On an unremarkable night in an unremarkable bedroom in an unremarkable city on an unremarkable planet, there is a girl. She is thirteen years old and turning away from the lesson on the holoscreen because she has just caught a glimpse of something flashing out of the corner of her eye. There should not be anything in her room that flashes.
"Come with me," says the woman in white, "and I will give you the power to save anyone you care about."
"Come with me," says the woman in black, "and I will give you the power to do anything you can dream."
Elsewhere, elsewhen-
In an unremarkable room in an unremarkable city on an unremarkable planet, a girl is organizing her things. She looks up when something flashes in the empty center of the room.
Two young women holding hands now occupy the space, one dressed all in white and one dressed all in black.
"We are here to grant you a portion of our power."
"To offer you the chance to become a magical girl."
"When you do, your old life is cast off."
"You can choose only one side. We do not want you to be burdened by regrets."
"Your particular history is not the entirety of your self."
"The magic must bond with your core. You must have a reason to accept it."
"Come with me," says the girl in white, "and I will give you the power to build something great."
"Come with me," says the girl in black, "and I will give you the power to make your mark on the world."
Elsewhere, elsewhen-
In an unremarkable gym in an unremarkable city on an unremarkable planet, a girl is practicing alone. So intent is her focus she does not notice the flash of light behind her.
Two young women stand, holding hands. One is dressed all in white, the other all in black. They wait patiently for their target to finish.