Sorry for the lack of update, I just moved out of state into college. Review people! Revised!

Chapter 4

"You are going to send a group of actor/thieves to find out the source of the Mist?"

Mikoto asked amazed. She knew Cid wanted to get rid of them, but this was going just a bit too

far.

"Of course not," Cid answered offended, "you are going with them."

"What?!?!?!?" her normally controlled voice rose.

Zidane stepped in between the two, apparently aware of the damage an angry Mikoto

could cause. "Hey, calm down sis," he soothed, "Tantalus guys are great- you'll love 'em."

"Besides," Cid continued, unfazed by Mikoto's anger, "Those philanderers are good at

fighting, but they couldn't pull a Cure spell out of their-"

"Cid." Zidane warned.

"-wardrobe. Anyway, I need a voice of reason to battle with Baku's hard head."

Mikoto still didn't look convinced, he has an ulterior motive, "Not to mention my going

prevents any reason for Eiko to go," she replied tartly.

A pleased expression appeared on Cid's face, as if he was glad someone figured it out,

"That is correct Mikoto, my dear. You are quite the smart one, if I was younger-"a highly amused

look from the two genomes prevented him from speaking further, "…Ribbit…ahem."

Cid looked to the doorway Hilda had disappeared through earlier, a worried look on his

face. Mikoto suddenly remembered something, "But who will watch over Terra and Leo? They

are my responsibility."

Cid seemed grateful for the change in topic, he answered, "Not to worry, Eiko and Hilda

couldn't wait to baby-sit for a while. They are quite attached to the princess and prince of

Alexandria."

She turned to Zidane, "Are you sure it is alright? Does Garnet know?"

Her brother waved his arms dismissively, "Dagger trusts them, and so do I. The kids will

be fine. Besides, anyone can baby-sit; you're more useful out there, on the field."

Mikoto glared sharply at him, hurt by his easy dismissal of her job as caretaker of his

children, "More useful?"

Zidane started slightly at the tone of her voice, remorse filling him. He scratched the

back of his head, "You know what I mean," he offered as an apology.

Cid jumped in, "Alas dear Mikoto, would you prefer to stay and baby-sit, or would you

like some grand adventure! And see the sights of our world!"

Mikoto considered his words. She had been cooped up inside the castle, especially when

the children were put into her care. She had not seen much of her new home, and had

experienced even less of it.

When she first came to Gaia she didn't appreciate her new surroundings. Compared to the

orderliness of Bran Bral, Gaia was one inconsistency after another. She struggled to just

understand, much less like. The people's lives here were so rich with life and color, Bran Bral

was empty, like vessels without souls. Now, after living on Gaia for ten years, Mikoto wanted a

rich life. She wanted what she had missed out on for her first fifteen years, and she was still

searching for it.

She thought of the two children who took up so much of her life now, her expression

going soft. Do I want them to grow up in a world filled with Mist? With the years of

emptiness I experienced? Never getting to live the life they wanted?

No, never for them, they deserve more than that.

Mikoto looked between the two men, each was waiting for her answer. Making her decision, she answered, "I will go."

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"Excellent choice Mikoto! I am sure the adventure will exceed your wildest fantasies! We

were hoping you'd agree to go from the beginning, so we took the liberty of preparing a set of

traveling clothes for you. Hilda has them. Why don't you go change then report back for your

debriefing?" Cid said.

He then motioned to the discreet doorway Hilda had passed through earlier. Cid and

Zidane both gave her a small push forward, as if they were afraid of her changing her mind.

Mikoto hesitantly walked through the opening, finding a large sitting room. Numerous

chairs and tables were scattered about, opulent yet functional. Large windows covered half of the

walls, mirrors the other half, reflecting the dying rays of sunlight into the room. She looked about

for Lady Hilda, finding her facing the other way, seated at a small desk.

She walked towards Hilda, feeling fear and desperation surrounding her. Mikoto felt pity

for the elegant Lady sitting there, she is trying to hide it so hard.

