It was all a bit too much for Maya…
She wasn’t too sure how to take…well… ‘any’ of this.
The strange connection she now shared with the Queen of this world, this Land of Dreams or whatever it was… perhaps she half wondered if she had gone insane. This ‘could’ be a delusion… and that would be a lot more believable. Any moment she would wake up and find herself back in her old job. She closed her eyes, expecting to be half asleep on her desk and back to her old life… yet the new reality persisted…
This body… this… job… a new job?
‘You did want to be important…’ a quiet voice in her head reminded her.
Maya turned slightly not knowing entirely where that voice came from… maybe stress from her insanity. Yeah… that made sense.
The Squirrel-maid woman Risu had taken charge of helping her to acclimatise to her new situation. She had shown her around the magical castle. Stone walls, some more modern… paintings… “Rooms are made as we need them. The castle is rather small now, given it’s just us at the moment… More rooms may be made as more magical girls are created… or if you make new friends and invite them.”
“…I really am a magical girl…?” Maya asked hesitantly.
“One that was a mortal human… yes.” Risu nodded. “I suppose I can’t explain how… ‘unusual’ that is…” She smiled patting Maya’s head. “It’s why your mother is so affectionate to you. You are… very different to the others that came before you… in many ways. She like that.”
Maya blushed. She needed more answers though. “What are magical girls if not other… humans?”
“Um…not completely human.” Risu explained. “Some had special bloodlines, others came from the realm of Magic… there were those that are not tied to Earth… or never were tied to it. Yet all were connected in some way or another to the magic. Fairies, Angels, Genies… we had a demon-girl once. You didn’t actually have a connection… until now. That’s exceptional I think.”
The girl felt overwhelmed. “Fairies… demons… Angels… those are real?!”
The squirrel woman nodded. “Yes. Well of course. Your mother is connected to the fairies,” Risu nodded. “I can help you prepare the speech for your introduction to the people here. People will certainly be looking forward to it.”
The speech…
Maya had to do a speech talking about who she is… and her intentions. She frowned a bit at that.
How was she supposed to! To citizens of which she had no clue on what they were like or even ‘what’ they were. Risu was happy to provide some council on this though she was hoping to meet the people more directly. She was curious about them… but why should she rule over them? She didn’t want that! “Who am I…” she asked. “How can I tell them…”
“You are Princess of the Realm of Dreams…” Risu explained. “You are responsible for deciding how your people are to exist… and currently they are interested in going to Earth. Such requests can be accepted or denied. There is also the matter of those from Earth who wish to come here which you are to authorise.”
To Earth?! “You mean- the angels? Fairies?”
“Well- we can play it small, maybe send the small folk first? Animal folk like me could take their more normal shape eventually…” Risu tried to explain. “Everyone has been interested in seeing how Earth has changed since the Sealing took place.”
Maya sighed feeling overwhelmed. There was so much to learn. “How was this place sealed away?”
“Your mother can explain those details… I do not really know.” Risu gave an apologetic bow. “The connection to your world was made tenacious… at best now. Having you exist at all is a miracle…”
Maya sat down, smoothing over her dress. “So… I am to let magical beings to return to Earth… Uh- there might be some laws on that… I can’t just let everyone come… I think- can I even let one of them? What would the government say-“
“Your mother has been petitioning the Earth for this through their dreams,” She smiled. “She thinks she has made significant headway. Though it’s hard to convince humans their dreams are anything more than an image… you’ll still have to assist in that. Some have managed to sneak off to Earth on their own and you might have to… deal with that as well. Quite often I fear.”
Work… being a princess was work! Was there a way out of this… “Uh… Risu can I ask you something else?”
“Of course, my lady.” She bowed. “I will happily assist.”
“Well…” she looked at her princess crown uncomfortably. “I don’t actually … believe in uh- monarchy rules and stuff- I’m you know… more of a…” She cleared her throat. “Do the people ‘want’ me to just… suddenly be part of their whole system of government? It doesn’t seem right.”
“It is appropriate and expected,” Risu nodded.
“…huh… but- what about democracy?” The young princess pleaded. “I just can’t in good conscious...”
Risu blinked a bit and tilted her head. “Demo…cracy… Rule of the Mob?” She asked somehow translating it directly in her head. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“yeah! I need to be elected, don’t I?” The young girl pouted.
“Oh… well in a sense you were elected? Things are.. ‘different’ here. There are ‘democratic’ elements I suppose we can call it that, but you are the Princess… where Magic exists those of your particular nature also exist. You can override any of the decisions made locally… much as you can override reality with magic. That is your Authority… It’s simply the way things are. You are in charge of that particular aspect of reality… and we are but agents within that reality. You’ll get the hang of it I’m sure.”
