AN: I don't own The Slayers, I just play in the sandbox.

Now for a little courage, Naga thought to herself as she hid behind one of the heavy tapestries and unscrewed her flask. She chugged the wine within, and then wiped her mouth as she stared out at the court, presided over by her grandfather, King Eldoran. Somehow the grey, shrunken man still managed to project an aura of power, even though Naga and the other immediate members of the royal family knew his health was starting to fail. Even then, he smiled warmly as he watched as his youngest granddaughter charmed the court.

Naga yearned for the ease with which her eight-year-old sister, Amelia, addressed the court as she turned toward them, causing the skirts of her rufflely pink dress to sway hypnotically as the crowd of nobles gave sounds of approval while Naga's parents, Crowned Prince Philionel and Crowned Princess Tesla, watched with unbridled pride. Amelia wasn't even caught off guard as she tripped a little on the way to the podium! Any embarrassment washed off her back as the nobles muttered about what a cutie she was to each other.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Amelia began, and somehow her childish high pitched voice managed to carry through the ballroom, "I, Princess Amelia, welcome you tonight! Thank you for coming to hear me talk about a very important subject!"

Amelia paused dramatically for a moment as Naga drank some more wine, and then Amelia posed dramatically as she said, "Justice! A kingdom where every citizen follows the path of justice is a good and prosperous kingdom! And to facilitate this growth, I will share with you a song I wrote that is to be taught to every child in the kingdom to instill the values of justice in their hearts."

The gathered nobles nodded approvingly as they clapped. Amelia bowed her head and waited for the applause to die down before she started to sing what was a silly little jingle about justice. Nevertheless, the crowd was thoroughly charmed by it as Naga wondered how the ability to go into a crowd of people without being overwhelmed by the fear of embarrassment was something that her parents and younger sister had, yet missed her entirely.

Amelia finished her song and beamed as the nobles clapped, while Phil picked her up as Tesla put a hand on her back as she let out her shrill laugh, "Oh ho ho! Our daughter, Amelia! One of the many gems our kingdom has to offer! With our passion for peace, we are able to channel that energy other kingdoms put to war into the arts, education, as well as useful spells. Now, I, Crowned Princess Tesla, shall reveal to the world a spell of my own creation, Chaos String!"

Naga's flesh grew warm as the wine started to take its effect and the nervousness died down, steeling Naga to prepare for her entrance. Arriving late to the party was a lazy way to steal the scene, but it was the best way that she could do it. And as Tesla constantly drilled into her, attention is currency at the court, and currency is power.

Meanwhile, Tesla cast her spell, and tendrils of energy formed around a statue so large that Tesla never would have been able to lift it on her own. Yet she effortlessly moved it across the room, and the nobles clapped approvingly. "Naturally this spell is extremely useful. From rearranging the home to construction, to even saving people after a building collapses…"

Naga stashed the flask between her breasts, and lamented the fact that dresses with low cut bodices had recently became popular. She felt as though she was going to spill out of her dress at any moment! She adjusted the violet velvet material and looked down, but all she saw was the white curviness of her breasts bordered by the gold trim of her dress, and not a hint of the flask in the crack where the twin peaks touched. Then she boldly stepped out from behind the tapestry and let the laugh go. It was a laugh that all royal woman who could become queen one day were trained in.

"It is I, Princess Gracia Ul Naga Seyruun!" she said as she felt everyone's eyes upon her as the flask seemed to push against the front of her bodice, straining it so that for a moment she feared it would burst, leaving her topless in front of the whole court! Visions of her father, grandfather and uncles, Christopher and Randionel, as well as her creepy cousin Alfred, seeing her topless rose, along with a sense of panic as she realized too late that she had not drank nearly enough wine for this. The carefully prepared speech she had planned to give vanished from her mind, as the only thing she could think about was how to direct the attention away from her until she could be sure that her bodice was up to its gargantuan task. "Z-zelas Gort!"

The nobles screamed in collective unison as a giant jellyfish materialized in the ballroom. Men and women tripped over themselves as they raced away, trampling others underfoot as the slimy tentacles reached out and grabbed several of the nobles.

"Let me go!"

"My dress! Do you know how much I paid for this? It's ruined!" another screamed.

Once again, Naga felt the people's eyes on her as they stared at her accusingly, and the urge to cry rose up. "Sorry!" she said as her mother came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, and she suddenly remembered her admonishment that a princess never apologizes. But it felt so unnatural! A strange dissonance rose, and all Naga could do was to laugh manically as the nobles stared at her in horror. What else was there to do?

