Libra's Lament, a Magical Girl Quest [Complete]

Got bored, my brain went on tangents, and I got to talking with Naron about the state of the US in this quest. Eventually it resulted in this short omake, which I call "A Reason Banditry Is Not Currently An Advisable Career Path In The American Midwest".

---

"And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."

You gape in horror as the fist-sized hole in the young woman's chest closes, the glistening crimson edges flowing like liquid until all that is left is a single red spot upon her breast, which soon fades as well, leaving not a blemish on the white fabric of her gown.

"I shall fear no evil..."

The matching hole through Charlie's chest though, that one isn't going away.

"or thou art with me..."

I-it wasn't supposed to be like this! You were just gonna loot the town for some supplies and move on! There weren't supposed to be Magical Girls this far west!

"thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."

The girl, done with her prayer, opens her sole visible eye and looks at you with all the warmth and humanity of a marble statue. "God is infinite in his Mercy. Leave now, never return to this place, and you may yet live a long life."

For a moment, you stand there, anger at Charlie's death fighting the urge to bolt like a scared rabbit, but then you look down. Down at the body of your friend since high-school, dead because of this crazy bitch. Like that the balance is tipped, and with a snarl you rip your gun out of its holster and empty the magazine at the Magical Girl, half blind with rage and grief.

As the gun clicks empty and you stare uncomprehendingly at the empty space where the girl was, something sharp presses against the small of your back. "God is infinite in his Mercy," states the voice of the magical girl from directly behind you. "I, however, am somewhat less forgiving."

The pain makes it a bit hard to make out what happens next, as it's very distracting, but you think the thing that lands on your face before everything goes dark is a leg.

---

And a look at the Magical Girl featured today.

(???) Magical Girl Arbiter Fane

Fennel Jameson
a.k.a. The Hand of God / Old School Angelic / Get off my fucking lawn


​

Stats

Health: 5000
Base Damage: 3200
Base Resilience: 1500
Magic Modifier: 1600

Affinity: Judgement | Holy | Myth

Weapon

The Scales
Level 20
Attacks Per Turn: 6
Affinities: Judgement | Holy
Ability: Indestructible | Purge

Spells

Kingdom Come
Level 4
Base Damage: 400
Magic Modifier: 400
Affinity: Judgement | Holy
Ability: N/A

Abilities

Armor of Faith: Level 10
-Controls Health and Resilience

Defender of the Holy Land
-Magical Girl Arbiter Fane is at all times aware of all things and events within her "territory", and may instantly transport herself to any point within that territory so long as it is not currently occupied by another solid object.

Equal In The Eyes Of God
-Enemies cannot lower Magical Girl Arbiter Fane's health below their own. Any attack's damage that would pass this threshold is equalized between Magical Girl Arbiter Fane and the attacker, or dealt directly to the attacker if Magical Girl Arbiter Fane's health is already below their own.

The Valley of The Shadow: Level 30
-Magical Girl Arbiter Fane is immune to all forms of Auto-Kill. She may revive at full health up to 3 times per battle.

(Fane is an archaic word for shrine or temple, btw.)

---

"That sounds nice."
"Yeah, it does."

A faint sensation has you turn and... oh, the sky is orange and the sun is peaking over the horizon by now. "...dawn already? I could have sworn..."

Spring mumbles something and shrugs, then she offers you another smile before pushing Ana a bit in your direction. "Anyway, why don't you introduce each other before we get going?"

Heh, now comes the fun part. You both smile at your friend, who fidgets a little sheepishly -aw, she's actually cute.
How weird for Eva to think that...

"Um... hello. I'm World Eater. But that sounds weird if you shorten it, so just... uh... call me Ana?"
You did not stop smiling and your twin hums in thought before you both cross your arms and pout at her. "Huh? Is... did I do something?"

You can stretch it a little further; teasing is fun. Maybe if you do it like this... hey, help me here, Eva!
'kay!

"How mean, Ana." You almost giggle at her confused look, but keep your face straight while your sister continues: "Yes, it's rude to not recognise your friends."

Ludger yips from the side to agree with you and the moment recognition flashes on Ana's face, you both storm forward to hug her tight, giggling. "Heh, your face is so funny!"

"Ugh... what? Eva? Rico? Wh- how? And..."
"But it's nice to see you again. I'm happy you made it."

She stops babbling once Eva says that and just hugs you back like a good friend should. You are still all yucky, but it will be gone once you detransform. And you can take a bath after that. An actual bath.