‘Princess’ Maya tried to consider that… magic gave the ‘implication’ of some greater authority? An unchallenged authority? Her? “But… I don’t have any right to tell you what to do… and you are free to do anything you want! I don’t demand you to serve me or anything.” She looked at her companion now feeling a bit sad not having considered her feelings on this. Did she feel ‘obligated’ to serve her? Maybe she should tell her to go but… she did say she would just be ‘replaced’ and … Maya liked the weird maid as she had been giving sound advice. There was something ‘comforting’ about her.
Risu gave a sideways look. “The demands are not made by you my lady… but they are demanded by … other forces. I suppose it’s… a bit like humans thinking they can vote on raising the sun one day or not… they can all vote on it but it changes nothing… there are greater powers that decides these things… and you yourself are but one in a great hierarchy of magic…”
Maya again wasn’t sure what to say to this. “So… God? I’m a princess because ‘God’ says so?” she found herself laughing at that thought.
Risu just gave a blank look.
“Hey, come on I’m kidding… God- you know… uh…”
Risu cleared her throat after an awkward silence. “I’m just your maid… I lease with you and your mother the Queen and-“ She quickly change her tone “We have a meeting with the Harpy Queen to consider.” She started to open a few drawers and looked at some clothing. “She is quite fussy when it comes to décor and ceremony. She really wants a big deal to be made when she comes to our ‘humble’ abode. You will have to wear your crown of course, and I believe she enjoys seeing you in white and pastel colours. A parade in her honour is usually a good way to get on her good side.”
Maya sighed and decided she had no choice. If she wanted to save Terry and bring her back to Earth… as well as somehow get her human again… Risu was not going to talk more about this hierarchy. “Can I ever get Terry back?”
“If the Harpy Queen wills it, she can give up her claim on your friend, and you can easily return her to Earth. Convincing her though might be difficult… she rarely gives up ‘anyone’ or ‘anything’. Her territory is highly militarised and one of the safest in the entire realm… for harpies. She has a lot of interests in expanding on Earth… she might want her own country there.”
“New country- WHAT?! I can’t- I mean-“
“We could commission building some new land somewhere on Earth, you’ll have to decide how to work that out. The pacific ocean is quite large, we can probably raise an island there.”
There was a lot to learn for the new princess… a speech and some kind of pompous ceremony… she looked at the frilly white dress with … a mixed look. “… well… I guess it’s for a good cause. As long as Terry doesn’t see me like this.”
At that point a woman of light came through the door. “Oh of course he will!” The queen smiled suddenly walking in. “All will see you as my daughter, princess. You look so delightful! How are things working out for you? Do you find the castle comfortable? If you like, I can arrange for some tea and biscuits.”
Princess Maya groaned. The woman… her mother was being so friendly and nice. It was kinda.. wholesome but… “Sorry…I need some…space and time to think.”
“Of course Risu could-“
“I’d rather be on my own,” Maya quickly said. “Sorry I just… really need some time alone. Please?” She was almost begging now.
“Oh… as you wish,” The queen nodded though gave a look of concern. “Though when you are ready, Risu and I will be happy to assist. Just call on us, we’ll hear you.”
The maid bowed as the Queen left Maya’s room.
Finally… some time away.
Alone.
Maya stared at the strange room- her room, in this castle. Everything here felt… odd to her but especially this place. It was both making her feel comfortable but also seemed to draw her more towards the surreal. As if part of her was very accepting of this place when she knew she shouldn’t be. She sat on her bed, staring at the various items of curiosity. There were books on a shelf… she examined them after a quiet thought. “Science, history, sociology, horses, physics, biology mathematics…” The magical girl shuddered. “Sheesh… this girl sure studied a lot…” There were even more books… they seemed older.
Books… on just about every subject imaginable. Taking a page, she was surprised to find that flicking a page didn’t change the number of pages left… a single book was more like an encyclopaedia! In some ways a lot like a digital book yet… magical?
Yet there was something she could find out here…
“Could… old me have a journal?!” Maya gasped excitedly as she quickly looked under her bed. If anything that’s where it would be. Her fingers located a box. Quivering with excitement, she quicky pulled it out and drew it to her lap. A simple shoe box… she slowly opened the lid, finding a curious book in red velvet. “Yes! Maybe I can get some answers…” She felt a sudden ‘zap’ on her hand as she tried to open it. “Ah!” she stared at it. “What the heck…”
‘She isn’t ready…’ A voice whispered.
