Actions have consequences.
If you choose to play games instead of studying, your grades will suffer.
If you indulge in unhealthy, high-calorie foods instead of nutritious ones, you will eventually gain weight.
If you decide to smoke cigarettes, you risk developing lung problems in the future.
Everything in life follows the law of cause and effect.
Free will is a powerful force, an intrinsic part of human nature—the ability to make choices. While this power may seem terrifying, it is precisely what has driven humanity to evolve, to push beyond limitations, to take risks, and to accomplish feats no other creature has achieved.
But the power to make decisions is a double-edged sword.
If nurtured wisely, it will reward you with success and satisfaction. But the moment you make the wrong choice, it will turn against you, punishing you without mercy.
This only emphasizes how crucial decisions are.
And whether good or bad, the decisions you make are your responsibility.
No matter the consequences, you must face them and move forward.
No matter what...
'...'
Asha stared blankly at the TV screen. Her empty eyes reflected the cruel message before her:
[Your parents have restricted your access. Come back in 6 days, 14 hours, and 36 seconds.]
The reality of the situation sank in. Asha was experiencing firsthand the ruthless force of karma.
Her hands trembled as her gem flickered with unstable energy. Desperation set in as she pressed the remote control again.
The TV blinked off and on, but the message remained unchanged.
[Your parents have restricted your access. Come back in 6 days, 14 hours, and 31 seconds.]
'No...'
She turned the TV off and on once more. The result was the same.
[Come back in 6 days, 14 hours, and 29 seconds.]
'This can't be happening.'
[6 days, 14 hours, and 27 seconds.]
'This isn't real...'
[26 seconds.]
Each passing second felt unbearably slow. As Asha watched the countdown, anxiety and despair swelled within her.
No TV meant no internet for an entire week. She couldn't search for information, learn more about this world, or—most importantly—find out what happened next in Super Drill Adventures.
What happened to Super Drill after being betrayed by Little Drill? She didn't know. She had no clue what would come next.
She was trapped in a vicious cliffhanger.
And the most frustrating part? The next seasons were right there, within reach—if only she had access to the internet.
But this parental lock made it impossible.
Asha could handle any punishment—anything but this.
This was beyond unbearable.
She had to do something.
She had to act immediately.
'P-Priyanka... where is she?!'
Asha focused all her energy into her Appraisal ability, scanning the house. As soon as Priyanka's image formed in her mind, Asha directed all her strength toward reaching her.
She pressed the button on her wheelchair repeatedly, knowing full well that force wouldn't make it move any faster.
"BAM!"
The door swung open.
Priyanka stood in the doorway, her expression cold, as if she had been expecting this reaction from the start.
Seeing that look, Asha felt her will falter, but her desperation for Super Drill gave her the strength to seek an explanation.
With trembling hands, she scribbled on a piece of paper.
[The TV is blocked.]
Priyanka glanced at the note with unsettling calm. Without hesitation, she wrote above it:
[I know.]
The words were cold. Cruel. This wasn't an accident. This was a deliberate punishment.
If she wanted any chance of shortening her sentence, she would have to convince Priyanka.
But was that even possible? Asha doubted it.
Her eyes darted across the page as she struggled to think clearly. The odds were against her—slim, if not nonexistent.
She wrote again.
[Why?]
Priyanka responded almost instantly.
[You don't know what you did wrong?]
[You said you wouldn't be angry.]
[I'm not.]
[Then why?]
[I'm not angry. But lying children must be punished.]
Asha blinked, confused.
Her hands shook as she scrawled another note.
[Lie...?]
Priyanka's response was firm.
[You pretended you weren't hurt.]
[...]
[Children should not lie to their parents.]
There was no argument to be made. No excuse she could offer.
Priyanka was right.
And Asha had no choice but to accept it.
'It's over.'
Asha's body collapsed to the floor, as if all her will to live had drained away.
Under normal circumstances, she could maintain her balance, but the shock was too overwhelming—even basic functions became difficult to control.
Thankfully, before she hit the ground, a pair of strong, warm arms caught her.
It was Priyanka. Her expression, usually composed, showed a rare trace of concern. She carefully examined Asha, searching for any injuries or abnormalities. Yet, no matter how much she searched, she found nothing.
The only thing that could heal Asha was Super Drill—the very show locked behind a week-long ban.
Hopeless, the only thing Asha could do was beg for mercy.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched Priyanka's clothes, staring up at her with desperation. Asha's eyes, typically hollow and lifeless, for the first time reflected the raw emotions surging within her.
This was her best appeal.
A heavy silence filled the room as the two figures faced each other.
Asha tried to communicate her suffering through her gaze, but as if that wasn't enough, she decided to bare her soul completely.
[Please, change.]
[I need TV.]
[I can't wait.]
[I was wrong.]
Her desperate pleas poured onto the paper, her emotions flowing faster than her hands could write.
These were the written tears of a 21st-century ex-young man deprived of the internet. The withdrawal symptoms had surpassed their limit.
If Asha were in her normal state, she might have realized how irrational she was acting. But right now, she could only plead like a helpless child.
She continued scribbling every word of apology she could think of. And when her creativity ran dry, she simply repeated the same words over and over.
