Nagisa Quest Streamlined

Scene 01: Abrupt Beginnings

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa. You lived life with your head in outer space, daydreaming the weeks away, until the time you lost everything. Including your interest in things outside your own. You have made the wish to the incubator, a wish to rule the world, to make it yours, all of it. To do what with it? You didn't know that yourself. You were gifted a revolver that shot out air bullets, which were deadly upon impact. Your sole power was a bag of holding, which held, as you found out through trial and error, everything imaginable. Your body was encased in armor, which had saved your life plenty of times.

But everything changed when you woke up in some bed with a bloody knife in your hand with someone's dead, stabbed to death body laying at the foot of it. He looked like he had tried to get away, but was cut down swiftly.

What do you do?


You scooted out of bed, still holding the knife. You began to prop yourself onto one knee, genuflecting the corpse, but you stopped halfway in the act. Why would you show respect to some poor sap that got knifed? You straightened up and scanned the room for some sort of large, man sized bag. No one should know that Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa killed someone.

You found a bundle of bags laying on a table nearby. The table also held a lamp. You proceeded over to it, checking for sirens, or someone to show up, but neither happened. You grabbed a bag, flapped it open, and realized it was large. Maybe large enough to put the body into it. You attempted just that, going head first with him, but the corpse only went in mid-thigh deep. Shit, you muttered, checking for any alarms again. Still safe.

Now with this obstacle, what do you do?


Feeling your paranoia ramp up, you scanned your environment. Really, where were you? Cheap ceiling and walls with cracks and holes marring them, the basics of any traveler: A bed, a tv, a table that held bags of trash and a chair to go with it, a closet of, if one assumed, clothes, and a bathroom. You also noted a window with no drapes. It looked dark outside.

You looked at the corpse again, then the knife, which was bloody, still fresh, and around yourself. Your mind was churning all this information in a pot of boiling thought. Meanwhile, what do you do next?

You focused in on the bathroom. What did it look like? You jaunted on over, turning the light on. A single bulb came to life, showing you the bathroom. Only a shower stall with a toilet and a tiny rectangular mirror over a sink. Really, your suspicions were confirmed, it was a flea bag. You looked over your shoulder over at the window.

You went over to the window and tried prying it open. You couldn't open it, so you forced the thing open, using your magically enhanced strength. It submitted, but it won't ever work right again. Cold wind rushed in and you popped your head out. Five stories up, you could see a run down urban development going to hell in a handbasket. It made Hell's Kitchen look downright high class. You scanned the sky, saw stars, the half waning moon, and lots of black. It was night, and the night was young. You brought yourself back into your room shared by a corpse.

Now what should you do?


You needed clues. This wasn't normal, someone had their eyes set on you and you were blind as a bat. Your life was threatened! You needed to rise up to that threat and show them whose boss. You laughed slightly. You wanted to rule the world, after all! Make it all yours, and some piss ant was nipping your budding aspiration.

You laid the knife on the ground and pulled him off the bed, laying him out. He had a horror stricken face, mouth open in endless screaming. Gaunt face, five o clock shadow, brown hair. You would know what his eyes were if he had any. He was dressed as a business man that ran into bad luck, and regretted it for an entire happy hour. You patted him down, searched his pockets, did all but searched his body cavities.

He had a wallet, well worn, thinning, frayed at the edges. You opened his wallet up only to find a few twenties, and a photo ID. You hurriedly scanned the ID for any important tidbits and learn that this man was a Smith Weston, and he was 39 years old. His sex was male, obviously, and his eyes were grey. His address was 308 Aspen Rd inside Black City. You knew of that place. Another low class residential zone, but a helluva lot better than this place.

Do you take the sixty dollars?


As the future ruler of this world, you wouldn't descend from your throne and stuff your hand into some commoner's pocket. You weren't a thief, and on top of that, you had your bag of imaginary outputting. With that you didn't need taxes. You pocketed the id into your inventory, and reached below your breastplate to pull the only magic you possessed.

Your purse of resourcefulness. Burgundy in color, it looked like a coin purse, big enough to only allow your hand in. You opened it. Ultimate noir filled your bag. Thinking about a slightly larger than a man sized bag that was immune to acid and airtight when sealed, you reached into it.

Your hand dangled in nothingness, groping, until the bag slipped into your grasp. You held it in your grasp, and pulled it out. Your bag came out, just as you imagined it. You place the purse back under your breastplate and got to work getting poor Smith Weston into it.

His entirety in the bag, you grabbed your purse and opened it so the entrance faced the bag. You thought about acid that would turn to water as it cooled super quickly. You dug around inside to clear the way, and the acid came out like a waterfall. It filled the bag a goodly amount before you closed the purse and bag up. You tied it off, and waited a few moments.

You listened to the air, heard coughing, someone knocking on another door, but otherwise all quiet. Were the cops going in quiet? You had to be going. You shook the bag up violently, then ran to the bathroom, reopening it up to pour the wretched remains of a business man. Liquified man slopped out, and went down the shower drain. You shook the bag again to make sure all of Smith Weston got out before going for the knife and stowing it inside. You closed it off, stashing it into your inventory.

Now, how to escape?


You still had one thing to do: Stir up the motel's manager's memory. You were the cook and he was the batter; it was only natural for him to forget. You a pair of x-ray glasses before pulling them out of your purse. They... looked exactly like 3D glasses but had spirals on the lenses. Heh, so much for imagination.
You perched them onto your nose and saw a blue print of the structure. Blue for empty space, white for the outline of objects. You saw past the door and out into the hallway. Nothing. You looked side to side. Left was a fat man waddling around in his room. Nothing in hallway. Right was... stairs. An end unit, evidently. You scanned everywhere, and saw nothing unusual. N-not that you traveled here much, mind you. You were about to take them off but you stopped. You had looked down for an instance, and saw something interesting. You focused in, and saw eight heavily geared up men walking single file through what looked like the lobby. You also swore the manager, or someone working here, had pointed them to the stairs.

Life was grand, and it got grander by the moment. Looked like the plan had changed, maybe, you still had a few minutes of relative silence, since they were worried about losing men. What do you do? Alter your plans? Go invisible and slip out?


Scene 02: Ghostly Exits

Last time on Nagisa Quest you woke up on a bed in a flea bag five story motel in a rotten neighborhood in a possible frame up by persons unknown. You disposed of the corpse via the a bag full of acid and a shower drain. You possessed the possible murder weapon, and had a clue. An address. Something concrete that you could touch and influence.

Now you had to flee the scene of the crime, with a party of eight heavily geared men making their way up to your location. Time was gradually evaporating away, and the claw of nipping was closing in.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Midori to your magical girl colleagues. You had a literal wish granting device with unlimited supply. As long as your imagination serviced you, you would want for nothing. You were burnt out with life and wished to rule the world like a fat man wishes to raid the cookie jar. Facing an uncertain future, you began to determine how you should escape this troublesome predicament.

How do you flee?


Grabbing the doorknob, you calmed yourself and opened it like a normal person would if they had never discovered a potential SWAT squad coming up to knock on their door. You closed it behind you, looked side to side, and noticed you still had your glasses on. You scanned the way to the roof and noted how clear it was. Taking them off, you made your way up.

The door leading to the roof was locked. It was simple wood, providing no defense if you were to pound it off its hinges. You could deal with it sneakily, quickly, or turn back and find an alternative route to safety. You pulled your purse out. It was the key to this situation. You imagined that you had the key, simple as that, and the key to this door, and to all doors, came out of black velvet. You hid your most prized possession away and unlocked the door, going through, then locking it behind you.

Leave.
No.
Trace.

You were on top of the Flea Bag Motel.

It was nondescrip beyond a few chimney spouts that had steam rising through them, a few raised planes, and cigarette buts littering here and there. You scanned the horizon, needing to find your baring. Skyscrapers glittered with diamonds in the distance, while the rundown commercial zone you were in was buried in filth. Narrow alleyways separated the buildings from each other. You could easily jump them. Amazingly enough there was a fire escape ladder on the side of the building, loose in its foundation. You could descend this way. You could jump... down to the ground. Five stories won't kill you. You could jump... to any of the three buildings surrounding the one you stood upon. You began to wonder if their had arrived at your room yet. You could take a peek, see how they react to absolutely nothing there.

What do you do?


You felt drawn to the skyscrapers. Their glittering diamonds were like beacons for the ship that was Midorikawa Nagisa. You assumed the position, prepping your body before running with all your speed, jumping with all your might at the lip of the building. Your armor proved to be weightless, for you flew between the two buildings. You landed hard on your feet rolling to a stop and laying out. You weren't use to doing that. Standing up, you began this again, jumping to the next, and the next, and the next, making your way to the skyscrapers. You began to think over who would wish to destroy you in such a way. You had plenty of enemies, and some you clashed with daily. But no names came up as a perfect fit.

You needed more information. More time. More leads. All you had was the address the late Mr. Smith Weston lived at. What awaited you there? Was this Weston a critical cog in some clockwork plan, or just someone that would do for the purpose intended for him?

You ran out of buildings to jump to, having reached the highway that was the city's artery. The skyscrapers were just beyond the highway, which was a six lane highway on both sides. You sometimes forgot you lived inside a metropolis. Scanning around, this building had a fire escape, as well as a door leading inside. Looking down the walls, it looked like a store but of what you couldn't tell. It looked closed, the parking lot empty of any cars or bicycles.


How do you proceed?


You climbed down the fire escape. It held.

Under the highway, the roar of semis and travelers from afar was deafening. Pulling your purse out while looking to and fro for any punks looking for a good time, and finding none, you thought of a GPS device that held Weston's address. Your purse gave it to you, the route already mapped and displayed. You sniggered as you hid it. Of all the powers that could have been yours, the most broken one was chosen. It was as if that incubator wanted to ruin reality.

Holding your precious device, you transformed out of your armor, and now stood in a white blouse with black dress pants. Your shoes were shoes, brown as the dirt you sometimes walked on. For kicks you decided to wear a tie half fastened. Originally you used to wear top of the line fashion designs, particularly those that screamed sci fi in origin. You grew out of that habit.

Looking at your GPS, your destination was a forty five minute walk away from your current location. You could start now, or go to the bar you often visited, or the chinese restaurant you ate at religiously. You were a slightly hungry, but also slightly hunted.

What do you do?


Chinese sounded good to you right now. You were hungry, it was best to satisfy it before delving into something you regretted. But your favorite chinese restaurant could be staked out, they could be waiting for you there. Or they might not be. You didn't know. You had a decision: Hunt down some independent chinese food cart, or risk the restaurant.

You hung your head. You said no to your restaurant, and began hoofing it to Little China Town. A district in Black City that held the largest population of orientals. In fact, it was *only* orientals that lived there, having ran out any other race through gentle nudging. It was in the opposite direction of your destination but hey, you were jonsing for some egg rolls and kung pao chicken. Little China Town had many carts in its territory, from dusk to dawn, and from dawn to dusk. A 24/7 source for food you considered to be really good. You ran down a cart, who held what you needed. You and the owner began to banter back and forth in mandarin, gesturing back and forth as you haggled prices.

Finally one was settled and your meal was served. Two egg rolls with a medium bowl of kung pao chicken. You ate it down, noting how average it was. Definitely not the caliber of your restaurant, but doable. You finished, leaving him the trash, and began your hour and five minute trek toward 308 Aspen Rd.

You cut through the heart of the metropolis, keeping in the crowds so that many people would die before you would, if whoever wanted you out of the picture was ballsy enough to just violently end your life like that. You figured they weren't. Why the secrecy, the set up, the dagger in the back? An hour and five minutes went by with each step, hands in your pockets and your shoulders slouched. Low profile. Incognito, almost. You checked your GPS and saw how much closer it was. Just a turn here, a twist there, and a dash straight, and Aspen rd would be on your right.

Aspen Road. Your took a moment to remember what the backstory was, and remembered when you saw the cracks along the sidewalks. A development company came in, bought a plot of land, and made it into a sub division. Cookie cutter houses went up like a forest, and with time, became run down, but still liveable. Whoever did was stuck, unable to escape this road long gangster paradise. Your GPS told you the house you wanted was smack dab in the middle.

You stuck the GPS device into your inventory and proceeded along, keeping a weary eye on the surroundings. You weren't in your armor, you were exposed, vulnerable, a target for any punk that saw you as easy prey. A few shady gentlemen stepped out from their porch when you walked by their lawn, clearly staying on the public sidewalk. You never touched their lawn, so they shouldn't have any reason to bother you. But they believed otherwise, and began to follow you.

How do you respond?


You scanned around, making it not to obvious you were looking for others, and saw at your 11 two guys shooting the shit on their porch, drinking what looked like lemonade and laughing. Maybe apart of the three behind you, maybe not.

What do you do?


You kept walking. They wouldn't make a scene. There was senseless violence, and then there was senseless violence, and it would be senseless to bother you. .. Then again, you hadn't thought of *that* particular aspect of the violence. Still, you kept an eye on them. They jaywalked the street and met the two laughing shit shooters sipping their lemonade.

You swore you heard numbers being tossed about like pez. They also glanced your way occasionally. You... decided to get back on track. False alarm. Assholes prowl the streets just as murderers do. You reached 308 Aspen Rd, and looked at the run down generic house. It was average all over, and looked to be only one story, with no basement. You saw no lights on but that didn't mean there weren't anyone inside.

Before committing to anything, what was the plan of action?


You took your x ray glasses out and equipped them, the world becoming blueprint again. You scanned the house. Pizza boxes were stacked up by the pillar in each room, holding the ceiling up. You saw no one else in there. Mr. Weston lived alone, with his pizza boxes.
One room caught your attention. It looked like a well stocked library, and it was centered exactly in the middle of the house, below it. An unofficial addition, you guessed, making his cookie not so generic. Why the library? Why the pizza boxes? You had more questions than answers.

You took your glasses off and entered the house, silently using your skeleton key on it. You cautiously went room to room, from front room to living room to kitchen, and began to grope the wall for any switches. Your glasses told you that much. You found it, in the form of a hook. You had to press upwards to trigger it. A narrow stairway descended downward to the library. You followed it to the bottom, where a pair of doors greeted you. Well polished doors. You opened them and were given the sight of a beautifully maintained library. He loved to read, it was apparent. In the small, cozy library full of richly colored wood were ten bookcases full of books. First editions each and every one of them.

Where do you begin?


The room checked out for anything dangerous. You walked the library, looking at the spine of each book, trying to find anything interesting, anything common between them. You did, and it was interesting. Smith Weston enjoyed magical girl literature. From the philiosophical to the scientific, from the romantic, to the adventureous. He had actual books amid his collection, but he really enjoyed that sort of literature.

"Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, I've come to save you." You straightened up, and slowly, cautiously, turned around to face your rival, Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi. Her name did not match up with her outfit, which was nothing but hearts. Human hearts, in the shape of love and passion. Blood and life. She had a tennis racket on her back, which idly radiated light from the strings.

This wasn't good. This didn't make sense. She was not someone you wanted to meet. She possessed the very rare ability of warping reality and twisting it into stuff of nightmares. All those horror stories you read from H.D. Lovercraft would become reality in this tiny library.

How do you respond?


"Save me? From what? Why, and what from?" You asked her, unmoving in your stance. She stepped up to you, grabbed your hands, and peered into your eyes. Pious concern shown. "I know about your wish. Your wish is simply, terrible. You shouldn't act on it. Ruling THIS world is bad. Very bad to do, Nagisa." She smiled a little, seeing your confusion.

"I'll tell you my wish, so you can understand. I want the world to end, and end all this misery that has been built up over time. It's the only way, the only way, Nagisa. Join me, we both can do it together. I be-LIEVE in you."

Accept, or decline?


"Of course, Usagi. I accept your proposal to join forces, to see if you really are more right than I am in the end." You stated it to her face, slipping your hands out from her's and letting them fall. You didn't step back, for if you did the shaky position you're in may escalate into something bad. Real bad.

"Wh..at? To see if I'm more right than you are in the end? Nagisa, I am more right, and I'm going to show that to you. Make you believe that." She wasn't smiling, she had a dead serious look on her face. As if you insulted her ideals. She nodded once. You nodded back.

An uneasy truce was made, and accepted, within the library of a dead businessman that ate only pizza and loved magical girl literature. Unknown to Usagi, you had plans on breaking this truce and fleeing the first chance you got. Except those plans haven't been made yet, and you figured your new ally, Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi will be sticking close to you to show you her way of seeing things. The drapes descend, the act closes, and a new, uncertain path opens up. All you had to do was walk down the hill.


Scene 03: A Clash Of Ideals

Last time on Nagisa Quest you ate a few egg rolls and some kung pow chicken, then walked toward Smith Weston's residence. You were tracked by a few thugs, who were only wandering over to a friend's house, and not tracking you. Hopefully. You had your doubts but you pushed this feeling aside when you examined Weston's.

A lover of pizzas, and magical girl literature, he possessed a remarkable library, hidden away from the prying eyes of outsiders. There, you were cornered by a fellow magical girl - Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi, a girl destined to destroy the world. The world you wanted for yourself. Not to rule, but to make it suffer. You would be its tyrant, while Usagi wanted to be its savior.

You accepted her proposal of truce, and now she believed she had an ally. A rather doubtful ally, but one nonetheless. She was going to show you the might of her stance, and sway your heart's allegiance. Contrary to her reality, you were planning on betraying her, on getting away. That last step will be the hardest, you suspected.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Beautiful Idol Pretty Nagisa, and you were walking out of Weston's house with Usagi right behind you.

"Can you believe how much pizza boxes this guy had? I mean really, you can only eat so much of something before it grows stale to your palate."

How do you respond?


"It is a surprising amount." You murmured to her, not bothering to check for a way out. Any and all escape routes discovered by your handy dandy xray glasses were cut off by Usagi being here. Behind you. With her nightmare inducing power and shining tennis racket. "Maybe the man just loved his pizza. Don't you love something?"

Usagi remained quiet, then spoke up. "Yes, you are right. Sometimes you just love something, but... still! Pillars worth of them!" She pointed at them, obviously amazed by the sight of them. You weren't amazed, but weary of them. They were scary, the reason behind them were scary, and the possibility of them were scary.

"Do... Do you think we should see if anything is inside them, Nagisa?" She asked, putting a hand on your shoulder and whispering into your ear. You felt her eyes on the boxes.

"No," you shook your head. "I want to see your point of view on the world. Anyway, if we disturb these pillars, the ceiling will collapse." You took her hand off your shoulder and moved on. She gasped.

"You thought that too?! I got that very same impression." She followed you to the front room, leaving the mysterious pizza pillars alone.

Now outside, she turned to you, smiling. "I'll show you the reason why I think the world needs rebirth." She gestured all around her. "Look around at this neighborhood. Why is it that way, Nagisa? It's run down, and it has a high crime rate. In fact, the highest of Black City's, an aptly named cesshole. Why? Why is it that way? The city has enough money to do some good here." She seemed to be genuinely asking you the reason, as if you were that wind power loving fat cat.

How do you respond?


Like the future and present queen of the world, you were destined to rule this orb of rock just like your cohort was in destroying it.

"Why? Why?! I'll tell you why!" You bellow out to her. Flinging your hand out, you oustretch your fingers as if you were holding a ball, an orb; the world. "I," you pressed a hand on your chest. "am going to rule this world." You swept the land, generalizing the world "The reason," you pointed at her, "behind this area, and many others you can point out, is a weak and FOOLISH government. If I ruled, it'd be for the better of neighborhoods like this!" You knotted your pointer hand into a fist, a very aggressive, dominant gesture for a little girl to make. You knew you were smiling like a slasher, and almost, almost, about to start cackling.

Usagi was speechless, not from your sudden gestures but from what you said. "D-do you really want to rule the world, Nagisa? I'm sure you've seen horrible things in your life - what girl hasn't in our line of business - but after seeing all that, are you really so sure?" She seemed to be really sad by your life's aspiration. It reflected in her face, her tone. It *slightly* hurt you to see it from her, but for the most part you were fearful of her powerful ability. It trumped your Purse of Everything Ever.

But to answer her, do you really want to rule the world that badly, or was this all a joke to you, a last ditch escapism before you lost it completely?


"Do..." You couldn't help grin wider at that, tilting your head to better view her. It didn't help. "Do I... REALLY want to rule the world? Of course. Someone MUST, and those that do it now... aren't doing very well, are they?" You shook your head, tsking the wannabe rulers while pulling condescending face after condescending tone after another as you spoke to Usagi. "To cause a lovely girl such as yourself to want to destory it... to WASTE a WISH to further that goal... No, they really aren't. But, Usagi, with every change of regime comes... conflict. We don't have to be at odds entirely. We could indeed work together, destroy..." You stepped slowly to her, placing your hands on her shoulders.

She allowed it, amazingly enough. You shook her gently, still grinning. "CLEANSE what is wrong, what is corrupt, and replace it with... something much better." The speed with which you wiped your expression would make a broken doll envious. You shrugged, taking your hands off her. "Or, you know, not. You ARE going to show me your way, after all."

Usagi blinked and nodded slowly. "Your convinction is admirable but misguided. I will definitely show it to you, and hopefully make you see the errors of your way."

While you dictated to her, the three thugs from earlier, now with their two friends, were creeping up to you two. This time it was obvious you and Usagi were on the menu that night.

Do you speak up, or let them get nearer?


You swept your arm outward in a grand gesture, going over the five thugs. "Well, then, here comes your first chance, Usagi. Scum and fools, misguided, misled, hunt us. Prove that their destruction is wiser, if you can. Wring their necks and hear their last breaths, when we could simply disable them and leave. To rule them another day."

You transformed in motes of darkest night, brilliantly tarnished armor encasing your body from the neck down. It was eloquently made, custom tailored to fit your fragile frame, your petite person. A simple blue cloth draped down the middle of your frame with golden embroidery. Your revolver hung at your hip in its holster, ready to unleash whirlwinds.

Usagi stared, then stared at what you saw, which were five thugs taken aback by your sudden transformation. She saw what you meant, and nodded. Since she was already transformed, Usagi reached for her tennis racket. She sighed softly, then glared at them with tennis racket gripped with both hands. "I won't give you an ounce of mercy, since you all already have had the chance of redemption. I am now your angel of death. Stand before me with your last shread of bravery!"

They pulled out guns, and with that the tennis racket spat out the sun's rays, a fat oval beam of radiance searing the thugs from memory, and anything alive unfortunately caught in the path. The neighborhood shone with gold, you had to cover your eyes from going blind, and after a moment Usagi told you was it done.

You opened them, and saw that they were gone, with burnt things here and there. She had obliterated them.

"They had a chance long ago to be good people, to clean the neighborhoods and act civily. They let their homes go to rack and ruin and rape little girls out for walks. No," she shook her head, glaring at you. "You'll rule over evil, with evil intent. I aim for a higher place."


Scene 04: Underground Bunkers

Last time on Nagisa Quest, Usagi voiced her opinion on Smith Weston's eating habits, finding them to be disgusting. Outside, Usagi questioned you on the state of affairs of the neighborhood. You answered her, unashamed and clear about your ambition to ruling the world. Five thugs decided you and her were approachable.

You had the chance of letting them sneak up on Usagi but in dramatic fashion you highlighted their presence. The thugs unsheathed their modern day armaments, and in doing so, Usagi smote them with her sunshine beam. The pillar of light was so bright you had to cover your eyes. It made the night blacker, and caused a gust of wind to backfire, making Usagi's bloody arteries to flap. To think her tennis racket harbored such power worried you.

Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi was a seriously overpowered opponent you had to overcome, somehow.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and an altercation had just been by-passed. Five vaporized thugs, and a burnt lawn. Nothing else remained. To the side, Usagi glared at you, damning your wish while committing her own.

Having seen the terrible power of Elegant Usagi, what do you do? How do you respond?


You reached under your armor and brought out your bag. Imagining the most hightech, polarizing shades, you pulled it from the bag and slipped them on in one motion. The bag disappeared under the armor.

You used to be a good actress, top of the class really, and found yourself sliding into one of your more natural roles. "Well," you exhaled, surveying the nonexistent destruction. "They were a poor example, I'll admit. I would have done the same thing to trash such as them, really." You then looked at her, studying, examining, and judging her from a good screen of black. "But what does your power honestly prove?"

"It's as you say, Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, they were a poor example of either philosophy." A new voice encroached from behind. You straightened some, and both you and Usagi looked behind you. A new girl stood there, shoulders crouched low, drooping eyes and a line for a mouth staring back at you. Dirty blonde hair flowed down her shoulders like a mop. "I would have rendered them unconscious and left them relatively unharmed. Even IF they were low working class scum."

You scanned her outfit, and realized she wore a wedding dress with dirt on the hem. A star dangled from a necklace tied around her neck, glinting from Usagi's racket.

"Ah, Mami, you're there." Usagi greeted her friend. "You didn't have to check up on me."

"... I just wanted to be sure you were alright, Usagi." You and Mami continued staring at one another.

How do you respond?


The arrival of this new girl threw you off your play acting some, leading to the leaking of your true nature. "The class matters not, if the world is to be cleansed. Surely they would have intended worse for us, than what Usagi gave them."

"This coming from someone that was implying her action was wrong?" Mami countered back, blinking only once. "What? I was trying to figure out her reasoning for vaporizing them out of existence." "You should already know that, Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa. Her wish is reason enough." Usagi stepped in before the exchange could escalate.

"Girls, girls. We're all allies here, no need to get so heated." You hadn't realized it but you were getting more excited, hostile. Something was off with this Mami, more so than her friend. She felt like a natural enemy, really.

"Even allies can bicker, break alliances, backstab one another..." She trailed off before she went off, appearing to bite off words before continuing. "You are right, though... My apologies, Beautiful Nagisa. Usagi, are you alright? I was growing worried." Mami turned her attention away from you, turning to her friend. A slight expression of concern appeared.

Usagi smiled and nodded, patting her friend on her shoulders. "Yeah, I'm alright, Mami. With a friend like you, I can really destroy the world." She laid her forehead onto Mami's for a moment before disengaging.

"You two seem to have me at a disadvantage..." You muttered, staring at the scene.

"Ah yes! Nagisa, this is Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami, my best friend. Mami, you already know her, but this is Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa. We both know where she stands in my life." She beamed and made introductions. You and Mami nodded at each other, not exchanging handshakes or how do you dos.

"Usagi, I think we really should continue this later. We need to get going before She finds Her." Mami murmured to her friend, who nodded and grew serious. "I agree," Usagi looked at you. "C'mon, we need to get to our hideout now. We have lots of things to fill you in on."

Before She finds Her? Your gut rumbled, and it wasn't chinese. Something was afoot, and you were in the black in your tarnished armor.

How do you respond?


You were along with two girls. One possessed the ability to vaporize people on the spot. The other came out of nowhere and was utterly unknown. All you had was a gun, and a bag. You decided to go with them. Let them fill you in on what's happening, and possibly protect you from HER. However SHE was.

You nodded and stepped forth to Usagi. Usagi looked at Mami. "Get us home, Mami. The usual way, it'll be safest."

"I agree." Mami deadpans. Usagi held her racket before her, and poured power into it. Shadows formed behind the three of you. Mami stooped next to you two, reaching out with a hand. The hand went into Usagi's shadow. Her Hand. Went Into. Her Shadow. You watched in amazement as Mami moved her arm to and fro, searching for something. She was elbow deep, eyes closed, brows scrunched. What was she doing, you wondered, when she pulled out a blue portal. The rim swirled with arcane energies, the inner space empty. She threw it on the ground and a military compound showed forth. Mami jumped through, disappearing into that world of cold grey walls.

