Strange Reflections: 3
"Well, this obviously isn't going to work," Lina sighed. "I doubt you
all like travelling with your shadows anymore than I did."
"Did you say, your shadow?" Zelgadis asked.
"Damn it," Lina snapped.
"This has happened to you then, Lina-san?" Filia asked. "What did you do
with your shadow?"
"She went off with the other shadow that came about from that disaster,"
Lina waved it aside, and then brought back the discussion to the problem at
hand. "Now, we have to figure out what do to with your shadows." Everybody
nodded, and for once let the matter drop, they could bug her about it after
they dealt with their own problems.
"The problem isn't so much that we can't think of a way to get rid of
them," Zelgadis noted. "As I doubt that any of us are willing to kill them."
"We can't do that," Amelia protested. Then continued shyly. "It would
be wrong, unjust to kill them just because we...don't approve of them."
"I can think of other reasons to kill some of them," Lina thought as she
watched Amelia.
"Why not just let them go on their own way?" Gourry asked.
"Because Zelgadis-san's and Amelia-san's shadows are perverts," Filia
explained. Amelia blushed and sank into her chair, while Zelgadis just
narrowed his eyes.
"Actually, I think Gourry is right on this one," Lina said.
"So, we just tell them to go on their way," Zelgadis repeated curiously.
"And ignore the possible consequences."
"I can just imagine my poor shadow being seduced by one of those two sex
crazed hentai," Filia said. "She has absolutely no will of her own."
"It could be worse, couldn't it?" Amelia asked sheepishly.
"They're personalities will calm down after a little while," Lina said,
taking the attention away from Amelia. "They'll level out to something more
realistic."
"I suppose this means that you've seen your shadow sometime after she
left."
"Briefly, she runs an inn somewhere. She still whiny, nervous and
completely non-violent, but she's not as bad as when she first woke up."
"They're adults, they can make their own decisions," Gourry shrugged as
if that was obvious.
"Okay, so that's that then," Zelgadis said.
"Where is that namagomi?" Filia asked, looking around.
"I'm more worried about what our shadows are doing, while we're here,"
Zelgadis said. "But since we'll be letting them go off on their own
anyway..."
"Fine, let's get on with it then," Lina said. "Amelia, could I talk to
you? Gourry go on with Zelgadis and Filia."
"Okay, Lina," the swordsman shrugged and walked off with the other two.
Zelgadis and Filia looked over there shoulders, but held back any questions.
"What is it Lina-san?" Amelia asked, shyly. Lina waited for the others
to be completely out of sight, before answering.
"You slept with her didn't you?"
"Well, she was in the same room, so..."
"Don't give me that," Lina said. "She's practically broadcasting it with
her attitude, and you're acting like a scared deer." Amelia slumped.
"Yes, but how is that different from...you know," and she blushed and
gestured demonstratively.
"This isn't the same as sticking your hand between your legs," Lina
snapped, quietly but angrily. "She is not you, she just looks like you! So
how did this happen?"
"She was giving me a back rub, and talking about this dream I have
sometimes," Amelia said sheepishly. "And well, she took over at the point
that I usually...take matters in my own hands, and....I don't know why I let
her do that to me." She was about to break down. Lina hugged her and patted
her back.
"It's the past now," Lina said. "Don't worry about too much about it,
now let's go find Xellos and your double and tell her to take a hike, okay."
"Okay," she sniffed.
"Why are you making us go?" the shadow Xellos whimpered. "I need you to
protect me from all these bandits and sorcerers." Zelgadis looked down at
the Xellos wrapped around his legs and sweatdropped.
"You're one of the most powerful beings on this planet," he said. "You
can protect yourself."
"But I could get hurt!"
"Excuse me," Gourry addressed the shadow Xel. "but why are you glomped
to Zel's leg?"
"Because Zel-kun is so strong, surely he can protect me!"
"Hey, do you know why Xellos is always saying Sore wa himitsu desu?"
"Yes, but he'll kill me if I tell."
