Ember of the Starry Sky

The Forest of Illusions loomed before them, its dark canopy swallowing the horizon. The three competitors Erza, Mirajane, and Yukari stood side by side, their usual bravado replaced by a nervous energy that crackled in the air.

Makarov's final words echoed in their minds: The forest has no sense of humor.

Yukari adjusted her stance, her violet eyes scanning the others. "So… good luck, I guess," she muttered, attempting to mask her own unease.

Mirajane smirked, though there was a softness behind it. "Good luck to you too, Yukari. Don't get lost."

Erza crossed her arms, her expression stern but kind. "May the best win. And stay sharp. We don't know what's waiting for us."

They exchanged nods of agreement. For all their rivalries and differences, there was a mutual respect between them. Together, they stepped into the forest, their confident strides quickly swallowed by the dense fog curling at their feet.

The air grew heavier as they ventured deeper, the trees twisting unnaturally. The sounds of the outside world faded, replaced by an eerie silence broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures. The deeper they went, the harder it was to stay together.

The fog thickened, curling like spectral fingers around their ankles. "Hey!" Yukari called out, her voice strangely muted. She turned to look for the others, but they were gone. The shadows had swallowed them whole.

"Figures," she muttered, a nervous laugh escaping her lips. "Of course, I'm the one who gets lost."

She pushed forward, her steps cautious but steady. The oppressive silence gnawed at her nerves, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. The forest felt alive, its intent malicious.

And then she heard it.

"Yukari."

Her blood ran cold at the sound of her name. It was distant at first, a faint whisper carried on the wind, but it grew louder, closer. She turned sharply, her heart pounding.

There, in the clearing ahead, stood Sorasei.

The village was exactly as she remembered it quaint wooden houses with thatched roofs, a small well in the center, and the ever-present smell of burning wood. But it was impossible. Sorasei had been destroyed years ago. Everyone was gone. Everyone was… dead.

She took a hesitant step forward, her chest tightening. "This… this isn't real."

"You dare return here?" The voice was sharp, filled with venom. Yukari froze, her eyes snapping to the figure stepping out of the shadows. It was her mother, Asahi, her face twisted with disdain. Behind her stood her father, Akio, his expression equally cold.

"You've brought nothing but misery to this place," Asahi spat, her voice cutting like a blade. "A cursed child. That's all you've ever been."

Yukari staggered back, shaking her head. "You're not real. None of this is real."

But the illusion didn't falter. More figures emerged villagers she had known as a child. Their faces were filled with hatred, their voices a cacophony of accusations.

"Monster!"

"Witch!"

"Why didn't you die with the rest of us?"

The words hit her like physical blows. She clutched her chest, her breathing shallow. "Stop it," she whispered. "Just stop…"

But the voices didn't stop. They grew louder, overlapping until they were a deafening roar. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, her hands covering her ears.

"Look at what you've done," Akio said, stepping closer. "You burned everything. You destroyed us."

"I didn't—" Yukari choked on her words, tears streaming down her face. "It wasn't my fault…"

"It was your fault," Asahi sneered. "You were born cursed. You've only ever brought death and destruction."

The villagers closed in, their faces twisted with rage. Flames flickered in their hands, mirroring the ones Yukari had wielded as a child. The same flames that had marked her as cursed.

She tried to stand, but her legs felt like lead. The memories surged forward, overwhelming her. The nights spent hiding from her parents' scorn, the days spent enduring the villagers' cold stares and whispered insults. And then the fire the inferno that had consumed everything.

She had been spared, but at what cost? The guilt had never left her, a constant weight on her chest. Now, it threatened to crush her completely.

"Maybe they're right," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Maybe I should've died with them…"

"No, you shouldn't have."

The voice was familiar, warm, and filled with strength. Yukari's eyes snapped open. Hinote stood behind her, her crimson hair glowing faintly in the darkness, her fiery eyes burning with determination.

"But… how?" Yukari croaked, her voice trembling.

Hinote crouched beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not really here, kiddo. This is all in your head. But you know me I wouldn't let you wallow in this mess without giving you a good kick first."

Yukari blinked, her tears slowing. "This is all… me?"

Hinote nodded. "These illusions? They're feeding on your fears. But you're stronger than this, Yukari. You've survived worse. You've faced death and won."

Yukari looked at the crowd of accusing faces, then back at Hinote. "But what if they're right? What if I really am cursed?"

Hinote's expression softened. "You're not cursed, Yukari. You're powerful. And that scares people. But you've got something they didn't me." She stood, offering her hand. "Now get up. Show them what happens when you mess with a phoenix's kid."

Yukari took Hinote's hand, the warmth grounding her. She stood, turning to face the crowd. They still glared at her, their hatred palpable, but something inside her had shifted.

"These flames aren't a curse," she said, her voice steady. "They're my strength. And I won't let your words define me."

The crowd hesitated, their forms flickering like dying embers. Asahi and Akio stepped forward, their faces contorted with fury.

"You think you can defy us?" Asahi hissed. "You're nothing without us."

Yukari's hands ignited with golden flames, her resolve solidifying. "I'm everything without you."

With a roar, she released her flames, the golden light engulfing the illusion. The figures screamed, their forms disintegrating into ash.