Well, I made the choice to leave, however, I didn't actually succeed at actually accomplishing said task. Turns out, getting lost in your own mind trying to work out your own reality had a tendency to make you lose track of time. I had barely made my awesome mental declaration before I realized that the sun had already started its journey and was now a wonderful eye-piercing beam of light doing its best to blind me. Unfortunately, the same bright light was also shining on the other two and I barely had a chance to stand up and put my hand on the door before I heard a deliberate cough from behind me. I turned and froze as I realized that Webby was not just awake, but was staring at me. Sneaking out was probably not really an option anymore.

"Where are you going, Lena?" Webby asked quietly, her voice muted in what I assumed was an attempt to allow Violet to continue sleeping, though with how loudly Violet was snoring I doubted a mariachi band would have woken her.

"Ah, you know. Just getting some breakfast in." I nervously answered, rubbing the back of my neck. I knew I couldn't tell her that she caught me mere seconds before I disappeared, so I quickly thought up a polite lie that she would believe. "Just returned to the land of the living and I guess I should get a good start for my first day back." I absolutely nailed it.

"You're fir-" Webby's eyes shot open. "Right, it's your first morning free!" She jumped out of bed, Violet tumbling out as well with how quickly Webby leaped. However, I didn't get a chance to even look at Violet's likely hilarious fall before I was tackled by Webby to the ground and wrapped into a hug. "For your first day back we're going to make sure that it is awesome. We've got to make sure everyone knows that you are alive and everything. They are going to be so happy."

I didn't really agree with her there, I wasn't exactly the most popular individual with the adults even before they knew I was the reason Magica got into their home. So I knew things weren't going to be that great. "How about we tone it down a bit Webs?" I pulled back a little and wrestled one of my arms free and used it to push her back a bit, breathing was a bit of a challenge sometimes when she got over-excited. "We can surprise everyone later with my return, but how about for now we just get a bit of food."

"Are you finding yourself in a serious need for sustenance?" Violet's dry voice drifted over to us as she stretched in preparation for the new day before making her way over to join us in a hug. "Webby was saying that you had spent months as a shadow, so your body might be trying to make up for the lack."

"Nothing strange, it's just breakfast time." I nervously responded, hoping that they would drop it. In all honesty, I was not hungry at all, I don't think I've ever really felt hungry as far as I could recall. I just figured it was one of the few benefits of being made up of magical energy, conventional needs just were not really all that important. "British is probably a minute away from dragging us out of bed anyway." Thankfully the two bought my rather poorly laid out deceptions and we quickly headed to the kitchen, unfortunately, it was here that my luck soured somewhat.

You'd think after so many months of trailing Webby that I would have bothered to pick up the habits of the others in the manor, but no I apparently decided to just get target fixation on just Webby. Admittedly it was mostly because any time I spent with Webby when Magica was around normally meant I had to put with her incessant complaints, so you can forgive me for focusing on my friend instead of the duck I was told to obsess over. Still, you'd think I would have remembered something incredibly obvious about Scrooge McDuck, he likes to get up early every morning.

I froze, before catching myself with a quick shake and forcing myself to enter the room properly. Talking to Scrooge was not really something that I wanted to deal with, but I knew that it was something that I had to do, and it's always better to do it on my terms rather than someone else's. I took a deep breath and gave a deliberate cough, Scrooge turned and his eyes shot wide as soon as he saw me. "Lass, you're alive." He asked in surprise before jumping out of his chair much faster than someone who was his age should have ever been able to manage. However, I was not able to even comment before he had grabbed me by my shoulder and leaned down to meet me face to face. "How did this happen?"

"Magical Boggle and friendship!" Webby called out as she grabbed me in a tight hug and shoved the side of her face into mine. I didn't remember her being anywhere near this affectionate before my return and I honestly did not mind it in the slightest. "And maybe a little bit of Sumerian chants around a summoning circle."

"I thought we agreed to not mention that part to limit incriminating ourselves Webbigail." Violet pointed out with a sigh, but Webby just vaguely waved an arm in her direction as if to dismiss that concern. Scrooge however was decidedly less happy to hear about it.

"A summoning circle?" He asked with a grimace, letting go of me and fixing Webby with a rather stern look. "You used incredibly dangerous summoning magic to drag Lena back into this world? Do you have any idea of what could have gone wrong if you had done even the slightest thing wrong? You could have died!" He shot a look at me, actual anger hitting him. "And you let her do this?" He angrily spat at me. "Reckless and stupid. Magic is not something to just be used on a whim, no matter how good your intentions may be."

"Hey, I was stuck in the shadow realm. I would've liked to tell her that it was incredibly stupid and dangerous, but I kind of was stuck in nothingness." I yelled back, how dare he accuse me of not caring about Webby's safety. Had I not proven to him once already that I was willing to give up everything to keep her safe? "Besides, it all worked out, didn't it. Webby is safe and she made a new friend, right?"

"Magic isn't something to be used without thought. Magic is nothing but problems and cheating to create more problems." He shot back before pausing to take a breath and turning dead calm. "I'm happy you're back, but that was a ridiculously risky maneuver you pulled."