[I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.]
She filled pages of her old notebook, her hands trembling, shoulders shaking with emotion, but she didn't stop.
Priyanka watched in stunned silence.
She knew Asha liked TV, but she hadn't expected this. Had she accidentally triggered some sort of trauma with this punishment?
Seeing Asha fall apart before her, Priyanka made a decision. She pulled the girl into a firm, reassuring embrace.
Asha froze as she was enveloped in warmth, unable to keep writing. Even so, her shoulders continued to shake.
Priyanka gently stroked her back, her steady movements working to soothe the storm of emotions.
Time passed in stillness. Eventually, Asha's trembling subsided.
The emptiness in her gaze remained, but at least now, she was rational enough to hold a conversation.
Priyanka exhaled in relief.
She had never truly been angry with Asha. The punishment was meant as a lesson, nothing more. But she had never expected such a severe reaction.
'Was I too harsh?'
Priyanka took the notebook and wrote carefully.
[I forgive you.]
Asha's dull eyes flickered with a faint light.
[Really?]
For the first time, a sliver of hope crept into her gaze.
[I was never angry. Sorry if I was too harsh.]
Priyanka's words were calm and patient, like a mother comforting her child.
As a responsible adult, she apologized and reassured her.
Faced with such kindness, shame crept over Asha. She wasn't really a child, but after acting like this, what excuse could she possibly give?
[It's okay...]
[I didn't know you liked TV this much. I've never seen you like this before.]
[...]
Neither had Asha.
She never expected to break down in the middle of the day. This moment would likely be burned into her personal history as one of the darkest, most humiliating events.
Priyanka tapped her chin, thinking.
[Is there anything else you like besides TV?]
Asha hesitated.
Until now, TV had been her only real form of entertainment. But in her past life, she had so many other options—video games, anime, novels.
But in this world, the Maheswaran household didn't have gaming consoles, and the video game industry itself was underdeveloped.
She had searched for anime before, but most animated content seemed to be American-produced and of questionable quality—except Super Drill, of course.
So, aside from TV, what else was left?
Books.
They were the only entertainment she had unlimited access to. Though she had plenty of opportunities to read, she mostly used them as a tool to test her abilities. Any reading sessions with Connie had been more of a formality.
But if she had to choose another source of entertainment, it would definitely be books.
[Books.]
[What kind?]
[Stories.]
Most precisely, novels.
She might be interested in non-fiction given her insatiable curiosity, but in her past life, fiction was the only thing that could keep her engaged without putting her to sleep.
Priyanka nodded, deep in thought. After a few moments, she gently released Asha and walked toward an old bookshelf.
Asha watched curiously.
The shelves were filled with remnants of the Maheswaran family's past—school uniforms, photo albums, textbooks. A collection of physical memories frozen in time.
Finally, Priyanka's search ended. She pulled out a stack of books, a nostalgic smile gracing her lips as she brushed off the dust.
[These are books I used to read as a child. Want to try one?]
The books were filled with colorful illustrations, but one, in particular, caught Asha's eye.
It was bright pink, almost too lively. But that wasn't what intrigued her most.
The cover had a cloud in a very distinct shape.
'Steven Universe...'
This art style was unmistakable.
Priyanka, noticing Asha's interest, smiled warmly.
[This one's really good.]
She held the book out to her.
Asha hesitated.
That knowing smile was so suspicious...
Still, she accepted the book, cautiously turning it over in her hands.
The cover art was eerily similar to the show.
A collection of short stories.
Was it a hidden reference or a mere coincidence?
Should she read it?
Curiosity bubbled inside her, but alongside it, an equal amount of fear.
The last time she tried reading something unknown, she nearly died.
And if there was one thing she had learned from her experiences, it was that trying new things in this world often came with dangerous consequences.
'Wait, there is a way...!'
Asha's eyes lit up as an idea suddenly struck her. She quickly closed the book and turned to Priyanka, excitement flickering in her usually vacant expression.
[Can you read it to me?]
If Priyanka read it aloud, Asha could follow along by reading her lips—avoiding any direct contact with the book itself. It was a simple yet effective plan.
However, Priyanka's expression was one of confusion.
[But… you can't hear?]
The moment Asha saw those words, she realized her mistake.
'I never told her I can read lips now…'
Only a day had passed since she had acquired the ability, so it wasn't like she was too late to mention it. But how was she supposed to explain it? This was an ability she never had before, and suddenly, she could understand words just by watching someone's mouth move.
The more she tried to separate her powers from a logical explanation, the more tangled her thoughts became.
'Wait—didn't I have amnesia? I can just say I learned it somehow…'
If she leaned on the excuse of her memory loss, she could avoid lengthy explanations and still get what she wanted.
Asha immediately put her small, cunning plan into action.
[Lip reading.]
Priyanka, still confused, blinked in surprise.
[You can read lips?!]
[Yes.]
[Since when?]
[Yesterday.]
Priyanka's expression sharpened at the response. It made sense—who wouldn't be suspicious if a deaf girl suddenly learned how to read lips in a single day?
But instead of questioning her further, Priyanka simply nodded.