"Hehe... so you two are the friends Ana keeps talking about?"
Spring is still giggling when you let go and beam up at the older girl. "Yes~"

At least... you want to join Eva's sing-song voice, but... but... you feel so woozy all of a sudden.
Ugh...

Rico?
"Rico?"

You wobble a little and shake your head, grimacing at empty air as the power within you starts flowing faster, stronger, more. As if your magic wants to break out of a cage that is your skin. Everything starts tingling.

"What's up with you, Sun?"
You faintly notice that some more people are looking your way now, but the weird feeling does not let up. It is nothing like Eva, where everything peeled off.

"Urgh, just..."

It feels more like... is your skin cracking?

Thank goodness for Eva; she answers while you try to get a grip: "Just a moment, Spring. I'm not sure what this is, but she will be fine."
Your chest tightens and for a moment, you think you can no longer breathe. Air comes only barely as warmth works its way through your very being. It crawls further and then....


You can still see perfectly and Eva glows almost as bright as she reflects your shine, but everyone else yelps and smacks their hands in front of their eyes. Everything is bright and colourful and... it feels as if it is day already, not just dawn.

"My eyes!" "Ow..." "What the hell..." "How'd she do that?" "Owie..."

Oh... oops?
It gets weaker really quickly, but everyone stays on the ground or whereever else they are, some whimpering and others muttering. Even Spring is kneeling with her hands in place over her face, shivering.

"Um..."
"Owwww... is it over?"

The older girl reluctantly takes her hands off once you tell her that it is. She blinks rapidly before looking far away from you and sighing. "Urgh... Revitalise..."

(Revitalise: Base Heal suppressed, dice suppressed = 0
Spring's Dream: No change in Health

Temporary Blindness removed)

She puts her hands on her closed eyelids for a moment longer and lets the light work, then she looks around again. "Better. Hold still, Ana."

Your friend just whimpers on the ground, hands still over her face and looking miserable. Oh, you did not want to do that... Eva quickly looks around, but everyone else seems to be fine... mostly. Some are still shaking their heads and other things like that, but no one looks hurt.

Ana sighs in relief once Spring healed her, too... and then both of them look at you. "What was that about?"

You both shrug, but Eva looks up after some kind of tug on her; you do not really pay attention to that while answering Spring: "I don't know... it just happened. Moon had the same thing happen earlier... just with less light."

"A lot less light. I think the moon just flashed a bit brighter."
Eva's comment has you look up, but you can not see anything out of the ordinary. The moon is almost invisible by now, anyway.

What you can feel, though... you feel so energetic, as if there is nothing you can not do. Your skin did not crack like you thought, even if it looked like it. Light runs over your whole body and gives you a golden tint all over, too.

I look pretty!
You do!

The other Magical Girls turn back from the moon to you and Spring looks around with an impressed look. "Hm... curious. You really live up to your name, Sun. It's as bright as day around you."

Huh... she is right, everything your light actually reaches nearby looks as if it was day. Neat.

Then it actually becomes day... no, even more, it is so bright again. The other girls yelp and cover their eyes, but you... you just look around to where this light might come from... before realising it comes from up above.

The sun is shining a lot brighter than she should be... aaand it's gone. Everthing goes back to normal after a few seconds... only there are still a lot of girls looking at you, some of them squinting after opening their eyes again. Chitin Dancer is still frowning, but she shakes her head while Eva watches her and claps her hands. "Alright, girls. Let's get cracking."

A few still glance your way, but everyone goes back to work. A hand finds its way on your shoulder and you look back at Spring. "That aside... I think we've left the others waiting for long enough. Let's go."

You both nod and start following the older girl into the big building... but only after she had you give your backpacks to Chitin Dancer. Something about not having to carry your things around all the time like that.

Everything is neatly polished and clean and it looks so new. Ana quietly huddles after Spring with you... and she is throwing glances, too. Spring starts glowing for a moment and her magic retracts, leaving you with a blond girl in just a shirt and panties... uh...

"Oh... prfft-"
Spring giggles and you can see her try to hide her blush; it does not work and you can still see it. "I... kind of had no time to get dressed after they woke me up."

You shrug and dissolve your transformation, too. At least all the blood is gone now. Eva and Ana do the same -your friend only wears a nightgown- before taking a turn and standing in front of a wide glass door with some weird script written on the plate next to it.

First comes some kind of changing room with lots of lockers. You put your clothes into one of the empty ones and then follow Spring into a much warmer room, where... oh. There are other people already.

