A fire burned through Seina’s chest as the bullet pierced straight through her body. Her opponent continued to fire, sending more shots through her chest. Every breath was agony, barely able to breathe. She pulled out her pendant, hoping she wasn’t too late.

Through blood-soaked lips, Seina croaked out her transformation chant. “Change... Change...,” she gasped through punctured lungs, “Magical... Love Dress... Up...” Light engulfed her, changing her into her magical girl form. Much to Seina’s relief, the pain vanished, though it left her a little tired.

“What?” The vampire thug, Jentin, gaped in surprise. “You’re alive? But she shot you through the heart, twice! How are you still standing?!”

“She’s a magical girl, obviously,” Takako said, bored. “It takes more than that to kill one of us.”

“But, I.” Panic filled Jentin’s features for a moment before turning back to confidence. “Nevermind. We still have a magic girl on our side! We’ll just cut her to pieces.”

“Maeko is a magical girl?” Aiko asked, surprised. “What’s going on?”

From the shadows, a female vampire appeared, wearing a smug expression on her face. Something about the woman was vaguely familiar. “That’s right, Seina. We have duped you. We sent her to train with you in order to learn your every weakness.” She gave a cruel laugh. “Don’t you remember? Love, friendship and affection are weaknesses. Your naivete will be your death, Seina!”

Seina’s face twisted into a scowl. How had she allowed Takako to foolishly trick her? As usual, the vampires corrupted everything good in the world to hurt her. Just like her parents.

“Kick her butt, Seina!” Colten said, fuming. “I know magical girls are evil, but betraying you like that is a low even for her kind!!”

Takako snorted. “I’ll do whatever it takes to beat you. You are my hated enemy, after all.”

“You!” Being told that Takako hated her hurt more than Seina had expected. She’d really believed they’d been friends. Unexpectedly, it brought tears to her eyes. She rubbed them away and directed her anger towards the girl that had fooled her. Seina would enjoy punching her stupid face in.

“Understand this, Seina, it’s my job to dispatch rogue magical girls, and that’s what I’m going to do.” Takako pointed her pistols towards Seina’s heart. “I’m not playing around this time. Let me show you what I’ve learned since our last battle.”

“Yes! Kill her!” The female vampire said. “Today, you pay for every humiliation you made me suffer through!”

Seina blinked. “Sorry?” Did she know this woman? Before she could inquire any further, Takako unleashed her bullets onto Seina. Like last time, the shots flew wide. Had the girl not learned anything from their last encounter? Her body jerked as something started pressing on her with crushing force, and Seina found herself unable to move.

“Each of those bullets creates a gravitational force with the strength of a black hole,” Takako said, smirking. “That should make this easy.”

“Shinobu, now!” The vampire woman said, and a middle-aged man appeared from the manga shop. Much to Siena’s surprise, the shop vanished to reveal an empty building. He extended a hand, and Seina gasped as blackness engulfed her vision.

“Where am I? What’s going on?” With some effort, Seina moved her head around, trying to understand what was happening. She froze as a strange gurgling sound echoed in the distance, sending a chill down her spine. Her heart almost beat out of her chest as a strange white figure with pale skin and stringy black hair wrapped around her body, screaming as centipedes emerged from their mouth, crawling all over her.

---

“We did it!” An almost hysterical laugh escaped Lilha’s lips. “We did it!”

They watched as Seina stood petrified, twisting and turning, eyes widened in fear. Sweat dripped down Shinobu’s head as he forced Seina to see her worst fears realized. With her gravity bullets in place Takako doubted her rival could escape easily. Still, they couldn’t waste his opportunity. It couldn’t hold Seina forever. Trapped or not, she was a formidable opponent. She’d break the illusion eventually.

“Seina!” Colten tried flying to his partner’s aid, but Aiko stopped the fairy before he could attempt anything foolish. A scowl appeared on Mr. Kiyojiro as he watched, helpless to do anything to rescue his charge.

“Easy. Let’s finish this. Let me show you my power.” Jentin hefted his axe, a wide smirk on his face. His muscles bulged grotesquely, growing in bulk and volume.

“Yeah, get her boss!” Jentin’s buddies said, cheering him on.

