The shopping centre was busy, as it was almost constantly every day. You pass the grocery store and come to the clothes stories that were organized by age and style.

Eliza headed into the first shop examining the lines of clothes with glee, it wasn't often she had a good excuse to buy new clothes and she intended to make the most of it.

She grabbed a selection of tops,dresses and slacks to try on "Got to try on as much as possible right?" she said as she looked for the changing rooms "Anything catching your eye?" she asked Candice.

"DO you think I should try something more punk-like like my costume?" Candice asked.

"If you want to why not?" Eliza said, we know you look good in your costume. So it would totally work for you"

Candice grabbed a few things and made a beeline for the changing rooms.

Eliza headed for the changing rooms selecting a vest, short jacket and slacks ensamble. She looked in the mirror and nodded to herself before stepping out to show Candice and see her new look.

Candice had found a nice pair of jeans with a black studded belt, jean jacket and a red anarchy shirt.

"Ooh looks good" Eliza said with a quick clap "It suits you well"

"Thanks," Candice said, a bit embarrassed. "You look good too."

"Thanks" Eliza said cheerfully "Wanna keep trying stuff on, or are you good?"

"I think I'm good. I like this outfit," Candice said. "You can keep going."

Eliza clocked her head for a moment the nodded "I'm good, that first set of clothes is the best of the bunch, besides I think the outfits look good as a pair"

"That was easy then," Candice said.

"Guess it was" Eliza said "Want to hit the food court?"

"Sure, what are you feeling like?" Candice asked.

"Nothing too heavy" Eliza said "Subs sound good?"

"Sure, I don't have a ton of money left anyway," Candice said.

"Then let's go see what they have" Eliza as they headed to the food court chatting about the up coming concert.

There were a couple of sandwich places. all offering a variety of meats. Chicken, turkey, goat, rabbit, etc.

"Let's try this one" Eliza said picking one at random "Let Lady Luck decide"

"Works for me," Candice said.

Soon you both had food and a place to sit and eat.

"Nothing like food with a friend after shopping" Eliza said with a contented sigh.

Candice made a noise of agreement as she was currently eating.

"Anything you want to do when we're done eating?" she asked once she swallowed.

"Nothing in particular just happy to hang for a bit" Eliza said "Did you want to do anything?"

"We could check out the arcade," Candice said. "I hear they got in the new Star Guardians pinball game."

"Sounds like a plan" Eliza said "Lead on"

That was when a loud alarm began to sound. It was the magical girl one.

"Oh come on" Eliza grumped as she heard the alarm "Not cool monsters. Come on we better get to our patch" She said to Candice.

"The trolly should come to the station a couple of blocks from here," Candice said. "Let's go!"

"Right" Eliza said as they ran.

The two of you made good time and you could see the trolly coming in the distance. It should be at this station in a couple of minutes.

"Guess we'll hit the arcade next time" Eliza said as they waited "Ever wished you got a teleportation power or something?" she asked "you know a way to get around the city quicker than the trolleys"

"Eh, you might tired yourself out before the monsters," Candice said.

"Hmm, guess you have a point" Eliza said "But think how convent it would be, just teleport to school and back"

"My partner, the goofball," Candice said and stuck out her tongue.

Eliza stick her nose up and said "One rather prefers original thinker" before turning back to Candice and giggling "But goof all works as well"

The trolly arrived and you both got on. You did spot Mary and Shauna, but they were sitting with other girls. They did wave to you.

Eliza waved and gave them a thumbs up as she and Candice found a seat.

"I wonder what we're going to be facing," Candice said.

"Probably just more small fry" Eliza said with a shrug "As long as its not a blob thing like the Guardians dealt with I'm fine with it"

"I wish I could be that confident," Candice said.

Eliza shrugged and scratched the side of her nose "Umm... I mean I know there is stuff out there that's really dangerous. Powerful monsters or Dark Magic girls, and we'd have to retreat from them" she said "But other wise I know our team work will win through, last time out it was your bombs that helped keep the numbers down and them ganging up on us"

"Sure, sure, we just have to be positive," Candice said and took a deep breath.

