Chapter Text
I gazed into the beautiful oceanic sky, the clouds mixing in like small plump marshmallows. I allowed myself to take one last mental image before glancing down at the literal bumpy road ahead. I let out a solemn sight before continuing down the path, trailing my hand against the railing.
I could hear the waves of the water bumping against the rocks like a whispered conversation.
Back in America I loved to walk through the woods by my house. Now that we're in London the scenery is.. well it's not terrible but it wasn’t the same. Sometimes I could close my eyes and imagine that the salty air that always seemed to calm me was the same back at home.
My long strides began turning into short steps as my memory strayed towards the enjoyable times I had back in my hometown. I wondered if it would be anything similar to home.
I clenched my jaw.
Why did we have to move?
Why did Dream want to move closer to stupid boyfriend's house? even if... I don't know why me and Punz had to go too. We'd be fine by ourselves
I dug my fingers into the palms, nails biting into my skin hard enough to leave crescent shape marks, my fists trembled, tight with the pressure of everything going on in my life. I blinked hard, staring at the road, willing the tears to stay where they were, because if I were to let even a single one fall, I knew I wouldn't be able to stop the rest from pouring.
All my friends, and the job I could have had.
The unlight-polluted sky and fresh air that actually smells clean and not like 10 packs of cigarettes and gasoline.
All ripped away from me.
Wow . I didn't think this would hit me like this. You know at first, I was okay- distracted, busy moving. But then all the little I could enjoy reminded me of them, like my favorite song, or some awful joke Punz would tell me offhandedly (yes they’re puns)
It's nothing like Virginia
“It’s more like a Street bin. I thought grumbling under my breath. I sighed for what felt like the hundredth time today.
I shook my head. I’m not gonna whine and cry like a child.
I began walking again, trying to keep up a pace, just so I wouldn’t be late. But… then I noticed it… a speck in the same oceanic sky I was staring into minutes before. But now, there it was. I could barely see it, but it seemed somehow impossible to ignore.
I could see it shimmering like a star in the night sky. It was catching the sunlight like no bird or plane ever could.
I slowed down. I could feel my heart thudding faster, my eyes starting to sting as they were locked on the growing light.
The air around me seemed to still, like an icy winter was taking over the land.
And soon the speck became a gimmer in the light and that gimmer became a spark, and soon it was coming towards me like a falling star that refused to burn out
With my breath caught, and without thinking, I raised my arms, as if a small part of me knew I was meant to catch - whatever it was.
The glowing ball floated lower and lower, slower and slower before it touched my hands.
And then it (literally) hit me!
The crushing weight slammed into me like a falling boulder. The force knocking all the air from my lungs and sending me wobbling backwards, crashing onto the concrete. Pain shot up my spine as my back smacked hard, against the rough and rocky ground.
For a little moment, the world blurred around me - the sky spinning above me for what felt like an eternity
And still, the orb glowed in my hands, impossibly small and impossibly heavy, pressing into my skin like it wanted to rip right through me.
And it didn’t stay still.
It wiggles like an animal brushing off sleep. It’s glow started to pulse in uneven bursts of light. Bright then dim then bright again.
I didn’t dare move as the glowing thing wiggled about. it’s light, once blinding, began to fade, slowly until it wasn’t just a glowing ball of mass anymore.
It started to take shape.
The glow shrank inward onto itself, squishing into a small, solid body. What was left of it was something I could only describe as… alive?
It was no bigger than a house cat, maybe smaller, its fur shimmering faintly like a starlight. Two pointed ribbon like antennas, twitched as it stretched, and two pale pinkish moth wings unfolded behind it.
It was like watching a constellation take shape in front of me.
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
And than it spoke.
You know while a furball falling out of the sky was surprising enough but for it to talk was maddening.
“This Is the child?” it whispered, more to itself than me. Its voice was creepy and high-pitched like a squeaky toy and It’s beady doll-like eye trailed over slowly in fake child-like wonder it felt like it was measuring my soul.
