Disclaimer: Hmmm...let me check....sorry, still not mine.

I would really like some feedback on this story. I will finish it no matter what, but let me know

how it's coming along. Revised!

Chapter 3

After the giggles subsided, Mogki regained what was left of his dignity and Mikoto

started the chore of unpacking the children's and her belongings. Terra and Leo had resumed

bouncing on the bed, the room moogle wincing each time the bed let out a squeak.

"Mikoto, you can unpack later, Father needs to speak to you."

Eiko was standing at the top of the stairs. She moved forward only to have two blurs

collide and send her back on her rump.

"Auntie Eiko come to play with us!" The little princess was grinning broadly, and Eiko

was grinning right back. The summoner stood back up and tried to step forward, but Leo was

clutched to her leg and Terra was latched onto her arm. She misjudged her step and lost her

precarious balance, sending her right back on her backside.

Both children were immediately in her lap, and Eiko looked up to Mikoto, struggling to

speak over Terra and Leo's heads, "I'll handle these two, you go on ahead."

Eiko then looked to Terra, smiled and gave her a conspiratorial wink. The princess

winked back and eyed Mogki, who had appeared at Mikoto's side. He looked about ready to faint,

apparently he was well aware of the trouble Eiko could get into. Times that by two.

"Please Mistress! Don't leave me alone with those two, kupo!" the little moogle begged.

Mikoto gave him a reassuring smile and patted his fuzzy head, "I am sure you can handle

them Mogki. Be firm and stand your ground."

At that the two schemers sprang from their innocuous seated position and reached for

Mogki. Mikoto quickly sidestepped the line of fire. Eiko had her outstretched hands around the

pink, fuzzy moogle and then...

CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eiko and Terra slammed headfirst into the floor. Their quarry somehow floating above

them, suspended by those absurd little wings. Mogki had a very content look on his moogle face.

Eiko sat on the floor rubbing her head with one hand and shaking the other one at Mogki,

who had stopped defying gravity, "Hey! That's not fair! Mog would always let me hold her!" she

fumed.

Mikoto turned from casting Cure on Terra's sore head, a slightly confused look on her

elfish face, "Wasn't Mog an eidolon?"

"That's beside the point!" Eiko barked, not wanting to concede to the genome's point. She

then turned to Mogki, smirking and with an evil glint in her eye she said, "You're gonna pay

now! FENRIR!"

Scared beyond belief, Mogki dashed under the minimal protection of one of his prized

beds. His fearful whimpering was audible as he waited for the end.

And waited....

And waited....

Finally a purple pom-pom appeared from under the bed, followed by a very distressed

Mogki. Eiko forgot her sore head as rocked back and forth pointing and laughing at Mogki's

cowardliness. "Hahaha...gotcha! Oh boy, you should've seen the look on your face!"

Eiko was now gasping for air, while Terra was giggling and Leo sat on the floor, clapping

his chubby hands together. Mogki's face grew red, and he turned around and stormed off to his

spot by the window.

Eiko opened her eyes and saw Mikoto, "Heheheh, Mikoto? Heheheh, you should, hahaha,

go see Father, heheheheheheh."

Leaving the trio in their mirth, the genome headed towards the lift.

------------------------------

Passing through luxurious hallways, Mikoto pondered the reason Regent Cid would need

to speak with her. No doubt about the attack.

The silver dragon.

(Rain poured outside, the dragon standing in the opening of the wall.

Time slowed...

The dragon's breath came out in a mist, the cool night air sending goosebumps up

Mikoto's arms.

Lightening flashed...)

"Watch where ya going!"an angry voice yelled.

Jolted out of her stupor, Mikoto muttered an apology as she passed the guards at the lift. What the hell was that? She wondered, her short delusion disturbing her more than she would like to admit.

The trip up to the next level seemed to take forever, but in actuality took no time at all,

and Mikoto was soon in Regent Cid's conference room. From the sounds of angry voices

reaching her ears, Regent Cid and Zidane were either arguing or mad. She wouldn't be surprised

if it were both. As she stepped through the doorway, her footsteps reached those present and the

voices stopped. The three there dropped their gazes to the floor. They must have been discussing

me.

Zidane stood to her right, his tail twitching, a sign of anxiety. He was dressed in his usual

style, not too different from his journey ten years ago. He now wore a long, dark blue overcoat,

his hair was neatly tied back and his belt fit. He carried no weapon, Queen Garnet deeming it

unnecessary.