Quietly Tesla whispered into her ear, "Well, Naga, I'll say, this is the definition of a tough act to follow. People will be talking about this for months!"

"That was an interesting trick." Princess Lucrezia, visiting from Dils, said as she posed in her dress, which was embroidered with real gold, so that it shined majestically. "I must say, I am quite relieved it didn't ruin my dress."

Brush it off. Naga told herself, A princess never gives a damn.

"It was nothing, really. Magic just comes so naturally."

Lucrezia cocked her head, "I must say, you are the split image of your mother."

"Thank you." Naga said, genuinely this time. If there was anything she was confident of, it was that she inherited her mother's renowned beauty.

"I just can't decide." Lucrezia said quizzically, "Is your mother a thirty-year-old who looks sixteen, or are you a sixteen-year-old who looks thirty?"

Naga started to stutter as Tesla came up and put a hand on her shoulder, "I bath in the blood of virgins to keep my looks. I can suggest the recipe, but unfortunately it doesn't do much to repair the damage age has already wrought in your case, Lucrezia."

Lucrezia's cheeks flushed as Tesla led her daughter away. "What did I tell you about ever letting anyone have the upper hand?"

"I'm trying." Naga sighed as she admired the ease with which her mother could navigate the sheer nastiness of the royal court. This was something that, at least, Naga knew that Amelia was going to struggle with. Both had inherited their father's sweet nature, and as a small child Naga was adored for her sweetness. Yet when puberty hit, that sweetness became a liability.

"You can do better. You're my daughter for goodness sake! Act like it! Don't let anyone think they're better than you."

"What can I say? Humility was a virtue I was born with that must have skipped a generation."

Tesla paused, and then she patted Naga on the shoulder, "I keep saying you have it in you. Keep that up! And work on that performance anxiety!"

"My, my Aunt Tessie, what a lovely gown you have on." Alfred said as he butted in. "And you, too, are looking splendid tonight, Naga."

Tesla laughed as Naga scowled. Unlike everyone else in the palace, she simply could not abide her cousin, Alfred. His flattery seemed insincere, even by the standards of the royal court!

"You are growing nicely yourself." Tesla remarked.

"Why thank you, Aunt Tessie. I must say, you must be proud of Amelia."

"We are indeed." Tesla agreed as a noblewoman came up to talk to Alfred. "Excuse us."

Naga thought she would be sick as the young woman threw herself wantonly at Alfred, but did her best to mask her feelings as she continued to walk with her mother, who stated, "All these handsome young men from so many kingdoms, yet you're spending all your time with me. Get out, mingle!"

Naga looked out at the sea of nobles and felt nothing for any of them. No stirrings of longing and nothing but an objective measure of how attractive each was as an individual. But none of them stoked any sort of flame. They were just a bunch of vain, insincere money grubbers puffing their chests and making themselves feel better by putting each other down. Still, it didn't seem right that she didn't feel even a primal, base bodily attraction to any of them. She wondered what was wrong with her as she shrugged nonchalantly and said, "No one here stands out as good enough for me."

Naga was relieved that there were no big events planned for the following day. It meant that she would have plenty of time to pursue her true passion. Stealthily she left her family apartments and ducked behind a statue that covered a secret passage and started the navigate the tunnels within. As a child she had spent a lot of time exploring these passages in an attempt to eavesdrop on others to gather information, and along the way she had discovered that there was a small chamber hidden behind the library. Likely at one time it had been used as an office, but through the years and subsequent remodels it had been covered and forgotten. But Naga had quickly put it to use, creating a private getaway where she could hide when she needed to. And given that her jellyfish debacle was still being discussed endlessly, with the subsequent conversations on whether she was right in the head or simply a bimbo, she needed a place to hide.

If only they knew where my true strengths lie, she thought to herself as she cast a light spell and looked at her treasured collection on black magic. Naturally a kingdom like Seyruun did not have many volumes on it, and what works it did have were old. But it was a start! One day she would proudly proclaim her proficiency in the field and damn all consequences and order works from the guilds of other kingdoms on black magic. But for now, she knew her father would disapprove if he learned that she was scouring the kingdom for tombs on black magic. What would it do to her image? To the kingdom's image? No, that was a confrontation for another day.

Of course, it wasn't a complete secret. Amelia had gone looking for her one day and found her secret, but Naga had bought her silence in exchange for teaching her some spells. And it turned out to be a nice place where they could get away from the pressures of court and spend time with each other without worrying about keeping up appearances. So Naga didn't mind that Amelia knew. That was, until the moment when Amelia arrived, followed by Alfred. "Nice place you have here." He said.

