???

"Dearest?" a voice called out, its familiar voice breaking through the haze.

I forced my eyes to open, blinking the sleep out of them. "Ah, Auntie Ning, what's going on?" I croaked, my voice dry and scratchy.

She smiled softly. "You gave us quite the scare. We found you collapsed in the streets, dear. Don't you remember?"

I blinked again, struggling to piece together what had happened. "Uh... Yeah, that's right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have run off like that. I was just..."

She held up her hands, "No, it's okay, dear. You're safe, and that's what matters. But, please, try to be less reckless next time. We don't want you missing too many days of middle school, you know? If your parents were around, they would be furious."

I stared up at those lavender eyes, full of concern and worry. Before I could even process it, I jumped up out of bed and threw my arms around her neck.

My breath caught in my throat, and tears sprang to my eyes.

Why was I crying?

"Now, now," she cooed, patting me on the back. "I appreciate you too, okay - my little spark?"

I shook away the tears, smiling up at her for a moment.

Auntie Ning was always a worry wort. She worried about my grades, whether I was eating enough, and even my social life. She'd legally adopted me after my parents disappeared, and practically raised me since as her own daughter.

But right now, she looked sadder and more tired than usual. There was a pain in her eyes, a vulnerability she hadn't shown since the day my parents vanished.

"Auntie?"

She sighed. "Never mind me, dearest. Let's get you home. The family is waiting, and they've been so worried. Plus, you missed your favorite show."

I giggled, my spirits lifting a bit. Care Bear had always been my favorite cartoon as a kid, and watching it with the family had become something of a ritual of ours. I always teased Jia Luo and Yin Jia about their obsessions with Care Bear, especially the former with her anglicized name, but I knew I was just as guilty.

It was one of the greatest things in the library of media we imported from the parallel Earth. It was truly one of the best places ever.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. I'm sorry."

Auntie Ning shot me a meaningful look. "I hope you've been taking your training at seriously. You know how important it is, dearest. None of us want to see you hurt."

I winced. Auntie Ning didn't like talking about what I did as a Magical Girl. She preferred to ignore it and go on about my regular schoolwork. She'd had an absolute heart attack when I awakened to my powers, of course — but it wasn't a secret I could keep from her for long. Admittedly, I'd been a bit neglectful of my training, coasting mostly on raw talent and gifts. I didn't know why manipulating my luminal aura and controlling my mana came to me as easily as it did, but it as natural as breathing to me.

The family's youngest had recently awakened, too, and she was more than gung ho to tag along with me on my more dangerous excursions.

On top of that, the pride of the family and next-in-line to be matriarch was the city's esteemed guardian and an S-Rank Magical Girl. Her team — the Lustrous Valiants, was the city's most exalted team of protectors.

That had its downsides, though, as sometimes our excursions ran into territories far beyond Zhou Ling's outer walls, making Auntie Ning's blood pressure shoot through the roof whenever she found out. Still, Auntie Ning was from an Old Family of mages herself, and knew all too well the dangers of the chaos beasts that roamed the planet. So, she begrudgingly let us do our jobs.

I slowly shuffled out of bed and slid on my shoes, ignoring Auntie's disapproving looks.

I was in an all too familiar place — a private clinic hidden away on the campus. It was tucked away, hidden by a multitude of wards and enchantments, and had multiple features to preserve the privacy of magical girls. I may have been one of the youngest girls to ever earn an A-Rank designation, but I still got myself into trouble more often than I'd like to admit.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready."

We emerged from the clinic in silence, and in hand, and I took a deep breath, savoring the familiar sights and smells of Zhou Ling. It would always be a home to me, although I wasn't born here. Auntie was one of my father's closest friends, and her sprawling family had taken me in when no one else wanted to bother with me.

Zhou Ling wasn't just a home to me. It was a symbol of hope in a world filled with destruction chaos, a beacon of light and progress. The city built between the British and Song Empires as a symbol of friendship and trade. It was a haven for survivors from Earth, a refuge from the harsh realities of the world, and the economic center of the east. Its wealth was shared among the citizens, and its unique fusion cuisine was a feast of deliciousness that could melt your brain. English was used as the language of business, education, and cultural exchange — but most locals spoke some variation of Yue. I’d heard Earth had two cities that were similar to ours, but with much shorter histories of British influence.

