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Conflict often lead to a new, better state of affairs. When a deity grew old, their power waned and as such, their miracles no longer had enough strength to support their worshippers. And as time went on, those worshippers would become fewer and fewer until there were not enough to support the deity’s existence, which would lead to a tragic demise of the divine and the mortal alike. Or if conflict reared its ugly, yet sometimes necessary head, a new god would challenge the ailing deity, then unite their powers into something stronger. Because it was always the better one who won. The more skilled, the more resourceful, the more worthy of worship. There could be no other way.

Still, some people paid homage to the forgotten. To the powerless. They crafted small statues in the image of the long-gone or the barely alive. Fragments of divinity remained in their heart and if enough were gathered in one spot or under one banner, perhaps even the dead may be revived. For once something existed, that never vanished - at least it was so in the world of the gods. Its existence never quite vanished, even if forgotten.

What did that say about the nature of [color=B0C4DE]Takae Shuuko?[/color] She certainly did not contemplate anything along these lines as she prayed at the tiny shrine at the side of the road, in one of Hibusa Town’s suburban regions. Here, nature along with the faith that made gods strong still existed. And while it was no mountain temple in all of its grandiosity, the statuette of this shrine had been carved lovingly a long time ago. No doubt it had survived many a storm given the small indents on the monkey statue’s surface.

However, Take Shuuko did not pray to the statue directly. Instead, she tried to convey her best wishes to those who did not even know she existed, but still relied on her at the end of the day along with those who seemed to be close by. Her ears perked up as she heard someone approach her, which should have been nigh impossible this time of the day, as she had deliberately picked a time when the neighborhood was practically empty. Yet the deliberate nature of the steps could not be mistaken, so she finished her prayer and turned backwards to see who wanted to talk to… well… someone.


A woman with blood red hair approached, though Shuuko doubted her initial assessment when she simply walked beside her and kneeled. Her hands came together in prayer. Though there was something off. She didn’t look very relaxed. Her shoulders were squared up, and her knees weren’t touching the ground. It looked more like an attempt at meditation than prayer. Reaching inside the self instead of reaching outward towards the divine.

[color=ff0000]"Hmmmm, monkey."[/color] One of her eyes opened. [color=ff0000]"A strangely fitting idol to pray to, hmmm?"[/color] The woman turned her head completely to Shuuko. [color=ff0000]"So which one are you supposed to be?"[/color]

In response, First Shuuko hid her left hand behind her body and clenched it, the movement betraying her true feelings even as a bright smile appeared on her face. She turned fully towards Ashbringer, her body language seemingly open, welcoming.

[color=B0C4DE]"I don't know what you're referring to, but I’m Takae Shuuko. It's nice to meet you!"[/color] At least her voice did not shake.


[color=ff0000]"You have ‘multiple personality disorder’ do you not?"[/color] Regina rose to her feet. Slowly. Then she stretched. [color=ff0000]"It doesn’t matter I suppose. I’ve always believed such things were a farce for attention. Most creative people have multiple personalities. It’s just a gambit to appear more interesting than one actually is. But really, all magical girls have at least two personalities, no?"[/color] 

[color=B0C4DE]"Did you know that you're being really rude?"[/color] Takae Shuuko put her hand on her hips, projecting more courage than she really felt in the presence of their arch-enemy. Her heart raced, threatening to burst from her chest as she contemplated reaching for the ever-present strings that lead to her other bodies. [color=B0C4DE]"You’re talking like you know me when you haven't even met me."[/color]

[color=ff0000]"Yes, Japanese people are rather big on their manners, aren’t they? Harkens back to the feudal era, where misspoken words could get your head cut off."[/color] She rocked her head side to side, causing her neck to crack before turning towards Shuuko. [color=ff0000]"So I guess this personality cares about etiquette? That narrows it down a bit. Black Gate was a bit easier to figure out. She had hundreds of personalities, but they were all the same. It’s too bad you didn’t get to meet her."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"What’s even a Black Gate? Can you eat it?"[/color]

[color=ff0000]"It’s hard to tell if you’re playing dumb or being sincere right now."[/color] Her eyes narrowed a bit, but a wicked smile was crossing her lips. [color=ff0000]"Oh? I see now. Could it be that you don’t know who I am?"[/color] She moved her hand over her mouth, as if to conceal a laugh, and then folded her arms again. [color=ff0000]"My name is Regina. Though some people in these parts call me Ashbringer."[/color] 

Takae Shuuko already knew, of course, but recoiled all the same. Her eyes widened as though she just realised the situation, then the frown on her brows returned.