It’s eyes trailed to my outfit, widening in horror
“oh no, no no what are you? This is not what a proper lady should wear!” it clicked it’s tongue, it’s voice dripping with judgment.
Its eyes swept over my body with dejection that showed the expected more.
“Oh well,” it sighed. “ We can fix your wardrobe later.” it clapped their paws together like they were trying to bring back the positive mood that didn’t exist.
“I am Clementine (or just Clem for short~) the grand and magnificent, all powerful guide for all magic girls!!” it danced around.
For a second I just sat there, stunned. I mean could you blame me?..
The words hit me like falling on the concrete did - and then I felt my chest tighten.
“What.”
The furball- I mean Clementine to herself. “I have a task to seek out young girls all around the world and train them to become magical girls and ward off all evil! And you, my lady, have been chosen to wield this power!” She exclaimed, looking proud of herself.
My stomach dropped
Magical. girl. powers.
Oh hell, no.
What bullshit anime am I in?
I stood up, instinctively putting more distance between us.
Sure it's fluffy, vaguely cute in a way some raccoon digging in your trash was cute, of course that didn't make it trustworthy.
For all I know it could be cryptid trying to drag me into the water.
“Clem.” I started, my voice strain.
“Yes?” the creature responded, tilting their head.
I stared for a few seconds contemplating my response.
I then carefully and calmly stated. “I am not a goddamn girl.”
Clementine froze, blinking before they yelped in surprise. “..WHAT?!”
She jolted back, fur sticking up in spikes like she was struck by lightning. She slapped her paws against her cheek, standing up on her hind legs in a human manner.
“ IMPOSSIBLE YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!” she cried out, offended
I grit my teeth, trying to stay calm. “ yes I’m fucking serious.”
His eyes widened at the confirmation. Frantically looking over me growing more and more fearful.
What was she looking for? proof? a hidden skirt?
I took a cautious step back. There was something unsettling about her big uncaring eyes.
Then, as if coming to some ridiculous conclusion, she clicked her claw together.
“OH!- I see now!” she exclaimed.
“You're one of those Tomboys, huh?” she pointed a paw. “ geez I’d never get a girl who doesn’t like to dress pretty..” they shook their head.
“Right..?…” her eyes seemed worried and filled with half hearted hope.
I blinked, hoping I’d soon wake up from this horrible dream.
She listened to me exactly saying I wasn't a guy and somehow came up with the opposite conclusion!
“Excuse me, I don't even look like a girl!!”
Clementine paused for a second, hesitantly pointing towards my hair.
“you’ve long hair! Only girls have long hair.” she stated matter of fact.
I looked down and reached out to grasp my ashy blonde hair, my hair that didn’t even reach my shoulders.
I've seen guys with hair down their back, and yet mine made me look girly.
This was the creature who was assigned to find “heroes” across the world?
Apparently her qualifications began and ended at people's haircuts.
I turned to her, exasperated, “guys can have long hair too..? don’t be sexist.”
I have been putting off cutting my hair mostly because I thought I had more time.
Apparently that caused some space creature to think I was a girl.
Clem paused at the unfamiliar word, brow furrowing as though she was trying to fit the word into a category she understood.
Then she sighed as they shook her head.
“Oh geez, you’re really not.. this is a big problem!”
Clementine crossed, her arms dramatically, looking troubled. “ I’ve never met a magical girl who isn’t.. well a girl!”
“Well that isn’t my problem. I quit.”
Clem gasped “QUIT??”
“Yep.” I confirm. “ Because this is well you know a dream.” I laughed as I looked out into the distance. Man this is a really realistic dream.
“Maybe I hit my head too hard and I’m hallucinating.” I pondered aloud.
Because no way I was accepting the alternative.
The second I started believing in talking animals and magical powers were real, I've officially lost it.
