FOREWORD
I have a bad habit of overreaching myself lately, creating new stories. But there are stories that need to be told, and this, I am sure, is one of them.
Final Fantasy IX, as I have stated in my three stories crossing over with Harry Potter (A Third Summoner, Amethyst and Garnet, and Xenophilia, all of which are being updated at the same time as this story is being posted), is my favourite instalment in the series. It was while thinking about Xenophilia that I wondered about Mikoto, who was being shipped with Harry in that story. All stories tend to start with a what-if, and I thought, What if Mikoto had ended up on Gaia along with Zidane? Okay, not as early in life as Zidane, but even so, it's an intriguing thought.
Trying to find the right entry point into the story was tougher. How far into the plot of Final Fantasy IX should I have Mikoto enter? I had thoughts about her entering the story earlier, prior to the events of the game, but only having an effect later in the canon story, but struggled finding the right entry point. Eventually, I decided on the aftermath of the battle near the Iifa Tree. Instead of Mikoto being established in Gaia for some time, which was my original thought, she has been recently stranded, away from everything she knew, and forced to re-evaluate her preconceptions of Gaia, as in Xenophilia. For the purpose of this fanfic, she is 15 years old.
Anyway, time for the usual disclaimers. Firstly, there will be immense spoilers for Final Fantasy IX.
Secondly, this work will be, as with my other fanfics, heavily annotated. You have been warned. Bellyaching will not be tolerated.
Finally, the following is a fan-written work. Final Fantasy IX is the property of its owners. Please support the official release. Otherwise, Zidane will take everything you own…