“My power allows me to increase my natural strength a billion times! You don’t have your speed to save you now!” The vampiric brute swung his enormous axe towards Seina’s exposed neck. Its head, unsurprisingly, snapped off, not even leaving a scratch on the magical girl’s neck.

Takako rolled her eyes. “A billion times zero is still zero.” Why did they need these jokers again?

“Eh?” Seina blinked, confused. She took a step forward and collapsed over as Kiyojiro inflicted even worse fears upon her mind.

“You idiot!” A vein appeared on Lilha’s forehead. “You almost broke the spell!”

“Sorry.” The big vampire wilted under his queen’s glare.

“Takako, finish her quickly.” Lilha said. “I don’t want her escaping. You, hold the girl’s friends hostage. If she escapes, I want some insurance.”

Takako’s eyes widened as Jentin appeared behind Aiko and grabbed her arm hard, making the tiny girl howl in pain.

“Oops, did I break your arm?” Jentin gave a cruel laugh. “Too bad.”

“Aiko!” Colten said, trying to pull the brute away. The vampire only gave a contemptuous snort and slapped him away. Mr. Kiyojiro ran to the fairy’s side, glaring at the perpetrator. He cursed, helpless to do anything.

“What are you doing?” Takako seethed beyond furious. “This wasn’t the plan. Leave her alone.” The brute stepped away, giving his queen a nervous glance.

“Why do you care?” Lilha asked. “Besides, it’s necessary if we are to kill Seina. Don’t get soft on me. Do your duty as a magical girl.”

Takako hesitated, looking towards Aiko as she gritted her teeth against the pain. What was she doing? Lilha was right. She was a magical girl. The life of a measly mortal girl shouldn’t matter a toss to her.

“Yeah, do your duty!” Jentin said, taking pleasure as he squeezed Aiko’s arm tighter, causing more screams of pain.

It’d be so easy to pull her pistols and blast Seina with them, but Takako found her limbs powerless to move. She watched as her rival squirmed in fear and pain, an ugly pit forming in her stomach. Takako had wanted to defeat Seina the entire time she’d known the girl. Why did it feel so ugly and horrible now?

“Takako, please,” Aiko said through clenched teeth. “Don’t do this.”

“Seina, please! Wake up!” Tears were in Colten’s eyes. Mr. Kiyojiro looked at Seina with an intense fearful worry. Takako knew if Seina died, it would break the rough man’s heart.

“Do it,” Lilha said, impatiently. “Kill her already.”

After a moment’s further hesitation, Takako made a decision. “I will.” She summoned her white pistol and pointed towards her target and fired. Seina’s body collapsed to the ground as Takako released the gravity holding her.

The magical girl blinked for several moments and looked at her hands, momentarily confused. “Huh, what happened?”

“What?” Shinobu touched his chest and blinked as he saw blood on his hand.

“I’m reuniting you with your son,” Takako said. “I can’t bring the dead back to life, sorry.” Shinobu released a strangled croak, but it sounded relieved, almost happy. The vampire collapsed, dead.

“What are you doing?” Lilha asked, both fearful and outraged.

“Winning my way.” Takako pointed her black pistol and blew Jentin’s head off. The giant collapsed, and Aiko pulled herself away from his grip.

“Are you okay?!” Colten said, flying towards the girl, grasping her in a tight hug.

“I’m fine.” Tears were in Aiko’s eyes.

“Healing shot.” Takako fired a bullet into the girl’s chest, repairing her broken arm. Aiko gave her healed arm an experimental swing and gave Takako a grateful nod. Seina watched this entire exchange, completely confused.

“This isn’t over, Seina,” Takako said. “I still intend to defeat you. But, I’m winning through my own strength.”

“You traitor! I won’t forget this!” Lilha spat and ran off into a nearby alley. Her useless goons followed suit, also promising vengeance.

Seina continued to study Takako, still confused. “So, you’re not working with the vampires any more?”

“No.” Takako put her hands on her hips. “I fight dirty, but not that dirty. I have standards for my evilness. Stop wasting my time and fight me already. I’m eager to show you what I’ve learned since we started training together.”

