"Man, how did I get to be the unlucky girl?"

Shimizu joined the conversation, Takuya close behind. "It looks like you all can seem to talk to your robots. I can't understand a word of mine. Looks like I drew the short straw in magical mecha. But, I think I can still struggle through. My name is Miyasaki Shimizu. I can shoot star energy from the special Star Brand on my right hand. See?"

Shimizu raised her right hand and opened it, palm up. The Star Brand was still glowing from the heat generated. "I use this floating robot here, Ponpon, to shape my star energy into direct attacks. But if I use my powers too much, the brand overheats and burns me. That's...pretty much all I know about being a magical girl, right now."

"Magical...girl?" Takuya stuttered. Shimizu rested an arm on her younger step-brother's head.
"Yep, oneechan. We're all magical folk or something. Hey, did your robots and weapons and stuff tell you just what the hell is going on? I'd kind of like to know why we were attacked."

Drawing once more on his long history of wasting his life reading about heros and watching them on television, Rei slid his sword into a hoop on his belt, as gracefully as someone who had never really wielded such a weapon before could--luckily the hoop was rather large compared to the tip of his weapon, and so tenken found itself resting by Rei's side with minimal effort.

This simple task completed, the masked boy strode toward Mitsuko and Akari, stopping just short of the girls. Placing his right fist over his heart, Rei spoke in what he hoped was a strong and steady voice--the type of voice a gallant knight would use when swearing his life to the beautiful princess, "I shall serve you as both sword and shield, so long as I draw breath."

"That was a little cheesy, but then again, I guess that's what these kind of shows are all about," Rei thought to himself as he held his pose for a moment, before dropping the arm and moving to stand beside the two girls. "I really hope I don't wake up for a little while, yet."

Alex's surprise when the Director's beam attack suddenly changed direction was written clearly on his face. He hadn't expected any other people to show up, let alone enough to actually distract the spider.

Well, I can still-

"Hey! Everybody pick one of the smaller monsters and cover your ears! Try to get them apart!" A girl's voice, from the direction he had thrown Demi called out, cutting into his thoughts.

What? Alex thought, hesitating uncertainly.

Listen to her! Miranda snapped in his head. Without another word of argument, Alex's hands flew up to his ears, as he willed himself rise higher and higher. More space to work magic in the sky, he had a feeling that was important.

As the girl called out her attack, "Cat's Call!" Alex's hands began to glow with white light as he built his powers.

OOC: Going to do the Synopsis thing too like Phil. Seems like a good idea given how much text I pump in my writing.

Synopsis: Mern captured Mero, stole buff to make her small and darted away, using Omni-directional shield for minor damage from Director's attack. Sent Mero to act as guardian while the cat-girl attack. Mern takes to the air while waiting for Mero to tell him when to cover ears. Acknowledges Alex's presence.
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"DAMN IT!!!"

*Menarker bolted out of place the moment the feline's flushed expression of pain surged in his mind. Having abandoned his plan, he clenched his stunned familiar by the scruff of the neck and stole Mero's boosting ability, rendering her small in stature again while feeling slightly reinvigorated himself. The collatoral spread of energy trampling toward him by the Director nearly shocked him, as he threw himself in a gliding motion upward and to his right, as he carried the kitten in his hand. The blast narrowly impacted as Mern blocked, swiping his Ocular Arm offensive in his signature surge like motion, energy attempting to slice through, but only serving to buffer the trampling damage before it collided against Mern's stolen omni-directional shielding, still knocking him back with light bruises but otherwise unfazed.*

"How the heck did this thing know where I was? Is it a special sense of its own...?"
*Mern noticed the other two minions next to the director, and marveled as he looked at his own enhancement device.*
"Or maybe... this thing is acting like a beacon... Calling out for its own!"

"Hey! Everybody pick one of the smaller monsters and cover your ears! Try to get them apart!"

"I will get you covered, Panko!" *Gently shakes his familiar back to attention.*
"Mero!"

*Mero complied and returned to her enlarged state, as she galloped swiftly toward the catgirl, partly acting as her guardian from her blindspot. Mern suddenly spiked his energy on the device to test his beacon theory, double jumped multiple times in mid-air for evasional purpose as he waited for Mero's empathic signal to determine when exactly to cover his ears. As he noticed the floating auburn mage, he gestured encouragingly with confidence, almost trying to prove that having the octopus device didn't make him the mudmen's ally.*

Synopsis/Translation: Demi stands up, familiar listening to the plan and covering her ears while Mogura and Demi prepare for a split personality strike. Mogura directs strings at each of the mudmen, using the light from the white star Demi generated and maneuvered over to blast at the director.

There was quite a rush for a split few seconds, precious magic flowing to her from them, but around the time she crashed into something, she felt them slice open, and retreat towards her body. Demi felt a hand reach to her, and smiling she took it, getting herself straight once again and concentrating, now that she finally had a moment to gather herself. "Yeah... I'll be fine." She took another deep breath or two, and then looked at the creatures while listening to the plan that was being suggested. "~Alright... we have a moment to think about this, and you have a good deal of magic.~"

Demi smiled, looking forward towards the scene and noting each and every mudman, and the beast that was attacking her. Wow... that thing doesn't look nearly so intimidating from here. "Shall we send them to hell?" Of course. I don't think it'll even be a slight problem. "~Alright, now, its time to teach you how to actually use that magic!~" Demi took a deep inhalation, sucking up more magic from the atmosphere, and focused on the mudmen. She smiled wickedly, and mentally nodded back to herself.