[I see. That's fortunate.]
Asha was taken aback. 'That's it? You're just going to accept it?'
If their roles were reversed, Asha would have had a hundred follow-up questions. Yet, Priyanka only offered calm acceptance, as if she understood everything without needing an explanation.
"Can you understand me?" Priyanka asked aloud.
[Yes.]
A smile formed on Priyanka's face as she gently stroked Asha's head, her expression soft but tinged with concern.
"If you remember or learn something new, tell me."
[Ok.]
There was no reason to refuse. In fact, Priyanka's easy acceptance was a relief. One of Asha's biggest worries had been how she would explain her eventual recovery—first lip reading, then maybe speech, and one day, even hearing again.
Having Priyanka's reassurance lifted a weight off her chest.
As she mulled over these thoughts, she was suddenly lifted into the air.
Two strong arms cradled her, one supporting her back, the other under her legs.
An unmistakable 'princess carry.'
'!?'
Asha's body stiffened in shock, but her face, as always, remained stoic.
With practiced ease, Priyanka carried her over to the bed, gently laying her down before pulling the blankets over her. The wave of confusion and embarrassment crashing over Asha was met only with Priyanka's usual composure.
"Can you see well from there?"
Asha, still processing what had just happened, gave a small nod.
Priyanka's smile widened, and she stroked Asha's hair once more, a gesture so affectionate that Asha chose to deliberately ignore it.
'...I'm being treated like a child, aren't I?'
Priyanka settled beside her, positioning the book at an angle where both the illustrations and her lips were clearly visible. Even in the smallest details, her thoughtfulness was apparent.
"The first story is 'The Lying Unicorn.'"
The cover showed a unicorn nestled in a cloud, its face smeared with chocolate and candy. Asha immediately recognized the style—it was undeniably similar to that of Steven Universe.
'A fable collection, huh? Probably nothing special…'
Yet, the fact that she was reading a book within the world of a cartoon intrigued her. Books had often been better than their adaptations—perhaps she would find something worthwhile here.
With curiosity piqued, Asha focused on Priyanka's lips, eager for the tale to begin.
Priyanka, noticing her attentiveness, looked at her warmly.
Asha chose to ignore that, too.
As the story unfolded, she felt herself being drawn in.
***
The Lying Unicorn
Once upon a time, there was a young unicorn who had a very bad habit: she never told the truth.
Instead of finishing her homework, she snuck sweets from the fridge when Mommy Unicorn wasn't looking. When Mommy Unicorn asked what she was up to, the little unicorn, with a sweet grin, confidently replied, "I'm studying!"
Trusting her daughter, Mommy Unicorn gave her space and walked away.
Hours passed, and Mommy Unicorn returned, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "How's your homework coming along?"
The little unicorn smirked, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Homework? Who needs homework when I have all these delicious sweets?"
Mommy Unicorn raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off. "Is that so? But you told me you were studying…"
In that moment, the magical sweets, with their powerful enchantment, began to work. The truth spilled out before the little unicorn could stop it. Panic filled her heart, and the words poured out uncontrollably.
"I lied, you old fool! Can't you tell? With all your gray hairs and forgetfulness, you must be losing it!"
Mommy Unicorn's calm demeanor shattered like glass. With a single powerful kick, she sent the door flying open. "What did you just say to me, little brat?"
A sharp silence followed, broken only by the loud thud of the door against the wall.
What came next was a lesson the little unicorn would never forget. Mommy Unicorn, now in full control, launched into a no-nonsense physical training session. The little unicorn screamed, trying to apologize, but the magic kept her words flowing uncontrollably.
"You crazy old mare! You'll forget this soon enough, and I'll do it all over again right under your nose!"
Mommy Unicorn's eyes flashed with fire. "Oh, I'll remember this, alright. And if you think that's bad, you've got a whole lot more to come."
Without hesitation, she doubled the intensity of the training, pushing her daughter further, until there was no more smirking or defiance.
Moral of the story: Naughty unicorns who lie and think they can get away with it deserve no mercy—and a lesson in respect.
***
'What is this...?'
Asha stared at Priyanka's lips, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
What exactly had she just read?
Wasn't the mom supposed to be calm, patient, and understanding? Why was she suddenly running a boot camp with her daughter? And the moral of the story felt so dry, almost too one-sided and emotional...
Priyanka, on the other hand, seemed completely satisfied with the book.
As she studied her expression, a thought hit her with unexpected clarity.
[About the TV...]
"TV? What about it?"
[You forgave me...]
"Oh, that..." she said, her voice nonchalant. "Of course, I did."
[So, will you unlock it?]
"I forgave you, sure, but you're still grounded."
'...'
Asha's face darkened as she began to put the pieces together.
For some reason, everything clicked into place. Suddenly, she understood why this book—this exact book—was the one Priyanka had chosen to read to her.
A cold, shadowy feeling crept over her as she glanced at the pink cover.
Unicorns… she suddenly hated them.
*
Author note
Sorry for being so late dear readers. I hope you enjoy, thank you for still remember of our little and dumb Peridot.
Mr. drefond, I love you. Thank you for your review and raw truths. I`ll keep doing my best!