"Lina-chan, I still advise against this." Xelloss had spoke up while Lina was standing in the center of a magical circle she had drawn on the floor, Pokota on her head as she was reading Val's notes.
"What have I told you about calling me that?" Lina snarled, tossing a Fireball at him which he easily dodged. "And nobody asked your opinion fruitcake!"
"But I proved my concern was right earlier with Milgasia's rune drawing…" the Mazoku folded his arms.
"Oh hush you damn Namagomi!" Filia snapped, whacking him on the head with her mace.
He just cocked an eyebrow at her. "You do know that doesn't really hurt me, right?"
"It makes ME feel better." The dragon scoffed.
"What is Lina going to do in that funny circle?" Val spoke up, sitting in Gourry's lap.
"Yeah, I'm kinda confused too." The blonde chuckled.
"They are hoping the information from that book will give Lina enough power to create a clone like body of Pokota's human form." Milgasia explained. "It can be done with magic, but the talent is extremely rare to pull off. But perhaps at most she can create a decent golem body for him."
"Is there any risks?" Memphis asked.
"Perhaps, if the spell backfires." Milgasia pointed out. "But Lina wishes to try it out."
"Please be careful with this, Miss Lina." Sylphiel warned.
"I'll be fine." Lina waved a hand carelessly. "Ready Pokota?"
"Yeah, it'll be great to have a body again." Pokota chuckled. "Fire away Lina!" he floated down into her arms.
Lina nodded, closing her eyes. "Power deep within the depths of my soul, grant me the power I wish to my command. From form to flesh, blood which flows once again with the sea of time… I beseech thee! Transfiguration!" a bright glowing orb appeared in her hands and in moments there was a massive flash.
"Wow!" Gourry covered his eyes along with the others, except for Xelloss who actually opened his eyes… Which after a moment went wide.
Standing before them was Pokota, still looking like the stuffed animal but… He was the size of a young adult, and his body was covered in real fur! "Whoa… What happened?" he rubbed his head.
"It didn't work, it just made him bigger." Memphis shook her head.
"No, take a closer look." Milgasia said. "He's been turned flesh and blood, but in the form he was currently in."
Xelloss sighed, shaking his head. "I feared this was what that spell was."
"W-where's Miss Lina?" Filia asked, looking around in a panic. "She's not standing next to Mr. Pokota!"
"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!" Lina's voice was heard in a massive roar.
Xelloss chuckled and strolled over to the circle, lifting a small doll that was on the floor. "Here she is. The spell traded their places. She's a doll and he's a flesh being."
"WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU TELL ME IT WOULD DO THIS YOU DAMN FRUITCAKE?!" Lina snarled.
The Mazoku chuckled at her, narrowing his eyes. "If you recall Lina-chan, I tried to convince you several times over not to try this. But, you refused to listen. I must say though you're quite adorable as a doll." He kissed her plush cheek.
Lina was sooo glad she couldn't blush as a doll, her mobility was limited as it was, but at least apparently because Pokota was a plush that could move she was able to have movement as well. It would have drove her mad if she was stuck completely still. "You're going to help fix this. NOW."
Xelloss rubbed his cheek, turning to Val. "I suppose I'll need your help with translations little one. I guess I could make a run back to Wolfpack and see if there's a few more Ancient Dragon Books for a reversal. Val can translate them when I return."
"DO IT." Lina snapped.
"Alright, alright." Xelloss sweatdropped. "Just don't do anything rash while I'm gone, your powers might be limited in that form after all." He kissed her little soft head once more before plopping her in Filia's hand. "I suppose I can leave it to you all to watch her while I'm gone." He then vanished.
Lina grumbled, crossing her tiny arms. "What the hell am I supposed to do stuck like this now?"
Pokota sighed. "I'm sorry Lina, you're in this mess because you wanted to help me."
"Prince Posel! We've got a problem!" a woman rushed in with red hair, a blue shirt and a purple skirt. "Some of the Mazoku from the cavern must had left as they're in the city!" she then took a sharp gasp. "W-what happened?!"
"Spell that backfired, Valerie." Pokota sighed, then turned serious. "Well then, Gourry care to take the Blast Sword on for a spin with the new alterations?"
"Sounds good to me." Gourry smirked, standing up.
"I'm going with you." Lina huffed, casting a Levitation to land on Pokota's head. "No way in hell am I just standing around here like this!"
"But Miss Lina, who says your magic will work like that?" Filia asked.
"Pokota's worked in this kind of form, so odds are it'll be the same." Lina shrugged. "You, Milgasia and Memphis better stay here to guard the castle, and also get Xelloss's ass to work the minute he comes back."
"Besides, Sylphiel here is really getting the hang of the Dragon Slave." Gourry smiled, patting the shoulder of the priestess next to him. "Between her and Pokota they can handle it if Lina's magic doesn't work."
Lina scowled at him, then placed her tiny hands together. "Source of all power, light which burns beyond crimson, let thy power gather in my hand. FIREBALL!" she tossed the red orb to his head, catching his hair on fire!
