 'I'm-not-a-little-girl' crap either. Three thousand years worth of some jerk replacing all of your bad memories with good ones doesn't exactly qualify you to be in the real world."

She held up a hand and flexed her fingers. "And 'punishment'? What a crock of shit. An all-powerful god baby-sitting you? I dunno. Seems to me that's probably the equivalent of a rapist getting a finger wagging and being told 'Don't do it again, please.'"

Around the group, reality began to flex and weave. The background changed to a fluffy pink and blue one, filled with lots of cute little animals and people singing and dancing. It looked like something that belonged in a Disney movie. "Let me tell you something, something you apparently haven't picked up on. This ain't the real world."

The scenery suddenly changed to what had to have been an incredibly poor slum. "The world sucks. Sure, there's a bright spot every once in a while, but overall, it sucks."

People began appearing on the street. They were the dregs of humanity. Everyone looked hollow-eyed, thin, and hungry. Here, a man lay in a stupor, empty bottle beside him, oblivious to the rats crawling over him. There, two men pulled a kicking and screaming woman into an alley as passer-bys turned a blind eye to it. Over here, a young boy, blind in one eye and missing half of his left arm, limped slowly along, holding a begging hand out to anyone passing; they ignored him or pushed him out of the way.

"This is the real world, little girl. Don't go spouting hypocrisy about how bad things shouldn't be. If you 'protector' was such a nice guy and bad shit shouldn't be, why doesn't he use his 'phenomenal cosmic power over time' and fix the world right?"

She lowered her hand and the scenery returned to its pastel tropical normalcy. "I'll tell you why, little girl. It's because he's a hypocrite." As an afterthought, she added, "I suppose we can't blame you for being one, either. Since you've been with him for the last three thousand years, I guess you wouldn't know any better."

Tim listened very patiently to Briar's rant before speaking. "Your version of the world is just about as real as the other one. I'm not naive, so don't go there. Our world may not be paradise, but it is far from hell. Like everything else, it is just a matter of choice. Do you try to better yourself -- or do you use your surroundings as an excuse? Personally, I'll take the former."

Ninoa nodded as Tim spoke. "I agree. I wouldn't have made it as far as I did if I let my surroundings dictate what I did. Why, I'd probably be some smear on some warrior's blade by now if I hadn't taken matters into my own hands."

"That is true." Briar leaned back and smiled coldly. "I am so far beyond that. So far...." The last was a whisper. Somewhere in her being, something dark throbbed, as though laughing.

After listening to everyone's words, Lyssa very silently stood and walked off, and just kept walking. She didn't care where she ended up, she just wanted to be away. "Darius wouldn't've lied to me... and... and... the world isn't bad... and if it is, it doesn't have to be... tha... I...." The statement was lost in her throat as the young elf dropped to the ground, unaware of the tears rolling down her face, and VERY unaware that her eye color was changing... or that the shadow of wings had developed behind her. What the hell kind of elf WAS this girl?

Geltro walked up behind Lyssa, stopping two paces behind her. He then spoke in a quiet, flat voice. "Tim has it right, as far as he took it. Yes, there is beauty and happiness in the world. Some of us, though, have had to fight tooth and claw for every tiny scrap of it we can find. Some never find it at all. You had it handed to you on a plate." With that said, the dirty thief returned to the fire.

After a few moments, Lyssa sighed and got control of herself. "I had it handed to me on a plate...?" She looked at the scars on her wrists, and then the rest of her arm... there were many to be seen. "Yeah... a silver platter. The same kind they serve people's heads up on. ...I'm being stupid again...." She walked back to the fire slowly, eyes locked on the ground in front of her, and said no more to any of the party members for fear of making them dislike her more than they already did.

Outside of the circle, away from the dancing fire and off into the secluded shadows, Rill sat curled against the trunk of a tree. Long purple ears drooped sadly, and he rubbed the end of his tail in his hands as it coiled around his feet.

The conversations going on now depressed him, but he seemed to have descended into a melancholy mood ever since they exited the underground city. Although the group had had a decent meal available to them, Rill himself had eaten sparsely.

Then the group started to talk of the choices one had in life; how people could better themselves. Ears twitched at this and hands wrung at his tail harder. Quickly he rose and walked off deeper into the tropical woods. Out of the firelight and divided from the others, he was able to slip away silently.

Copy-Lina munched steadily, cleaning her plate of every possible scrap of food. Then she turned to the spot beside her, where there was still a plate with a perfectly good chicken leg and an almost untouched ladleful of stew. "You gonna eat that?" she asked. No one answered. The boy who'd been sitting there, the strange purple-tailed one, had up and left. When had he-? Never mind. She decided that that meant he'd given up claim on his food, so she grabbed his plate and started to dig in.

The blue-haired elf maiden had walked off as well. She'd come back, but didn't seem all that interested in eating now. Copy-Lina wondered if she could somehow steal her food, too. She found herself replaying in her mind what the elf girl had told of her life story. Three thousand years of being alive. The redheaded sorceress tried to wrap her mind around that, and failed utterly. So incredibly much had happened to Copy-Lina in the past five months; she couldn't imagine the first thing about what it would be like to have countless MORE experiences, countless more memories, at her disposal. An encyclopaedia full of knowledge about people, about places, that you carried around with you everywhere because it was a part of you....

She was only beginning to write her own life's encyclopaedia. Still the most important questions about her existence were mostly unanswered; blank pages that she was slowly trying to fill up as time passed by. Like the 'What am I?' page. At first, that one had been full of endlessly conflicting theories. The Amnesiac theory. The Lina-Inverse's-Long-Lost-Twin-Sister theory. The recent Rosa Vaira theory. The Amazing Freakin' Coincidence theory. But the most likely of all the theories was still the Lina's Clone one.

Meeting the real Lina Inverse had only strengthened that theory. The famous sorceress was loud, brash, fiery, nearly mannerless... just like her. Even their mannerisms were the same. She simply couldn't ignore the way Lina had shoveled food into her face as she ate dinner. It was just like looking in a mirror.

As well, the famous dragon killer looked EXACTLY like her. They were creepy-similar... the one exception being the other sorceress's slightly larger, uh, assets. Considering all the other similarities, though, Copy-Lina had suspicions about that....

So. Not only LOOKING like the real Lina, but ACTING like her as well. And having a similar aptitude for magic. There was no getting around it. If she WASN'T a clone of Lina Inverse, then the world just plain didn't make any sense.

But... being a clone. A copy of someone else. An imitation. The mere idea was hard for her to accept. And she simply didn't know enough about this world to know her place in it. She'd read a magical textbook or two on the creation of clones, but there had been precious little about what was done with clones once they were made. Were there lots of clones out there? Did they have their own clone society? What did normal people think of clones?

Most importantly, what would Lina Inverse think of having a clone?

No, she didn't think it would be wise to broadcast her origins to the assembled throng. At least, not until she found out their attitudes towards copies of themselves walking around with minds of their own.

Chewing steadily, she shot a surreptitious glance over to the cloaked and bejewelled mage. Vrumugun, he'd said his name was. He'd admitted that he was a clone himself. He might be able to answer some of her questions... and as a last resort, 'Clones Of The World Unite!'

Ren turned over in his sleep, and ended up twisting himself out of the hammock entirely, landing on the sandy ground with a thud. Looking rather silly, he rolled around on the sand for a few moments before stopping and opening his mouth. "AY! Fuffy bunny coconut bird say AWOO! Which way be the geeses, my reese's pieces? I'm a groove with the monkies and swing with the bees, 'cuz my knees say please, no, don't tease. I'm the corduroy man and my name is Sam!"

After thoroughly confusing several new members of the group, Ren promptly rolled away, hitting a tree and causing another coconut to fall on his head.

Ninoa then appeared in front of Ren with a water hose in hand and started to hose the dragon down. "Why does he get like this?" she spoke, sighing and shaking her head.

Constance got up from her spot where she had been sitting quietly, and left the group. It was getting too hot near that fire (maybe she should've ditched her new cloak earlier), and besides, Allen was bugging her, and he needed a swift talking to.

When she got far enough away to where she figured she was out of earshot, Constance started in on Allen. "Allen, don't you know when to quit?! You KNOW I can't concentrate on what the others are saying when you're in between calling me childish names and humming loudly in my ears!"

Allen smiled sweetly at her. "Aww... would you have rather stayed and listened to all those people rip each other's throats out over whether the world sucks or not?" He suddenly turned serious. "Look, you've seen enough of the world to know what you think of it, as have the rest of them. Each has a different view because of what they've been through in the past, so they should just not try to talk about it much. All it'll do is piss everyone off, or get them depressed, and this is supposed to be a time of relaxation, not lecture hall."

Constance kept walking. "Maybe that's how they relax. You don't like them much, do you?"

"Some of them I'm okay with, and others I'm not... I'm entitled to my opinion, aren't I?"

"I guess so... but you're always so pessimistic and critical when it comes to other people."

A shrill, loud scream was suddenly heard by anyone who was up to even a mile away. It had come from Constance. Because she hadn't been paying attention to where she was going, she had walked right to the edge of the beach, the waves softly rolling over her feet as they washed back out into the sea....

Gourry, however dense he might be, did notice Lina's sudden discomfort. He blinked several times and looked back down at her. She was all red again, too. Had he made her sick again? While they were dancing she'd turned really red like that, too.

"Ne, Lina-chan, I'm sorry. Whatever it is I just said that made you feel bad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." He said it sincerely; if what he had just said made her feel bad, he didn't want to have said it at all. He inspected the black tips of his boots, a similar flush creeping across his cheeks for no apparent reason.

Lina blinked. Smacking his back quite hard, she laughed. "Gourry, nothing's wrong!" she told both him and herself. "I'm hungry," she then announced, startling all those who'd just seen her polish off several very large portions of the evening's meal. She leaned her chin on her hands. Her eyes gleamed with the flickering firelight, and with a far-off look. What else would happen in her life? How would it affect her? And... would Filia and Val be okay?

"Oh, good then," Gourry said, grinning again. Then, a thoughtful look crossed his face. "I'm hungry, too. Ne, Lina-chan, don't we have some leftover fish from yesterday?" He rummaged through his own pack and pulled out a bunch of precooked fish from some time before. "Now we just have to heat 'em and eat 'em!" He grinned down at her and handed her a fish-on-a-stick. He blinked. "Oh yeah! Salt!" He dug through his pack some more. "I could swear there's some salt in here somewhere...!" He stopped when he came upon a small wooden box. He pulled it out, and looked at it oddly. "Funny, I don't remember packing a box like this in my stuff..."

He ran his hands over the engravings on the top. Chiseled flowers and hearts had all been painstakingly designed into this cherry colored wooden box. He pushed his thumb underneath the lid and flipped it open. Immediately music began, a light, sweet melody, and a tiny ballerina with long, red hair and a flowing white dress spun on the inside ledge. Other than that, as far as he could see, the box was empty.

Gourry turned to Lina with a puzzled expression etched on his face. "Ne, Lina-chan, do you know where this came from?"

Lina tilted her head a little, forgetting momentarily about her fish and glaring at the box. It was beautiful. Her eyes gleamed as she slowly touched the small dancing figure with one gloved finger. "I dunno," she said softy, looking into his eyes. "Did you forget why you had something again?" Looking at the carvings, she smiled. "Jellyfish for brains... try and remember!" She then looked back to the box, as Arcius's lute playing began to complement the music box's sweet melody.

Gourry leaned back and listened to the music, closing his eyes slightly. He seemed to remember the melody from somewhere....

A five year old Gourry sat in the lap of his mother. She was humming a soft, gentle tune to him as he snuggled closer. She ran her fingers through his hair. "Now, Gourry," she began softly, "one day I'll have to go away, and you'll have to take care of Grandma. Can you do that for me?"

Gourry clutched at his mother's waist. "Mommy, I don't want you to go!"

"Ssh, I know, dear, but Mommy's sick, and she may have to go soon. If she does, will you promise to take care of Grandma? Please?"

He sniffled against her apron. "Yes, mommy. Gourry will protect Grandma."

The doctor came out of his mother's room, turning sad eyes down towards the five year-old. "She wants to speak with you," he said in a low voice.

Gourry walked into his mother's room, and she smiled weakly at him. "Gourry-chan... remember your... promise...? To take care... of... Grandma...."

Tears were flowing freely down Gourry's cheeks. "Mama, don't leave! Don't go away! Gourry doesn't want to be alone!"

His mother smiled again. "You will never be alone, Gourry... look under.... my dresser... take the box...."

He scrambled under the desk, and pulled out a wooden box. Etched on the top were small engravings of various symbols and characters Gourry couldn't read. He brushed a thin layer of dust off the top of the box. "It's pretty, mama."

"Open it..."

Pressing small thumbs underneath the lid, he flipped it open. His favorite melody, the one his mother always hummed for him, was released from the box. His mother hummed along with it softly as a tiny redheaded ballerina danced in circles in the center of the music box.

"Whenever you feel lonely, Gourry-chan... listen to this music box.... Find your own ballerina.... and she'll hum it for you, too...."

His mother went limp. Gourry knew with the instinct of any other creature that his mother had just died. Tears were once again flowing freely down his cheeks. "I'll be strong, mama, just like you told me to. I'll become the best swordsman in the world, and protect Grandma! And then...." His voice broke off. "I'll find me a ballerina, just like this one, to hum to me like you used to...."

Gourry came back to himself, and found tears once again flowing down his face. He blinked rapidly in an attempt to get rid of them, but they just wouldn't stop. He looked over at Lina, and his eyes widened. It was as if he was seeing Lina for the first time. He looked at the ballerina dancing in the box, and then at Lina. "My ballerina..." he whispered hoarsely.

"Gourry?" Lina asked softly, her hand instictively going to his tears. "W-What?" Her eyes turned quickly to worry. Gourry was crying? He never cried! "Does it haveta do with the box? What's wrong, Gourry? Geez," she said, a bit nervously. "It's unlike you! Come on now, Gourry." She patted his cheek gently, forcing a smile. "How ya gonna protect me in this state?" Slowly she came a little closer to him, but her courage went down, and she couldn't hug him. She sighed, her eyes trembling a bit. She hated to see this big goof so hurt.

Gourry could see that he was clearly worrying Lina, so he tried to stop. Operative word being 'try'. Every time he thought about trying to stop, it reminded him that he had started remembering in the first place, and that started the whole cycle over again.

"I... Lina... you... the music box...." was all he could get out. He covered his face with his hands and took several slow, deep breaths to calm himself down. After he finally had himself under control, he turned to Lina with a genuine smile. "I'm sorry, Lina-chan. I just... was remembering is all...." He looked away for a second, but could still feel her gaze on him, waiting to hear what had caused his outburst.

When he was a kid, he tried to make himself forget everything so it wouldn't hurt anymore. Obviously it worked too well, seeing as he forgot everything now. But when he saw that music box... it was as if a floodgate of memories had returned. Memories he didn't want.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees and staring off into the camp fire. He quietly told Lina about the music box. About his mother. About the ballerina.

"And she told me to.... to find my ballerina. She said that she'd hum that song to me again." He looked over at her. "And I think... I think you're my ballerina, Lina."

Lina blushed again. She was doing it so much she thought her face would stay red forever! Gulping, she looked into his eyes, realizing he was sincere. "Gourry," Lina said softly, getting shocked once again. "I'm sorry for your loss," she said, looking to the ground, then back up to him. "But please be happy again, Gourry... I'll let you have the first grab at dinner... I'll even let you protect me forever. Okay?" Her hands were balled into fists now; she hated feeling so awkward. "What exactly do you mean by 'your ballerina'?" She knew perfectly well what it meant; Gourry wasn't bright enough to scheme something like that. She looked at the little toy figure now, inside the box, smiling its painted smile. Oh L-Sama, please let him ask me! Then she looked around at the group watching them intently. I take that back, she prayed. Ask me.... Silently!

Gourry shifted slightly, returning his gaze to the campfire. He swallowed hard. Why was this so hard? He was just telling the truth, right? So it shouldn't be so hard to say. But it was... gods above and below, was it hard to say!

"My ballerina... was supposed to be someone who... who stayed with me always... who wouldn't leave me alone like my mother did." He picked up a stick and sketched idly in the dirt and sand around the fire. "I hate being alone. It's painful. It's like... you're nothing. You feel like you're absolutely worthless. That no one even cares that you're alive." He threw the stick into the fire. "That's how I felt when my mother died. Then when my grandmother died....

"I felt like it was all my fault. That I didn't protect her well enough. So, I started to wander around aimlessly, almost praying that someone would kill me. Then maybe, just maybe all the hurting would stop." He swallowed hard again, clearing his throat. "That's when I met you, Lina," he said softly. "I'm not exactly sure what happened, but all of a sudden the hurting stopped, and I wasn't alone anymore. Just like my mother said... she said the ballerina would make it stop hurting and... well, you did. What I mean to say is... I...."

His heart was pounding hard against his chest. Should he say it? Or would she hate him forever? He couldn't stand it if she hated him. She was all he had now. If she hated him, he might as well die. He looked up into her ruby eyes, and nearly stopped breathing. Her bright eyes shone with worry and compassion... things he had never seen in anyone's eyes but his mother's. She was his ballerina... All right, Gourry, now or never.

"Lina, I... I need you. I need you like I've ever needed anyone before. I.... It hurts when you're away, or when you almost die. It's like I'm watching the only person in the world that matters to me die over and over. That's because that's what you are to me, Lina. The only person in the world that matters. If it weren't for you, I... I don't know where I'd be. I'd probably be dead, either by someone else's hand or my own. What I'm trying to say is that I..... I love you, Lina."

The wind whistled through the trees, and Gourry continued staring into the campfire.

Ninoa's eyes teared up as she reached for some cloth. The scene between the two of them was so touching. She wanted someone to care for her that much as well. "OH! THIS IS SO EMOTIONAL!" she cried out before blowing her nose with the cloth. But where had that cloth come from?

Vrumugun slowly looked over at Ninoa, who was currently in the process of ruining his cloak. "Pardon me," he said quietly to her, "but would you mind not using my clothing for a tissue? I wear that, you know."

Lyssa looked at Ninoa and the funny guy in the cloak. "Bah, you two." She shook her head and stood up. "Can't let these situations stay serious, can we? I'd do something cute, but I'm afraid Lina'd hurt me...." Carefully tiptoeing away, she looked back. "This is one of those moments, that, ya know... they don't really need a whole bunch of witnesses for." She winked at Lina, who probably didn't see her anyway. The red-haired girl's current situation was something Lyssa was very familiar with. The only difference was the roles had been kind of switched. Between Lyssa and Darius, the protected loved the protector who didn't quite know how to feel about her. If she and Darius were having that conversation, all Lyssa knew was that SHE wouldn't want everyone under the moon listening in. "I'll be, um... out playing with furry night animals and stuff... yeah." And with that, she zoomed away.

Vrumugun calmly reclaimed his cloak and used a napkin to remove its new 'deposits.' He sat back, elbows propped on his knees, resting his chin on the backs of his hands. Ignoring for the moment whatever was going on between Lina and Gourry, he was watching the somewhat distracted Copy-Lina with some interest.

At length he stood and walked... well, he got up and floated, at least. Wordlessly as usual, he floated down to the beach. Seating himself under a palm tree, he watched the rosy sunset and the surf. It really was a beautiful night.