I was still glaring at him and honestly, a part of me wondered if this was the part where I was supposed to make this debate physical before I realized that was probably a bad idea. The real issue was that Scrooge wasn't even wrong. I was a problem, and magic had never exactly done anything positive for me. Heck, when Webby and Vi tried to help me, my own stupid emotive magic generated tulpas and tried to kill them. Magic was bad, and I was magic. I closed my eyes to steel myself, before opening them and shoving past him, and quickly leaving the room. I had to get away before I made everything worse.

I heard Webby call out something about me but I didn't stick around. As soon as I had 'calmly' left the room I turned around a corner and ran as fast as I could. I couldn't see him, I didn't want to see him. Right now everything was fine. I was with Webby and our new friend Violet. I didn't need Scrooge to come in and mess it up by being all realistic at junk. My lungs felt heavy and I could feel myself shaking as I ran, but all I knew was I had to get somewhere safe. I saw a door and dove inside, hiding behind the couch hugging my knees. He was right, he knew exactly what I was and how dangerous I was.

I don't know how long I sat there with only my hyperventilating breathing echoing in my ears, but my thoughts were scattered and spinning in my head. There was also this horrible buzzing and tingling feeling that seemed to be running up and my arms. My body seemed to be doing its damndest to make me feel horrid. I was even feeling this strange hunger or need beginning to grow inside myself. Then suddenly everything slammed to a halt as I saw Violet's eyes appear in front of me and her arms hold my shoulders. Her voice was muffled, but even through the haze, I could tell she was trying to help me. I remember trying to weakly brush her off, but the effort was half-hearted at best before I felt myself return somewhat fuzzily back to the real world. I was still not entirely there, but at least now I could somewhat hear her.

"Please just listen to my voice." I heard her say, though it felt like a wall of static was surrounding me. I clumsily grabbed her and pulled her closer, nearly jamming my face into hers as I tried to make out what she was saying. "Just listen and breathe." She was telling me.

I don't know how long we spent like that, her voice quietly talking to me as she held me tightly, but second by second, I felt myself slowly fall back into reality. Eventually, I was able to talk back, but I felt exhausted and tired and really it just wasn't great. Violet simply stayed there with me the whole time, shifting herself to be beside me as she talked gently, her arm wrapped around me as she let me lean my head on her shoulder. A part of me knew how ridiculous we probably looked, she was nearly half my height, and yet here I was using her for support, but most of me was just thankful that she was there.

"Are you up for telling me what happened?" She asked carefully, still not pulling away even as I felt myself fully return. "You don't have to, but if we can help you avoid anything that causes this it would be great."

"I don't want to talk about it," I mumbled, pulling myself away from her as I felt my heartbeat finally return to a more normal rhythm. It still felt like it was beating far too quickly, but at least it was no longer jackhammering my heart through my ribcage. She frowned at my lack of a response. "Okay, fine. The last time I saw Scrooge was when Magica banished me to near death in shadows, and Scrooge and I weren't exactly seeing eye to eye at the time. Webby might think that everything is water under the bridge, but I was the reason that Magica got her power, and I was the reason his family almost died."

There was a silence between us as she silently went over my words. I knew exactly how little she had been told about me, and for some stupid reason, I wanted her to regret finding out anything more. "So you don't feel safe around Scrooge McDuck?" She asked, sounding apprehensive. "I don't think he would ever harm you."

"It's not that he would try and hurt me..." I began before stopping, unsure of how to continue. How was I meant to tell her the problem when I couldn't even work it out for myself? I mean, sure I didn't want to go anywhere near Scrooge and have him actually tell me that I had failed to earn a place in his family, but as much as that would hurt it was something else that sucked about all of this mess. "I can't explain, I just can't see him." It was barely an answer, but Violet seemed to understand me somehow.

"You do know." She told me simply, tightening her grip slightly as if to remind me that I still edited. Well, she probably meant it to be a comforting hug or something, but I took from it what I needed to okay. "Just be honest with yourself and let us help."

I did know and she was right, I really didn't want to be honest, but she was also right that I had to. "I'm magical in nature, I didn't exist and then Magica literally conjured me from nothing by the aether." I began, trying to ignore the nervousness that was in my voice. "Scrooge doesn't like magic, he sees it as something rotten that does nothing but cause problems, and I can't have him say that... about me."

"Okay." Violet let me lean against her again. "I know you are not going to like this, but you need to confront him at some point and let him know where you both stand. He seems to be an agreeable duck who listens to reason."

"It's not always that simple, Vi. Not all of us have someone who actually gives a damn about us. If you and Scrooge have a problem you can always go back to your dumb family." I shot back, feeling guilty as soon as the words left my mouth. "Sorry, I probably shouldn't be around anyone until I work this stupid stuff out."

"I think it would be much better for your personal development if you remain in close contact with others," Violet responded simply, though with her usual dry voice I couldn't tell if she was bothered or not with what I had said. "However I do believe that it might be prudent to limit who you have contact with."

