[Flashback]
Saturday, 6:42 PM
Madison's Resident
While the children was playing outside and having a blast, Jon's mother was cleaning the dishes. It was pretty much an average day for her, a bit tough and a slight lonely, but she had to smile at the fact that Mikey was enjoying herself with some friends. She was getting a bit worry that she was becoming too redrawn into the internet world and losing touch with the outside life. She wanted so badly to be outside and enjoy watching the game, but then she would be transformed by the sun. She overheard (by accident) that Karyn's parent was considering going out in the sun, and though the idea was interesting, she wasn't sure about going out herself.
As she was thinking, the phone began to ringed, leaving her to stop what she was doing and picking it up. "Hello, this is the Madison's Resident speaking, what may I do for you~," she somewhat playfully asked.
"Oh, hello Mrs. Madison, this is Emily Crawford, the Vice Principal of your children school," the voice said politely over the phone.
"Oh, this is a nice surprise! What are you calling for, if that okays to ask?"
"Heh, well, I made a promise to Becca to help her with something over the weekend, and while I was doing so, I thought we could have a little picnic together."
Mrs. Madison paused to give that some thought, and replied with some doubts, "I...don't know. She is currently spending some time with my daughter and her friend."
"Hmmm...well, maybe they would like to come as well. Let me ask them if it would be okay. I think they would enjoy playing with my little pumpkin, Kenya~!"
"Oh sure, that would be fine with me. However, there might be a few things to deal with before they could, like informing Caitlin's parent where you going and other matters."
"Hehe...that seems pretty reasonable." The voice paused before going onward, "Oh, and before it slip my mind, there is something I want to warn you about. It isn't anything bad, but I still don't want you to be frightened by it, so I'm letting you know in advance. The sun kinda made me into a living shadow, and well, it might be a bit intimidating."
"Oh, thank for the head-up, but I don't think it would be a problem."
"Very well, expect us to come around in a blue van; it was very nice to talk to you~!"
Outside
Becca was dribbling the ball, getting the hang of the game, almost like a pro. It felt like her original athletic skill was slowly coming back the more her spirit rises, even though she was more of a football player than a soccer player. Still, it did brought her back to her happier moment as a football player. It didn't even bother her that she was neither a teenage nor a boy right now; this was the greatest and enjoyable thrill she ever had. However, out of her Magical Girl's form, she was getting tired now and began to wonder if the other two was even capable to getting tired. Against a living statue and an advanced robot, she knew that there might not be any hope of staying in the soccer game without her Magical Girl form.
However, before she was about to ask for a break, a vehicle drove up toward the house. Everyone stopped to watch the van drove upward, wondering what is going on. Caitlin turned her attention toward Becca and Mikey, and just using a stare, she asked them if they were expecting anyone to come. They looked back at her and shake their head, shrugging as a replied. They glanced back and waited to find out who it was, but for some odd reason, they seem to be taking their time coming out.
However, they didn't have to wait too long as a figure got out of the driver side, revealing a very voluptuous creature of darkness. The two girls were in shock and terrific to see this creepy looking woman, but Becca knew who it was and grinning wide. She stretched higher, waving her right arm and yelled happily, "Hiiii, Mrs. Crawford~! I'm over here!"
The two girls stared at Becca in surprised and then focus back at the woman to see that she noticed them and was waving back with a warm smile of her own. "T-that is Mrs. Crawford," Caitlin asked, unable to believed it, "As in the Vice Principal?! I figured that she changed, but I thought her changes were very minimal."
"She can switch between her shadow form and her human form, but she preferred her human form. She might be able to shape-shifted into other forms as well, but I'm not sure, and I don't think she want to find out," Becca pointed out with a grin. She paused to realized that she just said something with a slightly higher intelligent than she had previous was allowed, intelligences that was lock away inside her child-like mind. She wondered if she has been slowly unlocking it back to normal ever since that day where she actually refused Trident's order and saved Mrs. Crawford with her healing technique. She never realized it until now, but her true intelligent had been showing up from time to time, and it may be related to her inner strength growing stronger, like how it was doing during the soccer game.