Usagi stared at you and nodded. You were next. Do you jump? It was your last chance to flee cleanly.


Still shrouded in the betrayer's cloak, you took a deep breath and hopped into the swirling portal. You immediately rolled on concrete flooring, the world spinning until you stopped against Mami.
"Get up." She said before sighing and with a marginally softer voice, "Let me help you." Strong hands pulled you onto your feet. You took in your scenary.

As the blue portal had shown to you, you were in a tunnel of grey concrete with light bulbs every 20 meters illuminating a path. On the walls were some posters with orange and blue as their primary colors, but beyond that you had no idea what they said or were meant for. Various hallways lead to other areas, and dull green doors were visible along the wall. It was this way on either side.

On the wall was an orange portal, only this time showing Smith Weston's house. Usagi fell through it and landed on this side with practiced ease. Immediately she gestured at the portal. Mami let go of you, going over to the portal and closing it with a hand. The orange one remained, somehow, but was blank.

"Well done, Mami." Usagi pivoted to you. "We're almost there, Nagisa." Usagi and Mami's eyes met, a secret message passed along the two.

Wandering through the halls, they lead you to what looked like a small cafeteria. Complete with refridgerator, microwave, tables, chairs, it looked picturesque from what you've seen from the various military drama tv shows.

The three of you sat down at a table, Mami and Usagi on one end, you on the other. You were, luckily, still in your outfit. So were they, unfortunately for you. "So," Usagi spoke up, then nudged her friend with her foot. Mami continued where she left off with some measure of timidness. "Can I get you any refreshments?"
Do you want refreshments?


You weren't hungry, but you were thirsty. "I just ate a little while ago, but I am thirsty. Do you have any canned drinks?" You asked Mami, who stood and went to the fridge. Opening it up, she told you all they had was Cohk.

"Well, I guess we'll have Cohk." Mami brought a can of Cohk to you. "May I open it up for you, Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa?" She asked you. You waved her off. "No, I can do that, Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami. I'm a big girl and everything." She nodded, then sat down. You opened it with a hiss and took a cautionary sip. It didn' taste tampered.

"So, Nagisa. Do you have any questions?" Usagi asked of you, looking very open to anything.

Did you? The floor was yours.


It was a very familiar bed. You've been here many times, with many different girls. Beautiful music was made here, with the notes spilling over the sheets by the thousand. You rattled your handcuff again, and they clanked stubbornly, telling you that you were trapped. From the shadows came Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami in a simple black nightgown. She crawled up on the bed, and stradled your prone body. You felt yourself become hotter. She traced your jaw with a finger and giggled. "No, Beautiful Nagisa, don't try to run away~" Her giggling voice trailed away as you shook your head. No, no time to randomly daydream

"Oh, so you don't have any questions?" Usagi looked saddened over that. You shook your head, waving your hand. "I do have questions!" You fired off the first question that popped up. "What was that about 'She' and 'Her', and why is it bad if 'She Finds Her'?"

Usagi grew uneasy. "You're far too curious about classified things." Mami deadpanned.

"Classified? What the fuck do you mean, classified? Is this some sort of secret military base? What is the connection between you and it?" You snapped back, glaring at Mami. Your eyes shifted over to Usagi, who wrestled with a problem. "Well?"

"Y-yes, we are in a military compound. We set this place up as a base for my wish." She looked at you, going slow. "So you're a super villian? Where's your volcano?"

"No. NO. I'm no Super Villian, and the volcano we stradle is this city of corruption. But putting this aside, we are recruiting magical girls to help me end the world. This is the place for it." "Usagi, you're telling her too much."

"Yes, I know! But that doesn't matter, since... I don't know how else to put it." She had snapped at her friend, and regretted it. "Sorry, Mami." She whispered before sighing, and turning to you. Apparently you touched a nerve. "Do you have any more questions?"

"Who Is She? Who Is Her? Why Is It Bad When They Meet?" You asked her again, taking another drink from your can. It was refreshing. "Classified." Mami intruded. You stared in silence.

Do you push it with this question, or go on?


You sighed, giving them an irritated look. "Can I at least ask if anything bad will happen to me if your classified mystery happens?" Usagi and Mami traded glances, then both stiffled their giggles, smiling. "No."

Great. "Alright, I get it. I'm sure all my other questions are classified too. Do I get to know, at least, why you brought me here?"

"Yes, Nagisa, you do get to know. You're here because you are our ally and..."

"And certain parts of the facility will be denied to you until your loyalty is ascertained." Mami intruded.

"Yes, that. But reason why I seeked you out is because... even though we had our differences, and even fought over them to dangerous levels... I still consider you my friend. I want you by my side in making this world a better place. I believe in the power of our friendship..." She trailed off, apparently unable to say much more. Then she cleared her throat, got up, filled a glass of water, and came back with it. She drank from it, smiling anew at you. In the meanwhile you and Mami stared at her do her thing.

"Will you please join us? You don't have to answer now, I understand it's a serious committment, but give it some thought, okay?" She almost reached out to touch your hand but stopped herself before she got that far. She drank from her glass.

Mami stared at you with drooping eyelids, blinking twice.

How do you respond?


"I'll," you and Usagi reached out for each other, the former patting the latters hands. "Think about it, Usagi. It's... something you don't just run into, you know?"

Usagi nodded. She believed your words. Mami remained silent. You had to get back to the root, the one factor that brought you on this case: The murdered business man with his screaming, eyeless face.

"What is your interest in Smith Weston?" Your question bounced between the two, only to be answered with a confused, "Who?" You described him to the two, now met with a guarded 'No.' Stares intensified. You didn't question them further on that particular subject, finding their reactions interesting.

Why the guardedness? Who was She? Who was Her, and why couldn't the two meet? Was Smith Weston a throwaway piece, or some greater force that pushed some grand scheme forward? How old was Usagi's organization, and how far were they in her Wish? You had more questions than you had answers, and you didn't like it. But you still had questions, and you used them wisely.

"It's been a long day, but I do have a question left."

"Yes?" Usagi spoke up.

"Usagi, can you please tell me... Mami's three sizes?" "WHAT?!" Mami became alive all of a sudden. Both blushed deeply. Usagi began to murmur a number but Mami cut her off. "Don't tell her, you dolt! Th-that's a secret, for only between you and I!"

You had a good snigger at their expense. Usagi remained silent while Mami filled you in that the questioning was now done, and it was time for you to be shown to your room. She was putting you into a time out for such a bold way of finding personal information out, but it had been a long day for you. Or night, in your case.

You were shown to your room, and left there. Door locked. It was a spartan room, as expected from the rest of the facility. Bed with sheets and pillows. A clear desk with chair. That was it. You could hear Mami lecturing Usagi about keeping certain things secret. You still smiled at her reaction.

You felt physically tired, and decided to lay down, to relax. The bed was hard but you didn't care. It was time to unwind, even just a little bit.

You were in the belly of the beast, shrouded in the betrayer's cloak. You had left the Cohk can half empty in the desolate cafeteria. Much had happened, and much more was about to happen. You felt like you knew too much, even if it was a pittance to what you could really know. The lights turned off, and blackness descended onto the stage. Mysteries were afoot, dangers aplenty, but you had a bag of everything, and a gun.

What secrets awaited Midorikawa Nagisa?


Scene 05: Dream Of Probable Future


Last time on Nagisa Quest, you discovered that Usagi had a friend: Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami. A blonde with hair like a mop, the only person she gave her emotion away to was your friend Usagi, however, to you she was the eternally blankly staring enemy. Both of them harbored a secret: a military style compound.

Through some questioning and a can of Cohk, you learned the intent of this base: To recruit a cadre of magical girls all hopping ready to blow the world up. Which went against your wish, so it could be said it was a stroke of luck that you found the place.

Usagi had requested you join her, both individually and with the organization. You had already 'accepted' - with a possible escape route - the former, but will think about the latter. Usagi accepted that, but Mami had suspicions behind her half lidded eyes.

Through a subtly worded question, you almost learned Mami's three sizes from Usagi, only to have her cut off by Mami and the questioning to be done. You were put into a time out in your designated room. With nothing to do, body tired, mind running, you laid down on the simple cot with sharply tucked in corners.


You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and you wanted the world all to yourself. You desired no rival, no peer, no underling in ruling the great blue orb in the greater blackness. You had two choices: Rest while you can, since you've discovered and done a lot. To top that off, last time you slept was right before finding a Smith Weston in bed, dead. Or you could forsake sleep, and prowl the compound.


You decided to go with the more prudent choice: To catch up on your rest while you can. However, paranoia tripped, you wanted insurances you would be awake if something happened. Something like kidnapping, like drugging, like violence. Something you could prevent when awake. Summoning your ever loyal, and handy dandy, Bag of Everything Imaginable, you dug your hand right into the stomach, all the while thinking on what name to give it, if any at all. An alarm system designed to only alert you sprang to mind. Two objects found your grasp, and you brought them out like rabbits out of a hat.

An ear piece, with a button sized and shaped proximity beacon. Pressing down on the button at the side activated it, a red laser faint to the eye you could see. Stationing it at the door, you slid the earpiece snug as you like onto your ear, then made your way to the bed. You had faith it would alert you if anyone opened that door, anyone like Mophead Mami.

Laying down, you didn't need to fuss much, as the fatigue seeped deep into your bones. Your eyelids were made of lead, and fighting them proved to be useless. You fell asleep, on your back, with the blah ceiling as the last thing you saw on this side of the world.

Next thing you saw was a parking lot for an office building. In fact, several skyscrapers stood proud around you, a sea of grey cement, yellow and white lines, and a sky full of rumbling clouds. You had a helmet on, with a digital hud projected straight into your cornea. Your body stats scrolled down the left side of the HUD. Heart beats, respitory rate, chemical levels and everything else about your body was there. You were slightly panicked, with a controlled rate of breathing, while your adrenaline levels were pumping. You apparently had contracted a disease called "Zeptyoid" and also had three points to spend.

What do?


This landscape felt sinister. A nightmare made manifest. You really wanted out of here. With index finger and thumb, you tried pinching your cheek. The helmet got in the way, but you did have exposed flesh despite being in your armor. You pinched your neck, hard, and cried when it got too painful. Alright, maybe pinches weren't the escape triggers. You balled your hand into a fist and slugged yourself. A rather good impact, too, since you staggered to the side. It appeared to do the trick, your consciousness leaving this horrible scenario...

... only to be thrust painfully back into your body. Your HUD tells you your heart was beating very hard, but you felt it going away like a jackhammer. You now have a headache, and decided you shouldn't do that again, lest you suffer something worse.

"Nagisa, are you alright?" Usagi asked you, seeing the little display you put on. The look on her face was enough to tell you that you seemed to have gone mad. You didn't reply yet, instead taking an interest in what you were in.

Again, proud skyscrapers surrounded you. The scene was almost like that in those zombie horror movies, sans newspapers everywhere. You did spot a newspaper stand near one of the entrances. A school bus was nearby, along with several personal cars. You were with seven others: Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi, already in her heart costume and attending to you with concern; Cosmic Moon Sweet Fuu, a walking pentagram with a middriff that just wouldn't quit, whom you remember meeting in the hallway sometime ago; Saint Peach Pretty Yui, examining the school bus with her glittering gold costume and sniper rifle strapped to her back, a girl that loved to belitle those around her; and the others you weren't in the know on. Where was Mami, though?

You remembered how she opened a portal, how she instructed everyone to get out while they can, that she would be the last. Your eyes moved around and you saw the three points remaining blinking in the corner, and concentrated on it.

Noothing came up. How... are you able to spend those points?   Zeptyoid was kicking your ass, weakening your joints, muscles, and lungs. You felt the need to find shelter, to get out from the open air, while you can.

"We should probably use the bus to seek safety!" One girl spoke up, pointing to the bus while taking a look at everyone.

The bus was a logical choice, since it would hold all of you.

Your response?


"It could be dangerous, we don't know what condition it is in despite it being a good choice." You said aloud, looking past Usagi to the girl and the bus. Pretty Yui stopped examining the exterior of the bus, more like examining how yellow it was as far as you were concerned with her, and turned to grin toothily at you.

"It looks delicious enough to eat! That means it's in good shape." Right... She was plain weird, but at least she had initiative to check it before anyone else.

"I'll go check inside since I'm closes---"

"No, I'll do it, Saint Peach. I can do this myself." You shrugged Usagi off, single mindedly walking toward the bus. Yui was about to protest but you gave her a look. She stayed where she was, glaring. You felt someone's eyes boring holes into your back, but ignored that someone. You had to yank the bus door open to enter the potential hazard.

That took a lot out of you, as your scans told you. Alright, you breathed in as if you ran a marathon, you need to cure this puppy before you bought a farm. Summoning your bag, you thought up a cure, something to get rid of this blasted Z disease. A hypo came to existence. You injected it into your neck, and the blip for "Zeptyoid" disappeared. Good... good.

A burning sensation in your stomach, then your throat, came to your attention. You were about to hurl, that much you knew. You couldn't stop it, but you could minimize the damage; what spot do you choose?


Outside. Yes, outside was the best choice. Inside would nullify the bus, and it was your best bet without having to resort to your bag again. You turned on a dime, stepped down the stairs, and with your head partially out of the bus, you let loose. It was disgusting, and hurt. It looked sickly, to sum the puddle.

You felt weak, very weak, but better in some ways, your lungs clearer. Plopping back on the hard stairs, you breathed in uninfected air, happy to be done with that damnable disease. Saint Peach walked around with a few other girls, including Usagi, and every one of them unanimously went 'ewwwwww!' in sync. You stood up as Yui walked to the stairs.

"Why there of all places, you mongrel?!" She snapped at you. You just stared at her, then turned to examine the bus. Seats were obviously used, their skins dangling on with determination. You sat down at the seat and searched for any keys to it, if the bus driver was so inclined to leave them. They were, the keys in the overhead flap.

You turned them in the ignition. The bus turned on after several seconds of trying, purring as a bus would. You stared at the disgusted girls. "It was better than in the bus. I feel MUCH better, thank you." You replied to Yui's question, and she gave you a scowl as she walked past. The other girls followed, until everyone was in.

Sweet Fuu smiled at you as she passed, genuinely pleased with what just occurred. You... really didn't like her.

"Where to now? I'm sure Mami can find us when she's in the clear." Usagi asked everyone, staring around.


You really didn't like that Cosmic Moon Sweet Fuu. Not one bit. You just puked up your guts and she was pleased with that. Multiple occasions in the past where something misfortunate happened to you and she laughed, smiled, and all but got her jollies off. Time to flip the tables. You had nothing to lose.

You stood, strode over to the seat she sat at, a perplexed expression growing. You never fought back before, never seeing the right incentive... until now. With gauntlet, you reached down and groped the cosmic moon out of her. The entire bus went silent, still, and cold. Her eyes were pinpricks. You had initiative. You examined her as if she had breast cancer, and you were her doctor. The lewdest one there was, if you had any idea on their history of lewdness. Your eyes never left hers, dominating her with this simple act. It was petty, yes, but fuck damnit the world was ending and you needed some.

Having satisfied your pettiness, you stood up, smirked at her, and went back to the drivers seat, with everyone watching you.

Before violence broke out, how do you rectify this situation?


Destination where? You could go aimless, or have a specific region. You are in the business district of Black City, which is where the skyscrapers live. Up north is the bridge you crossed, and where you discovered poor Smith Weston's corpse. The mayor's house is nearby. There's also the docks, residental zone, and industrial zone.


Cosmic Moon Sweet Fuu was unsheathing her katana, eyes killing you over and over again for the revenge you laid upon her supple, c-cup, warm bosom. You ignored her, turning to drive the bus while Usagi stepped inbetween you and her, acting as your protector.

"Calm down, Fuu, she's a loyal ally, and a powerful one at that. Just drop it."

"Ke! I bet you wanted to be groped by her iron hands, Usagi. I bet you wanted her to do more than grope you-"

"Drop it before I drop you." Usagi hissed at her. After that you tuned them out, focusing on getting the bus out of there. Ah, you stopped, a thought occurring to you. The others may have it, even if they aren't showing their weakness as prominently as you were.

Maybe you should cure them, too? Or leave them be, since they might not be infected?


Eyes darting up to the rearview window, you noted the katana being put to a safer place, one that wasn't your body. Fuu sat down, trying to hate you to death. Usagi sat back down behind you, giving you a confidant look. She... appeared to be healthy. As do the others. Hopefully you were wrong on your hunch. You were somewhat comitted to their organization, despite how you felt when Usagi cornered you in Weston's underground library. Getting the bus into the right gear, you just by your own whim decided to go for the gas station. Supplies were needed, more importantly fuel. You drove out of there with uncertainty, not wanting to get blind sided by the thing that assaulted the compound.

First thing you noticed was the heavy pollution. Walking you didn't quite notice it, but driving, you really had it in your face. The sky had fallen on Black City, and the clouds had made it their home. Second thing you noticed was how... nothing got in your way. No persons or vehicles littered the roads. It was as if you were driving in a ghost city.

Turning right at a T intersection, you quickly spotted the still working traffic lights. You just ran a red light, with not a sign of any copper to give you a ticket. You were going slow just in case something popped up. The pollution was really starting to vex you. But yes, the power was working. For now. The city's nuclear plants were prone to combusting if the mayor so much as thought about them.

Funny thing was, they were in the residential zone. In the middle of them, with several parks that were popular with families. Helluva city, you thought. Not enjoying the fact you couldn't see far you examined everything, and in the rearview window was Yui nibbling on a corner of her seat.

You felt like yelling at her but honestly it was the seat, not the structure itself. It didn't matter if that seat became any worse, right? Eyes back in front, you wondered if you should stop her.

Should you?


You slackened, deflating in your seat. Sometimes you started caring about things. You really should stop caring, life was better that way in the long run.

"Midorikawa, you're ok... right? You're feeling fine?" Usagi asked you, seeing your look deaden. You nod, telling her yes you're fine. How was she faring?

"Concerned over Mami." Usagi frowned, eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly. You nod again, but said nothing.

For now at least, you were too busy with the smog. The others began to talk nervously with each other, trying to shake off that post retreat fear, trying to calm their nerves down. You stared up at the window to see them chitchatting. Fuu was fuming, and Yui was nibbling still. You shook your head.

Going by your knowledge of Black City's roads, you should be nearing a gas station right about... now. Yes. You pulled into the parking lot, going up to the gas umps at an angle. The girls got up, ready to disembark from the bus, to pillage, raid, loot, and rape the supplies, but should you let them go so easily?

Or should you, since you can't unfubar the outside air?


You were going to rule the world, sure, but you still had a need of them. Even Fuu, who was very good to grope, if your secret fancies told you rightly. That meant keeping them possibly healthy, possibly protected from whatever was happening around Black City

You had your hunches but you needed Mami before anything solid could form. You told everyone to stay for a moment, you wanted to check around before - there was a ripping sound as Yui tore through the chair's tattered covering - stepping out.

The girls ignored Yui's feeding, staring at you. Some in disbelief, one in naked hostility, and one more with open acceptance.

Without Mami around, Usagi became real easy to boss around. You made a show out of looking around, but quietly summoning some rags from your bag. All left handed, a tiny feat you were proud at. Grabbing them you passed them around. Usagi tied hers around her face quickly, some followed, while Fuu didn't catch her tossed-to-her rag.

"Open the doors, or I will." She said, well out of range from your wandering hands.

Time to go outside. You opened the doors, and everyone got out with Fuu in the lead.

"Alright, we'll need supplies if we wish to survive. Get food, water, and anything else you want." Usagi spoke, before adding, to you, "Maybe we should pump gas into the bus? We are going to the docks, or the industrial zone?" She got a pained look on her face. "I should have built a second base when I had the chance..."

Yui, Fuu, and one other girl were going into the gas station, name obscured by fog. The remaining two meandered around, their motives unknown. Leaving you, and Usagi by the bus.

What do you say to her?


"There was no reason to believe the first base wouldn't be secure, I don't think any of us could really have anticipated something like this happening." Usagi listened to you, but shook her head, not really buying what you were selling. She began to mumble something but cut that line of thought off before it got out.

"Anyway, I think a warehouse shouldn't be too difficult to fortify, if we find the right one. Hopefully they'll have plenty of supplies, as well. Check for any empty gas cans, would you?" Usagi nodded, looking around to see if any were laying about.

None were, so she began to walk around in search of one. You began to fuel the bus, counting your blessing that these weren't updated to ones you had to pay for before use. You called out to her, and she turned around to listen. Fog was so thick she was almost like a ghost. Creepy.

"The Docks are more likely to have food supplies, and both should have plenty of equipment to fortify with. And keep a general eye on the girls, don't want them wandering off." Usagi nodded then resumed her search. You should ask her, next chance you get, for the names of the four you don't know. They couldn't be generic minion # 1 - 4, right?

Nothing to do, you just pumped gas into the bus, until it overflowed, or stopped pumping. This was the first time you were bothering with a gas station. You read the HUD, seeing your lifesigns laid out so cleanly, neatly, wondering why you hadn't thought this baby up. Smith Weston... who the hell were you?

On the lower right a soundwave box opened up, and began to play. A pinprick of excitement ran up your spin as a very familiar voice filled your ears. Sweet, like honey, with nothing but good will in it. "I'm coming for you, Midorikawa Nagisa. Those she-devils Usagi and Mami can't keep ME down!"

You knew her very well.

With apprenhension soaking in, the base burning away with Mami inside, SHE seeked you out. With a bus of seven magical girls bent on the destruction of the world, dead set in the middle of an abandoned Black City, with a possible epidemic on the loose, your next move was uncertain.

The curtains drop, the act fades into blackness, all the while a city burns from the invisible flames of love, while betrayals played out in perpeturity in the background. The high and lofty goal of world domination seemed so far away, but the key to this goal was approaching ever nearer, only if you kept your priorities straight, and your friend close.


Scene 06: Medical Checkup

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you slept in a guarded room, and had a horrible nightmare for it. A nightmare you couldn't escape from, a nightmare of uncertainty in a city of ghosts. A nightmare that felt too real. The city you lived in devoid of all live besides you and your magical girl entourage.

A mysterious something infecting possibly everyone, but most definitely you. Through the bag, you cured yourself, but ended up hurling your stomach to the pavement. Sweet Fuu took delight in that, so you took delight in her chest. She wanted to kill you but Usagi managed to calm her down. With the bus you carted your merry band to a gas station.
In the middle of gathering supplies, intel, and fueling the bus, SHE contacted you:

"I'm coming for you, Midorikawa Nagisa. Those she-devils Usagi and Mami can't keep ME down!"

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa to your magical cohorts, and your ear was killing you. Thrust from your nightmare, the device you planted to be security woke you up, and went dormant. The doorknob was rattling, indicating a person or persons wanting entrance. You couldn't exactly say no to them, the door only able to lock on the outside. The door opened, light shone in from the corridor's lighting, and in stepped Mami, now in civilian clothing.

"Are you awake?" She asked, deadpan, face black.

How do you respond?


You felt shaken by your ordeals in bizzaro black city, not having had the time to sift what meaning you could from the dust. Especially since it felt so real. However, this was Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami! Something about her just rubbed you wrong.

"Oh no, I'm not asleep. You didn't come in here to take advantage of a sleeping girl, did you?" You asked her, putting a chuckle in the mix. You sat up from your fetal position - one you suspected your body adopted in your sleep - and wrapped what blanket you could around your still clothed body. You made your posture as innocent as you could.

Mami scoffed. "Grow up, Nagisa. No one wants you in that way. Not even Yuna. Now get up before I have Usagi drag you out of there."

Do you continue harassing her until her rainbows become knotted, or get up?


"No one wants me in that way...? Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami," You sighed, shaking your head before staring at the silhouette of the girl that Usagi considered a friend. "My hair is better kept than yours."

Silence was her only reply, before turning and walking out. "USAGI! Deal with her!" Her voice demanded before going off on a tangent of it being a long night and how hard it was to keep the deflectors online or something along those lines.

Usagi stepped out of the corridor and beelined toward you. You started to stand when she grabbed your shirt, dragging you out of your darkened room to the light. You threw the earpiece into a corner while you still had a chance.

"Nagisa, stop playing around. You are the only one to have any sleep last night and everyone else had a LONG night." Her voice was tight, tired, her fist made of iron. You stopped trying to walk and literally had yourself dragged with ease.

"Where are we going, Usagi? I'm a big girl now, I go to the bathroom all by myself and everything, but let me get there on my own power."

"I'm taking you to the infirmary, you need to be checked out." Her fist still clutched you.

What do?


"Checked out for what?" You asked, hands gripping her wrist. The both of you turned a corner, and saw Mami turning the one at the end. From the glimpse she looked to be in a hurry. So was Usagi, for that matter. "And I thought nobody wanted me in that way?"

Usagi didn't answer. You felt something in the air: Fear. The compound reeked of it, the ebbing flow of adrenaline soaking everything.

You swallowed. "Checked out for what, Usagi? What's wrong with me? Did I get too much sleep? Or too little?"

No answer. So you badgered her with the same question, until finally she stopped. Still holding you, she turned her head to you. Slight dark circles under her eyes. Her eyes showing trauma, as if she had to do a lot in a small amount of time very quickly.

"Top secret. What I can tell you is this compound's safety depends on this."

"COME ON USAGI, BEFORE---"

"YEAH YEAH YEAH!" Usagi replied, now dragging you again.

Do you resist?


You don't resist. You let yourself be carried off to be given an unwanted test. You do, however, tell her that you deserve to know what's going on afterwards. She nodded. A good enough reply in your book, especially from a stressed girl. Turning the corner that Mami did, you catch sight of the infirmary.

It... didn't look as you expected it to. Sure, there's beds for someone to lay down on to the right, but beyond that it departed from the norm. A huge screen stood on a wall with databanks surrounding it. In the middle of the room was a tube, wide enough to put a human being into, and tall enough for a seven foot person. A metal frame surrounded it, but the entrance was open. The sliding glass door-wall was open, and it was here that Usagi placed you.

"Sorry Nagisa, but you really should treat Mami better. She doesn't deserve a barbed tongue." Usagi scolded you as she pressed a button on the console connected to the tube. The door-wall moved, and hissed into close. Usagi gave Mami a thumbs up and Mami began to type away at the screen.

You felt cozy inside. You couldn't do jumping jacks but you weren't squashed in either. Air began to pump into the tube through six holes in the floor, and a green circle floated up and down the metal framework. Staring at the screen, you noticed a readout of your vitals in green lettering filled up the black background. Mami and Usagi stood in front of it, reading whatever technosorcery it told them.

"Hey!" You hollered and Usagi turned around.

"Does this have to do anything with Zepintoids?" Usagi shook her head, pointed at her ear and shrugged.

Did that mean she couldn't understand you?

Do you try again or examine what you could of the infirmary?


As a test you jumped up and down a few times, seeing more and more letters fill up the monitor. You realized jumping did absolutely nothing to throw the scans off, and indeed, the green ring scanned the entire length of the tube.