As we walked home in silence, I found myself staring down at my hands, frowning at new calluses that had formed seemingly overnight in recent months. They were coming in far more quickly than I expected, to the point where I could barely recognize them.

I was grateful to be a Magical Girl. It brought me peace and gave me meaning, a purpose.

Still, the dream I’d just woken up from stuck with me.

I'd been... fighting something. Something that made me horrified and sad. Someone familiar who'd nearly killed me.

Auntie Ning said nothing, simply letting me drift back to the clan compound in silence as she squeezed my hand.

I looked up at her long, raven black hair that flowed smoothly over her shoulders. There was a gentleness to her gaze, and I could see a hint of pride as she briefly glanced over me and smiled. I must have looked like quite the sight by her side, hand in hand as a twelve year old girl with pale white European features and curly, shoulder-length slate colored hair.

"Auntie, I'm sorry. I... I need to stop messing up."

She sighed, "Dearest, you are brave and skilled. You've saved the city and its people countless times already, and you only have a few years of experience. That's amazing, darling. You just need to rely on prudence and care a little more."

I paused, nodding.

Prudence. Care.

I needed more of both for sure.

I blinked as we suddenly arrived at the compound gates. Had we already arrived so quickly? It didn't seem possible. I could've sworn the walk took much longer than that.

"We're home, dearest."

I blinked again, realizing with a jolt that I must have zoned out, caught up in my own thoughts and memories.

I stepped through the gate and looked up at the towering buildings of the clan compound. Its history and age were evident in every brick and mortar, every decorative bamboo tree swaying gently in the wind, and the fountains gently trickling in the central courtyard. The sound was soothing and almost magical in its simplicity, like a lullaby from days past.

"Oh? Look who's finally come home! Why, if it isn't the prodigal princess herself?" a familiar girlish voice cooed.

I turned and saw a familiar girl approaching, wearing a purple and gold flowing gown and a matching fan. It was my lifelong best friend Jia Luo - and I guess adopted sister at this point, all dolled up fresh from what looked like an etiquette lesson.

"Please. I have a headache. Not now," I groaned, chiding her.

She smirked, waving her hand dismissively. "Forgive me for being so forward, my lady, but we must always be vigilant. Why, the simple vicissitudes of life have a tendency to elude us all. You know, I — oh, heavens! Where are my manners? Is that you, dear mother? How divine it is to see you! I have a pressing matter to attend to. Please, take your leave so I can assist your darling niece with any number of affairs that await her."

I giggled. "That character you play gets better and better. Honestly, Care Bear. Stop. You're killing me with these antics. Forget it. Your mom's going to skin you alive for playing the stuck-up noblewoman."

Speaking of her mother…

I looked around for Aunt Ning, but she had slipped out of my sight and vanished. I furrowed my brows, scanning the courtyard for any sign of her flowing black hair or graceful silhouette, but she was nowhere to be seen. A sense of unease crept up within me, a feeling of being adrift without my anchor.

Jia Luo sighed, tugging at her gown uncomfortably. "Well, Dad's the one who's always loading me up with etiquette lessons and stuff. The stuck-up rich brat part is a bit of my own creation."

Her false personality was a running gag between us, her attempt to gain some control and power in a world that gave her nothing to hold onto. Her father had married into the family, and he was always making her feel anxious and overwhelmed. He was brilliant and had achieved a lot in life, and his heart was in the right place. However, the stress and anxiety of dealing with the political and economic needs of the family was often too much.

I smiled. "So, how was the food cart you snuck in last week?"

"Bland."

"Did you finish the homework you were stuck on?"

She shifted uncomfortably, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "No. Not yet."

"That's weird, you're usually so efficient and on top of things."

Her lips quirked in a smirk as she flipped her hair with a flamboyant gesture. "Well, I guess even a prodigy and genius like mecan have a lazy moment every once in a while."