Now if only that girl would stop screaming....

Lina looked at Gourry in total shock. Her eyes were wide. What was this feeling? It wasn't like when she found a bunch of money. And it wasn't quite like when she had just eaten. It wasn't like she had just triumphed in battle, and cheated death once again. Her hand slowly reached her heart. It was like an aching. "Gourry," she said softly.

Usually she would hit him for saying something like that... but her body wasn't listening to her at the moment. She turned to him slowly, her eyes sparkling as a tear fell down the side of her reddening face. Gently she smiled at him, though it looked kinda funny with the tears. She couldn't understand it. Now why was she crying? She'd felt this way before, she suddenly remembered, when she thought she was going to lose Gourry forever... when the Hellmaster took him away. When she thought the one person she'd assumed would always be with her was.... When he was taken away just for that time, she'd thought that her world was nothing. She NEEDED Gourry. Hell, she'd even cast the Giga Slave for the dumb bastard. She gasped slightly. She loved him... more then anything in this world. Oh L-Sama! She loved him....

Straightening, the small sorceress hit Gourry on the back, hard, before commenting, "Gourry, it's about damn well time!" Her voice cracked, as she fell onto his chest, and cried out of sheer happiness. "Dai suki, dai suki yo! [I like you, I really like you!]" she cried to him, muffled by his shirt.

Tingles of electricity shot up Gourry's body when Lina collapsed to his chest. His eyes widened, and his heart felt like it was about to leap out of his throat. She... loved him? But... how? Why?

He looked down at the sobbing girl at his chest, and at that moment he didn't care how or why. His eyes softened and he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tighter to him. He buried his chin in her red hair, taking in the scent of her. Pine trees... that's what Lina always smelled like to him. Pine trees.

He held onto her as though when he woke up the next morning, everything would be as always. As she cried against him, silent tears ran down his own face. He didn't want this to end. He didn't want to let go. Ever.

Lina had never cried like this in public before. If only she'd realized sooner... that everyone else was still watching. She began to move away slowly, looking up at Gourry, his face only a few inches from her own. What was she doing? She kept asking herself that; it would only make things harder, and... but... maybe.... She didn't wanna think about those things right now. She looked into his bright blue eyes, as she trembled with both fear and excitement, and wiped her tears away with her gloved hands, letting them stain the purple cloth. She licked her lips, not knowing what to expect.

Suddenly realizing she still had food in her hand, she reluctantly moved away from Gourry and placed the fish by the fire to cook. Glancing back at him, she smiled. "Y'know, I think you owe me dinner." She laughed, watching his face turn clueless. Raising one finger, she explained. "Never make a girl admit to their feelings without paying a price!" she said happily, with a playful wink.

Lyssa stood in the shadows just on the edge of camp, arms folded, one shoulder propped against a palm tree. Her face was completely blank. Somehow, even to her, this wasn't fair. A twinge of envy and longing tugged at her mind, asking permission to bring some emotion to her face. She denied it.

"Well, this should make life a lot more interesting...." A slight smile curved her lips. "For them, at least." Unsure of how much longer this was going to carry on, or how much FURTHER it was going to go, Lyssa turned around and walked deeper into the shadows, elfy ears taking in the night sounds. "Gah, I don't understand. Love's a human emotion, I'm not human.... And it's not like anyone would want to love me, so even acknowledging the blasted emotion would be setting myself up for hurts. Then how come I get sad when I see other people in love? I must be spending too much time around mortals... way too much time. At least Lina-chan and Gourry-chan are happy."

Another sigh and she sat down at the base of a tree, speaking to fairies and to a fox that came to investigate. The little creature curled up in her lap and listened patiently, accepting the scritches she offered, and keeping her company when she fell asleep.

Gourry laughed in spite of himself, releasing some of the tension that had built up between them. He grabbed one of his own fish and placed it in the fire next to Lina's. He let his eyes settle on the trees in front of them, absently turning his stick over in the fire. He frowned when he thought he detected movement, but shook his head. Probably just a rabbit or something. He thought about telling Lina, but then she'd insist on tromping off after it, giving him the "don't waste good food" speech all the way there. "So, Lina-chan... what now?" he inquired hesitantly.

"Hmm?" she asked, her eyelids getting a little low. She sighed in contentment as she yawned. "Mm... I think... I think we should just go with the flow, ne?" she asked him, stretching. "What's meant to be, is to be!" She laughed. "Now... about dinner!" She winked again, leaning her chin on her hands.

Applause came from the other side of the clearing. "Bravo, brava! And here I had thought that Lady Inverse and Lord Gabriev had been romantically involved this entire time!" Arcius smiled merrily and strummed his lute lightly. "It would seem all of the stories were wrong after all. I shall have to make use of those lines in a song some day. When exactly is the wedding again?"

Both froze, faces bright red. Lina's pupils narrowed. "I... uh...." She couldn't even talk. How could she deny it? Hell, how could she get around this? So she stayed quiet, and decided she would fireball this bard when she felt a little more relaxed. Glancing at Gourry, she blushed even brighter. "ACK!" she cried, then closed her eyes and tried to make the blush go away. When it began to work, she looked up to the sky, watching the sun set. It was gonna be a long night, she decided, brushing her hair back behind her.

Gourry looked around at everyone seated around the campfire, as if seeing them for the first time, and sweatdropped. "Omae...," he muttered. "Just what're all these people doing out here, anyway? Don't they have anything better to do than to follow us around? They're starting to act like that Xelloss guy!"

Ninoa, suddenly interested, looked at Gourry and asked, "Did you say Xelloss?"

Ignoring the byplay, Arcius continued. "And the rest of you. Would one of the less voyeuristic of you kindly go and check on Constance? I believe I heard her scream; now that she's been ignored for the appropiate length of time, someone should do so." As an afterthought, he added, "Unless you just like invading other people's privacy, that is."

"Oh dear. Constance-san?" Filia said out loud, getting to her feet. "Please forgive me. I never even heard...."

Copy-Lina looked up in surprise, swallowing a mouthful of chicken. "You mean Constance really IS standing by the seashore, screaming bloody murder? I thought I was just hallucinating that!" She shoved the rest of Rill's abandoned dinner in her mouth and sprang to her feet. "Hey, Constance! What's wrong?" she called out as she left the campfire, with all its discussions on the nature of reality and proclamations of eternal love, far behind.

Filia directed herself towards the awful racket by the shores, and that is where she found Constance. "What's wrong?" she asked, taking the woman lightly by the arm, and pulling her away from the water. "Constance-san, are you alright?"

With Constance screaming, Filia obviously fretting over getting her to calm down, and Copy-Lina busy peering out to sea for any sign of scary monsters, no one noticed the hand reaching up from beneath the sand... slowly reaching for Constance's leg... until....

"PORCELAIN COWS!"

The hand grabbed her leg and shook it a few times, giving her a real reason to scream. Then suddenly the hand's owner popped up from under the sand, red hair barely revealed through the caked-on dirt.

Ren smiled absently and shook himself off, staggering towards the water and falling face-first into an oncoming wave.

"AAAH! REN-SAN!" screamed Filia, falling backwards on her bottom. "Wh-What are you-" She couldn't talk. This stupidity was just too much for her.

During dinner, Constance had been able to ignore the fact that others in the group were consuming fish. Mainly because she was still kind of out of it, like she had been for a lot of the time lately. Plus, there were other things to eat, so that hadn't been much of a problem either. But this....

...the ocean is a difficult thing to ignore, indeed.

While Constance screamed, Allen tried to comfort her and get her to snap out of it. Unfortunately, she was in no condition to listen.

"Constance, calm down... there's no fish people here, they're not going to get you. Oh, what's the use? It's not as if she can hear me, anyhow...."

Finally, Constance shut up, and resolved to rocking herself back and forth in a sitting position, her knees drawn up to her chest. "Mommy? Daddy?! Why don't you come and get me? Alex?! Anyone!" She was past the quiet stage (which had lasted, what, two or three seconds?) and began sobbing loudly.

She could see it all as if it were yesterday. Herself as a four-year-old child, drawn up in the same position as she was now. She felt the strings of dried kelp on her ankles and wrists, which were tied much too tight for a little girl like her... they cut into her whenever she moved. Her captors had just finished their usual and only interaction with their prisoner, shouting angry words at her and hitting her when she didn't answer.

And while all of this was happening, she couldn't see her surroundings too well, because they kept her inside a tiny cave behind a waterfall. She had no way of knowing that there were sharp rocks around that could cut her bindings, except when they punctured her skin when she shifted every now and then. The roar of the water drowned out her cries for help, and kept her cold, wet, and even more uncomfortable. Her family couldn't help her... the only friend she had at the moment was Allen. He talked to her and comforted her, and the fish people couldn't see him, couldn't hurt him....

"Of course they can't, little one. I've been dead for a long time now. That's why I can't take you home, either...."

When Filia came to Constance and touched her shoulder, the girl jumped up and reached for the priestess, screaming, "Allen, help me... they won't let me go!" Constance was still so much out of it that she didn't feel the hand wrap around her ankle, but she did feel it shake her roughly.

After a bit more hysterical screaming, she began to realize where she was, and what she had been doing for the last few minutes. The shock of being ripped back into reality was too much for her... so she fainted. Hitting the back of her head against the ground, she surrendered quietly and passed out like a good little girl with a concussion.

Allen gave a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Ren, you got her to calm down, finally... although your methods weren't quite ones I would've used...."

Filia worriedly placed her hands over her mouth. "Oh dear... what was that all about?" she said quietly, bending down to Constance and gathering her into her lap. "And what are we to do now?"

Copy-Lina couldn't see anything by the seashore that seemed remotely scary enough to have caused Constance's breakdown. Except for Ren, maybe, but he'd only shown up AFTER she'd started screaming. She'd been looking forward to a good long fight with some freaky monster or other; always a great way to relax after a big meal! However all she'd been able to see was water, sand, some seaweed, more sand, and a seagull or two. Too bad.

Now that Filia had arrived on the scene, the redhead decided to leave things to her. The priestess HAD been able to take care of Mister Crossbowman when he'd been poisoned, hadn't she, so she'd most certainly be able to deal with whatever was wrong with Constance. Right? Right. So she turned her back on the seashore and headed back to camp.

When he heard Lyssa's breathing slow into the drawn out, regular rhythms of sleep, along with her fuzzy companions, Geltro moved from the shadows of an adjacent tree. He paced silently over next to her and crouched on his haunches, watching her. While watching, he contemplated his recent fate.

What was supposed to have been a simple in and out job had become unrecognisable. The target group had grown vastly, he was a huge distance from his patron, and his cover was completely blown. Yet at the same time, this seemingly random band of people was sharing a fire and a meal with him like he was their boon companion. As time went on the group just sucked up more and more people, like it had some kind of fate magnetism or something. It was unreal. These people had nothing in common, and yet...

...and yet somehow they had everything in common.

At this thought, Geltro frowned. He hadn't seriously included himself in that thought, had he? This frail thing in front of him, for instance. What did she know of real hardship, of the price some people had to pay just to live until tomorrow? What you had to give up, what you had to... become.

The only ones in this bunch who knew the truth were Briar Rose and probably that Zelgadis guy. They knew how the world really worked. Geltro respected them. He trusted them about as far as he could drag himself by one finger, but her respected them.

The best idea would be to take this chance and disappear. With everyone watching the sappy pair mooning over each other or helping the screamer, nobody would notice him go. The it would be back to the open road. Nobody to order him around, nobody to look out for, nobody.

Alone.

Geltro continued to watch Lyssa sleep.

...Dreams were odd for Lyssa. She wasn't dreaming anymore; she was reliving a memory. The scars on her arms and neck weren't scars anymore. They were fresh wounds, and someone was sticking things inside them. She screamed once....

To Geltro it sounded like a discomforted grumble.

...So much blood, where did it all come from? What had she done to deserve this? All she'd done was ask to share a campfire... and now this...?

The sleeping Lyssa rolled over, curling into the fetal position and trembling. Her back was to Geltro, otherwise he'd see her tears.

...One of the bandits was smirking, talking in a language she didn't understand... the leader laughed and pushed the younger man aside, coming forward. Lyssa got afraid again. What was he doing? She spoke rapidly in some elven dialect, sounding very distressed, hoping against hope that that would dissuade him.

...Her clothes were torn... she was bloodied everywhere now, and the world wasn't bright anymore. All the light had gone out of it. Something was going on outside... a bandit she didn't recognize came up to her. She prepared for the worst... he smiled and unchained her. "Don't worry, little elf. They won't hurt you anymore. You're coming with me and my men now. Fetch a high price, I think you will!"

Then everything changed; she wasn't in the past anymore... she was curled up under a tree, away from the campfire again... and someone was with her. Something was wrong with him... him being... Geltro?

Lyssa sat up, not realizing that she'd been talking both in elven and in her usual language the entire time. Geltro had heard her entire nightmare, and he couldn't take his eyes off her wounds, some of which had opened up spontaneously during the dream. "Wh... how...?" she asked, ignoring the scars and looking at the boy who'd been watching her sleep. "Whatssa matta?"

Geltro didn't move from where he was crouched. "You're bleeding," he noted sagely. After a few difficult moments, he cocked his head to one side. "So, what does a person with no bad memories have nightmares about?"

Lyssa looked at him coldly a moment, ignoring the burning in each of the freshly re-opened wounds. "I said Darius was supposed to give me new memories, not that he did." Then she looked away. "Something from my past... that...." The blood stopped seeping out, and the wounds sealed with a hissing sound. Small clouds of purple smoke rose from them as they closed themselves up. Tears touched her eyes again, but she wasn't about to let them fall. "Something from my past that I don't want to tell people. It shows that I'm weak, and that you were right about the world and...." A sigh. "Why do you stay with these people? I stay because I have nowhere else to go... not even the Time Gate feels like a home to me anymore... but I don't understand why you'd want to be with this group. Is that what you were thinking about before I woke up?"

For someone so scared to talk about her own past, Lyssa most certainly was interested in everyone else's lives. It was a way to dull the pain, and to dim the voices screaming in her head. Were it lighter out, Geltro could see the multitude of scars along her arms and legs. The one across her throat was visible enough even now, as well as where the twin blades had kissed her cheeks all those years ago. He could also see the transparent shell of her developing wings.... Lavender eyes looked up at him. "Tell me why the demons come out to dance... why dried blood flows like wine...."

Geltro watched Lyssa for a bit, his mouth opening and closing as if he meant to say something, but couldn't decide what. Finally, he spoke. "Perhaps I judged you too hastily."

He turned, and sat down beside her. He killed some time by scratching at an itch.

"You...." He paused, and searched for words. "You say you no longer have a home. I never had a home, so I can't know what you feel. Why am I still here? I have a problem. Duty tells me one thing, but maybe it isn't valid anymore. I want to do something else, but I can't until I figure out if I'm still on the job or not. So I do nothing. It's less work."

With one hand, Geltro picked up three pebbles. Idly, yet with great skill, he made them dance through his fingers. They crossed paths, disappeared and reemerged, and hopped over each other. It was a casual, unconscious fidgeting. Geltro wasn't even watching them.

"And 'Why do the demons dance?'? Perhaps I remind you of your past, much as you remind me of mine."

Silence fell, and the stones continued their dance.

A smile came to her lips as Lyssa watched the stones in his hand. "You judged me as everyone else judges me. The way you saw me." She continued to watch the stones a bit. "I make you nervous." It wasn't a question, but a remark that was followed by a chuckle. "I don't understand how I could remind anyone of their past. Especially when I spend so much time trying to forget my own...."

There was a long pause; her boots appeared very interesting as that was where her eyes remained for the entire pause. "I was thinkin... I mean... if you don't want to tell me, I understand why. I didn't tell the group almost any of my real past, just elaborated on the good stuff. I've got a lot of past, when you get down to it... but.... Talking about it sometimes makes it easier to deal with, in a way, so if you wanna tell me your story I'll tell you the greater part of mine... the REAL one."

Her smile was warm and honest. The everpresent youthful innocence that one her age should not possess was joined by something completely alien to her. Affection.

Geltro frowned. "Is it surprising people judge you falsely by your appearance, when you put so much work into your false face?"

The small thief dropped the stones and plucked a piece of grass to chew on. "My past? Not much to say. I grew up on the streets with a bunch of other orphans. Anyone and everyone with strength or money used and abused us. Then one day, I figured out that being sneaky, clever and ruthless trumped being rich or strong every time."

"Have you ever thought to try kindness towards people? It gets you pretty far in most circles." The elf looked at Geltro, eyes sad again. "Although sometimes being kind gets you in more trouble than making everyone hate you... I suppose there's good and bad in all of us."

"Oh we tried kindness, in the slums." Geltro tossed away the chewed grass. "We were very polite when we begged for coins and scraps of food. It got us kicked and walked on and beaten."

Lyssa looked down, feeling stupid for having said it. "I'm sorry." The little elf shifted closer to him and once again hugged him. More for her sake than his, but her slender body radiated warmth that was soothing. "I keep on forgetting the way this world works. It's so different from where I was... born, I guess you'd call it. Everyone here is one side of the spectrum or the other, there's no inbetween. No one's, kind of nice, or a little mean... they're really outgoing or really really evil. I was sent here to give people hope... to show them a brief glimpse of the innocence they've forgotten. And instead I've been forced to grow up and become the exact thing I was sent here to prevent other people from becoming."

She was crying again... but this time not for herself. "If I could make Darius change your childhood, I would. I'd make him give you a happy time with lots of friends and they'd all be happy too." The arms around Geltro tightened a bit, but not threateningly so. "Please don't be so angry all the time... or or.... Or I'll find a way to make you happy and... you'll never be sad or angry again."

Geltro sat there, not accepting the embrace but not rejecting it, either. "Oh don't do that. If I never felt pain, I wouldn't be human. I think you really don't know this world very well at all." The thief pointed back towards the fire. "You see that guy with the stone skin? I've done a fair bit of checking up on most of this group for the job. That one is a short-tempered, acid-tongued foul mood with feet. He's also helped save the world on several occasions. If that doesn't qualify as 'a little bit good', I don't know what does. Just because you see the world as good and evil doesn't mean it is. I'm not angry all the time. I don't hurt all the time. I just have no use for people."

Lyssa stood and backed away, looking down. "That's a shame...." Shivering a bit, she sat back where she had fallen asleep, and closed her eyes.

Lina's copy wandered back towards the fire. She didn't sit among the others, instead choosing to hang back a bit and watch the companions who she'd somehow managed to pick up over the course of this incredibly eventful day. Flamboyant bards, glowing cities, walking brooms, talking statues, portals to faraway places, and a chance at some phenomenal cosmic power or other. And to think, she'd set out this morning just hoping to find a few bandits to rob... er, relieve of their excess funds.

Leaning back against something vaguely fern-like, the sorceress watched the glowing embers for a moment, then saw the fish which had been placed by the fire to bake. Despite her having polished off plateful after plateful of dinner just a few short minutes ago, her mouth watered. She considered scooting over closer to the fire and seeing if anyone would mind overly much if one of those fish disappeared.

But all too soon, the cooked fish were snatched up by two pairs of grasping hands and stuffed into cavernous mouths. In mere moments, they were almost all gone... having disappeared into the stomachs of a certain Bandit Slayer and her dashing Guardian. The two seasoned adventurers squabbled lovingly over the very last fish, not even noticing the angry glower which Copy-Lina was directing towards them.