Standing still, you decided to examine the room. Maybe you'd catch something you hadn't before. With the screen as 12 o clock, you went clockwise.

Databanks with blinking lights. Databanks with rolls of paper full of data printing to the floor. You had a lot of data to process. You continued moving. More corridors with motivational posters of screaming orange magical girls with the world in their teeth. This corridor died early, with only one branch: to the right. Orange and blue lines were painted along the floor. Possibly leading to important rooms. Seven beds laid at attention, each one able to hold up to one person. Innocent white, instead of war time red, colored their skins. A pentagram with a middriff that wouldn't quit.

You stopped, heart lurching. The antagonist from the dream, Sweet Cosmic Moon Fuu or something was standing right there, eyeing you with cold eyes. Her arms were crossed before the middle point of her star. Her lips moved and Usagi turned, said a few things, then walked up to her. Fuu kept her eyes on you. She didn't look stressed out, but didn't look pleased at all, either. Fuu nodded, and pointed to the screen. Usagi looked over, Mami stared at her and said more items you couldn't hear.

You kicked the tube, to see if any sound would bound off. None did, but all three did look over at you. You stared at Fuu. Fuu stared at you. Usagi talked, tilted her head to the screen, and escorted Fuu over to it. All three stared at the vitals.

Do you have any actions you wish to try? You still have your bag, and your gun.


The screen flashed blue several times before going black. New lettering filled the screen. They were your vitals, yet again, but positioned differently. In the middle was a green person standing as if they were doing the pharaoh dance and that one picture of the human body. A happy grin was clear to see upon the visage. A red line blinked into existence,  shooting off to the right. It connected to the person's chest region. You felt their tension through the thick plexiglass.

They stared at it until Fuu pointed at the keyboard. Mami began to type away, and the databanks began to churn anew. Their electrical gerbils going 15 miles over the speed limit, the paper was coming out like it was going out of style. Fuu instructed Usagi this time, pointing to the paper. Usagi nodded and skimmed the information contained therein. Thankfully air was still being pumped into your tube, but couldn't they have at least given you a stool? Why was it that every infirmary made you uncomfortable as you waited, or were scanned? You waited patiently.

You were SO going to learn what's going on after this ordeal.

----

Fuu stuck around for a while, but you did get to stare at her middrif and unintentionally licked your lips. She narrowed her eyes a fraction. The green ring vanished, and Usagi came over to bring you out of storage. Mami stuck near the screen.

Your first words, Nagisa?


"What's the news, doc? Can I play the piano?" Were your first words. Usagi just stared at you, grim. Grim enough to make you say your second words. "I am clean... right?" She shook her head, sad mingling with the grim. "Wha-what's wrong with me?"

"You're bugged, Nagisa." Mami kept her silence as Usagi told you what was going on. "Someone has been tracking you, and we noticed that last night, as you slept. Now, the signal's weak, so they can't get a clear reading on you but we'll need to increase shielding around the compound and keep you here. Maybe indefinitely. Or until we deal with the problem at the source, but..." She tightened her lips, then shrugged. "That's what you wanted to know."

How did you respond to the news?


"Can't you just... take it out? Or something? You're not gonna put a sunction cup on my belly and pull, are you?"

"It's not a physical thing, so no I... we... can't take it out. From the readouts it's... magical in nature. Before you ask anymore questions, I need to go over what data we collected... off of you..." She looked uncomfortable saying that.

Mami began to type away at the keyboard again, determination and purpose lacing the clicks.


"No more questions, okay? I need sleep. Just stay in the compound, especially near the command center, for your health and our own." Usagi began to walk away.

"Well ok, Usagi." You told her back, eyes drifting over to Mami. Her back was to you as well. You felt like there was distancing between you and Usagi and Mami. Too many backs pointed at you, with only Fuu's front facing you. Something... was very off about that girl. You couldn't put your finger on it but it made you uncomfortable.

They appeared to no longer need you, and Usagi did sort of say you could go. You could do nearly anything right now, within reason of course. No going crazy with your air revolver. Unless you wish to try taking them all out with the hardest difficult on. You were planning on becoming ruler of the globe.

What was your first action?


You felt hungry. In the tube your stomach growled. You were the only one to have heard its cry for tasty nutrients. You left the infirmary and went back to your room. You collected your earpiece after a minute of looking around, and left your room with it in your pocket. You didn't leave it on the desk because they might get ahold of it.

That would lead to unwanted questions. You were in the cafeteria yesterday, that much you remembered. You followed what you could remember of the path, nearly getting lost in the process. However, you found the cafeteria after correcting your mistake.

Twelve desks with benches stood in this spartan room. Some posters were on the walls, nicely spaced from each other. The food and trays were to your left, with a guard rail to divide the line. You had a feeling they weren't needed.

At the furthest table one magical girl sat, with upper class clothes adorning her figure. Almost a race track suit, but honestly you didn't know and was just guessing wildly. She was eating heartily.

Do you bother her to share a piece of her meal or do you demand something chinese from the lunch ladies?


You were going to sit with the hopefully nice girl with the rich clothing. Yes. Walking over to her with confidant strides, you stopped in front of her, effectively on the other side of the table. She didn't notice you or ignored you.

"May I sit with you?" you asked her, tone neutral, face neutral. She stared up at you, a cut up biscuit on her fork. Your heart lurched a second time. The golden girl. The one that inspected the bus at the start of that dream. You nearly dropped your tray but kept your cool, possibilities running around in your head.

"A mongrel wishes to sit with me?" She spoke, eyes narrowing. She eyed you up and down. "By the looks of it, the mongrel of all mongrels."

"Yeah well.. can I sit with you?"

"As long as you know your place - mongrel - yes."

Like the cur you are, you sat with the girl. Across the table from her, no less.

What sort of questions do you wish to ask her?


"Thank you for letting me sit with you."
"Mongrel." She said in between a bite of bacon wrapped sausage dripping in gravy. You started in on your meal as well, ignoring every mention of mongrel. It wasn't growing warmer, and you weren't getting fuller. Cutting up the pancakes, you ate them slice by slice.

Mouth empty, you spoke. "So what's your name? Don't tell me it's mongrel." This got a snort out of her.
"You don't know me?"

"Nope. I'm new to this little circus."

"Mongrel! As expected of you! I will have to enlighten you as to who I am. I am," She took a sizeable bite out of a biscuit and swallowed it before continuing, hand on chest. "Saint Peach Pretty Yui, the Golden sniper. I'm the one that took out Pretty Cosmic Sun Yuri." You feigned shock, gasping slightly.

"Not Pretty Cosmic Sun Yuri! She was a terror in the eastern hemisphere."

"Oh yes, the very same! You better not forget my name, Mongrel!" She jutted a finger at you before going back to eating. You took the time to eat a little as well. After a moment.

"Do you even have a name? Do mongrels name other mongrels?" Oh my that word! You thought, smiling painfully in unknown places.

"My name is Pretty Mongrel Beautiful Mongrel, the black shaggy Mongrel that drooled all over Moon Peach Cosmic Mongrel." This had Yui laughing uproariously, taking your jests in stride.

"HAhah! I knew it, your name WAS! Mongrel!"

"In all seriousness, my name is Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and I have no glories to account for." If waking up to a dead man in bed counted for one, you were the last one to have been told.

"Whatever! That isn't as good as Beautiful Mongrel Pretty Mongrel. You're a pretty mongrel, I suppose." Yui admitted, grinning at you with amusement twinkling in her red slitted eyes. "Compared to other mongrels I've seen, you are." She shrugged, and resumed her eating.

You did so as well. It was half warm, half cold! But it still tasted wonderful, and you felt pretty good for getting this far in a conversation with a stranger. Especially an annoying stranger like Saint Peach Pretty Yui, the golden sniper and slayer of Pretty Cosmic Sun Yuri.

"So, Saint Peach Pretty Yui, how did you come to work for this organization? You're a hero after all, someone to look up to. What could you possibly want with Rainbow Mami and Elegant Usagi?" You stared at her, she stared back, swallowing. She had a lot of food still on her tray. You wondered why, and queued the question.

"Why? Well. It's something a mongrel like you wouldn't understand."

You grinned. "Try me, Yui."

"Really, it's not something a mongrel like you would understand. But..." She gave it a neuron's worth of thought before coming back at you. "What they're trying to do will grant my wish faster."

You nodded, happy enough to be given a partial reason. Better than nothing, and on top of that, you knew she wouldn't betray them. Ideals and goals conflicted already, secretly.

"And you Mongrel?"

Technically you haven't. You're still giving it thought, and haven't gotten back to Usagi. Yui doesn't know that.

How do you respond?


"Usagi approached me with a personal plea. I'm… not quite convinced she's right, but I said I'd give her a chance."

"Heh, naturally to a mongrel. You can't make your mind up when you see something good so you stall the inevitable. Really, Mongrel, stop being so low." She shook her head, and continued eating.

"It's not that... We have a conflict of interests, and I'm trying to give her side a chance. To see which one of us is ultimately correct." You shrugged your shoulders, eating a few more bites. Yui appraised you, as if suddenly interested in what a mongrel like yourself would consider important enough to reserve your allegiance.

Pancakes were gone, but they were delightful while they lasted. The biscuit was almost gone, and the sausages were down to one, out of three. You were dwindling food while Yui had plenty still.

"So are you naturally that hungry?"

"Yes. I have a big appetite. This won't fill me up yet, either..." You pushed your tray forward. The two of you looked at each other. "I'm full - small mongrel stomach - and wish to give tribute to you, for being nice to me. Please accept it."

"This isn't enough for a tribute." She stated.

"Well, what is?"

"The size of my current stack would be sufficient enough."

You stood up, taking your tray to the buffet line, and just piled on the food. Proportions were all out of whack. You came back with a sizeable stack of everything, all of them intermixing, cross contaminating, and generally falling over one another. You placed it in front of her again.

"Please accept this more befitting tribute." She gave it some thought before nodding, saying that it'll do.

A smile was on her lips.

Do you spend more time here or leave? It's been half an hour.


Usagi's words filled your skull. You had to stay inside the compound. Not like you had a way out anyway, but still you felt restricted. Having nothing to do inside here, you decided to hang out with Pretty Yui, and asked her to retell the fight with Sun Yuri. You followed up with having known about it but wishing to hear it again, but from the one who slayed her. So Yui granted your mongrel wish, and told you, while eating.

"Sun Yuri had a pair of claws that radiated with the sun's essence, They could slice through anything and pretty much did for a lot of the buildings we fought in. I had a sniper rifle, which required long range to be effective. She kept me at a close range affair. It was hit and run for awhile but we managed to fight our way to the skyscrapers of this city. She figured she had me cornered and an adopted a pose that screamed, "I'm better than a mongrel." She wasn't, but she fought better than one, I'll give her that! But she didn't know that I could also..."

Inside the cafeteria of the compound full of magical girls bent on destroying the world, you entertained a mongrel obsessed girl. Face muscles aching from all the acting, your mind growing exhausted, you idly spent a moment to ponder on what the screen told them. All the papers with the data burned on. Sweet Fuu and Pretty Yui. That dream. Was it all prophetic, or just plain luck?

You didn't know, and you didn't have a leg to stand on. A voice other than Yui's entered your brain, despite the body not being there. It was far off, as if through a bad connection. What you could pick up was: "... trying... sever... connection... won't.... me... i... you... just wait... free you... Nagisa."


The curtains drop, the act fades to blackness. The world was a giant stage, and all the actors were lining up for their parts. A blood moon was rising, ready to spotlight the incoming dramas for the nonexistent world to enjoy. All you had to was reach out and accept her feelings.


Scene 07: Technological Background

"Last night a control rod was stolen from one of the nuclear power plants." You looked up at your secretary. She held a report to you, silent indignation written all over her face. Red glasses, black hairband, very long black hair. She had an elegant aura to her and you really, REALLY liked her. You... didn't take the report.

"Which nuclear power plant?"

"Nuclear power plant #6, the one with the parks surrounding it." Ooh yes, that one! Those parks were popular with the citizens of Black City. You really should build more parks around it.

"So what? Can't it function without a control rod?"

"FOOL, It's melting down as we speak!"

"Don't they always melt down? Fires on their grey structures strike me as very fetching." You went back to your magical girl literature. It was really nice. The little girl was about to seal a kitty that has despair infesting its intestines. You always wanted to write some someday, but honestly you still needed a lot more research to be done.

Your secretary took the book from your hands and slid the report in its place. "Read you filthy, despicable cretin. How you became mayor is a mystery, how you stay in power is something entirely else, and how I stay in your service is something I'll never know!"

She really liked you. You sighed, blessed to have such a worthy secretary by your side.

How do you read the report?


This report printout was beautiful. Her handwriting was precise, crisp and flawless graphite lines of love making. They read "READ THIS" "MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER THIS" "STOP LOOKING AT MY HAIR AND READ THIS PARAGRAPH" while circling the various important paragraphs. She really helped you. You relaxed in your mayor chair, legs going over the arm rest while your head rested on another. You then had it go over the side, turning the office upside down, and then started reading it.

"You have nice handwriting."

"SHUTUP AND READ."

You casually read the report, skipping what parts were dry or boring.

Basically what happened was a control rod was stolen from Nuclear Power Plant #6. It didn't simply disappear, it was obviously taken. Something had punched and twisted the walls out, making enough space for a person to walk through. The workers are at a loss as to what THAT was but none were injured. They did find something very interesting INSIDE the core.

A wooden staff, something you would see in a fantasy book. It was lying right next to the space where the missing control rod fit. You stopped reading there once the report started making suggestions, with lots of notes from your secretary to read that part, on evacuation methods for the city.

You sat up in your chair and patted your lap.

"Sit on my lap."

"What about the city?"

"The power plants always are on fire. The workers have managed so far to keep us from melting down. They are skilled and can do so with one less rod to work with."

She sighed and shook her head, crossing her arms. She stood there, feet from you, not looking at you.You sat there, waiting for her to come slinking to you like a cat. A sexy nekomimi, if your fetishes had ever failed you.

Meanwhile, a power plant is losing integrity, threatening to make Black City another Chernobyl. You could wait forever. She was definitely worth it...

LAST TIME On Nagisa Quest, you were scanned for something by Mami and Usagi. Sweet Fuu was there too, very cold to you in your tube. An hour and a half of scanning resulted in a long strip of paper with your vitals printed out in painstaking detail, and a revelation. A red ribbon, very strong and vibrant red, was connected to apparently your chest. Possibly to your heart, if you could tell from the digital you. They cut you loose in the compound, but you had to stay in this military prison. You decided breakfast was in order, and went to the cafeteria. There you met Saint Peach Pretty Yui, the golden sniper. After some discussion, you apparently broke the ice and might be making a friend with someone in this place.

However, shortly after retelling the tale of slaying Sun Yuri she left, bothered by your mongrelness. Now you stood in the entranceway to the corridor, a screaming girl face eating the world facing you. Glyphs were running along the side of it. You didn't know what they said.

What did you do now?

Did you follow the blue line, or the orange line? Or... did you follow the red line?


You decided to turn left. Explore that direction. Both orange and blue lines lead you through the various corridors with various rooms that held various unknown things in them. Your hosts weren't really good about making you feel at home, you found out. The lines lead you to a room with a reinforced blast door. Red lettering on the door informed you that this door was the Command Center. Two lightbulbs behind cages flanked the door. The command center. Usagi told you this room had the most shielding in the entire compound.

Do you dare enter this scientific realm?


You strode in with nary a care in the world. The world was yours, it just didn't know it yet. That included this pitiful compound with its quaint command center and it's cozy outdated but highly advanced with the aid of magic computers twinkling in the lack of light exposure room. Scientists worked solemnly at the monitors, their faces washed in the colors of digital gerbils. Information you didn't recognize streamed along the screens. The room had dips and rises, all holding something technological. It was quiet like a library, but had the clicking of many keyboards, and your eyes shone from the tiny lights on the databanks.

So this was the room with the most shielding. You could easily tell why it did. If a bomb went off in here, this cadre of magical girls would be crippled. Sure they had magic but something in your gut told you that this was their last stand, figuratively speaking. A do or die mission, only a foot step away from bust.

No one has noticed you yet.

What do you do?


Many scientists worked at the stations, but which one would prove most useful? You snooped around, quietly of course, making sure to not disturb their work. You didn't know whether you had clearance to be in here, but since Usagi said so, you might as well have it. You peered over one scientist's shoulder to peer at her screen.

It was an inventory on the compound's stocks. Lots of food stocked and on delivery, something which you suspected Yui having a hand in depleting. Some autocannon ammunition, possibly for the have-yet-to-be-seen autocannons hiding in the walls, floor, and ceiling. Metals of all sorts, and even something called "Deflectors." Which a massive number had recently been ordered. As early as a few hours ago, even.

Lots of mundane things scrolled by, things like pillows, blankets, beds, desks, lamps, lightbulbs, bandaids, medical supplies, and TVs. Moving on, you spotted another filled seat, and peered over her shoulder.

She was working on the energy distribution, cutting back every other department as far as she could and transferring the surplus to a generator called "Auxiliary Backup." Boring but slightly interesting. You found yourself a seat, empty, and decided to take it for yourself. The monitor awaited your command, running in DOS.

What do you command?


Your fingers typed in each letter individually, typing in /dir REVEAL YOUR SECRETS. Entering enter, you entered the entering entry into the computer and for your trouble got a "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED." And a bunch of gobbly goop.

Want to try again?


You pinged Mordor with 32 bits of data. It timed out four times. Fine then, you started to hit /cd over and over until you couldn't do it anymore. Changing gears, you typed in /dir. >WHICH DIRECTORY DO YOU WANT? A good question. You sat thinking before a thought came to you. You wondered what they had on you, i.e. a folder of data on yours truly. It was worth checking out. You typed in /dir NAGISA, and...

Actually got something. You blinked in surprise at this. It was a shot in the dark for all you cared, and it actually hit something. Alright, you're in, somehow. Heart racing, you scooted closer to the screen and read the layout.

>VITALS
>HISTORY
>POWERS
>README.txt

Which first?


You opened up the POWERS folder, and in it was a series of text files all with dates for titles. It stretched back a good deal into the past. From what you could see in each text document, someone has been stalking you, watching you very closely. So close they could've done something. In fact they have, having injected something that sedated the injectee and befuddled their memory synapses. You then learn that this someone had placed you in that flea bag motel with the intention of "sending demons" to you. Scary. They clearly know of your bag, but no mention of Usagi and Mami in any friendly terms. They were in the dark on this, just as you were before.

You couldn't gleam much more from the POWERS folder, and /cd up to the NAGISA main directory.

What next, Nagisa?

>HISTORY
>VITALS
>README.txt


You opened up VITALS, and another slew of text documents appeared. This time they had actual names, instead of dates. HER THREE SIZES, HER GENERAL INFORMATION, HER INTERESTS, HER 'FRIENDS', HER LIFESTYLE, HER FAMILY, HER PLAN, and one last document with a different name. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.

You opened RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. Text scrolled. "SHE is looking for HER. It's finally happening. The magical exam verified that. I've ordered the two wouldbe destroyers to amp up shielding. If SHE finds HER, the endgame would be triggered, which I don't mind, but I want to put HER out a little while longer. A few more squeezes from this rock to slack my thirst is all I want from this doomed world. Then a swift and brutal befriending." There's nothing more in this text document.

The person who drafted this must have been secretive by nature, because this was lightweight stuff. Shrugging, you exited out of it and went into HER PLAN. Text scrolled.

"HER plan is as silly as the others, Usagi and Mami's. Instead of destroying the world, HER wants to rule it. Having examined her for quite some time - see POWERS for further information - I came up with a few possible reasons. HER wants to rule in a dictatorship, striking out against the populace for the big wrong in her past. HER wants to see the world burn, anger having sizzled in her heart long enough. Or, HER wants to rule the world in a unified democracy or republic. Least likely of all scenarios, research indicates. But my gut is telling me HER has another more likely scenario that HER isn't telling anyone..."

That was all for HER PLAN. You exited out.

Time for HER FAMILY. "Father - Wealthy entrepreneur with ties in many wealthy organizations. Deceased. Mother - Not apart of family, having ran away for reasons unknown. Deceased nonetheless. Daughter - Spoiled, rotten, ungrateful bitch that didn't welcome anyone beyond the norm. Still living." That was all for HER FAMILY.

You exited out and entered HER 'FRIENDS'. "Matsubara Usagi - A bit of a tomboy, she has a heart of gold and is really protective of Momomiya Mami. She does tennis, race track, and haikus. Momomiya Mami - A girl from a rich family, possibly blue blood. She does painting, poetry, and tennis. Nagisa Yuna - A girl that absolutely adores Midorikawa Nagisa. Enough so to adopt her first name as her last. She goes to no clubs, and is generally a generic student. Except, she's a friend... Aino Fuu - " That's all for HER FRIENDS.

You exited out of the file, and opened HER INTERESTS. "HER Interests are as follows: Outer space, science fiction, colonizing other worlds, highly advanced technology, her friends, Nagisa Yuna. After THAT, HER interests are as follows: Selfishness, whiskey, brooding, staring off into space with a vacant look in HER eyes, sticking close to run down slums. It's interesting to see how her interests shifted after THAT. A good thing for me, really." That's all for that text file.

You closed out of it and entered HER GENERAL INFORMATION. "Name Midorikawa Nagisa. Age 17. height 5'6''. Weight 105 lbs. Eyes left green right blue. Blood type AB, or O. Back length black hair. Finger nails & toe nails recently cut [xx-xx-xxxx] Scars none. Birthmarks none. Disadvantages none. Slender fingers, slender toes." And it stopped right there. It was terrifying how accurate it was, even more so with the abrupt ending with lack of commentary at the end.

You closed out and entered HER THREE SIZES. "HER Three sizes will be forth coming. But I suspect it'll be similar to a boys." Oh dear.

You closed out and entered the last remaining text file in the folder: HER LIFESTYLE. "She lived a decadent life in a crystal palace with everything at her fingertips. She lead a wealthy life with all sorts of technological marvels and good food. I don't hate her for being born in such a gifted position, but her having friends and denying me any just rankled me. Then again... they all denied me..." Text document ended there.

You closed out and got out of VITALS. Staring at >HISTORY, >README.txt, you felt a ghost behind you. Checking around, you were still alone. The command center still was a comand center, with nothing having happened.

Staring at the creepiest stalker in existence, you felt a tremor of uncertainty twang deep in your gut. Shrouded in the betrayers cloak, with a lance of red stabbing your heart, you sat in the brain of the beast, staring at mechanisms of which you have no idea. An interlude appears on screen, and the audience get up to get more popcorn. The theater lightens up, and murmurs were exchanged for what was coming.


Scene 08: Connections

Usagi yawned, scratching her back through the fabric of her white nightgown. Mami sat on her side of the bed, battling her eyes a little longer. She had things to say and ask Usagi.

"We shouldn't be going to sleep, you know? There's much work to be done still."

"I know, but!" Usagi pointed out with her index finger, smiling wearily at her friend from the other side of the room. "We need it. Especially after that emergency..." She shivered, remembering how suddenly all the alarms screamed and every screen was filled with red. "A-anyway, you agreed so readily to it because you know you need it as bad as I do!"

Mami nodded. "That's true, however we do have a lot more to do before nightfall."

"A nap wouldn't hurt anybody, Mami." Usagi laid down, reaching out to touch Mami. "C'mon, lets share warmth~."

Mami sighed, content coloring it, as she laid back, head pillowed by Usagi's stomach. She giggled, turning Mami into an appropriate position. Mami didn't resist. They spooned with Usagi's arms hugging Mami.

"Do you know where that girl went off to? She disappeared after the scan."

"She was in the cafeteria with Yui when I walked by." Usagi's voice already had the taint of sleep seeping into it. "So she won't be near the command center?"

"Naw, she has no reason to be. Then again... I did tell her that it was the best place for her to be, considering its shielding."

Mami sat up, breaking through Usagi's weak hug. "She mustn't be near there, Usagi! She hasn't even accepted your proposal, she's untrustworthy!"

She tried getting up but Usagi forced her back in bed. Mami, disgruntled, turned around so they could see each other's faces.

"Us-a-gi..." Mami's tone warned danger, responsibility, and duty.

"Ma-mi, I am telling you right now," Usagi's tone brooked no opposition. "You and I are going to take a nap. Nagisa IS trustworthy. Yes we fought once, to the point of mutual destruction, but she's been cooperative to everything we have put her through so far. She hasn't once shown any sign of betrayal. Leave her be, our subordinates can keep her in check. For now, recover." She then pressed her forehead against Mami's, sighing out the tension. Her left hand stroked Mami's cheek, holding it. "Alright?"

Mami caved, muttering a fine. Usagi fell asleep with a smile. Mami waited a few minutes before sneaking out, but it was too late, her eyes had closed and she found herself sleeping.

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you found the brain of the serpent. Twinkling with magical tech, it was a dazzling sight to your virgin eyes. With the most shielding in the whole facility, it bore the aura of fatality.

Inside, you sneaked looks over the working neurons, seeing their synapses snapping. Inventory and energy management were all that you saw before hijacking a synapse and bending it to your will.

There, you accessed a directory dedicated solely to yourself, compiled by a bonefide stalker. Accurate information filled the screen with startling results. This stalker had nearly an encyclopedic knowledge on you, missing a few scraps here and there.

They were also the reason why you woke up with a dead Smith Weston in bed in that flea bag motel. Your gut told you they were the reason for everything bad in your life currently.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa to your magical friends and enemies alike, and, cloaked in impregnable fear, you stared at the last folder and text document available to you.
>HISTORY
>README.txt

Which do you choose first?


History. What did this stalker know of your history? Truth be told, you couldn't remember anything beyond being a magical girl, so if they had anything before your magical girl life, that'd be a plus.

Typing your way into the History main directory, you encounter three text documents.

>AFTER CONTRACT.txt
>BEFORE CONTRACT.txt
>NOTES FOR THE FUTURE.txt

Your eyes scanned each title before going right back to the Before Contract.txt. That was where you would start. Clicking on it, text scrolled on the monitor.

"HER was the ringleader in HER group of 'friends'. Whatever happened, HER was the central point, the pivotal position, in which everything was influenced. HER even imported SHE into the group, and the others accepted SHE with no qualms! I couldn't believe that. I just wanted friends that were nice. Friends that weren't like mine. HER denied me this by making them fear me. I really wasn't anything to be afraid of. Really. Honestly. But HER had to be selfish and keep them all to herself.

Well no more! No more! HER will suffer my wrath. I made my wish with that reason in mind, and the giant, hairy incubator granted it to me with this note: You're one angry little girl. Anger is the only fuel I have! I've chosen my path and will stick to it steadfastly. That incubator doesn't understand my reason for doing this. He would never understand..."

That was all for BEFORE CONTRACT.txt. You read it twice, trying to make sense of the ranting and ravings of your stalker - who apparently was a magical girl just like you.

Nodding, you exited out of that document and entered AFTER CONTRACT. Text scrolled.

"HER didn't use HER power very often. HER must be old fashioned to not take up the perks of being a magical girl. HER would also spend a lot of HER time space gazing, or sleeping. Intriguing what the past can do to your future self. HER fought with Matsubara Usagi. Matsubara Usagi utilized her full power, including her nightmare barrier. A fight over their wasted wishes. In that light, it was a completely pointless fight. Matsubara Usagi had the upper hand, and was about to strike HER down when she backed down. I'm thankful but also irked. HER is mine, not Matsubara Usagi's, but mine! Otherwise, HER spent a lot of time wondering - see POWERS folder for full detail - Black City. HER didn't do much, no big battles to lay claim to, unlike that deceitful Yui.