I rolled my eyes. "If you say so."

We continued chatting as we made our way toward my room, the tension slowly bleeding from my shoulders. It was good to be home. I knew I'd only been unconscious for a day, but it felt like it had been ages for some reason.

"Hey, where's Yin Yin anyway? She's always with you when, you know, I screw up and come home from a rough mission like this."

She suddenly stopped in her tracks, her expression stiffening.

"Oh, right. She didn't tell you, huh? Well, Yin Yin is, um... well, she's at a concert. Uncle Yau's chaperoning."

"Really? Who's she hanging out with?" I pressed.

"Somebody new, I think. She never tells me who or why. But I'm sure she'll bring you guys all the souvenirs and stories she can gather from it. Yin Yin is like that."

Jia Luo turned abruptly and headed towards my door. She shoved it open with a flourish and stepped inside, plopping down on my bed without a care in the world. Her fancy gown spilled around her, the gold embroidery glinting in the soft light filtering through the window. I followed her into the room, closing the door behind me with a soft click. It felt comforting to be in my own space, surrounded by familiar scents and the quiet ambiance of the clan compound.

I took a seat at my desk, grabbing a brush to run through my tangled hair absentmindedly.

"Hey sis," she mumbled. "Do you think things would ever go back to normal? Or are we just going to keep dancing around our problems forever?"

"You're starting to sound a bit dramatic there," I teased, joining her on the bed. "You can talk to me. No judgment, okay? Spill the beans."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"I mean, it's just hard to be me. And you always get to do whatever you want, and I can't. I'm just stuck here doing everything, and it's exhausting. My father only cares about appearances and reputation, and the clan barely recognizes me as a person at all. Not to mention Mom's..." she paused, her voice catching.

"I think you're working yourself too hard, Care Bear. It's okay to take a break and just relax. Besides, everyone has a different definition of success, remember? You just have to focus on doing what feels right for you and not for anyone else, and everything else will fall into place."

She shifted uncomfortably. "Oh, yeah? How? Everything is falling apart at the seams. Mom and Dad are fighting over how deeply involved they should get into politics all the time, and Yin Yin is always following you around like a sick puppy, idolizing you and way in over her head. She's barely cut for E-Rank! And then there's Jin and all the pressure she puts on me when she's teaching me spell work. And—"

"Shhh, it's okay," I whispered, putting my hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out. Don't stress yourself out."

I patted her arm in what I hoped was a comforting gesture. She sighed, leaning into me.

"I'm tired. Just so tired, sis. Maybe I could go abroad or something. Do something fun and not have to worry about the family for once."

I giggled, "Maybe we could try for Shoreline City or something for our secondary education? We did meet down there, remember? It's also a World City, and you know I'd be a lock for a scholarship at the academy. Given that, you know, I'm me. We could do anything together there!"

"And not worry about the family stuff. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all..." she mused.

A slow smile spread across her lips. "Yeah, we could become a superstar duo or something. Let's give it a try. Nothing left to lose, right? Come on, you've been killing it at the studio lately and I’m not too bad with a guitar. We could actually make it work.”

I giggled, "We're already a superstar duo, Care Bear. Seriously."

She snorted, her nose wrinkling. "I know you're just trying to distract me, but I appreciate the thought. I haven't eaten all day, though. If you wanna raid the kitchen, I'm more than happy to join you. Maybe I can finally get one of Auntie Mei's famous meat buns."

"Raid the kitchen it is!" I exclaimed, jumping up from the bed excitedly. The prospect of Auntie Mei's famous meat buns was enough to make anyone's mouth water.

Except… that wasn’t possible.

A fleeting memory flashed by —the somber atmosphere, the scent of incense hanging heavy in the air, and the sight of her peaceful face in the casket. It was a wave of melancholy that crashed over me, stealing the joy from the moment. I paused, a lump forming in my throat.

I paused, my stomach dropping. "I—"

My best friend shot me a pointed look, frowning. "What's up? Is everything okay?"