Caitlin and Mikey was staring at Becca with a flabbergasted expression, stronger than they have ever expressed before. Becca noticed this and smiled before nervously replying, "H-hehe, she shown me her form when she called me in her office. I was very scared of her at first, but everything turned out fine."
"Wonder what she is doing here," Mikey pondered to Becca and Caitlin.
"She is helping me with something, and while we are at it, she planning on having a picnic as well," she said with a smile, before something crossed her mind and caused her to smile wider, "Hey, how about you two come with us?! We could need the help and we can even have fun while doing so."
"What are you two doing," Caitlin asked out of curiosity.
"Mrs. Crawford is helping a new friend of mine to find her family. She doesn't have any memory of them, or who she was before the sun gone funny, so we are going to the area where she last remembered after waking up in her new form."
"Huh, who is your friend," Mikey inquired, "I haven't seen her before."
"You have, but you didn't know it at the time. I wish I could tell you who she is, but she want me to keep it a secret. I'll let either her or Mrs. Crawford tell you two."
The two stared at each other, more puzzle than before, but they both also felt drawn to the curious mystery before them. Whatever the case, the trio decided to walk inside, just after Mrs. Crawford was allowed inside a few minutes ago.
Back Inside
Mrs. Crawford was greeted by Mrs. Madison as she entered the door, making sure not to get into the sunlight. She was very surprise at the fact that she wasn't afraid of her Shadoe Fae's form, and in many ways, that actually comforted her. She was so worry that her form would upset her, since it is almost like that of spirit and darkness, but she was grad everything turned out in this way.
"My name is Linda Madison and my husband is Kevin. He is currently working overtime and was unable to come home yet because of the sun, so I'm afraid you won't see him right now."
"Hehe, that all right, I am sure I'll see him in due time," Mrs. Crawford contentedly replied, before the trio came in and got her attention. "Becca, it is a very welcome sight to see you again, and it is nice to see you playing with some friends. I'm grad that being younger and female hasn't gotten rid of that proud athletic in you! And, speaking of friends, would you like to introduce them for me, please?"
Trying to hide her blushing face, Becca nodded quickly. "That is Caitlin," Becca pointed and then focus her finger toward Mikey, "And she is Mikey, Mrs. Crawford!"
"Hello, I'm Emily Crawford, who you may know as the Vice Principal of your school. Heh heh, don't worry, this visit is purely a positive matter and nothing bad." She turned her attention to Mikey and grin peacefully, "Mikey, I heard you was pick to help with monitoring the computers at school; that must be quite an honor to be pick for. I'm sorry, though, that you were blame previously beforehand, teachers nowadays need to be more careful about their assumptions, especially if those assumptions are pinned on someone with no previous provocative past."
"It's okay, everything got straighten out in the end! I don't know why anyone would do that to me, and while I hope that he or she doesn't cause anymore trouble, I don't really feel upset by it."
"That is great news, I'm happy that everything is fine on that part, and I'm sure you will do a great job," Mrs. Crawford answered back. She turned her attention toward Caitlin, yet keeping Mikey in sight, "I'm sure that Becca must told you why I'm here, and since it would be nice for her and my daughter to have something to hang with, would you and Mikey come with us? I need to phone your parent before I do, but I am not planning on going too far."
"Sure, I don't mind," Caitlin responded back with a beam.
"Me neither," Mikey added with her own smile.
Before Mrs. Crawford say anything more, Mrs. Madison innocently interrupted, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but where is your daughter? It would be nice to meet her."
"Oh, it's no problem. She is waiting inside the car with a friend of mine who work as our Secretary. I would like to introduce you to her someday, but I'm afraid that I can't right now. Unfortunate, due to an...uncontrolled event, she got badly scarred and right now, I'm trying to cheer her up. Beside, she isn't transformed yet by the sun, and I'm trying to keep her out of the sun."