"Oh Gourry dear!" Sylphiel cried. "Aqua Create!" water flowed from her hands… And crashed onto Gourry like a massive wave, soaking him to the bone. "Oh no!" she gasped, placing her hands over her mouth. "I'm so sorry I overdid it!"
Pokota sweatdropped. "Unnn, let's get going shall we?"
"Yeah let's hurry already, I need to blow off some steam anyway." Lina snapped.
As they walked outside, Pokota looked up for a moment. "Sooo… Let me get this straight from everything you told me last night, you were cursed by Deep Sea Dolphin and nearly died so you had to pledge yourself to Xelloss, all in the effort to save your sister who is about to be possibly possessed by Cepheid to reshape the world?"
"Pretty much." Lina groaned. "We're researching for a possibility to split Luna from Cepheid, but so far we've had no luck."
"But Xelloss seems rather… Affectionate towards you." Pokota rubbed his cheek. "Of course thinking back I thought he seemed rather focused on you, but I didn't know you guys that well then when I first met him. But I remember how he protected all of us, and his protection was the most focused on you."
Lina didn't speak for a few moments. "T-that's because he's got this… Mazoku imprinting thing on me, it's a long story." She sighed and went on to explain the events of the past week…
Lina then had noticed Gourry & Sylphiel were quite a bit behind them, as she suddenly heard the priestess speak in a soft tone. "Gourry dear, I'm not sure now is the best time to say it…"
"Why not? Isn't that supposed to be something you announce when you decide to?" Gourry asked, tilting his head.
Sylphiel sighed. "I think Miss Lina is stressed out enough already, maybe after…"
Lina just groaned. Oh so what they were thinking about coming out that they're a couple now? Or is it about how Gourry is going to be leaving off to be with her? Both of these things Lina already knew, so she decided to just call them out on it. "Geez Jellyfish Brains will you just come out and say you and Sylphiel are together?"
Pokota stopped for a moment, turning to see Sylphiel and Gourry were indeed holding hands. "You are?"
Sylphiel blushed. "Well… You see… I…"
"Oh, I didn't realize you knew Lina." Gourry chuckled, rubbing his head.
"Yeah, yeah, I knew it was rather obvious." Lina waved her hand carelessly.
The blonde smiled. "So you'll come to the wedding then?"
Lina practically turned to stone that moment, good thing blood wasn't running in her veins that moment or it would be boiling. "… We-wedding?!"
Sylphiel just blushed deeply, almost hiding behind Gourry.
"Well yeah isn't that what people do when they move in together?" Gourry asked, rubbing his head. "When this is all over Sylphiel offered for me to come with her, after all now I've even got a new sword, which is what we were looking for."
Lina then thought about that. That's right, the 'reason' they were still traveling together was because she said she'd help him find a sword, before that it was because she wanted the Sword of Light. Both those reasons were gone now. Reality was hitting her like a slap in the face, not everything lasts forever. People do move on with their lives.
"B-but we're going to wait until this whole situation is over of course." Sylphiel stepped in.
Lina just huffed and turned her head. "Whatever, do what you guys want." She leapt off Pokota's head.
"Guys look. There's one of the beasts." Pokota gasped after a moment, pointing to a beastman ahead
Lina twisted her plush mouth. "You and Sylphiel handle this one."
"Ummm… Ok." Sylphiel rubbed her head, then moved forward. "Flare Arrow!" she cried, and a tiny red beam appeared between her hands… In the size of a carrot.
Lina sweatdropped. "I see some things haven't changed."
Gourry rubbed his head. "She can use Dragon Slave but not other spells I guess?"
Lina floated up onto his shoulder, turning her head the other way. "So… You and Sylphiel, huh?" she spoke after a few moments of silence.
Gourry smiled, turning to look at her in her tiny form and chuckled. "Yeah… You and Xelloss, huh?"
She glared at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you seemed different when you got here." The blonde shrugged his shoulders. "Not so much like a little girl anymore, I guess it's hard to explain…"
"That's because of the body modifications, jellyfish brains." Lina scowled. "You're just not used to them yet."
Gourry though shook his head. "Naw, you seemed different, especially around Xelloss. Maybe I'm just not able to figure it out but you two seem a lot closer than before. Also I think I remember an old saying how a girl looks different when she becomes a woman!"
If Lina could blush, she would be bright red. Oh why, oh why did GOURRY of all people have to figure out her and Xelloss had… She turned her head. "… In the event you DON'T forget it like you normally do, don't mention it to Amelia & Zelgadis, got it? They'll freak out right now." She grumbled.
Gourry tilted his head. "Why? I mean you two are engaged after all."
Lina smacked her forehead. "Gourry for the hundredth time I'm PLEDGED to Xelloss, it has nothing to do with marriage dammit!"
"I don't see the difference, you promised to be with him forever that's kinda like a marriage vow, isn't it?" the blonde rubbed his head, clearly confused.
