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Having been reanimated as a doll, Melisa abandoned her home to find people. She would be back… eventually… maybe. Seemed like a reasonably quiet place at least. Further from the hustle of the city. Not that many people though. Driven by hunger she set her eyes on the city. Had she stopped and thought about it she probably could have used her car, but her magic was entirely new to her. 

To say it took a while to trek to the city would be accurate. Tiny legs going for hours the night would close in just a matter of hours. Her rest period, assuming she needed one, was during the day. Night was when her magic was strongest. The streets were empty at this hour and the likelihood of running into your average girl was almost none. Not that she was looking for any kind in particular. Her tiny metal feet clicked softly against the concrete sidewalk as she went along. She grew up in Penrose, but had moved away years ago. The place had changed a lot. Much bigger and… broken. That was weird. 

At one point she had to ward off a dog that came running at her. Sending the thing packing was a simple task, but she was a walking toy so it wasn’t a surprise it tried to snap her up. One shot and the creature ran yelping away. It’d be fine. 

[color=CCBFFF]”Aaaaaaeeeegggghhhhhh…”[/color] A maid walked around the corner of a building. [color=CCBFFF]”My butt is so sore I can’t even sleep.”[/color] She whimpered. [color=CCBFFF]”When will it stop hurting?”[/color] She stopped walking when she noticed Melisa walking. [color=CCBFFF]”Uh, hello?”[/color] She gave the doll a sideways glance. [color=CCBFFF]”Are you a nurse?”[/color]

The little doll would turn and look at Trixy. A girl! She would break into a smile and click on over. She didn’t quite understand the question though. [color=pink]”Nurse? Not really no. Why?”[/color]

The toothy, eyepatch maid looked everywhere but into Melisa’s eyes. [color=CCBFFF]”I’m just having difficulty sleeping because, of, um, back pains!”[/color] She laughed a bit louder than she should have. [color=CCBFFF]”A-anyway! I don’t think we’ve met. My name is Trixy. You are?”[/color]

[color=pink]”I’m Melisa! Nice to meet you.”[/color] She would offer a hand to shake but then realized there was still a considerable distance from her to Trixy's hand. She'd have to almost be standing next to her to even reach. She pouted briefly but the smile returned almost instantly. [color=pink]"That's going to take some getting used to. Oh well![/color] She touched her index fingers together. [color=pink]"I'm a little confused about what's going on. I was looking for people. I figured they would be scared when they saw me. You're not though which is nice."[/color]

[color=CCBFFF]”Hold on.”[/color] Trixy got on her hands and knees. [color=CCBFFF]”Lack of sleep must be catching up to me, I thought you were off in the distance.”[/color] Trixy extended her hand over Melisa’s head. She couldn’t have been more than two feet tall. [color=CCBFFF]”Well anyway, I’m not too scared of cute girls.”[/color] She placed a single finger on the doll’s head and brushed her hair on either side of her face. [color=CCBFFF]”Where did you come from?”[/color]

Melisa closed her eyes and leaned into the finger as it moved around her head. Seemed she enjoyed the simple gesture. [color=pink]"I have a home just outside the city limits. I found this..."[/color] Opening her eyes she gestured to herself. [color=pink]"In the attic. Managed to cut myself on the thing and next I knew I was being pulled in and became the doll. Keep thinking I'll wake up but uh..."[/color] She placed her tiny hands against Trixy's as if in disbelief that what she was experiencing was real.

[color=CCBFFF]”Hmmmm, well, as someone who’s desperately trying to fall asleep themselves, I’m afraid this isn’t a dream.”[/color] Trixy squinted her eyes. [color=CCBFFF]”It sounds like you were cursed. I don’t know too much about that kind of stuff.”[/color] She stood back up. [color=CCBFFF]”Regardless, I’m sure there’s a cure for it!”[/color] Trixy pointed at the sky as she said this. [color=CCBFFF]”Either the curse wears off in time, or we find a way to break it!”[/color]

Cursed? [color=pink]"Those are real?"[/color] She tapped on her own arm which made a hollow clinking sound. [color=pink]"Well... I guess that makes as much sense as anything else tonight."[/color] She seemed pretty calm about the whole thing. For someone that just came to the realization that she was hit by some crazy magic and was talking to Trixy, who didn't exactly look normal herself, she was taking it in stride. 

