[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/AjbQR8d.png[/img][/center]
[hr]
As Aiko watched, all the other teachers volunteered, one after another, even Amber, who didn’t appear to be fully cognizant of what was going on, if her mention of taking Yui’s “hours” was anything to go by. And speaking of Yui, the greenette had seemed to insinuate that she had actually [i]been[/i] a magical girl in the past, a potentiality that made Aiko’s head spin even faster then it already was. The sight of Andrew holding an ax didn’t help matters, especially when he began telling Lux that they would be having a chat about “benefits” and “payment plans” once the current crisis had been resolved. Indeed, the almost laughable absurdity and incongruity of the entire situation was getting to be almost too much for the poor music teacher to handle. For the past several years, she had always strived to maintain a harmonious balance in her life, but now that balance was swiftly being shattered apart. Yet, despite all that, there was still the fact that a student was almost certainly in peril, and that piece of knowledge was like a clear and persistent tone, which pierced the ambient cacophony and filled Aiko with renewed determination. Thus, when Lux fluttered up to her and asked if she was okay with becoming a magical girl, the music teacher gave a firm nod.

[color=Tan]“Yes,”[/color] she declared, holding up a (slightly trembling) clenched fist. [color=Tan]“If it will help a student in need, then I’ll gladly do all I can.”[/color]

And it seemed that declaration wasn’t made a moment too soon, as an instant later, a panicked Lux announced that “it” was stirring and that they needed to take action immediately if they were to save the imperiled student. Fluttering to the center of the room, the tiny fairy spread her arms wide, sending glowing orbs of light shooting into each of the gathered teachers, with the notable exception of Andrew. Aiko gave voice to a startled gasp as the light entered her body, but to her surprise, she didn’t feel any pain, only a strangely reassuring sensation of tingling warmth. Even more surprising was the fact that, for all practical purposes, she didn’t seem to look or feel any different. [color=Tan][i]Am… Am I really a magical girl now?[/i][/color] she wondered, placing a hand over the spot where the glowing orb had entered her chest. Whatever the case, there were clearly more pressing matters to deal with, and when Lux instructed them to follow her, Aiko found herself falling in behind the other teachers.

The moment she stepped foot into the hallway, Aiko’s body tensed up, her skin breaking out in goosebumps as a shiver ran up her spine. [i]Something[/i] was here. Something… [i]wrong…[/i] [color=Tan]“Y-Yes,”[/color] Aiko confirmed in a hushed voice when Kohaku asked if anyone else felt the strange, disquieting sensation. The feeling of mounting unease only increased as they proceeded along, even as the temperature seemed to rapidly [i]decrease[/i]. Despite this, Kohaku still managed to make a wry quip, one which brought a small smile to Aiko’s face, if only for a moment. Indeed, any sense of amusement or levity vanished completely when the group rounded the next corner and were confronted with a scene straight out of a horror movie.

Swirling wisps of otherworldly smoke had created a small vortex in the middle of the corridor, one which, to Aiko’s astonishment, none of the students passing by seemed to notice. [color=Tan][i]Are we the only ones who know this is here?[/i][/color] she wondered. Indeed, the thought of this otherworldly menace being completely invisible to everyone but them only increased the music teacher’s sense of dread. [color=Tan][i]They have no idea of the danger they’re in…[/i][/color] Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lux announced that they would need to go [i]inside[/i] this unsettling hole in reality, causing Aiko gulp in trepidation. Even so, she wasn’t about to back out now, and, steeling herself, the music teacher stepped up to the swirling portal along with the others.

Kohaku was the first to pass through, and Aiko followed close behind. After all, Lux had strongly advised them to stick together. [color=Tan]“I can’t believe I’m doing this…”[/color] she whispered, before squeezing her eyes shut and entering the churning abyss. 

[hr]

For a moment, Aiko felt a sensation akin to falling, before her unsteady feet settled into something relatively soft. Opening her eyes, she was greeted with a sight seemingly pulled straight out of the delirious depths of a fever dream. Or nightmare… In fact, it reminded her a bit of what her first (and last) time getting high with Kuroko and her bandmates had been like. Still, now was not the time to reminisce about a past best left forgotten. Nor was it the time for fear or confusion, despite how strongly those feelings threatened to overwhelm her. A student was trapped in this deranged place, and the compassionate music teacher refused to let anything prevent her from aiding in their rescue. Thus, when Lux instructed the gathered teachers to imagine themselves taking on their magical forms, Aiko didn’t hesitate.

[color=Tan][i]I need to be stronger,[/i][/color] she told herself, closing her eyes and doing her best to will the transformation to take place. [color=Tan][i]I need to bring harmony to all this chaos… Or perhaps…[/i][/color] she added, as a sudden realization dawned. [color=Tan][i]Perhaps I can [b]use[/b] this chaos to give me the strength I need! Someone’s in danger, and I can’t let anything stand in my way![/i][/color]

A whirlwind of dark energy and crackling lighting enveloped the mousy music teacher, and when it violently burst apart a moment later…

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7S1AUKU.png[/img][/center]

[color=DarkGray]“HELL YEAH!!! WHAT A RUSH!!!”[/color] the completely transformed woman shouted exultantly. [color=DarkGray]“Now [i]this[/i] is what [i]I’m[/i] talkin’ about!”[/color] she added with a wild grin, while taking a look at her drastically altered appearance. [color=DarkGray]“Never thought I’d be lookin’ like this again, but holy [i]shit[/i] does it feel [i]good![/i]”[/color] 

Looking over her fellow teachers, she saw that most of them had also transformed. They made for a pretty incongruous band, but that was an advantage as far as the transformed Aiko was concerned. If this place was supposed to be the embodiment of chaos and discord, then they would just have to beat it at its own game!

[color=DarkGray]“Hey! This ain’t no time to be takin’ a nap!”[/color] She called down to one of her now far smaller companions who was laying on the grass next to a giant backpack, with another youthful girl keeling beside her. [color=DarkGray]“There are some monsters whose asses need kickin’ and a kid who needs savin’,”[/color] she added, even as she conjured a jagged crimson guitar and struck a pose. [color=DarkGray]“So let’s get this show on the road!”[/color]