"I'm here to see Mr. and Mrs. Terrilynn," I said to the desk lady. She looked up, and smiled at me.

"Ah, welcome back Ellie! Go on ahead, your parents just finished their physiotherapy," she stated, and I smiled.

"Thanks Miss!" I exclaimed, waving at her as I quickly ran past to the elevator.

"No running!" She called after me. I stopped dead in my tracks, and turned, smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry!" I exclaimed nervously. She laughed, turning back to her desk. I walked the rest of the way to the elevator, and went in, pressing for the 3rd floor. Trashy music played as I went up, stopping on the second floor for a nurse.

The elevator stopped on the 3rd floor, and I exited it, speed walking down the hall until I got to the Terminally Ill section of the hospital, and the right room.

There was a shiny plaque on the door with the room number, that read 378. I knocked on the door.

"Come in!" A tired, feminine voice called. I pushed the door open, and walked in nervously.

The room had plain white walls, but had been customised to be more comfortable for its inhabitants, with a dresser, some posters, and flowers. The woman who called was my mother, who was in her bed, looking tired and sick. My father was next to her, not looking much better.

Before you meet my parents, I should probably quickly explain some things. Mom is a kind, but strict, woman, who was tough and stubborn, and lived on this persona, considering her job before the accident was a police officer. Dad was a stay-at-home parent surprisingly. Mom has Pearl and I's strawberry blonde hair, and the same facial structure, but I have her tanned skin and small build. Dad has coal-coloured black hair, and the same blue eyes as me and my sister, but Pearl got his paler skin and tall height.

Unfortunately, when Pearl and I were little, we were in a freak car accident that I just barely managed to get us out of, but I couldn't save our parents. We all ended up in the hospital.

Pearl and I survived with decent injuries. She had a broken leg, and I had a broken arms, plus some scratches, cuts, and burns. That was it.

Mom and Dad took the brunt of the crash though. Dad's spine was fractured, he can't walk, and was put in a coma. Mom lost her right thumb thanks to the airbag, and her left arm was crushed by a tree that was knocked over.

Pearl and I were 9 at the time. It's been 4 years, and they're still in the hospital. I think that's because not long after though they discovered Dad was ill, and Mom refuses to leave his side. Plus, neither have fully recovered and gotten used to their new disabilities.

"Ellie!" Mom broke into a huge smile when she saw me, holding out her one good arm, if you can it that. Her right hand was still missing it's thumb, but at least it was healed.

"Ellie?" Dad asked tiredly, lifting his head. His eyes widened, and he smiled as well, "Hey Kid! Good to see ya..."

I smiled at them, "Hey Mom, Dad. How are you?" I sat down next to Mom, who was closest to me. She laughed.

"Same as always Sweetie, where's your sister?" She looked around, frowning a little when she didn't see Pearl. I frowned too.

"She couldn't come," I explained quietly, "she was busy doing... homework."

"That's too bad," Dad sighed, but quickly smiled again, "Anyway, at least you're here! How have you been Ellie?"

"Heh, it's... been tiring, honestly. With the festival coming up and all that," I sighed, "get this, our school decided to participate in the YFT."

"Starling Gale Middle School? Participating in the YFT? You're kidding," Mom grinned, "Are you applying?"

"Already done my fight," I grinned, "Just waiting for them to announce who's being sent."

"You know this means that you'll be missing classes for training," Dad frowned, giving me a worried look, "I don't want you to fall behind on your studies."

"Relax Dad!" I laughed, "Pearl didn't apply, so she can help me! Besides, I don't need training, Mom already taught me everything before!"

Mom laughed, and slapped my shoulder in a friendly gesture, "That's my girl! You get into that damn tournament, and beat everyone else's ass!"

"Hell yeah!" I smirked, and they both laughed. I hugged Mom, and she hugged me back, as much as she could with one arm. Dad smiled.

"How's Hunter and his parents?" He asked, smiling. Dad was Uncle Fred's brother.

