[center]Many years ago... [hr][/center] [b]"Come on, where is she?"[/b] Clutching tight a small book and walking at a pace that suggested she was in a hurry, a young girl around twelve years of age made her way towards school, her eyes scanning the surrounding area as she did so. She was a taller girl with fair skin, long brown hair, and thick glasses. Her attire consisted of the school district's standard of a polo and khaki shorts. She was a girl that many considered 'plain' or 'boring'. She continued her search for a few minutes until suddenly she noticed a younger girl wearing the same uniform and attempting to climb a tree. For an instant, her worried expression turned to one of relief, but just as quickly was replaced by an irritated glare. She walked even quicker than before to meet with this young girl. [b]"Jeez! What are you doing up there? I was so worried!"[/b] she called out as if she were a mother. Surprised by the sudden voice, the younger girl let out a cute squeal and then lost her grip on the tree, plummeting to the Earth. Fortunately, the tree wasn't very tall and she wasn't too far up it, to begin with. All the fall left her with was a sore butt. [b]"Huh!? W-w-why are you shouting at me all of the sudden? Ya could've killed me, ya know!"[/b] she complained, rubbing her posterior before standing up. She quickly picked up her backpack that she had set down beside the tree and then looked at the older girl. [b]"And it's your fault for taking so long! I got bored!"[/b] [b]"Mom warned you about running off alone."[/b] she chided, not buying into the excuse. [b]"And I'm sure she'd do the same about climbing..."[/b] the older girl looked at the small tree for a second, [b]"...attempting to climb a tree, no matter how small it is."[/b] she corrected. It really was small. It was no more than ten feet tall, so using the word 'climb' to describe scaling it was a generous term. The smaller girl pouted. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLRbZJS5A_E&list=PLTRMcOxivrOtLfLUhxcvkrGuttqJMxEtf&index=5&ab_channel=JustAnotherCinema][b]"Hmph! Well, she also said your face, so ha!"[/b][/url] the younger girl yelled, wearing a triumphant expression, as though she had said something praiseworthy. In response, the older girl narrowed her eyes momentarily before a sigh escaped her lips. She turned back to the sidewalk and began walking without another word. After realizing that she was having none of that, the younger girl's expression deflated. [b]"W-wait for me!"[/b] she cried as she chased after the older girl. ................ ............ ......... ...... .... .. . [center][h1] [color=turquoise]E[/color] [i]m i l y[/i][/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/TbZA9LD.jpg[/img] [quote=Lucifer][color=turquoise]".rood taht hguorht emoc annog si tahw wonk reven uoy ,sraey eno-ytnewt retfa denrael I gniht enO .ecirp a dna yrots a sah ereh ni gnihtyrevE .ssoH giB ,nos ym dna ,nam dlo ym htiw ereh krow I .pohS nwaP ym si siht dna ,nosirraH kciR m'I"[/color][/quote][/center] [color=turquoise]"..."[/color] A lonesome, untransformed Emily Ackerson stood unmoving in front of what remained of a burnt tree with her delicate features forming a pensive frown. Her gaze remained glued to the tree, and every so often, a doleful sigh escaped her lips as memories of the time she spent with her now-deceased sibling came flooding back to her. Even though she had just returned to Penrose, she was beginning to wonder if it was a mistake. [i][color=turquoise]No, there are definitely people here in danger. A little nostalgia isn't enough to deter me.[/color][/i] She had lived here in her past life, along with her family, though this was some time ago. Like many others, she had spent her childhood in blissful ignorance of the supernatural elements to the world, content with how things were. But upon becoming a magical girl and seeing the battle being waged behind the scenes, she naturally could not look the other way. And she had no regrets. She did not for one second believe her choice was wrong. But that did not mean she never longed for those peaceful days she could never have back. Not while there were monsters and other threats to people out there. So while she couldn't have her own, peaceful time with her family. Perhaps because of her, someone else could. [color=turquoise][i]That's enough brooding, for now. I suppose I should tour Penrose until Jonald pesters me again.[/i][/color] She wasn't sure where her little bundle of hate was, but he always had a way of finding her when he needed to. It was likely he was spending his time spreading terrible rumors to the other Puchuu in the area, or attempting to locate more information on the Ebon Mint that was active in this place. Maybe he was finding her a place to stay? Unlikely, she would probably have to come up with something on her own as usual. Regardless, Emily was sure he'd eventually return to her side and try to get her to do something she didn't want to do, it was only a matter of time. The girl decided to walk the streets for now. As she neared a familiar street, she remembered the times she would window shop around here. There were a few cool stores, but it was definitely possible that they'd gone out of business in her absence. But if they had not, then maybe she could use them to brighten her mood a bit? Yes, she thought that'd be a delightful idea. The only problem... was that it'd been so long she had forgotten exactly where this place was. And rather than spending all of her day looking for it, she figured she'd just ask one of the people walking the street. That, however, proved to be more difficult than it seemed, as most people she stopped were "in a hurry" despite walking at a slug's pace. Still, she continued asking people. [color=turquoise]"Excuse me, miss,"[/color] Emily called out to a girl who appeared to be the same age, physically, as her. When she got closer, Emily noticed something off about the girl, though she wasn't sure quite what that was. Maybe the young woman was feeling under the weather? Perhaps it was just her imagination. Her expression was a bit too delighted for her to be sick, after all. So returning to the task at hand, Emily asked her, [color=turquoise]"There was a pawn shop around here, I'm sure of it. But it's been quite a while since I've been here, so I've kinda lost my way. Would you happen to know where it is?"[/color]