Seina nodded. “Okay. I don’t understand you at all, but I’m relieved you saved Aiko. Thank you.”

“Whatever.” Takako rolled her eyes, but a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Seina summoned her staff. “Let’s do this.”

With blinding speed, Seina rushed towards her. But Takako was ready, shooting gravity bullets in front of her. Her opponent darted away, but still got caught in the edge of their pull, grinding her almost to a halt.

“You’re strong, but can you take this?” Takako fired her next barrage of bullets. They flew past Seina’s head. Aiming with two guns proved more difficult than it looked, so Takako chose a different strategy. The bullets exploded, shooting an array of magical beams that fired in random directions.

Seina broke past the gravity well and weaved around the beams, but they proved too numerous to dodge all of them, she flinched as one slashed across her chest. Takako continued her barrage, leaping high into the air and firing down towards her opponent. Beams rained down upon Seina from the exploding bullets while she summoned more gravity wells to impede her opponent’s movement. Seina’s body moved in slow motion as a black hole bullet struck her in the chest, leaving her exposed.

Takako continued to fire into Seina’s chest, her bullets unaffected by the intense gravity. Her opponent staggered as the bullets struck her, yet Seina proved resilient. Making her shots immune to gravity made them less powerful and effective, but they were doing damage.

She’s so tough. A flicker of doubt struck the back of Takako’s mind. She could do this forever, but Seina refused to surrender.

Through sheer brute force, her opponent started to break past the gravity restraining her. She used her staff to deflect the bullets and lasers shooting towards her. In one final push, Seina had broken free of the gravity well. While Takako was quick, she needed to switch between summoning gravity wells and attacking, leaving gaps in her attack. Sweat glistened down Seina’s head as she reentered normal space.

Takako cursed, keeping her distance. If Seina entered close quarters, Takako knew she was in trouble. Seina ducked and weaved as countless beams shot around her, focusing on confronting Takako head-on. In a blink, she was beside her opponent, staff raised to strike. With a flick of her hand, Takako aimed her black pistol towards her own chest and fired just as Seina’s staff impacted on her chest. A grunt of pain escaped Takako’s lips, but she remained on her feet.

“You can make your body tougher, too?” Seina’s eyes widened in amazement.

Through clenched teeth, Takako grinned. “There’s nothing my bullets can’t do.” She fired on herself again, giving herself a blinding increase in speed, moving faster than even Seina could see. Her white pistol fired upon Seana, striking her against the chest, staggering her. With her full power, Takako’s bullets could actually injure her opponent. Blood trickled down Seina’s lips, but she rubbed it away with the back of her hand.

Despite her opponent running circles around her, Seina smiled. “You’ve really gotten much stronger. Your abilities are amazing, Takako.”

Takako beamed, placing her white pistol against her shoulder. “As I said, I’m unbeatable. How about you surrender already?”

“Not a chance.” Seina’s smile disappeared, subtle anger blazing in her eyes. “Too much is at stake. I can’t allow your ilk to harm my world and the people I care about.”

“Even though you saved Aiko, I’m still not going to forgive you, Takako,” Seina said. “How many people have suffered because of your cowardice? You might not hurt people personally, but you’ve allowed monsters to thrive. Countless people have gotten hurt because of you!”

Cowardice? The hand holding her white pistol shook. Was she a coward?

No, I can’t be a coward. Magical girls are beyond morality. Yet, Seina’s accusatory eyes burned into her, making her hesitate. This slip-up allowed her opponent to close the distance. Despite hitting herself with another defense bullet, Takako felt her ribs shatter as Seina punched her with full force. She tried fighting Seina off, but the girl’s superior fighting skills made shaking her off almost impossible.

“Ouch.” Aiko flinched as Seina delivered another punishing blow to Takako’s chest.

“Go, kick her butt!” Colten said, cheering her partner on.

Mr. Kiyojiro shook his head, disappointed. “That’s what she gets for ignoring the basics of defense. I warned her.” During the exchange, her friends had moved to a safe distance, not wanting to get caught up in the fighting.

“No, I can’t lose yet. Healing Shot.” Takako said, blood staining her mouth.