Ninoa looked at Copy-Lina and scooted over to her. "What's up?" she said to her with a look of concern. "You seem distressed... is it what I think it is? That you are... jealous of Lina and Gourry?" Ninoa then batted her eyes and looked expectantly at the girl who so reminded her of her friend, Rosa Vaira.

The redheaded girl replied, "Jealous? Damn straight!" If only SHE had some fish right now!

Then she thought a bit about the strange lady's words. Maybe she hadn't been talking about the fish after all. Hmmm... yeah, I guess I'm jealous of them, she thought. A little. EVERYBODY's heard about the great Lina Inverse, and I think I remember that Gourry guy from a few of the ballads, too. I wish people would write ballads about me. A flash of inspiration. Arcius is a bard, right? Maybe I should start being all nice to him! Another flash of inspiration. But if I keep pretending to be Lina and riding on her reputation, then any ballads about ME would end up being ballads about HER. She frowned at that. I have to start making a name for MYSELF one of these days. But it's just so hard! When someone comes up to you and announces 'You must die, Lina Inverse!' it's so much easier to just fireball him than to carefully explain your identity and origins. Especially when you're not CERTAIN about either of those....

Then she remembered that she was in the midst of a conversation. The lady, Copy-Lina didn't even know her name, was looking at her with something rather ressembling pity. She found she didn't care for that, and decided to clear up any misunderstandings. "But I'm okay with it! Really! I mean, just look at them." She waved a hand towards the sorceress and swordsman in question. Lina had once again demonstrated her devastating elbow-to-the-noggin technique and had polished off the last fish in record time. She was lying back, patting her stomach happily, and Gourry was smiling at the sight... while rubbing his aching head. "They're perfect together." True, they were the very image of adventurers at the peak of their powers. Any bard worth their salt would be lining up just for the privilege of writing a sonnet about them. "I mean, how could I possibly compete?" She sighed morosely.

Her reassurances didn't quite have the effect she'd wanted. Ninoa patted the redhead on the shoulder, and said in a kind and motherly tone of voice, "Don't worry. One of these days, you'll find someone."

"Find someone...?" Copy-Lina was a little confused. Then she thought about it some more. Someday... I'll find someone who'll write a ballad about me. I guess she's right. She gazed consideringly at Ninoa, then grinned and crowed, "But why wait? HEY, ARCIUS!"

As Ninoa watched the girl dash off towards the campfire, she shook her head in disbelief. "Wow, she's impulsive... or desperate... perhaps."

Lina glanced over at her rapidly approaching Copy, a little sleepily. Why did she have yet another copy, anyway? She leaned her elbows on her knees, and her chin on her hands, getting a closer look. Yep, same hair, same eyes... same everything! She was only glad it wasn't her other copy... the one whose personality had been completely opposite to hers. But... still.... If this other Lina ever tried to REALLY pretend to be her, things would get bad, and fast.

A long sigh came from her lips, and she rolled her eyes. She would make sure that that wouldn't happen. Standing up, she pointed at the copy Lina. "You! Who are you really?" she asked over the flickering embers of the fire.

"Who am I... really?" repeated the girl who looked like Lina, a little startled. "Uh...," she said, trying to stall for time.

She'd known this moment was coming, ever since her eyes had first fallen on her infamous original. And she still wasn't prepared for it. Her mind was blank. Absolutely, completely blank. No ideas whatsoever bubbled up from her subconscious... and her conscious mind wasn't doing much better.

She was very aware of the extremely powerful sorceress standing not that far away, watching her closely and waiting for an answer. Having nothing better to say, Copy-Lina stalled yet again. "What exactly do you mean by, 'Who are you really'?" she said, somewhat nervously.

Suddenly, the creepy sorcerer Vrumugun floated up behind Lina's twin. "I should think it would be obvious," he said. "We found her in Kytares.... She looks EXACTLY like you...." He paused for effect. "Clearly, this is is a fan of yours. She apparently managed to follow you all the way to the buried city. I, for one, am impressed."

Needless to say, Lina's clone was dumbfounded.

"Ladies," Arcius said, tapping out a calm melody. "Please. I assume that this is a matter that must be resolved at some point, but there is no need for violence." He smiled. "I shall add my small bit. Does it matter, really? One of you is real, one of you is a copy of some sort, or you could even be twins separated at birth. Twins separated at birth often end up in indentical situations. For example, Rufalzo and his twin Rufalso--"

The bard shook his head, smiling absently. "No, that is a story for another time. I think it would be neat to have a copy of myself," he said, still playing the same calm tune. "So much more could be accomplished that way. The tales and stories of Arcius Le'Donal could be spread twice as far, twice as fast. The difference could be brought about in a far faster manner."

Pleasantly, he said, "Of course, the minds of bards and sorceresses are most likely quite different. So, when you finish, would you mind telling me how and why you and your group came to be in the undercity of Kytares?"

Ninoa could see that a confrontation was going to erupt. And if people weren't careful enough, maybe even death. She didn't want the two Linas to fight, but if she tried to intervene, she would probably get in the way. And more pain was not what she was looking for.

She then decided to get in the way indirectly, and approached Copy-Lina from the back. Getting side to side with the girl, she then got her attention. "I've got an idea," Ninoa said with a smile as she raised her fingers. "If Lina has a problem with you looking exactly like her... then might I suggest... a change?"

She then snapped her fingers and summoned a pair of scissors to her hand. And with a few quick strikes she struck at Copy-Lina, aiming for her hair and trying to make it shoulder-length.

Briar quirked a brow as Ninoa charged Copy-Lina with the scissors. "You know," her fingers stretched, "there are probably...." Her voice trailed off as Ninoa scissors went *snip-snip*. Two locks of flame-red hair fell quietly to the ground. A sudden, deafening silence occured as everyone watched the locks float gently to the ground, like the fluffiest of feathers.

"...Easier ways to do that."

"NOOOO! My HAAAAIR!" wailed the redhead, staring in horror at the hair -- HER hair -- littering the ground. Within moments a Giant Demon Head O' Copy-Lina was towering over the hapless Ninoa. "How DARE you!" With sparks in her eyes, the girl did her level best to whap the scissors out of Ninoa's hands.

When the shiny blades finally went soaring off into the underbrush, she protectively grabbed her remaining locks in trembling fists. Giving a sweatdropping Ninoa the evil eye, her hands moved quickly, fashioning a rough braid and tucking the cut ends in so they wouldn't show as much. "MY hair," she growled. "Just wait till I get my magic back. JUST YOU WAIT!"

Anyone who could tear their eyes away from the confrontation would have noticed a sinister metallic gleam among the ferns surrounding the campfire. Slowly, slowly, the gleam rose up and inched forward... closer... ever closer....

Braiding her hair was probably the LEAST intelligent thing Copy- Lina could have done, in retrospect. Before, it would have taken a good half-dozen slashes to relieve her of all her hair. Now it would only take one well-placed snip.

All of a sudden, the scissors flew up out of the underbrush. They hovered menacingly before swooping, blades open, right towards the redheaded girl. She yelped, dodging as best she could, clutching her braid in both fists. Then she started racing away from the demonic scissors, yelling from sheer panic. The hideous sound of snipping trailed her closely as she dashed round and round the campfire. "AAAAH! Make 'em stop! Make 'em STOP!"

Arcius, ever chivalrous where the ladies were concerned, sprang into action. With a deft motion, the lute was slung behind his back. Calculatingly, he studied the blurry circle that was Copy-Lina and the scissors. Suddenly, the firelight caught on his teeth, flashing across the pearly white until it gleamed brightly at the corner of his roughish smile.

The instant the gleam vanished, Arcius sprang, launching himself like a tiger into the whirling blender of *snippity-snip*.

The blur stopped momentarily, as the scissors stopped, unprepared for the weight of the bard. Copy-Lina did not stop, however, at least not until Arcius yelped as she ran over him.

She skidded to a stop, looking back and down. The bard lay there, flat on the ground, a line of dark footprints running the length of his clothes. Clutched in one hand were the scissors.

"Umm... Sorry 'bout that," she said, uncertainly.

He raised his face from the ground, dusting it with his free hand. "No problem, my Lady," he said, waving the hand with the scissors in a gesture of absent dismissal. "I am al--"

Suddenly, the scissors moved. Though the bard still had his grip on them, they turned, blades facing him. Then they turned and faced Copy-Lina. Back to Arcius. Back to Copy-Lina. they turned again, pausing halfway between the two, facing the fire. It was if they were taking a moment to contemplate.

Then they lunged after Copy-Lina, heedless of the weight of Arcius. In seconds, the vicious circle of scissors-chasing-hapless-victim was firmly reestablished. The only difference was the addition of the bard, bouncing and skipping behind the scissors as he was dragged along.

After a while, the scissors seemed to get tired of chasing the redheaded girl. Perhaps they decided to go after easier prey -- or at least, slower-moving prey. They broke off the chase and hovered high in the air, Arcius still hanging on to them for dear life. Copy-Lina continued racing around in circles, not realizing her hair was safe... for the moment, at least.

The twin blades hovered, snapping shut every so often, as if considering their next move. Every eye was fixed on them in a kind of stunned fascination. Finally, they made a decision and soared across the campfire... dragging poor Arcius directly towards another headful of luxurious fire-red hair.

Lina gave the swooping scissors a narrow-eyed stare, and snapped, "Don't even THINK about it. FIREBALL!"

Incidentally, she re-kindled the bonfire in the process.

When the blast died down, Arcius staggered slowly to his feet, coughed weakly, and attempted to brush the ash off his clothes. The scissors, somewhat charred and seemingly disoriented by the magical burst of flames, teetered around for a few seconds before lurching towards the nearest head of hair. Hinges squeaking pitifully, they snapped shut again and again... or tried to. But Zelgadis's wiry locks proved to be too much for them....

The chimaera sweatdropped as the magical scissors finally managed to bend one of his hairs, then dropped to the ground with a *clank*, apparently out of sheer exhaustion.

Lina tried to hide her laughter... it wasn't working. "Well, if you're a fan," she said to the now-braided Copy-Lina, "at least you're not competely like me now!" Her eyes watered, and she kept wiping them with one gloved hand. "Now," she said, trying to take the other Lina seriously. "Really... I wanna know who you are. Because if you're trying to be me...." Her eyes darted straight to her copy. "I'm going to have to stop you."

Tim looked at Lina. "My impressions of the girl is that the last thing she wants to be is you. Speaking as an 'ex-clone' myself, I can tell you that everybody wants to be themselves. It's only human nature to desire their own niche in the universe. Of course, there is also nothing stating that who we are is who we will be. Once upon a time, I was only a little child and not the Collector you see before you now. When your discussion is finished, I will tell my tale."

Lina raised an eyebrow. "Well, I want to make sure that no one's gonna be me, but me!" she declared.

"Now, Ms. Lina-chan," Ninoa said, "can the girl help it if she's confused about her life? Give her some time to find herself." She then picked up the scissors and put them away. "It's not every day you find out that someone else is living your life too... right? Oh, by the way, wasn't there another Lina running around? I heard tales of a pacifistic...."

Aside from realizing that Lina probably didn't want people to know about THAT particular mirror image, she also realized that she'd addressed Lina as 'Ms. Lina-chan'. So, she did what she thought was appropriate for the situation: put on a blindfold and wait for the no doubt painful consequences.

Lina turned to stone. She was frozen in place, except for her eyes, which were fixed directly on Ninoa. "Tell no one," she began, in a low, grainy voice, "what you saw."

Sai watched the confrontation from a distance. "Hum... this turned out to be a noisy day." He watched Ninoa for a moment, wondering what she was talking about with Lina. He then remembered not to involve himself in other people's business. He folded his arms and just watched Ninoa, finally wondering why he was looking at her more than anything else....

Copy-Lina was beginning to feel tired. It had been a long and eventful day, after all, plus running around in circles from the scissors had taken a lot out of her. She sat down by the merrily blazing fire and tugged thoughtfully on her braid. It felt strange to have a rope of hair where her fingers were expecting to find a silky curtain; she wondered how much different she looked.

The confrontation with Lina -- if you could even call it that -- wasn't going anywhere near how she'd expected. She'd been expecting Flare Arrows and Demona Crystals and Dragu Slaves and the like, and instead, had gotten a bunch of questions. Plus, everyone else, strangely enough, seemed to be defending her. It was all rather anticlimactic.

Lina was growling something at that strange lady with the scissors. Soon, however, the reknowned bandit killer turned her attention back to her copy. "For the last time, who are you really?" she asked once more, sounding annoyed. "And quit stalling!"

The fire crackled. Plumes of smoke drifted lazily up past the treetops, were caught by the wind, and floated off towards the stars. The hint of a soothing melody filled the grove as the slightly charred Arcius once again took up his lute. "I am my own person," the redheaded girl said finally. She wasn't in the mood to make up stories anymore. "I wasn't TRYING to be you, Lina... well, sort of, but not really. But it's hard when EVERYONE you meet just assumes you ARE."

It was plain that Lina didn't quite understand. "Sort of trying to be me?" Her crimson eyes narrowed. Gourry, beside her, began to shrink away, thanks to his well-developed instinct for self-preservation.

"Um." Copy-Lina swallowed nervously. Maybe those Flare Arrows and Dragu Slaves were in the cards after all. It would take some fast talking to get out of this one. "Think about it this way. Let's say... I'm walking in the woods. And a bunch of thugs jumps me. So I charbroil 'em... I mean, who wouldn't? But when I get to the next town, everyone already knows the story, and they're saying... a bunch of bandits got fried by a little redheaded girl. So it must've been the Dragon Spooker, Lina Inverse!"

Lina's eyes narrowed even farther. The redhead gulped. Had she said something wrong? She pressed onwards regardless, trying to make herself understood. "I mean, what would YOU do? Tell 'em they got it wrong, of course! That it wasn't this Lina Inverse person, it was ME who finished off the bandits! But then some crotchety old guy starts waving his stick at me and yelling, 'It's her! It's Lina! She's the one who destroyed our town all those months ago! Get her!'" Her little vignette was turning into some weird hybrid of hypothetical situation and actual memory. "And so, kaboom, and the villagers quit bugging me, but they're even more convinced that I AM you... know what I mean? And there's lots of villages out there like that," she added almost as an afterthought.

"Then I thought about all the practice I was getting. You know, with magic! If people thought I was you, then I'd suddenly get all these targets to practice my spells on. You've got a lot of enemies, you know. So I just stopped trying to tell people I WASN'T you. Saved me a lot of time and trouble... and everything was going great, till I met a bunch of people who actually KNEW you...." She nodded towards Zelgadis. "And once you've already started playing along with someone who thinks you're someone else, it's kinda awkward to go back and say you're someone different after all. Especially if they can't tell the difference themselves!"

Lina sighed, then looked at her copy, her expression somewhat sympathetic. "I guess I understand...," she said softly.

Then she got up and walked closer to the other Lina. "But, it's kinda confusing having TWO Linas around all the time. If ya want... I could help you change!" She grinned, whipping out a tube of lipstick. "Alright! YOSH!"

Ninoa threw off her blindfold, which landed on Gourry's head. She then hopped over to the two Linas with stars in her eyes. "Can I help?" she asked, before pulling out two bottles of some sort of dye. "We can change your hair color, put it up in pigtails, oh, we can do your nails and wardrobe too! This'll be so much FUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!"

As she spoke of all this, her Moshi, sitting back, seemed to twitch at her attitude.

Copy-Lina sprang back, arms flailing. "Lipstick? Nails? Wardrobe? Hair colour? ISN'T THE BRAID ENOUGH FOR YOU PEOPLE?!?" she yelped.

Chuckling, Briar leaned forward. "I think that a makeover's a grand idea!" She eyed all of the males around with a slight frown. "Ah-ha! You men should judge her! Here," from out of nowhere a tent-like dressing room appeared around Lina, Copy-Lina, and Ninoa. "We'll dress her up and the rest of you tell us what you think!" She slipped into the dressing room.

A second later, her head poked out. "No peeking, boys." And she disappeared back into the tent.

With the ladies in the tent, and the men distracted by the same, a shadowy figure appeared beside Ninoa's plushie. With Lyssa dozing, Geltro had slipped off. He crouched over Moshi and examined it carefully. A quick motion of one hand could be seen, though he didn't appear to touch the toy. Then, grinning to himself, he walked back towards Lyssa.

The inside of Briar's tent was far far larger than it appeared. There were rows and rows of assorted types of make-up, jewelry, ribbons, and clothing.

Copy-Lina found herself sitting in something which strongly resembled a barbershop chair. Around her, the three girls smiled, blatantly faux smiles that were meant to convey the idea that 'this-won't-hurt-a-bit'. Copy-Lina felt just like a mouse cornered by three particularly large, nasty cats....

Then they pounced.

Lina cooed at her copy. "Just some new clothes won't be enough! And you need a new name, too!" Her hands shot up, then grabbed the other Lina by the shoulders, holding her down. "Alright! We'll cut her hair into a different style, dye it, and hell, even slap on some make-up!" With that, she giggled. A cute giggle. Terrifyingly cute.

Before Copy-Lina could even begin to protest, the three were on her, fixing her hair, changing her clothes, makeing her up. From the far corner of the tent, the motion around the chair was reminiscent of a cosmetician school - in extreme fast forward.

Outside the tent, a pair of spotlights suddenly waved around the front of the tent before centering on the entrance. A sudden, terse drumroll sounded. The doorflap rustled and out stepped....

Have you ever wondered how Lina might have turned out, had Slayers been a traditional magical-girl show?

There stood Copy-Lina, dressed in a sailor fuku. Not a traditional white fuku, though. The skirt on this one was of midnight, and the body was orangeish-red, a few shades darker than her hair. In the center of her admittedly small chest was a white heart with small yellow wings at the corners; the heart was in the center of a black pentagram. Her hair was coiffed into odango, with braided tails.

Copy-Lina took one look at herself in a convenient mirror and with a strangled gasp, nearly fainted away. Everyone else just sweatdropped. Undaunted, Briar, Lina, and Ninoa dragged Copy-Lina back into the tent.

Lina the idol-singer. *polite applause*
Lina the pirate. *polite applause*
Lina the housewife (complee with broom). *sweatdrops*
Lina the police officer. *polite applause*
Lina the Lina. *Polite applause followed by many double-takes*

"Wait a minute! They both look alike!" called someone in the audience. This was immediately followed by a loud *thonk* so everyone assumed poor Ren had had his coherent thought of the day.

Back in the dim lights of the tent, Briar paused. "Hang on a moment, Ninoa. Do you have her, or do I?"

The other girl looked back at the two Linas. They were identical. "Umm... I thought you did," she said, peering between the two.

Suddenly, one of the Linas bapped the two over their heads and grabbed the other Lina. "Geez, ya idiots. Can't even tell the real me?" said Copy-Lina. "Let's hurry and change her so we don't get us mixed up again."

"W-w-waitaminute!" Lina stammered. "I'm the real one!"

"Oh hush," said Ninoa. "You're just being a poor sport."

"Really," said Copy-Lina. "You're just trying to get out of this." With that, the whirling cycle of the 'Copy-Lina-Makeover' team went back to work.

Those outside were treated to some rather interesting sights, as the girls began to really get creative.

