The apathetic Magical Girl couldn’t believe her eyes.
These foreigners before her, these…irregulars to everything she predicted, to what she knew…were actually…PONIES? Real live PONIES?
…You’re lying.
Fluttershy shook her head as she squirmed in her seat.
N-No…it’s true. We…actually didn’t even…know how to…walk before, we…we learned from QB…
Mami promptly put her teacup back on the table to prevent risk of dropping it.
E-Ehhh….!? H-how are you…human, then?! You…you’re really ponies?
Rainbow Dash frowned. “Uh-huh.” Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. After all…if they were reacting just about the pony part, imagine if they told them all about Equestria! Then they’d really have something to sleep on.
Homura shook her head.
No, you’re lying. If you’re truly ponies, then you wouldn’t even know how to write properly, would you? How do you write?
Rainbow Dash cringed.
With our teeth….Can’t really grip on a quill with our hooves, right Flutters?
Fluttershy nodded.
Oh, yes. It’d be extremely difficult for us.
Mami slowly placed a hand on her head to nurse the upcoming headache she was starting to feel. Ponies, turning into Magical Girls? …Of all the absurdity…
…You know nothing about writing with your hand? Perhaps these foreigners wouldn’t be of much use to you after all, Akemi-san…
The timid Magical Girl looked downcast in contrast to her friend, refusing to look Akemi Homura in the eyes. Homura bit her lip in a moment of silence. When she approached them, they seemed normal enough, didn’t they? Did Kyuubey really make such a big impact for them? If so, then things could be troubling…but she needed as many Magical Girls as she could to achieve her goal.
…We’ll have to teach them.
Mami blinked.
…Eh? Akemi-san, what are you saying?
Homura turned to face her, royal-blue eyes meeting yellow-gold.
…We’ll have to teach them how our world works. They must learn to blend in, or they risk making a mistake that could potentially expose us all. After all, they are still Magical Girls, even if they may not be originally human.
…I suppose you have a point, but…’we’ll teach them’…?
…As much as I despise to say this…I need your help, Tomoe Mami. This isn’t something I can do alone, and we only have so much time.
...You mean till that ‘Big Witch’, right?
Both Magical Girls turned to face the prismatic girl. Mami’s eyes filled with confusion as her eyes darted from rose to royal-blue.
…’Big Witch’, Akemi-san…?
She gasped.
Surely you can’t possibly mean…!
Homura promptly stood up from her seat and walked to the front of the room, her eyes focused on the rest of the Magical Girls in front of her. She hoped to pull out any more information from the foreigners before beginning the meeting…but that idiot already forced the transition.
…That is exactly what I mean, Tomoe Mami. At the end of this month, Walpurgisnacht will arrive here in Mitakihara City.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy blinked in confusion while the veteran Magical Girl’s eyes widened in terror.
…This month…? Sure…surely it isn’t so soon?
…It is. I have asked you to come here…because I would like your help in fighting it.
Mami bit her lip in a nervous habit, keeping any outer emotions in control.
…To fight Walpurgisnacht…it’s suicide, you know. No Magical Girl has survived and lived to tell the tale.
Fluttershy gasped. “R-Rainbow…” she breathed out. This Big Witch known as Walpurgisnacht…could possibly kill them? She remembered the sensation of being held by those scary familiars in the TV Witch’s Barrier…but never did she come close to death.
Rainbow Dash frowned.
So, it’s a big Witch, big deal. What’s so scary about it? Does it like, look like some fire-breathing dragon or something?
Homura shook her head as she lifted a remote from a shelf underneath the top of the table and pressed a button with a diamond shape on it.
All of a sudden, the empty screens hovering above them were filled with pictures of something that looked like it came out of a Nightmare Night story. A figure floated in the midst of a storm as it hung upside down from a piece of clockwork, its blue and white grand looking dress fluttering rapidly in the vicious winds. It held a smile as it laughed to no end, wearing a blue double-pointed hat.
To Rainbow, it looked like a blue crazy Diamond Tiara in a pretty dress and a phony princess hat. And it TERRIFIED her, even though she couldn’t take her eyes away. This figure danced in the air, causing buildings to rise up and fly in every direction, spitting out flames whenever she pleased at innocent victims in the distance.
Fluttershy whimpered as she forced herself to look away from the screen, instead hiding in the comfort of her fillyhood friend’s shoulder. That thing…its creepy smile reminded her too much of that Clown-Witch…
Mami gulped as she took her eyes off the screen, instead noticing the look in Homura’s eye. Was she…trying not to…cry? With nothing else to do, she took it upon herself to reach for the remote in the mysterious Magical Girl’s hand, which wasn’t that hard to do. Homura had practically given it to her before turning away from the screen herself.
