“Damn it, damn it!” Combat slammed her hands at the walls of the train. Piercing it and ripping it apart using her weapons. “Damn it…” Trying her hardest to stop it. “This is not fair!” But she was far too late. The train had already warped out of the battlefield.
“The train has reached its destination.”
Combat stepped out of the empty train and onto a random station. She took her gloves off, destroying her weapons in the process. She took her gas mask off and took a deep breath. “I can't get back can I? So much for helping her, she just kicked me off when things became extremely dangerous.”
She slammed her hands into her face, yelling out in irritation. “Ahhh! I don't get it! Why… Why would Miss Love help out that psychopath? I just don't understand it.” Combat paused for a second. She ran to a terminal in the train station showing all the statuses of the trains. “All active! It seems for now Miss Adriana is still alive.” Combat ran up the stairs, passing by multiple citizens who were surprised to see her. The sudden sight of a magical girl running was never a good sign.
There was a single thought running across her mind. “Please don't die. Not like Miss Abyss.”
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The streets have never been so unfamiliar till now. The sky is filled with such a thick fog of smoke. Wheat sprouted from the ground, piercing through the hard rocky ground. How envious. How could these mere lowly plants break the odds and survive. Survive. How could they survive and not her?
Enough of these delusions! I swung my spear across the illusion in front of me. I was hallucinating so much imagery of death. I have grown bitter because that monster has taken my Princess. And what is a Knight without her Princess? My mind is fading away. My rage is ripping apart my common sense. I'm burning inside. A fire not built from passion but from hatred.
I wander and wander. Passing by all of these restaurants and food stands. When did all of these places pop up again? It was definitely not during my childhood, I always had a problem of finding a good place to eat after all. A good place to relax and make sweet oh bittersweet memories. I guess they all just appeared the moment I looked hard enough. The moment when I was with her.
I feel so cold. There's fire inside me, an immortal flame powerful enough to burn any monster that comes before me. But this flame isn't warming me at all is it? Without her am I nothing? A magical girl of Protection, protecting no one.
Without much resistance, my feet had dragged me to a quiet and isolated alley. I felt the hard and unwelcoming surface of the floor. My body was lowering itself to feel any sort of relaxation. I dropped my spear and removed my helmet, hoping to get some fresh air. Sitting down I gaze at the floor trying to ignore whatever feeling I have inside me. But it's hard. My armor crumbles into the air and my face morphs back into my sad pitiful face. Holding an expression that would pain me greatly if I saw it. I look up and clench my teeth trying to stay calm but this feeling won't just stop trying to crawl out of my throat. A pained whimper followed by a soft sniffle.
I lower my head into my arms and let it all out. Crying loudly alone.
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Tick tock Tick tock
“I'm a symbol of time and strength, a beacon of hope for some.” Time stood still in front of a massive mirror. “You're strong, you're powerful. Keep that smile up now.” She glanced up at the mirror, her entire reflection deteriorating every time she opened her eyes. She clenched her cane and lifted it up to her heart. It was beating loudly as her eyes shook up and down, trying to stay open while it gazed at her monstrous reflection.
“Nooo!” She slammed her cane into her eyes, reeling her head back in pain. ”Come on now you idiot. Get a grip. Practice makes perfect.” Time waved her cane over the mirror, shattering it into pieces, she then swayed her cane. The pieces of glass all froze in time before suddenly reversing itself. The mirror shined clearly, showing Time a newly built reflection of her and the bookshelves behind her.
“That’s enough practice. I should go and think about it more clearly. Do I reveal it to everyone or handle it on my own? Can I handle it on my own?”
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Knowledge sat in her office all alone. A single lamp was shining light on her head as she slumped over her desk. It has been what, multiple hours since her presentation? Her whole speech of bullcrap and her multiple forged evidence built upon ifs and coulds actually worked.
What a wonderful performance she had. She had fooled all the council members present who were all tired and on edge, desperate to look for a proper lead. This calls for a celebration right? So why is she slumped over her desk and forcing her eyes to shut close? Isn't this the perfect time to bring out the wine and the wonderful high class meals she always celebrated with?
Now that she had convinced the council and given them a scapegoat to find and kill, it was only a waiting game. Either they kill the scapegoat and then they figure out she lied or the scapegoat proves herself innocent and she dies. What should she do now? Run away and try and escape it all or use her full hand and try to follow Cuteness until victory or death?