Trixy looked around. [color=CCBFFF]”Well, your home probably isn’t safe. The only person I know who’s capable of analyzing you is in another city.”[/color] Trixy picked up Melisa, letting her sit in the palm of her hand. [color=CCBFFF]”Oh, you’re a little heavvvvvenly thing, aren’t you?”[/color] Trixy giggled to herself. [color=CCBFFF]”It’ll be hard to contact anyone at this hour. Did you want to come back to my place?”[/color]

Melisa wasn’t sure why she couldn’t go home, but she didn’t really know how all this worked. She would nod after a few seconds. [color=pink]”I guess so. Thank you.”[/color] The slight smile that seemed stuck to her face grew wider.

The maid pointed at the doll. [color=CCBFFF]”You uh, yea, never mind. We’ll figure this out tomorrow.”[/color] 

[hr]

Trixy’s apartment was nothing special. It was basically two rooms, a kitchen and a bedroom. The kitchen was tidy, but everything inside it was well used. Not a single appliance was newer than five years, and all of the kitchenware had the chips and scratches that indicated their years of use. The marble counter tops looked new, but they were on top of some gaudy cabinets that had to have been around since the seventies, and had received little more than a few coats of paint to keep with the times. 

The bedroom was little more than a bed and a night stand. There was a lot of space off to one side of the room that could have been utilized to make an office space, but it hadn’t been set up that way. There were a pile of boxes, and the far wall of the bedroom was covered in a sprawling bookshelf. Though it mostly contained magazines, with few actual books. There was a large picture of Penrose Middleschool’s mascot hanging on a wall. “Trix the bear” was standing behind a class during a graduation ceremony, and was even wearing a graduate’s hat. He was hugging one of the girls while making a peace sign. Awfully difficult considering he had such a large body and such tiny arms. The rest of the wall was covered in posters of sporting events, most featuring bikini modes in provocative poses.

As soon as they got to Trixy’s apartment, She used her wood magic to make a bed for the doll. It was little more than woody vines grown into a box shape. she put a spare pillow in the box to act as a mattress, and some of her clothes to act as bed sheets. For the pillow, Trixy stuffed a shirt pocket with leaves and placed it at the head of the bed. The box was big enough so that if Melisa’s curse wore off, she wouldn’t be crushed inside the confines of the box.

[color=CCBFFF]”I’m going to put a lid on it for your protection. I’ll remove it once the morning comes.”[/color] 

Trixy wasn’t a complete dummy. Even if it wasn’t a magical girl, it was dangerous to keep a sentient being in your living quarters. While people being cursed into one form or another was a likely reason for Melisa to become a doll, she could also be the work of a spirit specialist or the minion of a monster. Vines grew over the top of the bed and sealed it off. 

[color=CCBFFF]”Good night.”[/color]

Trixy climbed back into her bed and threw her face into her pillow. Maybe she could sleep on her stomach.

[hr]

Morning came sooner than either of the girls would have liked. With a yawn, trixy rolled out of bed and ran up to Melisa’s “tomb” and beckoned the roots to go away.

[color=CCBFFF]”Did you sleep alright?”[/color]

The girl had lay there the entire night. If she still had flesh and bones her body would have probably ached staying so motionless. Her eyes were already open and she had been staring blankly at the canopy until Trixy opened up the space. Her eyes fluttered and she seemed to “wake up” in a way..[color=pink]”I’m not sure if I’d call it sleep. Resting maybe? It was very boring.”[/color] Sitting and then standing up, she effortlessly hopped up onto the edge of the box. Her arm pinwheeled for a second but she found her balance faster than expected. [color=pink]”Oh…”[/color] She walked along the edge with minimal issue. Her body was tiny artificial but it was apparently much stronger and agile than her old one. She probably looked adorable holding her arms  straight out as she walked the line.

[color=CCBFFF]”Did you want some breakfast?”[/color] Trixy’s eyes followed the puppet’s legs as she walked along the edge of the box. [color=CCBFFF]”Are you even hungry?”[/color]

[color=pink]”Not right now. And not for food anyway.”[/color] She would respond after a short pause. Turning she would giggle a bit. [color=pink]”This isn’t half bad. Weird but better… maybe?”[/color] Might be too early to make a call. Whatever had happened to her seemed to have come with a number of benefits. Although being a doll was bound to come with drawbacks. Such as, how the hell was she supposed to go about and do anything normal?

Trixy raised an eyebrow. [color=CCBFFF]”Uh, did you want to go back to your house? It might be dangerous, but it’ll be a lot safer now that everyone’s awake.”[/color]

[color=pink]”Mmm… I don’t know if there’s anything there for me right now. This doll was in there but anyone that would know about it is long gone. I inherited the estate so it should be empty.”[/color] Probably a detail she could have mentioned last night. For whatever reason going with someone sounded much more enticing. And she had gotten a “meal” out of it. [color=pink]”I probably have to go somewhere else to get help. I don’t like the idea of staying somewhere alone.”[/color] 

Trixy scratched her chin. [color=CCBFFF]”Alright, just wait a moment. I’m going to call a friend.”[/color] She placed her fingers on the side of her head. 