[color=B0C4DE]"So what are you doing here, trying to talk with your enemy? Shouldn't you be beating me into a pulp right now?"[/color]

[color=ff0000]"I have principles, my dear. I promised you weak and pathetic friends that I’d let them train for a year. The hope is that they won’t be so weak and pathetic when that time comes."[/color] Her hands moved down to her hips, and she looked Shuuko up and down. Like a sculptor examining their handiwork. [color=ff0000]"But not knowing which one you are is a little concerning. Maybe I don’t have to be an enemy of all of you? I probably do in all honesty, but you haven’t thrown yourself at me in a fit of rage. So I can count on you not being Ember, right?"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"You’re talking like there’s more than one of me."[/color] The frown on Shuuko's face got slightly deeper. [color=B0C4DE]"And you’re being silly, too. If you really wanted Hibusa Town or anything in it, you would have just taken it anyways. That's the rule of Dark Magical Girl's, isn't it?"[/color]]

[color=ff0000]"The rule of dark magical girls is they don’t have any rules."[/color] Regina’s eyes shifted to her nails. She began to run her thumb along her fingers. [color=ff0000]"Alright. Can’t draw blood from a stone after all. You want to know why I’m here? I wanted you to relay a message to Roche for me."[/color] Her smile became just a bit sweeter, but in a not so nice way. [color=ff0000]"You see, we had a bit of a shared, how shall I say, experience the other day. I won’t bore you with specifics, but… Oh maybe I will anyway. So we were kind of set up and put in some rather compromising positions. But they were acting so sweet, and I may have lead them on a little bit."[/color] She giggled. [color=ff0000]"I know she wants to talk to me. I know that deep down she thinks she wants to be my friend. Maybe, maybe a little more than just friends."[/color] She shook her head. [color=ff0000]"But it can’t happen. And she’ll understand that eventually, but I really don’t want to involve myself with her again. She’s all the worst aspects of the club merged into one. Annoying, needy brat that she is. I’d show up and she’d start nagging me about how she just wants to be friends, or some other trite ploy to cover up how lazy she is."[/color] Regina tipped her head and made a pained face. [color=ff0000]"Sylvia? Ember? I forget who her girlfriend’s name is, but it’s clear she’s just using her because she can’t have what she really wants. And what she really wants is a happy ending where the fight she foolishly picked with me ends in a romance, because that’s just how delusional she is. But as I’ve said, I guess it’s a lot easier to pretend that you can beg things to be a particular way. You must hold that belief too, right?"[/color] Regina waved her hand at the shrine. [color=ff0000]"You pretend that talking to false idols can improve your life? That’s the whole point of prayer, I think. Just weak willed people putting their burdens on those they perceive as being stronger than themselves. That’s what makes love so dangerous, right? We think our lovers, our parents, we want them to protect us from everything. But then you grow up and learn to protect yourself, because you aren’t weak anymore. Or maybe you stay weak? Maybe you never grow up, and you stick around a club that makes you feel strong in number."[/color] After tapping her chin a bit, Regina scoffed. [color=ff0000]"Sorry, I rambled a bit. Do you think you can convince Roche I’m a lost cause?"[/color]

The frown on Takae Shuuko's face grew deeper the more she listened to Regina, eventually turning into a scowl. Her hands crossed in front of her, the [color=B0C4DE]disciple[/color] once again hiding that slight tremor by hiding her fingers behind her arms.

[color=B0C4DE]"First of all, that's really rude to my friend. Ryoba isn't perfect, but she's much better than that! Second of all, you don't make much sense, do you?"[/color] A smile showed on her face as though she found a weak spot. She levied her finger against Regina - Ashbringer, the one who incinerates - willing it to become steady no matter how it wanted to be anything but.

[color=B0C4DE]"You say we’re weak and only have strength in numbers, but you're doing the same. You're only using a different method. You're saying that prayer is the weak putting the burden on the strong. Well, aren't you praying that we get stronger, in a sense?"[/color] A smug smile showed on her face as though she were a cat that caught the canary.

[color=B0C4DE]"If you really wanted to make us stronger, you wouldn't incinerate the whole of Hibusa Town."[/color]

