Annie and Tibbers were running around one day in the institute. They kept playing, and eventually found themselves inside some abandoned wing of the ancient structure, likely from before some of the rune wars.
"I think we're lost Tibbers."
A young child's voice came from the darkness. It sounded almost the same as hers, and it frightened her, because not only was it similar, it was almost... wrong.
"You're not lost. I know the way out. I can help you, but would you mind keeping me a a bit of company? It's been so long since I saw someone, and my time here is almost up."
Annie felt very frightened, but the voice was so welcoming, so, reluctantly, she walked into the shadowed room.
As she crossed the threshold, everything changed. The Lighting became bright and vibrant, and they were in a mock up field, inside a much larger room than it should have been. In the center was a table with two chairs and a pot of tea, with two plain cups.
At the table sat a small, white haired girl, if it weren't for the strange glasses, nose, and mustache, she would have thought it was herself, but older.
And somehow not having physically changed much.
"Come, sit, it's caramel and vanilla. Your favorite."
She was right, Annie loved that kind of tea.
"It's been so long, about an eternity, I'd say, since I was cooped up in here. Tell me, Annie, how is the colony?"
Annie rustled a bit in her seat. "They're good, mom and dad just helped finish a new school for the other kids who've been born. Why? And how do you know who I am?"
The other girl chuckled. "Don't worry about it, lets just say I've been watching you. And they finally finished it? That's good." The girl looked relieved. "No monsters visiting you in the night, asking for friendship and help?" She asked calmly, pouring another cup of tea.
"No, why? And who are you?" Annie questioned the girl more sternly now. She figured if it got violent, she'd be able to take her.
The other girl sighed. "I'm a very close friend Annie, one of the closest you'll ever have, lets put it that way. And if those scary monsters come back, ignore them alright? I've waited for an entire loop of reality to make su-"
She cut herself off. "Don't worry, just the ramblings of an old woman. They never came in the first place, so how could they come back? Hehe."
The girl laughed, but Annie thought she sensed some sadness in her. "Who are you?" She asked again, much calmer now.
"I'm nobody you should worry about, Annabelle. Would you mind staying for a bit longer? Until I fall asleep?" She seemed desperate, so Annie nodded. She didn't know why this was so important.
"Thank you." The other girl said, as she went over to a lavish bed that just seemed to appear. She tucked herself in as Annie followed her.
"Annie?" The girl said weakly, as if nodding off.
"Yes, miss?" Annie answered.
"Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're ever feeling very sad, or angry, for me, alright?" It was a strange question, but she nodded anyway. It couldn't hurt, right?
"Would you mind putting this tea cup on the table for me?" She asked, and again, Annie nodded. She took it back to the table, and turned around.
"Who are you anyway, miss-" She stopped, as on the bed lay only a groucho mask.
The lights and the room seemed to fade away as if it were only illusion. Where the bed was, there was now only a chair with a life sized, but obviously fake puppet version of herself sitting in it. She thought it was weird, but some part of her liked it, so she took it back with her, all the way home.
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