"I can't love a monster Gourry, really I thought you had at least common sense!" Lina grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Why not?" he pressed. "I mean, like I said before it's clear he's got a thing for you. We all love you that's why we do what we do and why we're trying to help you and your sister." He rubbed her head. "After all I only had big brothers myself, you've always been the little sister I never had."
Lina lowered her head a bit. His words went right through her, but it wasn't hurting like it did the first time she heard him talk of her like that… Maybe she was finally getting over it… Or was it because Xelloss… 'ARGH! NO! I refuse to believe I could feel like that for him!' she growled mentally. When all this crap is over she can just get on with her life alone maybe… It was better back when she traveled alone, she didn't have all these confusing thoughts or feelings… Sure Xelloss will pop in every now and again since she's pledge to him, but that isn't so bad, it would be more like friends with benefits. They always had a rather 'special' relationship between them, even before he dropped the bomb on her about the Soul Touch.
Then again, she had been feeling different about that damn fruitcake ever since she took that step. She slowly turned towards her blonde friend. "Gourry…. How do you know for sure if you're really in love? I mean, you say you love all of us, but how exactly is it different from how you feel about Sylphiel?"
Gourry closed his eyes and seemed to think about that for a moment, Lina worried for a moment she asked him something far too complicated… 'Crap, his jellyfish brains might explode from that, what was I thinking asking him?!' she thought.
"Well…. I think the easiest way to explain is I can easily imagine the rest of my life with her, I thought at first I'd be spending that protecting you but… You don't really need me anymore, do you?" Gourry chuckled, rubbing her head again. "Granted, I can't imagine what I'd do if I lost any of you guys, but Sylphiel makes me feel important and in that cave when I felt helpless to protect her… It really got to me. Maybe I just seem more focused on priorities when I'm with her, and she's really a girl I can settle down with. Also I think all this stuff, I don't quite get it all but I understand one thing, dwelling on how short life is pointless, but what's worse is being ignorant up to when it runs out, and once I figured out how I feel about someone I really should go for it, because what if I lost her and never tried?" he smiled softly. "I'd regret it."
Lina's eyes widened, she'd never heard Gourry sound so damn serious before. "Wow… Gourry…"
"Also, she's the best cook around so I'll never have to worry about a meal!" Gourry suddenly said, which made Lina facefault off his shoulder. He laughed for a moment then rubbed his head. "… What were we talking about anyway that got me going on about Sylphiel? I forgot."
Lina just rolled her eyes as she sat up, seeing Pokota and Sylphiel had finished off the beastman. "… Nevermind, you damn jellyfish brains…" she turned her head out towards the sky. '… If time runs out huh? Granted I'm immortal now but what if something does happen if Cepheid resurrects? How would I feel if Xelloss was…?' she shivered at the mere thought. '…. That doesn't mean I love him, though.'
"That was just one, there should be others around…" Pokota spoke, then gasped. "Lina look out!"
Lina spun around, just in time to spot a Lesser Demon ready to strike at her tiny form, when it was slashed to pieces. "What the?" she blinked as she saw the one that struck down the demon, it was the black haired man from before with red eyes like her own, holding a crimson blade
"Oh hey it's you… Ummm… Wait…" Gourry rubbed his head. "MUTE!"
"LUKE." The man hissed, sheathing his blade, then gestured his hand to the silver haired woman next to him. "And Milina."
"What do you guys want now?!" Pokota hissed. "You caused enough problems back in that cave!"
"… You got bigger." Milina said, tilting her head.
"And what's with the girl walking plush?" Luke asked, running his fingers through his hair.
"Hey! I still have a bone to pick with you taking off like you did, considering you attacked my friends!" Lina snarled.
"Oh, what are you going to do to me, you little doll?" Luke chuckled, bending down and grinning at her.
"Fireball." Lina cast, and with an explosion the man was tossed into the air, then crashed back down. "Well that confirms my magic still works like this."
Milina shook her head. "He asked for that one. I take it you're Lina Inverse, aren't you?"
"We had a little spell misfire and swap them." Sylphiel explained. "But why are you here?"
"Well, since that priest guy explained to us we were being used…" Luke started to explain as he got up.
"You mean you were deceived, I figured it out before." Milina interjected.
"Oh come on Milina…. You could have told me!" Luke whimpered, then turned serious. "So we thought we'd take care of the creatures that got out, might as well."
"Why exactly would you work for a Dark Lord if you knew, Milina?" Lina asked, narrowing her eyes.
"… We are… In need of something." Milina said, no emotion at all on her face. "Let's just say it's a curse." Her eyes strayed to Luke. "One on the Mazoku level."
"Miss Lina's been cursed herself, besides the doll transformation." Sylphiel added. "By Deep Sea Dolphin."
"Oh really?" Luke raised his eyebrow. "Then maybe we can help each other out…"
Gourry though right then drew the Blast Sword. "Sure thing, but first… We've got company…"