And I'd like to have higher standards than that.
“You cannot quit!” they gasped. “ there’s no such thing as quitting as a magical.. warrior”
I close my eyes. I was so tired so soo tired.
I should’ve just skipped school.
Clementine just stared at me like I declared I wanted to end the world.
She squinted hard at me stepping closer, her big beady eyes scanning me up and down.
I took a step back, feeling uncomfortable with this sudden aura that washed over me.
“Uh. What. the. hell are you doing?” I asked the anxiety rising as this felt less and less like a dream.
Clementine huffed, sitting down in front of me, bushy tail curling around its small paws, glowing faintly like a star. “double checking of course.!” a faint dusting of blush covering her face
She let out a whine like the truth physically hurt her. “But you'd look so cute in a dress..” she mumbled.
I swear my soul left my body.
There's something so horrifying about how serious she sounded, like she wasn't trying to make fun of me or get a reaction out of me.
Like she actually believed what she was saying.
I could feel my face heat up as I gnash my teeth in embarrassment. “shut the hell up!”
Clementine, gasped with sudden glee and disappointment in the same breath. “you even have the fitting reactions of a tsundere magical girl.!!”
I felt seconds away from committing violence.
“I will throw you into the ocean.”
Clementine pouted. “i guess that wasn’t Lady-like,” she chuckled, covering her face with a wing.
I shivered. “Ohh XD save me…” I mumble, dragging my palms across my face.
Clem let out a long melodramatic sigh shaking her head. “And to think after all this time I finally found a warrior!! Only to discover he’s a boy,” she grumbled, “instead of a beautiful maiden..”
“Boo-hoo, now you can go find a real girl to harass.” I rolled my eyes.
Honestly I was wondering if she picked out the part she wanted to hear and ignored the rest.
Clementine’s eyes shimmered mysteriously “Oh but it is too late my dear Purpled!”
My fist tightened at my sides as I stared at her, feeling a lot less amused than before.
How the hell does this thing know my name? I don't remember telling her that.
Hell I don't remember telling her much other than the fact I'm not a female.
“You are the chosen one!” she declared dramatically. “My magic is bonded to your very soul.”
This whole thing sounded silly, but the way she spoke, how confident she sounded made it a lot harder to laugh off.
I don't even know what her “magic” was supposed to be, and now it was supposedly attached to me, without my permission.
“Wha- can’t you just un-bond it????” I asked, hissing the question out.
They shook their heads solemnly. “Once my magic bonds to something it won’t let go..”
My stomach twisted at her words.
I took a step back “ listen man I can’t.. I’m really not the person you’re looking for.”
“what do you mean?” she tilts her head, pawing forward to match my steps.
I scoffed, shifting side to side. “Maybe because I’m not a girl? Maybe because this whole thing is so ridiculous!”
And maybe because this whole ‘’Chosen One’ stuff is bullshit.
I barely knew this thing, hell we've only been talking for what?- less than 5 minutes?
And she was already talking about destiny saving souls, and that I'm trapped “bonded by magic.” Normal people didn't do this, well- it's clear that she isn't people.
But you don't act like this to someone you just mad.
People always want something.
Maybe not money or maybe not power.
But there's always a catchementine gasped “ ridiculous..? RIDICULOUS?? THIS IS A GRAND HONOR!” She exclaimed, as I flinched back from the loud shouting.
She gapped at me before with no warning she pulled out a glowing screen.
She brushed back an antenna with one paw. “Here are my records of all possible magical girl candidates!”
I furrowed my brows“Where were you keeping that..?”
“Top secret!!”
She slid through pages before stopping as her eyes lightened up.
“Ha-ha! Here it is.” They flipped the screen around, showing a quite frankly awful picture of me and a bit of information on me.
This is so creepy.
“PURPLED
STATUS: alive
AGE: 16
DATE OF BIRTH: October 24th
HOMETOWN: #####, Virginia
FAMILY STATUS
PARENTS:??