[color=pink]"Okay!"[/color] Melisa would sit on the edge of the box and swing her legs playfully while she waited.

 A few minutes later, they would hear a knock on the door. [color=gold]"Yoooo, anyone here?? I got your message."[/color]

 Trixy flung the door open and wrapped her arms around Eliza. [color=CCBFFF]”There you are!”[/color] She spun one full rotation with the witch before setting her down. [color=CCBFFF]”Thanks for coming on such short notice.”[/color] Trixy pointed at Melisa. [color=CCBFFF]”This is the girl I was telling you about. You’ve got every divining power known to magical girl. I was hoping you could see what happened to this girl and if we can help her out. She seems to have turned into a doll.”[/color]

[color=Gold]"Huh. That's new."[/color] Eliza looked over to Melissa with her brows raised. She walked over to doll and sat down in front of her. [color=Gold]"I need the practice for my scrying power anyways, soooo is it okay if I try looking back to when you got cursed?"[/color] she asked, holding a hand out for the doll to take.

The girl tilted her head cusiously. [color=pink]"Uhm, sure."[/color] Melisa didn't quite understand what the girls were talking about. She reached out and took hold of one of Eliza's fingers.

 [color=gold]"Hmm..."[/color] The witch focused her magic on scrying into what happened prior to Melissa's transformation. [color=gold]"Huh. Kinda cliche, ain't it. 'Creepy doll in an abandoned house', right?"[/color] she asked.

She shrugged as best her ridged form would allow. [color=pink]"There were stories that some of the old family were a little excentric about ghosts and spirits. I thought they were just that, stories. Guess what I'm saying is I'm not as surprised. Though usually the doll kills you or somthing."[/color] She scratched her head audably as she looked down at her metal legs.

 [color=gold]"Eh, never a good sign. Sprits can be nasty, if not unchecked."[/color] Eliza shook her head, and continued to focus. [color=gold]"Hm, you overheard a voice, presumably from the doll. Then- Oh. Oh, dear. That's not good..."[/color] she furrowed her brows, and looked back to the puppet.

[color=gold]"I think ya got dragged into a blood contract."[/color]

The dolls eyes would go wide with concern. She persumed it had to do with the pink flame. At the time she kind of lost track once it worked past her head. [color=pink]"A... blood contract?"[/color] She seemed confused.

 [color=Gold]"A bit of a stretch, but when you had cut your finger, some of the blood ended up on the doll, letting whatever spirit that was inhabiting the shell drag your soul into it."[/color] Eliza speculated. [color=gold]"You might be one of us. Or more specifically, a monster girl."[/color]

Eyes darting from Eliza, to Trixy, and back to Eliza, it was clear what was just told to her wasn't registering. [color=pink]One of you? W-what does that mean? I'm just me. In a doll maybe, but I'm not a monster."[/color] She certianly didn't feel like one at least.

 [color=gold]"Ah geez, let me explain."[/color] The witch reassured Melissa. [color=gold]"When someone gets contracted by a patron, they become a magical girl; or boy if luck decides. When they get corrupted, they become dark magical girl. And if the chance they have a higher influx of magic than what's stable, they turn into a monster girl."[/color] she explained.

 [color=gold]"I can only assume you encountered a patron that day. But don't worry, not all monster girls are bad. I'm friends with some, and hell, used to be one myself!"[/color]

Pondering it for a moment she seemed okay with that explanation. It was just a generic term to describe different people. Though that begged to question. [color=pink]"Why? What's the point of doing that to people?"[/color] Seemed kind of random to her. 

[color=CCBFFF]”Because Patrons can be really big jerks!”[/color] Trixy placed her hands on her hips when she chimed in. [color=CCBFFF]”There’s a game of interdimensional chess going on, and magical girls end up being the playing pieces. Anyway, it’s kind of difficult to go back to normal life once you’ve become a magical girl, and that goes tripple for monster girls like yourself.”[/color] She scratched her chin. [color=CCBFFF]”Would you like to ally with us? Your patron doesn’t seem to care too much about you, but you’d be taken care of if you joined the cradle, I’m sure of it!”[/color]

This was a lot of information to take in. Patrons and magical girls and monsters. Geez, she really fell into a mess. Though it made a little more sense why she couldn't leave the doll back in the attic. Probably had some hex or something that made her do what she did. Either way the offer to join the two that were helping her came up. She almost said yes outright, but something stopped her. She settled for more questions. The gesture did illicit a big smile though. [color=pink]"I would love to have allies. But uh, what is the Cradle?"[/color] She glanced briefly at the box she lay in the night before. Surely not that thing.