Energy revitalized her as she restored her power with a shot from her black gun. Another shot quickened her speed, firing hundreds of point-blank shots into Seina’s chest. She smirked as it was Seina’s turn to stagger. A punch flew past her head as Takako dodged away, moving to a safe distance. Seina grimaced as she moved, moving with some sluggishness, helping Takako’s escape.

“Ouch.” Seina rubbed at her wounded chest.

Takako took pleasure in causing her rival serious injury. Yet, it wasn’t enough. Seina had a great deal of fight still in her. She could hurt Seina, but not without great personal risk. She needed to get close to cause any real damage. No matter, Takako had a plan for that, shooting herself with another speed boost.

Seina’s movements slowed to a grind as Takako summoned more gravity wells with her white pistol that engulfed half of her rival’s body. Her black pistol pumped shot after shot into her while Takako circled around her. While not hitting vital areas, the shots caused Seina a great deal of pain. With some effort, Seina slipped out of the gravity well. But Takako disappeared before she could retaliate with her own attack.

“That’s just cheap!” Colten said, fuming.

“Anything to win.” Takako’s lips quirked into a smirk. “You’re just a brute, after all. Without your mighty strength, you’re nothing but a target.” That was what Seina deserved for fighting a more experienced magical girl. Instead of moving to attack, her rival stood still, eyes closed.

What is she plotting? Never mind. I’ve proven this fight is over with. After shooting herself with another speed boost, Takako went on the offensive. She purposely made her movements confusing, ruining any chance of predicting where she might be.

Now! Takako summoned another gravity well, and Seina didn’t even attempt to dodge. Her rival was making this too easy, and Takako pointed her black pistol towards Seina’s exposed chest. She gasped when she realized Seina had her staff in her other hand. Pain exploded, and Takako staggered as Seina struck her across the head. Takako had been in mid-movement, leaving her unable to dodge. She crumbled to the ground, dazed.

Too late, Takako realized what Seina had done. The girl had moved at the last moment, positioning herself so her head and staff missed the gravity well, leaving her in a better position to strike back. Incredible. Takako hadn’t even seen her move. She laid on the ground, helpless. Without a shot to strengthen herself, Takako’s body couldn’t withstand the blow. She tried lifting her black pistol to heal herself, but Seina only kicked it away.

“No!” While Takako could just re-summon her weapon, Seina wouldn’t give her a chance. She was dead, looking up at Seina with fearful eyes.

“You have some nice tricks, Takako,” Seina said, eyes cold. “But that’s all you have, tricks.”

“What now?” Aiko asked, eying her friend with worry.

“We need to kill her.” Mr. Kiyojiro said. “She’ll only become a danger again.”

“It’s the only way,” Colten said, nodding his agreement.

No! Despite the disorientation, Takako tried squirming away. Anything to save herself. A boot from Mr. Kiyojiro stopped her, pinning her in place.

“Please.” Tears flowed down Takako’s eyes, terrified out of her mind. Worse, Takako saw contempt in Seina’s eyes. Her rival was considering the possibility of ending her right here.

“No! We are not doing that!” With surprising force, Aiko pushed Mr. Kiyojiro off her. The bodyguard stumbled, surprised by the girl’s tenacity.

“Aiko?” Seina’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Leave her alone!” Aiko used her body to protect Takako.

What? Takako couldn’t believe her eyes. Aiko was defending her.

“But…” Whatever the bodyguard was going to say, Aiko interrupted him.

“No! What are we, vampires? Takako doesn’t deserve being shot down like a dog. She saved me, remember?”

“But, she’ll only try and kill me again. She’s still evil, even if she saved you.” Seina paused for a moment and shook her head. “No, you’re right. I’m being stupid.” Much to Takako’s shock, Seina placed her black pistol back into her hand.

“Healing shot.” In an instant, Takako regained her health, glaring at her savior. “Don’t think this changes anything between us!”

“But, thank you, Aiko.” Takako said, turning her attention towards Aiko and giving her a warm smile. “You saved me.”

“Takako, you’re my friend,” Aiko replied. “I don’t want anything happening to you. We had fun together, didn’t we? There’s no need for us to be enemies.”

