Just as Tokiko had expected, Hikari wasn't backing down. After a quick message to their respective parental units, they turned aside from their homeward course and strode quietly into the night.

Some parts of the city got noisy and bright once the sun set, but this wasn't one of them. Here a deep silence descended with the dark, and window lights shone few and far between, dim rectangular stars in a gaping black sky. It was the kind of atmosphere that brought to mind things lurking just out of sight— criminals, or feral animals, or perhaps something worse. Even in the heart of civilization, there were wild places, forests and jungles where only the bold dared tread after sunset.

Tokiko moved forward without any hesitation, as only a magical girl could. What had she to fear for them things that might be creeping in the night? She was a star, a light of judgement. She didn't fear the dark, the dark feared [i]her[/i].

And besides, she knew this route well. Soon enough a blocky shadow loomed before the two girls, a grey and ugly building tucked away where few would look for it. At first its walls appeared featureless, but as they drew closer a small side-door could be seen amidst the gloom, and Tokiko strode towards it, pushing it open without a second thought.

At first, the inside was even darker than the outside had been. Then Tokiko flicked a switch, and dim lights flickered on high above, revealing a huge open space, its paved floor entirely barren. During the height of the summer months this place would be packed with busy workers and massive crates, but right now it stood quiet and empty, just waiting to be put to use.

"Ta-daaaa!" Tokiko exclaimed, spreading her arms out wide. "Tokiko-sensei's secret training grounds! Pretty cool, right?" She ambled forwards a ways, her footsteps echoing through the massive space. "There was a nasty shade hiding out in here a few months back, so I busted my way in to take it out. And then once I was done, I thought, 'wouldn't a place like this be useful?' Nobody else was bothering with it, and I'd already trespassed, so..." She shrugged. "I just left the door unlocked. Sometimes life really is easy!"

With a quick burst of crackling green, she transformed, the lights flickering for a moment as she did so. The huge metal coffin materialized beside her, and she rapped on its front with one knuckle, eliciting a low groan from inside. A moment later, the monstergirl from earlier pried her way out, yawning into one huge hand and blinking blearily at the lights. "Waaaah?"

"You ready?" Tokiko faced Hikari with a grin, waiting a moment for her to transform. "Okay! You remember what I said about how barriers work, right?"

While the magical girl talked, the living Archetype stepped forwards, rubbing her eyes...

"I took the time to explain everything clearly to you. Which, I have to say, was very kind of me." Tokiko's face suddenly turned serious. "So you'd [i]better[/i] have been paying attention."

... and then a massive fist filled up Hikari's field of vision, as the monstergirl swung at her head-on!

[@VitaVitaAR]