"Racheal wake up it's time to start unpacking!" I groan as one sister's foot was in my back and the other was lying across my stomach. I pushed them off me, as the boxes covering every corner of the house were slowly diminishing. Until we had all the boxes figured out, we all slept with each other.
In the hall next to the kitchen was my mom's favorite picture. It read; faith, hope, and love. We had quite a scare for the last year as my father's construction company was going downhill. My grandmother was sick for a while, and we even lost our home for quite some time.
Given what had happened the fact that we now had a new home and a place for us all to live, was nice. "Good morning." I looked at our kitchen, the only room in the house that was unpacked, and sitting at my family's dining table wasn't someone who lived in our home. "Mr. Zika we are so happy you could join us this morning." My grandmother said as I watched the richest man in all of Sun City take the humble breakfast my grandmother made.
He smiled, "Yes, and it's a pleasure." He chatted with her for a moment until Dad and my uncle walked in, "Sorry you had to come over to this mess Mr. Zika it was a long night last night." Dad wasn't wrong last night was hard we drove all the way here from Lakeside, that's a three-hour drive, but Dad got lost. Then my uncle Carlos got lost.
This was about seven hours before we made it and unpacked which took another hour. Then we finished getting the boxes in the house. At that time my sisters were tired, I was tired my grandparents were tired as well as my parents.
Now what I do know in all of this Mr. Zika was looking for someone to help do some repairs on his home, with all of this dangerous fighting that has been going on for so long. He looked for the best people to help fix his home, and apparently, a friend of his told him about my father's company. He came asking for our help my dad took it because our house was already gone and we were living in the back office of the company building.
Mr. Zika came to visit, saw the situation, and bought the company as a partner, giving my father full credit, the only thing that he has to do is help Mr. Zika when something is broken. That he and his sons can't do on their own.
Grandmother was now telling a story, "It was our good faith in God that got our family here. Look at what he gave us even if we lost everything. Mr. Zika was our blessing from God." All she can say, and I don't blame her, every day while we lived in the empty office she would tell us, "Don't lose your faith. We have to live through these bad times sometimes, but we don't have to let it ruin our fun."
Mr. Zika waited for my mom to come in, "I know this is short notice, but I need you to look at my roof. Something some time ago broke it and I just had all the shingles replaced." Right, now Dad and Uncle Carlos will be busy for the next few weeks while I'm busy helping Mom, Grandma, and my sisters unpack. My grandfather would go help my dad and uncle. But he'll go and then start talking to Mr. Zika about his garden or something. "I've already hired some people to help your family unpack if you'd like to bring your daughters."
My ears perked, maybe he has a handsome son around my age? "My daughter and her friends are coming over to celebrate the new year." Oh, a daughter I didn't hear about this when dad spoke about him. "Their families are coming and we're having a potluck if you'd like to bring food and your family. The girl's parents are wonderful people."
Mr. Zika acts like his daughter's rich friends will like us. "In fact, you live across the street from one now." I glance out the window to the house as bright as the sun, they were a picture-perfect family of four and they had a dog. They waved to us last night while we were shoving boxes in the house. My parents even spoke with them for a moment or two. "Oh, that'll be wonderful." Mom said as Rolanda and Carlota walked in, "Kids you are going to go help your father today while I help the movers." Everyone groans Carlota didn't only because she's three and it meant I would be helping watch her as Rolanda helped dad and uncle Carlos.
We got ready as Dad piled us in his truck that was falling apart, "Why couldn't he have bought you a new truck?" Rolanda asked as I peeked into the back seat that barely fit the two of them, "Because, Mr. Zika bought us a house." Dad said not looking at them as Uncle Carlos followed behind us in his newer truck with Grandfather.
Carlota was watching out her window when she shrieked, "Princess Palace!" I look out my window and see the large mansion we are beginning to pull up to. Carlota wasn't wrong calling it that. "Wow!" Rolanda said as the drive up the driveway took five minutes before we even got close to the house.
Finally, we parked as a real-life butler opened the door. "Mr. Zika is on the phone at the second, Please wait here and feel free to sit and wait, sir." Other workers were working around the house as they cleaned the floors and welcomed us. A woman came up to us she was old and wrinkly, yet she had soft eyes, "Koulouri Thessaloniki's?" she asked offering me one. I thank her believing it to be a bagel or something. Yet on the inside was softer, and sweeter. The outside was crispy and the sesame seeds were just right. In heaven I enjoyed it. "Please take off your coats, Daddy will be talking for a while."