My wish has interfered with her life well enough, but it is time to start speeding this process up."

You remembered that fight. It was the worst one you ever been in. Usagi was going all out on you, using all her tricks. You would always fear her nightmare barrier and tennis racket. It got so bloody and intense that you...

You shook your head, clearing the memories of the past away. That was all for AFTER CONTRACT. You exited out and opened up the last file, NOTES FOR THE FUTURE.

"Turn all HER 'friends' against HER. Attempt to do the same with SHE, but if that fails, it's alright. SHE's strong but I don't need that weakling."

Thus, HISTORY ended. You exited out of it, and sat there, in the darkness, with more knowledge than before, but more fear. What were you dealing with?

README.txt was the last file in your directory to look at.

Do you wish to take a look?


History was of the highest priority to you, Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa. You clicked into it, and two text documents popped up.

>BEFORE CONTRACT.txt
>AFTER CONTRACT.txt

Before Contract huh? Accessing the file, text filled a partial bit of the screen.

"SHE was so weak, so timid and shy, I had to pick on SHE some. SHE wouldn't stand up to me, even though I was hardly putting any effort in scaring her. That was when HER came to the rescue, using HER group of 'friends' to shield SHE from further insults. I still remember how HER glared at me over SHE's trembling shoulders. The light in HER eyes is the most vivid part, and it still pisses me off to this day.

After that, the two, from how they interacted at the cafeteria, grew close. Real friendly. Lots of laughter, smiles, bright eyes and brighter futures..."

That was all for the file. Exiting out, you accessed the last one in the folder.

"With how HER contracted, and HER actions after said incident, SHE contracted as well, but the two never grew close again. HER rejected SHE, bringing a smile to my lips. The first toll in my wish. I still remember how forceful that shove was that HER gave to SHE, and the pained look on SHE's face. Ah, I could drink wine to that face!

SHE distanced SHEself out of concern, or some such. I'm hardly concerned with SHE's emotional reasoning. Beyond that, I haven't kept any tabs on SHE. SHE must've disappeared to someplace, or moped around at home. Or whatever."

That was all for HISTORY. Exiting out, you stared at the main directory of /YUNA/.
>POWER
>VITALS

Which do you continue with?

Do you check the room for anything odd?


You examined the room. It was exactly like before, with scientists doing staring things with monitors. It took a moment for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and from the eye scratch. Yet you still felt like you were being watched, as if if you were caught, it would spell doom and disaster on your lovely head. Do you continue to sleuth or play it safe?


You summoned your ever loyal bag and thought up a book that would copy the contents of the drive to it. You were about to thrust your hand into the noir space when you noticed that you had a scientist sitting right next to you. They would see your trickery, and that wouldn't be good. You turned around, back to them, and noticed a scientist two seats away.

Better chances at not getting discovered, but you weren't comfortable with it. So you stuck it to the floor, between your legs, with your body hunched over it. This was the best chance of getting it out. Pulling the lightweight book out, you noticed it was in perfect shape. It even vaguely looked first edition in the dimness of the command center. Even better

You opened it up and technotendrils slithered out of the pages. They sought out the monitor and sunctioned onto it. The screen flashed as words were accessed and copied from the drive.

You kept your hands on the cover, keeping the book open, with an uneasy glance hither and thither. You hoped no one would notice you, and that this massive copy wouldn't be noticed.

... MINUTES PASSED BY...

Finally the procedure was done, the screen stopped flashing and defaulted to the blank screen. You didn't have any concrete idea on whether this was the page you found it on.

You had the drive's contents, size unknown.

Do you boogie out now, or do something else inside the command center?



You were done with this room. You had to be, for you had the entire drives worth of information stored inside this first edition book. Clicking a few keys on the keyboard, the computer didn't react as expected, and soon a screensaver began to run.

A soul gem with a wisp of something inside swirling and curling. That was the extent of the screensaver.

You didn't break the computer, did you? No one was using this space before you, which had both advantages and disadvantages, so that's alright. It wasn't being used because it was broken. Yes. You nodded in the hopes of convincing yourself that before leaving the chair with your book and bag, as well as your secrecy.

Retracing your steps, you made your way to the blast doors, which open on your arrival. A white rabbit with albino red eyes tweaked its nose up at you, unblinking. You stared right back.

What do you do?


"If you say you're late, I'm going to lose it." It didn't speak, but it did hiss once it recognized you. It made such a commotion that the scientists started to make looks over your way. With your book, you felt spotted.

The rabbit was a frightful ball of lethal fluffiness, it's bit pointy teeth showing as it hissed away. It moved in as if to cleave your ankles in two, which was something you did not want. You made your way out of there with your stolen data. Making your way back to your room in general, you flipped the pages, seeing words printed out in neat paragraphs. It was easily readable.

Nagisa Yuna... The things you learned about SHE, or you should say, her. Slowly, the gears in your head churned to bring up the past forgotten memories, slowly rising them up through the deep waters of time. In your HER INTERESTS document, your magical girl stalker stated her as one of them.

In Yuna's Before Contract document, it stated HER having saved SHE. You were HER, but could Yuna be SHE? If so, what sort of connection did the two of you have?

Head swimming in questions, eyes scanning the page, the curtains fall. The act faded into blackness. The brain was breached with the gentlest of touches. The seams of the world was partially undone, and the audience gasped in the revelations that could be seen from the heavenly light.


Scene 09: The Magical Past Revealed

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you learned fragments of your past life from your stalker. Your connection to SHE, a Nagisa Yuna. And much more, now that you had the entire computer's drive stored inside a freshly summoned book of digital knowledge. You hadn't given it a name yet, but that placeholder title fit for now, you felt.

SHE and HER. You and Yuna. Friends at the least, possibly more if what the implications in AFTER CONTRACT.txt were to be believed. Yuna bullied by stalker, Yuna saved from stalker by you. Yuna, in gratitude, became your friend? That made it sound selfish on your part, but you couldn't put it any other way. It just felt right.

At the entrance, you met a white rabbit with red eyes. You talked to it, and it hissed at you. It even threatened to bite your feet off. You walked by it with an ignoring shoulder, face firmly in your book.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa to those surrounding you, and you were wondering if you should name your book.

Should you? It is a bit juvinelle but it is rather charming to name something you summoned from your bag. Which you should also give a name to.

Should you name your bag as well?

You decided to leave them nameless. Once given a name, you would slip in conversation and speak of them. That wouldn't be good, especially if dealing with new magical girls. This bag was your only strength. You have your air gun but compared to your imagination it was a peashooter.

Flipping a page, you turned a corner, and had the book slammed into your ribcage. Air escaped your lungs, leaving you winded as your forehead hit something with a resounding crack. Seeing staic you fell to the ground. The book was no longer in your grasp, disappearing into the snow that covered your eyesight.

"Nnnn... watch where you're going, Sister." Rubbing your forehead, gingerly sitting up, you could see past your sleaved arm another girl sitting across from you doing a similar action. Red short hair, orange slitted eyes, and a labcoat with an intricate red circuit pattern to it. You slammed right into a scientist from the looks of it.

How do you respond to her?

Rubbing your forehead some more, you stood to your full height. That was quite the impact, the spot tender and the muscle torn, bruising the brain underneath. You still saw stars. You reached out for one, and offered to help the scientist up. She gladly took it and with a pull you got her onto her feet.

"Sorry about that. You still alive?"

"Obviously. Or maybe I'm a corpse and I don't know it." She laughed at that. Maybe it was her slitted eyes or that good natured smile, you swore she was extremely laid back about everything around her. She had recovered from the head impact, and was staring straight into your eyes. You stared right back and felt the need to introduce yourself.

"Hi, I'm Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa."

"Wedding Strawberry Elegant Komugi" Komugi shook your hand. You shook her right back. The break was clean and mutual.

You scanned around for the book and found it laying pages first, creasing into problematic shapes on the floor. You retrieved while Komugi spoke.

"It was a good thing I was taking my time getting there, or both of us would be unconscious right now." She rubbed the corner with a hand, which incidentally had a wrist warmer covering it.

You turned, two pairs of eyes meeting once again. Komugi looked down. "Ah, a book. I hope it isn't too ruined, yeah?"

Response?


"It looks like it's in okay shape." So much for first edition, you passively thought. Smith Weston would stick his nose up at the damage and not buy it ever. "Where were you heading?"

"To the Command Center. Apparently one of the computers went on the fritz and started trying to infect the entire system." Komugi shrugged, smiling as if it wasn't a problem. It was, you might have been the cause. "So it requires investigating, y'know?"

Response?


"What do you mean by 'infect'?" You gripped the book closer to your side, holding the infector.

"It bears investigation before any solid answer can be given, but from how I was told, it appeared to be DDoSing the system, copying every bit of data it can. This computer may have placed something like a trojan horse or a worm in this process. Not a good thing considering what's inside and outside this meager compound."

You nodded. "That sounds bad. I hope you can get it repaired quickly."

Komugi flashed a grin, waving a wrist warmer hand at you. "Thanks, Nagisa. It'd be a synch, but I appreciate the vote of confidence." With that she told you it was a pleasure and continued on her way, hands in her labcoat pockets.

You kept it cool. You patted yourself on the back for a job well done. You checked your book, and it was in alright shape. The tendrils were gone, and some of the pages bent oddly, but otherwise, alright. You held the book, and didn't read it, not wanting to run into someone.

You could hear Komugi in the background talking to the rabbit.

"Hey there, Tim, what has you in a huff?"

... That rabbit has a name?

Where to next?


"A scratch behind the ears keeps the moods away." Komugi's voice trailed off as the distance increased. You walked to your room with the book clutched closely to your bosom, keeping your eyes firmly on your surroundings. No need to repeat that. Your head wouldn't be able to stand up to that kind of abuse. It was tender still, a hand rubbing the small bump.

On your way there, you noticed this compound was empty. A little too empty. Did they just have a few magical girls working for them, stashed away in their various occupational rooms, or was something going on, something big that you were excluded to know about?

The book would tell you. Entering your empty, spartan room, you placed the proximity beacon outside, since you couldn't exactly lock yourself in. Earpiece in ear, you sat the desk, opened your book to the first page, and read.

You were Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi, or Matsubara Usagi to your friend Momomiya Mami, and you were fighting a former friend by the name of Midorikawa Nagisa. Radiating golden light, your tennis racket felt solid in your hearty hands. Your heart beat with the force of a thousand drums, your senses sharply tuned in to the nightmareish world that you yourself created.

Flesh consisted the world, bones the buildings. If it started to rain, bodily fluids would be it. The clouds were hairballs, and the sun was a giant hole that closed and opened repeatedly, nonstop. The air felt liquidy, as if it was trying to become water but wasn't quite getting there.

This was the world you knew of, and you were going to destroy it.

But Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, bent low across from you, holding her revolver with both hands despite one arm taking a glancing shot from your sun beam, glared cold hatred at you, a snarl screwing her otherwise beautiful face up.

"I won't let you destroy this world." She growled, taking aim with her revolver. She fired a shot, the sound of a clap ringing out. Air slammed into you with the force of a hurricane, all triangulated into a singular point, heavily bruising your stomach despite having a heart protecting you there. You stood from the pulsating ground, gasping for breath, raggedly doing so.

"I will! For all of us, I will reduce this world to cinders. You with it if I must!" With that you blasted her with your sun beam. You were too quick, or she was too slow, half of her body engulfed in the beam. She dived out of the way, but was heavily burnt for it.

You stood fully, and walked to her. She laid on the tumors that infested the ground, trying to stay alive with all the strength she had, which wasn't much. She continued to glare at you, teeth gritted as if she had lockjaw.

You pointed your racket at her. The light radiating off it bore the aura of finality.

Do you kill her, or spare her?

A faint aura of light off your racket. Glinting in her dying eyes, you would be the last thing she would see in this world. A grave's calmness shrouded you. If it had to be that way, so be it. But first, since you had the upper hand, you might as well give her a chance to explain herself.

"Speak, Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, speak and tell me why you want to rule the world."

She was having a hard time breathing, let alone talking. But talk she must, and talk she would.

"Fancy Knight... Elegant Usagi... why? I'll tell you why," She spoke from her teeth. "I lost everything I held dear... My father... My lifestyle... Yuna... Everything. Destroying the world... would be stupid. Too quick, too... too quick. I want everyone to suffer what... I have suffered."

"And what is that?" This time she had enough strength to lift her head and look closer into your face. She looked fierce, but it had death tainting it, dulling the edge.

"Eternal loneliness."

Do you strike or leave her be?

Nagisa rested her head, going back to working on breathing. Damage was severe. You tanked her to the ground and this was the result. your brain churned away at what she said.

You were a knight. A FANCY knight at that, and a knight always showed mercy when there was a sliver of hope in their opponent. A sliver of a chance to saving them. Of Redemption. You weren't a fancy paladin, but you were the next best thing.

You sheathed your tennis racket. Nagisa stopped glaring so hard, confusion entering her expression. Then her eyes narrowed.

"Oh... I see... going to let me die... slowly."

You shook your head. You bent next to her, arms sliding under her prone body, scooping her up in your embrace.

"OOOOOOWWWWW.... owowowowow..." You had touched her burnt, tender, vulnerable skin. The air itself must be bringing her pain. You noticed how she trembled. Her entire body shook. Indeed, dying.

"Shhh... it's alright, Nagisa... shhh... I'll help you if I can." Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to flow down her cheeks. She didnt' have the strength to fight you, so she simply allowed it, resigned to what fate you had in store for her. "Shh.. You're my friend, Nagisa. Let's... not fight again... I'll make you better, and have you see it my way."

"N-n-n-never..." She muttered.

With a quiet smile you....

You woke up, seeing the still slumbering Mami facing you. She had a peaceful look on it, the polar opposite of the scenary you saw just a moment ago. Your hands trembled. That wasn't something you wanted to remember. You helped her but...

You shook your head, and sat up in bed, rubbing your forehead. You had been sweating. Weird...

What do you do?


A shower was in order. You had to wash off the sweat, think over what happened so long ago. You stood up, rummaged through your drawer, and fished out your towel. You then made your way to the showers.

Inside you washed the memories off, and inspected them. That fight. Former friends fighting for frivolous fantasies. You nearly killed Nagisa, a thing that would have haunted you for the rest of your life. You probably wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you had.

Nagisa left after being healed by you, but you had the feeling she left with a little piece of you in her.

In the library where you awaited her, you saw it in her eyes. The light of surprise, of shock, of fear and nervousness. A pang of guilt rebounded in your heart, but with a befriending hand you wished to start off on a better foot with her.

Done with the shower, you went back wrapped up in the towel. You wanted to snuggle with Mami for a bit, even thought you just got clean.

The act fades, the curtains fall. Past ordeals were given light, grim decisions were weighed with extreme prejudice, and new persons were found. New problems arise from the tampering of the living, plots morph and form, then disassemble to recreate themselves again. The projector burns while the film goes up in a puff. The audiance is both indifferent and impatient at it.

Events were happening, cargo being carried, and gravity torn asunder with the whim of the personable devil.


Scene 10: The High Class Past Revealed

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you ran into a scientist. Going by the name of 'Wedding Strawberry Elegant Komugi' she, at a conversation's glance, apparently was this compound's foremost computer technician. Fairly laid back, she appeared to be in no hurry to get over to the command center, a fortunate fact for you both. A head on collision all but knocked you and her out.

Biding her goodbye, with your tome of knowledge, you hid yourself in your room with your early alarm device standing guard outside. Flipping open the tome, your eyes read possibly forbidden information...

Jumping into the dream of Matsubura Usagi, you saw the aftermath of the no holds fight between her and Midorikawa Nagisa. Bringing your glowing tennis racket up, you were about to strike the fallen girl down when you stayed your hand, and listened to her words.

Her reason for her wish was given. A reason dripping in malice, in pain, in sorrow. As a Knight, you brought her mercy. You brought her full health, and she left you with possibly a portion of your essence in her heart.

Those eyes, wide in shock as if she were caught somewhere she shouldn't be, staring at you from across the private library. You'd remember that expression to the day you die.

You were Matsubara Usagi, or Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi, and you were snuggling up against Mami after having taken a shower to get the post-nightmare sweat off, taking in the smell of her hair. The human skinned blankets were draped over both you and Mami. The pillows were made from flesh as well, like many things in this world. You've gotten used to it, but it still unnerved you some. Your plans to burning the world were in full swing. In the meantime, it took a lot of willpower to remain cheerful, let alone like a normal magical girl.

Thankfully people stll looked like people. You'd had gone insane if everything was tainted.

Do you wish to jump into Mami's dream, back to Nagisa, or continue with Usagi?


Usagi peered at Mami's head. Judging by her calm breathes, she was still asleep. What was Mami dreaming, wondered Usagi. Probably the same one she always had. A pang of pain entered her heart. The world couldn't end soon enough...

It was a beautiful day. In the middle of spring, with white fluffy clouds drifting across the beautifully blue sky. Everything was picturesque in the mansion of the Momomiya family. Since the temperature was so fair on their skins, Mami had suggested to her friends to a tea party outside in their backyard.

Flowers of all different species dwelled in the fertile soil. Their tea set sat upon the table's surface, with slices of a very expensive but highly sought after cake. With each bite the girls would comment on how delicious it was, and these were very small bites.

Sipping their tea, they discussed topics ranging from their recent activities to what their families were planning on doing. Vacations, mergers, buy this or sell that. Financial news was a bit vulgar, but still an acceptable topic to brush upon.

Their smiling faces were something she wouldn't miss. All she wanted was this mansion, this plot of land, and her former lifestyle back. To have those things again, her life would finally begin to rebuild itself until she was back to normal.

A butler came out of the mansion, his long legs bringing him next to Mami Momomiya in a matter of seconds. Bowing respectfully, he muttered something that caused Mami's smile to end. With a slightly panicked, slightly troubled face, she asked him, "What do you mean, we're bankrupt?!"

"Your father will fill you in on the details, Miss Mami." Mami excused him, and remained sitting at the table. Her friends looked at her with puzzled eyes, waiting for an explanation.

You were Momomiya Mami, or Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami, of the former propserous Momomiya family, and the ill news of bankruptcy graced your ears unfairly.

What was your next move?


As your butler had suggested, your father would tell you in detail about this recent startlingly news. Grabbing a napkin, you dabbed at your mouth, getting any crumbs off, before settling it on top of your plate. Standing, you told them to enjoy the cake and tea at their leisure. You didn't tell them that was the last time they'd enjoy that cake here.

Leaving your friends without any reason to your hasty departure, you strode through your beautifully decorated, highly ornate mansion. Mind reeling from the news, you noticed everything for the first time. The vases that the Hinderburgs, a family from Germany that your father was friends with, gave to your family for winning that game of polo. The countless oil paintings lining the walls of your ancestors. All with a story to tell, all with a history. The expensive persian rugs, the tibetan silk tapestries, the greek marble columns.

You barged in every single room in the mansion, eyes darting around for father. He was nowhere to be found. Finding that frustrating, a lady having to run about, exhausting herself in the process no less, just to find her father. Using your brain, you remembered he held meetings in his private study, and immediately went to find that room.

A pair of very tall, very wide doors were all that remained between you and the truth from his mouth. Turning both knobs, you pushed the doors open, and a resounding slam reverberated throughout the study. Both your father and the stranger looked up at you.

The scene was simple: An expensive study with rich colors, the finest money could buy. Your father stood against the desk, hand placing a box of cigars back to where they belonged. Traces of fatigue etched themselves into his face but his prominent expression was of surprise, the whites of his eyes visible.

The stranger sat back on the visitor's couch, legs crossed the gentlemanly way, with his arms outstretched across the frame. He looked at you with calm, his face collected. He looked like a semi-wealthy businessman, with grey eyes and about the age of late thirties, possibly starting into his forties.

How did you approach this scene?


You stared at the stranger. He stared back. Something about his eyes that made you dislike him. Darting your eyes to your father, you spoke to him.

"Busy?"

"We were finishing up---"

"Then what is this about bankruptcy?!" You hollared at him. A very unladylike thing to do, but he made you run around, another unladylike quality. The stranger laughed low, a grin splitting his face. He looked over at your father.

"Hiroshi-san, I must admit, news travels fast in this mansion. Was your butler spying outside the door?" The stranger chided, not even hiding his amusement by your outburst.

Your father gave him a pointed look, then a more sorrowful one at you, before facing the stranger again. "Leave, Mr. Weston, you have what you wanted. Leave me to face my daughter."

"Alright, as you wish. You said it yourself, I got what I wanted." Mr. Weston stood up, smoothed out his suit and turned. On his way out, he looked at you and said these words, "I hope he tells you everything, little one."

You shivered once he passed, his wake something that shouldn't be touching you, let alone something you should be breathing in. Your father, Hiroshi, straightened up. His eyes were on you, expecting another outcry about bankruptcy as his mind churned on how to break the news. You had inheirited his eyes, but not his hair.

"Why have we declared bankrupcy, father? We should be several generations away from having to face that."

"Mami, my sweet Mami... I wasted our family wealth through a risky investment."

"What do you mean, a risky investment?!"

"Calm down! You're still a Momomiya, even if you don't have the prestige to back you up!"

Do you calm down enough to contain your hostility, or continue on in an unpolite manner?

Your shoulders were shaking. You hadn't even noticed that before he reminded you of your station. Taking in a deep breath, you stopped the shaking, and exhaling, you crossed your arms across your chest. You became mistress of your body, and waited a minute.

"Father, I respectfully request that you explain to me, in full, why we have gone bankrupt." Your father nodded, slowly.

"You need to see some financial graphs. Please bear with it - I know how you feel about finances, but it will make it easier to explain to you." Hiroshi positioned himself behind his desk, and typed a few commands into his hidden keyboard.

Out of the walls came monitors on long metal limbs. They positioned themselves around his desk and rotated to be facing you instead of him. He let out a small sigh, seeing each one of them for the millionth time. It still hurt to see wealth gone.

Vulgar, you thought, seeing the screens. Although you had a slight adversion to discussing all things financial, you still picked up some savyness from your father, and it served you well here. One graph was a bar graph. All was fine until just a few days ago when it looked like everyone sold their stocks.

"What happened on this day, father?" With a finger you tapped the monitor you were looking at.

"The experiment was a failure. Everyone funding the Midorikawa Future Tech project dropped it as soon as they found out about the failure. Sure, the Midorikawa family will take a heavy blow from this setback but the Momomiya family got smacked a lot harder. We didn't sell fast enough, and so, we must pay for the losses."

Your father chuckled a sad sound, looking at you from behind his semi wall of monitors. Information processing, you scanned each monitor and they all told you exactly what your father said.

"Who was that Mr. Weston? A representative of the Midorikawa family?" You asked, silent rage brewing in your blood.

"No," Hiroshi shook his head. "He's their inventor. His experiment failed and he came here demanding his money."

With all this information, do you have any other questions?


"His experiment failed and he-- Ugh." You gave a slight digusted look, before shaking it off. "What was it, exactly?"

Your father shrugged. "As I said, Future Tech. They told me but the technicalities went over my head. It's something that would make every science fiction novel true, basically. A power source, I think. Takahiro Midorikawa was a believer of it, and he convinced me like a con artist..."

He trailed away into self pity, kicking himself for not being cautious enough with the fortune.

"Father... where do I find Mr. Weston?"

"I don't know," a big sigh. "I really don't. Only the Midorikawa family would know." He looked at you, pushing a button to retract the monitors. They depressed into the walls, turning into facsimiles of rich wood.

"Mami, go start putting your affairs into order." Was all he said. You nodded, and retreated from the private study,

Outside, in the hallway, you meet your friends. All three stared at you with disbelief on their faces. Apologies in their eyes. They thanked you for the cake and tea, and wished you the best. They left you with your dynasty in ruins.

Gritting your teeth, you started to count your blessings before your woes. You were friends with a Midorikawa... a Nagisa Midorikawa, in fact.

How do you approach her about Mr. Weston?


Knock. Knock. Knock.

You rapped upon the Midorikawa door. This was, more or less, a secret meeting of your own. You didn't have your chaffuer drive you out here; you drove yourself, a dirty secret you would have to keep from your family.

You waited for an answer, and soon one came, in the form of Nagisa Midorikawa herself. Her deep blue eyes blinked at you, puzzlement in her eyebrows. You stared at her, with vulgar business in your heart.

"Mami, this is unexpected. How can I help you?"

"Nagisa, I think we need to have a talk. Can I come in and maybe have some tea?"

"Ah, yeah, you can." Nagisa stepped back, allowing you to enter the Midorikawa eco-dome. It wasn't really an eco-dome, but you couldn't call it a mansion either. It was probably the most highly advanced house in and near Black City. You've been in here a few times, and some of the things this house can do...

It had an AI built in - in Nagisa's words, "a primative one we're currently trying to advance," - digital computers with terrabytes of space, a UFO floater toy, and even something else Mami couldn't describe. Nagisa tried, but it went over head. Glowering, Mami shook off her comparison to her father.

Nagisa sat across the guest room table, staring at you. She was open to what you had to request of her, a teacup in front of her. You took a sip from your own before popping the question.

"I heard the experiment was a failure."

With those words Nagisa became crestfallen. Nodding her head, she frowned. "Yeah, the Future Tech Project is a failure. For now at least."

"What was it anyway?"

"You don't know?"

"Nope." You shook your head, taking another sip as she explained it to you.

Cold Fusion. A next age power source that could sufficiently provide more than enough energy for the advancement of nearly magical technology. But something unexpected occurred and destroyed the prototype and half the base it was stationed in.

You asked what went wrong. She told you in full detail what may have happened. You were of a higher breed than her, but she outclassed you in her scientific knowledge. It was staggering.

"Al-alright. I get it, Nagisa. Can you tell me who Mr. Weston is?"

Nagisa blinked. "Mr. Weston? Oh, Smith Weston, our sponsored inventor? What about him?" Finally, a first name to pair up with the last.

How hard do you press for the information? Remember, you are good friends with her but she is suffering from the loss of progress.


"I was hoping to find him, honestly. From our end, it looks like he took the money and ran, and I'd really like that to not be the case." You told her with a straight face, adding, "ALL of our money."

"Oh wow, you're in a pickle, Mami." Nagisa immediately responded to your story. "He hasn't been here since seeing my dad earlier. Where he is now..." She trailed off.

"where is he, Nagisa?" You prompted her.

"Let me call my dad." Out of her jumpsuit came... a very odd contraption. A black rectangular box with a tiny speaker to receive and.. to speak into? A few buttons were at the bottom with two lights above them. She flipped it open, a tiny noise notifying that channels were open.

"What is that?"

"A communicator. No phone numbers for it yet, so... Dad, this is Nagisa. Pick up." She spoke into the box and waited. Soon an answer came through.

"What's up, sweetheart?" He sounded chipper, you thought, keeping yourself from making a face in front of her.

"Hey, uh... Mami Momomiya is over right now with some bad news. Apparently Smith Weston took their fortune and ran off with it... Has he told you anything about this?"

