Chapter 2 : The Fateful Encounter!... Start!
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How did this happen..
One moment she was dejectedly walking home after seeing her father for the first time in years, she went over a small bridge, ah- the bridge! She remembers lighting up a star and feeling a rough push behind her!
Someone pushed her into the lake?! What's wrong with people!
Evelyn sat up quickly, glad the water was no longer suffocating her- as she coughed up the water that infiltrated her lungs. When she felt her vision clearing, she looked around, only to find herself in a familiar forest.
'Isn't this..' she thought, before she heard a small gasp, which was then followed by a high pitched voice calling out.
"Wah!!? A water spirit!!?"
Locking eyes with a familiar shade of pink, Evelyn felt the world freeze as she observed the little girl pointing a finger at her. When she didn't respond, the little one put her finger down, before muttering out loud.
"No- water spirits wouldn't pathetically choke on water- who are you?"
The girl questioned as she made her way closer to the water, whether out of curiosity or audacity, she reached forward and splashed her with water.
"Hello? hellooo? old hag, can you hear me?"
Evelyn let out an offended gasp, blinking before scoffing at the child, "did no one teach you manners, you brat?" she said, gently splashing a bit onto the girl's face.
Evelyn stared at the little girl in front of her, from similar eyes to the identical blue hair that was being held up by two little flower hair ties, this was definitely her younger self..
And this forest.. was the one just outside her neighbourhood, it was the only place she could run off to without anyone finding out, the only place that allowed her to cry her heart out whenever everything felt too much.
The little Evelyn huffed, before seemingly realizing something "wah! You look like me! Oh! Are you my ability?!" she asked with hope, her small hands in little fists as she looked up at her.
Evelyn shook her head with an amused smile as she got out of the water, trying to wring out the liquid out of her clothes before sitting on the grass with the girl. Maybe this was a dream where she could finally face herself, if it was- she wouldn't waste it.
"I'm not-" "Did I summon you? that's weird though, I shouldn't have water related abilities- mom was said to be able to manipulate gravity like a star- Father has his earth- eh?! am I an illegitimate child born from a water wielding-"
Evelyn lightly hit the kid on the head, stopping her from her ramblings, "I'm not your ability, I'm not a water spirit, and no, you didn't summon me- I think" she answered as she watched the- mini her? contemplate.
"Then who are you? are you from house Tala?" Little Evelyn asked with a raise of her eyebrow, Evelyn smiled as she tilted her head, "what makes you say that?" she asked, curious to her little self's thought process.
"You look- uh, like how my mom was described.." she muttered, she looked down, as Evelyn stared closer, she noticed the redness around her eyes, gently- she approached her and patted her head.
Little Evelyn moved away, unfamiliar with the touch as she stared back at Evelyn with a confused shock, Evelyn raised her arms in defense before trying to lighten the mood.
"Say- you wouldn't know where to get a towel, would you?"
Little Evelyn stared at the woman that was wet from head to toe, before slowly walking farther into the forest, rolling over a log that covered a small hole.
Evelyn stared nostalgically at the hiding spot that little Evelyn pulled out a pink teddy bear patterned blanket from, the small girl shuffled across the grass and tossed it at Evelyn's face.
"Is this.. okay?" she asked unsure, fiddling with her hands as Evelyn tried to dry herself, the little girl sat in front of her as she stared at Evelyn's face, "It's perfect, thank you munchkin" Evelyn smiled, seeing the girl's ears go red.
"I'm only letting you stay because- you appeared out of no where! but.. this is my spot! okay!" Little Evelyn huffed as she crossed her arms.
"Of course, my apologies" Evelyn replied sarcastically.
Little Evelyn fiddled with her fingers as she tried to figure out how to start a conversation, seeing her hesitation, Evelyn spoke up.
"So, what's a small kid like you doing out here?" she asked, drying off her hair.
Little Evelyn perked up, before looking around and seemingly deflating, "I ran out.. I'll go back when I cool off eventually" she admitted.
Evelyn frowned, that didn't give her much of a clue of what the timeline was- that was literally the main reason she even made this forest her hide out.
"Did something happen?"
"Why should I tell you?" the little one spat as she stared at her suspiciously.