"Everyone is doing great!" I assured him, "Uncle seems to miss you, but otherwise he's doing well. Aunty is as protective as ever, and Hunter has been improving a lot in his grades and combat skills."

"I'm glad to hear that," Dad smiled weakly, leaning back against his bed. I frowned, knowing he was in pain.

"Sorry, I should've brought Pearl... she's been getting really good at healing with water," I looked down, slightly ashamed.

"Don't worry about it," he managed a laugh, though it was a little raspy, "I don't want either of you to waste your energy on me, I'll be fine."

Mom glanced at him worriedly, and then glanced down at me. We were silent for a while, until she spoke.

"Sweetie, th-"

She was cut off by my phone ringing. I jumped, and quickly pulled it out of my pocket.

"Sorry Mom, one minute..." I told her, and she nodded as I answered the call.

"ELLIANNA WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" I yelped, losing my grip on my phone and almost dropping it. Pearl was yelling at me. Mom and Dad gave me a confused look, and I flushed slightly in embarrassment.

I held the phone away from my ear for a minute until her yelling died down, and I hesitantly put it back to my ear.

"Ow..." I mumbled.

"Just tell me where you are, and come home," she sighed, "Aunty's almost done making dinner, and... we have guests."

"I'm visiting Mom and Dad," I replied, "What do you mean we have guests? Nobody told me people were coming over."

"Just- tell Mom and Dad I said hi, and come home. Dinner is almost ready."

I sighed, "Alright, see ya soon Sis."

"Bye."

She hung up, and I stood up.

"Sorry," I frowned at my parents, "Dinner is ready soon, so I have to go. Pearl

says hi," I walked to the door, "I'll see you next week."

"Alright Sweetie," Mom smiled, "See you next week. Make sure you bring your sister!"

"And bring some of Kara's cookies next time!" Dad exclaimed, laughing a little, "Her baking is almost as good as Tara's!"

I laughed and nodded, "Alright Mom, okay Dad. I'll make sure to bring both Pearl, and the cookies."

"That's my girl," Mom laughed, "We'll see you next week."

I smiled, backing out the door, "Yeah, see you next week! Stay safe, and get better!"

They waved as I left the room, and speed walked down to the elevator, pressing the button and waiting.

The elevator opened, and I went down to the lobby, dropping a few coins on the front desk as I passed by.

"Have a good night!" The desk lady called after me, and I just shouted it back as I left, and ran down the street.

It was dark when I arrived at home, and the street lamps were on. I opened the door, and went inside, kicking my runner's off and pulling my hood down. When I went into the main room, Pearl, Hunter, Aunty, and Uncle were gathered at the dining table, with two men there. I figured the strangers were our guests.

"Ellie! There you are!" Aunty was the first to see me, and she stood up, running over and wrapping me in a huge hug, "I'm so proud of you darling!"

"Kara, don't suffocate the kid," Uncle laughed, following her. He smiled at me, and ruffled my hair, "Good job Ellie."

I blinked in confusion. I had no clue what they were talking about at all. Hunter and Pearl came over, and Hunter grinned, punching my shoulder playfully.

"You made it! That's awesome!" He exclaimed, and I just blinked in confusion.

"Made what?" I asked, tilting my head to the side in confusion. Pearl grabbed my hand, and brought me to face the two men. One of them had olive skin, and the other had dark brown skin, similar to Isabelle's. They both wore top hats, suits, and sunglasses, obscuring their face. That put me on guard.

"Relax kid," the olive skinned one said, "We aren't here to pick any fights, you'll have time to do that later."

"This is the kid they chose?" His friend asked, almost in disbelief, "She's a runt!"

"Excuse you," I scoffed, "My size means absolutely nothing. What's going on?"

The olive one snickered, and pulled an envelope out of his pocket, handing it to me.

"Congratulations kid," he said as I began to open the envelope. What he said next almost caused me to freak out.

"You just made it into the Youth Fighting Tournament."