"Nope!" Came the short answer.

"Oh, I see," Nagisa pushed back a few strands of her black hair behind her ear. "Do you know anything about where he's currently located?"

"Nope! Look, sweetie, I'm sorry but can I go? I still need to sort out this clean up effort."

"Ah! Sorry, Dad! Thank you for answering me. Stay safe, okay?" She whispered the last bit into the speaker, scrunching her eyebrows up in concern.

"I will, Nagisa. See you tonight."

Nagisa flipped the communicator closed and sighed, frowning.

"I'm sorry, Mami, I can't help you."

How do you respond?


You nodded. You saw how it was. Her father was covering up for Smith Weston. You sipped one last time before standing up. Nagisa stood as well, guilt on her face. "Well uh... thanks for trying, seriously. I'll just do what I can with what I've got. Thank you for trying."

"Yeah..." The two of you walked to the front door. Opening it, you crossed the threshold and were about to continue when a thought struck. "Can you tell me if anything changes? We might not be able to get our money back but getting some answers at least would be nice, y'know?"

"Yeah..." Nagisa repeated, nodding. Just as you were turning, she spoke up. "I know where he lives, though. Would that help?"

"... Definitely would."

"He lives in the bad part of Black City, with all the crime and gangs." If she was telling the truth, she was more of a friend than the ones eating your cake. You bowed your head to her, a small smile on your lips.

"Thank you, Nagisa."

Nagisa nodded as you left her. The door closed. Walking out of there, a voice suddenly assailed you.

"You don't have the power to take Smith Weston on."

Turning to the source, a.. thing... stood there. Giant, hairy, it was white with cherry red eyes. A feline smile etched upon its face, it leaned against a brick wall, its face looking at you.

Reponse?


Nagisa drugged the tea. Or you were having a nervous breakdown and facing insanity in its white face. Thinking it merely a hallucination, you blew it off as such. Flipping your luminous hair, you turned from it.

"Ask me if I care."

"You do, Mami. You care very much, and are scared to the core." You stopped in your tracks, and slowly turned again, narrowing your eyes at him. He was right, for a hallucination.

"What are you, and what did you mean just a minute ago, Hallucination?"

The thing stopped leaning and stood before you, towering over you by a chest and head. It was a giant.

"I am no hallucination. Silly humans... My name is Hyugbey, and I want to help you. Smith Weston's a dangerous man, a mad man with a perchant for inventing things that'll either save or destroy the world. As you are now, he can easily defeat you. But if you contract with me... I can make you powerful enough to slack your thirst for vengeance."

A tempting offer.

Do you accept, or ask a few more questions?

He said he wasn't a hallucination but that didn't mean anything. You had to test this out. Scooting closer, you extended a finger and... poked his belly.

"Quipai." Hyugbey spoke.

Immediately you withdrew. He was real, but he was also made from steely muscles. You poked the wall, and nodded. It was exactly the same.

"Well, Mami of the ruined house of Momomiya? Contract?"

"What sort of contract? What would I be giving in exchange for this contract?" You asked him for the finer details, doing a smidge better than your bankrupt father.

"A magical contract. You make a wish, and I touch your soul to bring the magic out. Nothing more, nothing less."

Same as before. Accept? Questions?



"Are there any limitations to my wish? are there any hidden clauses where you twist my wish and leave me broken in an alley because it amuses you?"

"What? Oh Madokami, no! I don't want to do that to you. I want to help you get what you want. You can sink or float after for all I care."

"This wish, can I change past events?"

"IF you have enough magic in your soul to make it so."

How would you word your wish, Mami?


"I wish that my family had not been involved in Smith Weston's experiment and that we had not lost all we own due to it's failure" You answered from the hip, quick and hopefully on target. Hyugbey nodded, but before he could do anything, you shook your head.

"I can do you one better, Hyugbey." You cleared your throat. "I wish that the Midorikawa Future Tech cold fusion experiment was a success, and that Smith Weston had not walked off with our fortune. If you can't grant both things, just the second part will do."

Hyugbey nodded, his ear appendages extending out to you. Two golden rings on either side, they glowed. You stared at them then him, who had his eyes shut, until suddenly they snapped open. Eletricity snapped out of the rings and pumped into your body.

Screaming in pain, realizing this wasn't a hallucination at all, you fall unconscious.

You woke up in what felt like a moment later with Hyugbey standing over you. It wasn't a moment later though, day having become night. You were face first in the cement. So much for high class. Staring up at him, your first words were, "What is my wish?"

"Your family fortune is safe, Mami Momomiya, for now. Smith Weston's drifting across town, lost without his shining beacon of cold fusion. You can easily kill him with this." He tossed an ornate dagger at you, which landed near your face. It looked expensive, with a regal edge to it.

"Just go looking for him. You'll find him easily enough. Goodbye, Mami Momomiya, or should I say, Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami."

With that he disappeared, like a hallucination. Gathering your thoughts, you stood, and found that you had an entirely different outfit on. A wedding dress, with a star pendant dangling from your neck. Picking the dagger up, it felt entirely right in your grip. It also looked good to you.

How viciously do you hunt Smith Weston down?


Family fortune restored. Lifestyle safeguarded against change, you steeled your mind. You were one of the blue bloods, Cold Royalty, and you had a vendeta to persue.

As Hyugbey said, you found him easily enough. Hands in pockets, he had a disheveled look about him, shoulders drooping, head cast down as if he held a weight by the neck. With your dagger, he would be freed of that weight.

Dry rustling leaves picked up around your feet, skittering toward Smith Weston. The man who held no money ignored what was happening, figuring it was wind, despite feeling very little of it. He didn't care. He lost a foturne in an explosion, and a possibility he worked on for years gone in a puff.

You flew toward him, dagger poised, eyes fixed. The Wrath of the Momomiya family came down hard. Silently, you jumped onto his back, and thrust the dagger deep into his back. Repeatedly.

Smith Weston scramed in pain, grabbing what he could of you and throwing you off. You landed with a thud but got up immediately. You didn't even feel the impact. Smith Weston touched his back and looked at his hand, face going pale. He stared at you, fear in his eyes.

"The hell's this!" He cried, hand shaking from shock. He was in bad shape. You flew at him again, but he kicked you back, then turned tail and ran with what remained of his strength. You followed without rest.

He slowed down every now and again to catch his breathe, but the point of your dagger encouraged him to keep going. In Black City, no one helped Smith Weston.

Finally, he found himself a literal dead end in an alleyway. You came on him without mercy, stabbing him until he was brought down to the ground. With a crimson hand, he reached for the stars, as the dagger did its work; ending his life with the stars in his eyes.

Standing up, you stood, cold and blue with a red dagger in hot hands.

Mami dreamed darkly of the past, killing Smith Weston over and over again for what he tried to do to the Momomiya family. Despite her father's weak character, she was proud to be a Momomiya.

The act fades, the curtain falls. Mami's wish was revealed. The fortune was cursed, or Hiroshi was out of luck. A tragedy fell upon the Momomiya household, and connections were severed. Anger bubbled in a young maidan's heart, festering her to lower levels of life.

The second step was taken, and shortly, the third.


Scene 10.5: Secret Unlocked

Hiroshi, the head of the Momomiya family, sat at his office chair for the last time. It was the last thing he would pack up, his private study stripped to the walls. The monitors were even gone. Everything was gone, but his desk. His daughter Mami walked into the room, sullen. Her moods had permenantly become that way. He no longer could see his daughter in her.

Before he could speak, she did, with her arms crossed and a stern gaze cast upon him.

"I don't have to tell you things are bad, Father. Everybody in the family knows things are bad. It's a bankruptcy. Everybody's out of a home and scared of losing their health. The mad inventor steals a fortune's worth; banks are coming here; we have no chance of salvaging anything; we'll be living wildly in the streets, and there's nobody who seems to know what to do, and there'll be a bloody end to it.

We know our friends are unfit to be called such and the city couldn't care less. And we sit in our empty rooms letting our minds contemplate the numerous potential futures that we'll be facing and magnifying them to blown out proportions, as if that's the way it'll be!

We all know things are bad -- worse than bad -- they're crazy.

It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't think about it any more. We sit in this house, and slowly the world we're living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, "Please, at least leave us alone in our mansion. Let me have my vases and my family portraits and my dignity, and I won't bother anything. Just leave us alone."'

Thus far she hadn't moved, kept her posture and her head in perfect stillness. With a fierce aura she broke the stillness, bending low on the desk and pointing at her father, fire raging in her eyes.

"Well, I'm going to leave this family.

I want you to realize your patheticness!

I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to talk. I don't want you to apologize for your mistake, because I wouldn't care in the slightest. I don't care about your depression and your bankruptcy and Mr. Weston and our future life in the street.

All I care is that you despair, that you fully realize the damage you did to the Momomiya dynasty.

You've gotta realize, "I'm a misrable human being, goddammit! My life is meaningless!"

So, I'm gone now, Father. I'm leaving to make a better Momomiya dynasty. I want you to live a commoner's life and aspire to nothing, influence nothing, and become nothing."

With that, Mami straightened up, gave a last glance at Hiroshi, then turned and left him forever.

Hiroshi remained quiet, shocked into silence, slightly trembling in his chair. Standing up, he walked to the window, opened it to feel the breeze against his hair, and to see what the Momomiya family formerly held in deed. His eyes spied Mami walking the driveway to the faraway gate, the only luggage on her persons. His ears distantly heard her voice, and it said:

"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"


Scene 11: The Black Pieces Revealed

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you learned of Usagi's tainted vision, of her clash with Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa so long ago; a knight shrouded in armor of human flesh with an intense desire to see the green hills of earth. You also learned of Mami's past, heiress to a bankrupt, ruined kingdom, a virtual government-in-exile.

Each night they dreamed the same thing, repeating until both were awake.

Leaving them, you returned to a familiar home.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa to all magical girls, and you were the black sheep of the fold. With your midnight black hair, your oddly colored eyes that didn't share the same hue, you had forgotten everything of your past life, before contracting. A fact that escaped your knowing of it, you felt indifferent to it. Your past life was something you probably didn't want to remember, if the hints were to believed.

You had been reading for the last hour and a half from the simple light of the one lamp this room held. The tiny device guarding the door was keeping quiet, no one was looking forward to barging in and bothering you. A good thing, too, since the book had copied everything from the computer, including the computer language. Computer text mangled the actual information you wanted, but that didn't stop you from persisting at reading.

Your efforts paid off a little, some information acquired to you.

The complex suffered from a split personality. It had two names: Clad of Dawn; or, the Hammer of the Lady of the Night Sky. Which one was the real name wasn't apparent to you. Their mission was obvious: The total destruction of the world. There were few magical girls working for this organization, a little over half of them you've met already. If that was so... a shiver traveled down your spine. That meant Usagi and Mami had just begun their work, and planned on massively recruiting in the near future.

For a complex of this size, it was very empty.

Finishing rubbing your eyes, you leaned forward to continue scanning when your hair stood on end. Eyes peeling over to the door, you felt an intense killing atmosphere outside, getting stronger, stronger, stronger, along with the sound of footsteps.

What do you do?


There was only one reason for the intense hostility soaking the air like humidty outside the door: They found the culprit. Which was you. Feeling that all too well, you pushed a hidden button in the spine, causing all information therein to be blanked. Any more information was gone, and forever now that they were aware of an infiltrator in their computer system. You rushed over to your bed, hiding the book under the matress before laying atop of it, trying to relax.

... You felt like you wanted to die. Needed, really, as if a devil was sweetly beckoning you with treats of delight to keel over right there. You fought off the urge to blow your brains out with your air revolver. Hands shakng, adrenaline pumping, you listened intently to the footsteps.

Clop. Clop. Clop. They took their sweet time to go pass, not bothering to knock on your door, or even acknowledging your door. That killing atmosphere left with them, leaving you shaken.

You weren't expecting someone with that level of presence to be here. Dealing with calming yourself down, your mind raised questions. Who was that? No one worked here with this kind of power. Was it a mutation?

Do you follow, or remain quivering in bed?


Gripping your hands into fists, you vaulted out of bed, and rushed the door. You had to know who that was. To not know was to be stupid, blind, deaf, and mute. You cautiously gripped the doorknob, and slowly opened it. Peeking out, you made sure no one was out, sticking your head further out until you could see both directions. No one was in the hallway. You slipped out, closing the door before pursuing.

It was going to the left, so you went that way, sticking to the wall. You felt nothing until you reached a corner, and there the presence of death lingered. Palms sweating, you peeked around the corner and saw the epicentre.

A magical girl, that much was obvious. Her schoolgirl fuku was evenly colored in yellow and grey. Hair was turquoises, and worn in a non-euclidean manner, so was her outfit, which brought more pain to your eyes. Gritting your teeth, you forced your eyes away. Moderate pain pulsated from them. Rubbing at them with your palms, you recalled who she was.

She was Haneoka Hikaru, or Pretty Witch Lyrical Hikaru, and she was a loading bay worker. You also knew of her weight, height, and blood type, but they weren't relevant right now.

On the outskirts of her evil aura, you could hear a sanguine, silky smooth voice in the air. Then a beep. The Witch replied. "Yeah, I'm already headed there, Mari. I'll be there by the time you arrive, k?" The voice replied, then beeped. Hikaru continued walking.

Do you follow still?

Yes, you would continue to follow, but in the guise of another. Pulling your bag out, you thought up a spybot, and pulled it out of the bag. Sufficiently high tech, it hovered off the ground and up to the ceiling. It was simply a camera with a tiny explosive attached to it. You made sure Hikaru was still in sight - which she was - and pointed at her with new pain in your eyes, telling the bot to follow 'Pretty Witch Lyrical Hikaru.'

With silence it flew toward the target, camera snapping shots continuously.

You crept back from view, leaning against the wall. You checked our status: Your eyes throbbed, both from reading and from staring at Hikaru, whose uniform was something you couldn't safely comprehend. Your book was useless now that it was blank. You still gathered up what looked like every single girl working for this organization, including the ones from your dream. Right before blanking, though, you had caught references to a Future Tech Helmet...

You decide to roam around, find the other girls, and see what else awaited you here. Walking, you reviewed who you read up on.

There was Fancy Knight Elegant Usagi and Cosmic Peach Rainbow Mami, cofounders and leaders. Saint Peach Pretty Yui, a long range specialist and 'Hero'. Pixie Power Devil Mari, a battlefield supporter and loading bay manager. Magic Star Miracle Tsukasa, a berserker and overall stronghand. She was classified as "Grunt Labor." Wedding Strawberry Elegant Komugi, computer specialist and scientist. Lovely Peach Beautiful Sumire, counselor and battlefield supporter. Finally, there was-

You stopped, seeing Cosmic Moon Sweet Fuu walking your way. She hadn't noticed you, her eyes on the blue line she was walking on. She was an advisor to both Mami and Usagi, and apparently their bodyguard as well. The katana bouncing on her hip would grant leverage to that title, but what of her skill?

You could easily hide yourself away from her, but you could just as easily talk to her. She wasn't so bad, was she?

What do you do, Nagisa?


She wouldn't scare you. You continued walking, examining the environment. Usagi and Mami glued a fair amount of posters to the walls, each hallway having at least four. You could tell which of them put up which poster. Usagi favored the world being in it, while Mami urged you to 'reclaim your fallen destiny' and 'Fight, for you are the foundation of your dynasty!' with stock photos of magical girls in silhouette or coins glinting on some table. This struck you as interesting.

Passing Fuu, you felt her barely contained hostility toward you, her eyes cutting you to pieces. You wondered what got her so angry with her.

"Hold it. Have you been given permission to walk around this base?"

You stopped and turned to her, blanking your face. You nodded. "Yes, Usagi gave me permission to walk around the base for the day. Get a feel for the place and make my mind up on her offer. Since I'm talking to you, can you give me some information on this compound? The name, mission, all that jazz?"

She glared at you, obviously displeased with your presence. "I'm countermanding that. You are not allowed to waltz into any red lettered room - any of them - and are limited to be in the public areas only. Got it?" You nodded, which she gave an immediate 'Good' to, and turned her back to you.

"She also gave me permission for this as well." You slinked up to her, hands darting out to grope her middriff. It was tone, fit, something you wouldn't mind feeling sliding up and down on your own body. Just like in the dream Fuu stiffened before drawing her katana out. You turned and ran for dear life, having no Usagi to back you up here. Almost rounding a corner, you felt something hard impact your back, and with a gasp of pain you fell on the floor, sliding just a few centimeters.

Fuu laughed an evil laugh, walking up to you. With her foot she began to kick you in the stomach over and over again. With her lips she ridiculed you, like a bully taking her frustrations out, she made you feel pathetic and small. You tried defending yourself, even fighting back, but you enraged her, and she wasn't going to let you go so easily. She took her time to hurt you, all over. After it was done, she huffed from her exertions, and you winced in a tiny ball, gritting your pink teeth.

"Don't try that again, or I will murder YOU." She spat on you before picking her katana up and sheathing it. Her footsteps became fainter until she was gone.

Taking a moment to recover, you gingerly got up. What skin you could see was bruised, every inch of your body was in pain and you noticed your gum had been cut, tasting iron. Some of your blood was on the ground. You swayed in a hallway with three one door, a corridor going to the left a few inches away from you, and a red letter door just beyond that.

No teeth were loose, no bones were broken, but you felt ugly. Taking a raspy breath, thinking on your backfired decision, you wondered what you should do, now that you were injured.


You pulled a healing potion out of your bag. It was red liquid in a glass vial. Puckering your lips, you drank the contents until the container was empty. Burning filled you, and for a moment you felt like you were going to go up in flames. Then you felt better. You faintly smiled. That could have been worse, but the damage done to her relationship with you cannot be healed with a simple potion, and you couldn't quite say you had succeeded in altering the future at all. Best luck next time.

Taking a breath of painless air, you debated one point of decision: What to do next? You had many options available.

You continued exploring. Not entering that blast door. Not going in Fuu's direction.

Suffice it to say, you didn't find much. You found the showers, and they were used recently. A towel was missing, a stall was still wet. You found what may be the loading bay, but stayed away, feeling the same presence there. Let your spybot do the reporting, it would come back to you once its mission was done. You poked your head into some of the side rooms, discovering they were simply bedrooms, spartan as yours. You wondered if they would be filled soon.

The entire place was giving you the creeps. It was definitely in the early stages of development, but something was off. It felt like a facade was ongoing, and you weren't told a game was afoot. The air was cold, like a skeleton's touch, while harsh lighting poked your eyeballs. You felt like you should always be on your guard here.

You did find one interesting thing. A glitch in the eyes, maybe, but something nonetheless. You saw Yui striding confidantly out of a room, and then simply disappeared, a small girl reappearing where she was. She was struggling to keep her rifle on her back, takng small steps with the wall propping her up. It was a flash, however, before the Yui you knew came to again, but you definitely saw something odd with her.

Do you confront her about the glitch?

Another flicker, this time the girl was - you swore - staring at you with albino eyes. After that flash, Yui came again. It all happened in a blink of an eye. The gold armor of Yui shone brilliantly, and had an actual presence. The frail girl wasn't there at all.

Too quick to leave any concrete suspicion, but too slow for doubts. You knew Yui could control the weather - having fried Sun Yuri to a crisp with a lightning bolt - but did she have other powers as well? Was she keeping something hidden away from everyone?

"Yui." You called out to her, striding over to her. She stopped and turned.

"Mongrel. What is it?" She sounded like she didn't want to be bothered, as if she were on a mission. You ignored that and asked her the first question to come into your mind.

"How are you feeling?"

"Rested, after having taken that post-meal nap." Suspicion clouded everything. You didn't fully believe that statement.

"I have to be going. Mongrel." She turned and left you, ending the discussion abruptly.

Continue exploring, or follow Yui?


You followed Yui, but at a safe distance. You couldn't keep pissing people off. That girl... she definitely didn't want you following. Anaylzing her eyes, they held something in them... an emotion you had trouble putting a finger on. Rage? Hatred? Or was it determination? That girl was the polar opposite of Yui, that much you knew, and if your gut was right, she didn't want to be seen.

All this for a hallucination? Yes, you had to be sure.

Yui walked to the command center, and met Fuu outside. You fell back and listened intently, keeping an eye on the surroundings.

"I want you to go out there and find SHE. Do you understand? Seek and destroy." Fuu.

"Yes, my Lady." Yui.

"Recently the mayor received a report on a nuclear power plant control rod stolen, it could be SHE behind it. I don't know if SHE controls radiation or what, but I need this checked out, alright? Go there first."

"Yes, my Lady."

"Dismissed."

You fell back a couple of corridors, hearing Yui walk by, possibly going to the entrance.

A thought occurred to you. YOu didn't know the entrance to this base. Only a portal, and apparently a loading bay, if it wasn't a glorified storage area. Yui could indirectly show you it.

Do you heed this thought?


You returned to the hallway leading to the command center, and poked your head out a little. Fuu was standing in the middle, contemplating something. Jaw tight. Eyes foggy. She referred to someone oddly. SHE. SHE and HER was how the stalker labeled two individuals. HER being you. SHE being Yuna. Was Fuu the stalker? Or were those odd labels codewords?

Fuu came back to her senses and returned to the command center, which was exactly the same as you had left it.

No one in sight, you quickly caught up to Yui, then put yourself at a safe distance again.

She wondered in to a great open room with crates of all sizes and colors. A wall wasn't there, leading out to the world. You could see outside, and saw night sky polluted with smog. Nothing else. Hikaru was in a booth with a console with levers in it, at the side of the room. Two girls were to the right, handling some crates. One with muscles that should be on a body builder placed a crate bigger than her down. Her sleeves were in tatters but soon morphed back to wholeness once her exertions were done.

Another in white and red Emperor's clothing, complete with emperor hat, held her hands out, a crate floating above her. It shimmeyed side to side before landing safely to the ground. The girl gestured a few arcane runes before letting them fall to her sides. Turning to speak to the girl, the smiling empress had a shocking discovery. A stab wound in her chest from a slender blade. The red was blood, ruining the fine ruby eyes insorted in the fabric. Gold wings beautified her suit, a great ruby eyeball in her hat.

She spoke to the muscular girl before turning to shout at Yui. You held back, not wanting to be seen, feeling the presence of death all too well. Yui gestured toward the bloody one then hopped out.

The massive blast doors shut the outside out, Hikaru making her way toward the two others. No one was reacting to her wound, as if it was perfectly normal for someone to be bleeding out and walking around. Magical girls were magical, but bleeding still was an issue.

Feeling Hikaru's presence all too well, what did you do?


Staying inside the entrance was a good idea, it was thick and they were far away from it. You, controlling yourself, kept an eye on everyone. The blood on the fabric was fresh. As if she just got stabbed, but didn't know it. She was chatting with the two like a friend. No blood, however, dripped to the ground. The ground completely clean. How?!

Were you going mad? Was that death aura affecting you this badly?


Staying here was a bad idea. You were unprepared for this girl's outfit. You couldn't handle Hikaru's outfit that wanted you to be in pain, while she herself wanted you to die. The voices beckoning you to die, voices that sounded familiar. It was like tasting a sweet fruit. It was bad. You fled the loading bay with the twisted loading bay workers.

You fled to the cafeteria, and regrouped your nerves. Shaking finally stopping, heart going back to normal, the voices gone from your ears. Something wasn't right in there, with them, and you had to figure that out. Calming down, you got yourself a late night lunch.

The curtains fall, the act fades. A fakeness settled over everything, while conspiracies were the reality and suspicions your only companion. An agenda was being pursued, with chess pieces moving across a black and white board. The black pieces were revealing themselves in guises of smiles and strength, while a witch sung into the night.

Dawn of the Second Day. 48 Hours Remaining.


Scene 12: Meeting The Devil

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you went insane. Or atleast you thought you were. After seeing something odd - a frail looking girl in place of the ever confidant Yui, whose albino red eyes glared daggers at you - and following that oddity to the Loading Bay, you spied someone bleeding from a stab wound. Made from the highest professionally made material, her outfit spoke of how she ruled the world: with an iron fist, a confidance exuding grin, and an unnatural light in her eyes. And yet no one - not the schoolgirl with a presence that spoke to you with the power of a thousand kings to die; not the overly ripped muscle girl who looked capable of flicking your head off; and not the golden hero, Yui - including the empress herself, took any notice to this.

All of this after Fuu brutally kicking you while you were down, bruising your pride more than anything else, despite leaving a small amount of blood on the ground. A quickly summoned health potion cured all ails, but the relationship between you and her just became that much more severe.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and you sought sanctuary in the compound's cafeteria, hoping to catch a meal to eat. Through magic, they perserved each and every bit of foodstuffs to their freshest. Getting a tray of randomly selected food, you sat at some table and slowly ate your fill, analyzing the situation.

What was the bloody empress' power? That crate was metallic, and she was using her hands... was she magneto? Magnetoette? You shook your head to clear the silly images forming. Maybe she could manipulate metals, or maybe it is a case of anti gravity. The hands weren't directed dead on to the crate, but outside the crate. Around it. What was with the stab wound, too? You swore it was fresh, still leaking even! A shiver ran through your body at the person's existence. Something was bad with those three, especially with that one. She was most especially dangerous.

Sifting mentally through the profiles of each girl working here, you found her. A girl who possessed no name, only a magical girl title, a girl who clad herself in white but is ultimately covered in red, a girl who wielded a terribly effective power, a girl who surrounded herself with killers: Pixie Power Devil Mari.

Another shiver went through your body as your third eye stared at the profile picture. Brown eyes, hooded with eyelids, alive despite being photography, with her crimson hair weaved in a bizzare fashion, she grinned at the camera with a cockiness that could only be called Swag.

Usagi stepping into the cafeteria broke you free from your investigation. Watching her, she, in rather tame attire, walked over to the food and began making herself a tray of food. Spying, you noticed that she examined each piece before frowning at it and setting it on her tray. What was with that frown? Didn't she enjoy oranges?

When she's finished, would you wave at her, Nagisa, or try blending to the background by remaining motionless?


Usagi picked up and stared at a few other items, some placing them back, some placing them on her tray, and even glaring down at one portion of roast beef before simply walking away with her tray.

You held your hand up and waved at her. She caught sight of you and visibly perked up, beelining over to your table.

"Hey, Nagisa, I didn't figure you would be here." Usagi placed her tray on the table and sat down, then lifted herself up and sat down again, in a different spot.

"... Where's Mami?" You asked, eyes flipping over to the side to see if Mami would come strolling in. She didn't.

"She's still sleeping. I couldn't get back to sleep so eating is for the best right now." She said it as if she didn't even want to try eating. She wasn't this way before, what happened? Frowning, you thrust your chin at the two oranges.

"Going to eat those?" Usagi blinked once at you, then debated over how to answer.

"I don't know."

"Can I have them?"

"Are you sure you want to?" She asked, looking down at the oranges as if they were flesh balls. You nodded, reaching out to grab the two orbs. "Here, a trade." You gave her your lemons. A fair trade, at the end of the day.

"Th-thanks, Nagisa..." Usagi stared down at the lemons now, brows furrowing.

Now what do you do?


"How was your rest?" You inquired, much to Usagi's surprise.

"How did you know I was sleeping?"

"You said it was a long night for everyone, that no one got any sleep while I only did. You know, before the prompt check up. I figured you and Mami would catch up on some sleep before tackling whatever the computers told you about me."