"Oh, who is going tell me what to do?" the shadow Filia whined. "You
know I can't make up my mind."
"LEARN!!" snapped Filia, and her shadow started bursting into tears.
"It would certainly be a relief to get away from my...uncivilized other,"
the shadow Zelgadis sniffed. "And I am certainly capable of protecting such
a lovely lady as yourself," he took the shadow Filia's hand, she calmed down
and looked to him nervously. "So don't fear milady." He kissed her on the
hand and she blushed furiously.
"Watch your step, lover boy," Filia grumbled, wielding her mace.
"Oh, there you guys are," Lina joined the little get together. "So
you've told them?"
"To mixed reactions," Zelgadis grumbled.
"Get off of Zel's leg and get ready to travel to whereever you want to
go, or I'll fireball the both of you." Zel and the shadow Xellos eyes popped
wide, but the shadow Xel let go and backed his way to the other two shadows.
"Okay, Amelia, let's go find...hey where'd she go?"
"Looking for someone, highness?" the shadow Amelia rolled her eyes and
the turned to face Xellos.
"Really, Xel-chan," she answered. "All I'm doing is collecting some
things, before we leave. And call me Tes, I'll let Ame-chan do the princess
thing." She leaned on him and idly began tracing circles on his chest.
"Speaking of Ame-chan," the mazoku said as if the thought had just
occured to him. "You wouldn't know why she is acting rather jumpy today.
Would you?" Tes released a sigh of frustration, and pushed away from him.
"I'd thought you'd be a little more fun," she complained, hands on her
hips. "Or do I detect a hint of jealousy? Your role of corrupter of the
innocent being taken over?"
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Xellos responded cheerfully. "You're a little
too single-minded to be really effective at my job."
"Give me time," she breathed, smiling saucily. "I've got eighteen years
of sexual poverty to make up for first. And you're not helping."
"I see," Xellos said, smiling as normal. "Well sorry about that, but you
see I spent the first several hundred years of my life around women like you,
and its gotten quite boring."
"Boring?!" she snapped angrily.
"I will admit that you have been providing me with a wonderful feast."
"So I'm only exciting to you as a meal?" she growled. "You prefer some
virginal, little bundle of energy? Well you can't have it now can you? I
got there first! So if you'll excuse me, since you're as much of a prude as
your double, I'll see if I can find one of the Zelgadis's" She walked down
the cooridor a few feet only to find herself blocked by the mazoku again.
"You don't know much about your original, do you?" he said cheerfully.
"Oh, I know everything about her," she retorted. "We have the same
memories." "That is hardly what I meant," Xellos answered. "You are going
to stay away from Amelia from now on."
"Isn't that her decision?" Xellos laughed quietly.
"Learned that argument already," Xellos mused. "I'm impressed. The
matter remains, however, and I'm sure Lina-chan will agree with me." Xellos
smiled at the stab of fear that stabbed through the copy.
"Your not talking to Ame-chan though, are you?" she jabbed his chest,
speaking quietly, confidently. "I got her once, now she's mine. I know how
her mind works. What she was willing to do once, she'll be willing to do
again."
"My dear, I'm happy to say that neither of us is ever going to understand
how her mind works." Tes laughed.
"Tell me that again when YOU'VE tasted her," she said viciously. "She
tastes like cream, did you know that, cream and spices."
"Don't touch her again, beast," Xellos repeated, before vanishing. Tes
continued walking down the hall, laughing low in the throat. She stopped
laughing when a near to tears Amelia rounded the corner and slapped her.
"You are not going to touch me, again!" she snapped. Tes smiled as she
turned to face Amelia.
"You've said something like that before," she reminded.
"I mean it this time," Amelia retorted.
"Oh do you now?" Tes grabbed Amelia and pressed her against the wall,
staring in satisfaction at the confused look in her eyes. She leaned in
against Amelia and began caressing and kissing her. "You know what I told
your precious Xellos is right, you are mine."
"Let go of me," Amelia snapped a knee into her double and tried to break
away. But Tes recovered quickly and rammed her into the wall again. "You
wouldn't do anything here..not where you can be seen."