I turned my head to the voice who spoke to me, she stood as a goddess, perfect in every way. If her eyes could they would be two large shiny silver disks. I wonder who she is, "Sorry, this is my grandmother everyone calls her γιαγιά, and I am Theodora Zika." So this is his daughter she looked way more admirable than a 14 almost 15-year-old girl.
Watching her for a moment, questioned my own sanity. When the doorbell rings again. Theodora opened it, two other girls walked in, first one had chocolate skin she wore bright yellow and white. Her smile brightened the room, almost like she was the sun, the next girl who followed wore soft purples and had jet-black hair. She was shorter than them, and yet she looked as old as me.
Theodora smiled and looked at me, "Starr, Ume this is the man who is going to help my dad fight the wall after that fight last week, and these are his daughters." I wave to them, "I'm Racheal, it's a pleasure." My sisters then embarrass me, well Rolanda does. "And, I am the better sister Rolanda, I might be in the 6th grade but I am the most popular girl in my class." I turn to her when the one named Ume surprises me, "We'll if you just moved in as Starr has told us, and you haven't been to your new school yet, I'd say you're nothing more than the new girl."
We were all quiet, "Ume, she's only in the 6th grade she doesn't realize these things yet." Starr said as Rolanda turned her face in shame and I just laughed. Theodora's grandmother grabs Carlota, she looks at me, "Άσε με να κοιτάξω το μωρό."
Theodora turns to me and Dad, "My grandmother wants to watch your little sister you are fine with that?" Shock I asked Carlota, "Do you want to play with Theodora's abuela?" To my surprise and dad's she nods and walks off with her. "Then you two can come with us, my dad has a whole team here to help your dad." Theodora is going out of her way to include us.
I nod while Rolanda pouts some more, "I'll come," Theodora nods as she takes me on the grand tour. Starr and Ume talk about school and this New Year's party. Theodora stops at a door, "This is where we'll have the teen's party." The door opens to the largest room ever, it has a rock wall on one side, a three-lane bowling alley on the other, a light-up dance floor on the other side, and then a large enough table to fit a class of twenty-four with a wall full of party games.
We all walk in as the workers are setting up tables and drinks, "The food will be brought later, Daddy even bought out the local pizza place to fill all of our pizza orders." I look at them, "Who's coming to this party?" Starr grabs a list from the table, "Well, let's see for the teen room we have the whole football team, and basketball team, then all of the other random kids her brothers are friends with."
I look at Theodora, "Who are your guests?" She points to Ume and Starr, "These are my best friends. You are invited as well, which means you'll be on my guest list." A guest list this place has a guest list. "Daddy also invited the coaches and my friends' parents. Along with his business partners." I think about her own words, "Wow! What about the kids?" Theodora handed everyone a cup with some of the drinks, "We have a children's room for 13 and under with games and movies, but beds will be provided and anyone under 6 will be staying with my γιαγιά and go to bed at eight."
I grab her hand, "Can we be friends?" the girls look at each other, "Sure, welcome to the group." Rolanda did find us eventually, and when she found out she wasn't going to join us in the 'Teen' room she went crying to Dad only for him to tell her that they were Mr. Zika's rules. The party was going to start later in the night so when the job was done, we went home to find it fully unpacked. Mom was helping everyone get ready after she cooked enough food to feed half the house.
The car ride back seemed quick and I even asked if I could ride with Starr whose parents were so nice and my mom and dad both agreed. "Are you girls ready to party?" We cheer, as her brother in the back seat, grumbles, "Why couldn't I have road with Marcus?" Apparently, Marcus is her brother's new friend who just moved in as well.
We pulled in and the place was lit up like a Christmas tree. "Alright, you kids have fun we adults have a boring dinner and dancing to do." Starr's dad said as her mother smiled while giggling. My heart flutters I hope I can meet someone like her dad one day. He is helplessly in love with her just like my parents.
Starr waits for the door to open as another butler holds his hand out to help us out of the car. "This way ladies." I flutter, it's like I'm a movie star or a model. In the spotlight yet it's not mine to have. Walking up to the front doors guests of varying stages of life stood talking with each other while they waited to be greeted by the man of the hour.