‘How can she be a magical girl? She’s a guy!’ another voice whispered.
‘She’s too old… she left her dreams a long time ago… she cannot be one of us...’
‘Give her a chance…’
Voices… so many voices all around her. Maya looked around in panic. “Who-“
‘She’s no magical girl…’
‘This is the end of our legacy…’
‘The magic is too powerful for her…’
She pressed her hands towards her ears struggling to make sense of who or ‘what’ was talking around her. “Get out of my head!” She screamed. “Urgh… leave me alone!”
The voices stopped… but then she saw a flicker of light in the wardrobe mirror. Maya got up nervously, staring at the image. Someone else was reflected… a young girl much like her. Maya was taken aback as the reflection waved to her and seemed to smile.
The girl had soft red hair, with flakes of pink. She had a rather kind looking face, with sky blue eyes. A familiar looking necklace on her neck. The same one Maya was wearing. Both girls looked down and held the jewel… both looked to the other. “You’re…”
The girl nodded no longer just a mere reflection.
Maya jumped slightly back but… was starting to get used to magical shenanigans. Either that or her own insanity. So, this was her… predecessor? The one that came before her… the previous owner of this necklace. “…can you talk to me?”
The girl glanced around in the mirror. The words seem to echo inside Maya’s mind. “A…little. Yes. You’re me now…” she explained gently. “All my powers are yours… please use them wisely. To help others in need… protect… spread joy… love… and understanding…” she started to fade away.
“Wait!” Maya banged the mirror with her hands. “I can’t! Look- this is a mistake! I can’t be a magical girl. I’m just a guy. A guy with an awful job! I… I can’t do what you do whatever it is you did! It’s too important to leave to me!” She looked at her mirror reflection desperately. “At least tell me what happened to you!” She clenched her fists trying to bring her back. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt tears stinging her eyes. This girl… something bad happened to her. She sensed it… “What happened…”
“…I lost…” the reflection looked across the mirror placing her hands on the surface “…but… that’s okay…” the girl suddenly smiled. She beamed a happy cheerful look. “You see, it’s your turn… that’s just how it goes sometimes…”
Maya wanted to scream. “No!” She buried her head into her hands, squeezing her knees together. “I’m… I’m the biggest loser you could have found. I can’t win at anything… I’m literally not made to be a magical girl… I’m just a guy… if you lost- I will probably lose tomorrow!”
She felt the necklace around her neck flicker with energy. There was no answer… who was she? The previous one… how many others were there… and they all lost? Lost to what?
…she needed answers.
The Harpy Queen received the invitation with a light giggle. She was… a rather ‘large’ harpy with impressive, powerful wings. Her tail feathers were as a peacocks, which gave the impression of a hundred eyes behind her watching. Beautiful hues or purple and blue. “Captain of the Guard!” She called out.
There was the sound of talons sweeping into her strange courtroom. It had a large tree canopy at the top. It looked like a natural clearing of a forest, but every tree had been placed meticulously to protect the inner sanctum.
“Queen Rosaria!” The Captain saluted with a spread of her white wings. “What is the trouble?”
“Ah… no troubles… not since you lead that last battle… it’s just I have had an interesting invite. It wishes me to bring the one called… Terrance of Earth.”
The captain of the guard paused and suddenly looked a bit lost. She looked like she had seen a ghost. “I- uh-“
“Are you uncomfortable with that name? It was ‘your’ name a year ago, was it not?” The queen chuckled. “Come now Tara, do you wish to return or not?”
Tara looked down. How can she explain just how much had changed? She wasn’t just captain of the guards here, she was also a mother to a wonderful son, had a husband… even had another egg she was currently ‘occupied’ with until it hatched… “I- well-“
“I think we should at least go to this invitation, please prepare yourself. We’ll have a nice chat.”
Back on Earh, Eva… the small woman, woke up suddenly. She could feel the lingering tendrils of dark magic flowing around her. A familiar sensation now. ‘My name…’ she could feel it being pulled away from her. She could feel the strain of trying to ‘hold’ onto who she once was. The magic… was hurting her. She had to focus…
She was dreaming of that day when everything changed. She recited her story to herself since she couldn’t speak of it to anyone, the ‘curse’ preventing her from doing so.
“My name… my name… was once Evan… I used to be a normal guy too. I could still picture myself… a bit nerdy, I wore glasses. Jacket and jeans in high school… I guess I was often in the background… that was how it was supposed to be. Just fading away… I once thought I had friends in college. They got up to the usual things… but then my friends were slowly drifting away from me… it was all centred around a girl… called Jessica.”
