As Katie, Lisa and Kumiko pondered who to use the ring on across town, in a wooded area, a hole began to open in reality. As the portal began to swirl a honey haired teen and an elderly man stepped through. “Ugh,” the girl moaned. “Even after all these years jumping between realities makes me nauseous. How do you do this Merlin?””
Merlin smiled as he looked at the girl. “Takes about a millennium,” he smiled. “Eventually it’s like walking through a door.” The girl frowned as she now brushed her honey colored hair out of her eyes. “So where are we this time,” she asked.
“Somewhere you belong,” he answered. “Just take a moment to look Kellie.”
Kellie now glanced around the area, trying to figure out exactly where they were this time. Something about it seemed familiar, like she had been here before. “Wait,” she whispered. “No...it can’t be. You said it yourself I couldn’t come back here after what I did ten years ago.”
Merlin smiled as he looked Kellie over. “I think ten years is long enough to carry a grudge,” he smiled. “Besides it hasn’t been nearly that long here. It’s only been a day, which means your exactly the right age to make things right.”
Kellies eyes now began to dampen as she gazed out at the world. “Katie,” she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Merlin nodded as he looked at his young apprentice. “Yes that’s right,” he said. “And Lisa as well. Their both here and a little bit different from what you remember.”
“How is this possible,” Kellie exclaimed. “Wait.....don’t tell me I already know. Different realities move at different times. For me it was ten years in my reality but for them it was what...maybe ten hours, ten days?”
Merlin nodded. “Sounds about right,” he mused.
Kellie sighed sadly as she looked out towards a nearby road. “So what do I have to fix before we leave,” she asked. “In all the realities I’ve jumped too I have to fix something before I go. What is it this time?”
“Here’s the thing,” he said. “Yes it’s true that ever since you found that magic ring you’ve jumped from reality to reality fixing things. This time though I may of helped push you into this place. This...this was the start of your journey. I’m hoping you can fix things....and possibly stay here.”
“What!!!” She screamed. “Your telling me that after everything you and I have gone through I finally am getting a chance to right this wrong?”
Merlin nodded as he conjured a chair to sit down in. “Listen Kellie,” he said warmly. “When we met again you were a six year old girl that happened to find a very powerful magic item. Since then you and I have journeyed from place to place fixing the wrongs others have made. I think finally it’s time to fix your wrong.”
Kellie nodded as she now looked at Merlin. “So I gotta know,” she asked. “Is....is Katie still my daughter and is Lisa still my sister?”
Merlin shook his head. “No their not,” he stated. “Lisa and Katie are genetically different from you now. I’m guessing though you find that to be a good thing. I know you still love Katie, even after all these years.”
Kellie sighed sadly before giving Merlin a weak smile. “Guilty,” she mumbled. “So how is this going to work?”
“Well when you wished Katie and Lisa back you definitely switched things considerably from what you remember,” he said. “Now Lisa and Katie are 16 year old twins, living with your former middle sister Ann.”
“Ann!” She exclaimed. “Ugh great. We couldn’t stand each other when I was her older sister. Why do you think I made Lisa Katie’s guardian in case something happened to me. Also seriously Lisa and Katie are twins now?, Good god I really screwed up reality here.”
“Duh,” Merlin joked causing Kellie to smile.
“So what do I need to do to fix things?” She asked.
“Well your going to need to apologize first and foremost. And before you say it Yeah it’s not going to be that easy. You see you’ve entered this reality but your brand new. Your about to start school with Katie and Lisa. Your the new kid so your going to have to build a friendship with them before you do anything else. As far as a romantic relationship with Katie goes? Well you two were a cute couple hopefully you can have it again. And this time....don’t screw it up.”
Kellie sighed as she looked at Merlin. “Two questions,” she said. “One, I’m guessing I can’t just use my ring to make Katie remember everything from the first time.” Merlin nodded causing Kellie to sigh. “Thought So nothing ever comes easy.”
“So what’s the second question,” he asked.
“Well I mean if I’m 16 and a student whose my guardian?”
Merlin smiled as he gestured to himself. “Just call me Grandpa Merl.”
Kellie smirked as she looked at Merlin. After so many years of regret she was finally getting a chance to fix the greatest wrong of her life. Hopefully if she could do that she could finally find a reality to call home.