An older woman walks up to us, "Are you on the guest list?" Starr nods, "Yes, we're under Miss Theodora's list." The woman with a hard face scans her clipboard, "This way." That is all she said before weaving in and out of the guest until we reached the room from earlier. The room looked so different now that the lights were off and the blacklights were on. Everyone glowed and everything was glowing.
Theodora didn't wait, she met us at the door, "Guys you made it! Ume just texted me that her parents are pulling up now." There were so many people, that were in high school alone. "Wow! Who are all of these people?" I ask looking at Theodora, "Mostly my brothers' friends some are daddy's work buddies' kids." I blink while Theodora drags us over to the food, "Please eat, Daddy bought out a pizza company." The night went on as Ume arrived, we danced, bowled, and played games. The Zika brothers were Greek gods. I really couldn't believe how so many people could have come from the same gene pool.
It shocked me when the music stopped and Theodora's older brother Nickolas turned the lights to dim, "Alright everyone, it is the time we've all been waiting for!" a screen comes down as a timer begins its count down.
The room counted down, "5...4...3...2...1...Happy New Ye—". The room stopped as a shadow crashed into the room. I had only seen them on the news. They attack Sun City and are normally caused by people with strong negative emotions. The doors open as adults are seen running down the hall away from more of the shadow murks. "Everyone run to the safe rooms!" I turn to Theodora as this is her home, she would know the way. "Come on girls!" Starr pulls me with them in the opposite direction of everyone else.
I run, maybe they have a super special safe room. Nope! I was wrong, we enter Theodora's bedroom, "Okay it's time. Ume open the balcony doors to look like we came from there, Theodora, do you have any cameras in here, "Nope, I turned them all off from my phone a moment ago." What is going on? Starr turns to me, "Racheal I know this might sound odd, but we have been awaiting your arrival for many days. I am the magical girl Radiant Sun and the rest are Cosmic Ring and Shimmering Moon."
I still must be in shock, "The Light Crystal has been reacting every time your family name was mentioned so we figured you'd be the next guardian of light." Starr smiles and holds something in her hand, "Racheal Vásquez; do you accept the Pink Light Crystal?"
My heart was racing, it was almost like destiny was looking me in the eyes. I touch the crystal as a fuzzy round ball comes out and smile, "Hello Racheal, I am Zap the guardian over the Crystal, and am finally happy to meet you." I look at the others they are waiting on me to answer, "I think you have the wrong person I'm not the one you are looking for I hardly help my own abuela clean the dishes."
I look down at the floor in shame, that is until Zap clears their throat. "Have you; taken at least thirteen laps around the sun? Did you; ?"
My eyes water, how could Zap have known? "See Racheal sometimes we are presented with moments to change the world around us. We just have to believe in ourselves and leave the hardships in the past. It might be hard, but we all have to keep moving forward so that the future can shine brightly on this world." Starr said as Theodora touched my shoulder, "We live in a dark world, the news is bad, mental health is nearly in shambles, people are toxic, and we can't always trust everyone is putting the right choices in, but we can help be the bright stars and beacons of hope."
Ume nods, "Don't allow others' choices to make your own. If you wish to be a magical girl then join us." I look at the jewel will I regret this choice, or will I become a star in the sky? "Okay, I'll do it." They nod, "Right let's do this Golden Crystal, Glitter, and Shine!" Starr shouted, Theodora followed, "Blue Crystal, Glitter and Shine!" Ume smiled at me, "Purple Crystal, Glitter and Shine!" I watched them change and they smiled, "Call out to the crystal, you'll understand."
Nodding I grab the crystal and hold it up, "Pink Crystal, Glitter and Shine!" The transformation felt like a second yet I stood in front of a mirror, tight white pants and pink boots their laces glittering, the pink knight jacket had gold accents all over it and a comet broch on the jacket connected the golden chains that connected to my buttons, unknowingly I had a silver tiara that matched the rest, but my earrings were comets, and one had the pink crystal in it.
My hair was pink and had streaks of orange, yellow, and purple in them. My face was mine yet it wasn't. My brown eyes were now pink my eyes were spaced further apart almost like the crystal fixed any insecurity I had about myself. The sword at my side looked like the one my great-grandfather claimed his great-great-grandfather stole from the invading Spaniards when our family still lived in Mexico.
It had the hilt of a Saber. Looking around the others I find they all had different swords too. "We should hurry before my house is wrecked." Right, we probably wasted 10 minutes in this room alone. Theodora opened the door, and my body felt the fear rise in my stomach.