Hilda turned around, the Lady noticed her advance in the mirror above; it appeared that

she had been crying.

"Lady Hilda, what has upset you?" Mikoto asked worriedly.

Hilda dappled at her amber eyes, her tears staining a white lace handkerchief. She then

clasped the fabric in her hands and rested them in her lap. She breathed deeply and sat up

straighter, putting on a regal persona. "Oh Mikoto, I thought…" she quickly broke down again, "I

thought that our Mist problems were over. The death and destruction, and now it's back again. I

only hope the people are not in danger."

Mikoto didn't know how to answer truthfully and to make the Lady feel better. If the Mist

was truly back, then all of Gaia was in danger. She dismissed such thoughts quickly, not even wanting to think them herself; she focused on Hilda's distress. "You must not worry so much my Lady. Perhaps it is just some fluke of nature, and not malevolent forces," Mikoto soothed, reaching out with her unique powers.

Hilda seemed a little less despondent, "I hope so…"

Mikoto changed the subject, "Regent Cid said you had some traveling clothes for me?"

Hilda snapped out of her morbid thoughts to answer her, "Oh yes, they are over there."

She pointed to a large wooden chest on the other side of the room. "Before I forget," she cut in, "I

have a choker for you. It absorbs shadow magic and raises your defense against the other

elements." Hilda reached over and gave Mikoto a simple black choker.

"Thank you Lady Hilda." the genome said formally.

Hilda nodded and glided out of the room, shutting a large oaken door. Mikoto waited

a moment, then walked over to the chest. She ran a hand over the smooth wood and the brass

ornaments, the piece of furniture was ancient. She lifted the heavy cover and pushed it back.

Inside were clothes more suited for traveling than the cotton dress she now wore. Mikoto

took the items out one by one and placed them to the side. She then unbuttoned the top of her

dress, sliding off the vest-like garment, showing the top of her petticoat. She then slipped

off the full skirt, and the fabric puddled around her feet on the floor. Next came her boots, kicked off somewhat awkwardly. She unlaced the back of her bodice and pulled the petticoat over her head. Mikoto gathered up her discarded clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them into the chest.

She stood now only in her panties and wrapped chest. Her golden tail swished freely back

and forth, now less confined She looked over to her right, at the mirrors that covered the wall, and stepping closer she gazed at her reflection.

The afternoon sun was behind her, backlighting her face and casting a strange hair halo glow around her head. The light reflected in her emerald eyes, making them glow in her shadowed visage. She tilted her head to the side, her messy blonde bangs falling over one eye and cheek.

Nodding to herself, Mikoto changed into her new traveling clothes. She first pulled

on a pair of dark reddish brown pants, the thick fabric clung tightly to her legs. Then an off white

shirt that hung loosely off of her slender shoulders. The large sleeves draped almost past her

fingertips. She slipped a leather holster onto the tan belt, and wrapped it around her waist.

Several times she knotted the extra long belt and then strapped the additional belt on the holster

around her thigh. She pulled on the leather boots and tucked the end of her pants inside.

Mikoto stepped back up to the mirror and clasped the choker around her neck, flipping

her now loose hair out of the way; her blonde tresses had become unpinned due to her changing.

It now hung off of her shoulders, and the thin strands stirred slightly at the draft in the room. About to pin it back up, Mikoto had an idea. A real change.

Walking back to Hilda's desk, she searched the drawers until she found a pair of ivory

handled scissors. She sat down, looked at the mirror above, and drew back her tresses. Her

green eyes burned with determination.

Snip.

Blonde strands fell slowly to the floor.

Snip.

Laying in yellow twists.

Snip.

The late afternoon sun transmuting blonde into gold.

Snip.

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Peering through the looking glass, Mikoto decided mirrors were false. They only told

what lay outside, a shell.

But she was not a shell, as she had believed so many years ago. An empty vessel waiting

for the life she already possessed. She had a soul.