…The screen faded back to nothingness as Mami proceeded to put the remote back where she remembered it being pulled from. Perhaps that was enough for now…
Rainbow Dash sighed as she patted her friend’s head. “Okay, Flutters…It’s all over now.”
Fluttershy sniffed as she lifted her head from Rainbow’s shoulder, letting out a sigh of relief from the sight of the empty screens. Normally that’d be weird…considering they were just floating around…but this was so much better than the other…
“…I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash…I…I grew scared again.”
Rainbow shook her head. “Hey, don’t sweat it. That was actually freaky for me, too.”
Homura took a deep breath before slowly letting it out, allowing herself to face her guests once more.
…Anyway…Walpurgisnacht. No Magical Girl can defeat it alone. That is why I ask for your help in fighting it…Tomoe Mami, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.
The trio looked at the apathetic Magical Girl in the eyes.
…I need you all to be able to work together and fight Walpurgisnacht with me.
Mami gave a small smile.
…I understand. There must be a reason for this, I suppose…but I will be willing to fight it with you. Before tonight I found no reason to trust you…but now you have given me enough proof to believe you.
…And besides, Mitakihara is our beloved city. I can’t let everyone here get hurt.
Homura gave a small smile in return. A small one, but a smile none the less.
…Thank you, Tomoe Mami.
...You're welcome. Although...I would like an explanation as to why you have footage of Walpurgisnacht later on.
Homura nodded before she turned towards the other two.
…And what are your answers?
Rainbow Dash bit her lip before looking into her friend’s eyes. Normally they’d be happy to help someone in need…but this task endangered their lives, even more so than if they decided to jump ship and run.
…They never did run away from any problems….
Fluttershy gulped at her friend’s gaze. Were they really going to do this? Was she prepared to possibly throw her life away to protect the people of this city? This city, which she couldn’t even pronounce the name of?
…Then again, Homura did give them a warm place to stay.
“…I think we should do it.” The timid Magical Girl gave a small smile towards her friend. Maybe she was being crazy…but Homura needed help, and she couldn’t just leave her like that…
Rainbow Dash gave a deep sigh as she gave in to her friend’s sparkling hopeful eyes. “Okay, you win…What else could we be doing anyway? It’s not like we can go back home…and so far this city seems to be where we’re staying. Don’t want it destroyed at the end of the month, right?”
Homura blinked at the two in surprise.
Does that mean…you’re in?
Rainbow Dash grinned at the apathetic Magical Girl.
…You better believe it. Be grateful. You haven’t really been the best host, after all.
…Thank you. This makes our chances of defeating it greater.
Fluttershy smiled.
Thank goodness. It’d be horrible if none of us survives through this…We should gather as many Magical Girls as possible to fight with us! That is, if you all don’t mind the…crowd.
Mami giggled as her curly golden blonde hair bounced at the sides.
The more the merrier, is what I’d like to say…But we’d all have to ration our Grief Seeds together so that we’ll all be in tip-top shape! It’ll be a pleasure working with you, Rainbow-san, and Fluttershy-san.
Rainbow Dash blinked at the weird additions to their names.
Uhh…just Rainbow or Dash is fine. Some even call me RD. Just…I don’t do…whatever it is you just did.
Homura sighed. They really did know nothing about their culture.
…We use ‘san’ at the end of a person’s name as a formality. Tomoe-san is no exception.
Mami sweat-dropped with nervous laughter at the comment.
Please do forgive me…It’s a…habit of mine I haven’t put much effort into breaking. I’ll try to resist if I can…but I do like how ‘Rainbow-san’ sounds as opposed to an informal way of addressing you.
Fluttershy smiled.
It’s…It’s alright with me if you include ‘san’. Rainbow Dash just…avoids formality as much as possible usually, unless it involves royalty.
Homura blinked.
There is royalty where you…ponies come from? Where is this place?
The rainbow Magical Girl sighed as she relaxed in her seat and crossed her legs. Well, there goes any secrets. “Yeah, we got royalty where we come from. We actually come from the land called Equestria, where the two sisters Princess Celestia and Princess Luna rule over and raise the sun and moon.”
Mami held a puzzled expression as she struggled to translate the rainbow-haired girl’s words.
…Equestria…? It sounds very fantastical, almost. Are all the creatures there ponies?