SIBLINGS: alive”
“oh hell nah! How do you have all that!?”
I don’t even have that stuff online.
The moth giggled “ I have a lot more information than that.” She tilted her head, her lively eyes seemed a little less lively than before “ I have information on your whole family, friends included!” She grinned like it was a package deal.
“Fuck. You.” I spat out. There was no one knew this much information and didn't want anything in return.
And this thing knew everything.
My family, my friends, where I lived.
People always want something. Maybe not money or maybe not power, But there's always a catch
Clementine clicked her tongue “ oh don’t curse it’s not family friendly.” she said, shaking her head, face in a pout.
God, I hate this street rat.
“Well I can’t save the world if I have school. And I'm already late” I nudged Clementine with my shoe, starting my way down the road again
I yelped as I felt a slight shift in weight on my left shoulder.
“You won’t have school if the world ends,” they snapped, her happy act, finally fading. Her eyes glowing brighter.
It had hopped on my shoulder.
“You're being dramatic!” I tried to shake it off.
“I am not!,” it hissed. Its claws digging into my skin. “ You're all in serious danger!” They shouted.
My expression tightened as I realized she wasn't going to back down.
Could this thing not take a chill pill?
“Oh my prime,” I snapped, grabbing her carefully but quickly as I yanked clem off.
“Listen dude you need to leave me alone,” I glared before averting my gaze. “Maybe after school, you can yap to me about world destruction - or whatever. But now go!” I threw Clementine into a small patch of grass. They tumbled slightly before standing on their feet.
“Wait this is serious! You can’t leave.” She hissed.
I turned not even waiting for her to finally get the hint.
But apparently I didn't even have to.
“Oh fuck- ow ow” the fiery hot pain that shot through my body was something to similar to hellfire.
she bit into my leg that feral creature!!!
“let go, you rat!” I frantically shook my leg back-and-forth, trying to get her off.
Wasn’t this a site to see?
I hopped trying to balance on one foot before stumbling to the ground again. “ Dammit." I huffed as Clementine finally let go.
I rub my leg trying to soothe the pain as I glared at the space moth.
Whatever argument she thought she was making by biting me, wasn't working. If anything was making me want to listen to her less.
Apparently Clementine didn't notice a lack of interest as she straightened herself up and turned to me expression somehow sterned on her plush like face.
“you know your brother Dream? He’s a cop right?” she asked, clearly trying to prove a point. “creatures, demons. They roam this earth. And they will come for people in charge like your brother."
I turned my head to glare. I grit my teeth.
“you know.. you can use the power bestowed upon you to help your family, if you don’t take upon my offer something.. something terrible could happen!”
I stared at Clementine, not able to believe she went from talking to me about nonsense threatening me and my family as a reason for me to listen to her.
I can’t believe this thing. Yeah maybe I’m not dreaming.
Maybe I really did have a weird talking alien, telling me that the world was in danger, and that I was the only one that could do anything about it.
But I’m not gonna trust this thing when she could be one of those creatures from hell.
And after literally threatening me, she’s definitely not far from it.. and honestly? I wouldn't be surprised.
Clem yelped in confusion as I picked her up by the back of her neck. I lifted her to meet my eyes before throwing Clementine into a patch of grass. She tumbled slightly before standing on their feet.
“oh come on you’re a warrior, don’t be- don't be a baby.”
I rolled her eyes at her blatant attempt at
ragebaiting me.
Of course she was switching her tactics after realizing I wasn't going to give in.
By… annoying me to death.
“At least take this!” she hissed. I hear something drop behind me. I glance down and at my right heel is a phone. Well it's a flip-phone but same thing.
I huffed, reaching down and snatching it up and just stuffing it into my bag.
I didn't even bother turning around when there was a bright flash of light behind me.
Damn, I'm going to get detention on the first day of school.