I tried to focus on the board as the teacher tried to explain long division. Math had always been hard for me. I’d barely passed through it last year. If it hadn’t been for Dad I’d never have reached the fifth grade. So for his sake I tried hard to pay attention. But the numbers were getting blurry. The teacher’s voice faint. Even the world began to tilt.

I blinked into the bright sunlight. Brighter than the dirty class windows would allow. No even brighter than the sun at recess since the smog often hung low.

But here there was no smog. No buildings. No tech of any kind. I sat up, marveling at how many trees there were. I’d never seen so many in one place. And the grass was so tall I couldn’t see over it even when I stood. Big red flowers poked out, lining the dirt path I was on. I’d never knew flowers could grow so big.

Something clicked as I stepped and I looked down. Tattered red fabric covered me even though I’d worn my favorite purple dress just moments before. I grabbed the fabric and gasped. My fingers weren’t mine.

Instead of chestnut skin, metal laced my fingers. I pulled up the red fabric, revealing metal woven into the for of an arm. Flinging off the fabric I discovered the form of a robot. Just like the ones Aunt Angie used to make before she switched to plastic.

A twig snapped. And I covered myself in the old red cloak. Then jumped into the tall grass hoping to blend in with the flowers.

Something big and black traveled through the grass. And a big paw stepped onto the path. The beast resembled a panther. But bigger. It’s two canine teeth were long like the ancient saber toothed tiger we learned about in history class. But it had a tufted tail whipping around. It stopped sniffing around where I’d been laying.

That’s when I noticed someone riding on its back. The sun was in my eyes so it wasn’t until they dismounted that I could see it was a girl. She reminded me of the teenagers in an old survivor movie. Except she carried two blades. One on each hip. A quiver was strapped to her back. But I didn’t see a bow. She was like an old hunter in the history books. Her bare feet were light as she studied the dirt. And I noticed that her shirt and pants were just as tattered at my cloak.

“Come out now.” The girl called. “I won’t hurt you.”

That language she spoke was something I didn’t hear often. My whole family could speak it but I’d never heard of anyone else using it. Then again they’d never told me where they even spoke Sylvanian. Only that I would need to learn it for the future.

“Are you hurt?” The girl asked as she creeped towards me.

“No.” I fumbled for something else to say. But I could understand it better than speak it at this point.

I pulled the hood down over my face and to make sure that no hint of metal showed. Then I stepped onto the path. The beast growled, but quieted when the girl pet him.

“It’s alright. He won’t hurt you unless you’re a threat.”

Knowing my aunt this robot was just as deadly as any of her creations. I just didn’t know how to access the weapons protocol. I blinked remembering that Aunt Angie had equipped all of her robots with the ability to camouflage their appearance. If I could just figure out how to do that then the beast wouldn’t attack me.

“I’m Elynna.” She tilted her head probably trying to see under my hood. “What’s your name?”

I hesitated. Dad had told me not to tell any strangers my real name. Even the school didn’t know my first name. So I settled on my middle name.

“Indigo.”

“Are you out here alone, Indigo?”

What could I say? That I’d been in a classroom full of people just a few minutes ago? That I’d found myself in a different body in the middle of a forest as if I went back in time?

She smiled at my silence. “It’s alright. I can take you to my house for lunch. I’m sure my mentor can help you find your way.”

Elynna extended a hand to me. I know she meant for me to take it. But as soon as I did she might attack me for being a robot. I tried to remember how Aunt Angie had turned on the camouflage. It was a small switch hidden somewhere on the body. But where?

“How about you just follow behind me?” Elynna suggested.

I nodded, relieved to follow behind. But the beast trailing us was unnerving. I searched my mind for the right words. “What is that thing?”

Elynna glanced back at the big cat and smiled. “That’s Kumbikani. He’s a leo.”

Something clicked in my mind. Dad had told me many a tale about my mom. How she rode a leo. And fought by his side to get medicine for those sick with the pale death. How in her younger years she’d lived in the forest with grandma. But the name was wrong. Her name had been Luna not Elynna.

“Something wrong, Indigo?”

I’d stopped walking. She looked down at me and I realized the robot was the same height as my ten year old body. But that wasn’t important.

“What is her name? Your mentor?”

Her smile faltered slightly. “Her name is Myracle.”

My world began to tilt. But I caught myself on a tree. I’d gone back in time. Dad had said my ability would appear soon but he hadn’t said what it would be. I knew I’d never be able to make portals like him. But I thought it’d be similar to my bio dad who had been able to read minds. Or Mom who could copy other people’s abilities. But time travel? I’d never heard of any mystic who could do that.

