Joan - Chapter 12  © 2010 - Andrea Ribeiro Many thanks to Stanman63 for editing.! Previously:“Okay, lovebirds. Let's go raid the mall.” Jenny says, leaving the room in a run. “Hey!” We both exclaim and run after her.

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Eventually we reached the mall, and believe it or not took us only 15 minutes to find a parking spot. As we step out of the car I began to become a bit apprehensive as it's my first time out in public as a girl. I stop in my tracks and start to shake.

“What's wrong? Why are you shaking?” Mother asks me.

“I'm afraid. What if people recognize me?”

“What's wrong if someone does? You are a girl, Sis.”

“Still, what if someone thinks that I'm a boy in a dress?”

“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? You are gorgeous,” Mindy tells me.

“OK, I guess I'll have to deal with it sooner or later, right?”

“Don't worry, Joanie. Let's have some fun shopping.” Mindy said

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Once inside, I think they made me try on half the clothes in each store we visit. I think they were having fun with a live size Barbie doll to play with.

One of the most embarrassing moments of the morning was the lingerie shop. First, I found out that I'm already almost a B cup, and the choices of garments Jen and Mindy made me try, well, I never felt more embarrassed and more sexy at the same time my life.

Luckily, after that we went to have some lunch as I was starving and tired.

After lunch, we went to the shoes stores. I never knew that girls had such variety of choice. I think they made me try half the store. I don't really liked high heeled shoes, they were uncomfortable and make my calves hurt.

They ended up buying a few pairs of them for me, saying that I'll get used to them as well as some sandals, trainers, and cute pink bunny sleepers. ( I never got the chance to have them when I was little so give me a break, and they ARE very comfortable.)

After what I think it was the 6th trip to the car to put our shopping bags in the trunk It was time for the salon appointment. Mom made the appointment just before we left home for us and Mindy. Arriving at the salon, Mom talked to the receptionist who then directed us to the waiting area saying that we would be called.

A few minutes later, another girl came to us and directs us to the changing rooms to put on a robe. After that she directs me to a chair where a woman waits for me.

“Hello Joan, my name is Amanda, what I can do for you today?”

“I don't know, It is my first time in a saloon.”

Mother whispers something in her ear, “Your mother just told me to give you the works, what do you say if we start by washing your hair and then cutting it into a nice layered style?”

“I guess it's OK.” I'm a bit apprehensive of what the works means.

I never thought someone washing your hair could be so relaxing, I think I even dozed off for a bit.

After the scalp massage (I refuse to say it was only washing as I never felt more relaxed in my life), it was time for the hair cut. Amanda directs me back to the chair and turns me away from the mirror.

“I love your hair color, Joan. Is it natural?”

What to I say? No, it was magically altered this morning? “Yes it is.” I decid to tell her.

“You are so lucky, I never saw a prettier shade of gold than yours. It almost glow under the right light.” She said as she starts to cut my hair.

“Thanks, I guess”

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Suddenly, everything stopped moving, a woman appears from nowhere and walks to me with an angry look on her face, “Child, why do I sense my daughter's essence within you and why do you have her hair color?” she said and a shiver ran through my spine.

“Huh?”

“Don't play dumb with me. What did you do to my daughter? Why can't I contact her?” She says, looking angrier.

“I don't know what you are talking about, lady. Who are you and who is your daughter?” I ask her having a bad feeling.

“How can you not know who I am when I can sense my daughter's essence within you?”

“Are you Rhea's mother?” I ask her. If she is who I think she is I'm in deep shit.

“Yes, child I am her mother. What did you do to her?”

“I didn't do anything to her. I owe her my life. She said she gave me and my brother a little of her essence.”

“What? Why would she do that, and I sense more than just a little of her essence within you. Did you force her to do it?”

“How could I do that? I'm just a normal girl.”

She looks thoughtful for a moment, her expression softens, “I'm sorry, child. You are right. No human can make a goddess give a part of her essence. Still, I am worried about her. Every time I try to sense her all I get is you.”

Suddenly, an idea came into my mind, “Miss Gaea, maybe you can talk to her.”

“How?”

“Well... I met her a few times in a place she called my spiritual escape or something like that. She said it was a place I created as a haven of some sort.”

“Can you take me there?”

“I don't know how to get there yet. Rhea said I would eventually learn how to though.”

“Give me your hand child, maybe I can help you with that. But I'll need your permission to go there if that place is what I think it is.”

“Of course you have it. No mother should be forced from their child.”

She takes my hand, closes her eyes for a moment and suddenly we are in my flowery field. I hear a gasp from behind and turn around to see a very surprised Rhea.

“MOTHER!!! What are you doing here?”

“Hello, my daughter. I should ask you the same question.”

“Did you bring her here, Joan?” .

“No, mother. Actually she brought me here.”

“Mother?” I hear Gaea ask.

“Yes, I made Joan my daughter when I gave a part of her my essence.”

“I see. What I want to know is why you gave her so much of your essence.”

“Wait. I want to know what is going on. How much of mother's essence are you talking about?”

“Almost all of it.” Gaea says.

I look at Rhea in surprise and she seems crestfallen, “Is it true?”

“Yes, my child. It is true.”

“But why? You told me you gave me a bit of your essence to help me heal. Why did you lie to me?”

“I'm sorry I lied to you my child. You were not ready to know the truth.”