Y'know... when we used to get picked on for me stating you were real, and that you were a figment of my imagination? "Yeah..." "~Focus the energy into the Star, form it in your hands and focus all the magic flowing through your veins into it, don't leave it hollow and easily breakable like last time.~" And how I used to respond to them that even assuming that you weren't real, you helped me think about things separately, we could get twice as much thought done, multitask better because we were two separate thought processes, and you could notice things if I wasn't paying attention... "Mmnhmm....." "~Release it, let it float around you, fixate your gaze on your target, and let your star get into position.~" I think its about time we prove you truly are real. With that, Mogura noticed Demi twitching the fabrics around her, and laughed in a crazily giddy way.

With the idea in action, Mogura flung Demi's hands forwards, shooting three strings at each of the mudmen now very likely stunned by the yelling that had just taken place. Their familiar had blocked their ears with some of the strands because neither of them apparently was paying enough attention to the stated plan, both being caught in their usual hyperfast thinking. Though that was over with, and the strings went out, going towards every one of them but the director. Demi wasn't focused on the strands in the least however, rather, she was getting her star perfectly in place to strike at the eye, lighting up the area for the strings to hone in even better, and the star itself shone brightly, emitting a quick flashing ray towards the eye it was now hovering closely to.

Hearing Panko's hellion screech for the first time despite presumably lacking ears, the mudmen jerked, balance reflexes thrown out by the little girl's high volume call.

A fat old tabby wandered out of an alley, attracted by the noise. It sat and watched the fight from the sidewalk with feline disinterest and then started licking a paw.

The mudman implanted in the left arm jerkily raised that arm, a shield of greenish energy appearing on it, the Ride at its center. Demi's strings hit and were repelled.

The other mudman was not as fortunate, activating its energy blade but unable to parry all the incoming strings with its reflexes shot. It jabbed back at Menarker as he harried it, cuts sizzling in its oozing 'flesh' but still funcitonal, trying to sever a string whenever it got an opportunity.

In keeping with its utter refusal to let anything phase it, the Director seemed less affected. Demi still was able to sneak her White Star in close and fire.

Formed out of the condensing shadow field about it, a defensive shield closed over the eye like an eyelid. The ray struck and was absorbed, burning a hole with a smoky miasma, but leaving the eye unharmed. The Director swatted at the White Star in apparent irritation with a scythe.

The circular patterns of transport magic appeared beneath the Director and the mudmen.

With only a single pair of its Riot Scythes activated, the casting discs of two Void Windows appeared to either side of the Director, a trick the Verda mages had not yet seen. Deciding to leave the agile, screaming, cat costumed little girl alone for the time being, it stabbed through the portals with its active scythes.

One burst out of thin air in Menarker's path, the energy scythe being easily able to pierce the flimsy protection his borrowed Ocular Ride gave.

For the other, the casting disc opened behind Alex as he sought to gain altitude, the emerald blade stabbing out of the dark portal to slash at his back.

* * *

Mitsuko perked up a little as everyone declared their support.

"Hey, did your robots and weapons and stuff tell you just what the hell is going on? I'd kind of like to know why we were attacked." Shimizu asked.

"Well..." Mitsuko began.

Bright Day interrupted. ["Time is critical."]

"We'll explain on the way."

It wasn't far, but the story seemed straightforward enough, the fledgling mages checking the facts with their Devices.

There had been a war long ago between Ancient Verda and Autekka, the two sides having developed their magic in different ways. It had bought ruin to both sides and, as a consequence, cut the number of new mages down to almost nothing. For now, the Devies glossed over how exactly this had gone unnoted in history and their own fortuitous reappearance.

Recently, however, things had changed.

It was uncertain if it had been deliberately planted or not, but close by a spell known as a Forced Activation Talisman had been activated. Upon attaining its full power, it would act as a form of magical catalyst, forcing open the talents of potential mages and stirring up spells and creatures left dormant. It had already had a low level effect, the creatures they'd fought being proof of this.

This was dangerous.

Additionally, upon attaining its full power, the talisman would effectively be invulnerable to them, as they lacked the skill to overcome its defences. They would have to strike now, before this occurred.

However, it was possible it was defended. Additionally, Verda mages could intervene, likely ones recruited like how they had been. The Verda faction would believe that the benefits of such a widespread reactivation of magic would outweigh the chaos and necessary sacrifices it entailed.

They came upon on their destination. It seemed to be a empty plot, whatever been there recently demolished. Within a simple maze of low, ruined walls, not even knee high, the forced activation talisman waited.

Poking up from a little hill in the barren earth was an unnatural, solitary flower. On a slender stem a single blossom was supported, large and oddly crystalline in appearance. Its oval center almost seemed to be watching them.