"Your friends are busy with something, and I can handle anybody else.
You're mine," she smashed Amelia's head back. "And nothing you or anyone
says or does can change that." She tore open the dazed princess's tunic and
forced her mouth over Amelia's as tthe princess gasped for breath. Tes
caught a flailing hand and forced it down out of the way, the other remained
trapped between Amelia and the wall.
"Amelia, where'd you...hey!" Tes whirled in time to see Lina smash a fist
into her face. The sorceress proceeded to pummel the shadow all the way down
the hallway. The shadow tumbled on the ground and looked up in fear as the
sorceress gathered power between her hands. Tes was too battered and stunned
to think of a counter, she could only watch in fear.
"Lina stop!" Amelia stood up. Xellos appeared again back to Amelia.
"I see you had the..." he felt the other bundle of emotions behind him
and turned to see Amelia. His eyes narrowed. "I believe I made myself clear
before, you little bitch."
"NO!!" They faced Amelia. "She leaves, but don't kill her. If Lina's
right, she's immature right now, and she'll get better. Justice calls for
punishment AND mercy."
"Fine," Lina said. "But if she shows her face again, I'll rip her heart
out."
"As for the punishment," Xellos said with barely withheld anger. He
reached out and touched the terrified shadow's face. His finger glowed
darkly as he struck a bleeding line from the tip of her ear to the edge of
her chin. "No white spell will keep that from scarring, we'll always know
you when we see you."
"Fine," she spat angrily. Shielding the terror she felt for these two,
as well as the confusion that the princess hadn't just let them kill her.
"I'll go, but I will be back eventually, and then you'll all be sorry." She
stomped away down the hall and into the common room, streaming blood from the
cut. From there they didn't know or care where she went.
"I may have provoked her," Xellos said sorrowfully, watching as Lina
draped her cloak around Amelia. "I had hoped she was coward as well as a
slut. If I hadn't said anything she may have just gone on to another
conquest."
"Xellos, there are many things you deserve to die for," Lina said. "This
isn't one of them. Are you sure you're fine Amelia?"
"I wasn't prepared," Amelia said. "If she tries again I'll know better
and THAT will give her a surprise."
"This isn't..."
"I know its not my fault, Lina-san," Amelia said, a shadow of her normal
cheer in place. "I'll be fine, why don't you go help the others with telling
the shadows what's going on. I'd like to thank Xellos-san for trying to
protect me."
"Sure, if you're alright," Amelia nodded quietly, and then watched as
Lina reluctantly left to go look for everybody else.
"Amelia?" The princess almost immediately collapsed, crying, into the
mazoku. He could feel her emotions anyway, why bother hiding them.
"I was helpless," she whimpered. "I couldn't make myself hurt her. If
Lina hadn't caught up with me...she would have..."
"She's gone now Amelia, don't think about it," he said. He patted her
head and noticed that his gloves came back red. It wasn't a serious injury,
but still. For a moment his anger flared again, but that wasn't useful here.
"Now let's go get you cleaned up and forget about this okay?"
"Okay," she sniffed and let Xellos teleport her to the baths. He gave
her as much privacy as he was willing to with her shadow still around, and
collected a replacement tunic for her. Xellos was angry, she'd been hurt,
trully hurt. Not just annoyed, or frightened like he'd done to her quite
often, but hurt. She'd recover, he knew her well enough for that, but it
didn't change the fact that it had happened. And against his better
judgement the architect of that was still breathing.
"Okay, Amelia's shadow is already gone," Lina said angrily.
"Why? What happened?"
"What Amelia is gone?" Gourry shouted. "Where'd she go?" Lina hit him.
"Not Amelia, Amelia's shadow! Tes, you moron!"
"Did she leave on her own?" Filia asked.
"Sort of," Lina said. "But you'll have to wait for details."
"Well, travelling with one beautiful flower is better than none," the
shadow Zel sighed, eliciting a blush from shadow Filia and glares from both
their originals.
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