THE MOMENT
Ingrid Stardust was a determined, magical woman. She'd built up a global empire of over 10000 magical girls before it was promptly and effectively dismantled. She was soundly defeated, but she was far from giving up.
While her Magical Girl's Help Network was taking shape, she heard whispers of a dangerous and wild group of Magical women known as the Uni-Court. They were all part unicorn, and Ingrid didn't feel it was worth the extra possible complications. But now, with fewer than two dozen girls left believing in her, she felt like she had nothing left to lose.
It took considerably more effort to find them than she expected, but at last, she managed to arrange a meeting. She was in her magically protected office, awaiting the buzzing notice of a visitor, when a blonde-haired stranger with pink highlights walked into her office from a different universe. Despite her enchanted security, that was the second time that had happened.
“I’m Marisol Brightwave; are you Ingrid Stardust?” the woman asked. The portal she emerged from vanished leaving her there alone with Ingrid.
“Yes… is it just you?” she asked.
“It’s unlikely you’ll be worth their time,” Marisol shrugged. “I’m here to investigate that. What exactly does the MGHN have to offer the Uni-Court?”
“You don’t even know what I want yet…,” Ingrid replied. Marisol nodded with a smile.
“Maybe not. But I know you’re not going to get it if you don’t have anything useful to us.”
“Anything,” Ingrid said. “Anything in my name that I have the power to give, I offer it to the Uni-Court.”
“I mean, we could also just take it…,” Marisol sighed. “What are you asking for?”
“I have 20 magical contracts for 20 magical girls. They’re truly loyal to me, and I need their help to rebuild the MGHN. I’m asking the Uni-Court to grant them a blessing of stronger magic so we can rebuild and take our revenge.”
“20 magical girls?” Marisol asked. Ingrid nodded. “You want us to boost their power in exchange for an undetermined favor at some later date?” Ingrid nodded again.
Then, two things happened in the exact same instant. Marisol was convinced to help, and Ingrid realized how outclassed she was. And that was the second time that’d happened in recent weeks. It started with a friendly smile from Marisol.
“If you want our help, you need to prove you’re worth it. Defeat me -,” Marisol began explaining the challenge, but Ingrid was ready to prove anything she had to. As soon as she got the gist, she summoned a rainbow blade to her hand and thrust forward at Marisol’s neck. The beach beauty in a pink sarong simply twisted her body slightly out of the way while she was still talking.
“Wow, I didn’t even have to convince…,” she ducked her head without otherwise moving. “...you. Take it easy, stop.” She put her hand out as Ingrid thrust again, and the tip of her sword melted when it touched Marisol’s palm. Ingrid pulled it away, but the tip was already ruined.
“Usually people have to get a bit fired up to fight, but you’re all kinds of ready,” Marisol giggled.
“I’ve lost everything except my best girls. I’m ready to put it right,” she said.
“Okay, you’ve convinced me,” Marisol nodded. “I’ll put in a good word for you and see what the rest of the team says,” she said as another black portal opened beside her. “I’ll get back to you.”