The room is big, with a large tub in the center and mirrors, stools, buckets and sponges along the walls.

"About time! What took you so long?"
The black-haired girl in the tub waves your way while calling out... she looks weird. A bit. Or... maybe different is a better word? You both wave back, but Eva keeps her eyes on the other three girls; two blondes and one brunette are sitting on the stools and clean themselves.

Huh... why are they doing that?

"I tell you in a moment. Now girls, before you do something you might regret..."
Spring gently takes your shoulders and leads you over to where the others are washing up, then has you sit. "This is a Japanese-style bath. You have to get clean first, then you can go soak in the tub."

Ohhhh.
You echo the sound out loud, too... hey, it makes Ana giggle! That is a good thing.

Spring helps you prepare your sponges before taking the stool to Eva's left; Ana is to your right and that other girl continues lounging in the tub behind you. Huh...

Once you are done, you thoroughly wash Ludger, too. He can not just make the blood go away, so he gets the normal cleaning... it takes a while and he continues to struggle weakly against you holding him while giving you this heartbroken look. Aww...

"Don't worry, boy. It's for your own good..."
That does make the older girls laugh again, but it sadly does not stop the corgi from making you feel bad. Once you let him go, he runs and hides behind another stool on the other side of the room.

Done with your dog, you clean up the bloodstains on your hands and get into the tub with everyone else. It is... nice. And there is so much room here! It could fit twice as many girls without any trouble!

The older girls are talking with each other about something, so you leave them alone and join Ana at the other side of the tub. With one of you to each of her sides, she can not run away for now. You both beam at her to make her feel a little better... but she does not see it, still looking down and rubbing over her inflated belly slowly.

Huh...
What do we do?
Um... talking? Maybe?

You think about giving her a hug, but that would be weird with all of you being naked at the moment. Eva leaves you to start talking, so you think about what to say for a moment and... Ana speaks before you can even open your mouth.

"So it's really you two... I... I... I'm happy, but... when did that happen? Why are you Magical Girls, too?"

Huh?
Uh...

She has her eyes averted now and you are not sure what she means for a moment. Then you remember that she has no idea what actually happened. Eva gently takes her hand and smiles again. "We transformed before you... but we got a bit more lucky with where it happened."

You nod in agreement. "Yeah. Then we got unlucky and people found out when big sis wanted to bring us elsewhere."
"...ah, did big sis' friend find you?"

The question has Ana perk up and she finally stops moping. Good job, Eva!
"Oh, yes she did! And she was really nice... and scary. Really scary, but nice."

That sounds... weird. Maybe whoever it was is like Judge or Igni, nice once you look behind how they look like?

"Really? Tell me, tell me!"
Eva's mental giggle is ignored while you continue looking at Ana to make her tell you things. You have been curious about what kind of person Bianca would send to help, too. Now you can find out even when she did not tell you back then!

Ana lowers her head to think, sinking a little further into the water as she does. You do the same thing a moment later just to get more of the nice warmth all around you. Your hair is in a neat bun thanks to Spring, so you do not have to be afraid of making it wet on accident.

"She... she talked to me a lot, helped me understand what's going on and stuff. And she helped me with my magic, too... magic..."

Her hands return to her belly and that is bad. You do not know why exactly, but Eva stops you from saying anything about your friend getting chubby. It must be serious if you are not allowed to tease.

Your twin leans forward a little until she can see Ana in the eyes again. "What does your magic do?"

You hold back and think about listening in on the other girls, but then you notice that those five are all looking your way at the moment. Spring looks so worried again.

"I eat. I'm always hungry and I eat. Plants, stuff, animals... people... everything."
She rubs her belly again while you quickly fight down Eva's panic. You... half-remember that one dream you had back then, where she ate a rabbit.

"A-And it never stops..."
Ana hiccups and hugs herself; Eva pushes you to hug her, too... and then she starts rubbing her back. "There there..."

Only that this makes her burst into tears and almost crush you with how hard she hugs back. You let her and just stroke her hair for now... that is probably the best you can do.

Eva slowly leaves her be, seeing that you are there and can do the comforting by yourself. Maybe there is something to talk to everyone else about, so she slowly crawls over to sit with the older girls.

Spring offers you a thankful smile and a nod. "Thank you... both of you. Ana isn't the harshest case we have, but she comes close. Having good friends with her should help a lot."

Not that you can hear her... except you can because of Eva. Heh.
Your sister smiles back. "We... uh... haven't been friends for that long, though. But we're trying our best."