“What is the truth then? And what does I am the key thing means?”

“WHAT? Is it true? Is this child the key? The one born with two souls?” Gaea asks.

“Yes mother, she is.”

“Do you have any IDEA of the RISK you are taking?”

“Yes mother, I have, and I have faith in her.”

“STOP!!!” I yell, enraged. “What the heck are you talking about.”

“In all my life, I never heard a human talk to us like that.” I hear Gaea say.

“I know, and that's one thing I like about her.”.

“Can you two please tell me what is going on? How did I get involved in goddesses business?” I plead.

“I think you and mother deserve an explanation, Joan.”

"Then explain," demands Gaea.

“When I told Josh you are the key what I meant is that you are the key to either our kind's salvation or our destruction. It will be your choice.”

“I am lost here, what do you mean by salvation or destruction?”

“As I said before, magic is reawakening, and with that a big change is coming. My children for too long have been from time to time fighting among themselves, and with the magic returning they are getting more powerful. In the future, a full scale battle might happen, and if it happens, many of them will die this time. I believe you are the key to saving them from themselves. I can't let my children and grandchildren die.” she says between tears.

“But I have no idea how I am supposed to do that.”

“That's why I am here, Joan. To guide you and teach you.”

“That doesn't explain why you gave her almost all your essence, daughter.”

“Mother, I gave her my essence, because I have chosen her to be my successor. I have been alive for far too long, I am tired.”

“You want to die?” I ask her in shock.

“In a mater of speaking, yes. I lived long enough. Eternal life after a while becomes a curse rather and a gift.” she says between tears.

I get closer to her and give her a very tight hug, “I don't want to see you die. You saved my life and made me your daughter. Is your life so without purpose that you want to die?”

“I have only one purpose now, and that is to teach you for the next few years. After that I will let go and disappear.”

“What if I gave you a new purpose?”

“What kind of new purpose can you give to a goddess that has lived for several millenia?"

“Something you never did before.”

“And what would that be?”

“To live a human life. To raise a family and watch them grow older and have a family of their own, enjoy life knowing that one day it will end.”

“I never thought of that.”

“Of course not. Why would a god or a goddess want to become a human?” Gaea asks.

“Why not? What better way to understand us? And at the end of that life you can choose to simply fade away or reincarnate again, this time fully human with prior knowledge of godhood. I think it is a better alternative to simply fading away.”.

“But how would I do that? I don't have enough essence to do that anymore.” Rhea says crestfallen.

“I think I can help you with that.”

“I can't take my essence back it is yours now.”

“Then I'll give you a piece of my own essence to make you human. That way you can guide me from the mortal world. If you want to do that of course.”

“Let's do it.”

“Don't I have a say in this?” Gaea asks.

“I'm sorry, Mother, but it is my decision to make.”

“I know it is, my child. What I want to tell you is that I'm proud of you, you are going to do something I can't.” Gaea says hugging her daughter.

“I'm sorry, but I have no idea how to do this.”

“Don't worry child, I will help you,. After all, it is my daughter's wish. Both of you hold one of my hands and each other hands forming a circle.”

We do that and soon we are glowing. I sense energy being transferred between the three of us and for a second I think we merg together before everything went white and I'm back at the saloon chair with Amanda awakening me.

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“Wake up, sweety. We are done here.”

I open my eyes, What the heck just happened? Was that real or a dream? With my track record I think it might be real.

“What do you think?” .

“Huh?” I look at her, confused.

“Look in the mirror, what do you think of the new look?”

I look in the mirror and my jaw drops, I look gorgeous. The layered style framed my face perfectly. I also notice that I am wearing a pair of studs, and that my ears are freshly pierced.

“I see you noticed the earrings. We decided to pierce them while you were sleeping as your mother asked us.”

“I love the new hair style and the earrings, Amanda. Thank you so much.

“That's not all.” she says, giggling. “Look at your hands and feet.”

I looked at my hands and I saw that my nails now manicured and have a light pink varnish on them, and the same thing on my toes. “I love it.”

“We were going to wax your legs, but you didn't seem to need it. I never saw smoother skin than yours.”

“I got lucky thenm I hear that waxing is painful.”

“The price of beauty, dear.”

“Where is my mother?”

“Your mother, sister and your friend are waiting for you in reception. Let's go reintroduce you?”

“Sure.”

I went to the changing room, change back to my (sister's) clothes, and head back to the reception area. They all look gorgeous with their new hairstyles. I wonder if dad and Josh will notice anything. They look at me and their jaws drop.

“OH MY GOSH!! You look incredible.” I hear Jenny say excitedly.

“Sweety, you look simply gorgeous.” Mom tells me.

“You look really pretty.” Mindy says.

“Thanks guys. You all look amazing too.”

Mother pays the bill, leaving a generous tip. Once outside she says, “Joanie, I think your father will have a heart attack when he sees the next month credit card bill.”

“Oh god, mom. I hope you didn't spent too much.”

“No sweety, I was just joking. And you do need everything we bought today.”

“OK, Mom. Thanks for today. It was tiring, but fun.”

“Next time will be even more fun as we won't be buying so much.” Jenny says.

“I hope so. I think I tried half the mall's clothes today.”

“Ah, come on, that is the fun part.” Mindy says.

“And that's how you develop your own sense of style.” Mom tells me.

We then walked to the car and soon we were our way home.

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To Be Continued...