Lina the 80's hair-band singer. *some...polite applause*
Lina the Eva-pilot. *scattered confused looks*
Lina of the Knight Saber. *lots of confused looks*
Lina of the Lovely Angels. *much sweatdrops*
Lina in teddybear pajamas. *polite applause*

Sai just looked straight ahead, somewhat dazed. "Oh well... that was quite a show, I must say." Finally he closed his eyes. "Hum... seems like business is picking up. I wonder when it will happen," he mumbled to himself, his thoughts once more far removed from the here and now.

"You DO need a new name, you realize," Ninoa said. "We can't go on calling you The Other Lina all the time, now can we?" She then pulled out a name book and a pair of spectacles. "Let's see... Pauline, Minerva, Alexandra, Melanie, Sartrucia, Almondia, Rosa, Fienna, Serena, Deedlit, Misty, Naga...."

At the mention of that particular name, Ninoa remembered that laugh she'd heard so long ago. Those were memories she didn't really want to explore again...

Going on, she mentioned some other names. "Kaoru, Misao, Rileena, Aeka, Sasami...."

Tim was also flipping through his Book of Memories. He only flipped through a quarter of the way, then stopped and gave a grin. "I think I have the name. Meili Tsai. In one of my ancient texts, I think it translates to "Twin Beauty" or "Repeating Beauty" or something similar. I think it would fit our friend rather well. I mean, it's exotic enough, and it doesn't sound anything like Lina Inverse," the collector said.

Copy-Lina wondered what on earth Tim was doing in the ladies' tent, and why no one else seemed to notice him there. As hands plucked at her hair, adding curlers, ribbons, and various sparkly things... as various shades of makeup were applied to her lips, cheeks, and eyelids... she began muttering under her breath. If any of her eager troupe of beauticians had bothered to listen to what she was saying, they'd have probably popped her one. Lucky for her, then, that they were ignoring her completely in favour of her hair.

Ninoa's voice could still be heard above the hubbub, chanting out a succession of names. "Zoe, Gwynn, Kiki, Florence, Fiona, Ki, Filis, Haley, Elegeia, Chelsea, Melpomene, Marsha, Margaret, April, Miranda, Circe, Annie, Holly, Shelley, Suzy Gee, Jade...." She turned a few pages in the name book and began the litany once more. "Heath, Soracia, Katara, Fusella, Aria, Scavina, Clemens, Thorn, Tomoe, Francine, Katchoo, Tambi...."

Copy-Lina's steady stream of invective changed its tone and focus. "I don't WANT an exotic name," she muttered, now loud enough to be heard. "I'm not an Elegeia or a Sartrucia or a Meili Tsai! If I hafta have a new name, it's gotta fit me... it's gotta be... normal. Like...." She was going to say 'Lina' but hastily decided against it.

She just couldn't think of herself being called anything other than Lina. From the very first time some crusty old villager had called her that name while pelting her with rocks and accusing her of every crime under the sun, it had just... felt right.

Oh well. Knowing anything about this particular group of companions, they'd call her whatever they damn well pleased, no matter how much she protested.

So she went back to muttering various imprecations, too softly to be heard.

As Geltro approached her once more, the dozing Lyssa woke and sat up. "I had the funniest dream. Lina was fighting... with herself... and and people were all confused and stuff and... why're you grinning?"

"Because your dream was sort of real, and it was funny. You know we seem to have two Linas, right? Well, one of them is getting a makeover so we can tell them apart, though she doesn't sound so happy about it."

"Oh." As if that word... well not really word, but sound, summed it all up. "Well... what's with the toy then?"

"You mean Moshi? I was taking a close look at it. Ninoa is so paranoid about people getting near it, I wanted to see if there was anything special about it. There wasn't, at least not that I noticed."

Lyssa shrugged at that, then pounced Geltro for no apparent reason. "Tag. You're it!" When she got back up, it was in the most kawaii chibi mode ever. She winked and blew a kiss, which took the form of a giant heart bubble that popped upon meeting Geltro's nose. The Chibi-Lyssa giggled. She looked a little... well... odd. Not that the elf hadn't looked odd to begin with. Blue hair and all... but now this chibi mode was STRANGE. Icy blue flesh, bright lavender eyes, and raven hair instead of blue hair...? But it was definitely Lyssa... just a chibi blue version of her. With wings... one demonic, the other angelic.

The Chibi Blue Lyssa blipped away, and reappeared hiding in one of the trees, waiting for Geltro to catch on and join in the game.

Geltro looked shocked and frightened by this sudden change. He slowly backed away from the palm trees, towards the rest of the group.

"What's wrong? Hey... yer lookin' at me all funny." The elf jumped out of the tree and walked towards him. Her wings were gone now and her skin seemed to ripple, fading back to its normal pale creamy color. "I've never seen you look like that before. Hey... do you think I could help out the makeover by plastering cute flowers on the other Lina? Do ya do ya do ya?"

Geltro's reply was rather terse. "What did you just do?"

Lyssa stared at Geltro as if he'd sprouted another head. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything. Are you tired? Sometimes I see things when I'm really tired... maybe you should go to sleep." Normal again, Lyssa walked over to him. "Come on; let's go help give the new Lina her makeover!" She started off, reaching for his hand.

Geltro snatched his hand away before Lyssa could take it. "Don't TOUCH me. You just turned BLUE, and I want an explanation." He stepped farther back and drew a wickedly curved knife.

The only two things in the little elf's eyes now were shock and horror. No one had ever shied away from her touch before... ever. "I... I.... Maybe you saw my true-form. I dunno... I... what... please don't be mad at me, Gel-san... I can't help it. Sometimes my control slips and I lose my elven form and... don't tell the others, please? They'll be angry that I kept a secret. Gel-san...?" She looked down, shoulders slumped. "Nevermind... I'm a freak... you have every right to see and treat me as such." She turned and walked back to the group, her back towards Geltro.

When she reached the group, Lyssa put on her happy face again. "Is this a makeover party?! I wanna do something!" From a pouch at her belt she produced sweet smelling flowers. "We can braid these into her hair... what's left of it... and tie little ribbons into the braids and...." The list of painfully adorable things went on and on.

Geltro concealed his knife again with a frown. Serves me right, he thought to himself. Relaxing my guard... what was I thinking? Of course she tricked me. To think even for a moment she might do otherwise? Gah, I must be getting soft in the head.

His opinion of people in general confirmed, Geltro concealed himself and watched the goings-on in the camp.

Every once in a while Lyssa stole a glance at Geltro, and the sadness returned to her eyes. Why did people she considered her friends always end up drawing weapons against her? What was wrong with her?! She wasn't supposed to feel this way about people, especially not evil people... and as far as she could tell, Geltro was evil. Well, chaotic at the very least. It wasn't possible that she was starting to fall for him... love was for humans. She wasn't human... she didn't have emotions. Nothing mattered... no one cared about her and she was just there to give people hope.... So then why do I keep making people mad and depressed? She looked down, wondering if maybe this was her punishment.

Constance slowly regained consciousness, and found herself staring into the face of a confused and worried Filia. "Um... so this isn't some kind of bad dream, then." Her clothes felt damp from the ocean water, and she could hear the ocean waves lapping at the ground behind her. "Could you help me back to camp? I'm not sure what I may have said while I was out of it, but I'll try to explain if you're willing to tell me what happened and listen to me after...." She shivered, partially from the cold of her wet clothes and the soft breeze that was passing through, but mostly because she hoped that the water gave her a chance to get back to the camp in one mental piece, instead of touching her and starting the whole episode over again.

"Yes, I'll listen to whatever you'd like to say!" Filia said quickly, helping the girl to her feet. "Dear... you're soaked. When we get back to camp I shall dress you in some warm, dry clothes! You cannot get a cold." From this, you could tell that yes, she was a mother. She took Constance's arm, placing it around her neck to support the girl. "Now, be careful here," she said, while slowly leading her charge back to camp.

Filia and Constance came up to the camp just as Constance's big explanation of her hallutionations, phobias, and the whole bit came out. And for some reason, Constance was REALLY letting her gaurd down this time... she even spilled the beans about Allen. "And the WORST part about all this is no one else can see him, except me... so everyone thinks I'm psycho or something whenever I talk to him." She trudged back to camp the rest of the way, in silence.

"Oh dear," Filia whispered, covering her mouth. "Well... you don't seem crazy to me," she said slowly. "So... if you say you are followed by a man named Allen who is invisible... it must be so." And with that, she fell silent too.

Gourry watched all the goings-on with a certain interest. The two Linas, however, confused him. Seeing as he had travelled with Lina for the last several years, he could easily tell which one was the one he had been travelling with. But.... two Linas? Gourry's mind swirled and twisted.

"Ne, Lina-chan," he began hesitantly. "Why are there two of you? Do you have a twin sister or something?" He scratched his head and shuffled his feet on the dirt floor, unsure of whether or not he should've said anything at all.

"Gourry, weren't you listening at all?" Lina asked, putting her hands on her hips. "We aren't sure! All we know is that she looks like me!" Sighing, she put her head in her hands. "I just don't know... what shade of lipstick to put on her...."

"Hrmph. You never seem to have that problem when dressing me up," he muttered. He noted with a certain degree of amusement that Lina must enjoy dressing people up. After all, she'd done it to him several times. And she'd made Zelgadis and Xellos dress up once, too, much to their chagrin. A question formed in Gourry's head. Enter stupid question number two of the day: "Ne, Lina-chan, if you like dressing people up so much, why don't you ever do it yourself?" Then he added shyly, "I'll bet you'd look pretty. Like that time when that guy was gonna marry you and you wore that big dress...."

Lina raised an eyebrow, then her mouth dropped open and she froze. Entirely froze. Like a statue of ice. She yelled at herself to move, to respond, but... she'd been taken off guard!

Gourry walked up to Lina, frowning. "Ne, Lina-chan...." He poked at her. No signs of life. He waved a hand in front of her eyes. "Moshi moshi, Lina-chan... are you alright? Was it something I said?" He took a couple steps back and looked her over carefully. She looked... confused? Shocked? Maybe even embarrassed?

"And you, Gourry dear," said Briar, placing a hand on his forehead and gently pushing him backwards, "are entirely too close to the ladies' tent for your own good." She continued to push, until the swordsman's heels hit the log he had been sitting on and he sat down with a thud. "There's a good boy." She walked back and, gripping the frozen Lina, dragged her back into the tent.

Gourry sat back on the log, blinking rapidly. "What did I do?" he muttered, scratching his head.

Once back in the tent, Lina fell over and blinked. What the hell? What was it that had made her freeze... but at the same time made her warm all over....

Shaking her head, she got up as if nothing had happened. Poking her head out of the tent and glaring at Gourry, she lowered her eyebrows, but also smiled a little. "Be careful of what you say, or you're the next to be dressed up!" She giggled then, and turned back to the makeover.

Standing up and attempting to dry himself off as much as possible, Ren looked around the scene, and became confused. "Where am I? Who are all these people? Why does my head hurt so much?"

He scratched his head... "OW!" and walked over to someone he had no recollection of knowing, careful to avoid the swarm of women to the side, and started. "Ahem. Excuse me, but... where are we and what am I doing here?"

Geltro looked up at the big man, generating a sweatdrop bigger than his own body. "Uhm...."

Sighing loudly at being ignored, Ren decided to make the only logical choice left him. He proceeded to the nearest tree and tapped it a few times, producing several coconuts and adding yet another lump to his head.

On his way down to the ground he thought to himself, Gee... this is really getting kinda silly. Maybe this gag isn't funny anymore? Godammit! Why can't I be normal and turn into a big blue thingy like everyone else!? Sure, I'm a dragon... but what good is that? I mean, seriously... I got batted outta the air by some little punk, I keep getting thumped on the head by something or another, my head hurts, I still have yet to find my belt, I haven't had a real fight scene since I played baseball with those popsicles... I haven't even drawn my sword yet! I've fallen off of buildings, almost drowned myself in the water... the only good thing I've done was squishing that Red guy a bit before he got sent flying to unknown regions of the continent by about a thousand different people. Dammit... where the hell are my goldfish?

After darting into the treetops and moving a safe distance away from camp, Sai looked around at his tropical surroundings. "Alright, come on out. I know you are here."

The palm trees and ferns around him didn't respond much. Still he stood there, waiting. Anyone else would have given up and walked away after a few seconds of silence, but Sai simply kept waiting patiently.

Finally, a man in a black cape appeared from out of nowhere, a few paces in front of the young ninja. "I see your awareness of your surroundings is very high," said the man, his voice cold and deep.

Sai looked at the caped man very carefully. "My father sent you."

"Yes he has." The envoy laughed lightly. "It's good that you distanced yourself from the others before addressing me. Your so-called friends have nothing to do with this... I am surprised you hang out with them; they are nothing but weak fools." The man's grin was toothy and impertinent.

Sai felt his face growing cold, and prepared himself to cast a spell. "Are you going to talk, or are you going to fight?"

The man's grin disappeared. "I like your attitude, boy." He drew his sword. Sai inspected it for a moment, then, using the power of his bandana, cast a powerful Fireball. The man simply raised his sword and absorbed the fire spell, causing his weapon to glow bright red with magical energy. "What was that supposed to do?" laughed the black-caped man.

Sai stood there in shock. "An enchanted sword." His enemy slashed the weapon in his direction, sending a wave of fire directly towards the young ninja. It was far more powerful than his Fireball had been, and Sai was barely able to dodge it. Breathing hard, he took stock of his situation. It seems that sword will absorb most of my magic... and I can't cast a Dragon Slave because the others are nearby. Hum... I am going to have to fight him by the sword. He quickly cast Astral Vine on his own weapon, and attacked.

Something was wrong. Lyssa could smell the magic in the air, bad magic, not like the stuff coming from those around her. "Lina-san? Do you feel that?"

Lina blinked and turned to Lyssa, holding a hairtye meant for her copy. "Eh? What? I--" Then she blinked, turned to where she saw a flicker, and felt something. "What the...," she began, then ran out of the tent. "Oi! Gourry!" she called out, glancing toward Sai's direction. "Gourry! Do you feel that?"

Sai and the strange man battled for quite some time. "Your moves are sloppy, Sai. But, despite that, you are not too bad," the man said with a smirk on his face.

Sai glared at his enemy, his sword held high. "Cut the small talk and let's get on with it." His voice was brimming with anger.

The man gave a toothy grin and brought his sword into position. "I believe it is time to put this to a end, Sai Knifeedge." The enchanted sword began to glow orange. "It was a great show, Sai. Thank you and good bye." Holding the glowing blade high, he shouted, "KIZER WAVE!" No sooner had the words left his mouth than he was enveloped by an orange tornado, crackling with electricity. The tornado launched itself straight towards Sai, smothering him.

The high-speed winds and electricity of the tornado did great damage to the young ninja... but the man within the tornado did his own damage to Sai at the same time. While he was taking a double beatdown, the swirling orange winds soared high in the sky. The tornado's roar and Sai's scream both reached the heavens. Anyone within ten miles would be able to hear them and see them both.

Vrumugun turned at the sound of Sai's scream and covered his ears. Damn! he thought to himself. Can't we get ANY peace in this group?! He floated towards the scene, watched the spectacle a bit longer, and decided to do what he could to help. "Freeze -- Aagh!"

Sai wasn't the only one having problems. The sorcerer's jewel was glowing crimson, and the sorcerer himself was on his knees, both hands clutching the gem.

Ninoa could feel something was wrong. "Sai-sama." The words drifted from her lips as she stopped what she was doing and flew straight towards the orange tornado. She had to find him, wherever he was trapped in this whirlwind. There wasn't much time; she could feel it. "SAI-SAMA!" she yelled out as tears rolled down her face.

Lyssa followed, but as she watched Ninoa's distress, she frowned and found a palm tree to lean against, bracing herself against the winds. A sigh was all she allowed herself. "Ninoa-san, calm down."

Rill's ears, long, purple, and pointy, were not just for show, and as the calamities of the others reached them, they flattened against purple tresses with strong displeasure. He hissed from where he lay, bathed in the former serenity of the moonlight upon a giant rock overhanging a quiet inlet surrounded by tropical foliage.

Naturally he'd heard Sai's scream and those of others, and the roar of an unnatural weather front. To all of these things he simply grumbled for a moment, then turned his head away, resuming his casual sprawled position... turning blind eyes and deaf ears to what dangers might abound among the rest of the group.

The tornado disappeared suddenly. Sai remained suspended in midair for a good second or two after the winds ceased to support him, before plummeting to the ground. He landed hard, and lay sprawled on the sandy soil, motionless.

His attacker laughed. "I see we have two more people who want to join the party." He gazed at Ninoa, who was hovering above Sai in panic. "You must be Sai's friend. Yes... I will kill all his friends right in front of him... before he dies. Hear that, Sai? You will die!"

The strange man then turned towards Lyssa. "Ah, another one of your friends, I see. An elf... how interesting. She will watch you both suffer before she dies herself." He chuckled grimly. "I know you have more, but for now... let's have a taste of things to come." He jumped impossibly high into the air, before launching himself towards Sai and Ninoa. Pointing one palm towards them, he sent daggers of energy at them like rain. Ninoa didn't seem to notice the attack. All her attention was focused on the downed Sai.

The little elf frowned, purple eyes less than amused. "Are you trying to sound like you're on a power trip, or is it just natural?" For the second time that evening, though for the first to anyone other than Geltro's eyes, her flesh rippled, hardening, turning so pale a blue it appeared white. Wings seemed to fade into existence, one feathered, the other leathery and batlike. A slender gloved hand reached to her shoulder, drawing her sword. "I'd ask you to leave those two alone if I thought it would do any good, but I doubt that it will. And I'm not his friend; the idiot's terrified of me. Really, I couldn't care less if you kill him, it's the woman I'm concerned about."

Lyssa's slightly curved blade began to glow. Purple and gray mists rose from the ground at the elf's feet and danced in the air around her, rolling off of stony flesh. "Now, are you going to crawl back into whatever foul crevice the dark lord crapped you out of, or do I have to actually fight you?"

The man stopped his rain of energy, floating down to the ground right in front of Lyssa. "You wish to fight me one on one." His mouth twisted in a cruel smile. "Ah, touching. A friend; such a beautiful thing to have... and such an unfortunate thing to lose. I can tell this is going to be an interesting show." He stepped forward, eyes fixed on the elf. "If you fight me now, you will regret it. I am just letting you know ahead of time." He swung his sword lazily up onto his shoulders. "I'm ready if you are."

"SHADOW SNAP!" From behind one of the palms, a slim stiletto lanced out and pinned the attacker's shadow to the ground, immobilizing him.

Thinking about her previous conversation with Geltro, Lyssa smiled. However, her gaze remained fixed on Sai's attacker, instead of turning towards the shadows where she knew the young thief was concealing himself. "I regret many things I have done. And I'm sure I will regret many things in the future. But fighting with you won't be one of those things. You see, the show may be interesting, but... it will be very brief."

As Lyssa spoke, the air behind her changed, growing heavy with the scent of magic and rippling much as her flesh had. From finger tips to her elbows, her skin altered again, gloves melting into her arm, turning into what resembled scales and claws. One hand reached behind her, hiding the pattern she drew. Something odd happened; the air ripped, opening a purple portal behind the little elf. A portal from which she drew a beautiful nodachi. The blade looked unnatural, and the scent of toxins rose from it. "Will you please leave these two alone. They're," a grin twisted her lips, "under my protection."