[color=ff0000]"Last I checked, Hibusa town was still standing. I’m more interested in the Detention club."[/color] Regina ran her finger along a pillar of the shrine. [color=ff0000]"And the difference between us, Miss Takae, is that my life doesn’t depend on whether your lot gets stronger or not. I can call everything off whenever I want. I can attack now or at our agreed upon time. There is no incentive for me to do anything other than my own whims."[/color] She drove her fingernail into the surface of the pillar and started to carve. [color=ff0000]"But the Detention club doesn’t have that luxury. A single sentence spoken at the end of spring has shifted the course of your lives. A declaration I made half a year ago has changed how the lot of you operate. Prayer is performed by worshipers, but the Detention club has turned me into its god."[/color] Her hand came off the shrine sharply, but rather than colliding with the side of Shuuko’s head, it rested on her shoulder. Regina’s smile vanished. [color=ff0000]"And what need does a god have for prayer when they are so lovingly worshipped?"[/color] Regina patted Shuuko’s shoulder, then stepped past her to leave. [color=ff0000]"Ween her off of me, or don’t. It does not matter in this grand scheme of mine."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"You claim it’s your whims, but I bet there’s more to it, isn’t there?"[/color] Takae Shuuko’s heart kept trying to jump out of her ribcage, yet she still chose to ask the question. She turned after Regina, keeping the smile on her face and dropping her hands. [color=B0C4DE]"Because if you’re a god, then you [b]need[/b] worship. Admit it - you exist only because of us."[/color]

Perhaps it was foolish of her to attempt to provoke Ashbringer. But amongst the Detention Club, it was only the one with the multiple bodies who could safely do so and so she steadied herself, hoping to find a chink in the armour. A slip that would let her grasp something, besides the fact Regina thought herself a god.

Regina stopped in her tracks. She looked over her shoulder  Shuuko, brow lowered. The corner of her lips pointed didn’t reveal a smile or a frown. She turned around to face Shuuko. [color=ff0000]"What’s this? Are you attempting to evoke my wrath?"[/color] She reached out her hand and placed it over Shuuko’s heart. Then her lips curled up into a wicked smile. [color=ff0000]"Ahhh, it’s not enough to preach for me, you wish to be my prophet as well? Your heart is beating so fast…"[/color] She pulled back her hand. [color=ff0000]"I really feel that the Detention Club should focus on getting stronger, but if you desire me so I can understand your frustration. You wanted Roche, but it would appear you want me just as much as she does now. I suppose it can’t be helped."[/color] She brushed her hair, and her curls bounced into place. [color=ff0000]"Get Roche off of me and I will make time for you."[/color]

When Regina reached out to Takae Shuuko, cold sweat broke out all over her skin. A part of her, the one so attuned to magic, could feel the raging power beneath the skin even when Ashbringer remained in hiding. Truthfully, she wanted to do nothing more than hide, but then something very strange occurred.

Regina had completely mistaken her reaction.

How the narcissistic girl came to the conclusion that Takae Shuuko’s heart burned for her, the object of Regina’s… affection…? Did not know. What she did know is that her heart picked up even further as she wet her suddenly dry lips, throwing caution to the wind as she prepared to stick her head into the lion’s mouth for the sake of her own survival.

[color=B0C4DE]"So you won’t make time for Roche, but you will make time for me?"[/color] Hopefully, her terror came across as excited nerves. She did make an effort to twist her voice that way, but the clammy feeling on her skin gave no reassurances.

[color=ff0000]"You seem like you’re more in control of your emotions, and you’re not giving me much choice."[/color] Regina tipped her head. [color=ff0000]"Am I mistaken?"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"You could always say no. It’s not like I can force you to indulge me. You’d break me in half!"[/color] Shuuko tried to shoot for a nervous joke, even going as far as to force uncomfortable laughter at the end.

[color=ff0000]"Ah, well that’s certainly true."[/color] Regina grinned. Though it did not take the smile long to run from her face. [color=ff0000]"But, there is another reason of course."[/color] Regina’s eyelids fluttered to half mast, and her hand moved under the girl’s chin. [color=ff0000]"I find you a lot more interesting than her."[/color] Regina’s breath, as warm as a dragon’s, rolled off of Shuuko’s face. Then her ruby red lips closed over Shuuko’s, and she could taste Regina swimming in her mouth. Her other hand reached around her waist and pulled her worshiper in close. Not like a lover, but like a dragon pulling its treasure closer to itself. When Regina released Shuuko, she staggered backwards, and Regina wore an amused smile. [color=ff0000]"Settle things with Roche, and I’ll see you again in a few weeks…"[/color] Regina did not wait around. She transformed into Ashbringer right in front of her and blasted into the sky. She was only there for a moment, but no doubt at least one of the other club members had witnessed a burning meteor rise out of Hibusa town.

The violation she felt could not be put into words. She felt as though a volcano had invaded her mouth. No, rather, it was a salamander with volcanoes on its back that wriggled past her lips, bringing a truly revolting taste with it. But Takae Shuuko was no stranger to such things, so she forced herself to return the gesture, even going as far as to close her eyes so it would seem she enjoyed it. Then she put what she hoped was a goofy smile on her face when Regina stepped back, watching with a fake gaze of worship when Ashbringer took to the skies.

Then she collapsed and started to retch, trying her best not to think of how big a mess she may have made for herself.