Takako gave a derisive snort. “Shows what you know!” Though a small smile formed on her lips, eternally grateful the girl had saved her.

Though not pleased, Mr. Kiyojiro didn’t argue. “For your sake, don’t show your face around here again.”

“No, she should.” Aiko glared at the bodyguard. “We still haven’t finished that movie we watched the other day. I just found another copy of it.” She gave Seina a nasty look, daring the magical girl to contradict her.

“I suppose.” Seina rubbed the back of her neck.

“Good! That’s settled.” Aiko said, her voice smug.

What the heck is going on? Was she meant to be friends with Seina now? The whole situation left her very confused. As per her habit, Takako fell back into the familiar.

“Don’t think we’re friends, Seina,” Takako said. “I’m still going to beat you. Next time won’t be so easy!”

“What a handful of a girl.” Mr. Kiyojiro said, scowling.

Before anyone could say anything else, Takako used her black pistol to teleport herself far away from the scene, thankfully alone again.

---

A rat scurried across the street as Ume walked around an ally. People dressed in almost rags huddled around a fire near a bombed-out building. The country had recently been at war with a neighboring one. While victorious, the cost had been high. Suitable living spaces were sparse.

Despite this, the citizens made the best of their situation. They laughed around a cooking pot and poured out stew for anyone hungry. It was the best they could afford. Children ran around in the streets, playing a game only they understood. It brought a smile to Ume’s lips. It quickly shifted to a frown when a group of soldiers walked by. The mood in the camp immediately shifted. Mothers grabbed their children and hid them from sight. The men went on high alert, watching the approaching soldiers with wary eyes.

The soldiers smirked, enjoying the instant fear their presence caused. One brutish-looking man stepped up, a club in his hand. The man thought he might have some fun with these helpless civilians. He thought wrong.

Ume stepped out from her hiding place and the brute froze in terror. His fellows quickly abandoned him, fleeing for their lives. The people, however, watched her in awe.

“P-please... I...” The soldier trembled as she approached, trying to come up with some excuse for his actions. It didn’t matter. The man was already dead. Seconds later, the brute’s eyes widened, gripped by a terrible pain in his chest. Moments later, he collapsed, no longer breathing. Ume had never tolerated bullies.

While shocked at the soldier’s sudden death, the townsfolk gave her a grateful nod and smiled at her. They knew what her coming meant.

“Oh god, it’s her!” A man said. He pointed a gun towards Ume’s face, knowing full well how useless such a gesture was. Other soldiers moved to surround her, trying to stop her from reaching her target.

“Move,” Ume said. This one word promised death if they dared defy her.

The men continued to point their weapons towards her, but one man lost courage, tossing aside their weapon, fleeing at full speed. Soon, the others followed suit, allowing her to enter the mansion unimpeded.

Inside was a sickening display of trappings of wealth. Priceless pieces of art lined the walls, several resorted to their former glory. The sight of such pointless opulence twisted Ume’s stomach. The more wealth she saw on display, the angrier she became.

After taking another staircase, she reached a set of double doors. She sensed her target was behind them and pushed them open. The men inside froze as she entered. Sitting on a throne was a round-faced man in his late fifties. He watched in abject horror as she approached. Around him stood several other important men. It seems Ume had caught them in a meeting.

The men guarding their leader were more loyal, shooting their sidearms at Ume’s head. Another tried escorting their leader out while the guards kept her distracted. It was useless, however. Ume appeared in front of the fleeing men, stopping them cold. The president trembled in fear, realizing escape was impossible.

While pulling his leader away, the bodyguard withdrew a sidearm, firing into Ume’s face. The gun clicked empty after the man had unloaded the entire clip into her. The bullets hadn’t even scratched her. Desperate, the bodyguard withdrew a knife and charged. It was his duty to protect his president, and he’d die before failing that mission. Despite herself, Ume felt pity for such misplaced loyalty and only threw the man aside with one arm. The impact left the bodyguard dazed, but still alive.

“Please! I’ll do anything! Please don’t kill me!” The president trembled in fear, voice desperate.