Evelyn shrugged, "you don't have to? but maybe it'll help you cool off faster. I do that too, running off and needing to air my issues out" she explained, watching as the girl slowly lower her guard.
Little Evelyn picked at the grass thoughtfully, before speaking, "my father brought home some stray" this piped Evelyn's attention- ah, so it was that day.
Evelyn thought back to her first time meeting Leilah, it's been years- but she remembers the gist of it, she cried at her, Father got mad, she ran to her room, then snuck out through the window to hide in the forest where she spent hours weakly punching trees out of frustration.
Looking at the girl's fists, they didn't seem to have any indication of dirt or swelling, so her presence must've startled the girl into forgetting her anger- until now-
"It's stupid, the nanny said I was just seeing things, but I saw how his eyes softened when looking at her- uh, the stray. It was a ratty, dirty and ugly rat" she scoffed, pouting as she looked at the water.
Evelyn couldn't help but feel pity for the young girl, she remembers feeling like this almost every day after meeting Leilah, it took her a long.. long time to recognize the spiraling.
She lifted her hand and slowly rubbed the girl's back, who quickly flinched, but this time, not shying away.
"Hey.. old hag.. uh what's your name?"
Evelyn fought back the urge to roll her eyes as she answered, "Ennie, and you?" she gently eased.
"Evelyn- um just Evelyn. I was wondering, since you're old and all- you must be uh, wise from all your years of living-"
"get to the point munchkin"
"right- so was.. crying at the stray, an irrational move that maybe I should- have not done.." she asked, expectation clearly written in her eyes.
"Well, it's a bit dramatic- but I can see why you might've felt betrayed. Your father? you said, brought her home.. and did he consult you or your family?" of course he didn't.
"Well.. no- but surely he had a reason-" Ah there it is
"Hm, why are you justifying his actions, but questioning yours? If he can bring in a new member of the family, then you're entitled to your own feelings" Ennie said, laying down on the soft grass as she rehearsed all the thoughts she's been bottling up for years.
Evelyn stared at her blankly before looking at the sky, "ah.. okay- well, I should get going soon. I must've been out for a while.." she said, patting the dust off her skirt as she looked at Ennie and the path to the outside of the forest.
"Will you.. be here tomorrow as well..?"
Ennie smiled softly "mhm, I need to figure things out too, thank you again for the blanket" she said, waving as the girl let out a small smile, waving before leaving.
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Evelyn stared at the sky.
Ennie? really? she couldn't thought of any other name?!
"I'm so glad this dream doesn't have Poppy in it- I'd never hear the end of it" she muttered, embarrassed.
Speaking of dream, what an odd one.
First she talks to her younger self, changes the course of how she remembers her memory, and her skin feels the ticklish brush of the grass.
...
..
.
Yeah this isn't a dream isit.
Evelyn groaned as she grasped at her hair "how the hell did I end up here?!" she sat up, staring at the lake that she woke up in, inching closer, she stared at her reflection.
fizz-
The bright light of the star she threw fizzled out as it sank in the water.
huh?
Evelyn stared at her hand where she conjured up the star, it felt tingly- and it had a faint glow.
Almost by instinct, she started pouring her energy into her hand, as if that would do anything.
Her ability was a strange one, at first she was only able to conjure up small shards of light that vaguely resembled stars, but as she practiced, she realized she was gathering energy around her, allowing her to practice in various applications.
Small dots started lighting up on her arm, slowly connecting like a constellation, it started as a feeling, a warm tingly sensation and bloomed from her shoulder, and inched its way to her hand.
Next thing she knew, a bright heat had stunned her- rendering her dizzy and barely standing.
"ack!? what the-"
"Oh dear, how did this happen?"
Evelyn stopped at the voice, she tried to refocus her eyes, but as she felt the headache worsening, she could only make out a blurry white figure in front of her.
"My dear, this is not your time"
"ugh.. yeah- I figured as much" she managed to wheeze out as she put all her strength into not collapsing.
"It seems your body cannot handle the repercussions of fully summoning me.. I'll figure out how to communicate with you soon then.. for now, reach out to the stars, they'll guide you on how to navigate your situation"
Evelyn could only see spots in her vision as she first felt her arm go numb, and then she felt gravity taking hold of her.
"What the hell.. does...that mean..."
thud..
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Chapter 2 : The Fateful Encounter!.. End!