Fluttershy shook her head. “…Oh, no! We have griffons, dragons, and many other creatures as well.”
Homura’s eyes filled with a childish wonder before she quickly dismissed it. The last thing they needed to hear about was a magical paradise that may or may not have existed. And why would it matter if it did? That meant nothing to her and her objective.
“…Either way, you are Magical Girls now. You live here from now on.” She spoke as she twisted her dialect, sitting back down in her seat as she picked up her cup. “Anyway, let us finish our tea and…coffee.”
Rainbow Dash frowned. “Yeah, icky SMELLY coffee…Thanks a lot, by the way.” She grumbled as she lifted the mug of coffee towards her lips. Without another thought, she allowed some of the black bitter liquid to enter her mouth with a small tip of her head.
The taste was just as disgusting as the smell was. She remembered Twilight liking coffee, but this just didn’t do well for her taste-buds. She gagged as she forced herself to swallow the revolting stuff. How did Twilight even DRINK this stuff? Or anypony for that matter!
Homura held a small smile as she took comfort in her drink, watching another’s misery. Normally she’d probably be more courteous towards her guests, and she was, but this one reminded her too much of another Magical Girl she hated.
Those eyes of justice…
Rainbow shuddered as the liquid passed through. Even though she wasn’t one for manners, she did know you finished a drink you were offered. Though really, that Home Run probably would’ve done better giving her poison than this!
“…You got any sugar, or creamer for this thing? ‘Cause Tartarus is it bitter!” The rainbow Magical Girl complained as she prepared herself for another gulp.
Mami held back a giggle as Homura simply shook her head and took another sip of her tea. “…I prefer mine bitter. I don’t care much for creamer.”
“Nooo…!” Rainbow groaned as she forced yet another gulp down her throat. Almost done…She was almost done, and then she’d be free from the nasty drink ever invented called ‘coffee”!
Fluttershy sweat dropped at her friend’s suffering while she had a comfortable drink for herself to drink. “I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash…” Really, that’s all she could say…unless…
The timid girl reached over and took Rainbow’s mug; leaving the girl surprised as she promptly chugged the contents. As Rainbow Dash sat there speechless, Fluttershy simply gave a small sigh before she put the mug down onto the table.
“…That wasn’t so bad…” She gave another sigh of satisfaction.
Rainbow dropped her mouth. “…You liked coffee this entire time?” Well of all the things to discover in a foreign land!
Fluttershy nodded as a small blush formed in her cheeks. “…Yes…a little…more than tea, actually. I just gladly accepted when Miss Homura offered.”
It was just too much. Mami let out a small giggle which then formed into full out laughter as she held her sides. Certainly she didn’t want to be rude…but it was hard to resist just from Rainbow Dash’s complaining.
Homura held a small smirk.
Perhaps I should just offer coffee, then?
Rainbow Dash growled in frustration as her face grew bright red.
No! No more coffee! I’m mad at you all!
Even Homura couldn’t resist from laughing after that.
Mami eventually fell into a small giggle as she then pulled out a large white plastic bag.
Well, then…shall we have some cake?
Fluttershy stopped short in confusion.
Umm…cake, Miss Mami?
Rainbow Dash groaned as she felt the heat in her cheeks settle down to an easier temperature. ‘Right…cake. Home Run warned me of that.’ She thought to herself.
Homura could only give a deep sigh. It was just as she predicted…
---
A door creaked open slowly as Akemi Homura slowly stepped in, the two foreign Magical Girls following suit. Reaching for what she knew was the light switch; she flipped the plastic tap upwards as light illuminated the room.
Inside this room was a single large bed covered with a brown blanket over white sheets, a couple large pillows completing the set. Over next to the wall on the left was a blue dresser, matching the colors of the walls in this room. The overall layout was rather simplistic, even though the room was actually…unnecessarily spacious.
“…Guest room. Not used very often. You will sleep here tonight.” Homura explained in what sounded like an improvement to her last attempts at speaking in English.
Rainbow Dash put a hand to her chin. “…Why’s there only one bed in here? Are me and Flutters gonna have to share?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Oh, I’ll be fine. I can just take the floor, if it’s really a problem to you.”
“Nah, you don’t need to do that. The bed’s already big enough, and you don’t really take up much space.” Her friend replied, a sense of modesty kicking in. Why did these only happen when it involved her friends? Was it her loyalty doing that?