“I gave you one order, and you failed.” Ume’s tone was icy and unrelenting. With a hand, she gestured to the fine furnishing. “While you live in sickening wealth, your people starve and live in burnt out buildings. Every day they fear for their lives. A single out-of-place word might get them killed. Anyone that dares even question your word disappears, never to be seen again. I’ve seen and heard everything.”

“I freed your people from those monsters so you could create a better future. Instead, you became no better than your predecessors. Worse even. You squandered the opportunity I gave you.”

Somehow, the president regained his courage. “How dare you! You have no right to tell me how to rule my country! You’re a stranger to this world. You can’t tell us how to live our lives.”

“Silence.” The rebuke made the president flinch, and Ume continued. “I wasn’t asking for a paradise free of suffering. Just a society where the average person could live in contentment and happiness. A world where no one lives in fear! It is my duty as a magical girl to protect the common folk and stop suffering.”

Ume extended a hand, summoning her weapon. It was a pen sized wand made of a pink chrome-like metal. On its tip was a heart-shaped jewel that sparkled under the light of the chandelier above them. “And now, your rule is finished.”

“What?” The president made a strangled cry after seeing what the magical girl gripped in her hand. It was a heart. Ume released it and it plopped to the ground, staining the rich carpet in blood. A strangled cry croaked from the president’s lips, and he grasped at his chest. The man collapsed dead moments later. The entire room froze in stunned silence.

Gingerly, Ume withdrew a handkerchief and whipped her hand clean. After examining her handiwork, satisfied she’d cleaned all the blood, she pointed a finger towards a younger man, the one who’d been the vice president.

“You. You’re the leader of this country now.” Ume said, a warning in her voice. “Learn from your predecessor’s mistake. When I return next year, this country better be in a happier state. Or else, you’re next.”

“Yes, I understand.” The new president croaked these words, terrified out of his mind.

“Good, don’t disappoint me.” With a flick of her hand, she vanished from the office.

“Do you think it’ll work out?” Her fairy partner, Hope, said. “The replacement seems hardly better. It isn’t like he’d done anything to make things better for his people either.”

“I know, but order needs to be established right away,” Ume replied. “I’d rather not have the country fall into civil war.” From her experience, civil wars were messy and hard to clean up. “Either he learns his lesson, or I kill him, too. Eventually, I will find someone who can do the job.”

Hope nodded. “Another world freed from suffering!”

“For their sake, I hope so,” Ume replied and pulled out a box of pocky sticks. It was chocolate, her favorite, and she bit into it. “Any news to report?”

Hope nodded, giving a cunning look. Her fairy partner had secret contacts by home, allowing them an advantage in undermining the Devil Princesses’ plans. “Yes, Emiyo has left Starlight Dream and is currently in Sector 8. It seems your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.”

“Perfect.” She chomped down on another pocky stick. “I figured I would lure a lieutenant out eventually.” Though, Emiyo was a different caliber of magical girl compared to the chaff she employed.

“According to my source, Universe number 108 in sector 8 has had an unusual drop in suffering. A magical girl named Takako left to investigate, but never returned.” Hope said. “They suspect you’re involved. That’s one reason Emiyo left home.”

“Really? It wasn’t me.” This caught Ume’s interest and she paused eating her snack. Few forces in the multiverse were powerful enough to kill a magical girl. A potential ally? She’d accept anyone if they helped her rid the cosmos of the Devil Princesses.

“108 is where she’s going after checking up with the remaining magical girls of Sector 8,” Hope said.

“Excellent.” Ume finished her snack and got to her feet. “We can set a trap there. Emiyo won’t be an easy foe, but she’ll die like all the rest.” She pulled out a picture and placed a hand against it. It showed a younger version of her laughing with another girl with blond hair and bright green eyes making a peace sign. A silly frame of stars and hearts surrounded it. Terrible memories followed, and a nasty smile grew on Ume’s face. She’d take a special pleasure in killing the lieutenant. She’d been involved in Hinata's death.

“Let’s go.” Ume returned the photo to her pocket. Hope waved her paw and summoned a portal away from this grim place. She looked forward to visiting universe 108 and meeting someone capable of killing a magical girl. After many lonely days fighting by herself, the possibility of gaining a new ally and friend was a welcome one.