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about that," Mrs. Madison replied grimly, though she was now curious about what she said lastly. "By the way, if she hasn't been transformed yet, why are you taking her with you when the sun is still barely out?"
Mrs. Crawford held up her left finger proudly and replied, "Well, this shadow form has a neat ability called Shadow Veil. It helped keep out sunlight and created an artificial time inside. If you interested, Becca could explained it better when you get around to asked her, because I kinda worn out that explanation to death."
"Ah, I'm not sure if I would be able to remember to, but I'll keep it in mind~."
Mrs. Crawford turned toward Becca once again, "While I'll call Caitlin's parent, could you get Trident for me and any other stuffs you would like to bring for entertainment for you and your friends. However, remember that while it is important to have fun during this trip, we are posed to be helping you and your little friend out, so make sure to bring lightly."
She smiled and went to her room to get Trident (who was bored out of her mind, watching television that the family set up in her room), while Mrs. Crawford asked Caitlin for her house's phone number.
Walking Outside
After everything was settled and Caitlin's parent happily agreed to the proposal, grad that she was doing something other than posing still, they waved goodbye to Mrs. Madison. Trident was riding inside Becca's blue-jean pant while this was happening, acting like a doll like she usually does. They walked up to Mrs. Crawford's van, but before they entered, she signaled them to stop.
"Mrs. Crawford, what is the matter," Mikey asked, sharing the puzzlement of Caitlin and even Becca.
"Remember, my daughter is inside and she isn't transform. Let me set up my shadow veil first," Mrs. Crawford answered. Being even more confused and curious than before, Caitlin and Mikey watched as something came out from beneath her feet, slowly sliding outward. Their expression changed to bewilderment as a cloak of shadow expended and wrapped around them in a small box-like shape.
"How did you do that," Mikey asked, her internal reading of the event was just as puzzling, "How big can you make that?"
Mrs. Crawford giggled at that, finding it amusing how interest she was in this ability. She must admit, while a bit creepy, she took a major liking to it as well. "Probably the same way you used your abilities, it just came naturally and it is a very nifty technique in my line of work. As for how big I can make it, it depends on how much light is nearby. I don't know if I have yet to discover the exact limit, but maybe a length of a block and three stories tall in estimate, and that probably in the summer's sunlight."
"I never thought the sun could allow anyone to do that," Caitlin noted.
"...It doesn't, at least it didn't for me," Mrs. Crawford grimly replied, although she realized her tone was alarming everyone (even those who knew what she was talking about), and nervously chuckle and added in a similar nervous tone, "Sorry, I don't remember my transformation very fondly." She cleared her throat and continued onward in a happier tone, "Anyway, moving on, how about we get into the car, and I'll fill in the missing detail."
Everyone did as they told and got in, surprised to find the anthropomorphic Shisa Dog in the passenger seat, greeting them with a surprisingly cute smile. They also noticed a girl in the back, around fourteen years old. She was wearing a long-sleeve black shirt and blue pant, which probably to hide her scars.
"Hello, my name is Kenya," she politely said.
"I'm Becca and this is Mikey and Caitlin."
"Don't forget about little ol' me," the Shisa Dog cheekily added with a warm toothy grin, "My name is Mayan, the school secretary. It is nice to meet you all personally."
"And, the little girl in Becca's pant pocket is Trident, who we are trying to help find her family," Mrs. Crawford included with a cheerful note.
Mikey couldn't believed what she just said, "...Isn't Trident just a doll?!"
"Nope," she bluntly replied, "She is a transformee, just like us. Right now, she is probably using every bad word that she knows in her head toward me, as she continues to instinctively pose as a doll." She smiled as her eye focus harder on Trident, "She doesn't want anyone to know that she is actually a living being, for reasons that are actually silly if she really think about it. Isn't that right, Trident?"