Nothing immediately leapt out to attack.

Mitsuko, pausing a rather intense, hushed consultation with her Device about what exactly she was capable of, looked around carefully. "This is it?" Mitsuko asked. It looked so innocent.

["Correct"] Bright Day chimed.

Alex winced as some of the call got to him, even with his hands over his ears. But kept rising and gaining power regardless.

His hands fell back to his sides, as he watched the field from where he thought he was safe enough. But, his glowing green eyes grew puzzled as the spider summoned up a pair of disks beside itself.

Those...are what he used to block Demi and the white guy. He thought, entirely confused as the Director stabbed two of its arms' into the portals.

Alex, move, now! Miranda shouted, as one of the Emerald blades appeared behind him, coming at his back.

The flying mage reacted as quickly as he could, throwing himself to the right. He managed to avoid getting impaled, but the blade nicked the scarf floating behind him, and the red fabric of his pants.

Start moving. Miranda said flatly, I'll worry about gathering the energy, but you need to keep yourself from being impaled. We're high enough.

Alex nodded, allowing Miranda to take the reins of the energy. He began to let his movements flow into a dance, one partly guided by his magic and partly by music he imagined. He made sure not to stay in the same place long, and kept his eyes and ears open for more portals.

Miranda noted, with some surprise, that the magic gathered more quickly while Alex was in motion. His hands were glowing brightly with white light by then.

They'd fought through anything and everything at the behest of their devices, and now the Autekkan mages stood before something that was relatively peaceful. Akari looked at the delicate, if unnerving, flower with mixed interest. Was this the weapon that was going to turn everyone into... Whatever it was those things were? Maybe not those things, but maybe similar monsters?

Akari overheard Mitsuko and Bright Day, and didn't bother asking Ceres to confirm it again, merely stared at the flower. After a few seconds she felt like it was very hard to not look at, as if she'd seen it before somewhere. It was one of those feelings where you didn't know what something meant, but it sent a shiver down your spine that you knew was wrong on some deep, fundamental level. Her courage melted away to unease and a mild sense of fear, which was awkward considering the flower wasn't acting nearly as frightening as the director had been. They'd actually killed that, after all.

Her reverie was broken by Ceres' interruption.

["Locus Mode, Set up. Standby Sealing Routine Venus."]

The bow hissed as its overflow-vents opened and slid shut as if running a test routine. The accellerator rails slid closer together, and the weapon's arms reclined somewhat, sliding the rear-arm drone racks outward a few inches each. Each one's engine glew to life at an idle level, giving Ceres the effect of neon-blue winglike extentions.

"Remember what I told you when you asked about bombardment magic?" The calm voice in Akari's head asked with a frustrated tone. The girl merely nodded, "Well, forget the whole of it. Now, you learn."

"Ceres..." Akari asks softly, "We're going to shoot the flower?"

["Estimate 95% deflection of shooting attacks. Barrier penetration is necessary to seal successfully."]

"We're going to hit it very hard to make it go back to sleep. There is after all, a certain serenity to be found in extreme firepower." Akari swore she heard Ceres giggle at the last sentance, but it honestly loosened her up a bit. All this serious end-of-the-world stuff was getting to her, and there was a certain wisdom in it, twisted as it was.

"Alright." Akari nods, "Show me."

"~Good!~" Demi smiled, noticing the results of her attack, though her familiar was saying that more about Mogura's success than hers. "Incoming..." With that being said right at he connection, the few strings left in it bega to draw great amounts of magic into their body, Mogura taking a second to really pull, then dividing up her attention to fre more of her strings at the one that got rid of all of hers. "I think this ones about finished, if the first time I saw it is any indicator." Demi mentally grinned as she focused on moving her star out of the way of the swings, getting hit every now and again, causing some of the magic to disperse, though a bit od that got sucked right to Demi again via her aura.

"~Ok, your star doesn't have the magic for a colossal blast, but there is something far more annoying you can do with it. Focus a tiny ray from it onto the eye, a line of sorts to it, and keep lightly applying to it.~" It was a bit difficult to do, especially with moving it around. But she saw the results, and was pleased. There was a consistent ray shooting at the director. nothing too harsh, but the sheer consistency was the point. "Um... what if he attacks us? I can barely pay attention to myself..." "~Mmmn... thats a problem. You'll learn eventually but for now, I'll buzz you if anythngs about to affect you. How does that sound?~" Demi seemed slightly uneasy, but the videogame-like lasering the director was too mentally consuming and too entertaining for her to really argue.

Synopsis: Panko shoots the mudman with the big right arm that Demi stabbed with string.

It seemed like everyone had weathered Panko's attack. The mudmen still hadn't left the giant monster's side, but at least one of them was less mobile. Dropping her old plan, Panko decided to take advantage of the crazy girl's attack. She'd already dropped one improved mudman tonight, and here she was given the same circumstances.

Panko put her hands out and yelled, "Cutie Beam!" A blast of puppy breath and international marketing mascots fired across the battlefield toward the mudman Demi had snagged.