“Indigo?”

I scrambled away from her reaching hands. But stopped at the hurt look on her face. This was my first time meeting my mom. She was different than I’d imagined. Dad had only gotten a few pictures of her when she’d been pregnant with me. But she looked much lighter. Almost happy. Only her worry for me hadn’t changed.

I almost reached for her. Yearning for a hug. And tell her… what could I tell her? She was too young to know of me. And anything I said could change the future. Even a hug would reveal my metal limbs. And she’d probably attack me outright.

The only solution was Grandma. Since her ability was seeing the future she’d know me instantly. And maybe she could tell me what was going on.

“Sorry.” I said. “Can we continue?”

She nodded. But didn’t say anything more as she led the way. Soon we turned a bend in the road and there was the house. Though it seemed more of a hut with mud walls and a straw roof.

Grandma was waiting in the doorway, smiling warmly as always. Except she was much younger. Her hair was actually red instead of gray. But the golden eyes remained the same.

“Why don’t you go inside and finish up lunch, Elynna? Indigo and I have a few things to discuss.”

Elynna glanced at me but made no protest as she walked inside. The leo had settled down beside the steps. So Grandma walked me behind the house.

“I didn’t think I’d see you so soon Indigo.” Thankfully she switched to the standard language.

“I don’t know how I go here. First I’m in class and the next thing you know I’m in the body of a robot.” I said showing her my hand.

She took my hand and flipped the tiny switch in my wrist. My chestnut skin returned. And I sighed in relief.

“Your ability is time manipulation. Which normally would involve your own body. However, due to the circumstances of your birth, your soul is not completely attached. Therefore when your powers activate, it throws you into this world close to those you hold dear. The only reason you’re in a robot now is because your soul can’t live outside a vessel for long.”

No one had even told me how I was born. Just that it had killed my bio dad. And had caused Mom to be trapped in a world far from our own. Dad always avoided the subject. And Grandma always said I was too young to know. Even Aunt Angie wouldn’t say a word as she barely held back tears. I figured my grandma now wouldn’t tell me either.

So, I asked, “How do I get back?”

I didn’t want to mess up the timeline any more than I already had. There’d been too many movies about that. And I didn’t want to repeat that mistake.

Grandma smiled. “Close your eyes. And think of home.”

I did as she asked. But now there was just darkness. So I tried harder thinking of Dad, Grandma, Aunt Angie, and the rest. That’s when I saw a golden flame. I followed it. And it began to grow bigger and bigger.

I blinked as the light went away. The school nurse was frowning down at me. She swiped at her holoband, turning off the flashlight feature. And that’s when I felt the pain in my head.

“What happened?” I groaned. Dad had told me that my power could be anything and could look strange to the Typics that knew nothing of magic. So it was better to hide it unless I was with another Mystic.

“You fainted during your math class.” She had some cream now and was gently dabbing it on my forehead. “You hit your head on your desk really hard. But it’s just a bump.”

“Oh.” I remained lying still as she put the cream away. I wasn’t sure what else to say.

“I’m not really sure why you fainted. So I called your father. He should be here soon. He’ll take you to your doctor to make sure you’re all right.”

Right on cue, Dad rushed in. “Indy, are you okay hun?”

“That was fast Mr. Grey. I only called a few minutes ago.”

“I was in the area.” He turned to me. “Can you stand, hun?”

I did and soon we were walking out the building. It wasn’t until we got to the hovercraft that I was finally able to tell Dad what happened. He sat back in the seat and changed the coordinates from the ER to our family doctor. He shook his head.

“Ma should’ve told me it would be time travel. Or at least about the soul thing.”

I got the idea that Grandma didn’t tell him for a reason. But I couldn’t place why. Instead I focused on another thing that had bothered me.

“She said her name was Elynna. But you always told me her name was Luna.”

“Elynna’s her true name. But she mostly went by Luna when she lost her memories that last time.”

Last time? “Are you saying that Mom doesn’t remember anything?”

“You’re…” He sighed. “You were born without a heartbeat. So in order to return your soul to your body she gave up her memories.”

“Then why is she stuck in the other world?”

“That’s another longer story.” He rubbed his temple. “I’ll tell you that when you’re older.”

I sat back with a sigh. Too young to know again. But my birthday was coming up. Maybe he’d tell me when I turned eleven.