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[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iQDdsteSr0[/youtube][/center]Winter is a cold season, and the New Year's eve is an even colder night, especially to those who have lost the last speck of warmth in their life. One they tried their best to protect, but still failed. And now, all they could do was shiver away, waiting for a frigid embrace to take them away. Like the Little Match girl, after her last light run out...

Perhaps, no one among either the Light or Dark magical girls of Miso City would know of this better than Chiaki. Having returned back to her home, cold and forgotten after the loss of her sister. While others tried to celebrate this occasion with jubilation and joy, all she would be doing is stare in silent mourning as the snow piled up outside, blanketing their traditional looking home in a silent, stark white mantle.

However, even at a time like this, the fallen magical girl would be able to feel 'something', an eerie presence looking over her, from the outside. It wasn't a magical girl, much less the dreadful presence of Luna's murderer. No, it was something else, like a Phantom, looking over her from her snow covered backyard. Passive, waiting as it did so.

And if it wasn't going to make the first move, Chiaki would gladly take it. Instantly transforming into her magical uniform, she sent a death glare behind her and right at the invisible presence. She couldn't directly pinpoint the supposed Phantom but she could very well [i]feel[/i] something watching her. There wasn't much in Miso City that could detect magic as far as she knew so this was a strange occurence. Peering closer, she saw the twin crimson orbs of a Mascot peering through the window from the Eve's darkness.

While it may have given anyone else relief, Chiaki looked closer. There was something else out there in the cold, standing vigilent. [b][color=ba2259]"Show yourself,"[/color][/b] she commanded, feet taking her outside faster than she had expected. Hood up, she stared into the dark cold and waited for a response.

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"As you wish,"[/color][/b] a[url=https://i.imgur.com/QoS4hgj.png]silver-haired girl[/url] dressed in an outfit that seemed to be cut from the cloth of night itself, said as she came out of the looming shadows, flashing an enigmatic smile on her lips. [b][color=mediumslateblue]"This is first time someone actually came to me like this. I was beginning to wonder if you girls couldn't really notice me but I'm relieved to be proven wrong,"[/color][/b] she said as a soft breeze carrying the smell of plum flowers blowed from behind her.

Those words seemed to imply this girl had visited other Magical Girls. It made Chiaki's deadpan frown deepen; so far, this Phantom hadn't acted hostile but looks were decieving. [b][color=ba2259]"What do you want,"[/color][/b] Chiaki said. [b][color=ba2259]"You don't reek of light so you must be a Dark Magical Girl. If that's so, there's a club festering right now for new members."[/color][/b]

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"Magical girl? Fufu, I guess you can call me so. Even though I'm sure you noticed it, did you not?"[/color][/b] the Phantom said enigmatically. [b][color=mediumslateblue]"As for the party you mentioned. I don't think I'm losing anything special for not being there. You are a much more... interesting subject right now,"[/color][/b] she added.

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"I came here because things are about to change in an irreversible way in your world. The hands of the clock cannot move backwards. However, if you are willing to reach a compromise, maybe you can get something precious. Something you thought to be lost forever, back to you,"[/color][/b] the Phantom said, raising a finger to her lips and cocking her head in a gesture that oozed with boldness and a sense that she had hit where she wanted to.

[b][color=ba2259]"What does that even mean. Do you just stalk girls and propose meaningless riddles for them?"[/color][/b] Chiaki stared down the Phantom, unamused by anything she had to say. Nothing, in fact, the other girl said made sense and she was nearly inclined to strike her down or turn away from the conversation entirely. Almost.

[b][color=ba2259]"Are you a genie now too? Because the only creatures who can grant wishes in this city are the Mascots."[/color][/b] She said this as she glanced over at the lone televisioned cat resting on a tree branch nearby. [b][color=ba2259]"Unless you're somehow a Mascot in disguise, we don't have anything to discuss here."[/color][/b] It wasn't impossible, given the recent news of the Detention Club hosting a sentient Mascot.