"What did I tell you about bringing others here?" Naga asked Amelia, incensed.

"It's just Alfred." Amelia said, unfazed by her anger, "He's on our side!"

But Naga glared at Alfred suspiciously, "Sure. Why is it that a teenage boy is spending so much time playing dolls with his eight-year-old cousin?"

"Amelia is a charming young girl." Alfred said innocently.

Naga continued to glare at him, "Don't even think of trying to marry her."

"What!?" Amelia squeaked.

Naga continued, "We royals may be an in bred lot but no one will tolerate a marriage between first cousins! And even then, I'd still be between you and that throne you want so badly."

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Your father is next in line fair and square. It doesn't bother me like it does my father. I still can't see why you can't accept my undying love for you. And while I was broken hearted that you did not return my affection…"

Naga felt a nibble of doubt in her mind. What if she was being too hard on him? What if his motives were innocent? Still, her gut was screaming at her not to trust Alfred, "Go!"

"I won't stay where I'm not wanted." Alfred said amicably, and the guilt rose a bit as she doubted her instincts. Still, when he left relief washed over her as she leaned back against the wall.

"Please don't be mad, sissy." Amelia said. "And I don't know why you don't like him so much. He's very sweet."

"He asked me to elope with him a year ago." Naga explained.

Amelia gasped, "But he must have been playing. I know Uncle Christopher is bitter, but Alfred isn't."

Naga patted her on the head, "Just keep one eye open with him at all time. He knows that marrying either of us will make him a strong contender for the throne and doesn't give a damn about the ick factor. And if not us, he's going to trick some high ranking woman into marrying him one way or another. Don't let it be you."

"What did my girls do today?" Phil asked over dinner.

"I played with Alfred!" Amelia said before Naga had a chance to say anything. She tried not to let her annoyance show as she ate.

"Did you see your Uncle Christopher?" Phil asked.

"Yeah, we were at their chambers." Amelia explained. "Uncle Christopher was in a sour mood. He kept ranting about how he should be Crowned Prince. But Daddy, if he was favored, he would have been born first. It is the order of things."

"Yes," Phil agreed, "He just gets upset. Sometimes Christopher and I have differences of opinion over how to address something. He disagrees with how I'm handling the situation on the border with the Elmekian Empire, so he's letting off steam right now. Sometimes being a hero of justice means being the better person and letting less worthy people have their little pity parties so they say!"

"Oh, when you put it like that, it makes sense! Thank you, Daddy!" Amelia sang.

"Christopher really should shut his mouth, though. It wouldn't do if word got out that he was criticizing you for not blasting the war horn…" Tesla said.

"And turn that war horn against my own subjects?" Phil asked.

"Your blind trust in justice is charming, darling, but the world just doesn't work like that." Tesla said.

"It's not about trust, Tessie. Justice triumphs because heroes of justice intervene for the good." Phil explained. "Anyway, Gracia…"

"'Gracia' is my batty old grandmother." Naga snapped. "I've told you over and over, call me 'Naga', after my cool grandmother."

"Um, yes, Naga," he said, "I'm worried, I heard from Alfred that you're researching black magic."

Naga glared at Amelia, "That sneak!"

"Why can't you just study white magic?"

"Because it's so boring." Naga said. "Besides, I learned all the spells so quickly. I need a new challenge!"

"But it's in keeping with our values…" Phil persisted.

"Honestly! You spend hours playing heroes and villains with Amelia and teach her how to throw a punch, how the hell is that in keeping with your pacifist values?"

Phil blanched as Tesla sipped her wine with a smirk. "That's different! Our Amelia is such a delicate flower that she'd never be able to hurt anyone! But with those spells, you could cause a lot of damage. But with white magic, you could heal the injured and sick…"

"I can do Resurrection." Naga said, "I don't like it being around sick, injured people. It feels icky. I'm a princess. Why shouldn't I do what I want?"

"Because of our image…"

Naga laughed, and laughed, and then threw herself out of her chair and rolled on the ground as Phil turned red faced as smoke seemed to seep from his ears. And an intoxicatingly liberating feeling gripped Naga as that meanness that she struggled with exhibiting to everyone else flowed naturally as soon as her father challenged her true passion.

Phil's hand gripped into a fist as he took a deep breath, obviously about to unleash on her. Tesla put a hand on his arm, "Naga, go to your room for a bit."

"Oh, Daddy, you're so funny!" Naga said as she got up and walked to her room, "Off to study the evil black magic now. Bye-bye!"

"I ought to…" Phil fumed.

