Title: Reworking the deal - Awakening part IV
Author: Ree
Theme: Favorite Character - Beryl- Flight
Genre: General
Version: Anime/ Manga - Fates/Tainted Gifts storyline- preseries (Mia)
Rating: G

Most of these characters belong to Takeuchi Naoko. I just borrowed my daughters paper dolls again.

Reworking the deal

Mia is to Beryl as Usagi is to Sailor Moon

Spinning sharply, Mai stared at the dream scape around her. 'What happened? Why is everything ice?' Chaffing her arms to warm them up, she looked for the trees that she had become accustom to dotting her dreams. Giving up, she searched for a way out of the ice field. Spotting a likely path, she headed down it. It didn't take to long to figure out that she picked the wrong path. The overwhelming sense of uncertainty was slowly replaced by dread.

Mia's feet took flight, running as fast as she could in her attempt to escape the dread seeping into her soul. The path seemed to stretch forever in front of her, and it was leading her to where she could hear the voice of the Earth spirit calling her.

Feeling like she was being lead or herded, Mia searched for a way off the path. Not seeing one, she turned around, planning on going back to the beginning. 'I refuse to be drawn. That is all that has happened in these dreams. I have been led from one nightmare scene to another. I don't want to see what is next.' She stopped short. The path was gone. It had been replaced by a series of sharp edged ice hills. Glancing to the left and the right, she saw that the edges of the path were lined with the sharp edged hills, also. The light, she wasn't sure if it was sunlight or moonlight, glinted off the sides like light on the edge of a blade. 'Cut off. I really have no choice. Flight is no longer an option.' With no where to run, she walked slowly forward, watching for a way to escape as dread turned to fear. 'Why am I afraid? The Earth spirit is my friend, my counselor.' Unable to shake the fear that was settling into her bones, she continued forward.

Beryl, my avatar, it is time. All five of you are here. It is time to awaken.

Jerking her head side to side, Mia tried to spot the physical form of the spirit. All that she could see of the frozen landscape was barren. "Where are you? If I am really your avatar, then show yourself to me!"

The path abruptly ended at an opening in the ice. She could feel a menacing evil flowing out of the caves entrance. 'Evil... or anger? The spirit really wants to help me, or does it wish to hurt me? If it wants to harm me, then ...' Searching the empty area around her, she saw nothing that would work as a weapon.'Not that I would be able to defeat an Earth spirit with physical means.' Stepping back, she ran into a walk of ice. 'I refuse to leave my back against its creation.' Adrenaline started working its way through her system. 'Fight or Flight syndrome. That is what this is. But it has cut off the flight option.' Mia walked towards the cave's entrance, her aggravation burning its way up through her. 'If I can't defeat it physically, then maybe magically.' She felt a chip of beryl nestled in her right palm.

It is time! Our pact of old is still binding. You are still mine!

Mia jerked back as her left hand stung and began to burn. Looking at it as she drew it to her, she saw a large slash open across the palm, and her blood welling out. Clutching her hand closed, she held it to her chest. "I'm not yours! I'm mine!"

A deep resonating laugh flowed out of the mouth of the cave as her blood dribbled onto the ice at her feet. Screwing up her courage, she glared at the cave. "I am not yours! And what is it time for? Why do you call me your avatar? Who are you?"

You are mine, Beryl. You sealed our pact with your blood. A pair of red eyes shone from the ice cave. You agreed that I, Queen Metallia, would help you win back your precious Prince Endymion. In exchange, you would supply me with the energy that I need to live. All through the ages, our pact has been renewed. Every generation, you have given me energy, and I have helped you find Endymion. But every time we have been thwarted. The Moon has stopped us.

Mia's scowled viciously. 'That Moon-girl!' She almost spat at the ground as she thought of that scheming wench. 'She has always gotten in my way.'

The red eyes narrowed briefly. But this time the Moon is not here. I cannot sense her at all. And the Lords, the Shitennou, have been reborn. Endymion is out there somewhere.

Mia clutched her hand tighter to her chest, trying to stop the hope building inside of it. 'This is a nightmare. Soon it will dissolve into horror, and Endymion will never be found.' Glaring at the glowing eyes, she held onto her courage. "Sure he is. And as soon as we find him, we'll all die, or you'll suck all his energy out of him."

No. He is yours, as is the planet, to rule under me,... Queen Beryl.

Narrowing her eyes even more, Mia considered what Metallia promised. 'I will rule with Endymion, but not under her. I will not save him from that Moon-girl just to hand everything over to this creature.'

Looking at the blood that coated the ice at her feet, Mia smiled cruelly. "Our first pact was sealed with my blood. This pact needs something more. You have my blood on the ice, but what will you give me?"

The red eyes flashed. You receive the ability to use my gifts, my magic.

Mia shook her head. "I have a bit of magic in my own right, but is meager, because the gift never fully awakened. You said I have been feeding you energy for centuries. Open my gift to its fullest ability. Then I'll consent to the deal."

The red eyes narrowed, and a low growl came from the ice. Mia stood patiently, waiting. A plume of dark energy erupted out of the ice, engulfing Mia, eating into her body like burning acid. Breathless, she dropped the chip of beryl that she had been holding and tried to scream in agony. The stone chip floated into the air between her and Metallia. As it absorbed the energy that Mia didn't, it swelled, becoming a round crystal ball.

Mia found herself sitting up in her bed, staring at the light shining through the window. A quick glance at her left hand showed that it was fine, but as she moved the sheets, she paused. There, on the pristine white covers, were small drops of blood. Shaking, she forced herself to move and face the day. Resting on her nightstand was a dark crystal ball.