My voice caught in my throat, and I could feel my stomach churning with unease as a strong sense of Deja vu struck me. "I don't know. It's just— Wait, didn't we have this exact conversation before?"

She arched an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What?"

"I could've sworn we just had the same conversation a few days ago."

She paused, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "We... have? Don't think so."

I blinked, not quite believing what I was hearing. "Huh?"

Something about the situation sent shivers down my spine, a niggling sense of dread creeping into the back of my mind.

"Anyway, let's hurry up and get to the kitchen. I'm starving."

Her words seemed to echo strangely in my ears, like an alarm going off in the distance. I stared out the window for a few long seconds as a sense of unease washed over me, leaving me feeling frozen in place.

Something about this was off. Very, very off.

I looked around for a moment before shaking my head and heading out the door.

Everything was fine. It had to be. Right?

I was just being paranoid.

That had to be it.

As I made my way down the hall, I couldn't help but shiver. I could still feel that coldness creeping up around me, and it sent a chill through my bones.

I frowned, looking around for Jia Luo again. I hadn't even heard her leave, but she was nowhere to be seen.

The hallway around my room was long enough that she'd have to have sprinted off to just vanish like that.

It was... unnerving.

In the distance, I heard the sound of a bell ringing, followed by the distant roar of an engine. The sound of a ship's bell, signaling it was entering port. It was a common enough sound, but this time it filled me with a deep sense of dread.

I made my way down the hallway, passing empty bedroom and empty study rooms, each one filling me with an unsettling, aching nostalgia.

Why did it feel so weird? Why did it feel so distant?

Turning away from a dusty study room. I caught sight of my reflection in the window. I couldn't help but stop and stare.

My reflection seemed so different than I remembered, less vivid, more faded somehow. It felt wrong, like looking through a funhouse mirror, distorted and imprecise. My green eyes were baggy and sunken, and my hair looked so different. My complexion was pale and gray, like I hadn't been getting enough sunlight.

I swallowed hard, pushing the thought from my mind as I made my way over to the kitchen.

The familiar scent of freshly baked meat buns wafted through the air as I entered the kitchen, and I could see a younger girl sitting at a table, munching on a bun.

She was two years younger than me, and always looked up to me as a role model. Like her sister and cousins, she had raven black hair, which was tied up in a bun, and always wore Earth-style American clothing. Her dark purple eyes sparkled as she looked out the window, fingers tapping away on a table as she nibbled on her bun with her other hand.

"Hey there... finally!" She perked up, smiling brightly as she waved at me. "I made you extra."

I grinned sheepishly, making my way over to join her.

"Mom taught me the recipe a while back, and I've been dying to use it. The secret is to top the ground pork off with a little cabbage, pepper, and—"

"It smells amazing, Yin Yin. It really does. Wow. You've outdone yourself."

She smiled, shoving a bun toward me. "Eat up! We've had a crazy week, after all. I'm glad to see you're okay."

I nodded, nibbling on the bun. It was delicious, buttery and sweet, with just a hint of spice.

Although the family had more than enough resources for a chef, Yin and Jin's mother always insisted on cooking for the entire family and staff herself. She was always willing to experiment with new flavors and techniques.

I glanced over at Yin Yin. She was usually so chatty, always bouncing off the walls with energy. But today, she was uncharacteristically quiet, her eyes glued to the window.

"You okay? You seem..."

She looked up, smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry, it's just that— well, a lot has happened lately, you know? It's... it's a lot."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Has everything been okay? Are you hurt? Did something bad happen?"

She sighed.

"What was the last thing you remember, sis? Before I ask for specifics, give me your last memory."

Her words seemed to echo strangely in my ears, as if they were coming from far away. She blinked, her gaze becoming distant as she looked out the window again.

It was a strange question, and a tone of voice I wasn't used to hearing from her. But she had a point. What had happened?

I strained my memory, trying to recall the moments before I woke up in the old clinic.

"We were... we were out training. You wanted to finally learn how to use your lumina to fly," I started, wracking my brain. "And then I got a call from Auntie Ning. The city was under attack."