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"Oh? Have you never had the curiosity of knowing where they come from then?"[/color][/b] The Phantom said in her typical cocky voice as Chiaki was about to leave. [b][color=mediumslateblue]"Sure, if there are creatures that can grant you wishes, their power to do so must have come from somehwere else in the first place, don't you think so?"[/color][/b] she added, smirking.

[b][color=ba2259]"What...are you implying."[/color][/b] Chiaki's interest and curiosity were piqued, she could admit. Nothing the Phantom said made sense, certainly least of all that. [b][color=ba2259]"Are you saying they come from you? That's hard to believe, even for a Dark Magical Girl."[/color][/b]

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"Perhaps, you would appreciate a demonstration? To get something you think you want now and then later, if you are willing to listen, you can recover that which you truly crave for. As long as you agree to pay the price,"[/color][/b] the Phantom said as she rose a hand. Heavy, silvery drops of mercury fell from it and floated in the air forming a smooth surface that would soon become like that of a polished mirror, reflecting the pale moon light.[b][color=mediumslateblue]"How about the identity of the being who stole the moon from your night's sky? Would that be enough to convince you? After all, if you lose the chance I'm giving you... you may never get her back."[/color][/b]

The more the Phantom spoke, the more inclined Chiaki felt. She even found herself walking forward towards the mirror-like construct. Pale moon? That which she truly craved for? She didn't think the Phantom was a mind-reader but when she peered into the glassy abyss she saw what she most desired and deserved indeed. [b][color=ba2259]"L-Luna...?"[/color][/b] Chiaki's expression faltered and before she knew it, her hand was inching closer towards the mirror's surface. [b][color=ba2259]"What the hell kind of game are you playing,"[/color][/b] she hissed at Phantom. [b][color=ba2259]"What kind of illusion is this?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"An illusion, yes. Just a fleeting dream like everything you've been up into until now. Though, for you, this hasn't been a kind dream, has it?"[/color][/b] The Phantom said in a soothing voice almost as if she wanted to draw the other girl into herself. [b][color=mediumslateblue]"I'm sure that you wish to wake and find that nothing of this was anything but a nightmare that would go hazy and be forgotten as the time goes by, would you not?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"As I promised, I'll show you who's it that you've been after during these last few days. After this last ordeal has been sorted, I'll come and ask for you answer again,"[/color][/b] the silver-haired girl said as the image shown to Chiaki shifted and waned, paning out to reveal that, what she has been looking at all this time where Luna's last moments right until the point she met her soon to be murderer and how she was toyed with until finally being given her demise. A being, no-- a Demon, that was already well known to the magical girls of Miso City.

[b][color=goldenrod]"Oh please, spare me the hasty introductions."[/color][/b]

Chiaki would witness in horror the last breaths of her sister and the events following suit of it before the mercury mirror was shattered. Its culprit was a spear that embedded itself into the icy road, melting away where its blade met the ground. Chiaki had been given only a glimpse of Luna's murderer and when she traced the spear's trajectory back upwards, she saw the being in full view. A transformed Palis stood where the Mascot had been perched, picking up the cat by its scruff and dangling it between her fingers.

[b][color=ba2259]"You....You're the one I should be-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=goldenrod]"Enough,"[/color][/b] Palis said with a sigh, flicking her hand at the dark girl. In an instant Chiaki's eyes widened before losing their gleam. Her knees buckled and she slumped forward. As her body hit the ground, her uniform dissipated and a portal of darkness opened up beneath her unconscious form. Palis deposited her sinking body back into the restaurant where she could "meet" the so-called Phantom personally.