It is a hard choice to make after all. But it wasn't the toughest choice she made that day. I wonder, would this girl have been safe if she had confessed her crimes to the council and asked for protection against that monster?
Her hand was clutching hard on a phone, forever ringing and shaking her nerves. “Please Lily, please just pick up already. I can't do this anymore. I'm not bad right? I'm just trying to not die.”
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“What would you do in this situation? What would Shima do in this whole problematic situation? Invasions happening all over the whole place. A never ending stream of monsters causing chaos and death. A long time comrade and senior leaving and retiring during this period of chaos. And worse of all, a person with your name turned out to be a psychopathic serial killer. Funny isn't it?
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Well at least the other person I recruited wasn't bad. That kid seemed like she had a smart head on her shoulders. Also seemed to have the desire to be a hero. That's rare isn't it. I certainly didn't have that when I joined the council. Maybe I only got it after I met you. You really were a perfect leader weren't you? Could you have let Justice stay using your smooth charismatic words? Maybe…
Huh? Look at how fast time moves. I should get back to killing more invaders now. Goodbye Shima.” She stood up from the grave and wrapped a red faded handkerchief around her neck.
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Retirement has been good lately. Well, the little amount of hours has. Still busy packing my things. Honestly this was a little rushed or early for a lack of words. I thought the announcement was a perfect way to get out of there without much regret. I mean another magical girl died, nobody would blame me now if I ran off…
No they do. Such a tough moment, even as a long time magical girl I never saw such an abundance of invasions day after day. And there's also a random lunatic running around trying to kill the members, so even more reason for me to leave. And for me to stay… Well they can handle it, it’s not my duty to step in. Well it was but it isn't. “I'm retired, hahahaha!”
I can finally enjoy all the good things in life such as college! Well maybe not. Well dating is one thing i guess. Hmm but it feels weird too. Maybe something else first. That’s right! I can be a judge and deliver some harsh and deserved Justice onto people. That sounds amazing, Justice in the morning and then a relaxful evening on the beach surrounded by nature and stuff. Trees and Flowers… Now that's a vacation right?
ahh… Maybe I should search it up online after all.
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That was the worst of the worst. I should have never eaten that weak and stupid girl. Shima brought me such an arrangement of pathetic emotions. What was that fight? I showed fear in front of that brute Magical Girl because of the influence of that coward. Well it’s all Cute now. I'm back to my normal sane self… Hmph! I felt like somebody just laughed right now. Oh well.
“Hello everybody!” I yelled out in the streets of this city I sadly could not remember the name of “I the Magical Girl of Cuteness is here!” The citizens looked at me weirdly with confusion obvious from their eyes. Maybe I wasn't making myself clear enough. “No need to look so happy now! Please line up for the handshake event!”
This! This didn't seem to be working. How could it not?! Is my Cute smile and outfit not enough to rile up the hearts of these soon to be fans?! Crazy crazy impossible! Those brutes at the council, except Love of course, must have set the agenda for nothing but senseless violence. Now even my overwhelming display of Cuteness is doing nothing to move the hearts of these passersby. I should go and end them now, no! Maybe I should go and lower myself to be next to them so I can spread my wonderful message of purity and Cuteness. I'll change them alongside my perfect, perfect, Lovely and Cute Idol. That's right, I will fix the issue at that place again and if they refuse then I'll just remove them from the painting! After that then all the admiration and attention will go back to me, a Magical Girl befitting the title of a Magical Girl!
My eyes snapped towards the people, noticing them backing away in disgust and fear. I wiped the white bubbles that were foaming at my mouth and smiled Cutely at them. “Come on, feast your eyes on this Cute little angel now!” Still no proper reaction? I think it is time to go and prove my status to them.
After skipping the streets, I seem to have found myself in a great situation. “Oh such devilish monsters spreading havoc, if only somebody were to go and save us from these beasts!” I looked around, glancing at the lack of bystanders. “Oh it seems unfortunately there's no Magical Girl as well to stop these monsters!’ Still no signs of any humans, oh my, do i really need to record myself? I much rather prefer for my fame to occur organically but desperate times call for smart thinking!
“Vanessa, go get the camera and begin recording!”
“Vanessa? Vanessa… Oh.” How forgetful of me.
She isn't here.