Standing face to face with Zidane was Regent Cid and his wife Lady Hilda. The Regent

had aged but still looked gallant. In addition to his trademark mustache, he now sported a short

white beard. Lady Hilda discontinued wearing the large headdress, her graying hair pulled back

into an extravagant bun. Jewels were draped around her neck, dangled from her ears, garnished

her fingers, and pinned up stray strands of hair. Mikoto suddenly felt underdressed in

comparison. She faced the ground, scrutinizing her own appearance.

"Ah, Welcome Mikoto, I trust the room is to your liking?" the Regent asked.

Mikoto looked up, pushing her own displeasure out of her mind, "Yes it is, and thank you

Regent Cid, Lady Hilda."

A triumphant grin appeared on Cid's face. He turned to Zidane, "At least one member of

the family gives me the respect I deserve! Ribbit...Ahem.

"Moving along," he faced Mikoto, "I would like a first hand account of the attack."

Mikoto looked at the others present. Zidane looked determined, his mind already made up

about the best course of action. Lady Hilda looked almost desperate, not wanting to believe Mist

monsters had returned after such a long time. Regent Cid looked....well, like Regent Cid, he had

his doubts, but was willing to hear her out.

"The children and I were attacked by a silver dragon." she stated firmly.

"You are sure? You are not mistaken?" a visibly shaken Hilda asked.

Mikoto looked her straight in the eye, she could feel the disbelief seeping from her, "I am

sure."

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The three looked down, contemplating. There is something I did not know. She could

feel their hesitation, "What aren't you telling me?" Mikoto asked icily.

Regent Cid looked at her a bit wearily, distrust briefly flashed across his aura. Mikoto

felt the sinking feeling again, whenever she openly used her powers she was met with the same

suspicion. Lady Hilda clutched her husband's arm, needing reassurance. Zidane stood apart,

and had his arms crossed.

"Dear," Hilda whispered, "I'll be going, I've....I've heard enough."

The Regent nodded and gave Hilda a reassuring squeeze around her shoulders. She

walked past Zidane and Mikoto, and disappeared through a previously unnoticed doorway.

Cid spoke up at last, "Not many know this but, the Mist has returned,"

Mikoto returned her attention to Regent Cid, "What do you mean the Mist has returned?"

she asked incredulously.

Zidane reached out to restrain her, as if it was necessary, "Hey easy sis, Cid will tell all."

Regent Cid looked disgusted, "I detest such familiarity Ribbit...ahem." Cid continued,

"As you both know my daughter, Eiko, lived in Madain Sari before living here in Lindblum.

However, she visits her old moogle caretakers very couple of years. Her previous trip was

canceled because Terra was born and we were invited to the naming ceremony. This last trip she

saw the living Iifa Tree. Being my rambunctious daughter she investigated and found Mist."

Mikoto stood there, stunned. The Mist was back? How? The Iifa Tree had been

destroyed, collapsing around the dying Kuja. The tangled mass of roots now his tomb. If the

tree had regenerated, where were the souls going to now that Terra was destroyed? The tree's

only function was to aid the assimilation process. There was no purpose for it now. Mikoto's

inner musings were cut off by Zidane.

"Well if that damned tree is alive and producing Mist, we'll just have to kill it again!" he

announced, "We can take Lindblum and Alexandria's airships and-"

Cid cut him off, "Zidane, let me remind you that you are not king of Alexandria. As such

any and all decisions have to go through Garnet."

"Come on Cid! You and I both know Dagger'll agree to it! Especially when she hears

why." Zidane countered.

Regent Cid's expression hardened, and his voice took on a more authoritative tone,

"Consort Zidane, I, Regent of Lindblum, am entrusting you with the message to Queen Garnet til

Alexandros the 17th."

Zidane looked ready to explode, the rage coming off of him in never ending torrents, so

Mikoto cut in to break the tension, "Aren't you both forgetting something important?" they both

stopped their death glares to look at her, "Why is the Mist back?"

Zidane looked a bit shocked, confusion filling him, "Why does it matter? We just need to

blow the tree up!"

Cid stepped in, "Zidane, you insolent whelp! You can't just blast that infernal tree without

knowing the effects!"

"Do either of you two have any idea?" Mikoto asked exasperated, clearly the only levelheaded person in the room.

"No my dear, but we will soon! For I am sending the perfect investigation force!" Cid

looked downright ecstatic, his grim aura from before dissipating, "And if all goes well those

marauders will never ask me for anything again! The Plague of Lindblum-" he saw Zidane's

hardened features, "Heheheheh...Ribbit?"

"Who is he talking about?" Mikoto asked Zidane while Regent Cid appeared to be

clearing his throat.

Zidane smiled, "Ever hear of Tantalus?"