I didn't respond, feeling a weight of tiredness settling itself over me, a night of little sleep and far too much fear catching up with me. Violet helped me get lie down on the couch and I was out of it before my head reached the armrest.

However, I felt that I had barely closed my eyes before someone was shaking me awake. I opened my eyes and found myself face to face with Webby. Waking to Webby's eyes staring at me from an inch away wasn't exactly what I would call a calming way to wake up and I may have let out a small yelp before realizing who it was. Webby of course found it hilarious so I shoved her back and pulled myself up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "How long was I out for?"

"Well your lunch is nearly ready and granny wanted me to make sure you don't miss this meal as well." Everything came out in a non-stop stream of words and syllables, but I'd known her long enough to translate. I either get up now or Tea Time was going to come over here and drag me to the kitchen.

Groaning I pulled myself off the couch and followed Webby's bouncing figure, yawning the whole way. I knew that there was a chance that Scrooge was going to be there, but I was honestly way too tired to really bring myself to care. I was more worried that I would fall asleep at the table than anything anyone would say. Stupid magic junk I swear was making me feel more tired after a nap, either that or I'd be hyped up on adrenaline last time, I didn't particularly care why.

Thankfully by the time we got to the dining room I was relieved to see only Violet there waiting for us, a book on ancient magical summoning circles open before her. If she was going to stick around, I was definitely going to have a talk with her about magical misuse before she got herself banished or summoned a demon or worse. Webby shoved me onto the closest chair and literally danced out of the room.

"She looks rather pleased with herself." I pointed out in confusion. "How worried should I be?"

"I have already informed the others that it would be inappropriate to overwhelm you, " Violet simply responded as she turned another page in that dangerous text and did not even bother to look up at me. Silence fell between us and I could little more than sigh and attempt to rub the sleep from my eyes before resting my head in my arms, waiting for Webby's return. Thankfully I didn't have to wait long and I could hear the excited tapping of Webby's feet running back to the room. I barely had a chance to raise my head before a plate of food was shoved in front of me.

I wasn't exactly hungry but a part of me felt that I was supposed to eat and it had been quite a while since I'd last had anything, so I quickly got stuck into it. Webby did make it slightly awkward as she just kind of hovered next to me, her eyes almost unblinking as she kept a close eye on me. If I didn't know that she was just insanely obsessive I would've been worried that she knew that I was planning on leaving, but as it was I just returned my focus to my meal. A calm settled on me as I ate, with Webby beside me and Violet reading equally as close I felt good.

Unfortunately, not everything could remain perfect and I couldn't help wincing as I saw Webby's grandmother make her appearance and immediately make a beeline towards me. I wasn't really that surprised that she had shown up, Webby had probably told her that I was awake before my eyes were even open. I still wasn't exactly looking forward to dealing with this so soon after I arrived. I really just wanted to not think about this whole stupid mess for just a little bit longer, however, I knew that I couldn't keep ignoring it.

"Hey Tea Time." I tiredly waved to her, however before I could even throw the simplest of a question at her I was wrapped up in her arms. For a brief second, I panicked, but I quickly realized that Webby must have gotten her hugging habit from someone. So I just let her hold me.

"It's wonderful to have you back Lena." She told me gently, loosening her hug only enough to ruffle my hair. I was too sleepy to really stop her. "Violet was quite clear that you weren't up for talking to everyone, but I hope you're comfortable enough to at least allow us three to talk at least."

As she talked I started picking through my food, barely eating the food before me, I did want to eat but everything still seemed to be sluggish around me. "Yeah, taking it slow for a few days would be good." I kind of mumbled out around the food in my mouth. Beakly frowned at my lack of any table manners, but she kept her bill shut about it thankfully, I must have looked like an absolute mess for her to not take it as an opportunity to walk me through the pointless topic of British manners or whatever.

"Webby told me some of what happened, though I didn't entirely follow the bit about magical board games. However, I want to make it clear that I am here if you want to talk about any of it." She was making an annoyingly persuasive argument, but I didn't want to give her any more ammunition to use against me. I wasn't a fool, I knew that adults were deceitful and only looking out for their own. I had a lot I wanted to throw at someone, my mind felt like an absolute mess of everything, but it couldn't be her. So instead I just gave a non-committal shrug and focused on my food, Beakley looked like she wanted to say something, but thankfully Violet had my back.

"It is generally advisable to not pressure those under stress, and returning to reality was no doubt a very stressful event for her." Violet's dry voice was rather relieving to hear, though it was n really how I would have worded that, but I was still rather thankful for the assistance. I was not in any real position to even try to talk about this mess. Beakley took the advice without a word and simply gave me a quick smile before leaving.

I let out a deep breath as soon as she was through the door, letting myself slump down in my chair. A part of me just wanted to scream, and I didn't even know why. There was just too much happening, despite there being literally nothing but the occasional sound of turning pages. Webby had left silently at some point as I don't even know what that happened, so it was just me and Violet sitting in silence.

This was a mess and now it wasn't even a mess I could run from.