The timid girl smiled. “…Okay. Let’s…get some sleep, then.” She was actually very tired from not having a moment to relax since she had that nightmare before everything even began…So much had happened since then…
Rainbow Dash nodded as she watched Homura shut the light off and walk out of the room, the door being pushed shut behind her. Guess they wouldn’t hear from her again until tomorrow, then…
“…Yeah, let’s get some shuteye.” She threw herself onto the bed after her friend; the weight of the day’s stress finally crushing down on her as she laid down looking up at the ceiling. They hadn’t gotten any sleep since yesterday morning. The Clown-Witch, Cubes teaching them to walk and leading them to the TV Witch, Fluttershy’s contract, meeting Home Run, the meeting where they met Mami…it all happened in just the space of TWO days…
…Two days away from their friends. Just how many days has it been back in Equestria? Was Twilight arranging a search party by now? And if so, was there any trace to lead them here?
The rainbow glint from her red Soul Gem silenced any more upcoming questions.
…Right…Of course. Even if they did eventually find them, they wouldn’t be able to return to their friends. They had another commitment now…and one that couldn’t be put off for the rest of their lives. Like Home Run said…they were Magical Girls. They couldn’t return to Equestria, so why look back to it?
…She wouldn’t be a pegasus again, even if she was a pegasus by heart. With a deep sigh, the rainbow-haired girl slowly closed her eyes, allowing sleep to overtake her…
…overtake her…
…Sleep already…
…Why aren’t you sleeping…?
…Hurry up and go to sleep…
With a frown, she opened her eyes once more. Screw it, she’d just sit here and roll around a little.
…Why wasn’t she sleepy? She was wide awake through the two days…
…Coffee. That’s what did it. Looking over at Fluttershy’s sleeping figure, she sighed when she saw that her friend actually wasn’t sleeping at all. Like her, she was sitting there wide awake, anxiety building up inside her.
“…Flutters…?” Rainbow whispered.
The figure in front of her shifted until she saw the glint in her companion’s eyes.
“Yes, Dashie…?” Fluttershy held a small smile as she relaxed in her new position; the moonlight shining through the window making it easier for her to see in the darkness of their new room.
“…Remind me never to drink coffee again. This has GOT to be unhealthy.”
The timid girl just giggled. “…It feels like a sleepover, doesn’t it? Like…those ones we’d have in the past?”
Rose eyes glazed over as memories of Equestria played through the rainbow Magical Girl’s mind.
“…Yeah.”
A creaking sound was heard as a white light poured into the room, a grey-black haired figure filling it as the two Magical Girls blinked and groaned at the sudden visit, sitting up on their bed.
Rainbow Dash grumbled. “…What now, Home Run?” She REALLY didn’t feel like dealing with her right now…
Homura simply raised an eyebrow at the question. “…Be ready. You will be enrolled into school. Tomoe-san and I will take care of the formalities.”
Fluttershy blinked. “S-school…?”
The rainbow-haired Magical Girl groaned in displeasure. “Great, a foreign school…?! I loooove what you’re doing here, Home Run…We don’t even know Japanese.”
The apathetic Magical Girl simply smirked. “…Tomorrow, we begin your lessons…Until then, good night.”
The door shut once more, leaving the two foreign Magical Girls in the darkness of their room; stunned expressions painted clearly on their faces.
“…She isn’t serious, is she?” Rainbow Dash slammed her body back against the bed as she squished her head deep into the pillows, her hands covering her face in complete frustration. “Do we really need to learn Japanese?”
Fluttershy sighed as she slowly relaxed her own body back into the covers; a complete contrast to her hot-headed companion. “…I think we should, Dashie. After all, we would be able to communicate with the other humans here…I’d very much appreciate being able to talk to them.”
“But…But we’d have to wear that stupid frou-frou uniform! I mean, can you even imagine me in a CREAMY colored frilly annoying THING?” Rainbow rolled onto her side to face her friend in frustration, her legs getting twisted with the blanket under the covers.
Fluttershy sighed again as she felt a sense of heaviness overtake her. “…I…thought they were…cute.” Her lips curled up into a satisfied smile. “…Would…I look good in one…?”
The rainbow Magical Girl groaned. Of course Fluttershy was getting sleepy first. “…Ugh…Just…We’ll talk about this tomorrow or something, ‘kay?”
“Mmm hmm…”
“…Don’t forget, alright?! We’re talking with Home Run about this! She can’t just make us…GO to SCHOOL!”
“Dashie…sleep.” The timid Magical Girl mumbled as she allowed her tired body to rest.
Rainbow Dash sighed deeply as she turned onto her back again, her rose eyes staring up at the ceiling…again.
…
…
…How long did coffee usually keep you up for?