"And that's all we hope for", is what the other blonde says. The one that actually looks a lot like Spring, but is leaner. Maybe a bit too thin? Anyway, she offers a smile of her own before motioning for the others. "Besides, you haven't seen us untransformed before, did you? I'm Autumn."

You try to match her current face to the one she has when transformed... huh, the tiny frown and raised eyebrow fit with that pretty well. When she next points at the third blonde -her features are a lot sharper than Autumn's or Spring's-, you already beam. "That's Summer, right?"

"Oh? You're right, but how could you tell?"
The question makes you turn to Summer in full and tilt your head a little. It is pretty obvious to you... "You look the meanest."

...maybe you should not have said that? At least everyone else is snorting and Summer just blushes, but that was rude. "...I'm sorry..."
There is a weak slap on your shoulder from the black-haired girl. "Nah, you're not wrong. Do you need anyone to tell you which of us is Winter and who's Strength?"

That... is pretty obvious, too. The brunette was the only one who did not laugh over what you just said. So you shake your head.

... focus. That's Eva, not you. You are still holding Ana and stroke her back and pet her hair. She calmed down a lot by now, but she has not let go. So you let her have the warmth and stay put.

"Good. Spring told us about what happened earlier... any idea what made Sun shine like that?"
Eva shakes her head again in response to Autumn's question and... you really should stop staring at Strength like that.
I know!

"Something the matter, Moon?"
And Strength noticed her looking, too. Eva gets embarassed and blushes a bit, squirming in her seat before shaking her head. "No... um... I just..."

"It's the ethnicity again, Strength", Winter notes with a sigh. Then she turns to Eva with an understanding look. "You're from Europe?"
Once she nods, the older girl motions for the smaller one. "Strength is Japanese, from basically the other end of the world. Her looks are pretty normal there."

"Oh."
You take a look of your own from where you are. Japan... there is a whole country with people who look like that? This is so weird to imagine...

Strength just rolls her eyes before looking down and shrugging. "Whatever... sorry we have to cut this short, but I'm going to shrivel up if I stay in here much longer."

She moves to get up and stretch before stopping with her hands already in the air and a look in Eva's direction. "Though... I would like to talk to both you and your sis later. Please come see me once you're done moving in, okay?"

Should we?
Maybe?
It would be rude not to...

Eva nods slowly and Strength gives her a thumbs up before lifting herself out of the water with her arms. She quickly gets up and wanders over the warm stone floor... then she stops and squats down to pet Ludger as she passes him. "Heh. You're probably the only boy that gets to be in the same bath as all of us. You're lucky you're cute."

Autumn snorts again and Summer smirks a little... for some reason. Ludger just yips and is happy about being pet.

You slowly let go of Ana once her own arms fall and give her a nice smile. It turns out as a big smile anyway, Eva is better at being gentle...

But your friend at least smiles back. "T-Thank you."
Her voice is hoarse, so you just nod and let her sit down properly again. You feel comfy and happy with the warm water and the nice company... but you probably should get out soon, too.

Not much later, all of you are busy tending to your hair after getting out of the tub. There were really fluffy robes for you to wear, all of them in a cute white.

And now Eva is sitting at the side and giggles while drying Ludger off properly. Okay... one point for short hair, as usual. You like yours more, though.

Strength was already done when you came back to the locker room, so it is only you, Ana and the Seasons. Everyone but your twin has long hair... and you are done at about the same time as them, with Ludger getting dry only a little bit before any of you. He shakes himself a few times and yips happily.

Your own clothes are still clean though, so you slip back into those for now. That is not what you should do after bathing, but it is an exception so it is okay.

---

Now that you are cleaned up, what do you do? Choose one:
(Meeting Strength is already accounted for and needs not be taken)

[] Ana has to scour the city and that's a great opportunity for a tour; have her show you around

[] Chitin Dancer wanted to see you about something, so go find her

[] Summer seems interested in the both of you for some reason, maybe you should talk to her?

[] Write-in


[] EXP Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it


+20xp Almost Blinded Spring and Ana With a Side Effect of Your Magic (Only Rico)
+5xp Everyone is Clean Again

EXP gained: 5 + 25 = 30
Total EXP: 53


(Unlocked Level 1 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Spring's Dream)
(Unlocked Level 1 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Summer's Dream)
(Unlocked Level 1 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Autumn's Dream)
(Unlocked Level 1 Character Sheet: Magical Girl World Eater)