[color=CCBFFF]”Crimson Cradle is an organization founded by our lady Vermilion Veronica!”[/color] Trixy placed a hand on her chest as she uttered her boss’s name. [color=CCBFFF]”Her long term goal is to fix everything that’s wrong with this world, but for now that means putting an end to the Mint’s activity in Penrose.”[/color] She closed her eyes and sighed. [color=CCBFFF]”And before you ask, the Mint are the equivalent of the magical girl mafia. I wish there was a book that explained everything, I’m not the best at it.”[/color] She leaned forward and grabbed her knees. [color=CCBFFF]”Boss lady would be the person to ask about a lot of this stuff. Too bad she’s away. Oh!”[/color] Trixy looked at Eliza. [color=CCBFFF]”Does Maura still recruit girls? Might be a good temp solution until we get word from Veronica how we’re handling recruitment in her absence.”[/color]

[color=Gold]"With current circumstances, she's always looking for more recruits."[/color] Eliza said. [color=gold]"If you're alright with it, I can let her know and set up an arrangement."[/color]

[color=pink]"Er...[/color] She seemed unsure. [color=pink]"I guess we can talk."[/color] 

Trixy patted the doll on the head. [color=CCBFFF]”Trust me, you want a patron that’s not going to leave you in the world to fend for yourself. Maura may not be Veronica, but she seems like a chill person.”[/color] Trixy looked at her phone. [color=CCBFFF]”But they do keep you busy.”[/color]  She looked up at Eliza. [color=CCBFFF]”I’ll leave her in your care then? I need to update the glimmer page.”[/color]  

 [color=Gold]"Sure. I'm fine having a roommate!"[/color] Eliza nodded, looking back to Melissa. [color=Gold]"Well, if it's okay with you. Don't wanna drag you into something you wouldn't like, eheh..."[/color]

The tiny girl tapped on her upper lip. [color=pink]"Mmm. Maybe not right away. I still don't really know what's going on. Thanks for the offer though!"[/color] She would smile brightly. [color=pink]"So, what did she mean about pieces? Are we supposed to do something as magical girls?"[/color] This was going to take a while.

 [color=gold]"Eh, fight monsters, protect civilians, mainly do jobs your patron gives you."[/color] Eliza explained.

[color=pink]"Oh. Um, I guess I can do that. Is it fun?"[/color] The girl seemed to be slipping into a more child like state as they were going along. Whatever change she had undergone was still at work in her mind it seemed. Perhaps her patron simply wasn't done shaping her just yet.

[color=Gold]"It [i]can[/i] be fun, but also very tough on occasion, like when you're up against a difficult enemy."[/color] The witch hummed.

She thought about it for a minute. This was going to take a lot of getting used to since there was apparently no way to go back. She would look back and forth between them. [color=pink]"Well, you've been very kind to me. Is there anything I can help you with? I don't really have anything on me."[/color] She didn't want to end up feeling like a burden. Though she supposed being so small and artificial she wouldn't take or use up much of anything.

[color=CCBFFF]”Not if we don't share a patron, no.”[/color] Trixy shook her head without looking up from her phone. [color=CCBFFF]”You're still new, just focus on figuring things out for now.”[/color]

[color=pink]"Alright then. Sooooo... Am I just going to stay here from now on or is there somewhere else I should go? I can't imagine there are that many places that would just let me walk in looking like this."[/color] She would give an exaggerated expression as she looked down at herself.

[color=CCBFFF]”Ehhhhh...”[/color] Trixy rubbed the side of her head. [color=CCBFFF]”Maybe sanctuary?”[/color]

Before the Doll could ask anything, Trixy went ahead an explained what sanctuary was. It was clear she didn’t know everything about it, but it seemed to be a haven of sorts for girls as afflicted as herself. 

[color=CCBFFF]”That would be my best guess. At least, if you don’t want to stick around us.”[/color]

[color=pink]"I don't mind staying. I just don't want to impose on my new friends."[/color] She thought about it for a bit. [color=pink]"Maybe I should visit the place first and then decide what to do."[/color] She nodded to herself. [color=pink]"That sounds like an idea."[/color]