Tesla laughed a little at his expression, "Oh, darling. She's a teenager. She's supposed to experiment with stuff you don't like and mouth off. Don't take it personally. I'll talk to her later, remind her that it's okay to act like a brat to everyone but you and the king."

Phil shook his head as Amelia ran up and hugged him. He drew her onto his lap as he sighed. "Please, Amelia, stay as sweet as you are now when you become a teenager. I don't think I can go through the sassiness again."

Amelia leaned her head against his shoulder, "Of course, Daddy!"

"So, are you going to show me this secret room?" Tesla asked conspiratorially as she wrapped an arm around Naga.

"Why would you want to see it?" Naga asked as they walked down the hallway.

"Because good parents get involved in their kid's activities! I read that somewhere!" Tesla said proudly.

Naga clapped her on the shoulder, "You're the one who got me interested in magic."

"But not black magic." Tesla sang.

"Fine." Naga said as she started to walk to the secret corridor, "But don't tell Daddy where it is."

"I won't. If you keep in mind, there's a balancing act between being the best and not letting anyone tell you what to do, and respecting your father." Tesla said.

Naga fumed a little, "But he's so…"

"He's a dear, in his own way." Tesla cut in, "And he dotes on you two so."

"He doted on me until she was born." Naga corrected.

Tesla sighed, "Look, Amelia was the baby we never thought we would have. Until she was born we'd wondered if the family had been cursed. You can't exactly say that the sons of King Eldoran and Queen Gracia have been graced with an abundance of children."

"I know," Naga said sharply, "We're here."

"Well isn't this a neat little room." Tesla said as she looked around and spotted the door, "And does this really lead into the library?"

"It's right behind the tapestry of King Gideon."

Tesla cautiously opened the door and pushed the tapestry a bit as she stepped into the library, "Wow, I never knew about this place!"

Suddenly the hair on the back of Naga's neck seemed to stand on end as a chill ran through her. She looked around, but there was no one else in the room. As turned back to where Tesla was she whispered, "Mommy?"

From the library, she heard someone ask, "Princess Gracia?"

Tesla laughed, obviously enjoying being mistaken for her daughter. Naga tore through the tapestries and came up behind her mother as something hot and wet splashed across her, causing her to stop in her tracks. Tesla fell to the ground, and before her stood a man dressed as a guard holding a sword that was stained red.

"C-chaos string!" Naga yelled, and the tendrils of energy wrapped around a tall bookshelf crammed with heavy tombs. The man brought his sword up again, obviously posed to strike her, as Naga dragged the bookshelf down upon him as people started pouring into the library.

Time seemed to slow as Naga dropped to the ground beside her mother and tried to shake her, but when she did her torso, bisected from the right shoulder down to her left hip, disconnected from her lower body as the blood came gushing out. Naga started screaming hysterically as she tried to put her back together, and soon the blood was thick on her hands, and Naga screamed even louder. Someone grabbed her and tried to pull her away, but Naga fought to remain by Tesla's side as voices rang in a discombobulated whirlwind around her.

"Please, princess, we must get you to safety!"

"It's too late for a Resurrection spell."

"Try to revive her!"

"Princess Gracia, please move."

Two guards grabbed her and this time managed to pull her away, "We must get you to a safe place, Princess."

Naga lurched towards her mother, "I can't leave her! No! Let go of me!"

"He's been crushed to death." A different guard said as he examined the body under the bookshelf. "Princess Gracia nabbed the bastard."

"But now we won't be able to question him to learn who hired him!" a forth guard pointed out as the healer started to try to revive Tesla.

"Princess Gracia, please stop fighting us!" a guard said as Gracia tried to get back to her mother's side as the healers attempted to stop the bleeding and get her heart beating again.

"Let go of me!" Naga shrieked.

But more guards poured into the library and grabbed her and forced her out of the library and into the hallway and towards her families' apartments.

AN: Figuring out the ages of Naga, Amelia and Alfred was tricky, for two reasons especially. For one, Naga's age is never firmly established aside from around 20 when she was traveling with Lina. The other complication is that in the anime Amelia is slightly younger than Lina, while in the novels she is slightly older than Lina. I decide to go with anime continuity, and with my math it would mean that Naga and Amelia would have about an 8 year age gap (if Naga was 20 and Lina 13, that would be 7 years, so if Amelia is a year younger than Lina, it would be 8 years). As for Alfred, there is nothing to firmly establish his age, so I pegged him for a little younger than Naga.

In the tokitama translations of the interview HK states that Naga was around 16-17 when her mother was assassinated.

And I meant for this to be a oneshot, but it got too long (story of my life), so this will be a two parter. Enjoy!