"Yeah" Eliza said "You going to be Okay?" she asks putting her hand on Candices shoulder.

"Just kinda nervous, I guess," Candice said.

"How about we make it a competition then? Something other than the fight to focus on?" Eliza suggested as she scrambled to think of a way to reassure her friend "Loser pays for food next time we're out"

Candice smiled.

"Sure, I don't mind you having to pay for my next meal."

Eliza smiled and nodded "We'll see about that" as she counted the remaining stops till the factories.

Soon enough, the trolly was at the stop for you and Candice.  Mary and Shauna waved at you again as you got off.

Eliza waved back as they got off the trolley and the transformed her form encased in light and then her armoured costume.

"Guess we had better start looking around" She said "Same way as last time do you think?"

Candice transformed as well.

"Do you think they'll come the same way?"

"I'm not really sure" Eliza said "Let's look about outside the forest first, can head in if we don't see anything"

Eliza could see what looks like a mini-tornado headed towards her and Candice.

Eliza stepped forward and pointed her sword at the oncoming thing "We were nor expecting Tornados tight?" she asked as she fell into a guard stance.

"Nope, nothing like that," Candice said.

"Well this is a new one" Eliza said "Let's stop it before it hurts anyone"

"It's also pretty small," Candice said.

"Stop!" Eliza calls to the Tornado "It might work" she says out of the side of her mouth to Candice.

(OOC: Initiative time)

"Okay, well it was a long shot" Eliza said as she readied herself.

The tornado stopped about four metres from you. It was a strange looking thing with many twisted, long spindly limbs with bones jutting out. It began to spin and came at you!

(OOC: Attack roll - 6 with 6 damage if you fail the dodge.)

Eliza raised her shield a fraction too slow and winced as one of the boney limbs bit into her side.

"Hah, That the best you got? I've been hit harder in training" Eliza taunted and then launched an upwards slash at the creature.


This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Mon 10 Aug 2020.

The creature was badly hurt, leaving it to Cassidy to finish it off.

"Thanks for the assist" Eliza said as Cassidy took the creature down "Man these things get freaky, don't they?"

The monster was soon nothing but purple dust in the wind.

"Yeah, they are," Candice said. "Feels we got lucky with this one."

"I think we make our own luck" Eliza said with a chuckle "If you're good to go we should keep looking"

"Sure. Where do you want to look?" Candice said.

"Umm, guess we head in the direction that thing came from" Eliza said as she headed in that direction.

There were several rolling hills in the area, heading away from he city.

"Guess we shouldn't get too far from the city" Eliza said "Doesn't look like there is much here"

"I hear the next city's like a thousand kilometres away," Candice said.

"Can't imagine going that far" Eliza said "Would you want to go to another city?" she asked as they made a wide sweep before heading back towards the factories.

"My family couldn't afford the price of the subways," Candice said. "Those are expensive."

"Yeah it's beyond most people" Eliza agreed "But was more meaning, like if money and stuff wasn't a worry" she said as she looked around "I'm not sure I would, this is home you know, and I like it here most of the time"

"I dunno, I think it'd be cool to do once," Candice said.

"I guess" Eliza sounded a bit doubtful "Well when we make it big like the Guardians we could try it"

"Yeah, but we're never gonna make that kinda money. We can't sing," Candice said.

"Hey, no brining reality into this conversation" Eliza said sticking her tounge out.

"Someone has to do it," Candice said.

"Fine, fine" Eliza said waving the comment away "well not seeing any monsters it seems"

"What do you want to do? Take it easy?" Candice asked.

"Ummm" Eliza considered it "I think we should keep it. I'd feel bad if we didn't do our bit"

You spent some time hunting monsters before the all clear sounded.

Eliza sighs as the all clear sounds "Well that is that" she said "Can't believe those monsters attacked after hours"

"Yeah, it'd be better if they did it during school," Candice said.

