A soft, sweet melody was heard from the small brown box as the man opened it. He smiled warmly to the small child in front of him. Her red eyes looked on curiously as the box was handed into her tiny hands. She watched as the figure in the box twirled, her eyes were memorized. The music was beautiful. Than, the man spoke.
"Lina-Chan, this was made especially for yo - um Lina-Chan, Lina-Chan please listen to me..."
The small girl blinked and looked up to the mans gentle eyes. They were the identical red of hers. "I'm sorry Daddy." She said with a smile and wrapped her arms around him.
An older girl stood in the door way of the room. Her mop of hair covering her eyes. She smiled as her younger sister received the present from her father, she clung to her brand new porcelain doll to her chest.
The man laughed as he set down his youngest daughter and stood, turning toward the door. His purple hair fell lightly over his eyes. He walked toward Luna and set a hand upon her shoulder, than turned again. "Remember girls, you can only be who you are, don't try and be anyone else, all right?" Without another word, he left the room.
Luna watched down the hall as her father made his way down the stairs, than her attention was back to the youngest Inverse. An evil smile played at her lips as she walked closer.
Lina paid no attention to the older sibling as she fumbled with her new toy. What else could it do? Where did the music come from? She was amazed by the present, and thought it was much better than Luna's crummy old porcelain doll ... Than, the box was gone! She looked up to find her sister holding it highly. The look on Luna's face told her wasn't going to play fair...
"Come on Lina-Chan, try n' get it!" She teased, holding it a bit higher.
Lina jumped for the box. "Big sister, big sister give back my music box!!!" She cried angrily. Oh, why couldn't I be taller! She knew she was younger... and only five, but she was still extremely short for her age! "Oh big sister.." She thought, tears welling in her eyes, "Why do you have to be so tall!"
Luna broke out to the hall and ran with the tiny box in her hands, giggling. Making a sharp turn, she leaped down the stairs.. but missed the last step...
Lina stared from the top of the stairs. She watched as the porcelain doll and music box crashed to the floor, along with Luna. "My music box!" Said as she began to cry. She flew down the stairs and picked up her bruised music box, and as she picked it up, it began to play. Lina regained a smile, and hugged her wonderful present.
"ITS ALL YOUR FAULT!!" Screamed the mother as the parents walked into their bedroom.
Lina was seven when they started fighting. The girls weren't even really sure why they fought, just that they did. It never really get easier to listen to, just louder.
"Listen you bitch, I can leave right now, is that what you want?! I could leave you here all alone, is that what you want?!" Their father said rather loudly. Something was thrown against the wall.
Lina cringed as she played her music box on top of her stomach. She watched the broken figure twirl. She closed her eyes as if to close out the world. And as she laid in bed, she remembered the day she had gotten her music box. Her fathers gentle smile as he handed her down her present. Her eyes sparkling as soon as she heard the music play.
Than she heard her mother crying, which always meant the fight was over. You could hear her saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry.. its all my fault.." Even if it had been her father who started it.
Lina turned over and set the music on the small night stand that laid in between the two beds in the room. She looked over to find her sister reading a magic book. How could she read with all that noise? She wondered, and laid her head on the pillow.
Luna looked over to her sister. Her smile was always warmer at times like these. She quietly set down her book and leaned over to the candle. But before she blew it out she looked to Lina with a smile. "Get up early Lina-Chan, magic practice." And the room went dark.
It had been a month since Lina had turned nine, and she was still very proud of that fact. She was nine, which meant next year she would be ten! Than next and so on. "Than soon," She thought excitedly, "I'll be a teenager!" She smiled at the thought. "And all the boys will stare and gawk and say wow! Isn't she pretty!?" Lina giggled as she sat with the group. It was a picnic with her two favorite stuffed animals and, of course, her music box had to be there. "Do you think it'll be that way?" She asked one of the stuffed animals that obviously didn't answer. She frowned, if only her real friends could play today.. but they were all busy with something, or that was their excuse. She leaned over and opened the music box, smiling again.
"This is no fun.." Lina complained as she stood up. But an idea formed and she grinned. "Levitation!"
The stuffed animals began to float and dance as Lina giggled, watching the show. Her smile grew evil as she focused on the brown stuffed bear. "Maybe I should practice some of my magic.." She thought, bringing up her hands. "FIREBALL!"
The poor brown bear was reduced to nothing more than two black beads for eyes.
Lina coughed a little. Maybe she needed to work on her focus a little...
"LINA-CHAN!" Luna yelled, smacking her sister upside the head. "What do you think your doing?!"
"I..I was only practicing Big Sister.." Lina said, her smile now forming more of a frown. "I don't see what magic is good for if - "
"Lina-Chan, magic's only good if you know when and where to use it! It just can't be used for anything!" She stared at her sister, her frown deepening.
"I'm sorry.." Lina said, staring to the ground.
"You should be!" Luna said, grabbing her sister by the arm roughly. "I'm going to teach you a new healing spell today.."
The healing ball of energy formed in her hands. She stared at it proudly, smiling to herself. "I'm going to be the greatest scorceress in the world.." Lina whispered, and looked back up to her sister.
