Aura awoke that morning, bewildered by the events that had transpired. Just moments ago, she had been in the new laboratory alongside Magic Trick, diligently laboring on the Quantum Jumper. However, she could distinctly recall being overwhelmed by a surge of unexplained energy before darkness enveloped her surroundings. Now, she found herself sprawled upon an unfamiliar bed within an unfamiliar house. Determined to unravel this mystery, Aura hastily dressed herself and jotted down a note, which she then affixed to the mirror. With an enigmatic shimmer and a sudden flash, an unexpected visitor materialized before her eyes...

Aura: Hmm... MAGIC TRICK!

MT: Aura, are you okay?

Aura: Yeah, I'm fine, but where on earth am I?

MT: Hold on, let me check... Okay, according to this, you are Sheila Curly, a 32-year-old mother of two kids, Juliet, aged 12, and Jacob, aged 7. You're also married to Thomas Curly, a successful businessman who works at Warner Bros Studios.

Aura: Alright, that clears things up, but why am I here in this body?

MT: It's quite simple. According to this information, Jacob stumbled upon the "Toy Phone," one of the still-missing cursed items. Somehow, he transformed everyone in his family into three-year-olds except himself. This triggered a series of events that led to the family being separated, and Jacob grew up in an adoption center, becoming a rude and unpleasant person who despises children.

Aura: Okay, that sounds awful, but what am I supposed to do? Also, what do you mean by "still missing curse items"?

MT: I'll explain later, but for now, you've been placed in this body and sent back a week in time to prevent this event from occurring. According to this, Jacob will discover the cursed phone at the local park on Thursday. Your task is to ensure he doesn't find that item. Here, take this.

Aura: What's this?

MT: This small device is designed for cursed items. Once you locate one, attach this gadget to it, and it will contain and transport the cursed item back to the Lab. I have to leave now; we're still working on fixing the control board.

With another sudden burst of light, Magic Trick disappeared, leaving Aura once again alone in the bedroom. She picked up her mom's phone and noticed it was Sunday, giving her three days to prevent the accident that would tear her family apart.

As Aura descended the stairs, she pondered how to impersonate a mother and wife successfully. After all, she was a young adult trapped in her mother's body, but memories of her mom's actions when she was younger flooded her mind.

Hours passed, and the rest of the family accepted Aura as Sheila. Then, her father announced that he was taking the kids to swim practice and would return shortly. Aura nodded as they departed. Afterward, she hurried upstairs, turned to YouTube for guidance, and watched a few videos on motherhood.

Aura learned a few valuable tips, realizing that being a mother wasn't as challenging as it seemed. It primarily involved cleaning, cooking, teaching, showing love and care, and engaging in conversations and listening.

Later that day, Aura prepared dinner for the family and enjoyed a Disney movie with the kids before sending them to bed. She and her so-called husband stayed up a little longer, sharing a bottle of wine, which left Aura feeling a bit tipsy.

Before she knew it, she found herself in the bedroom with her husband, both of them undressing. Aura was conflicted, torn between her desires and the reality that she wasn't truly his wife. Despite her reservations, she ended up in bed with him.

The following morning, Aura awoke to find herself completely naked next to her supposed husband, who was still asleep. She acknowledged the events of the previous night and told herself that what happened in this unfamiliar body should stay in this body.

Aware that it was now Monday, Aura knew she had to start planning how to mend her fractured family.

It was Wednesday, and Aura had only today to save this family. She had been thoroughly enjoying her life as Sheila, appreciating her sweet family. However, it was time to get serious. Aura devised a plan to accompany Sheila's son to the park, ensuring she would find the "curse item" before he did, as he was the one who might inadvertently disrupt the family.

Aura meticulously reviewed her plan. Thanks to MT's information, she knew that the curse item was located near the playground, by the swings. She had crafted a strategy to distract the boy while she swiftly approached the object and utilized a small device to transport it back to the lab. Aura couldn't help but wonder how some of these cursed objects had found their way into other dimensions, but such thoughts were a secondary concern. Her primary focus was on the toy phone.

However, as Aura contemplated her mission, she suddenly began to feel unwell and hurried to the bathroom, where she promptly became sick. She attributed this discomfort to the fact that she had decided to make breakfast with pancakes containing bacon, as her so-called son had been singing about "Bacon Pancakes."

Aura: Note to self, appearances on TV can be deceiving when it comes to food.

Jacob: Mommy, I'm all set to head to the park!

Aura: Great, sweetheart. Just give mommy a moment to freshen up, okay?

Jacob: Sure thing, Mommy!

As Jacob darted away, Aura took the opportunity to tidy herself up. She then made her way to the minivan, securing Jacob in his car seat before they set off for the park. Upon arriving, Jacob excitedly dashed towards the slides, while Aura handed him some quarters and encouraged him to try the bumper boats game. With Jacob happily occupied, Aura turned her attention to the task at hand.

Aura contemplated, "Alright, now that he's distracted for a bit, let's search for that Toy Phone. If I were a toy phone, where would I hide here?"

Her eyes soon fell upon the partially buried Toy Phone beneath the swings in the sandy playground area. Swiftly, Aura rushed over and began to unearth it. Without physically touching the cursed item, she carefully placed a small device on it, watching as the curse item disappeared. Aura felt a wave of relief wash over her, but her respite was short-lived.

Moments later, MT appeared and said, "Hey Aura, I just wanted to let you know that we've successfully retrieved the cursed item. It's on its way to the curse item vault and has been secured by the MT Lab task force. Now, onto some news—there's both good and bad. Which would you like to hear first?"

Aura: Well, I guess things are fine for now.

MT: Alright, so the family is safe, and Jacob's mistake won't ruin everything. This means he never grew up as a total jerk. But on the flip side...

Aura: The flip side?

MT: Okay, so we're still working on fixing the Quantum Jumper, but there's a small issue.

Aura: And what's that?

MT: Well, to return to us, you have to complete a full circle. And with each time point you visit, you'll have to retrieve a cursed item that could harm a group. I'm sorry about that, but on the bright side, you'll be at the next time point by the end of the day. So, good luck, and I'll see you in your next incarnation, Aura!

Aura: Wait a moment, MT! What do you mean, and just how many cursed items did you manage to lose?

With those words, MT vanished into thin air, leaving Aura standing there, a perplexed expression adorning her face. Suddenly, her son approached her, his curiosity piqued as he inquired about her seemingly one-sided conversation. Aura quickly improvised, offering a casual response, "Oh, just chatting with another mommy out for a stroll." Jacob, satisfied with her answer, suggested they grab some lunch and head home, to which Aura simply nodded before they set off together.

A couple of hours passed, and Aura found herself in the family bathroom for what would be the last time. As she stood up and gazed at the pregnancy test device she had just used, the word "Pregnant" displayed on it sent shockwaves through her. Not only was she about to leave this body, but she had also inadvertently impregnated Sheila's body. Before Aura could formulate a plan, the room began to spin, and an odd sensation washed over her. She watched in amazement as the room transformed, and even her own body began to change.

As this happen Aura got so dizzy she couldn't see her surroundings anymore. Then with a final flash and all she could see was white and some color.

Then as the whiteness faded Aura was greeted with this:

In the mirror this time, all that met her gaze was a youthful teenager, appearing no older than 18.

With a playful sigh, Aura quipped:

Aura: Well, it looks like I'm embarking on another adventure with puberty!

End of Chapter 1