The man tried to stride forward but couldn't move. He looked behind him at his shadow, pinned to the ground with Geltro's stiletto. "Shadow Snap... it would appear that your friends have arrived." He cast a Lighting spell, and soon was free to move again. "Under your protection...? I like that. Killing the defenses first to get at the core... can be a lot of fun." His feet slowly began to rise from the ground. Soon he was floating in midair. "Another time, perhaps. Sometime soon." In a flash of red light, he disappeared.

The odd-looking elf sighed. "Why does this not surprise me... it could be that having spent so much time fighting Lazarus has made me doubt villains." Lyssa scowled and sent the nodachi back from whence it came. The elf looked towards Geltro, shivered and frowned as she felt her chest tighten. What was wrong with her? She wasn't at all playing her part. She was supposed to be innocence... and here she was acting like a bad girl... and falling in.... No. She smacked the thought away. It wasn't love; it was far from love. Still, the way Geltro had looked at her when she'd slipped into her true form made Lyssa want to curl into a ball and not be seen for the rest of time. Forgetting about Sai and Ninoa completely, she walked back to the camp, remaining in her odd form.

Ninoa had been busy healing Sai as the scenario between Lyssa and the attacker went on. A dark aura could be felt around her as she thought of that man hurting her Sai. Occupied with her task, she'd barely even bothered to look up at what had almost become a battle.

What she had seen, however, perplexed her no end. That strange winged being... that was the elf-girl Lyssa, wasn't it? She scratched her head. "A nodachi? She isn't what I originally thought she was.... Cool!"

With that, Ninoa turned back to Sai and resumed caring for the fallen warrior.

"Dammit. This isn't good... this really isn't. They aren't supposed to know." Lyssa started pacing, chanting, "Dammit dammit dammit...." Finally she looked up. "Darius, I need help...."

Geltro silently appeared beside Lyssa. "That one was either the greatest of fools or the greatest of cowards. I wouldn't worry about him."

He looked at her with his peripheral vision, and added, "If you don't like the way people act when you surprise them, you might want to drop that look before we get back."

Color rushed into the young elf's cheeks and she looked down, fading into the form that the group was used to seeing her in as she walked. "Are you mad at me?" Lavender eyes glanced at the man beside her. "I don't mean to surprise people, its just I can't always control my magic. Sometimes it controls me and.... It's cost me a lot of friends." She kicked a pebble, not realizing she was still blushing.

"I'm not mad, I just hate surprises. Surprises can kill you."

Arcius stepped out from behind a tree. Exactly how the bard, in his garish garb, had managed to sneak up on them, was something that would probably bother them for a long time yet. He glanced at Lyssa, at Geltro, then past them to Ninoa and to Sai.

"Oh good," the bard said. "You're all alive." He smiled winningly. "I believe that the ladies have finished doing the Lina makeover. If you would come back to the tent, it is time to speak of serious matters." He turned and began to walk back to the fire. "And I must tell my tale, which concerns a most serious matter as well."

Pointed ears twitching a bit, Lyssa winced. "I've never heard of a bard who actually tells something... only singing. I should know... I studied to become a bard...."

"Really?" Arcius perked up. "How fascinating! And someone of your age and position must have studied under one of the great masters! Pray, who was it? Celondre? Mrin? You simply must tell me about it when matters do not present themselves with such urgency."

Lyssa was caught off guard by Arcius's question. Besides, the idea of recalling her past made her nervous, as it usually did. She finally decided that she'd done enough damage for one day, and fished for an excuse. "I need to talk to someone," she said brightly. "I'll be seeing you people." She smiled and waved, then stepped back into a purple portal no one could remember her making. "I'll be back soon!" With that she disappeared, leaving her companions behind.

Arcius looked around at the people gathered by the fire. Things were calmed down now. It had been most interesting, listening in on people. Some of them did not seem to need his help much at all. But there were some new interferences. The ninja, who had apparently offended his clan... as long as they did not interfere with the large scheme of things, they were irrelevant. The metamorph elf, ah, what was she called? It did not matter, he would recall the tales at some point. She was adding a new level to the game. He knew it was going to shake the heavens when he finished, but to see it this early in the game....

Thre was also the matter of the other man, the stranger who looked eerily like Zelgadis and who had attacked him in the undercity. He hoped the man (what was his name? Metcliff?) was alive. It would be more interesting with him in the game. But what was he after? Arcius had never seen him before, and Ysmaren indicated no prior knowledge of him either. This meant that he was with the other group, which meant that the situation was fixing to get a lot more convoluted. It was going to be fun!

"Lady Inverse," he held out a hand to indicate he was speaking to the real Lina. "I assume that you lead the other group, that is, those who were not following my quest. Would you, or one of your entourage, tell me what you were doing within the undercity of Kytares? I assume that you were after the treasure found there, but surely you were aware that removing the treasure would reduce the upper city to ruins? Why would you seek to steal such a thing? What could be so important that you would be willing to jeopardize the lives of those within that city?"

Before anyone could reply, a vision in lacy pink frills emerged from the tent and slunk towards the campfire, plunking itself down on a log. Speech failed everyone for a few seconds as they got an eyeful of this victim of fashion.

Copy-Lina's fiery hair had been attacked with a curling iron... the parts of it which weren't tied up with a succession of flowery ribbons, that is. It seemed that her cosmeticians had finally decided on a shade of lipstick... unfortunately, it was a rather shocking shade of fluorescent pink. And either someone had gone overboard with the blusher, or she was burning with embarrassment. Or both.

Then there was the dress. It started with ruffles of lace at the neck, and went downhill from there. Candy-pink patterns adorned the fabric, which puffed out at the shoulders, did nothing to salvage the none-too-ample chest, and was gathered in at the waist by far too much ribbon tied at the back in a massive gravity-defying bow. The skirts, supported by all kinds of petticoats, belled out only to end in more ruffles of lace.

All in all, she looked like a porcelain doll suffering from an acute attack of cuteness. Pun most definitely intended.

Arcius applauded. Everyone else killed themselves laughing. Her face flushing even brighter, Copy-Lina growled something incomprehensible, gathered her ample skirts so she wouldn't trip over them, and stormed off into the underbrush.

Once everyone stopped laughing, they returned to the matter at hand. "Taking the Saber would collapse a city?" Ninoa asked out loud. "Um, gee, that was going to happen?" She then lowered her head in shame with her hands behind her and a somewhat childish look of sorriness on her face.

Sai looked over at Ninoa. "Are you okay, Ninoa?" he asked, his voice soft. Then he realized what he'd just said. He looked around at the others, hoping they hadn't noticed this alarming display of softheartedness. "Um... you should cheer up, Ninoa," he said, still quiet. "Things could be worse." With that, he attempted to smile.

Something fell out of the sky and onto Sai through a tiny purple portal. It was a letter. "You like her, DON'T you?" it read. "Awww, that's so kawaii, Sai. See? You AREN'T as afraid of girls as you thought, now ARE you? Gesukida, Lyssa" For his sake, the letter disappeared as soon as he was finished reading it. Still, he couldn't prevent himself from blushing.

Ignoring the letter-reading ninja, Arcius fixed Ninoa with his level gaze. "I suppose it could have been worse. After all, it could have been winter and the city could have been filled with all those people who move to the city during the winter for protection and safety." The bard shrugged. "But that is there and we are here. I am certain that they will manage somehow." He smiled softly. "Again, I ask, why were in the undercity? What did you need the treasure so desperately for?"

At the mention of more people being hurt, Ninoa teared up and then started to bawl out loud. "WAAAAAAAAAAAH!" she cried out. "I didn't mean to do all that nasty stuff! But... but... I...." She sniffed and cried a bit more before regaining composure. "It was to save the world...."

Geltro, watching the proceedings from a short distance away, shook his head at the foolishness of others.

Still blushing, Sai turned to his mazoku friend. "Please don't cry, Ninoa," he said, sounding cornered. He tried to sound tougher but it didn't work. "You did what you thought you had to do... everyone has to do things they don't like. Some more than others, and some more tragically than others...." His eyes glinted, with what might have been the hint of tears. "But remember there are always those out there who will help you on your way in dark times." The young ninja wondered what exactly was making him act so amazingly out of character. Oh boy. I really hope the others don't mention all this in future, he thought to himself.

After Sai had given it his best shot, Arcius continued. "How tragic!" The bard looked sad. "I suppose if the world must be saved, sacrifices are neccessary. Lady Inverse, we should probably find a hospice for the young mistress here. The dangers which arise in the adventures you face are barely met by grown men and women. Small ones, I fear, will surely perish." He patted Ninoa's head gently. "Here," he said, smiling kindly, "do not cry," and handed her a bright lollipop. She sat there holding it, looking mildly stunned.

"Anyway," the bard said, standing back up. "What else is there to save the world from?"

To everyone's surprise, a strange voice replied. "Oh, not much, just a force of evil so vile it makes you look like a court jester, my colorful friend." Yun stepped out from the shadows. "I was going to jump in and comment on how I believe that redheaded girl in pink didn't look all that funny, but my hunters weren't here yet. Anyone confused? Good! I love to keep my audience riveted!" the boy said with a smile.

A rather large coconut fell from one of the trees, landing with a 'thonk' on Yun's head.

"Confused? Not in the least, my Lord." Arcius eyed the newly sprouted bump on the stranger's head. "And certainly riveted. Although this 'court-jester' feels the need to point out that there are a bunch of twitchy people here who 'fireball first, ask questions later'."

"Yes, I've learned that the hard way," said Yun, rubbing his head. "It just shows how undeveloped your minds are. To tell you the truth, I see you as the kind that will shoot, shoot some more, shoot one more time, and when every one's dead, try to ask a question. But I'm not here to gripe. Mind if I join you? I have a message from Lazar."

Lina looked up, startled. "Lazar?" She hadn't been listening, instead choosing to stare at the embers of the fire as it died down and trying to organize her thoughts. Having to deal not only with some girl copying her image, but with Gourry's feelings as well... and her own feelings... it was too much. All this talk of saving the world had gone right over her head. Growling, she snapped a fireball into the fire once again, rekindling it yet again.

The sudden reappearance of bright flames knocked Ninoa out of her own reverie. She looked at the lollipop in her hand, then at the bard, then at the lollipop, then back at the bard once more. Then, with a pissed-off look crossing her face, she jammed the candy into his mouth and threw him overhand towards a far-off tree.

It was an impressive throw. But by some coincidence, Ninoa's foot slipped slightly in the loose sand, and rather than the ninety yard pass she was expecting, it became a fifteen-foot lob. Arcius tumbled head over heels through the air, and landed on his feet. He was somewhat off balance, and staggered backwards, right into a tree. There he stood, leaning against the tree. His smile became a momentary grin, but he shook his head. "No," he said softly to himself.

His smile back to normal, he chuckled ruefully. "Dragonchild, eh?" He walked back towards the now merrily blazing campfire. "Well, Lina, what will you do? My company was planning to set out to the ruins of Debonair after our rest, for as the small Mistress says, 'the world needs saving'. Should we expect you and your company, or will you be departing? And if you indeed do depart, do tell me so I can add it as a footnote to my epic."

Briar, having taken a seat by the fire, spoke up before Lina could answer. "Not a dragon child, bard. The little girl's a full blown Mazoku. But no worries. She's a good mazoku." The illusionist then took it upon herself to answer Arcius's questions. "If you must know, we ended up in the caverns because the local militia chased us there. Although if memory serves me correctly, and gauging from her reaction, I do believe the little mazoku does know something about the treasure. And, she's promised us a nice explanation of her relationship with one 'evil man with a black bladed sword of light'. Metcliff is what he called himself." She smiled. "Now's as good a time as any, Ninoa. It's quiet, peaceful, and I doubt anyone is going to interupt us." She dug her fingers into the sand, casting. The illusion was quite simple. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, the entire clearing and everyone in the area was now just a simple stretch of beach with a few trees.

Throughout all of this, Sai remained quiet. He looked worried, but not about his own problems. He was worried, for Ninoa's sake, about Metcliff. He was also wondering about her mazoku nature, as well as about how he felt about her. "Um...." He intended to say something, but no words would come out. After that, he simply sat and stared into the fire.

Another note dropped down into Sai's lap, this one reading, "If you don't tell her that you like her, Sai-chan, I'll tell her, and you won't like how I do it." Like the first, it disappeared after he finished reading it.

The young ninja froze. What do I do? A million thoughts raced through Sai's head all at once. Lyssa is going to tell her if I don't.... He blushed brighter than ever before, so he hastily kept his face buried low so no one would see. How does Lyssa know, anyway? he thought angrily, then looked at Ninoa out of the corner of his eye. "Okay, okay, I will tell her tonight when everyone is asleep. That way... no one will know...," Sai muttered in a voice so low that no one else could hear it. "I don't believe this... how could this happen to me, of all people in the world...?"

Not having noticed Sai's dilemma, or perhaps choosing to ignore it, Arcius sat back down by the fire with a flourish. "Well, young Mistress?" asked Arcius, of the still slightly pissed off Ninoa. "Are you going to tell us your story?"

Ninoa breathed in and out, trying to calm herself down. Everyone was looking at her, expecting an answer. It was now time to reveal what her quest was all about. A quest begun so long ago, that her memories of it were almost like the memories of dreams. Her eyes looked sleepily at the group as they sat around the blazing campfire. She wondered if they would shun her after her tale was over.

"It was many years ago. I was among friends that were quite dear to me. We traveled and had adventures, adventures just like the ones you've all probably had yourselves. We were all very close... there was myself, Dakon the Swordsman, Rosa Vaira who was both Priestess and Sorceress, and Metcliff, our Jack of All Trades.

"We were on a journey to collect certain artifacts, five swords to be exact. These were the keys to the Power of Command. If you people have heard of it, then I guess I don't need to go over the details... I'm not too sure of them myself. But what I do know is that it contains great power, and that if it is in the hands of evil, it could bring about the end of the world.

"Our competition was a race of Mazoku who had been searching for this power as well. Now, you're probably wondering why they would wait so long to try to claim these swords. The truth is, they couldn't claim them because they were protected by the blood of ancient dragons. The ancient dragons of our land protected the powers of the swords by sealing them within tombs enchanted by their own blood. The only way to breach the tombs is by using the blood of an ancient dragon." Her throat sore from all this talking, Ninoa then materialized a glass of water and drank.

Geltro wandered over and took a seat by the fire, next to Briar. He quietly spoke aside to her. "You're good at this. I'm impressed."

"Good at what," Briar whispered back slyly, keeping one ear on Ninoa's tale.

Geltro whispered back. "Pretending to be on their side. Being invisible in plain sight. These things are NOT my strengths. Why am I doing them then?" The small thief shrugged. "My plans have all gone weird, and I'm completely cut off from support, so I'm improvising. Is that a good enough reason?"

The bard looked absolutely fascinated by Ninoa's story. "And what happened next?" he asked.

The glass of water somehow disappearing, Ninoa continued. "Our reasons for wanting to find this Power of Command were... unusual at best. We all wanted one thing or another in the beginning. But as our journey endured, and as the evil Mazoku attacked, we slowly lost interest in our wish for the Power of Command. We just wanted to make sure that the Mazoku would not get their hands on it.

"So we decided that it was necessary for us to destroy the weapons to ensure that they wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. We didn't count on the Mazoku kidnapping one of our own.

"And so, when we were off guard, a Mazoku kidnapped Rosa Vaira and threatened to destroy her if their demands were not met. Delivery of all five of the swords to them. Metcliff was heartbroken over this. His beloved, stolen from him, and he could do nothing but bargain with her captors. It drove him mad just thinking about it.

"We then finally gave in to their demands, but included something extra. After the exchange was made, I set one of the swords to explode so that they wouldn't be able to use it. So that the Mazoku wouldn't be able to summon the power. But we were wrong about that...."

Sai looked quickly around at everyone at the camp. Everyone seemed to be caught up in Ninoa's story. Even though I would rather stay, I have to prepare for my confession, otherwise Lyssa will ruin everything, Sai thought to himself. He stood up. "Um... I will be right back... I need to work on something," he said hastily, and ran away from the campfire, taking his stuff with him.

After Sai was sure he was far enough away, he knelt down and opened his bag, rifling through his things. "Hum, I wonder... should I...." Sai then started thinking about what he should do. "It all depends on what happens, doesn't it...." Unable to figure anything out, Sai just continued going through his belongings.

As Ninoa paused again, Briar glanced down at the thief. "Not your strengths?" she said, using a tiny spell to speak clearly with no one the wiser. "It doesn't take much with this gaggle." She gave a wry smile. "But I know where you're coming from. I'm quite out of my element as well." She eyed him for a moment, then gave a neutral smile. "But, circumstances being what they are.... Perhaps an alliance? I help you, you help me?"

Geltro favoured Briar with an appraising look. "That depends on whether our goals are compatible or not. I was hired to make sure the clown and a certain someone had a private conversation. Now I don't know where that person is, or where we are, anyway. You see my problem." He stared off, past the fire. "And that Lyssa person. She could be... useful, but she sets off so many alarms in my head I'm tempted to just drop her the next time she arrives. It would simplify things."

Briar spoke. "Me, I'm here to make sure that this group, in their bumbling way, doesn't interfere with the plans of my employer. Arching a fair brow, she added, "As for the elf, she showed up under mysterious circumstances, immediately after a fight with a mazoku. I find it rather suspicious myself. Would you like me to make it easier for you to avoid contact with her? Wouldn't be that hard. It's a trick I use to keep things in their proper perspective."

Geltro shook his head. "Like I said, she might be useful. I just don't want her sneaking up on me. I hate surprises, and she's just full of them." He grinned crookedly to himself, then continued. "As for your 'assignment', so long as a sudden disappearance by the bard doesn't count as interference against your employer, we should get along fine. By the way, I was quite impressed with your work back in the sealed, underground city. I just think you need to work a bit on your timing."

She smiled. "At the entrance? They jumped like they were supposed to. Nice bit of work there yourself. I just wish it had worked. Would have been amusing."

"I meant when we were trying to escape. Sowing chaos is fine, but not when your own butt will suffer from it." Geltro remembered something, and got a sour look on his face. "I can't believe that debacle with my traps though. What sort of people run at a room full of traps?"

"I dunno," Briar replied. "It depends on what you need the people for. They're either the best kind of idiots or the worst kind of fools." She gestured to the others around the clearing. "Take your pick."

Geltro frowned. "Somehow... somehow either of those answers alarms me."

The proceedings were interrupted slightly by the return of Sai. Apparently finished sorting through his stuff, he arrived at a dead run, but slowed down as he approached the group. "I am back... sorry about that." The young ninja sat down in an empty spot by the fire, his head still lowered to hide his continuing embarrassment.

"Simple minds," Yun said as he watched the group forget about him. He walked away from the campfire, unnoticed. "I don't know what Lazar saw in them. But he does know things I don't."

The boy eventually came to a sandy clearing. He was all alone. The sounds of the jungle swirled around him. And he slipped back.

At first he heard the screaming. Then he saw the fire, and the bodies that had once been his parents. "No...," he murmured. "Stop...."