The miniature girl didn't move an inch, staying in a motionless pose. Everyone was looking back and forth between the doll and Mrs. Crawford (except for Becca, Kenya, and Mayan), thinking she might have lost it.
"Trident and Becca actually have an interesting connection. I'm not entirely sure why, but Trident acted as a mentor to Becca in her training. You see, young Becca here is actually more special than you might think, considering that she is what you might call a Magical Girl. She and a few other Magical Girls are responsible keeping this world safe from a group of iniquitous beings."
That was the final nail that caused Trident to stopped posing and yelled at Mrs. Crawford with a burning rage, "Are you TRYING to tick me or something?! You know that I would prefer that information to be kept secret!" Mikey and Caitlin jumped back in their seat in alarm, really confusing them now.
"Oh, hush, you silly! They are here to help you find your family, so don't be like that. Beside, you kinda gave yourself away with that little outburst," Mrs. Crawford grinned like a fox, leaving Trident's face to blush when she realized her cover was blown.
"Mom, could you please leave poor Trident alone," Kenya said with a sympathetic expression.
"Okay, okay, I'm just teasing," Mrs. Crawford responded back with a few giggle, before turning to a more sincere tone. "But, it is just that Trident need to remember that she is a transformed person like everyone in this van, and as important as her task is, she need to remember that she has her own life to worry about. All of this secret-keeping is okay in order to protect Becca, but like with all secrets, they would eventually get out anyway and really unhealthy. She shouldn't really be afraid to share her secrets with a few people, especially those that didn't really need to be hidden."
Trident's inner inferno went out like a lit flame as she saw the look on Mrs. Crawford's face. She stopped to think about what she said before, in the van and in her office, and sighed. The Vice Principal, while a bit annoying to her, was right, she was missing a large part of her life and need to stopped hiding in order to find out.
"What do you mean by iniquitous beings," Mikey inquired suddenly, "And, what do you mean that Becca is a magical girl? Are you saying that she is going to fight against something?!"
"It is a rather long explanation, so I can't go into great detail immediately, but the beings that I mention are a bunch of sadistic and vile monsters lying within a kind of pocket-dimension. Either you or your Net Fairies might have heard something about the hole in the sky, since it is related to that pocket-dimension."
Mikey's expression went into a bamboozle motion, "Y-you know about t-them?! I never told anyone about them, because I thought they wouldn't believe me or thought something was wrong with me."
"Yep, I saw your little friends the first time that I have seen you. Being a shadow fae, or rather a living creature of the shadow, I am in tune to spirits or spirit-like beings. You see, shadow have been long believed to be closely connected to the spirit world, so it would make sense that I could see them. Even though they are beings made of data and other information, Net Fairies could also be consider as spiritual beings as well."
"...I-I didn't know that." Mikey mentally paused at that little info, trying to consider what it meant on a deeper level, 'I've...never really thought about that before. What happen to the Net Fairy's spirit when they have gotten transformed; did it merged with their very being...what about me and the other robots for that matter?! If the things Mrs. Crawford has said are true, about seeing them, does that means that I still have a spirit as well?!'
"As for your other question, Becca has another form: her Magical Girl form. She and the other girls are based on number, and Becca here is Number Three. Her normal abilities are enhance beyond the normal human standard and she is capable of using special abilities and weapons. Unfortunately, as much as I hate to admit it, she is going to have to fight, but I know she will be all right. Trident, I, and any other mentors that we can find will help train them, so that they will be ready when it is needed."
"W-whoa...and this is all created by the sun," Caitlin remarked with astonishment.
"Not exactly, but it is related. Today, however, that doesn't matter. Today, we are trying to help Trident find her family, find some more Magical Girls if possible, and have fun doing so! That includes picnic, sing-along, seeing possible new transformations, as well as other fun games that I brought." She smiled and added, holding out a case of CDs, "So, what would your girls want to pick for our first sing-along, I brought several songs with me to pick from?!"
