Magical Girl Trixie

Suddenly, I was back in Platinum City, which is exactly where the three magical girls who killed Cupid Symphony had fled to, and this time, with Storm Rose out of the way, I had one less girl to worry about. Discord said that there were two magical girls here before I went to the hospital, and seeing as how Storm Rose was now dead and Dreamdrop and Iron Maiden were asleep back in Manehattan, that left Night Seam, Mind Games, Palette and Marrow as the only possibilities left. Honestly, at this point, I didn't care who died next, but my top two targets were Mind Games, the girl who had killed Cupid Symphony, and Marrow, the girl who I had my own personal grudge against.

Thus, I sneaked my way from the gate, hiding myself in the shrubbery as I passed through the city, looking for whoever Discord said was still here, supposing I didn't miss them. As luck would have it, though, I knew exactly where they would be: the fountain in the center of the city, where we would always meet if we ever wanted to speak to each other. While ducking lower into the bushes, I made out the face of Night Seam instantly, but it took me a minute to figure out that the other girl was Marrow without her exoskeleton. I'd have to watch my back in the meantime, but I could not let this opportunity slip to miss what they were saying.

“Does our friendship not matter to you anymore?” Marrow asked. “Don't forget that the only reason you have your powers is because of me.”

“Which is why I want to go after Trixie first,” Night Seam retorted defensively, “but we both know that if Discord made you the game changer, you'll die regardless.”

“If we all supposedly die if we lose our powers, then there's no way he would make me the game changer. It would mean the end of magical girls forever.”

“Do you honestly think Discord cares whether or not magical girls exist? For all you know, he could be bored with magical girls and is looking to start his next project! Do you really believe that you were the first magical girl because you were the first one Discord thought was ready? Have you never wondered about the magical girls before you?”

“And you're just going to kill your best friend so that you can survive?!”

“TRIXIE WAS OUR BEST FRIEND TOO!”

My eyebrows raised slightly at what Night Seam said, almost making me blow my cover before quickly realizing how dangerous a position I was in. Still, though, it made me think. Was I supposed to know who Night Seam was? Were we friends at one point?

“So what are you waiting for, then?” Marrow asked. “Le Blanc isn't here. You have the perfect opportunity to kill me, so why don't you take it?”

She was right! This would be the perfect opportunity for me too! As I lifted my hands up, I focused all the magic I could towards her neck, just like I had done with Storm Rose, but for some reason, I couldn't feel my magic connecting. My magic must have had limits as to how far I could be away from my target, and she was just barely too far away for me reach her without Night Seam noticing.

Then, however, I quickly remembered that I should still have possession of Storm Rose's wand! Again, I summoned all my magic to my hand, this time in the way that I would normally summon my spear, but for some reason, nothing happened. I would have to speak with Discord as soon as I made it back to Basket Case's house.

“I can't,” Night Seam said. “You know I can't. I only want to do that as a last resort.”

“Really? Because you sounded like you were completely out of resorts a minute ago.”

“Just… let me start with Trixie. I sincerely doubt that any of the others would be the game changer. It would be too convenient.”

“Why do you think that the game changer is Trixie or me? Please, tell me why I should just give you permission to kill me if it turns out not to be Trixie.”

“Because that's exactly what would give Discord the most entertainment! It can't be Dreamdrop since she's such an easy target. Iron Maiden is tough, but she also throws herself into unnecessary fights and will probably get herself killed next. Palette and Mind Games both have extremely volatile magic, which is exactly why I asked them to help me, but neither of them stack up to the magic that you or Storm Rose brings to the table. If it came down to two magical girls at the end, I doubt either one of them would make it.”

“So then it could be Storm Rose?”

“Actually, no,” said a new voice to the conversation. Upon hearing a sound from her magical phone, Marrow pulled out her device and released a miniature version of the spirit of chaos.

“Discord,” said Marrow. “You've been so secretive about the game changer's ability. Why are you telling us it's not Storm Rose?”

“Because Storm Rose is already dead.” Both girls took a step back in shock, making me hide deeper in the bushes just in case he decided to rat out my location. “She was killed by another magical girl just a few minutes ago, actually.”

“By who?!”

“You know I can't tell you that.”

“I can promise you it wasn't Palette or Mind Games,” Night Seam said. “I specifically told them not to engage with her. That leaves only Dreamdrop, Iron Maiden or--”

“Trixie.” Again, I wanted to hold my breath as the dangers of being there grew worse and worse with Marrow speaking in anger. “I can't believe the little cunt actually went that far. How did she do it, Discord?”

“I never said it was the Great and Powerful Trixie,” Discord replied. “You decided that on your own.”

“You're no help. Do you wanna just go back into my phone or wherever it is that you go when you're spying on us?”

“Says the girl who's using a skeleton to spy on anyone who comes into Platinum City.”

Upon realizing that the skeleton was still somewhere in the city, I jumped backwards to make sure it wasn't behind me, but it would still only be a matter of time before I was discovered. I had to get out of there quick, but I still wanted to hear everything they said, just in case they announced any plans to kill me or my friends.

“Well, I just wanted to let you girls know,” Discord continued. “That means that three girls have died so far, and you still haven't found the game changer yet. Don't worry, I'm sure the fourth time is the charm, though.”

“Tell us this, Discord,” Night Seam said. “Is the girl who killed Storm Rose the game changer?”

“Are you two really going to keep pestering me until I give you another hint?”

“Yes,” Marrow said bluntly. “Now, tell us!”

“Not with that kind of attitude, young lady.”

“Discord,” Night Seam intervened. “This is serious. We all just want to get this game over with as soon as we can. Can't you tell us anything?”

“You see, Marrow? You really should learn a thing or two from your friend here. OK, Night Seam. I'll tell you one more hint.”

The three of us held our breaths as we waited for the clue that could possibly end this game.

“Out of the seven girls remaining, the game changer is someone who knows at least two of the magical girls’ real identities. Hopefully that clears things up for you. Oh, and by the way, Le Blanc is going the opposite direction of where you want her to go. I'll see you all in the morning!”

Fuck! He ratted me out! Quickly grabbing onto my teleport gem, I closed my eyes and traveled back to Basket Case's house, and luckily for me, both girls were still asleep. Even with her little exoskeleton, there was no way of them tracing my location back here.

Feeling exhausted from all that had happened that day, I transformed back into my regular form, put my glasses to the side and collapsed next to Dreamdrop, who was sleeping more peacefully than I could have imagined. What was she dreaming about that put her mind so at ease with everything that was going on? Just thinking about it made me wish I had taken her up on her offer to use her magic to put me to sleep.

Before falling asleep, though, I had to figure out what Discord's clue meant. The game changer knew at least two girls’ true identities, and seeing as how technically all of them knew who I was after seeing me turn into a magical girl in the first place, that just meant that they only needed to know one more girl's real identity! That could have been literally any of us!

Iron Maiden was Basket Case, Dreamdrop was Summer Breeze, and both of them knew who I was, which made all three of us an automatic possibility. From the way Marrow and Night Seam spoke to each other, it seemed like they knew each other outside of being magical girls, and since they were the first two to get their powers, it would be hard imagining them not knowing any of the other girls’ real identities. Still, though, I couldn't say for sure, so I chalked them up as maybes. Then there were Mind Games and Palette, but I didn't have the slightest idea if they knew anyone's real identity but mine!

Regardless of who was the game changer, I couldn't let that bother me. I had done my part in killing Storm Rose, and Mind Games was next on my list. If the game continued after that, I would go after Marrow. I just had to keep killing until there was nobody left. They must not have had any idea just how much they pissed me off...

“Those fuckers are gonna pay.”