"Ah, good guess." Usagi began to eat her food - much more slowly and cautiously than you were. "My rest was good! I feel revitalized but very, very hungry." Neither tray can be compared to Yui's, which was a mountain, but Usagi brought over very little. Did she have a tiny stomach, or was it something else?

When she was taking care of you, she ate with gusto at larger amounts of food. Did something change in her?

"So, Usagi, what... can you tell me about the compound that isn't classified?"

"Mmm, I'm glad you asked me that, Nagisa." Usagi savored the food a moment. In that moment you groped an orange, kneading it in your palm. It wasn't Fuu's, but the orange felt succulent nonehtheless. "On my way here I was waylaid by Komugi, who reported to me that our computer system suffered a possible hacker attack. An attack in which everything was copied. Everything."

Your nervous system locked up as she went on, your eyes going from the orange to Usagi's eyes, who stared dead on to you. "Before I answer your question, I need to ask you one. Was that hacker possibly you, Nagisa...? No need to lie, I know how you love sleuthing about."

Heart beating hard, how did you reply?


You were caught. That was the simple reality. And you wouldn't be able to shake Usagi off your trail, she knew you too well. She knew you did it and was simply waiting for you to confess to it. To be up front with it, and not be in the shadows like some thief.

So, composing yourself, you placed the orange on the tray and stared back at her, forming your expression into regret.

"W-well... I guess? Sorry. Y-you told me that the command center would be good, because of all the extra shielding, and there was a free terminal, so I just poked around a bit, figuring maybe someone had put some games on there? You never know, right? I found some fascinating reading material, and I guess I accidentally copied too much? I mean, yeah, I read a bit of what it gathered, and realized just how much it copied. It copied everything! S-so, I wiped it clean. It's now totally blank. Sorry to worry you, Usagi." Your mouth was a thin line, eyes shimmering with tears. A gambit that went terribly wrong, and you ended up being trapped by it. The truth would always set you free, right...?

Usagi remained quiet throughout your confession, observing you. She continued observing you, examining your sincerity, until smiling a tiny smile.

"Thank you, Nagisa. I appreciate your honesty." Usagi skinned her lemon with her knife and bit into it. "You won't be punished, this time. I ask you don't do it again. A lot of delicate information is in that system, and attacks like that will stir up this beehive. Understand?"

"Y-yes, Usagi, I understand. I won't try that again." Without thinking, you just promised to Usagi. Frowning inward, you wondered if you could keep that promise.

Usagi nodded and ate a few more portions, swallowing as if it were cyanide.

Now you were observing her, and through that, you realized she didn't enjoy eating at all. It was almost torture for her, a chore required to keep her body from dying.

[+1 Usagi Relationship]

What would your next move be, Nagisa?


The two of you ate in silence, from across each other. You ate slow, picking at your food mostly, while Usagi forced herself to gag everything down. Her jaw would tighten. A disgusted frown would come and go at the taste.

Putting aside your thoughts on the Loading Bay and the oddity and anything else, you spoke to her. You figured talking to her would improve her eating, get her mind off whatever it was, and you wanted to see if that would work. And so far it was. She still had problems but was more lively than before, discussing silly stuff with you. Also serious stuff.

"Usagi, what is it that you two do around here?"

"We're the founders, so we have that going for us, but," She licked her lips of the lemon juice, wincing when she did so, the taste apparently too bitter to her liking. "We're also the leaders. A committee of two, really. Mami tends to take care of the more critical details while I take care of the overall details."

"And what about that pentagram middriff from the medlab?"

"Hmm? Pentagram middriff...? Oh, right, Fuu. She's our bodyguard, and advisor. She tends to the financial matters of our organization."

"What's the name of this place, anyway?"

"Hammer of the Lady of the Night Sky. A big name, yes, but very appropriate for what our mission is. Don't you agree, Nagisa?" She giggled, grinning ear to ear at you. You shrugged.

"I don't know who this Lady of the Night Sky is, honestly, so it's lost on me."

"Oh wow, you don't? Y-you sure? You're not fooling me here, are you?" Usagi is surprised over how you didn't know about the Lady of the Night Sky. You nodded, you weren't fooling her here. Usagi grew concerned, forgetting her terrible food. "S-She's our Patron, so to speak. We... well I can't say worship, but our main... hmm... The reason... no... With everything we do, we do for Her. Everything I do, is a small tribute to Her as well, not saying that my entire drive is her." She had problems with conveying the importance the Lady of the Night Sky was to her, so you nodded.

"I understand, Usagi." That put her a little bit at ease, but you didn't tell her that she confused the message on transit.

"Hey, Usagi, mind if I join you two? You see, the cafeteria is empty." A silken smooth voice interrupted your talk, and you and Usagi both looked to the source. You hit a brick wall. There stood the bloody empress: Pixie Power Devil Mari, smiling down at Usagi and you. Her stab wound was still there.

"Hey, Mari! Please, your company would be great!" Usagi happily chirped. You remained quiet, but Mari turned to you and pressed. "May I please join you, Miss?" Your eyebrows twitched a tiny bit. "Y-yeah, sure. You can join me-- us." You stuttered, spaghetti overflowing from your pants pockets. She smiled wider. "Thank you." And left to gather up her own food.

The schoolgirl wanted you to die, the bloody empress exuded desires of intimately getting to know you. Her charisma was off the charts, and you felt it. Magic, this was why you stayed away from everyone else, they weren't human anymore.

"Usagi," You turned to stare at Usagi, and she returns the stare.

"Yeah?"

"What's with her stab wound? Seriously, do you see it?" Usagi looked over at Mari for a minute, studying her, then turned back to you with a shake of her head.

"No, Nagisa, I don't. She's wearing a perfectly intact, white robe. Are you alright? Are you feeling anything unusual?"

"No. I'm perfectly fine. I'm perfectly sane." You retorted, taking a quick glance at Mari. She was getting a bunch of oranges, a slice of roast beef, a couple of lemons, and a side of mashed potatoes. She was bleeding, even through the back her uniform was red.

Mari walked over, sitting beside Usagi. Usagi took a look at her food and visibly paled, her presence shrinking next to the empress.

The empress smiled at you, hands at the side of her silver tray. Wait, when did this place get silver trays?

"Hello, my name is Pixie Power Devil Mari, or Mari for my friends, and you are...?"

How do you respond?


"... Under your spell, my dear devil." You let that out in a whisper, a dry rustle from between your lips. Usagi didn't hear you fortunately, but unfortunately Mari did.

"Oh?" Her eyebrows shot up minutely, the smile turning into something that the actual devil would wear. "I should use my power wisely, and not for meager desires."

Taking a deep breath, you repeated again...

"I am Beautiful Idol Pretty Nagisa." Mari extended her hand, not in a handshake, but as if wanting to give you something. YOu eyed it for a second, analyzing what she wanted, before realizing and placing your hand in it. She gripped it tenderly, and rose it to her lips, from which a kiss was planted. You felt your cheeks faintly burning.

"L-lewd!" Usagi whispered, biting into her whatever-she-got-for-food. It went far too quickly for you to see. All you could see was Mari's face, that smile, those brown eyes caressing you.

"A very apt and wondrous title for you, Nagisa. Can I hear you sing sometime?"

"Uh, uh... pardon?" You managed.

"You're an idol, were you on the radio? I bet you were."

"Ah, oh, no, I'm no idol. I'm not a singer, either. I can't sing." You explained, taking your hand back. She chuckled low, hands picking up her silverware and digging at her food, which looked ten times better than yours. It was as if a gourmet made these things for specifically her, which was leagues out of the military chop shop you and Usagi were eating. The empress ate her Manchu Han Imperial Feast upon her gold gilded silver tray.

"S-so, Mari." Usagi spoke up, having troubles looking at Mari's tray.

Mari turned her attention to Usagi but didn't speak, waiting patiently for her to speak.

"Did you get the... THAT... here?"

"Yes. Just came back with it, even. The trip made me hungry."

"Explains you being here."

"Mmhm. However, I haven't been told about Nagisa, is she a new recruit?"

"No.. she hasn't joined us yet. She's still thinking it over while examining our compound."

You let the two talk, not interrupting, yet. You were busy analyzing the whole situation. It appeared to you that Usagi felt threatened by Mari, while Mari felt right at home. Something wasn't correct, either. Looking at Usagi, you had taken your eyes off Mari, and when returned to Mari, suddenly her portion of the table looked ridiculously high class. Something you would see out of a soap opera.

Her eyes were almost always on you, it frankly unnerved you. Why was she so interested in you?

"I hope she doesn't decline your offer. Beautiful Pretty Nagisa, will you please join us with our eternal endeavor?"

It suddenly dawned on you that you told her the wrong title. You totally screwed introducing yourself. Gritting your teeth, you kicked yourself.

How did you respond to her offer? It appeared she was genuine, with her hand held out to you in a gesture of friendship.


Mari's hand reaching out to you in a majestic manner, an arm that belonged to an empress. Usagi staring at you, food forgotten. One was warping reality against you, demanding you to join right now, the other had reality warped against herself, patiently waiting for you to join on your own.

Two sides of the same coin, but one was lesser than the other. So you took Mari's hand, gently squeezing it, then took and gently squeezed Usagi's hand. You stared at both before answering. You took a breath.

"I have decided to join the Hammer of the Lady of the Night Sky, and humbly accept both of your invitaitons."

Usagi was first surprised, but brightened up. Mari, smug, smiled, pleased with reading you correctly. As if she knew you would accept. As if, she won. What an odd feeling for you to be having.

Usagi tightened her grasp on your hand, smiling.

"I'm glad you joined us, Nagisa! Oh, I have to tell Mami about this. We need to subject you to a series of documents and tests, is that alright? Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand, it wasn't that hard to understand, Usagi!" You said, frowning at her. She laughed a little, genuinely pleased looking. "Forgive me, Nagisa, I'm getting overly excited. Although we must get ready to initiate you into our group. Please excuse me." Usagi let go of your hand and hurried out of the cafteria, persumably going to see Mami.

That left you and the stabbed magical girl alone. Holding hands. You took your hand back, relieved she didn't warp that oddly too.

"Oh my, she IS really excited." Mari commented, staring at the entrance. "So what's your power? How useful will you be to us?" She almost said me, you swore to your bag that she almost said me.

Things look positive. How do you respond?

What power did you have? You obviously had to demonstrate your power to her. It was the only way. Nervousness forgotten, the piles of spaghetti on the floor out of your pockets, you reached over the table with one thing on your mind, one thing in your crosshairs. Your hand held the warm breast of the bloody empress, palm squeezing it simply from how curved it was. You felt how sticky her blood was, thumb teasing the hole in the fabric.

You felt Mari's hand on the back of your head, and suddenly you were upside down, with her lips locked onto yours. She took your breathe away, your body laying flat out on the table, hand still on her chest. Breaking the kiss, she grinned like the devil at you, letting out a breathe smoothly.

"So, this is your power? You'll become my personal servant, then."

[PLAYTOY END.]


What power did you have? Obviously it was your bag, the only power you could claim yours in the entire world. A one trick pony, if discovered, won't be good for you. You had to keep it secret, even from the prying eyes of the devil empress. But you couldn't just claim your airgun was your only power, every magical girl had at least one power, at a minimum, nothing less. So how to deal with this...

Mari waited patiently, staring at you. You shouldn't... give in so readily. Gathering nerves, you gazed at her with steely determination.

"First thing's first... does it hurt?"

"Oh, this?" Mari's eyebrows shot up a little before she looked down at her chest, a hand brushing past the wound, and the blood. "It doesn't hurt. I appreciate you asking, Nagisa, and am pleased you were concerned over my being."

You nodded. "And the regal transformations around you?"

Mari stopped smiling, but didn't frown. "A mutation due to my magical ability."

You nodded again, not wanting to pry so quickly. Actually you did, but you knew you wouldn't get far with that reaction, so you let it slide.

"So your power, Nagisa, or are you unwilling to divulge it?"

Before you answered, in came Usagi and Mami, the latter looking freshly woken up and in her uniform.

"Nagisa, the initiation process begins now. Sorry Mari, but I must take her."

"That's fine, Usagi. We can always catch up later." Mari looked at you with a knowing smile, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. Usagi grabbed ahold of your hand, and pulled you away from there, from the cafeteria, with Mami in the lead. You were swept off your feet, and carried away to places unknown.

The act fades, the curtains fall, and the devil claps at her first meeting. A slasher smile on her lips, she grew immensely pleased with how she manipulated you with her majesty. With due time she will take you with her authority and by violence, break you. But first the initiation, a room of unknowns awaited you, and the end of the world would have to wait just two more days.


Scene 13: The Initiation Process

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you met a terrible fate. You and your uncontrollable hands that love groping random individuals acted up again, this time groping someone that shouldn't be touched: Pixie Power Devil Mari. Nagisa was twisted into her personal servant, a playtoy she spent a good, long time breaking in. This Nagisa gave up on the world, for serving the bloody empress was the next best thing.

Through the power of Lave and Soad, you redid the scene, this time with your hands safely secured. A late night meal with Usagi, where she cornered you on the hacker incident, successfully getting the confession out of you. Mari joined the two of you for dinner, twisting the table to her personal whims. You learned that her stab wound didn't hurt, and that these strange regal transformations of food, objects, were all a mutation that she evidentily didn't want to share details with you. She successfully pressed you into joining on the spot, much to her own personal satisfaction. As you left the cafeteria with Usagi and Mami, you could hear someone clapping, the sounds reverberating throughout the empty cafeteria.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, a name that you botched giving to Mari, a fact that you continued to kick yourself over. It wasn't something you would live down, someone like her spreading the wrong name to every one of her subjects. Now with Usagi's hand firmly squeezing yours, you were whisked away to be initiated into the Hammer of the Lady of the Night Sky.

"Slow down, Usagi, I can get there under my own power. Also stop holding my hand so hard." She was hurrying you, her excitement taking over the pocket region the three of you constantly were in. You were forced to move faster than you usually did, a stitch developing in your side.

"No! We must get there, now!" Usagi rang out.

"She has a point, we have no need to hurry like this." Mami spoke, directing a look at her cohort in rulership.

"Ah, fine, fine." Usagi relented, but continued the speed, fooling Mami. She had slowed down and was soon eating dust. Now she had to jog to catch up.

When the command center came into view, Usagi finally slowed down, leaving you panting with a well developed stich. Mami and Usagi were both better off than you, especially Usagi who radiated light. Or so you thought. Still moving, Usagi opened up a side door nearby, and went inside. You followed suit, while Mami took up the rear. With the door closing, you glanced over at Mami, seeing a white rabbit perched upon her right shoulder, pleased as punch to be there. Mami caught your eye and smiled a small smile.

"Tim told me he met you. He can't talk you know."

"Y-yeah, I know. But with how the day was going, I sort of expected it."

"Magic can't do everything, Midorikawa. Tim isn't that sentient."

Nodding, you stared around at the room. Bed to the left, a few computers to the right, a room with a lean back bed and a big monitor staring down at it. A bare room with one purpose: To analyze and process magical girls into the Hammer.

"Right. Usual method of initiation would be to have you sign a few papers, get you psychoanalyzed, get your blood type, and then have you fill out some more forms. However, since it's you, we can skip the psychoanalyzation and get on with the other stuff." Usagi happily told you, smiling as she did so, before scrunching her face up in perplextion. "Unless... you WANT to do the psychoanalyzation... I don't see why you would..."

Would you do it, or skip it?


"It would be the for the best if she got psychoanalyzed, so we know who she is, what she's made of." Mami stood next to the computers, deadpanning to the screen as she clicked in a few commands.

"I know what she's made of, who she is, how she thinks, there's absolutely no reason for her to take it."

"You may know her because of that, Usagi, but those impressions are old, stale, remenants of the past that need to be forgotten. A psychoanalyzation would bring newer impressions to the table for us to discuss."

"Mami-" Usagi growled, turning to face the back of her friend. You interrupted her with three words.

"I'll do it." Usagi stared at you again, puzzled.

"R-really, Nagisa? You don't have to. I can vouch for your character."

"I am sure. This isn't a reflection of my trust to you, I have absolute trust in your assessment of me, but lets do this through the official channels. I don't need VIP treatment. PSychoanalyze me please." You stepped forth to show her your conviction. Usagi nodded, still puzzled but ultimately accepting your choice.

"Alright, Nagisa, just step into that room, get on the bed, and wait for the monitor to turn on." She lead you to the door, and opened it, allowing you to enter the room. You stepped in, and the door closed, with a lock.

In the room, you could feel how cold it was. A pocket of its own origin, the air slithered to touch your skin. You felt vaguely watched, vaguely hunted, and all too paranoid in this room. Since Usagi locked the door, you couldn't exactly back down without making a fool of yourself, huh? So you marched up to the bed and laid down on it, taking a look at everything while waiting.

It was an off white color, this room, like a padded cell. Except it wasn't padded but tiled. A black monitor stared down at you, supported by a metal arm. The window was a one way mirror, black on this side, see through on the other.

What sort of room was this?

Just then the monitor displayed a few command lines before a white haired woman blinked into existence. The monitor swooped down to gaze into your face, well within eye damage range.

"Ahhh yes, we've been expecting you. You'll have to be officially recorded before you're released. There are a few questions for you, but the answer is yours."

The woman disappeared, replaced with a box of text. The woman read it off to you.

"One day you're stolling downtown when you hear a teenage girl yelp for help. Investigating, you find her surrounded by a few thugs in a dirty alley, all of whom were pressing her for sexual favors. What do you do?"


No text box comes up with any answers. You tried tapping the monitor to see that it was indeed non-interactive, but it waited for your answer nevertheless. Was it audio based?

"I... I would shoot them in the head." You answered. The monitor bobbed up and down once, then a new scenario displayed itself.

"You're making a piping hot stew for your mom when suddenly a girl in an odd uniform barged in. Severely injured, the girl requests sanctuary from you. What do you do?"


"G-gro-" You shake your head. No, you mustn't grope a severely injured girl seeking sanctuary. That would raise all sorts of pervert flags that the two needn't know you have. "I would question her while still making soup."

The monitor bobbed up and down once before displaying another scenario.

"A magical mutation manifests itself upon you one day at school. It's very embarrassing, and all the kids notice it, pointing and laughing at you. What do you do?"


"I would point and laugh right back at them. They're the inferior bionormals, anyway." The monitor bobbed up and down, displaying a new scenario.

How many questions was there? And why did the monitor look like it was closer? No, that was just the damage setting in. You blinked several times to bring relief to your eyes.

"You find a wounded white cat with gold rings on its ears under an old oak tree. It begs you to contract, or it'll die. What do you do?"


"I would question it for specifics on the contract, then, depending upon the divulged details, contract or not." You answered, swallowing. The cold seeped into your bones, chilling you from the inside. Goosebumps formed, racing down your chest and arms. The fabric of your attire rubbed you the wrong way.

"You're out with your coworkers, having a good time at the local bar. You and your friends see another group of girls licking each other's soul gems in the corner. Convulsions were had, their faces showing extreme euphoria. Your friends wish to do it, and ask for your soul gem. What do you do?"


"I decline. I've been down this road a few times and well, I don't need to have needy calls and six hundred texts over a few days asking if we're alright and why we aren't responding on my cellphone."

The monitor slowly, as if perplexed by what you said, bobbed up and down once before hesitantly displaying another scenario.

"After all the hardships and suffering you have gone through, you're poised at the end game: The world. Do you destroy it, or rule it? Depending on your answer, what method do you do it?"


You opened your mouth, then closed it, pondering your answer. You could feel someone's eyes boring holes into you. Possibly Usagi. You had to answer carefully.

"I... I would cleanse the world as punishment for their sins." You told the monitor, keeping the fact that you wanted to do that by ruling it like a benevolent dictator.

The monitor waited for further elaboration before finally getting the hint and bobbing up and down once. It displayed another scenario, but the voice speaking wasn't that of the white haired woman, but a honey dipped voice with concern coloring it.

"Where are you Nagisa? Tell me, so I can find you. I'll save you from their clutches, so just tell me where you are."

How do you reply?


That voice again. You've heard it before, in a dream, and shortly afterward. Who was it on the other end? You didn't know, but she seemed really concerned with you, always reassuring you she'd arrive soon, that she loved you, that she will rescue you. So, you probably should help her.

"Inside a room in a complex known as The Hammer of the Lady of the Night Sky, or Clad of Dawn, whichever they're going by."

"I... I don't know where that is. Can you tell me where that is?" You shook your head.

"No."

"..." The voice remained quiet, but came back, weaker than before. "Alright, I'll double my efforts. Just, remember me, okay, Nagisa? Remember us. Us being together." The girl's voice disappeared.

The monitor was displaying something entirely different. A scenario which disappeared, to be replaced with another.

"Final scenario: You meet up with a long lost friend, who is a magical girl just like you, and she offers you to join her in her fight against something. She is open, shows you everything and even tells you sensitive material. After showing you around, she turns to you and asks you, 'Can I trust you to fulfill your duty to me?'"


"I reply, 'Yes, you can trust me.' Then I would hug her, since she's my friend." The monitor bobbed for the final time, going blank as it processed what you told it. A simple box with words come up on screen: Position within Organization: Conquistador.

The monitor then blanked out and rose to the ceiling, leaving you on the bed. You didn't move as the door unlocked and Usagi peered inside.

"Y-you finished, Nagisa... come back in here."

Right, you still had documents to fill out. You get up, and slink into the other room.

Passing the barrier between the psychoanalyzing room and the main room, you were asked a question immediately from a scrutinizing Usagi. Mami blanky stared at you, with a bit of a glare.

"Nagisa, how are you feeling?"

Turning to face her, she had crossed her arms in front of her chest, eyes straight on you. Obviously she was speaking of you talking to the honey voice... which you would guess was... No, couldn't be.

By the looks on their faces, both suspected a security leak, someone that was dangerous and might be needing to be dealt with. Only one was willing to overlook it, this once.

How did you respond?


Your fingers skitter a moment in the air, some unknown command urging them to do something. Something you can't really put your finger on. You stop moving your fingers, and direct your attention to Usagi. You shrugged, and responded that you're a bit cold from being in the previous room.

Usagi nodded. "Research indicates that cold helps keep a clear mind." With that oddly worded sentence, she brought you to a desk. On the way you stared at Mami, who stared back, turning in her chair to do so, never leaving from the computer. You saw a little of the screen, and it appears to be what you said, with more words under your lines.

Sitting, Usagi handed you a series of papers, all with their legalese and technobable that went over your head. Flipping a page, you found the actual application, where the information you had would be put down in. Usagi, with a finger tapping on a few blank fields, told you to fill these out as best as you can, then went over to Mami to talk in a quiet tone.

Well, if you could give out a biography of information about yourself, you'd need a lot more room. But with what you had, you had to do your best, even if it meant limiting yourself a tiny smudge.

How did you fill it out? Half truths? Full lies? Full truths? Or something else?


Truths and half truths. Possibly a few 3/4th turths. For the world you inhabited was one of fakeness, a facade that kept you from learning what was really going on. It was only fair of you to reciprocate.

You wrote truths for whatever was known, half truths for everything else, and if any question bugged you, you gave it only 3/4th of your truth.

Filling it out, you couldn't hear what the two rulers were discussing. Taking a cautious look over the shoulder, you saw Usagi bent over the desk, staring at the computer while Mami pointed at a few things. You didn't want to draw their attention, and drew your attention to your paperwork. The latter half was full of "I have read this and understood what I have read. I agree." statements that required a signature. You wrote down an X, for the sake of quickness.

It was filled out. You put them in their proper order and attracted Usagi's attention.

"Ah, finished already?" You nodded, handing the documents over. Usagi nodded, handing the documents over to Mami.

Do you wish to ask them any questions?


"The screen said I was to be given the rank of 'conquistador.' What does that entail?"

"Our conquerors." Mami stated, turning in her chair to stare at you. One arm was draped across the desk, the other on her lap,  the gold star glinting dimly. "Usagi's idea. They are our vanguard, basically, going out to do what would be best in our self interests, whatever they may be."

Usagi nodded, a small smile finally gracing her visage. "Our Conquistadors get a nifty item, only one per person, but they're tailored specifically for the individual."

"We could give her that." Mami muttered, chuckling at the unseen joke.

"That's right," Usagi agreed. "We could give her that. No, we should, since it practically belongs to her."

"Before I ask about 'that', as a Conquistador, what clearance level do I have?"

"Strange priorities, Midorikawa."

"Need to know basis." Usagi answered. She leaned on the desk, latching onto it with both hands on either side of her. She got comfortable.

"What is this organization's stance on sexual harrassment?" That question netted you stares from the two.

"Why would you want sex when destroying a tainted world like this?" Usagi questioned in a soft murmur, eyebrows scrunched up. You shrugged.

"I don't want to be put in any compromising positions while working here." Usagi and Mami both looked at each other then at you.

"No need to worry about that, Midorikawa. All of our soldiers and staff here aren't going to be touching your naughty bits. They have no interest in that."

"Yeah, why would you even ask that?"

"Uhh..." You blinked, adopting an unsure expression. "I just don't want that to happen?"

"Heh." Mami smiled, something that made her menacing, somehow. An older woman smirking at an upstart with razar sharpness.

"So, anymore questions, Curious Nagisa?"


You gave Usagi a look, who only smiled at it, before relenting and askng the question.

"What do you mean when you say 'that'? What is this item that specifically belongs to me?"

"You'll find out after the process ends, Nagisa. I promise." Usagi stood up, followed by Mami, then clapped her hands once, forging a bright look onto her face. "Speaking of, we need to finish this up."

They acquired your blood from you, put you through several physicals and magicals, all to assess what sort of magical girl you were, and how you would fit into their grand scheme. All of which you kept your mouth shut on. Their suspicion was up some, and it was quite understandable. You had talked about their complex to the monitor, to a totally unrelated scenario. Knowing what they do, you might be communicating with whomever is on the end of the ribbon. Which you did, just that once.

You were horrible at anything physical, especially running and hand to hand combat. Your revolver dramatically erased the lack of physical apitude, proving to be an effective gun in the ranges. Your magitech bag was a 'perfect match to what your item will be', in their own words. It would also be the talk of Komugi, their resident computer expert. Mami emphasised how the scientist would like to talk to you later.

Now with all the red tape over, you breached the subject of that, and Usagi nodded, stating it was time.

At the command center blast doors, where you sucked the data out with a book full of digital tentacles. Usagi gave you a knowing look, smiling a bit deviously, a bit teasingly. Pushing the button, it opened for the three of you to enter.

"Don't worry, Nagisa, no one is going to arrest you. It's our dirty secret." Usagi whispered into your ear, before giving you a nudge. You stepped forth into the familiar darkness, twinkling lights, and secracy that befell any organization of this calibre.

"There's a reason - well multiple - this place is so heavily shielded." Usagi informed you, walking you through the room. The two flanked you, acting as your shield. All the scientists were still busy with the monitors, except for Komugi, who was relaxing at one. As you passed she gave a wave, half a smile illuminated.

You stopped in front of a wall, or what looked like a wall, as Usagi demonstrated by pressing a random place in it. A keypad appeared, numbers 1 - 9 highlighted a bluish white. Her body obscured your vision as she tapped in the password, then stepped back. The wall shifted, split apart, and opened, revealing a podium made of radiant light. It was a circular room, completely smooth, and with only that podium in its place.

