But on this occasion, there is. Two young women who look very similar holding hands and glowing softly. One is dressed all in white and the other is dressed all in black.

"Who are you?"

"Oh my," says the one in white. "Surely you recognize us?"

     "You know who we are," says the one in black.

"-the rulers. But- why are you here-"

"We're here to offer you a chance," says White.

     "To become greater than yourself," says Black. "To embrace our power."

"To become a magical girl."

So, so many question, her mind reels-

"Why me?"

"Because you are like ourselves, in certain ways."

     "You have the ability to withstand the power."

"Withstand? It is dangerous?"

"Of course it is. You have seen images of battlefields we visit."

     "It would burn up one not worthy."

"I thought... magical girls came from the Academies."

"Well, they do."

     "But we find them first. Girls like you. We gift them power and then we give them training."

"Why doesn't anyone know."

"Because it would only hurt them."

     "The power we are offering is a choice. You can go with me, or you can go with her."

"Once you have made that decision, there will be no turning back. Any ties you have to the life you have now must be severed."

     "This is for your own good, as well as that of others."

"Severed how?"

"We won't be killing them."

     "Memories will be altered, records changed. You will never have existed here."

"Will you change my memories."

"Yes."

     "Over time, we have become exceedingly skilled. You will not know that anything is missing."

"Why are you working together. You hate each other."

"This is true."

     "We would not if there were any other choice."

"Our magic is two halves of a whole."

     "And a person must be presented with the entirety to grasp a piece of it."

"So even if I stayed with you," she points at the woman in white, "and the Compact, you would still take my memories."

"I am afraid that I would. It is only fair."

     "Do not let this influence your choice. If you lived in the Domain, I would do the same."

"So. You want me to pick between you. Why."

"Once we have given you the magic, it will reside within you."

     "It is important that you be able to accept it."

"What if I don't want it from either of you?"

"We will find something about one of us that you can agree with."

     "You are not the sort of person who would completely dismiss this chance."

Glare.

"Come with me," says the white sister, "and I will give you the power to find a better solution."

     "Come with me," says the black sister, "and I will give you the power to rise above this."

Muscles in her jaw clench as she thinks.

She makes a decision.

Elsewhere, elsewhen-

In an unremarkable bedroom in an unremarkable city on an unremarkable planet a young girl is getting ready to go out when there is a flash of light in front of her that is equal parts black and white.

Before her stand two young women, one dressed in all white and one dressed in all black, holding hands.

Blink blink. "Uh. What."

"Hello. We are here to offer you a choice," says the woman in white.

     "To accept our power and become a magical girl," says the woman in black.

"Seriously? That's so cool!"

"This is a great opportunity."

     "But first you must choose which of us you wish to follow."

"What do I pick based on?"

"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."

"Huh," says Anneia.

She thinks for a moment, then makes a decision.

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.

"Where did you come from?"

"I came from Lombard," says the one in white.

     "And I from Talos," says the one in black.

"...So that would make you the Polemarch. And you the Imperatrix."

"Excellently deduced."

     "You have a quick mind."

"What are the two most powerful people in the galaxy doing in my house?"

"We are here to grant you a portion of our power."

     "To offer you the chance to become a magical girl."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"Because you have the potential."

     "We see in you reflections of ourselves."

"What reflections?"

"Your drive, your courage."

     "Your ambition, your will."

"How come I've never heard of anyone becoming a magical girl before?"

"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."

"Cast off? Then what am I choosing for?"

"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."

"Then... what do each of you offer?"

"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."

After a moment of consideration, Nira makes her decision.

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.

She finishes the set, and turns to start another when she catches sight of her visitors.

"When did you get here?"

"Just now," says the woman in white. "We have not been waiting long.

     "Your skill is impressive," says the woman in black.

"...Thank you. What are you doing here? Who are you?"

"We are here for you."

     "I'm sure our identity will come to you."

Will come to... Oh. She fumbles into a hasty bow.

"My lady."

"Please, stand."

     "There is no need for such displays here."

"As you say."

"Try to relax. You're not in trouble."

     "We won't bite you."

"Yes-. ...You said you were here for me? Why?"

"We wish to offer you a portion of our power."

     "The chance to become a magical girl."

"A magical girl? Me? I- I can't."

"Whyever not?"

     "We would not be here if you were incapable."

"I- have responsibilities. Duties. I can't leave."

"No one is irreplacable."

     "Your absence will not be noted."

"Why?"

"To become a magical girl, you must choose one of us to follow. This choice is irrevocable."

     "The strands of your past life will be severed. You must make the choice freely, unburdened, with no regrets."

"What if I don't want to become a magical girl?"

"You must. The process cannot be aborted once it is begun."

     "To refuse is to die. And that would be a tragic waste."

To die. She has to choose, or die?

"Why do I have to choose?"

"The magic must resonate within you."

     "Find the reflection of yourself within one of us."

"I don't- know anything about either of you."

"Come with me," says the girl in white, "and I will give you the power to find a family."

     "Come with me," says the girl in black. "and I will give you the power to grow past any expectation."

It's too much-

Tears in her eyes, she makes her decision.