The pictures of the past became more clear, and he saw.... Him. The monster moved through the streets of Yun's flaming town, slicing a path of death with a giant sword. And then, Oni's eyes of insanity met with Yun's, and the monster laughed. A long twisted laugh that dug its claws into Yun's skin. "NO!" yelled the boy, and he was brought suddenly back to the calm jungle, sweating in fear. "Who cares if they're morons," he said to himself as he raced back towards the camp. "I will have my revenge!"

Dreaming... of cool marble walls, of velvet and silken drapery, of pristine fountains. Surrounded by multiple beauties and peoples of exotic appearances, each offering cups filled with honey-sweet wines and platters of strange and delicious delicacies. Lounging among the opulence of it all, he sampled tender fruits and candies from slender fingers and pursed lips.

Creeping low and exhibiting a catlike sensuality, Rill came alongside his Master's divan. Reaching a hand forward, he laid it upon his Master's finery, eyes lit and fixed upon one twinkling jewel dangling from a gold chain. However, the moment his hand clasped the object, a sharp and wicked snap resounded. The back of his hand stung terribly and he was sent reeling away.

Purple eyes flashed open, taking a few seconds to regain focus and placement. Rill pulled himself up, finding that he was still resting atop the long slab of rock over hanging the quaint basin and waterfall. He examined his hand, almost feeling the fierce slap of the dream, the memory.

Sighing, he ran the hand through his hair. Then, extending it slightly, he began to draw archaic little patterns in the air before him. Half hooded eyes glittered darkly as Rill mumbled some spell. Alighting from his fingers, designs drew themselves with purple light and then vanished. The ceremony was over quickly. A slight breeze ruffled his purple locks, but there was seemingly nothing more to it.

Most seemingly, for a backlash with enough force to physically strike him down came soon afterward. Winded by the impact, Rill could hardly call out as he tumbled down the steep rock face. Landing sprawled upon his back, Rill groaned in the ensuing silence.

Trembling, Rill rolled over and rose to his feet. His ears perked up, as he listened to the intense quiet. Quiet so encompassing, he feared he'd gone deaf somehow. When the tropics around him burst into an orchestra of noise again, louder and more vibrant than ever, Rill stumbled and clutched at his long ears.

Picking up a stick, he prepared for the first onslaught. Swinging his weapon with great ineffectuality, he attempted to swat the flying and crawling menaces away from him. He was quite a sight, both ragged from the fall and disheveled by his heedless efforts to dispel the brightly coloured birds who sang and flaunted their extravagant plumage for him, and the rodentry and reptilia that scurried about his feet in a state of reckless amour.

Overwhelmed by frustration and exhaustion, Rill cried out and screamed. Yet in spite of his obvious vexation and faltering appearance, the animalia of the area saw him through eyes clouded by lovesickness. They saw Rill as if with a hazy and pastel background, sparkles and flowers before him: an overall dream. To them, Rill was the most beautiful and desirable creature the world could offer.

Grumbling, growling, and muttering to herself, a delicate pink flower of a maiden tromped through the underbrush, ruffled skirts hiked up high but still somehow managing to snag on every last fern she came across. She didn't care which way she was going. She just wanted to get away from the hideous embarrassment of the campfire, as fast as humanly possible. Well, as fast as she could go in those skirts, anyway.

It would probably have been more intelligent to change clothing before attempting to dash off through this thick expanse of tropical jungle. However, Copy-Lina had been too incensed at the time to think of that, and now, well, she wasn't exactly sure where the campfire, the tent, and by extension her normal clothes, were.

Her normal clothes... she was missing them now more than ever. Her trousers didn't catch on every creeper within five paces of her. Her shirt didn't puff out like a balloon. Her new cloak, albeit too warm for these climes, wasn't some alarming shade of pink. And her boots didn't let her feel every single pebble, branch, or slightly large grain of sand she stepped on.

She'd have to go back sometime, she realized glumly. If just to get those boots back. Her feet, shod in delicate, thin-soled slippers that were rapidly becoming much the worse for wear, couldn't stand much more of this abuse. And besides, they were good boots, sturdy and well-made; would've cost her a fortune, if she'd actually paid for them instead of grabbing them off of some bandit a month ago....

Resigned to her fate, she began to turn back. As she clambered awkwardly over a carpet of vines, she tried to remember what route she'd taken to get here. Was the ocean back in that direction... or was it over there? Was that the sound of waves crashing against the shore, or was it just her imagination? Was this place on an island or on the mainland, anyway?

Sighing, she tried to orient herself. "Maybe if I go back towards that rocky cliff face I passed a minute ago...?" she mumbled. Climbing down that had been fun. Now if she could only find it again....

Suddenly, the underbrush burst out in a cacophony of animal sounds, followed by an anguished scream. Copy-Lina's ears perked up. Someone nearby was in a whole heap of trouble, by the sound of it. Maybe, she thought, it was a native of the area! Someone who knew their way around -- and who could lead her back towards her boots!

She dashed off towards the sound, and after tearing past a mess of palm fronds, she was greeted by an alarming sight. That strange purple-tailed boy... the one whose dinner she'd eaten... was being attacked by hordes of jungle animals! Scads of birds, row upon row of little lizardy things, and entire regiments of bright-eyed, bushy-tailed creatures were mobbing him. As the boy was armed only with a stick (and not even a pointed one, at that), it was clear that there was no way he'd be able to prevail. At least, not without some help.

And there she was, weaponless, clad in the most ridiculous and encumbering ensemble known to man, and having temporarily lost all use of her formidable magic skills.

Shrugging her shoulders, Copy-Lina strode forth into battle anyway, hoping that the thought of regaining her beloved boots would carry the day.

The noise of animals not of the night began to subside, just a little bit. While it still raged loud and clear with song and call, the so-called attacks upon Rill�s person ceased. Panting, he clutched a hand to his chest and slung the harmless stick over his shoulder. A close ring of rodents and reptiles ran around his feet, the critters gazing adoringly up at Rill.

His ears perked and twitched, and belatedly he turned to see Copy-Lina entering the dispersed fray. Striking a rather casual pose, his brow creased in concern yet with a smile gracing his lips, he raised a hand to signal her to stop approaching.

"Please, Fire Sprite...." He tilted his head, his first smile faltering, only to be replaced by another very much the same. "Ah, forgive me, Fire Bird. But I fear that at this time my presence may be unstable to you and the others."

There was something to Rill then that seemed odd. A nearly palpable wave of heavenly warmth, and the scent of fresh flowers, tinged the air. It clouded Copy-Lina's mind slightly and pleaded in sweet whispering tones that she draw closer.

Copy-Lina was disappointed to find that the strange boy had somehow managed to take care of his attackers all by himself. But for some strange reason, she couldn't bring herself to be disappointed for long. Suddenly, she was intensely aware of exactly how close she was standing to this strange, delightful creature....

A light twitter of laughter came from Rill. "Dearest Fire Bird, what in L-sama's great name are you wearing?"

"Oh, this?" She giggled. She couldn't help herself. Or stop herself from twirling one finger in her newly-curled red hair. "It's just a dress...." Deep in the throes of sudden shyness and embarrassment, she clasped her hands together and stared down past her slightly tattered, voluminous pink skirts, directly at her feet. Her feet, which were still clad in those slippers. Those travel-stained, frayed slippers. There was something she had to remember about those slippers. Something important....

She looked up again with sudden boldness at the curious boy in front of her, taking in the long ears, the delicately twitching tail... the brilliantly plumed bird nestled among his hair, the fuzzy little creature perched on his shoulder.... "Your name is Rill, right?" She'd been able to gather that much about him during dinner. But she knew precious little else about him, and for some reason that irked her. "What are you, really?" she asked, taking one step towards him.

Rill laughed, light and merry. To those under his subtle spell, it sounded like bells and chimes strung together; a sweet symphony of silvers. The furry little creatures gave a collected sigh and the hearts of the reptiles melted.

"My dearest," he began, tossing his head and dethroning the bird there. Bowing with immense grace and mockery, and taking a discreet step back, Rill looked up to her with half hooded purple eyes. Suddenly he twirled, and began to perform an enchanting series of movements. "I am a merry maker, a dancer, an entertainer, a singer...."

Gentle laughter bubbled from him, as his body twisted and extended in the contrast of dark shadow and ghostly light. "Yet in the end, I must admit that I am but a lost lover with too much passion to give." Laughing again, he vanished into the darkness of the tropics. A trail of animals followed him, and soon Copy-Lina appeared alone, although the sounds suggested that Rill was still very much around, simply skulking about too fast to be caught by her sights.

"Sweet Fire Bird," his voice called, "return to the others, and shed that wretched attire. Let them not deck you in such pompous wear again. If not for nothing more than their impracticality, then for that they woefully do not suit your blazing spirit."

Shed that wretched attire.... Something about that phrase seemed to ring awfully familiar. At this point, however, Copy- Lina was beyond caring. The scent of flowers and sweet spices surrounded her, and at times it was hard to think of anything else. Which way did he go? she thought impatiently, finally darting forward when she thought she'd caught a glimpse of the curious boy.

Apparently she'd misjudged the direction. Instead of bringing her closer to her goal, she found the alluring scents growing fainter. Shed that wretched at-- hey, wasn't I.... Thinking was somewhat of an effort, but she shook her head, trying to clear out the fog and cobwebs that Rill's presence had put there. Wasn't I... trying to find the campfire so I could change OUT of these wretched clothes? That sounded right. And... get my BOOTS back!

Shaking her head again, Copy-Lina dashed forward, all thoughts of Rill forgotten. Her boots were far too precious for her to allow herself to be distracted for too long. She made an educated guess, hiked up those cursed skirts, and darted off towards where she hoped the campfire would be.

Ninoa shifted herself about, trying to get comfortable in her sitting position as she continued her tale. "The specific swords themselves aren't the key to unlocking the power. Except of course for the one sword that the power is built from. What is needed are the five most powerful artifacts in world. It was only a matter of time before the Mazoku got their hands on those, and they wasted little time summoning the power for what they wanted...."

Lina sighed. She was faintly hearing Ninoa's story, but it really wasn't catching her ear. Instead, her bright eyes looked around the group, as she yawned. After everything that had been happening, she should be tired! But in fact, she was only a little drowsy. A small growl rose from her throat as she looked at Gourry. He probably had already forgotten about her, she realized with a pout. And the music box.... She remembered everything, and her blush returned.

Somehow Copy-Lina managed to get herself oriented, and after quite a bit of hiking she found herself once again near the campfire. It was starting to get rather dark, and she was glad she wasn't still stuck out among the vines and creepers deep in the tropical jungle. Trying her best to be inconspicuous, she headed straight for the tent and slipped quickly inside.

It took only a few seconds for her to locate her real clothing... and her boots! Muttering a prayer of thankfulness that they hadn't all been tossed away, she stripped off the pink frilly horrors and got herself properly dressed in a matter of seconds. Soon she let out a sigh of relief, wiggling her now sensibly clad toes in something approaching real joy.

Now that she was dressed normally, she felt ready to face the world again. That is, until she turned her head and a fringe of flame-coloured curls bounced into her sight. "My hair!" she said in dismay. She'd completely forgotten the wretched things which had been done to it.

Quickly she found a mirror and assessed the damage. It was worse than she'd remembered it. Much worse. Not only was all her hair ridiculously curly and done up with lacy bows, but the trip through the jungle had pulled everything out of shape. Bows were half undone, curls were teased out in a stringy mess, and somehow leaves and bits of vine had gotten tangled in. Growling, she snatched up a comb and immediately set to work.

A matter of minutes later, the bows had been chucked away, most of the leaves and stuff had been combed out, and what was left was at least untangled. Still too curly for her tastes, though. Still frowning, she braided her hair again, ending up with one thick plait that reached down to the small of her back. At least it would be out of the way. And the bits where Ninoa's magical scissors had cruelly chopped it short were once again tucked out of sight.

"There. That's better," she muttered, just moments before her stomach rumbled. Long treks like the one she'd just finished always stimulated her appetite. Heck, breathing stimulated her appetite.... Maybe there were some of those fish left. Or maybe there was some other kind of food she could scrounge up... leftover stew, perhaps? In any case, she decided, the campfire would be her best bet.

The campfire... around which were sitting all those people who'd laughed so hard at her makeover. No, she didn't want to face them again. But... her hunger was a force unto itself. Even the remote possibility of something edible was enough to overcome all obstacles.

So she headed out and surreptitiously rejoined the group, seating herself cross-legged on the ground, trying to look interested in what was being said while scanning the assembly for any traces of food.

Geltro, always the keen observer of the world around him, noticed Copy-Lina's 'sneaking', as well as her apparent (and unsurprising) hunger. He also made a point of not being obvious about noticing, preferring to listen silently to the story being told.

Ninoa, meanwhile, lowered her head. "This is the part where Metcliff and I grew apart...."

"I got them!" Ninoa cried triumphantly as she emerged from the stronghold. "They're all here...."

"You actually got by security?" Metcliff asked, sounding astonished. "But how?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with my nature," Ninoa replied while dropping the weapons on the ground in front of her. "Well, now that we have them, can't we use the power now?"

"Yes, but something concerns me," Rosa Vaira said. "This was way too easy... you sure those are the right ones?"

"Of course!" Ninoa spoke with confidence. "Now let's get to summoning the Power of Command. Let's do this already!"

"How can you do that if you're dead?" spoke a voice from behind Ninoa. Two fireballs descended quickly on the travelers, who quickly set up a shield to protect themselves. Before the group stood the Mazoku Lord, Almeiser. "Did you really think that dear Ninoa here would try to destroy our beloved father, Chaotic Blue?" Almeiser continued with a laugh. "She got your hopes up so that we may crush the little resistance that stands before us... isn't that right, Ninoa? Once a Mazoku, always a Mazoku!"

"Piss off, Almeiser!" Ninoa quickly snapped, readying a spell. "I don't serve you or anybody else but myself and my friends!"

"Friends?" Almeiser laughed. "Do you even know the meaning of the word? I'm giving you your last chance at salvation, and you stand up to spew words you don't know the meanings of? Come now, you were meant to be with us."

Ninoa lowered her head and tried to control herself. Chaos ran through her mind. Should she stand by her friends and be destroyed, or seek to side with the opposing force and win? No, she couldn't betray her friends... not now, not at this hour.

"Oh, and the Power of Command doesn't work anymore," Almeiser said, grinning. "That's why we let you have it... to us, now that Chaotic Blue is free, it is but a cheap collection of swords, not even worth our effort."

Ninoa stood poised to strike, not caring about her own death, but thinking purely of how to kill Almeiser before he hurt her friends. The love she had for her allies, her companions, was so great, it began to show through her body. It began to illuminate with a white glow that consumed Ninoa and the surrounding area. Almeiser tried to shut off the light but it was too great for him and he was destroyed by the power.

The weapons began to glow along with Ninoa, as if they were feeding off of her power. They danced about her as she floated to the sky. She raised an arm and broke the darkness of the sky to show the stars above as she concentrated the power.

After that, everything went blank.

Sai listened with great interest to Ninoa's story. As her voice trailed away, he found himself with his head lowered and his fists clenching the dirt in anger.

Arcius studied the little mazoku for a moment. "Lady... Ninoa, correct?" He smiled. "Good. Lady Ninoa, one thing must I ask. You are not from this world are you? You come from a world where someone other than Shabranigdo and Cepheid battle for the fate of the world, right? How fascinating!"

Sai's voice broke in before Ninoa could answer. "That was... horrible. I don't know what to say...." The young ninja didn't bother to raise his head. "I feel like I should be able to do... something... to help make it all up to you, Ninoa. But I don't... know what to do...."

As Sai sat there, feeling miserable, from out of nowhere came a haunting melody.

"Shelter a while this poor tattered heart.
Cool my brow with your kiss.
Tell me, my love, you'll lie with me only.
Lie to me all night like this."

Gentle and soothing, Rill's lilting voice carried across the tropics and up over the canopy. His wanton spell gave his words true flight, conveying stirring emotion and volume to what was just a simple tune.

Proceeded and followed by his Animalia army, Rill burst gracefully from the foliage and into the illusion Briar had manufactured. He held back several feet from the main campsite, still twisting and turning in an enchanting dance. The creatures about him seemed to flow with his movements, becoming incorporated into the performance.

Abruptly he spun, and upon doing so, fell to sit upon the sand. A look of awed nostalgia came over his features as he cupped the grainy dirt into his palms. Yet hissing in anger and disgust, he threw it away from him, his ears pressing to his head. Turning himself towards the watery shore, he resumed his singing, but softer now.

The melody was rather beautiful. Copy-Lina idly wondered if Arcius would add a lute accompaniment to Rill's singing. Flicking her braid over one shoulder, she settled back in her spot at the campfire and sighed. There didn't seem to be any scraps of food left... having such people as Lina and Gourry around, that wasn't much of a surprise. So there wasn't much point to her staying around here, was there?

Just as she was intending to get up and leave, however, a half-remembered snippet from Ninoa's story caught her attention. Rosa Vaira...? Where have I heard that name before? thought Copy-Lina. A bit of reflection brought to light the answer. That's right! That guy down in the underground city, who looked like Zelgadis. He thought I was Rosa! She wasn't quite sure what it all meant, though. So who's this Rosa person, anyway? Does Ninoa know the Zel-lookalike guy? Are they friends? Enemies? Where did he disappear off to, anyway...? This whole set of questions was intriguing enough that it even made her forget about her hunger. Temporarily.

Before she could speak up and ask Ninoa for an explanation, though, Yun came rushing back into the camp with blinding speed, a look of revenge in his eyes. "O.K.! Listen up!" he said, grabbing everyone's attention. "I'm not too keen on Lazar's idea of trusting or working with you, but desperate times call for desperate measures! Where is Lina? I have to tell her what Lazar couldn't finish before! NOW!"

"What do you guys think?" asked Oni, turning to Thorn and Froard. "Do you think he makes a fine trophy?" He turned back to Lazar, who was frozen in stone, standing on a pedestal. "He'll go great with my bowling trophies at home!"

'You'll never get away with this,' came Lazar's voice from the frozen mouth.

"Shut it, old man! You want to age some more?" Oni held up a turquoise colored stone, as big as his fist. "Behold the power of The Eye of Zar!" He then began to chant in a strange tongue, and the stone fragment began to glow with eldritch life. Wind blew around Lazar's stone body, and he cried out in pain as the wind began to erode his form. Oni smiled under his mask. "You're just getting in the way, old man." The wind died down, and Oni placed the rock back in his pocket.

'You... just... wait,' gasped Lazar.

Oni laughed. "What? You think Yun and that Lina girl can stop me? YOU just wait, old-timer! The show hasn't even begun yet." Oni looked at the stone in his hand. "Just wait till I find the other fragments. Then I will be unstoppable!"

Copy-Lina stared at the newcomer. He seemed to be a young boy, but somehow the look in his eyes made him seem older. But the fact that she'd never seen him before in her life was the kicker. "'Scuse me," she said, pointing directly at Yun. "Who's that? What's he doing here? And how come no one's fireballed him yet?"

Filia played quietly with the loose strands of her golden hair. It had been quite a while since she had last spoken, but it wasn't her fault. All she could think and worry about was her dear lost child. There seemed to be some kind of commotion around the campfire, so she finally looked up. "Yun," she said, recognizing the young boy who she and the others had met back in Kytares... the boy who had reminded her of her own Valgaarv.