On that podium, however, was...

"The helmet." You murmured.

The act fades, the curtains fall. A shot in the dark brought forth light, and in that light was a glimmer of hope. By now the dream was prophetic, a thing to come and shake your bones with Zeptyoid. Feet were marching, plots hatching, and all in the wild, a radiation giant was hunted by a sickly frail spirit with a bone to pick with the world.


Scene 14: The Mad Scientist's Gift

====ALWAYS LOOK AT NOTES & FUTURE SCENES FOR REVELANT INFORMATION OR SCENES====

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you underwent the initiation process. A monitor from the ceiling told you a series of scenarios, then wondered what you would do. Verbally telling the monitor what you did, you blitzed through the questionaire until the last scenario. SHE contacted you, overriding either the monitor or your visual input of the monitor, requesting to know where you were.

You finally replied back, after so many messages from her, detailing the name of where you were but that you didn't know where exactly it was. You - or HER - gave SHE a clue as to where she was, speeding up the hunt.

Suspicions were high, on all parties ends, but you managed to calm them down. You filled out paperwork, giving half truths, full truths, and 3/4th truths wherever you saw fit. Testing underwent, sizing you up for their organization, and finally, finally, you were allowed to see the one item that belonged to you.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and you were staring at a helmet, possibly the same one from your dream, surrounded by a white light. All you could do was stare at it, the possibilities of the future running wild in your head. If this was the helmet, then that Black City would happen, or was happening, if Yui was somehow tied to triggering it. If that was the case, who was she hunting dow---

"Go on, Nagisa, it's yours. Try it on." Usagi encouraged you, giving you a tiny shove forward. Thoughts interrupted, you stumbled forward, but quickly caught yourself. Turning, you stared at the bright faced Usagi, who nodded and even gestured for you to continue moving. Turning around, you squinted at the harshness, then stepped forward. Arms reaching outward, you grasped the helmet. Made out of metal alloys, it felt cool to the touch, also very light. You gave it a rapping, noting how hard it felt against your knuckles. Viewing it from all sides, you saw that it was a helmet any warlord would wear, minus the hair ornament at the top.

The primary color for the helmet was light blue, while the simple trims were of a polished silver, brilliant to behold. Remembering how tarnished your armor was, this would be a polarizing clash.

You seated the helmet on your head. You could hardly feel it on you, and the only reminder it was there was the tunnel vision. Looking around, getting a feel for it, you turned so you could stare at both Usagi and Mami. From how you remembered the HUD being, it could read your vitals, but nothing came up.

A thrum started up as the energies coursed through the circuitry of the helmet. Enough activity buzzed in your head that it all sounded like a catchy techno tune, and then a box projected itself into your eyes.

A sequence of programs booting up filled the screen, only one or two of them you were able to perceive before it blanked out. A greetings appeared.

Welcome to the H.E.L. Mach 9 Protective System, Midorikawa Nagisa. This is a gift to you from Smith Weston, who was touched deeply by your vision of the future, and wishes to strive toward it. Seeing this means that you have inherited the final product in this series.

This is my most advanced invention to date, Nagisa. One day, I hope there's many more like it for you to enjoy.

Smith Weston's name appeared at the bottom right of the screen before the entire screen blanked out. A transparent deep blue background persisted, until it too disappeared. Your bodily stats scrolled up the left hand side of the monitor, telling you how you felt. Remembering how in the dream you had contacted something, you looked for any trace of it, but you were clean. You also had three points to spend. You still didn't know how to spend them, though.

"Well? What do you think, Nagisa?" Usagi asked, curiosity coloring her face.

"What is that fanciful tech you have, Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa?" Komugi appeared from the darkness inbetween Mami and Usagi, eyeing your helmet. She had her hands inside her labcoat pockets. Tim, on Mami's shoulder, realized Komugi was there and stretched in an attempt to nibble at her shoulder.

What did you think of Smith Weston's gift?


It's a really snazzy gift, Smith. Sorry for that whole... Thing that befell you, you thought, the heartfelt message from the long dead Smith appearing again in your mind's eye.

"I... Who is Smith Weston? I have heard the name before, but I do not truly know who he wa- is."

"Oh, Smith Weston was scary good at making stuff. Especially when he was inspired." Komugi stated. Mami stared at Komugi. "He was also a mad scientist that enjoyed toying with others fortunes. He was a dreamer that didn't realize the bulk of his works was something unattainable, and that his last invention was a complete failure." Mami then stared at you, a silent fire burning deep in her. "For all intensive purposes, that helmet was his only true success."

And he made nine different versions of them, you thought.

"You have to be a hopeless dreamer to hold the creativity and brilliant mind that man had."

"Do you love him, Watanabe?!" Mami snapped at Komugi before gritting her jaw, regretting what she said instantly. It didn't phase the scientist, however, who smiled at Mami.

"I admired the man for what he did for science. His death was a devestating blow to everyone that kept their eyes on him and his works. Even if he was eccentric, he will be missed for a long time."

"Geez, so much in fighting for a special occasion." Usagi muttered, then spoke up louder. "This should be a celebration! We have ourselves a Conquistador! We became that much more stronger with Nagisa as our ally!"

"We can't exactly send her out there." Mami's half asleep eyes wandered to Usagi, deadpanning the truth to her. Usagi nodded.

"You're right, we can't. Too much trouble, too risky. But SHE won't be around forever, you know?"

Komugi finally realized Tim was stretching for her, so she extended her arm out for him to walk on. Tim walked up to her shoulder and sat there, leaning against her head for leverage. She giggled, gently scratching the back of that rabbit.

"So, tell me, Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, all about your toy. How does it feel? What do you see? Do you feel any different?"


"Its... strange. I don't feel different, particularly. It says I have... points to spend." You stated, looking this way and that, testing out the helmet. It was exactly like it was in the dream. It was also kind of cool, too.

"Oh! Points to spend?" Komugi's interest was piqued, stepping up to you. "I met Weston once, to tell you the truth. I was a fangirl and flooded him with greetings and questions. I got him to reveal an aspect about that helmet, although I didn't know at the time." Komugi grinned. Tim glared, if a rabbit could glare, at you. "He said he had been working on an RPG type system, getting the bugs out of it with each new product. Points to spend... on in system abilities. Don't ask me how he did it, but I think what you wear is that."

In system abilities, huh? Just thinking about that brought up a new screen, which startled you a little.

It was the vital screen for the helmet itself, showing you four different things about it.

>Energy Storage
>Indomitable
>Aegis
>Read A Person

Four little squares followed the three of the names, energy storage bearing none, with only the first square green. Staring at energy storage, it told you that energy was at 100%. Staring at Indomitable, it told you that channeling energies into the electrocircuitry of the lining under the metallic shell enables strengthening of said shell. Aegis: Channeling energy into the Aegis subsystem allows for a stronger force field. Read A Person: Channeling energy into the Read A Person subsystem allows the user to read deeper into a person's body, enabling for a better and more accurate read out.

"Can I touch it?" Komugi asked, a hand out and ready to grope your treasure.

Do you wish to spend points, Nagisa?


Ping. Ping Ping. Two squares went green under Indomitable, one under Aegis. The only difference you could readily tell was the thrumming. It increased, became slightly louder. Then it normalized.

Seeing the anticipation in Komugi's face made you remember her profile, and from your screen came her profile. Smith Weston, were you just lucky in making this, or truly a genius? Her smiling face stared at her, with her stats scrolling by it.

Height 5'6''; Weight 50 lbs; Eyes Orange; Hair Red; Power Computers, able to access them at an intimate level; Blood Type A; Mutation [REDACTED]; Personality Type Laid Back; Psychresult Scientist, Stable. Reason for Joining - Heard about the organization through a friend, and decided to join. Fell in love with magitech department.

That was all you had on her, all Clad of Dawn had on her.

Komugi took your silence as an okay, and reached at you. You felt her hand stroking the top, sides, even the silver borders. You were being petted by Komugi, causing Tim to quietly hiss at you. And it was right there in your face, too.

"Oooh, its so smooth and cool!" Komugi cried, smiling ear to ear, touching a something that her hero had made.

"Is it to your liking, Nagisa? Does it fit you? We can swap this out for something else, but something tells me you like it." Usagi spoke up, appearing at Komugi's right, smiling at you.

"Yeah, it fits me just fine. Although Komugi, can you do me a favor?"

"Yes, what is it, Pretty Idol?" Komugi asked, still stroking.

"Can you please step back some? I don't want the rabbit to tear my face off."

"Ah, Tim's harmless." Komugi rebutted you, oblivious to Mami's pet hostility to you.

"Tim isn't harmless. He hates me, so step back or I will." You restated, putting a growl into your voice. Komugi sighed, showing unhappiness at the prospect, but quickly smiled again, stepping back. Having concentrated on her, her vitals appeared on screen.

A blue outline shone around her faintly, with her stats scrolling up her side. The profile was accurate, according to these readings, but also newer information surfaced. She had no heartbeat. No blood. No bones. Only plastic existed all over her body, even in her head. Her eyes, however, registered differently. You concentrated on Tim, and he read exactly like her eyes did. Apparently magical properties were different than anything else.

"I guess the past is catching up to you, Midorikawa." Mami muttered, passing you and closing the alcove's door. Everything was pitched into darkness. The twinkling of the consoles became bright again as your eyes adjusted.

Your next move, Nagisa?


You had a toy, and you just had to try it out. You turned your head to the left, and scanned Usagi. Blue outline, vitals scrolled. Thinking up her profile, it appeared up on screen, and you compared the two. Accurate again, with the scanner showing you more information. Her eyes read damaged, but everything else was absolutely fine. Keeping these odd finds to yourself, you turned to Mami, and scanned her. Her profile came up on a thought.

You removed the profile, satisfied with the accuracy of the scanner. Out of the ones you've scanned, she was the only one to have no odd readings to her.

Why was that? Komugi had a mutation, an unknown one to you, but apparently had to do with plastic. Her body weight and consistency verified that. Her power was within her eyes, which read magical properties. Usagi, on the other hand, had damaged eyes, which had the same color as Komugi's eyes. What exactly damaged her eyes? Your staring at her caused her to ask you a penny for your thoughts. You didn't answer, your mind grinding away at the possibility. Could her power... have something to do with this?

It rang true, somehow. You had no evidence, except that fight you had with her. When she deployed her nightmare realm. Could it have snapped back at her? Something that terrifying only belonged to monsters. She was a girl, a human girl, no monster. It felt right.

Do you speak up on this?


"Usagi..."

"Nagisa..." She played along, copying your vocal pattern.

"Why are your eyes damaged?" You asked, focusing on her. The outline appeared, the damage apparent. Her demeanor changed, shutting herself off from the outside world. You could tell Mami was focusing on Usagi as well.

"They're not damaged, Nagisa." She stated very carefully. "I just see the world as it is. Your helmet can read other people's vitals. A useful skill for destroying the world. You can use that to tell if someone's playing dead, and how hurt they are."

"Usagi." Mami said. Usagi shook her head, smiling just a tiny bit.

"I'm fine, Mami. Once this world is burned away... I'll... see a better world." She gave you a closer look before turning around. "I think we should leave Nagisa to her own devices while we do our jobs. Nagisa, since you can't leave without risking great danger, I suggest to you remain in your room, in this compound, until we tell you it is safe to venture outside. And don't worry, Conquistador Midorikawa." She turned her head, grinning at you from the side. "You may grow intensely bored before that time, but when it comes, you'll be so busy you'll have no free time." With that she left.

Mami stared at you, wanting to ask a question but supressing it. She walked away, but not without you murmuring 'I wish the past didn't have such an advantage on me.' at her.

"Hmmm, can you see anything abnormal with me?" Komugi asked, turning your head toward her.

You nodded, keeping silent. She nodded as well, grinning.

"Yeah okay, don't say anymore. I'll just tell you: I'm a doll." She shrugged, still happy. A tiny bit surprising, her attitude. Usually mutations weren't something you brought up so nonchalantly. "I have no flesh or blood, only plastic and ball joints. I'm fine this way, so it's perfectly alright. I'm like my computers, artificial." Komugi laughed, Tim still perched on her shoulder. He nuzzled her neck, giving her something to pet and scratch that wasn't a helmet.

"Looks like they cut you loose. Do you want to spend your free time with me? We can talk shop."


"Well, I suppose it would be better than sitting in the room alone, sure." Komugi brightened up at that, nodding.
"Thank you. Let's go to your room, or mine? Or somewhere else?" By the looks of this place, it held no library, nor did you want to go to the cafeteria, a quiet spot, for the Empress would still be there, or her friends.

"My room." You told her, and started out. It was pretty familiar territory to you. Komugi followed, bringing Tim with her.

Turning the corner, you spotted the cambot that you sent out to track the Witch. It waited for you near the door, hovering near the ceiling. Quickly grabbing it and proceeding into your room, you hid it under the bed.

Scientist and cloaked betrayer spent a good deal of time talking. Mainly about Smith Weston, which you played up to because of wishing to strive away from any topics concerning directly yourself. Komugi knew a bit about Smith Weston, an avid fan of his, as you already knew.

It was true that he could be called a mad scientist, but genius and madness covered the same coin. He was a flashpoint in technological evolution, after being hired by the Midorikawa family. She said a little girl touched his heart, and made him work harder than before. She didn't make the connection, or didn't speak openly about it, that you were the little girl. He also wrote and published a book, entitled 'For I Have Seen The Future.'

She said she got hers autographed by the man, and if she had it on herself, she would show it to you. Then the grave news came up. She said she was pretty sad over his death, because the man had himself some enemies. What you didn't tell her was that you found his corpse, laying at your legs, just a few days ago. No eyes, with a knife sticking out of his body. You also didn't tell her that the police force - or some force - wanted you.

Tim was hostile to you, but made no motions to eat your head off. You made no attempt to befriend it, ignoring its hissing. Komugi had slitted eyes, which enhanced her carefree demeanor. They were nicely shaped, you found out, just the right proportions.

A rapping at the door cut short your conversation. It opened a second later, Mami appearing. She looked once at you, then at Komugi.

"We require your company, Watanabe. Now." Komugi nodded, and bid you goodbye. Next time she wanted to try on the helmet, if that was alright with you. You bid her goodbye, never answering it. You, in your heart, liked the helmet. It felt right, and it had mysteries that you wanted to solve.

The two left, with the door closing behind them. You were left alone in your room.

You still had the cambot under your bed. The blank book under the pillow, and plenty of time to kill. To sleep. To do whatever you want with.

What did you do, Nagisa?


You hustled for the cambot, and examined it. No apparent way of watching it what it taped unless you do this... With a fingernail you flipped open the side panel. It was evidently the viewscreen. Groping around, you got it to play. Blue footage with white lines appeared on screen. Squinting, the witch's outfit still hurt to see, but not so severely. You just... looked to the side of her, not focusing entirely on her. That helped, some.

She was walking, turning a corner. The bot followed, the hovering faintly heard like a faraway windchime on a breezy day. Pausing the video, you got your bag out and summoned yourself a distorting magnifier. Cambot in one hand, magnifier in other, you turned the video back on and looked through the magnifier. It helped. She made her way to the loading bay, and climbed up the ladder. The bay doors were closed, and her radio squacked that they needed the bay doors open now. The witch told them to hold on, she was getting to it.

Fiddling with the controls, she opened the bay doors. The cambot detached away from the Witch, and focused on the door. In came muscle girl, easily handling the crate with no sweat. She loooked dead serious, as if this required her entire mental power to do. She dropped the crate down.

Next came Pixie Power Devil Mari, and this made your eyes widen a bit. She was floating in air, arms extended like wings, hands glowing with a light. The crate floated in front of her, then she and the crate both floated down to the ground, whereupon her hands stopped glowing.

Yui appeared. This must have been where you appeared, a chill going down your spine as you remembered that wound. Things went exactly as before, except you could hear the conversation a lot better than when you were there.

"Hail, Hero Yui!" Mari called out, a hand in the air. Yui waved back.

"Going out on a mission?"

"Yeah, I have myself a target to dispose of."

"Mm, hope it turns out well." Mari replied. Yui didn't reply, jumping out of the bay doors and into the world outside. A thought struck you: It's been a while since you last saw the outside. You suspected nothing much changed... yet.

"So, these are the new shielding plates?"

"Yep, as well as the parts for the weapon they want constructed."

"I'm surprised we weren't caught." Muscle girl spoke up, clear mistrust in her voice.

Mari laughed the devil's laugh. "She's a fly. I can rip her to pieces with ease. She knows this, and decided to steer clear, my cohort. Have some trust in me, Tsukasa!" Tsukasa shook her head, stating that no one should be trusted. Mari smiled, offering no rebuke or encouragement.

"Weapon, huh?" The witch asked, the cambot showing how she looked at the crates quisitively.

"Their ace in the hole," Mari stated, turning to the crate she had been carrying. "Something that would burn away the atmosphere, is what they told me." Mari then stared at each girl, grinning ear to ear. "I'm hungry, so I'm going to get something to eat. Do you two want to come along?"

Both said no.

"Alright. Maybe afterwards we can visit our dear friend, Fuu. We haven't played with her in a while."

They both agreed, and off went the cambot back to homebase. Your room. Closing the panel, you wondered what exactly would burn the atmosphere away.

The act fades, the curtain falls. A planet popper was discovered, while a mad scientist's past was discussed. Some things became clear, others not so much, while even more mysteries mounted up. Your vitals displayed to you that your heart was beating faster, a nervous reaction to the thoughts running wild. It was only the beginning.


Scene 15: Experimental Egress

Last time on Nagisa Quest, you slipped the helmet on. With energies coursing through it, and memories of it in a dream coursing through your brain, you slowly mastered it. It came with three abilities, two of which you upgraded. You had yet to try out the improvements. One of the abilities - Read A Person - brought Usagi on her guard, when it became evident that her eyes were magically damaged. A secret she kept hidden from all around her, especially Mami, whom you blabbered in front of.

With a feigned grin, she told you to relax until further notice, and left, a concerned Mami following her.

You left with Komugi and spent time gathering information from her about Smith Weston. He wrote a book. He was partially beloved in the science community. Komugi adored him. You were apparently a turning point for him, in which he threw all of his skill into the thing that your family idolized: Future Tech.

A knock at the door cut anymore information short, Komugi escorted away by Mami. You watched what your Cambot recorded, and saw how the Loading Bay workers got in. An impressive show of force, but even more impressive, and staggering, was the fact that the Clad of Dawn was working on a doomsday device. Something that would eradicate the world in hell fire.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and you were processing the information provided to you by all the sources around you. Staring at nothing, so staring at space, you didn't move. A sneaking suspicion told you that Usagi's concerned over your ability to reveal her secret. Hence why Komugi was escorted away, a scientist with the foremost knowledge on all things scientific as well as being in the know about Smith Weston. She was the perfect person to fetch.

But the Devil, Witch, and Brick Wall were out there, lurking in the shadows, all too ready to intimidate you, and possibly Fuu. Fuu... What was her connection to those three, particularly Mari? Mari saw her as a friend, and in her tone of voice she really looked forward to playing with the hexagram middriff.

Within square one, what would be your square two?


You never truly put your bag through the hoops. Sure, you summoned a few things before all this mess, and even more in this mess, but beyond that scope, you never tested it. Transforming into your tarnished armor outfit, you brought your bag out from its hiding place, and surveyed it.

"What are you?" You asked the bag. It gave no answer. A disappointing affair, since you half expected some sort of reply from it.

So far it's been powered by your imagination, but did it make up what you saw on the spot, or took from elsewhere?

You realized a plan, and acted on it. Thinking of a laptop with the only feature being constant, reliable internet, you plunged your hand into the bag and brought it forth. Opening it up, a white & black page with a search bar in the middle on screen, you placed it on the bed next to you.

Next, you thought up what you think would be a genius, and brought that image out. A photograph of several men and women in business suits stood in front of a banner for some worldwide egghead get-together. You thought you saw Smith Weston in there, but aren't positive, since you only had his death mask to compare.

Lastly, you typed in Genius into the search bar and hit enter. The laptop performed dutifully, giving you a page of images. Heart thundering - helmet telling you your body chemistry spiking - your blue and green eyes examined the first image...

A mug, with the word "Genius?" above a lightbulb.

Nodding, you realized that your bag was truly a summoner of items that you imagined up, that it made it up on the spot, and didn't take from the fake world around you. However, this was only the first test.

Do you wish to try another time, or be pleased with what you gleamed from this?


You weren't pleased. Another test was necessary, for clarity's sake. You had to be sure.

Plan B.

"Give me the first search result for 'Sweet Fuu'." You spoke to the bag, a first, and plunged your hand into the darkness. Out came a picture of some anime character in a red riding hood getup groped by another anime character in wolf's clothing.

You stared at the image. It was of poor artistic skill.

You searched up 'Sweet Fuu' on the laptop and up came the search page. Eyes scanning, they fall upon the first image. Match positive. Double taking the two, you determine they were identical. Twins, they were, in other words.

Plan A was a bust, but Plan B proved to you that wording is key.

Now what?


No more tests! It was time for the bag to perform for you as you desired. As its sole ruler, you, with your entire being, demanded from it the one thing that you needed most now - your biography. Midorikawa Nagisa's biography. It was the height of arrogance for you to think someone wrote anything at all about you, but the slimest of chances were right there. You extended your hand to grasp that chance.

Out came the book. It was fairly small, not even fifty pages, from the looks of it. The book was a dark blue color, with "Midorikawa Nagisa's Biography: The Life and Times Of" in tarnished silver lettering on the front and spine.

Did someone actually write about you? That was... stunning, to say the least. You hadn't expected that. Plowing on ahead, you opened the book, and on the first page was something hand scrawled in red.

"To my Nagisa, may she rest in peace. I wrote this book in order to atone for the sin I did to her, and hope, deep inside my heart, that I will meet her again."

A few drops of water had touched this page, indicated by the water damage.

Flipping the pages, you delved right in to what this anonymous writer put down.

...

It was fascinating. You don't remember anything from your childhood, but this person knew a lot of your childhood, supposedly. How did they manage that? From an early age, the mother left the family, leaving the father to take care of Nagisa. Nagisa lived a high class life, in a futuristic home that was clearly worlds away from any of the mundane man's problems. But despite seeing that, the writer wrote everything in a warm context, making it somehow a little more human.

Tragedy struck. The Future Tech project melted down. The Momomiya family ceased being anything important thereafter, while the Midorikawa family limped onward. The writer spoke of how often they came over - even sleeping over - to comfort Nagisa. You narrowed your eyes, trying to remember, but nothing came up. Why can't you remember any of this?

Even more tragedy struck. Nagisa's father was found dead, stabbed to death. After that, you, or this Nagisa, made a contract, and became a magical girl. The writer didn't specify the wish. The writer continued, saying how odd Nagisa became afterwards. The signs she wrote were compared to what you read from that stalker's database, and they matched. At least that much you remembered.

Your life became bleaker and bleaker as the writer wrote. The writer tried comforting Nagisa at that time but was pushed away. The writer tried finding her for a very long, and in that time, getting into fights with two girls by the names of Usagi and Mami. Usagi, especially. The writer then stated that Mami was the culprit in Nagisa's father's death, and that she would bring Mami to Nagisa so she could finish her off. 'It was only fair,' they had written.

On a certain day, the writer found Nagisa, in an underground compound. There, they melted their way down to the command center, only to find Mami down there, poised to kill.

A fight ensued, and in that fight, the writer heavily radiated Mami, pumping a lethal dose into her body. Dragging Mami's vomit wrecking body, they beelined to Nagisa. Finding her, they threw the dying Mami at her feet. A conversation happened between the two, and in that time, Usagi flipped. She brought her full powers to bear and nearly won, until Nagisa helped Yuna kill Usagi.

You stopped reading, processing what information you've taken in. This writer was going into a lot of detail, as if they lived it. As if they were there. If that was so, were they special? A magical girl? Were they... SHE? Yuna Nagisa, of the Red Ribbon?

You continued reading. After that fight, the writer wrote how a clapping could be heard. The Devil was clapping, as she walked toward Nagisa and the writer. The Devil spoke how beautiful their suffering was, and that she was very pleased. A killer radiance filled the air, and out stepped the Witch from behind the Devil. Mami followed Usagi into oblivion, unable to fight the voices beckoning her.

Many words were had, then a fight broke out in which Nagis and Writer fought the Devil, the Witch, and the Muscle Girl. They managed to take out the muscle girl, but in an unexpected turn of events, Writer's life was threatened. Nagisa ran to cover Writer, but the Devil snagged her with her power.

Grinning like a madman, the Devil spoke to Writer, talking about her love for the girl was futile, how she was pathetic, how she will drink the tears from her tearducts, and then ripped Nagisa into pieces.

Writer went on to say how horrible it was to see her limbs come off, how her screams never cease, and how she fried the entire city in radiation, turning everyone into a crisp, including the Witch and the Devil.

The writer wrote last that she wish she could go back, to undo her demise, and to live a peaceful life with Nagisa.

You closed the book, blinking your dry eyes.

What did you just read?

There was a knock at the door. Loud and clear, full of authority.

What did you do?


With such a heavy burden - the knowledge that book gave you - you slid the book under your pillow and stood up. Breathing in once, breathing out, you cleared your inner being with fresh air. You didn't realize it but you had been keeping your breath in while reading.

You walked to the door and opened it. The Bloody Empress stood there, arms at her sides, confidantly waiting for you to open up. Of all the people to knock, you didn't need it to be her.

Pixie Power Devil Mari. Apparently your killer. In the worst way possible, you went out screaming. Your helmet told you your heart was beating dangerously fast.

"I see you're done being initiated into the organization. Your rank is, Pretty Nagisa? Oh wait, I can see already. A Conquistador! My, how useful you are. Say, since you're with us, how about I show you around?"

How did you respond?


[A break in storytelling.]


Last Time On Nagisa Quest, you experimented with your bag and found that the way you worded your requests was key to what you get. You could get something unique, or a copy of something that already existed. With that in mind, you summoned up a version of your biography, and were met with horror.

A tragedy scrolled by your eyes, ending with you dead in a horrific manner and with an apparent friend of yours going full meltdown as a result. As a possible future, you weren't excited to make it happen. There had to be a way you could prevent this version, or any other variation, from happening. A knock brought you to the door.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and you were staring at a smiling Mari, confidence filling the air as her eyes pierced your guise. She saw through your betrayer's cloak, and only grinned more sadistically. She was your would be killer, with her special powers of gravity.

""I see you're done being initiated into the organization. Your rank is, Pretty Nagisa? Oh wait, I can see already. A Conquistador! My, how useful you are. Say, since you're with us, how about I show you around?"

How did you respond?


"Yeah, sure, sounds like that'd be nice." You replied, trying to keep your voice as even as possible. You were talking to your death, after all.

"Good. Come along, Pretty Nagisa." Mari stepped back, allowing room for you to get out. You closed your door behind yourself, one last look before the click at where you placed the biography.

"I'm sure you have done your own exploring before joining but I still want to show you around. Get to know you, in a way." Mari stated, nodding her head a direction. You walked beside her, keeping your eyes away from her. That wound was downright unsettling. "You also took your time to reply." You could feel her eyes on you, and with a glance you found out you were right.