"Very good Lina-Chan." Luna said, almost with a laugh. "But.. you'll never be THE best scorceress.."
"Whys that?" Asked Lina, very courious why her sister was saying her dream couldn't come true.
"Cause that's me!" She exclaimed, pointing to herself. "If you want that spot, your going to have to fight me for it!"
"No, that's all right, I'll stay with second best!" Lina said fearfully, putting her hands up defenceivly. "I think I'm going to show mom n' dad now, k?"
"That's fine, lessons over." Luna said, and even if she wouldn't admit it, she very proud of everything her sister had accomplished. And as her sister quickly picked up her left over stuff and made her way to the house, she smiled. "I think you will be the best."
Lina ran through the door and sat the blanket and remaining stuffed animal down. "Mom, look!" She said excitedly, putting the music box down and performing the brand new healing spell. "Do you have anything I could heal for you?!" She asked eagerly, ready to try the new power.
At first, her mother was hesitant, but than willingly laid out her hand. A long scratch mark was made all along the outside of her hand.
"Mom... how'd you do this?" Lina asked quietly, healing her wound.
"I..I broke a dish while washing love, that's all.." She lied, not wanting to tell her child the truth.
"All done!" Lina smiled happily to her mother who looked grateful. "Better be more careful while washing dishes though.."
Lina's mother giggled as she rushed the child out of the kitchen. Lina quickly grabbed her music box and left.
"Daddy, Daddy!!" Called Lina as she ran down the hall. Her music box clutched under her arm. He must be in his room! She decided, some how the music box had flung open and was now playing. The door flew open. "Daddy, look wh - "
The music box crashed to the floor and stopped playing the melody it had played so often before. Lina fell to her knees and screamed.
There was her father. The one who had told her that she shouldn't try to be someone else yourself. Now he was hanging from the ceiling from some rope... This was not her father!! But in the last few years.. he had changed.. And wasn't the same...
At the age of eleven, Lina absolutely knew what she to do. Well, she had known before but, well now she really wanted to kick some bad guy ass! Right after she was done busing the next table.. "I hate this job.." She muttered under her breath, picking up some dirty dishes.
After her fathers death, both Luna and Lina had to get jobs. Mother couldn't do this all by herself... At least she got to keep some of the money.
Lina ran to the back and dumped the dirty dishes in the sink. Than searched the tiny back room for her mother, and found her washing the kitchens floor. "Mom, I could really get money faster if you'd just - "
Her mothers eyes narrowed. "Lina-Chan, no means NO! I don't need you off getting killed!" She said sternly.
"Okay, okay.." Lina sighed, retreating. She sulked away, she wouldn't get killed! She was the second best scorceress in the world! Why didn't her mom trust her.. She left the kitchen.
Luna passed her younger sister as she left the kitchen. She put a hand on her shoulder that made a chill run down Linas spine. "You had better not of made mom angry.."
Lina looked to her sister, than downcast her eyes. She cleaned the rest of the tables, than asked to leave early.
Lina made her way out the door and through the small town. "Its not fair, if I have to have a job it should be of my choice!" She thought angrily brushing her fiery red hair from her face. "But... mom hadn't been crying like she used to..." She thought sadly, remembering when her father had died. Her mother had cried for days straight without coming out of her room. She shook her head to rid herself of the horrible memory.
She continued the rest of the way through town to her home. Walking through the front room she noticed her music box sitting in the corner and frowned. It was practically all she had left of her father. She walked to the box and dusted it off. It must have been sitting there for a while.. She brought her hand to the top of the box, ready to hear the music. The top opened and nothing happened. Sighing, she stood back up. "That's right.. it never played again after he died.." Her frown returned. Now the only thing that could make her happy was food! She made her way to the kitchen.
Lina fell back in her chair as she finished the last bite of her meal. "That was good.." She muttered, closing her eyes. Her mom and sister would be home soon. At least they would be glad she made dinner. After moments of just sitting there, she rose from her chair and went outside.
Walking away from the house, she went to a familiar tree. Smiling at the images of the times she had played tag with her friends there, or just hiding from Luna. The images were destined to fade with time, but never from her memory.
Touching the tree, she turned her gaze to the view in front of her. She was standing on top of a large, grassy hill that looked over the town, and even went as far as the forest. The wind blew and her fiery mass of hair danced in front of her face. Brushing the hair away, she grinned.She brought out a fist. "I'm going to be the best scorceress!" She yelled to no one, but she was quite sure at least some of the town heard her. "Villains have no rights!" She continued, her eyes once again brilliant.
Luna silently looked out the window to her sister. A smile crept upon her face. "you already are.." She whispered proudly. Her hand slid down to the music box that she had sat on the windows ledge. Slowly, she opened it. Once again, the music played, and it never stopped.
Sorry, late disclaimer n all.. Well, um, these are NOT my characters! (Although Luna n Linas parents are!). PLEASE don't sue me!! DON'T MAKE ME LIVE IN A BOX!! I don't have any money to give anyway!
Want to contact me? I don't blame you if you don't ^-^;; Tell me what you think.. if you'd like. But you'd probably need an e-mail for that, ne? Okay okay, here it is! Here you are invisible audience! Send rants or raves to: BellGodess@aol.com !