The Character within My Heart

All kids hold an egg in their soul. The egg of our

Hearts, our would-be selves…

Yet…

Unseen…

Beth fidgeted the whole day, anxious to be home and see what had happened with the egg. Somehow, she knew that the egg was connected to her sudden turnabout in class. The only real thing that happened was that Mandy rushed into class right before the bell, looking very worried. Beth had asked what was wrong, but Mandy had avoided really answering her. When she finally did get home, she immediately ran up to her room.

"Huh? Beth, is that you?" her father called from the kitchen.

"Uh-sorry-i-have-a-lot-of-homework-so-ill-just-go-do-it-now-okay-bye!!" Beth said hurriedly. She skipped every other step on her way to her bedroom. When she did reach the privacy of her own room, she immediately ripped open her bag and grabbed the egg from inside it.

"WHAT IS THIS THING?!?!?!" Beth screamed, panic rushing through her veins. "I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU???? WHO ARE YOU???? WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH MEEEEE?????!!" She shook the egg back and forth wildly, a small clinking noise coming from inside it.

"Jeeze, no need to be so rough!" a voice spoke from inside the egg.

"What?" Beth was stunned. The egg…it spoke!

The egg drifted out of her hands and floated in front of her. Then, a crack suddenly appeared around the center. It split open, revealing a small, doll-like creature that floated like a fairy.

"Talk about overreacting!" The small creature said, her voice slightly raspy. She wore black trooper boots with black, lacey stockings that disappeared under a red and black pleated skirt. Her deep purple shirt was torn in a stylish manner, and on her hands she wore black fingerless gloves that were fringed with scarlet, reaching up to her elbows. The creature's face was confident, a smirk on her lips, small freckles dotting her cheeks. Her thick, coffee-colored hair was slightly messy, and its spiky ends were dyed red. On her head she wore a purple flower hairclip, matching the design on her egg. Floating there in front of Beth, she guessed that the creature was about four and a half inches tall.

And the creature's eyes…They were a strange plum color, tinged with flecks of crimson. They mirrored Beth's own eyes. When the two's eyes locked, the creature's softened for a moment, but then she looked away.

"Stop gawking! Kimiha jitsuni bakadana!" she said, voice slightly joking.

"D-did you just call me an idiot…?" Beth said, shocked.

(A/N: The Japanese phrase "Kimiha jitsuni bakadana" roughly translates to "You really are an idiot")

"Don't take it so literally!" The creature turned back to her, smiling brightly, "I was only joking, Beth-chan!"

The girl snapped out of her surprise. "W-what exactly are you? Why are you here?" she questioned.

"I think that much should be obvious by now," the creature put her hands on her hips, grinning. "The name's Roxanne. I'm the one who was born from your wish!"

"M-my wish?"

"What was it again?" the creature called Roxanne paused for a moment, "Oh yes!" she switched into Beth's voice, imitating it perfectly, "'I wish…I wish I could have the confidence to stand up for myself…so I can be reborn…as the person I want to be…'"

"Hey! Don't do that!" Beth exclaimed, embarrassed.

"Gomenesai," Roxanne's cheeks were tinged pink, and she smiled guiltily, "I know you're sensitive about that kind of thing,"

(A/N: "Gomenesai" is a phrase which means "I'm sorry" or "forgive me". "Sumimasen" can also be used)

"Huh?" Beth gasped, "How would you know that?"

"Simple! You gave birth to me, so I am part of your heart; kokoro,"

"What!!" Beth's eyes widened, "So I did give birth to you! I really am a chicken girl!!!"

"Calm down, calm down!" Roxanne soothed the panicked girl, "You didn't literally give birth to me, so to speak," she explained while Beth listened, completely captivated, "I was born from your heart. You wished that you could stand up to Rick. So when you wished for strength, you're heart created me, the self that you want to be."

"R-really?"

"Right."

Beth was uncertain, "Are you sure that I'm not just whack in the head and you're a figment of my imagination…?"

"I'm real!" Roxanne said, slightly offended, "Look!" she floated over to Beth and flew around her head, tugging at loose strands of her hair. She brushed Beth's cheeks with her hands when she passed, proving that she was solid and real. Then she drifted in front of the girl, who cradled her in her hands. "Is that enough proof for ya?"

"Uh…yeah…" Beth mumbled, stunned. This is like something out of one of the manga books I read! She thought excitedly, this has to be magic!

"I'm completely real," Roxanne said gently, almost lovingly, "I'm as real as your heart is," then her eyes darkened, "but… if your heart doesn't believe in me…I'll disappear,"

Beth gasped, "Disappear?! But there's no way! I can see you; I can touch you…Why would I not believe in you?"

"You may believe, but if the self you want to be is uncertain, then I'll go back into your heart. I'll fall asleep again,"

There was silence while Beth let Roxanne's words sink in. Then, she shouted out, suddenly very energetic, "Don't you worry, Roxanne! I won't stop believing! I'll make sure you're always here!"

A bead of sweat dropped down Roxanne's tiny face, "Wow. You sure are different when that mean kid isn't around…"

"Beth! Dinner!" Beth's father called from downstairs.

"C-coming!" she called back, "Uh, what should I do with you?" she glanced around the room, searching for a place to hide the doll-like creature.

"There's no reason to hide me!" Roxanne jumped out of Beth's hands and flew out of the crack between the door and the doorframe. "Watch!"

"Hey!! Wait!" Beth hurried out of her room, chasing after Roxanne. Frantically, she grabbed at her, "You can't! Dad'll see you!" Roxanne glanced at her for a moment, and then winked slyly. She went around the corner, right into the kitchen, where Beth's father was.

Crap! If Dad sees her, he'll freak! Peeking around the corner, Beth saw what was going on in the kitchen. Her father was spooning soup into two bowls while the coffee-haired fairy floated around him, making faces. "Urk! Roxanne…! Don't!" Beth hissed. Roxanne looked over and smiled, not even worried at all. She then continued to make faces at Beth's father. He didn't even look up.

Oh, Beth realized, he can't see her!

Beth's father looked up at her, "Beth? Why are you peeking around that corner at me?"

Beth stiffened, "Uh…No reason…" Dang it. I'm not sneaky at all…

Beth's father smiled. "Well stop hiding. It's time to eat,"

xXx

Unknown to Beth, her father, and Roxanne, there was a figure watching them on the street. They observed Beth and Roxanne very closely.

"Has it happened?" Another figure, the same size as Roxanne, said. It floated by the taller figure's head.

"Hm. Yes," the taller figure turned to the smaller. "We don't have to worry any longer," the figure pushed back their hood, pinkish-red hair spilling out.

"Let's go then! I'm sleepy!" the smaller figure started to fly away, but the taller paused. They looked back to Beth's window, double-checking to see if everything really was alright. Beth was smiling and laughing at her father's joke, while Roxanne smiled along with her. Reassured, the figure turned away and walked into the night.

Okay! Second chapter is up!! Hooray!!

Sorry I didn't write anything below on the first chapter *sweat drop*. Yeah, I'm kinda forgetful. If you've been wondering, yes, the setting is America, but I won't tell you what city 'cause it's a secret! *evil laugh* The whole "Rick" thing is actually based off personal experience. The real Rick is mean to everyone though, and he never really centered any attacks on me or made me cry. He's just a moron who thinks he's really cool.

Questions? Concerns? Just write me a review!! I love criticism!!