Anne pulled back on the reins of the King's horse to turn the steed around, "We've got enough for dinner, we should catch up with the others."

"Yes, but..."

Anne smiled as Gain stared at the six hares hanging off the side of her horse, and then looked at his own three.

This is too easy—time to really get under his skin!

"Oh, don't feel bad, you were pretty good—it's just tough to keep up with me!"

"Pretty good? So, I pulled my weight?"

That's a surprise, I expected him to be upset...

"Well, yes—I guess..."

"Then tell me, who is Princess Mia?"

"What?"

"You said that if I pulled my weight, then you would tell me who the Princess is—why do you love her so?"

"I didn't mean..."

Gain smiled, "Don't tell me that the Right Hand and Confidant of the Great Sage is not someone who keeps her word?"

Darn! I got cocky!

"Yes, I keep my word..."

Anne smiled, and looked up at the sky,

"The Princess is someone who will never abandon someone who is in need of help. She has such a good heart—she makes everyone around her want to be better, too. That is why I would do anything for her."

All this goodness wasn't really an idea that Gain could really wrap his mind around, so he only heard the parts he could understand and then twisted it a little bit—The Princess is just like father—convincing everyone she is better than everyone else—bending them to her will. Does it really matter if it is love or fear?—it is still dominance. But, I will free Abel and Miss Anne from her spell!

Gain Remno never believed himself to be a good person. But, everyone sees themself as the lead in their own story, and perhaps it's difficult to see oneself as the villain all of the time. So, for whatever reason, Gain decided to cast himself as the hero, and expose Mia for what she was—not for revenge, but to rescue Abel and Anne from Mia's clutches. Not that there was any difference between Gain the Villain's plan and Gain the Hero's plan—he was still out to destroy Mia, but, at least the improvement in Gain's self-esteem was nice.

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"Anne!" Mia dropped her bucket of mushrooms and began waving her hand at Anne as she approached.

"Princess Mia, the mushrooms!"

"Oh, I am so sorry Clarissa. I will pick them up!"

Clarissa and Mia began picking up the spilled mushrooms, and Abel walked over to Anne as she dismounted from the King's horse.

"How did it go?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. The man is a mess, but he's different than what I expected. I don't think he's going to leave Mia alone any time soon."

"It was even worse on my end. Clarissa was no help at all. She says that monster is her brother, and she loves him.

"Well, he is her brother."

"Well, he is my brother, too. But, I know what he is. With what Clarissa said, there is no way Mia is going to quit."

Gain caught up with Anne and Abel.

"Why aren't you helping with the mushrooms, little brother?" Gain snuck a quick glance at Anne, "Everyone needs to pull their weight."

"I was just checking to see if Anne was okay..."

"Why wouldn't she be okay? She was with me."

"Yes, she was with you."

"What does that mean? I would nev—"

Gain stopped himself. I would never...would I? Well, I guess I've hurt him a bit, but that's different—isn't it?

"You are back! How was hunting?"

"Take a look."

"Six hares! Anne, you've become quite the skilled huntsman!"

"Mia looked at the three hares tied to the side of Gain'a horse, "Oh, and Gain." It... looks like you have done almost as well!"

The Princess is trying to embarrass me again. Still, I didn't do that poorly. Gain actually surprised himself a bit by how much he wasn't upset. Yes, he had been not quite as successful as Anne during the hunt—which was a little embarrassing, but the truth was that he had actually enjoyed himself, and he couldn't remember the last time that happened.

Anne examined the baskets overflowing with mushrooms, "Oh, and it looks like your mushroom hunting was equally successful! We are going to eat well tonight!"

"Well, most of the credit goes to princess Clarissa, she really knows her stuff!"

"Oh thank you, Princess. You are too kind. But, it's not like picking mushrooms is an important skill—it's not even difficult."

"Clarissa! Now you've hurt my feelings!" Mia continued only half joking, "Do you know how many years I've worked at picking mushrooms just to get to the point that I won't poison myself!"

Actually, Mia still had a ways to go—but she had made her point—mushroom picking was serious business to Mia, and she was very impressed.

"Well, thank you, then."

"Oh, and Clarissa is already quite the rider! She even outran old slowpoke over there!" Mia looked Abel's way, and Abel blushed a little.

"Really!"

"You two are just insane, that's all! There is no way Clarissa should be riding that fast!"

Gain looked even more surprised than when he saw Anne riding the King's horse, "You mean she's serious? This is Clarissa's first time riding—there is no way she's faster than Abel—I mean Abel is faster than m—Abel is pretty fast on a horse!"

Mia grinned, "Well, Clarissa is faster—a lot faster."

Clarissa, the actual object of this conversation, remained silent. She could have just admitted that the horse she was riding decided to keep up with Mia's horse, and it was pure luck that she survived the 'race' with her brother—but she felt the wave of respect she was receiving from Mia, Anne, and her brothers—and she liked it. So, she decided that she would just ride that wave for as long and as far as it would take her.

But, there would be a price to be paid for riding that wave of unearned respect.She would have to become the person that people believed her to be. She would learn how to ride—really ride—and she would be fearless!

So, in one afternoon of mushroom picking, Clarissa had become a rider of waves—and a captive of the inflated expectations of those around her. And once she decided to let that wave take her away, she became more like the Tearmoon Princess that she idolized than she ever imagined possible.