She swallowed hard, nodding. "And... what else?"

"Well, we flew in and fought the rogue Magical Girls. And then... something happened. There were... dozens of Magical Girls pouring in all over the region."

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied me intently. "Keep going."

"And then—"

The words caught in my throat, and I suddenly couldn't remember what to say. It was like someone had pulled a veil over my mind, obscuring the memories just out of reach.

"Um, and then—"

Yin Yin leaned forward, placing her hand on mine. "Hey, hey. You don't have to remember it all at once. It's okay. Take your time."

I nodded, drawing a deep breath as I struggled to remember what had happened.

The trio of unknown S-Rank Magical Girls who'd been attacking the city were closing in. There had been explosions and chaos everywhere. A Chaos Event started in the middle of their attack, and monsters began to pour in all over the city through portals.

"We were fighting, and I was so tired. I... I know I was supposed to stay with you. Keep you safe. Find Auntie Ning and get everyone to safety. But I knew I could help. I could save even more people."

She nodded, a shadow passing over her face.

"Keep going. Please. Don't stop."

"And then—"

I swallowed hard, fighting back tears as my memories struggled to surface.

A thousand flashing images flooded my mind, each one overlaid on top of the others. It was hard to process, and it took a moment before I could continue.

"And then..."

I paused, staring at my younger sister figure, whose mouth began to trickle crimson liquid, dribbling down her chin. I couldn't breathe.

"Why won't you just say it, Celestial Sonata?" She asked, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"I won't," I choked.

The smell of fresh meat buns lingered in the air, and I felt sick to my stomach.

"I don't— I can't—"

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing.

"Please. Just say it. Can you? For me? After all, I'm your good little follower, aren't I?"

She looked so desperate, so pleading, so hurt, that I found myself unable to say no.

Slowly, the words began to slip out, every syllable tearing at my heart and soul.

"We were running. The city was falling apart. I was supposed to keep you safe. But then that unknown Aberrant showed up."

She nodded, gesturing for me to continue.

"Jin was struggling so hard against it. I had never seen her struggle with any Chaos Beast, even against the one Duke we'd eliminated in Kyushu last year. She was frantic, desperate to protect us. Screaming at me to take you and leave."

She drew a shaky breath, her hands clenching into fists. "And?"

"And then..."

I was supposed to look after her. She was my responsibility.

She'd barely awakened to her powers as Magical Girl Aurum Flame, and she wasn't ready for an encounter like that.

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure as I continued. "I'm so sorry. I messed up, okay? I messed up so bad."

My stomach dropped, and I found myself clutching at straws, grasping desperately for anything that might make things better.

I closed my eyes, fighting back tears.

This couldn't be real.

It was all just a cruel joke.

Yin Yin's eyes flashed red, her jaw set. "But it's too late, isn't it? It's way too late. You lost us."

I swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to scream.

This wasn't real. It couldn't be. It wasn't—

She leaned closer, her voice dripping with disgust. "You took everything from us. You took Mom and Dad, and you took me and Aunt Ning, and everyone else. You've single-handedly destroyed my family, and you didn't even care."

I couldn't even bring myself to look her in the eye, and the words were bitter in my mouth. "I'm sorry, Yin Yin."

She was right. It was my fault. It had been my fault the entire time. I'd been arrogant and prideful, too stubborn to admit that maybe I wasn't cut out for this, that maybe I wasn't ready for the responsibility and the danger that came with it.

Blood began to trickle from her eyes, and a red haze fell over my vision, her words echoing in my mind.

"Even if you were sorry, it's already too late. You're nothing more than a coward and a failure, and we're better off without you. Even Willis couldn't look you in the eyes after, could he?"

"I—I—"

She spat blood, her eyes rolling back. "You couldn't save us. You couldn't save anyone."

She stood abruptly, grabbing her basket of meat buns and tossing them into the trash as I watched. They were rotten, buzzing with flies and maggots. I gagged, unable to even begin to comprehend how they had gotten that way.

I found myself unable to breathe, and I was hyperventilating.

