Ariel Kalma is currently in her bedroom, wishing she were not in her bedroom. There's an entire galaxy out there full of interesting places where there's actual stuff to do, instead of just sitting here surfing the net for no particular reason.
She's not getting anything off the net that's going to alleviate her boredom. She gives it up for a bad job, tosses the holo onto her bedside table, and lies back with a fwump.
"Bluh," she articulates.
There is a flash of light, somehow equal parts white and black.
In the middle of her room now stand two young women, one dressed all in white and one dressed all in black, holding hands.
She sits bolt upright. This is interesting. Kind of fucking terrifying too, but interesting.
She tries a small wave. "Heya."
"Greetings to you, young one," says the woman in white.
"Well met on this dark night," says the woman in black.
"Uh. Well met."
Ariel is struck by realization. "Oh holy shit, you're the Imperatrix. And- the other one. I am super sorry I forgot your title I am awful at history. Uh, how can I help your majesties?"
"My title is Polemarch," with a hint of a laugh. "And it may be better said that it is we who will be helping you."
"We have come to offer you a portion of our power. The chance to become a magical girl."
"With one of us. But only one. This choice is the chance we offer, for the magic must resonate with you."
"We came because we saw in you a piece of ourselves. Now you must find in us a piece of yourself."
"Come with me," says the girl in white, "and I will give you the power to save anyone you wish to."
"Come with me," says the girl in black, "and I will give you the power to attain anything you care to."
Oh.
That's a hard one.
But... ultimately... Ariel doesn't know a lot about what's right and what's wrong, but she knows she wants to be good. And being good starts with other people.
So she makes a choice.
The girl in white reaches out to take her hand, and everything dissolves in a brilliant shine.
It's the first day at the Academy, and her first day meeting her new peers. The Assembly Hall is hosting perhaps a hundred girls like herself within its soft cream walls. Soon the Headmistress will arrive for the welcome speech, but for now they have to opportunity to socialize.
Ariel is excited! Socializing is cool in and of itself, but socializing with other future magical girls? Even cooler.
She takes a look around to see if anyone stands out particularly as both not talking to anybody and potentially open to friendship.
Here's someone! Coming to talk to her, even.
"Hi, my name's Nira! What's yours?"
Ooh, Ariel loves when that happens!
"I'm Ariel! This is such a nice place, isn't it?"
"It really is. But then, it'd be surprising if it wasn't, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess they wouldn't just throw us into a hole for however long. We're an investment! In the future!"
(Her tone is light, but not mocking. Ariel's no cynic.)
Nira laughs softly and strikes a pose.
"And the future is looking bright!"
"Yes, let's!"
There's a soft chime, and benches begin rising from the floor, startling the girls who happened to be standing on top of them.
Ariel is among the girls so lifted. She revels for a moment in her tallness, then hops down to take a seat.
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