[b][color=goldenrod]"You're looking well for a trapped little bird,"[/color][/b] the Demon sneered, turning her sights fully on the Phantom. [b][color=goldenrod]"Sorry, was this one of yours? They're running around the whole city so I thought they might be roaches or something."[/color][/b] With a shrug she tossed the Mascot right at Phantom like a pitched baseball, her spear summoned back into her hands. [b][color=goldenrod]"But I guess it's only natural a trapped creature like you would be antsy every decade or so, hmm~?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"You know that you can't keep a crow in her cage for too long. Eventually, they gotta spread their wings,"[/color][/b] the Phantom said in a nonchalant voice as she looked right at Palis closing one of hers and smirking. She caught the thrown Mascot with a bubble of mercury, depositing the creature safely on the ground, from where it scampered away, back to the darkness. [b][color=mediumslateblue]"I did expect you to come after me, now that I've finally been allowed to stretch my legs. But, couldn't you have waited until I was done? That girl's wishes might be the most important thing for me right now. Who else would like to change the world so much at this moment?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=goldenrod]"Nope, not possible."[/color][/b] Palis met the Phantom's smirk with a twisted version of her own. [b][color=goldenrod]"You're speaking big words and big ambitions for someone who's trapped down here. Sounds more like you're needing an excuse to deny your fate."[/color][/b] With a snap of her fingers Palis watched as invisible chains were revealed around the Phantom's form. They coiled around her arms and legs, each one of them leading back to the ground beneath their feet. [b][color=goldenrod]"Try all you like, but even after all these eons I can see Mother's work is still potent. Potent enough to bite down your attempts to flee,"[/color][/b] Palis said.

[b][color=goldenrod]"Fufufu, but I suppose I can't blame you for trying. You with no power would naturally be inclined to seek it on your own. Though isn't that the reason you became trapped in this city in the first place...hmm?"[/color][/b] Palis rocked on her heels, balancing precariously on the tree branch. Staff in hand, she spread her arms out and walked along the branch's length like a circus performer. 

[b][color=goldenrod]"You're just another weakling who thought power could fix her problems. But power only comes to those who claim it for themselves. And you're in no position to do any of that, 'Phantom'~"[/color][/b]

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"Tsk!"[/color][/b] the Phantom clicked her tongue as she was reminded of her condition. [b][color=mediumslateblue]"I see that neither of you skirt around when addressing others. Both you and your sister, are just like your mother in that regard. Though, if you really know about the paths of fate, you should know already that getting free of this place is a foregone conclusion for myself. The only thing that may change is how that is accomplished,"[/color][/b] she added, returning to her relaxed persona.

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"What's even your objecive here? I don't think that even you would come down to this world just to toy with people that are so below your station. Especially when you left your beloved sister behind you without even telling her about where you were going,"[/color][/b] the Phantom said, showing that she could read into Palis' actions, at least to a certain degree, despite her current powerlessness.

[b][color=goldenrod]"Oh, I'm sure you will get free. Maybe in the next millenia though,"[/color][/b] Palis retorted right back. [b][color=goldenrod]"What I'm here for is none of your business. The strong don't reveal their nature to the weak. But if you [i]really[/i] must know, you can call it fun of a sorts. The same reason you were locked away in this miserable place is the same reason why I want to make it rampage like the hell-hole it is."[/color][/b]

Palis looked down at the Phantom, eyes glowing menacingly in the lowlight. [b][color=goldenrod]"Or maybe I just want to prove a point to my sister. Who knows. Certainly not you for all the good you can do~"[/color][/b] Satisfied with her mocking, Palis turned on her heels and opened a portal of darkness in front of her. [b][color=goldenrod]"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend to regarding just that. But it's good to see little birds like you remain in their place. Try not to have a bad time down there with the mortals."[/color][/b]

Leaving the Phantom to revel in her failures, Palis chuckled before walking into the deep abyss and disappearing.

[b][color=mediumslateblue]"Yeah, we shall see about it. For the time being I guess that having some fun as I stretch my wings is good enough..."[/color][/b] the Phantom said to herself right after Palis left. A moment later, the wind would beblowing away, carryign with it specs of silvery snow, almost like plum scented petals out of their season. Leaving behind just the dead, cold silence of the Tsukuyomi household which was not truly empty just as the bells of the New Year were about to toll...