"That's alright, isn't it? Sometimes you have to think over your answer before giving it."

"Mmm, you're going to be a useful Conquistador with that mind set." Mari chuckled, flourishing a wave in the air. "Most of these rooms you see are bedrooms, for all the future reruits those two to place. One is yours, and a few are for me and my friends. The way they have this place laid out is that the bulk of the bedrooms are in the middle, with the more specialized rooms bordering them. Cafeteria's just a hop and a skip from your room, right around that bend." She pointed her thumb behind herself, which was the way you two came from.

"Down that way," to the right. "Is the command center, or so I've been told. I haven't been given permission to see it. Their recruitment room is that way, but you already know that. Now, that way." She pointed to the corridor splitting off to the left right before the cafeteria entrance. "Is the prominent way of getting to the loading bay. Are you with me so far, or should I slow down?"

How do you respond?


"Quarters, cafeteria, command center, recruitment room, loading bay. Seems straight forward, so far, now that I have a moment to consider it." You kept your cool, not letting her subtle jabs worm their way under your skin, to crawl underneath in 5.1 surround sound vibrations. Mari simply smiled a dagger's width, eyes crinkling and even narrowing, as if delighted with a move you made on some absurd chess board.

White and black. The two colors you could always put your bet on.

"... Good, I'll show you the rest of the compound."

And she did, she had you learn, or relearn from your point of view, the layout of the rooms, telling you bits and pieces of juicey knowledge on why it was this way or what they - Mami and Usagi - were thinking in setting up like this. Apparently they were genius and fools at the same time.

You humored her, secretly discounting most of what she said, especially her opinions, not enjoying the tiny game of who could one up the other.

The tour lasted, until Mami appeared before you, with her eyes hooded and expression dead.

"Usagi wants to see you, Conquistador Midorikawa. Now."

"Where at?" You asked, circumventing Mari in getting the first word.

"Her private room. You have no idea where it is, so I'll lead you the way." Mami's eyes moved over your shoulder, at Mari. "She'll have to go alone. I am sure you understand."

Mari's smile was apparent on her voice. "I do, but I wish to continue showing Nagisa around. I want to come with her."

Mami's eyes narrowed a fraction. "You can after her visit." With that she turned around, indicating for you to follow her, and the two of you walked. Two sets of footsteps were joined by a third, causing Mami to stop, turn, and glare at Mari. "As I said, get lost. Now." Her words were firm. Taking the moment to look away, you stared at Mari, who cooly smiled at Mami, then flashed a magnanimous grin at you.

"I'll see you later, okay?" You nodded, and followed Mami again.

In front of a door similar to every other door in every way save for one: It had a keypad on it. Mami looked at you for a second, then typed in the passord. It slide open. Mami pushed you in and the door closed immediately behind you.

Giving your back a look, wanting to know why Mami would push you so suddenly, you heard a noise, and faced the front of you. You were in an empty room, with Usagi staring at you. She stood in the middle, focusing her entire attention on you. Scanning you, almost. Her lips moved, and the eerie silence was broken with words that filled the room with apprehension.

"You know, don't you? With that helmet of yours?"

Response?


"I'm not sure what you think I know... but..." You focused on her eyes, and the helmet gives you the familiar readouts, including the magical damage. "I have an idea, at least. There's... something wrong, with your eyes."

Usagi nodded in such a way that she didn't want to break her own neck. "Something wrong... from your stance. For me... Remember when we had that fight, and I took you home to get better?" You indicated you did remember. "Sometime afterward, slowly, everything changed. At first I thought it was a blip, something my imagination was running wild with, but no," She smiled and shook her head. "My power... allowed me to see the world as it really is. I didn't know it at the time, but I gave you that ability as well. You saw the world as it is, in that fight."

You shook your head. The world wasn't a fleshy tumor. It was concrete, dirt, and water. Nothing as horrific as that nightmare barrier. You said this to her, denying her words every inch you could. Usagi smiled, kinder than before.

"Yes, it is the world, Nagisa. So that's why I had Mami bring you here. I need to ask you something." She stepped forward, wanting to reach out to you. "Help me burn it away. I want to see the green hills of earth again, the fluffy white clouds and the blue, blue sky. I want to see paradise, with the rolling waves and clear, crisp air." This was when she fell to her knees, tears breaking out as a hand of hers grabbed ahold of your dirty, dark blue drape. "I'm tired of seeing blood, breathing fluids in the air, looking at bone and hearing the steady pulse of tumors on the ground. I come to this room to regain my wits, to curb the insanity that nips at my conscious every second of every day."

Your eyes flicker up at the room, and you were stunned to see you failed your preception roll. The room, devoid of anything, was painted wildly, with a madman's precision.

"I haven't found a soothing color yet..." She grasped your cloth tighter, forcing you to stare at her pleading eyes, some tears rolling from them. "I know Mari pressured you into joining us, but I don't mind that... You're still my friend, Nagisa, despite our past conflicts. You've been really patient with me this far. I know about your wish, I know how you want to rule the world, but I want you to rule the correct world, not this one. This one is evil, and corrupt, and tainted. Nothing good will come of your reign. Help me set up the right world for you, please..." She appeared to be at a loss for words, groping your outfit as she whispered please over and over again.

Once again, she was offering you to join her in her mad quest to destroy the world. You didn't see what she saw, but you did remember her power, and having been in it once, you learned very quickly to fear it. That world was all that she said, and if she was stuck in it, it was only appropriate for her to be this way. However, you knew this was Earth that you saw, with its horrible tragedies playing out on a stage of actors. You knew if you destroyed this, a more beautiful earth will not show up. Your helmet didn't read magical damage everywhere, just on certain persons.

You could join her, since she was only friend in this mad place, or you could help her... Take your gun out, and let the winds of change clean the world she saw.

Decision, Nagisa?


You would help be her friend, since she was the only one in this mad house. You grabbed her front, and pulled her to her feet, smiling kindly for her benefit. She looked at you with some confusion in her eyes, wondering what you were doing.

"Alright, Usagi. I'll help you make things go right. As much as I can." You brought your bag out, and reached in, thinking up a pair of earbuds that will allow normal sounds in, but filter the crazy noises of that warped barrier out. You hand them to her, and she gave them a look before going back at you.

"They are special earbuds, able to cancel out what you hear from the tainted world. Don't worry, you can still hear normal sounds like people talking. It'll offer you some form of rest, but they won't last for very long."

"How long?"

"I have no idea. Eight hours, maybe. I haven't timed their longevity."

"B-but... Nagisa... this is great and all, but why don't you just give me something to take care of what I see?" Usagi scrunches her eyebrows. You thought over your answer, eyes going over the wild patterns of mixed paint, then you slowly told her that it would be too cruel for you to offer her the green hills of earth, and the blue, blue skies for just eight hours, only to have you see the gore she was so used to.

Usagi teared up, nodding as she placed the earbuds into her ears. "Th-thanks Nagisa..."

"Now, Usagi..." You locked eyes with her, a plan formulating in your head. "I request permission to go outside on a scavange mission."

"But... No Nagisa, the dangers are too great. I can't allow you to go outside right now."

"I'll be cautious, Usagi. I won't throw myself into harm's way that easily, especially now that I'm apart of your organization. Please allow me to go outside."

"... I'll send Beautiful Sumire with you, just to be safe." You shook your head.

"No, I won't be needing anyone else. In fact, it'll get me caught quicker if I have someone with me."

Usagi stared at you, debating over your request. You stared right back, mimicing Mami's dead pan expression, waiting for Usagi's verdict.

"Fine. Do NOT let yourself get caught, Nagisa. Things will get ugly once you do." You nodded, saying you fully understand.

Usagi noded, and strode to the keypad, muttering the password aloud. It apparently was the flavor of what she saw and heard all the time. The door opened to a scene between Mari and Mami.

"I told you, not to follow."

"I didn't. I came here to wait for Nagisa to finish... which she has." Mari indicated with a hand wave, Mami following the hand to see you and Usagi standing there.

"Everything... alright?" Usagi asked cautiously, staring at the two. Mami sighed deeply, blanking her scary looking face. "Not quite."

"Nothing's the problem, Elegant Knight. I just wanted to see my friend Nagisa around the place, and spend more time with her." Mari smiled, cutting through and touching you on your shoulder. Your skin crawled. You couldn't take the physical contact, her presence too much, but you held it in.

"We'll talk later, Mami, for now... I'm sending Nagisa outside. Official business." Mami wanted to ask something, but merely looked at her cohort in silence, gleaming the answers she wanted from her eyes. She then pivoted her gaze at you.

"Where to, Midorikawa?"

"Smith Weston's house."

Usagi stepped out into the illuminated hallway, her shadow following her. Mami unsheathed her dagger and stabbed the shadow, ripping it in half to summon a portal. In the swirling energies of the oval, Smith Weston's abode peered forth. It looked undisturbed.

"Jump through whenever you're ready."

"Oooh, a mission, and so soon." Mari murmured into your ear. "What are you doing, Nagisa?"

You ignored her, staring at both Usagi and Mami.

Maybe you should say, or ask something, before you leave. But what?


"How will I get back?"

"I'll give you... a day, a full 24 hours to do what you need to do. Once that day's up, be at his house again, and wait for the portal to appear in the front lawn." Usagi told you, then added. "Do you understand? Not a minute over."

"Yes, I understand. Don't worry, whoever or whatever is after me, I won't let myself be in danger." You looked at Mami, who was patiently staring at you.

"Do you want anything?"

With such an open ended question, you didn't expect the reaction you received. The smallest traces of sorrow entered her face, her head downtilting a tiny bit.

"If you find my fortune there, bring it back." She whispered. You hesitated, breath catching in your throat. What a personal thing to say! She pointed at the portal, sensing everyones' stares.

"Just get in there, right now."

You nodded, murmured a thank you, Mami and see you all soon, and leapt into the portal without looking back. Usagi giggled, muttering something you didn't quite catch. Something about not being in danger of SHE, but of SHE being in danger of HER.

The curtains fall, the act fades. The cosmic forces grow weary of the snail's pace. The actors, sensing this, hustled back and forth, memorizing their lines and working on the razor sharp edge of fear. Their greatest acting will be seen. The betrayer jumps into uncertain times, near familiar territory, with freedom in sight, but a nagging sensation that everything was about to go pear shaped.

The proper story was about to begin.


Scene 16: The Intensifying Storm


Last time on Nagisa Quest, you were given a tour by Pixie Power Devil Mari, the bloody empress of the world. You didn't require it, having seen the bulk of the compound by yourself, but you took it to appease her. She silently jabbed at you with pointed remarks, her eyes squinting with delight at your silent discomfort. The tour was cut short by a visit of Mami, where sparks flew between her and Mari, two rulers clashing their whims like sabres. One wanted you to go alone, the other wanted to come with.

Mami won out in the end, and you were escorted to where Usagi awaited, in her privately mad room. There, she told you that she knew you knew of her eyesight, and thanks to knowing that, she requested with tears streaming that you would join her in burning away it all. You arranged yourself to be a relief buffer, giving her a pair of earbuds that blocked out the foul sounds that inhabited her world. You would find another way of saving her, and the world you lived in, but that required you to go outside of the compound. Usagi held down a firm no, but caved after some pressure.

Outside, Mami and Mari nearly had a fight, with the empress having come unexpectedly. It was defused with Usagi and you walking out, Mari taking the advantage of getting near to you. With your secret mission exposed, she tried her brand of prying but you managed to ignore it, and jumped through the portal after a brief interlude of kind words.

You were Midorikawa Nagisa, or Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa, and you had twenty four hours of freedom before another portal tore open to bring you back to that madhouse. That was, if you were to go back. You might change your mind and go into hiding, a very tempting alternative. Too much was happening, and you didn't want to be bothered by those madmen, or by SHE, or by Sweet Fuu, or by anyone.

But for now, you had your time limit, with an unknown future ahead of you. You were laying out on your chest on the walkway to the front door of Smith Weston's house. Warm cheek bonding with the cold pavement, all you saw was the morning light just beginning to bloom. No one had bothered to deal with the burnt remenants of the picket fence.

Standing up, you examined your surroundings further. The street was empty of people, the sky choked with gradually darkening clouds, the only indication of daybreak was the increasing brightness. They looked too similar to the clouds of that dream. You focused on them and your helmet came alive. You didn't like what it told you.

The entire sky was magical, with it thickening each minute you stared. What was going on? The helmet had no idea, but what it did tell you was nothing good. This magical storm was altering the very fabric of the world.

Taking your eyes off the sky and on your immediate area, the helmet disengaged from scanning, leaving a clear visor for you to peer through.

You were definitely alone, with all traces of the portal gone. Smith Weston's house looked undisturbed, but eeirely trapped. Foreboding, was the word, but from what you couldn't place your finger on.

What did you do now?


Reaching in to your bag, you resummoned the blueprint goggles, having no clue where the other pair had wandered off to. You made an alteration to the previous iteration: you added the ability to detect heat similar to a living, breathing body. Placing the spiraling lensed glasses to your face, you saw through the walls and into the interior of Smith Weston's house.

No life signs at all.

Still wearing the goggles, you looked at the buildings surrounding you and see that they too were empty of life.
Not a mouse stirred near Pretty Idol Beautiful Nagisa below the strangely afflicted sky.

What now?


You summoned another item from your bag, this time a motion tracker. Square in design, the display shows a 190 degree half circle that every three seconds sends out a wave of detection. Nothing was highlighted from these waves. Holding it in one hand, you took the goggles off and let them dangle from your breastplate. You take your gun out, a rarity for you, the grip alien and heavy in your palm. Armed with revolver and a motion tracker, you ventured into Smith Weston's house.

Inside, all was silent and still. A ghost stillness impregnated with a subtle dread. Keeping your eyes peeled, you eyed the corners and walls, noting nothing was moved. Inside the living room still stood the four pillars of pizza boxes that seemingly held up the ceiling.

Do you wish to check them out closer?


As you stated to Usagi days ago, it was best to leave other people's tastes alone. No need to bother Weston's... obsession with pizza and then stacking the hopefully empty boxes in his living room. Moving on, you entered the kitchen, gun leading the way. Still nothing out of place, except... a chair was turned toward you, as if someone took a moment to rest in that seat... as if waiting. A shiver squiggled in your gut, but you kept your cool and continued your way to the still open passage down to the private library. Slower than before, you crept in, scanning every portion of the room, and when it was considered clear, you relaxed a little.

Now, what were you looking for here?


This was a scavange mission, more or less. Acquire experimental technology blueprints, information on the magical girl network, on us, personal entries of his own, anything and everything you wanted a look at. And as you flipped through all his first edition books of magical girl literature, you felt like a spy, slithering around for sophisticated, impossible weaponry that only ran on imagination.

Books like Magical Girl Slave What Do, The Golden Empire trilogy, A Trillion Magical Nights and the ever smutty 50 Shades of Magic, and much more passed your eyes. Again you remarked on his bottomless joy of magical girl literature. Then the fiction stopped, giving way to non descrip, definitely not first edition book spines. Unlabeled, you had to pull them out one by one, and discovered an ever growing pile of personal documents.

Pouring over them, with the motion tracker always within eye sight, you scanned them.

"The Magical Girl Network is a very fascinating phenomena. Just like the internet, an invisible, magical web has spread out over this world, connecting each magical girl together. From this web spans a recognition system replete with titles."

"Each magical girl has a power, something personal to only them, and thanks to that, it's a trump card that's closely guarded until they need it in battle. I spied one such battle in which a magical girl warped the surrounding reality, or, I should put it, our senses of our surrounding reality. If we could harness this power, what can we do with it?"

Followed by a few sheets of schematics on what this device would look like, all scribbled in with Weston's notes.

"... I can't believe it. I lost the Future Tech project. My most ambitious project blew up this morning with my own future going with it. If only I could somehow make this all better... I'm sorry Nagisa, you'll have to wait a little longer before your bright future is able to shine." You flipped rapidly through the sheets of paper, taking in all the pipe dreams and failed projects this man had formed.

You put the books aside and opened one last one, inwhich scrawled on the front page, "Magical girls In Black City."

Flipping through it, a huge list of magical titles and appearances filled the pages, you being one of them. The girls from the compound were in it too, but with far less information than was inside their computers. Your eyes were feasting on how, for a not magical girl, to connect into this network when suddenly a ruckus of noises blew up over your head. One single, large calibre blast deafened the sounds of toppling pizza boxes, plastic, wood, and large chunks of plaster. The helmet came to life, indicating your growing fear and increased heart beat.

What do you do?


You summoned a bag out of the bag, just an ordinary, everyday bag for holding things. You shoveled the books into the bag and dangled it from your left wrist, with the motion tracker in your hand. The commotion upstairs quieted down. Then a footstep from the front of the house. You can probably sneak out using the kitchen, taking cover whenever something explodes. You begin to walk up the steps when suddenly, a voice overwhelmed you, causing you to fall to your knees on the stairs.

"Nagisa! I-I can feel you near me!" A pause before that voice continued. "I need to get you out of here, before she kills you with me. Just-" Another large gunshot echoed, followed by rapid footsteps. "I'm coming to you now." Breathing fast, heart beating for its life, your green and blue eyes stare up the stairway.

Do you trust this voice, Nagisa?


Since an intense fight was flaring up so close to you, you decided a force field was required. Pulling out of the bag a small hand gun that popped out force bubbles, you put away your air revolver and made your way up the stairs. Another gun shot echoed with a body throwing itself into the kitchen, persumably dodging the bullet. Stiffening up, you examined her with rapt attention, holding the gun in the hopes she didn't know it's true purpose. The figure crouched with her left hand touching the ground, and a control rod held aloft to her body. Dressed in a maid's uniform, with plenty of frills and a few bows, the figure had rust colored hair, with vivid green eyes. They pierced your own radiant colors, her breathe caught in her throat.

You were the same, and a moment passed with you two staring at each other. Something moved in each other, deep inside, but you had no idea what it was. You barely remembered your own past and had only a fistful of data concerning it. An unreliable data at that.

"I..." Nagisa Yuna blinked, finally taking in breathe as her brain stopped stalling. "Nagisa... It's been far too long. I'll make it up to you, I promise, so please, don't... don't shove me away again." You stared at her in silence, a thunderclap resounding far above you. You blinked, directing your gaze upward, then back down at Yuna.

"Who's after you?"

"No idea. Whoever they are, they're keeping me at a distance, and wildly shooting around me." Yuna examined you, a sorrowful expression blooming. "Ooh, Nagisa. The world of trouble you've been sucked into." Tears wettened her eyes.

You narrowed your eyes when all of a sudden your helmet went crazy, indicating oncoming electrical damage. Another thunderclap echoed, soon followed by a torrent of rain, as a lightning bolt struck Weston's house, setting the roof aflame. More and more bolts came down, burning the ground and building.

They say lightning doesn't strike the same place twice, but with a magical girl, it could. Drilling down with malicious intent, the bolts made their way to the living room, striking a fire on the toppled pillars of pizza boxes. A great inferno engulfed the living room.

"I think we should get out of here." Yuna suggested, at your side with her free hand grasping your arm, tugging you to the back door. Lightning bolts danced outside, but maybe, just maybe, with the force bubble gun, you two could escape.

However, since the storm was of a magical nature, which your helmet was identifying it as, maybe there was another way out. A more secretive way.

What do you do, Nagisa?


"Yuna, do you have a way to get us out of here?" Yuna smiled sadly, and shook her head.

"No, I don't have any power that'll help us get away from here. D-do you, Nagisa?" She asked.

"Well..." You did have a way. But first you had to figure out what exactly 'that' would be.

You shrugged Yuna's hand off, who gave you a hurt look, but the next instant you grab ahold of her hand.

"Come on, Yuna." You pulled her to the library, whereupon you examined the walls. Shelves of books on all of them. In a way it was going to be sad to destroy them, but Yuna and your's lives are threatened by a powerful force.

"Now what?" Yuna asked. You looked at the entrance to the library, then back at the walls. You then looked at her.

"Can you melt these walls?" Yuna blinked, stuttering a 'what' out. You repeated yourself, indicating the wall behind you.

"Y-yes, I can, actually. Why?"

"Make a tunnel. Keep making one until I say stop." Yuna nodded, and held up her cooling rod. Pointing an end at the wall, the weapon glowed green and suddenly the wall began to melt, literally dripping to the floor. You were fascinated with what her power could be, when your helmet told you the rod was emitting gamma ray levels of radiation into the wall. Her stepping forward to dig further snapped you out of it.

A few footsteps came from upstairs, slow and heavy. Now was the time to make a wall. Summoning a grenade, you primed it and threw it at the stairs, then followed Yuna into her tunnel.

You found it funny how fast life was outside the compound. Usagi was correct in that the outside was dangerous, and a gut feeling told you it was partially thanks to those magical girls. Digging further and further into the earth, you collapsed more and more of the tunnel, until the two of you found yourselves in a pocket of air. No exits or entrances, save for the one you made.

"An underground cave... neat." Yuna murmured, looking around. Despite being isolated, at least it had a green glow to it, but what was the source? Illuminated mushrooms? You looked around until you found Yuna faintly glowing green, a few feet away from you with her back to you.

"Yuna... you're glowing."

"Hmm? Oh yeah, a side effect of the radiation that I handle daily. B-but don't worry, Nagisa! I won't ever give you radiation poisoning!" Her eyebrows scrunched up in concern, stepping closer to you to physically console you with a hug. You nodded, taking her word for it. You turned around, looking at the tunnel, satisfied with how thoroughly smashed it was.

But what now? You're in relative safety, for a short while.

Take a break?


"Alright..." You turned to face Yuna, who faced you as well, waiting for your words. "We're under a tight schedule, so I have only one question to ask, for now: What has been happening?"

"Well... I was trying to find you when all of a sudden a very loud crack pierced the air, and then a.. something whizzed past my head. I looked around but couldn't find anything. Another thing whizzed past me before I started running. Whatever it is, it's keeping up with me all the way to that house, where..." She smiled at you. "I felt you very strongly near me. In fact, our ribbons began to glow brighter."

"Our ribbons?" you asked, narrowing your eyes.

"Uh-huh. Here, let me show you." She stepped forward and lifted something from the air between you two. She then kissed you on the lips, a massive blush erupting on her face aftward. Your heart skittered around before the cave illuminated in not just green, but red light. Two ribbons, one radiantly red, while the other dimmer, flowed between you two. Yuna's fingers cradled the brightest ribbon.

"See?" You nodded, asking her what they signified. "Love. It's a... power of mine. I can see these between people, and can even alter them to whatever state I feel like... I.. I haven't done that part yet, though. It's just what that Incubator told me what I could do." You nodded again, mind blanking out a little.

Something... distant, as if from the past, began to stir in your memory. Something about... a sleepover... and a revelation. You shook your head, and pointed at a wall.

"We... we should get moving now."

"Y-yeah. Don't want to be caught." Yuna and you shared a moment, air thickening with the ribbons. You swore the dimmer one began to brighten a little. Yuna then pried herself away from your gaze and started to melt another tunnel. You summoned two more grenades, primed them and threw them into the room.

Everything was going fine, until Yuna broke into a polluted water line. Ankle deep sludge was crawling past your ankles. Fortunately you hadn't blown up the next bit of tunnel so you had room to breathe before it began to fill the space up.

"S.. sorry, Nagisa." Yuna murmured to you, face apologetic. You nodded, staring around. Now the two of you have proabably been digging for a good forty five minutes, so that should mean you were well away from Weston's abode.

Do you surface, or do you surface? The sludge wasn't smelling good at all.


"Yuna, melt a pit for the sludge to fill and lets start going to the surface." Yuna nodded, gave you an 'alright, Nagisa.' then started to do as you instructed. You grabbed your blueprint goggles and slipped them on, looking around.

...

It was scary seeing the empty bowels of the world. Distant and near pipes were, the only branches of sanity as you looked at the eternal dark blue of earth. You grabbed ahold of Yuna on her shoulder.

"Nagisa, what is it? Something wrong?"

"I have a pair of goggles on that allow me to see through solid objects. We won't make the same mistake as before. Ya know, with the sludge."

"Ah, ok. I'll guide you." She picked up on what you were implying, hefting the cooling rod and blasting another tunnel. Thankfully she didn't rush you, since you felt like your stomach was nothing but empty space. It was a disturbing feeling and you wanted it to be over with ASAP.

"S-so... is that your power, Nagisa? To... make things?"

"Yeah. Summon anything I imagine from this bag on me."

"Cool." Yuna gave a giggle, though she sighed at the end. "I wish you hadn't contracted."

"I heard it was because of my father dying."

"... I don't know why you contracted. Sure, it could be that, but... you never told me why." Her voice was colored by hurt.

"Why did you contract?" Yuna stopped, and by the sound of her voice you could tell she was looking at you.

"It was because of you, Nagisa."

"Me...?"

"Yeah. You."

"And what did you wish?"

"I'll tell you later." She resumed digging. She was nearing a pipe, and you told her that. She veered off enough to miss the pipe. A wondrous thing, it was a fairly big pipe that would've sent you two back to the sludge below.

"Have you been alright, Nagisa?"

"No, not necessarily. I woke up with a dead man in some bed in a very bad part of town, with a team of heavily armed men walking up to my room."

Yuna gasped. "Did... did you kill someone, Nagisa?!"

"No, but the scene certainly made it look like that. There was no reason for me to kill Smith Weston."

"Oh no, not him."

"Wait a minute, you knew Smith Weston?"

"Yeah. I met him a few times, usually on his way out. The way you talked about him made me believe he was a family friend."
"Oh..." You chuckled. "I'm not surprised, then, with how he appears to have treated me."

"What do you mean?" You told her about the diary, about the helmet, and that welcome message.

"... Do you know who killed him?" Yuna asked after a moment of sad silence.

"No. There hasn't been any clues."

"I think it was that bully... Aino Fuu! She never liked you, Nagisa. I bet she did it to hurt you."

"Do you have evidence of this?"

"N-no... Call it a hunch."

Aino Fuu, huh? Could it be? Sweet Fuu? Possibly.

"You're coming up to a pipe. Go to the right and start moving upward. We'll open up to an alleyway between two warehouses."
"Alright, Nagisa."

Inch by inch the two of you move closer to the surface. No lifesigns in this part of town either. What happened to all the people? Where did they go? Breaking through the surface, Yuna looked around, cooling rod at the ready.

She patted your hand, and you released her. She hopped up and pulled you to the top. You took the goggles off to be met with the industrial district of Black City, near the water procesing plant and the warehouses every industry used. The sky here was magical, too, but no lightning bolts rained down on the two of you. Which meant it was definitely a magical girl. But who?

Near the warehouses was the main body of water for Black City, with debris floating across the surface. All sorts of diseases and insects lived in the water. The only good portion was near the Mayor's Hall. Across the way was the island where the uber rich lived.

"I have a place we can stowaway in, until I'm free from whatever it is that is hunting me." You nodded. Yuna lead you to her hideout.

The act fades, the curtains fall. Reunited with an old friend, Nagisa will begin to unravel the complex weave of the conspiracy against her. Reunited with her friend, Yuna will fix all that was wrong in the past, and attempt to fulfill her wish. A threat looms around the corner in familiar guise, twinkling green and blue. The skies will warp the stage according to one hurt girl's wish, and the world will become the bane of any wannabe rulers.