Author's Note: Just to disclaim, this is an entry for LLB's and GSG's Body Switching Contest.

The story takes place before the events of Aboard the Eidolon Train for those of you who still remember that, though you don't actually have to read it to understand since the chapters are no longer around here. Let's see if we can make this work. Enjoy~

~ಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗಗ~

Trains to Seas, Mirrors Between

ʇɹɐıus ʇo sǝɐs

~ಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲಲ~

A young, blond boy ran across the train yard as fast as he could. It was a fine day today; Wingulls were flying in the skies, a light breeze blew, and workers everywhere were hauling barrels and boxes into the warehouses both east and west of the train stop. Occupied garages encircled the area, the chatters of workers echoing everywhere. However, even with the wind, the boy was still sweating inside his maroon uniform and cap; the sun radiated with fiery heat.

At the train stop in the centre of the yard, a dirt-brown train had pulled up into the station. The boy made a mad dash over to where a muscled man in a similar uniform was standing by the post beside it.

"Link comma Toon," the man said as he scanned the list on the clipboard he was holding. Then he stared at the boy in front of him who skidded into a full stop. "Heh, doubt yer last name's Link, but it sounds 'bout right. You're on time, short stack."

Toon Link panted as he smiled. Then he looked down the length of the train; his mouth hung agape in awe.

"A beauty, ain't she?"

He nodded.

Then the man went over to the wooden station post nearby, grabbing the broom that sat beside it and handing it over to the boy. "And it's yer job to clean her out, the perks of ya lil' apprentices. Have fun, Toonie boy."

Toon Link let out a dejected sigh, taking the broom into his hands. Then the man patted his shoulder before walking away. He looked at the endless amount of freight boxes that stretched down the tracks.

Today was going to be a long day.

Carriage by carriage, he hopped in and swept out the shadowy insides. Every nook and cranny had its dust bunnies brushed out. This was the one thing Toon Link didn't like about being an apprentice train conductor; you had to start at the bottom. The very bottom. Sweeping was as tedious a task as it could get. No wonder no one wanted to do it, but he knew he had to. In one of the carriages, Toon Link could already imagine what his own train would look like: a locomotive with the levers, the pulley, and the engine; passenger cars with a green carpet and plush brown seats; and the chug of the wheels taking him everywhere.

But that was just a distant dream. He continued sweeping with a sigh. Who knew how long it would take before he could get out of apprenticeship?

Half an hour later, and he had about six cars swept out. He hopped out of the metal carriage, seeing more of the workers hauling out crates from the other cars further down the train. Everyone was working hard with their grunts echoing and their sweat falling, so he should do the same.

With a smile, Toon Link swung the door open and leapt right into the seventh carriage. The first thing to hit him was the stuffy air. Dust blew into his face, leaving him with stinging, watery eyes; a faint scent of musk lingered in the air. A few coughs and he was off to work, sweeping throughout the pitch-black room. He started in the corner at the left, heat from outside giving no mercy within, as he worked his way around the perimetre. Sweep, sweep, sweep. He couldn't wait to finish working. Sweep, sweep, sweep. Could this room get any dustier?

Sweep, sweep, thump. His broom banged on something solid, and the sound echoed in the room. Rubbing his eyes, which were probably red by now, he swept again. Thump. Guess he wasn't hearing things.

Another rub of his eyes—the dust wasn't helping—and he squinted to see what was in front of him. Though blurry, he made out a cloak-covered object the size of a door; a musky scent came off of it. Hadn't the guys taken this outside yet? More work for him, he guessed. He continued cleaning around it, unable to see the length of the cover due to the darkness. One misstep, and he slipped on it and fell onto the cold floor. The cloak slid off the object and landed on top of Toon Link; dust coated his hair and uniform. Then he shook off the cover as he coughed.

One glance to his left, however, and he saw something unusual.

A tall, arched mirror towered over him; intricate wood carvings made up its golden frame—well, as golden as the lack of light would show. By now, the boy's eyesight was fuzzy from the stinging or tears. Maybe both. A finger ran along its gaps until one hand lay flat on the mirror's smooth frame. Then he looked at his reflection.

Or at least he was expecting to.

The room was just as dimly lit on the other side. He wasn't sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but instead of a blond boy, he saw a brown chimp. The chimp stared back, looking up. A baseball cap rested on its head. Toon Link moved his hand to the left; the monkey mimicked. To the right, another matching wave. Toon Link smiled. He bobbed his head side to side, watching the monkey do the same. What a funny mirror this was! Where else could you see a sight like this? He stepped forward to get a closer look; the cloth under him lay in wait. He placed a hand on its surface, seeing the hand on the other side doing the same.

Toon Link took another step, but slipped on the cover below him. Down he fell and tumbled forward straight into the mirror, expecting it to shatter upon impact.

It did not.