"Exactly, better than ruining our shopping trip" Eliza said "So guess we can call it a day, since it got interrupted?"

"I guess," Candice said.

"You still want to hit the arcade instead?" Eliza asked "We've still got time to hang"

"It is the new Star Guardian table," Candice said.

"Then let's go" Eliza said as they reached the trolley stop.

And soon both of you were back at the shopping centre and in front of the arcade.

"Come on then" Eliza said as she headed into the arcade "Let's check it out"

The arcade was pretty busy and there was a long line for the new pinball game. Candice looked very disappointed.

"Ohh man" Eliza said with a sigh "Damn monsters" she grumbled as she eyed the queue.

"Yeah, not much we can do though," Candice said.

"Not really" Eliza said as they joined the line

After a good twenty or thirty minutes waiting it was your guys' turn.

"Flip for who goes first?" Candice asked.

"How about you go first" Eliza said grinning "You keep saying how good you're at pinball, show me how it's done"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:44, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

Candice grinned and then there were many lights and sounds as she did her pinball wizard things. Then it was your turn.

Eliza cheered and clapped while Candice played then tried to at least not utterly embarrass herself.

You did pretty decent, especially with some coaching from Candice.

"Wooo" Eliza yelled as she finished with a respectable score "So worth the wait?" she asked Candice as they stepped back to let the next in line play.

"It's good. Though now I can't help but think of us having one one day," Candice said.

"Now you're thinking" Eliza said as she chuckled "Long lines of people wanting to play our tables"

"Yeah, but that's probably a couple years away," Candice said.

"Sure, we just gotta work at it" Eliza said "Positive thinking and all that"

"We can't really do much else," Candice said.

"Keep doing what we do well" Eliza said amicably "Dream big and beat monsters"

There was some laughter coming from behind you.

Eliza turns to see the source of the laughter.

There was a group of three boys and a girl that were laughing.

Eliza frowned slightly and then asked "What's so funny?"

"A couple of nobodies like you being big?" a tall boy said with a laugh.

Eliza laughed at the boy "A nobody calling us out on being a nobody?" She said "That is a good joke"

"We ain't nobodies, our parents are some of the richest, most important people in the city," a smaller boy said.

"That makes your parents someone, not you". Eliza said and turned to leave "Enjoy your gaming" she said over her shoulder as she walked away.

Candice followed after you.

"Soory, guess I lost it a bit, back there" Eliza said after they left letting out a shuddering breath "I might be a nobody now, but I'll grab the future with my own hands, and be somebody"

"It's fine," Candice said, looking down.

"If its really fine, something else is up then" Eliza said "So what's up?"

"I'm just feeling kind of frustrated," Candice said. "And those idiots didn't help."

Eliza made a dismissive gesture "Those idiots aren't worth worrying about Candice" She said "They'll just ride thier parents coat tails, no drive to achieve something themselves"

She put a hand on Candice's shoulder "We have dreams and drive, we'll succeed because we're going to put the effort in. Sure we might not be big like the Guardians. But we can make a name for ourselves by being badass magic girls."

"You're right, you're right," Candice said and sighed. "I've had some nagging feelings like I don't belong here."

"Don't belong here? Why?" Eliza "Your powers are awesome, and saved me a couple of time"

"I know it doesn't make sense," Candice said.

"It doesn't have to make sense" Eliza said "feelings aren't like that. But just know I believe in you okay? "

"It's frustrating," Candice said.

"I'm not the best with this stuff" Eliza admits "But if you wanna talk, I'm here"  she thought for a bit and then added "There is also the school counsellers, they are meant to help you work through that kinda thing right?"

"Yeah, I know. It's just kinda started," Candice said.

Eliza nodded "What started it?" she asked

:I guess around the first time we went out," Candice said.

"The first time?" Eliza repeated "What happened?"

"Nothing happened, it just started then," Candice said.

"Okay" Eliza said "Wanna call it a day?"

"I guess, if you want to," Candice said.