Jessica… everyone was drawn to her. She was beautiful, clever and somehow everyone forgave her faults, though that was likely all simply a spell given what Evan now knew. “I learned more about her… I learned things I shouldn’t have. I learned how she often destroyed people’s lives just by accident- she sometimes changed their gender, species, or sent them to other worlds… all while learning to control her power. Traumatic events… she did it all with a smile… and said ‘I’m sorry’… and everyone forgave her… everyone was delighted…”
That was Jessica… Evan didn’t really know her at all. The people around her did and protected her… “I was a reporter for a newspaper. I thought I could confront Jessica… I knew a story when I saw one. I found out… I found out when I found myself in the witch’s house. I did not expect Jessica to have a mentor though… a more powerful and terrifying creature, who had no remorse or pity…”
“I will expose you!” Evan cried out. “When the people find out… You have been interfering in the lives of ordinary people, changing history and destiny- You convinced a young teenage girl that she was to be a hero… when all you did was turn her into a slave, into your puppet... I won’t let you-“ The dark shadow loomed over him… and Evan realised he had errored. Gravely.
The voice was dark… annoyed… like it was about to swat a fly. It rose above him in the strange room of magical devices. “A mortal… standing up to a witch? How ludicrous… if I had my way, Jessica would have had no ‘friends’… and one by one, I will remove them… but you? You who dare to invade my home… dare to find secrets that were not meant for your eyes… you will suffer more than anyone I have ever cursed…”
Powerful bands of energy rippled across the man. Evan felt something he couldn’t describe… tendrils of power probing into his soul… “I- I can’t move-“
“Listen well boy… if you speak of magic to anyone… you will see the effects… I suggest you do not…”
That day… yes… that was the day.
“Heh. I probably should have listened… I probably should have given up. I was not even allowed to confront Jessica, or any of my so-called friends with what I knew. I thought to expose the secret by sending out a news story. The power to my computer was cut… I tried to speak of it, only to fall… and each and every time, I would change a little more. I became a girl… but more so I was becoming smaller… shorter… clothes wouldn’t fit me. I could hear the witch laughing at me… and I knew I was in trouble…”
Eva woke up suddenly. “Where am I…” she blinked at her girlish voice. “Oh…” She was recounting her story in her head… in her old voice. “I’m back … home…” She realised seeing all her junk and stuff everywhere. “So… what happened next…” She asked herself as she pushed a box out of the way, struggling to do so with her short body. “Oh… yeah. I became… this…” She looked down at herself. “After so many attempts to defy the curse, finding a loophole, trying to communicate who I used to be… I became… a little girl…” She clenched her fists and felt her eyes stinging with tears. “I then went back to the witch…”
“You have returned…” The old woman narrowed her eyes.
The small woman nodded. “…you turned me into a girl…” she said quietly.
Nishi nodded. “Yes. Not my ‘usual’ stick as the young say, but I thought it appropriate… given what my protégé has done with her friends at times. I have allowed you ‘some’ protection so that you wouldn’t be tossed out of the country at least… but suffice to say you don’t have any papers granting you any education, training, previous jobs… be grateful I did even this… I could remove that and I have no idea what would happen to you.”
There was a heavy pause. Eva stared at her hands. She then got on her knees, lying down on the floor. “… I beg you. Change me back… please.” She put her face on the floor… there was honestly nothing left to try. She felt herself crying…
“No.”
Eva felt her heart break. “I- I can’t…”
“Well, I don’t particularly care if you ‘can’t’... you invaded my home, threatened to spill the secrets of magic, and dared to threaten my protégé… no. You had your chance… Your fate will be as this forever… now… LEAVE!”
With a thunderous blast Eva was sent away from that house forever… trapped in a form that wasn’t hers… in a small woman’s body barely three feet tall.
“Was it all bad?” she asked herself. The people often wondered who she was, or what malady she suffered that caused such dwarfism… though one couldn’t really call it that as she looked healthy despite it all. Sometimes she passed as a child and was told why she wasn’t in school… “I tried to contact my old friends… but the witch completely took their memories of me away. Trying to talk to them activated the curse… Jessica was now a magical girl of justice… and… I realised I had to find someone… another mage… another power that could undo what happened to me…”
So began her quest… a long quest… to find another… a kind compassionate gentle soul with the same raw power…
Eva examined every rumour of magic… every avenue of a being, be it a genie, strange portal, whatever… it didn’t matter. She kept going as it gave her a purpose. Slowly, she acquired many ‘cursed’ items… but even when things looked up, when it seemed she had found someone….
…she lost.