I took a couple steps forward towards the wandering monsters. They're not cute at all. In cartoons they had such a wonderful and precious artstyle to reduce their monstrous characteristics but seeing them in person really made me disgusted. And to add on to their already grotesque appearance, some of them have such a putrid smell that spreads so far away.
“You cruel monsters shall be smitten by my Cute self!” I winked at the general direction of my foes, sending a wave of sparkles and wonders towards the stray monsters. It had no immediate effect but I knew this beast was now smitten with my appearance. I leaped forward, traveling quickly across the air and landing near the monster.
“Embrace the power of my dazzling Cuteness, for it is a wonder like no other! With a twinkle in my eyes and a smile on my precious lips, I shall spread joy and warmth to all. Let my smile shine brightly, illuminating even the darkest and lowest of days. For in the world of magic, it is not the brutish strength of spells that triumphs, but the boundless power of this girl's Cuteness!”
The monster walked forward and rudely interrupted my moment of Cuteness. Its long and thick legs stomped towards me in a hurry and its huge gaping maw was roaring in anguish. Now that's weird, I thought monsters were supposed to at least vaguely represent an animal or something close. This one is just creepy and disgusting.
“With the beauty and cuteness of this dream of mine I will best you.” I raised my wand and waved my hand across it. “Deep inside I feel this fire burning inside me!” I stomped my foot and clenched my wand to my chest. “I'll vanqu-
I stepped back from the monster's mouth, its head stretching and crunching down at me. “I said I'll vanquish you, you enemy of humanity.” I kicked the head away and jumped further back. “Tak-
The monster's head twisted back at me and chomped down at me. I slammed my wand at the head of the monster and flew up. “Hey, can you stop?! I'm trying to do my speech here you damn brute!”
The monster screamed out in response to my irritation. “Seriously? Why am I even bothering?” I raised my wand and without so much as a second thought, slammed down a metal anchor attached to my wand.
Not so different… Well. Nobody's here to see this… not so Cute display of magic so it doesn't matter that much. There's nobody here at all. The monsters must have all gotten to them first. Well speaking of death. This whole problem has been going on for too long now! Although I see the other Magical Girls as failures and the opposite of Cuteness, this non-stop stream of monsters is even more uncute. And as the finest example of a Magical Girl. There's just one simple thing to do. Time to spread Cuteness to these monsters.+
Well that's the right thing to do after all. Vanquishing the true enemies of Magical Girls. Two forces fighting as hard as they can. The powerful and gracious light of us Magical Girls against the disgusting and neverending swarm of invaders.
Heh, I should get a pat on my back for this.
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“Why don't you tell me what is happening here?” Ai walked forward, her leather boots crunching with each step. “Now don't be so scared.” Shima moved away, her feet shakingly lifting her slowly. Her eyes were steadily locked on Ai and Adrinia.
“Well I heard from our lovely leader Okumura, that the Magical Girl of Cuteness has killed dear little Ayaka.”
“I'm not the magical girl of Cuteness. It's Cosette, the council must have confused us two.”
“I figured. She was indeed fascinated with that title of hers. A little made up title she somehow made into reality. But…” Ai frowned and covered her mouth. “An unlovely action like that should go punished right?”
Shima bit her words. Her voice stuttered and failed to utter yes. She nodded weakly. Her body instinctively clenched itself.
“I'm just so busy so I can't do it myself. I really want to but sadly much more important matters than family are stopping me. You see Shima.” She dropped her hand and smiled widely. Her pupils shined in a bright pink in the shape of a heart. “I'm on your side now. Aren't you happy to hear that?”
“My side? You mean you're gonna vouch for me? Say I'm innocent to the council?”
“Oh no no no. I didn't mean I'm on your side like that. I would never be on Shima’s side. I'm just simply on your body’s side. Well you get what I mean right?”
“No?”
“Well. It's alright. Let's leave this place now shall we. I'll take you on a lovely flight away.” Ai grabbed Shima by her arm and spread her wings wide. She flapped them elegantly and lifted Adrinia and Shima to the sky. “Gosh you're so afraid right now. Don't worry I'm only here to show Love so stop shivering will you.”
Shima clinged harder to Ai as they soared. She glanced down at her hand. A single thought to simply summon a glaive and to stab the hardest she could was all that remainder in her head. She dropped her head on Ai’s shoulder, closing her eyes and getting back the sleep she really needed.
“I'll kill her. I'll kill Cosette. And then I'll… figure out what comes next.”