As soon as you arrive, Candice starts pulling you towards the arcade.

"Woah, what's the rush Candice" Eliza asked in a surprised voice.

"Sorry, just kinda feel it's my time now," Candice said.

"Then let's go" Eliza said as she speed up.

The crowds weren't too bad this time at the arcade and soon it was one of your turns.

"You can go first," Candice said.

Eliza clocked her head for a moment then nods "Sure I'll give it a shot" she said as she put a coin in and launched the first ball remembering the suggestions and hints from Candice previously.

You did pretty well, managing to end with a score just under a hundred thousand.

"Hey looks like I did okay" Eliza said letting out a little victory whoop "Your turn Candice"

Candice cracked her knuckles and stepped up to it.  After much work, the session ended with Candice missing the high score by just seven hundred points. Candice was grumbling.

"You did really good" Eliza said trying yo cheer Candice up "Just a bit more and the top spot will be yours"

"I'm going to get it!" Candice said.

"I know you will" Eliza said with utter sincerity "You were really close"

"Thanks," Candice said, a bit shyly.

"Wanna go again?" Eliza asked

"I'm okay," Candice said. "Let's get something to eat."

"Sure" Eliza readily agreed and led the way to the food court "I picked last time, so what would you like?"

"How about some curry?" Candice asked.

Eliza nods "Sure, works for me"

The two of you got your food and were able to get a table.

"This smells pretty good" Eliza said as she picked up a spoon "What did you get?"

"Red curry with goat," Candice said.

"Goat is a good choice" Eliza agreed as she tucked into her curry "Ooh this is good"

"Pretty spicy though," Candice said.

"It is" Eliza nodded sweating a little taking a sip of strawberry Lassi. "Glad I got the Lassi to help cool my mouth"

"Do you still follow the magazines and tabloids like we used to before we got powers?" Candice asked.

Eliza nodded "Yeah, probably not as much. But I've still got my subs"

"I can't wait until we get in one," Candice said.

"Same" Eliza said "We just need a flashy fight or something, so people take notice"

"Yeah, we'll just have to get lucky," Candice said.

Eliza nods in agreement "Exactly, lucky break"

"Can I have your attention, please?" a young woman's voice sounded across the food court.

Eliza looked up at the young women's voice "Wonder what's going on?" she said to Candice.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Mon 31 Aug 2020.

There was a young woman in a very gothic-lolita dress standing on a table.

"Being inside on a such a lovely day is a crime, One you should be punished for and the punishment is death!"

Light began to warp around the girl and she was wearing a bright white dress with a fancy hat. She had a rapier in one hand, which she used to stab a young man near her.

"Oh shit" Eliza said and looked at Candice for a moment before nodding a charging forward transforming as she did so "Leave him alone, you're dealing with me" she yelled out in challenge her blade levelled at the Dark Magic Girl.

The girl whirled around, a massive smile on her face.

"Hiiiiii!" she said.

(OOC: Initiative time)

Eliza didn't reply instead moving smoothly into a ready stance shield held close to her body, sword arm held high and the blade pointing at the strange girl.



She waited a moment the lunged forward, before slashing the blade up and across before resetting into the ready stance.


This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Mon 31 Aug 2020.

The girl laugh as your blade managed a rather shallow cut against her.

"I like you, can we be friends?" she asked as she dodged a bomb from Candice before trying to skewer you.

(OOC: Attack Roll - 9, Damage 4)

Eliza grunts in pain as the blade pierces into her shoulder, she jumps backward to give her some space "Surrender and we can see about it" Eliza said to the girl.

"You mean it?" the dark magical girl said, as she approached you after touching her bloody cut and grabbing for your shoulder. "Can we be blood sisters?"

Eliza takes an instinctive step back "What's a blood sister?" she asked hoping that Candice was taking the chance to get people out while she was distracting the Dark Magic Girl.

Candice was doing just that. The dark magical girl giggled.

"We share blood and then we're sisters. I always wanted a sister."