That wasn't real. None of that was real. It was just a dream, right? It had to be a dream.

She leaned in close, her eyes flashing red again. "We can't love you anymore. Not after what you did. We can't love a failure like you, do you understand? Why would we?"

Her words echoed strangely in my ears, and I found myself screaming and thrashing about, desperate to escape.

This wasn't real. This wasn't me. This wasn't right.

I was supposed to be strong. Powerful. Invincible.

But it was real. The truth stared back at me in the face.

But I guess I was a failure after all.

I sank down to my knees as the smell of rot filled my nostrils, gagging as I tried to breathe.

Yin Yin just stared at me, her red eyes sharp and unforgiving. She was so cold, so distant. It wasn't how she used to be.

But that was before I screwed everything up.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm so sorry."

Tears streamed down my face, a bitter mix of pain, regret, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness. I had failed everyone and everything that mattered to me.

"You deserve to drown in the pits of hell, and I can't say I'm surprised that the world is rejecting you."

My heart ached as if someone had reached inside and ripped it out. This wasn't me, but it felt so, so real. This phantom weight of irredeemable failure hung over me like a smothering blanket. All I could do was kneel there, trembling and lost, drowning in my own sorrow and shame.

"Did you really think the family would forgive you after what you did? You've brought them nothing but pain and suffering. Kin is kin, and you are not and have never been our kin.

I couldn’t argue, because I knew it was true; I had failed them all. I deserved nothing but punishment and ostracization.

I didn't know how to respond to her words, so I just sat there, rooted to the ground, unable to move or do anything to make things right. The stench of the rotting meat buns and the taste of my own tears filled my nose and mouth, making me feel sick to my stomach.

Yin Yin continued to stare at me, her red eyes unwavering and cold. The once familiar, warm smile she used to have had been twisted into a bitter, resentful expression. It broke my heart seeing her like that, but I knew she was right. I had failed, and now I had to live with the consequences.

I choked back a sob, my eyes burning with tears.

"I don't deserve anything," I whispered hoarsely. "I don't deserve to live, to exist in the world. I've brought so much pain and suffering."

She stared at me, her expression hard and unyielding. It was as if she had become a stranger to me, a cold shell of the person I had once known and loved.

"No," she spat, her words laced with disgust. "You don't. You deserve nothing but contempt and hatred."

As I sat there in the center of my own pain and self-loathing, I couldn't help but feel as though I was being torn apart, bit by bit. Each word from Yin Yin's lips felt like a blade stabbing into my heart, twisting and cutting deeper with each passing moment.

Every bit of my former self, the one who had been strong and powerful and invincible, crumbled away like sand in an hourglass. I was nothing more than a broken shell, adrift in a sea of regret and despair.

"Hey, calm down! Dammit. You're both being annoying!" A distant, girlish voice suddenly rang out.

"Huh?" I snapped up in surprise.

"Just shut up, quit moping over your fafilures, and wake up already! Someone's here to save you! I mean, we're here to save you!" the voice echoed closer this time.

"Who? What?!" I repeated numbly.

"This bonehead hunched over you and— Wait, what?! Get away from me! Now! Oh for the love of —"

Suddenly, there was a flash of red light followed by orange and blue, and then a repeated clash between the two lights over my head.

And then, I felt a surge of calming energy rush through my body.

The apparition of Yin Yin flinched as a golden energy filled the room, and suddenly disappeared into void. But the distorted red haze still remained, washing over everything around me. I blinked, feeling the voice that had been screaming at me vanish into thin air.

The smell of smoke filled the air, and I could hear the sound of fighting outside, echoing in the distance.

As quickly as it came, it vanished.

I stared down at the trash can, and the piles of meat buns returned to normal, their vibrant colors and enticing scents filling my nose.

Gingerly, I stood up from my chair, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

What just happened?

The room around me began to blur, and I found myself struggling to breathe, my throat tightening with a wave of emotion I couldn't even begin to process.

Colors blurred together, and I could hear the faint sound of crying in the background.

And then, the scene shifted again.