Valgaarv.... Her blue eyes, filled with emotion, stared at the flames. Her hands crossed in her lap, she sat quietly, not speaking another word.

Lina turned from her place at the fire, facing Yun. "You need me for WHAT, now?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well it can't hurt just listening to your tale." She grabbed the boy and set him down in front of her. "Go for it!"

"That was easy," commented Yun quietly. He cleared his throat. "How far did old Lars get with you on the story, anyway?"

"I... I...," Lina started before facefaulting. "How is a kid like you gonna help us, anyway?" she muttered. "I'm bad with kids!" It wasn't really Yun's fault that he always made her think of Hellmaster Phibrizo, was it?

Gourry, who was sitting next to Lina, tried to remember all of Lina's experiences with kids. According to what he remembered which was, granted, not much, he couldn't seem to remember Lina being horrible with kids....

"Ne, Lina, you're not so bad with kids." Upon receiving a dubious glance from Lina, he continued, "Remember that black haired kid that tried to steal your money? You didn't kill him. I mean, normally if some guy tried to steal your purse, they'd be dragon slave fodder, but since it was a kid, you were nice to him!"

Of course, Gourry was characteristically forgetting that the 'kid' ended up kidnapping him and nearly destroying the whole world, but hey. That wasn't so important, anyway.

"Hold it, hold it, hold it!" stated Copy-Lina, eyes narrowed, in Yun's direction. "Who are you, who is this Lars or Lazar guy, and why should we care?"

Meanwhile, Ninoa, her story cut off right in the middle, was getting rather visibly annoyed. She was being ignored, right when she was telling a very hurtful story. "WHY DON'T YOU PEOPLE LISTEN!?" she screamed, making Gourry fall backwards in a daze.

Sai hurried to Ninoa's side. "Now how can you say that? I was listening the whole time!"

Composing herself, Ninoa then looked around and noticed something different about Lina. About her chest.... "Lina," Ninoa asked, "isn't your chest quite a bit larger than when we first met? I'm sure of it." To herself, the mazoku muttered, "And at the rate it's growing, it'll soon reach the size of one of my last partner's... I hope that Lina won't start acting like she did...."

Looking down, Lina ignored everyone else. The world went silent... and she could hear the crackling as hell froze over. She had BOOBS! "BY THE GODS!" she cried, a large smile on her face. Then her eyes began to go wide. As if bespelled by Ninoa's comments, they were growing too big... and far too fast. "HOW DO I TURN THEM OFFFFFFF?!"

"You want to turn them off?" Ninoa questioned Lina with confusion. "But... they're a normal female evolution. Right? Oh no... am I out of the loop again?" Ninoa sat and wrapped her arms around her legs.

Ren began to ogle Lina as her... attachments... started to increase in size. "Ooooooh. Purty." He reached out, and....

WHAP! Filia, it seemed, had snapped out of her depression. "Bad Ren-san!" she scolded, putting her mace away. "You stay away from there!" Her eyes glowed, and Ren knew he should be scared....

"Gah... why'd you go and do that? 'Tis only natural I tell ya!" Ren rubbed his sore noggin. Apparently he was himself again. But for how long...? "Would you rather I sit on your lap, dear mother?" He clasped his hands together, giving Filia sparkly eyes and smiling in a rather unnatural manner.

Her eyes narrowed evilly. "Try it, and you won't just have one lump on your head...." Her hand clasped her mace warningly.

Sai stared at Lina, blushed, looked away, looked back, then quietly said, "Um... is that supposed to be happening?"

Ninoa, still confused, glanced at Lina again. By now her chest was far larger than it had been only a few seconds ago. The mazoku stared in horror as the mere sight called up a horrific flashback.... OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! Ninoa cringed at the sound only she could hear, and curled up in a catatonic little ball. "No! Stop that laughing!" Ninoa cried out for all the campsite to hear. "FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS! PLEASE STOP!"

As everyone stared at Ninoa... well, everyone who wasn't staring at Lina's chest... she somehow managed to calm herself down some and try to make sense of this situation. Lina's breasts were growing at an abnormally fast rate. And it was clear that this was no ordinary female evolution....

Yun looked stunned for a couple of seconds, then shook his head. "I hope you don't think of me as a pervert. But here goes nothing." Yun then flung his hands onto Lina's growing chest.

"WHAT THE HELL?" yelled Lina, flinging her arms, trying to hit the boy.

"Stop moving! I'm trying to reverse their growth! So just stay still!" Yun closed his eyes and concentrated. "Your bosom is swelling with energy! It's a spell of some kind, and we need to find out where it's coming from or no one will be able to recognize you!"

"I ALREADY don't recognize her!" murmured a wide-eyed Gourry. Lina growled, with raging eyes. Knocking Yun away, she grabbed her blond-haired sidekick and began to shake him in incoherent rage. And her boobs kept growing... and growing....

Gourry's eyes widened as he saw the two large vessels swing his way, his quick reflexes no match for the new and unwieldly power Lina posessed on her chest. He flew backwards, landing on the hard, dry ground with an audible thud.

As he fell over, knocked silly, Lina's rage evaporated. "Gourry! I'm so sorry!" she cried, then sat down in abject misery. "I'll do anything... JUST MAKE IT STOPPPP!" she wailed.

"Ow...," groaned Gourry. "Never thought THAT would happen," he murmured, without considering the consequences of his words.

Lina hit Gourry again, this time with her fist. "Jellyfish for brains!" she yelled, then put her hands on her hips. Her incredibly large breasts were now starting to rival even Naga's... this was getting bad. "Forget Lazar and the Power of Command. There is only one thing we need to do right now," she said softly, looking at her partner very seriously. "We need to STOP THIS DAMN THING!" Grabbing her majorly defective magical bra, she tried desperately to tear it away. "IT WON'T COME OFF!" she sobbed.

Geltro bit down fiercely on his bottom lip. I will not laugh. I will not make noise. I will not draw attention to myself and get pounded. I will not laugh....

Rill spied lazily upon the campfire and the group seated there as he lay among the illusionary sands, half hidden in the night's gloom. His furry and feathery army surrounding him, covering him, warming his bared and clothed skin pleasantly.

Quietly, he sighed in rueful content. Behind him, the tip of his tail flickered idly and swept through the sand. Like some forlorn puppy, his long ears drooped dispiritedly. Then, he laughed softly, stirring several of the animals in the action's wake. For he was watching the antics of the others, finding it particularly amusing that the infamous Lina Inverse's breast size was rapidly growing. Much to her and the other's horror and dismay.

What an interesting trick that was, if somewhat alarming. Raising his hand, he glanced at the magical bracelet he'd received. It now looked like any old piece of jewelry, unadorned and plain. For the umpteenth time that hour, Rill sighed, then silently laid his head down.

Gourry turned several shades of red. The thought of himself attempting to help Lina remove the bra was more than a little nervewracking. "W... well... what do you want me to do? How can I help?" he stammered.

Arms crossed and frowning slightly, Copy-Lina watched the strange goings-on from a comfortable distance. She'd known there was something funny about the real Lina's chest size, and this just proved it!

Finally getting tired of the commotion, the braided redhead rolled up her sleeves and snarled, "Alright already! Do I have to think of everything myself?" With that, she launched herself towards Lina's abnormally inflated assets, brandishing something she'd pocketed a while back during the dress-fitting part of her makeover. A pin.

Lina tried valiantly to ignore Gourry's eyes, and whacked Copy-Lina and her pin out of the way. How am I gonna get out of this one? Finally, her breasts did the job for her. They grew absolutely huge, busting right through her clothes... and right through the magical bra, ripping it to shreds. After it was gone, her bosom went right back to its normal size.

The only problem was... now that her shirt had been busted right through, everyone could see her chest! Blushing fiercely, she covered it with her arms and curled up into a ball. "You didn't see ANYTHING!" she screamed childishly.

Sai quickly turned his head away. "Oh... boy." He quickly darted off, trying to lose himself in the jungle. Once he thought he was a safe distance away from the action, he leaned back against a palm tree, folded his arms and looked off into the calm darkness.

Something small, dark, and furry assailed the back of Sai's head with a piqued squeak and a sound thump. Whatever it was, obviously a rodent of some kind, it burrowed down the back of Sai's clothing, then scurried around within them for a needless amount of time before scampering out through his pant leg and over to the laughing figure that had launched it.

Sai caught his breath. "What was that?" He heard laughter not too far away and, after glancing at the campfire from the corner of his eye, walked away from the group and towards the laughter. Once he was close enough to the laughing figure, he cast a Lighting spell, and was surprised to see who it was. "Rill? Hey, long time no see." Well, that was a warm welcome, for Sai anyway. "Where have you been? What have you been up to?" Sai then winced. "More importantly, was it you who sent that thing at me?" Sai looked evenly at Rill, waiting for an answer.

In the dimness, Rill's eyes managed to catch the faintest light, and sparkled cold silvered amethyst. Hissing at Sai's congenial manner, purple hairs prickling, and tail lashing angrily against a tree's girth, Rill quickly turned away and darted further into the darkness. Naturally, his army followed, disappearing along with him.

There was an eerie and complete silence to the tropics then. Only the wind breathing through the leaves created any remote disturbance. Suddenly, something wooden snapped to Sai's far left. "Go away!" came an inflamed cry. Another furry object was thrown, although it fell short. A tiny shrew or mouse type creature, it landed squeaking at Sai's feet. Like the first, it quickly ran back to whence it came, not giving Sai even the briefest of glances. And so it was that Sai's final question was at least answered.

"Had I known it was you, I would have done better and kept placid." Rill's voice chimed out almost bitterly, its source constantly changing from one place to another, but always far off. "Go back to the others. Return to the warmth of the fire and your dearest sweeting."

Sai folded his arms. "Warmth...? The warmth of the fire... I never found warmth there anyway." He then looked around in the darkness. "My 'sweeting'...? I don't know what you are talking about... but I can tell you want to be alone." Sai sighed, then turned and shinnied up a large jungle tree, thick with vines and creepers. "Well, I cannot force you to talk to me... if you don't want to talk, that is your decision. But I will be around if you do want to talk." Sai smirked. "Don't worry, Rill, you are still a good person in my book." With that, Sai began to jump from branch to branch up in the jungle canopy. Once he was a fair distance away from camp, but not too far, Sai sat down on a branch and folded his arms, thinking.

"Perhaps I do wish to talk..." came a muttering voice, far closer to Sai than the boy would have guessed. Surprisingly, Rill had perched himself on a fellow branch a scant few feet away from Sai, using the varieties of light and darkness to create an air of dark mystery surrounding himself.

Tone low and threatening, Rill practically growled at Sai as he spoke again. "Yet you peg me for a 'good person'. What do you know, what do you care?"

A great rustling began in the trees. That which had appeared to be foliage was quickly turning out to have shining round eyes, and vocal chords enough to squeak, chirp, or hiss. Rill's spell began to radiate again, becoming so palpable that it seemed as though tendrils of its powerful essence reached out toward Sai, coaxing him and goading him lightly.

Sai could feel something strange. He looked all around his body, then at his hands, but nothing could explain the source of this mysterious feeling. He couldn't see Rill in the darkness, but that didn't stop him from talking to the curious boy. "I know more than you think I do... I don't know what you mean but I peg you for a good person." Sai stared into the darkness. "You cannot seal yourself in darkness like this forever. But I do know what you are going through."

Sai then stood up and held out his hand. "I was destined to be in the darkness. Not you, Rill; you are a good person... you don't have to let yourself be surrounded by darkness. I know you're better than this... you are cheery and have a great personality... kind of weird, but great nonetheless." Sai waited for a response, with his hand still held out. "Please, Rill, be my friend again. You are one of the fewer than few who are my friends."

The tropic forest broke out in an orchestra of infuriated sound. Birds flew left and right, random patterns in a frenzy of riot and hysteria. They careened toward Sai, blinding him with their scattering plumage, knocking him from his branch with their frantic beating of wings.

The young ninja's fall was broken by a well placed pile of dampened leaves, their cool wetness soaking his back. Above him on the branch he'd occupied, in plain sight, Rill glared down at his fallen form, birds flanking him on every side. "How could you possibly know what it is that I am going through? How could you possibly know me?" Rill growled savagely, his frail hands turning white as he gripped the branch tightly. "How could you dare to call me 'friend'? How could you!" Rill screamed, and leapt from the branch, tackling Sai and forcing him to remain lying down.

Rill's spell hit Sai with a full and intensive force then, gathering the boy up into a torrid whirlwind of feeling and emotion. Rill gazed down at Sai with a mixture of anger and sorrow.

Sai clenched his fists. He felt... strange. He opened his eyes, looking into Rill's face. "Rill, I may not know what exactly is troubling you, but from your face, I have an idea. Rill, you know you can trust me...." Sai looked at the animals which were surrounding them both, then back at Rill. "Please... I am asking you... please tell me what is wrong. I know I can help... but you have to trust me...." Sai tried to look deep into Rill's eyes. "You know you can trust me... please."

Rill continued to stare down at Sai. Now an expression of cold indifference crossed his features as he took in the words and scanned the other's face in a similar fashion. Snorting quietly, he seemed to abruptly come to a decision. That usual impish and conniving grin graced his lips again, fangs glinting in the gloom.

Hands, totally adept in their work, slid up over Sai's chest as Rill deftly straddled the boy's waist. As the hands came to grasp Sai's shoulders, Rill's own too slender form flattened itself over Sai's body.

Hooded violet eyes bore into Sai's. Their faces were so close that noses lightly touched, and one's breath became the other's. "Sai," he whispered, "I do feel that I can trust you, as much as I resent it. But do you truly believe that you can trust me? Sai, Sai, Sai...." Trailing off softly, he chanted the name, much like he'd done when they'd met, it seemed so long ago.

Sai smirked as he looked into Rill's face. "I am sure I can trust you." Even his eyes were smiling. "Nice to have you back, Rill...." Then the ninja turned his head, noticing all those animals, still ringed around them. They were staring right at him, intently, their little animal eyes almost glowing with the intensity of their gaze. Sitting up, he said to Rill, "I believe your animal friends are about to attack me."

Wilfully ignoring the animal hordes, Sai then began rubbing Rill's back. "See, Rill, you can trust me. Remember, if you want to talk, I am right here. Don't hesitate to talk to me if there's something bothering you." He continued to rub the smaller boy's back like a concerned parent would.

"I never left, Sweeting Sai," Rill purred sensuously into Sai's ear. Brazenly he arched into Sai, spurned on by the gentle rubbing of his back. Although Sai had intended for this to be purely parental and benign, Rill automatically and instinctively took the endeavor for something else. "You shouldn't trust me. Although I won't let those beasties harm you in any way, you really shouldn't trust me." A delicate kiss was placed just behind Sai's earlobe. "You insist upon asking me to talk," he laughed. "That's not something I've been asked to do much. So tell me, Sai, dearest, what shall I tell you?"

Sai felt himself shiver when Rill planted a kiss behind his ear. The young ninja quickly regained his composure, however. "Um, I would like to know where you've been all this time. I would also like to know why you were acting so hostile earlier... you acted like I was a stranger. I was worried about you... I thought you might have been possessed or something." Sai then started to rub Rill's back in big circular motions. "Most importantly, I want to know why I shouldn't trust you." Sai smirked. "You are a great person and I would like to know why you think I shouldn't trust you."

Sai's shiver was not lost to Rill. That, as well as the ninja's tender hands, served to fuel the serpent-boy to go to greater heights and extremities. His eyes half open, their violet depths sparkling darkly, Rill smiled as his sights roamed over Sai's face. Tossing his head back, Rill laughed loud and clear. "Oh Sai! Sweet, succulent Sai! If only I could bring myself to just hate you. You sound worried about my absence and my actions. I could almost believe you cared. Oh Sai." Chuckling softly, Rill rested his forehead against Sai's. "To me you are a stranger. One so naive it pains me. If you dare to trust me, I'll only end up taking you away and breaking you.

"Of course...." One of Rill's hands trailed teasingly up the side of Sai's neck, stopping momentarily to rub at his ear. Fingers soon tangled in Sai's hair, gently massaging. "Before that happens, the trip there would be most exquisite."

A few more seconds of quiet back-rubbing ensued. "Very well," Rill said, deciding finally to comply. "Where have I been? Around; nowhere of importance." Rill's tongue darted out and wetly licked Sai's earlobe. "Why you shouldn't trust me, let me dodge that question for a moment." He kissed the juncture of Sai's ear and neck. "Was I being hostile? Perhaps because I am resentful, having to take back my spell, and receiving such a backlash." A lower kiss was placed upon Sai's jawline.

"You are a total stranger, as I said. You do not know me as so many others have." Rill laughed again, his tone now rich with a deep vibrating purr, and kissed Sai's chin. "Worried? No one worries about me. Not unless I am useful to their purse."

Sai smirked again. "Rill, I wouldn't worry about you breaking me. If it was to be so, I would have been broken long ago." He then took the smaller boy's hand and held it in his. "Who knows what the future will hold? Rill, do you want to come back to the campfire with me... or are we just going to stay here all night?" He flashed Rill a toothy smile.

A tender kiss was placed upon Sai's right cheek. "Back to that question I eluded." An equally soft kiss to Sai's left cheek. "You shouldn't trust me, Sai dear, because I have no control." Rill again tossed his head back and laughed. "Tell me, my love, you'll lie with me only. Lie with me all night like this," he sang. And an igniting kiss found purchase upon Sai's lips. Forceful and demanding, completely carnal.

Once the kiss finished, Sai drew back in shock. He raised one hand to his lips, then lowered it. "You really don't have any control," he said faintly. Then he smirked. "Maybe you do and you just don't know it. At first you were hissing at me, and now you purr.... Of course I'll stay; you are my friend, and I have to keep track of you." He looked around again; was it just him, or did the circle of animals around them seem even more ominous than they had before? "Um... perhaps your little friends don't approve of your actions," he said hesitantly. "Staying here might be a bad idea." He stood up quickly, picking Rill up and carrying him away. Of course, Sai holding Rill just made the animals seem that much more hostile. "Um... can't you do something?" Rill just laughed.

As he walked away, Sai began to shiver. His clothing was soaked from lying on the wet leaves. After he felt there was enough distance between them and the horde of beasties, he set Rill down by a tree, then undid his cape, wrung it out, and sat next to the strange boy. No sooner had he done this than a snake, hanging from a vine above them, lowered itself to Sai's face. And sure enough, the other animals had followed, a living wave washing ever closer to them. "Um... I think those kisses you gave me really made them edgy," Sai said, somehow managing to keep his voice calm.

Laughing, Rill leaned in and purred against the young ninja. Suddenly he was a purple mass of limbs, squirming to get comfortable in Sai's lap. Rill wrapped himself effectively around the boy. His legs hugged Sai's sides, his arms laced around Sai's neck, and one hand combed back into Sai's hair. "I see you're starting to get it now," he murmured, kissing the juncture of Sai's ear and neck. "I'm just your usual moodswinger, baby." Warm breath whispered against the other's skin.

Briefly, Rill lifted his head to spy his army still about and closing in. "They know better; they can sit and brood and glare all they like. But they know that I've decided upon my consort, and they know my wrath should they interfere negatively." Grinning, he raised a hand, allowing the snake to come down into his palm and coil about his arm. Lowering it, he had the snake stare head on at Sai. And while it did glare rather nastily at him, even drawing up slightly to hiss, it quickly slithered down Rill, onto the damp leaves, and away.