I'm not sure this is a great plan but I need to keep her distracted Eliza thought to herself and nods "Okay" she said and steeled herself.

The dark magical girl reached out and touched your wound. It was quite painful. She started giggling again.

"Sister," she said.

"So, Sister" Eliza said "You said you'd surrender now"

"I did say that didn't I? But I'm so happy now," the dark magical girl said as she began to cry tears of blood.

"Wait what" Eliza said looking utterly confused "Hey its okay.." she said and awkwardly reached out to crying girl.

"The sun lied. It wasn't my fault he died, I didn't know better...I knew if I got a sister I would do better, but then they all died," the dark magical girl said, her bloody tears now turning into purple streams of corruption as she started to have a hacking cough.

"I'm not sure I really understand but it's going to be Okay, I'm here for you now" Eliza said as she hugged the girl and glanced towards Candice "What do I do now?" she mouthed to the other magic girl.

Candice shrugged. The dark magical girl then collapsed on the ground and didn't move.

"Hey..." Eliza dropped to her knees near the dark magic girl and checked for a pulse "Come on.." she muttered to herself.

The girl had no pulse.

"No, no, no. You can't die yet" Eliza said as she applied her healing magic and started CPR. "Come on breathe"

As you went to do CPR, you feel Candice holding you back.

"You can't! She's dead! The corruption would infect you!"

"Damn it" Eliza swore "Damn, damn, damn" she added punching the floor knowing Candice was telling the truth "I didn't want to kill her.." she said feeling the picks of hot tears starting to fall.

"You didn't kill her. She was going to die from the day she became a dark magical girl. They're always dying by the time the hit seventeen or so. You at least gave her a happy few last moments," Candice said.

Eliza nodded jerkily and took a deep breath "You're right I know, it just doesn't feel that way.. Did, you get every one out okay?" she asked finally.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

"Yeah," Candice said, hugging you. "We saved a lot of people."

Eliza hugged her back "Good, I'm glad you're okay too" she said "I probably worried you again pulling a stunt like that, so sorry"

"Don't apologize," Candice said.

There was a bright flash and you heard several people rushing in. Blinking the brightness away you see several older magical magical girls.

"Looks like it's already over," one of them said.

Eliza stands up and turns to the new comers "The Dark Magic Girl is dead" she confirms and gestured to the body "She... Her corruption consumed her"

"That's good. It looks like you two are newbies. You did a good job distracting her until it happened, there was only one fatality," the magical girl said.

Eliza looked shocked for a moment then nodded "We we're lucky" she said "What happens now?"

"The body'll go to one of the labs for disposal," the girl said. "The press will probably want to talk to you. It's quite the feat you two managed."

"Do we know who she was?" Eliza asked looking down sadly at the body.

"Not at this stage," the magical girl said.

Eliza sighs and nods "Okay, I guess we can go now?" she asked suddenly feeling very tired.

"Sure. Use the west doors if you want to avoid the press," the girl said.

"I think that sounds good" Eliza said "I want to think a bit, shall we get going Candi?"

"Sure, let's go," Candice said.

Eliza headed for the west door as suggested and headed outside.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Candice asked.

"I think so" Eliza said after a moments thought "it's just a lot to take in. Talking to her, it made me realize that Dark Magic Girls are people still. Screwed up people who made a bad call, but still people."

"Fighting monsters, is easy. They are well just monsters.. But another person? It's different"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. They told us that dark magical girls were people who were desperate, broken or sick and it never really clicked before," Candice said.

"Yeah, it's one thing to hear it. It's another to experience it first hand" Eliza agreed "I hope we someday work out how to save them"

"I don't know what we could do. The sisters couldn't, I just don't know," Candice said.

"I don't know either. I just feel sorry for them" Eliza said and managed a crooked smile "I guess moping won't help them or us though" she looked about checking for media types "I suppose we should get out of here before they realize we've gone out the other door"

"Yeah, let's go home," Candice said.

Eliza nodded and followed as they made thier way to the trolly and home.