"See?" Rill chimed proudly. "They may not like you in the least right now, but what can they possibly do while you are in my presence? You know, I'd swear you were trying to get away from this." To show just what this meant, Rill again bent down. Generously he licked at Sai's ear, following its curves with his tongue. Eventually he began to nibble and worry it with his teeth.

Sai went chibi, and his arms and legs flailed about, keeping him in the air. "Rill, you should control yourself! The rest of the group isn't that far away! Also if you keep going like this, once you leave I will become fish food!"

With a hostile squeak, Rill fell head over tail and rolled away from the panicked Sai. Drawing himself up on fours, he shook himself. For a moment he simply blinked at Sai as if the boy would grow an extra head or something. "Fish food?" It didn't make any sense to him, so Rill did his best to combine the products of a scowl and a glare, and aim the results at Sai. However, all that he managed to piece together was a sultry pout.

Sai turned back to normal, and he patted Rill on the head. "You are an interesting kid, Rill. That indeed." Sai then leaned back against the tree and sighed. "Let's just sit here and talk. What do you say?"

Rill snorted, and turned away quickly as Sai patted his head. He glanced at Sai from the corner of a violet eye. "I'm more of an adult then you'll ever be at this rate," he mumbled, but not so quiet that Sai couldn't hear. Yet he simply shrugged and crawled (stalked) back over to Sai. Flopping himself down, he curled up alongside the other boy, his head resting upon the other's shoulder. Sighing, he looked up at Sai. "Fine, for now we'll sit and we'll talk."

"Um, what do you mean, you are more than of an adult than I? You are about my age...."

"I have never known age to be a factor of maturity. And even so, I would exceed you still. There are other things that make you old, Sai sweeting." Rill sighed then, quite rueful.

Sai then looked straight ahead into the darkness of the jungle. "Rill, I want to know something... what do you want more than anything in this word... what do you want?"

Fingers came up to Sai's chin, softly directing him to avert his gaze from the blackened wild and to look upon Rill. To stare deep into those dark purple eyes, filled with fervor. "I want what most beings in this world want." He gently kissed Sai's lips. "Riches, power, love, home."

After this second kiss, Sai bit his lip, turning his head away. "Yes, those are all things a normal person would want." He rested his head back against the tree. "Rill, what are you going to do now? I mean, will you go off and be alone again?"

A hand soothed itself along Sai's cheek, and Rill giggled airily. "As long as there are those who are lonely, and those seeking the exotic... men and women with purses full enough... I shall never be truly alone." He then kissed both of Sai's cheeks in succession. "For every question, I must have compensation," he said with a tender smile.

Sai was surprised when he heard this. "Um. Well. I think I understand... and I am glad to know that you will never be alone. So are you planning to do anything in the future?" Sai wondered again.

Rill's brow furrowed and he slipped away from Sai's body. He then regarded the boy with a bewildered and rankled expression. "You understand that I sell myself to the highest bidder, to any bidder? That it is because I allow strangers hands to touch, to torment, to torture my body that I will never be alone because of them? You understand this and are glad of it?!"

Sai looked at Rill in shock. "People... torment you?" Sai lowered his head. "I am sorry. I had no idea that anyone would ever want to hurt you." Sai ran his fingers nervously through his hair. "That is terrible... I don't know what to say. I feel I should try to help somehow...." Sai noticed then that his fists were clenched.

Rill rose gracefully to his feet, folding his arms primly across his chest. His tail swaying slowly behind him, he smiled darkly, yet looked beyond Sai. "What could you possibly do to help? After all, I have already been whipped, cut, beaten, and burned. I have been tied up and tied down, with bindings slicing into my skin. I have had multiple patrons take me, every part I could offer, and then demand more. I have cried out in the night, eager for their bruising kisses and calloused hands." Rill wove on his feet, hypnotically moving from side to side, his hands coursing up his arms and then down his body in wretched remembrance. "I am terrible, but I feel no shame."

Ninoa quickly threw her mantle over Lina's exposed body and grabbed the remains of the bra to examine it. "When did you get your hands on this?" Ninoa asked in wonderment. "This is a very rare artifact... in fact, I haven't seen one like this for a good three hundred years, when the blasted thing was probably created...."

Looking around, Ninoa started another story. "I worked as an assistant to a cosmetic mage a while ago... the same person who gave me those enchanted scissors. Anyhow, it was her who created the magical bra, if I am correct.

"It was originally for a princess who wanted to appear more... womanly. What the bra was supposed to do was increase her breast size slowly so that it would make a lasting impact on her body... but something went wrong. You see, she wanted immediate results, so she cast a boost spell on the bra. As you just saw, even such a simple enhancement can cause disastrous effects. What happened to the princess? Well, let's say that she got her wish to look more womanly, in one of the worst possible ways. All the princes started to call her names behind her back, and she was isolated and alone. When she couldn't take it anymore, she ran away with her hefty breasts and left the kingdom in tears. When the royal guard went to retrieve her, all they found was the bra and some torn pieces of clothing. That's right... she grew so large that she exploded.

"How the artifact appeared in Miss Lina's possession is beyond me, but...." Ninoa looked at the bra again, and looked puzzled. "But this bra doesn't have a magical signature anymore... as if the enchantment went somewhere else... somewhere... oh by the gods...." Ninoa began examining Lina with concern. "I'm afraid the enchantment seems to have rubbed off on you. I think I can predict what will happen...."

Ninoa then pulled out a magical book from somewhere behind her and started to flip through it. "Rubbing off magic... rubbing off magic... ah, here it is... cosmetics... cosmetics.... It says here that when a certain product's enchantment is rubbed off onto its wearer due to overusage, it can lead to degrees of enchantment according to the wearer's emotion. So in this case, the greater the extreme of emotion, the greater the size of Miss Lina's breasts."

She then closed the book. "But what has me worried is that Miss Lina's magic bra activated as if under a boost spell just recently, and I don't recall her casting such a spell... not in public anyhow. What we should worry about though, is finding a cure for this ancient artifact's enchantment. The easiest way of solving this is to get the Power of Command, unless you feel like digging around trying to find a mage with the ability to cast an incredibly high level nullifying spell. And believe me, I've done my searching... thanks to those scissors...." She then pulled off her long hair extensions to reveal her real hair, which was light blue and, for some reason, had been hacked boyishly short. Ninoa turned a light shade of pink as she revealed this to the group.

She then reattached the hair extensions and went on. "I had a little trouble trying to tame those scissors a while ago, and the result was that my hair got cut short. The enchantment causes the hair to stay the same length that it was cut. Forever. And seeing how I've been looking for a powerful enough nullifier for a long time, I doubt we are going to find a simple solution to Lina's problem, either."

Lina freaked out. "What did you say?" she cried. Grabbing Ninoa by her collar, she began to shake, not stir. "Did you say I have a curse on me?" she yelled, then noticed her goodies were flying around again.... "CRAP!" She flew down to the ground, covering them with her arms. Wait a minute... now that she was angry... they were HUGE! She tried to cover herself as best she could, but only succeeded in giving the guys nosebleeds. "Someone fix me! I can't run around like this!"

"A-hem," said someone nearby. Lina turned to see Copy-Lina holding out that pin yet again, looking far too smug for her own good.

Lina glared at her copy, steam coming out from her ears. "THEY'RE NOT BALLOONS!"

Blood ran down Geltro's chin from where he was furiously biting his lip. He pounded his hands into the soft ground to try and release some tension, but it just wasn't working. I mustn't laugh I'll get pounded I mustn't draw attention I must be silent I mustn't run away I must be stealthy Gods be damned I can't take much more of this!

"Back off, girl," said Yun, coming in between the two Linas. "I have direct orders to help Lina, and I'm going to follow them. So don't make things more hectic than they already are." He then spun around to face the real Lina, and snapped his fingers. A giant red poncho appeared in his hand. "This will have to do until I can find a way to reverse the curse," the boy said as he draped the poncho over Lina. "Better?"

Grumbling, she took the poncho. "I can't believe I'm wearing this," she muttered. "How is this supposed to make me look good?"

Ninoa then looked at Lina with a mischievous smile. "You know, isn't this some kind of irony? You wish for so long to look more adult, and it comes back to bite you tenfold...."

Lina gave her the dirtiest look known to man. How dare she! "Why you...!" she cried, and once again, her curse took over. Thank God for that poncho....

Gourry's nose was streaming blood. Lina's most recent... development had caught the poor swordsmen quite by surprise. "That's one curse I don't mind," he murmured.

Hearing the comment, Lina turned quickly to hit him... and ended up smacking him upside the head with one of her "appliances".

Gourry's blush deepened as he was hit yet again by Lina's unwieldly assets. "Anou... Lina-san... could you please stop hitting me with your... uhm... you know...."

Lina blushed as she sat back down, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down. After a while, her breasts started to slowly turn back to normal. "Alright," she said. "We... need to fix this."

Gourry blinked. Wow... Lina was actually reasoning things out instead of just hitting him! This was a new one. Of course, his Gourry-sized brain had yet to realize the full consequences of this curse. His train of thought went something like this:

Lina has a big chest now. They're big when she's mad. Lina has a really big chest now. When she stops getting angry they get smaller. Lina has a really big chest now. So, her chest grows when she's angry, and shrinks when she's not. Lina has a really big chest now.

A light bulb dimly came to life in his mind. It all made sense! When she's mad, her chest gets WAY big. So, to keep her chest from getting big, she had to act nice. Well, at least he'd be able to tell when he pissed her off now. "Ne, Lina, what do we do about your... uhm... problem?"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK?!" Lina exploded, then quickly calmed herself down before the 'effect' happened.

"Lina... I think that poncho doesn't quite suit you," Ninoa spoke again without thinking. "It kind of make you look... I'm not sure... fat?" She then started to look through her pack and appeared to be pulling things out of subspace: an umbrella, a six pack of soda, some cereal, a graphic novel, a fake ID, some Lina and Gourry UFO catcher dolls, and some other things until she reached a small leather bag.

"Here's something that will be able to keep up with your curse," Ninoa said, smiling as she threw Lina's poncho off and dressed her quickly in the contents of the bag. "It may seem a tad revealing, but it will grow and shrink depending on your size." There Lina stood in a Naga-esque outfit that was almost correct in every feature, except that the wearer had red hair and proportions not quite as large as the original.

Ninoa then pulled out a book that was titled, 'My Madness and Myself: A Self Help Book.' "And this is to help you control those outbursts." Ninoa smiled sweetly, waiting for Lina to thank her. How naive.

Lina blushed intensely as she looked down at herself. She.... She.... "I HAVE NAGA'S CLOTHES ON!" she yelled, shaking Ninoa silly. "Why does it have to look like THIS?" And her boobs grew. But THIS time, she was going to get some violence in before she stopped. Shaking the blue-haired mazoku fast, she narrowed her eyes. "Can't you at least find a different LOOKING outfit?" Then, tossing Ninoa aside, she fell to her knees. She now knew how Zel felt.... She grabbed at the dirt under her, so angry she could cry at this whole mess. And her boobs shrunk.

Ninoa picked herself up, looking shocked. "You know Naga? Is this the same Naga that calls herself the White Serpent? The one with breasts so large?" Ninoa then looked very nervous. "The one who had that... that... laugh?" Ninoa was so wrapped up in this that she forgot to mention that the self-help book had some (read: most) of the pages missing. Well, she hadn't had anything else to keep that fire going all those months ago....

Upon that comment, Lina fainted. Not that she was known to faint. She just... was too shocked to handle it anymore.

This last was finally too much. Geltro's fine control snapped, and he roared with laughter. The thief's small body shook, and tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood from his bitten lip. As everyone stared at the bizarre sight of the silent, brooding boy laughing madly, it became obvious that Geltro was... running out of breath. Eventually his face grew red, he gasped, and he fell over in a dead faint like a poleaxed tree.

Gourry eyed the boy warily. He picked up a stick and idly poked at him in the side, making sharp, quick jabs. Not too hard, but not exactly gentle, either. "Ne...." He poked some more. "Moshi moshi...."

Geltro lay there, unmoving, eyes spiralling. Gosh, he looked so... normal like that. Just like a typical sleeping kid, really, and not like a desperate criminal at all.

Unlike Geltro, Briar had not bothered to try not to laugh. Unlike Geltro, though, Briar was an illusionist and had cast an illusion of her sitting quietly, watching the proceedings. This minor spell prevented anyone from noticing as she very nearly howled with laughter as the comedy went on.

Things were looking quite nice at the moment. Once whatever issues the bard wanted were on the table, then she would move. But until then.... this was funny!

Arcius, the great actor, did not laugh. Indeed, he was so good that even his eyes did not betray how incredibly funny the situation was. It would be a great story; he could envision it even now, being told in taverns around the world. And if Lina happened to be in one of those taverns... so much the better. All for the betterment of disorder.

Plus it would no doubt have the positive effect of changing Lina's reputation significantly from that of 'Dragon Spooker' or 'Bandit-Killer'.

"Alright," said Yun after things had calmed down a bit. "I guess a female's touch was needed here, but let's focus on the problem. You, miss," he said, gesturing to Ninoa. "Your name is Ninoa, correct? You seem to know as much as I do about these things. Let's get started on finding a solution, shall we?"

Ninoa looked down at Yun. "You may be right, but then again, the Power of Command is our most likely bet. Sure, finding it may be hard, but probably not harder than trying to find a powerful enough nullifier. And to fix Miss Lina's condition, we might as well save the world at the same time."

A note floated in the air above them as they spoke, and slowly descended towards them. Yun reached up and plucked it out of the air. He read the writing on the slip of paper to himself. "Interesting," he said out loud.

"What's it say?" asked Ninoa, curious.

"It simply says, 'Beware things that get under your skin and in your head.' Any idea what it means?"

"It's time," said Oni, looking at his cohorts. "Is the package in place?" he asked Thorn.

The old woman closed her eyes and nodded. "It's found them and is waiting," she answered.

"Just give the order!" said Froard, holding in his now human hand a type of channeling stone.

"The order has been given," said Oni darkly. "Release our little gifts!" Froard smiled as he squeezed the stone.

The ground began to shake. Everyone, especially the top-heavy Lina, was caught off balance. Finally the earth beneath their feet exploded, and a type of odd looking pod came shooting out of the ground. It landed on the ground with a slimy thud. It was as big as a medicine ball, and it pulsed with life.

"What is it?" asked Gourry.

The pod suddenly busted open, and hot steam poured out. A clicking sound could suddenly be heard, and Yun knew what it was, as well as what the note meant. "It's trouble, Gourry," he said. "Also know as Mind Beetles." As if on cue, a bunch of fist-sized beetles crawled out of the pod, and looked about at their new targets.

"Oboy!" said Copy-Lina, rubbing her hands together with glee. "BATTLE!" A nice bit of action would be just the thing to get her mind off the events of the day. Drawing her recently-acquired sword, she rushed in towards the nearest bug, and attempted to whack it with all her might.

And failed utterly.

"They're FAST!" she muttered in annoyance, after swinging and missing for the third time. Well, missing the bugs, anyway. She'd nearly impaled poor Ren. Twice.

One of the beetles spread its wings, and, making an odd clicking sound, decided that the girl in black leather was the slowest target. With blinding speed, it shot like a bullet from a gun barrel straight towards Lina Inverse.

With a quick flick of her fingers, Lina incinerated the beetle that had dared to attack her. "What the hell are these?" she asked.

"They're called Mind Beetles!" said Yun. "Nasty little things, too. One bite from these babies and say bye bye to free will!"

Another beetle clicked as it zoomed up away from Copy-Lina's blade, and did a nose dive at her head. "Look out!" yelled Yun as he pushed her out of the way. It didn't matter to the bug; it took its new prey. The stinger sunk deep into the back of the boy's neck.

"Yun!" yelled Lina. "Are you O.K.?"

The boy laid on the ground, motionless, with his face in the dirt. But then he began to giggle, which progressed all the way to full blown hysterical laughter as he rose to his feet. "Why, I'm just fine, Lina," he said in a voice that was not his. He looked at the sorceress with an evil grin on his face, and eyes filled with madness. "Shall we play?" the bug asked through his mouth. "FIRE BALL!"

Arcius dove, moving with a surprising, fluid speed. The bard pushed Copy-Lina safely out of the way (figuring that Lina could take care of herself). He was not quite fast enough to dodge the blast entirely; his garish cape caught the end of the fireball and lit up. With a startled yelp, followed by a hop and a skip, the bard tried to remove his cape. Alas, in his panic, he tripped over the unconscious boy, Geltro, and fell. He tumbled into the darkness beyond the light of the campfire.

"Crap!" Lina cried, as she dodged the beetle's attack and ran forward. Then she got an idea! Getting angry, her boobs grew... and she thwapped Yun upside the head with them before he could cast another spell. "Yosh!" she cried, then blushed as they shrank. Turning, she fireballed another bug coming up behind her.

"Yawp!" Copy-Lina didn't take kindly to being shoved out of the way, no matter the reason. And to have it happen to her twice in the same fight.... Glowering first at Yun, then towards where she thought Arcius was, she decided to go for the visible target. So she lashed out and planted a foot solidly in Yun's head. After being battered by both Linas, his eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he fell over into a small twitching heap on the ground. Then, satisfied that he wasn't going to be getting up again anytime soon, Copy-Lina went back to the frustrating game of swinging her sword at the insect attackers.

THWACK! While trying to skewer a mind-bug, Copy-Lina somehow managed to get her blade stuck solidly in a palm tree. "Great," she growled. One of the buzzing creatures decided to take advantage of the situation. Stinger at the ready, it swooped towards her head as she attempted to pry her sword free.

And its gambit would have worked, too, if she hadn't just barely managed to wrench the blade out in time. All of a sudden, her head wasn't where the bug was expecting it to be. It ended up smashing stinger-first into the tree.

Copy-Lina, herself, hadn't been expecting the sword to give way so easily, either. Seriously unbalanced, she pitched forward, her arms windmilling as she tried desperately to regain her balance. This also meant that her recently-liberated sword was flung out in all directions; she finally managed to, completely unintentionally, knock one of the mind-bugs silly with the flat of her blade.

Her advance was halted when her foot snagged on something. With a yelp she fell forward, right on top of whatever she'd tripped over. Which turned out to be one small thief, rapidly regaining consciousness, and none too happy about the way he'd been woken up.

Kicked by Arcius, Geltro's highly-tuned paranoia woke him from full unconsiousness to twitching alertness instantly. A wickedly curved knife leapt into his hands, nearly of its own volition, and he took a defensive stance while rapidly scanning for threats.

Or at least, that's what he planned.

What actually happened was that Geltro woke up, reached for his knife and started to rise, only to have copy-Lina land awkwardly on him. The two fell back to the ground in a tangle of limbs and cloaks.

As the duplicate sorceress flailed and screamed something about killing the stupid ecchi thief whose filthy body had probably stained her good boots, Geltro noticed some beetles approaching rapidly. Disoriented, tangled, and pressed for time, he did the first thing that came to mind.

"Raywing!" A sphere of air formed around the both of them, and shot straight up into the air as fast as Geltro could propel it. Copy-Lina got a marvellous view of the ground dropping away sickeningly.