They embraced in the sky for a long, long time. During this time, no one dared to break the spell with an ill-timed word. Even the usually clamorous news helicopters kept their distance, broadcasting from afar.
Emerald Magical Girl and Glimmering Yellow Magical Girl arrived on the scene as well. Emerald’s face was etched with worry, while Glimmering Yellow pouted her ‘cat mouth,’ watching Scarlet as if enjoying a show. In her line of sight, Grey Moon and Scarlet finally separated.
Emerald and Glimmering Yellow exchanged a nod, then slowly approached the two.
As soon as Emerald arrived, she immediately began asking what had happened, inquiring about Scarlet’s well-being and whether Grey Moon was injured. She received no reply. Glimmering Yellow, however, gave Grey Moon an admiring glance, then moved behind Scarlet and reached out to playfully scratch her new cape.
Grey Moon, standing a step away, smiled at the heartwarming scene before her. While thinking how wonderful it was, she unconsciously took half a step back.
Then.
Scarlet, as if reaching out from a picture frame, grasped her wrist.
Grey Moon, Emerald, and Glimmering Yellow all watched as Scarlet suddenly took her hand. Scarlet simply pulled Grey Moon closer, bringing the four of them into intimate proximity.
A stirring sensation bloomed in Grey Moon’s heart. She turned her head to confirm Emerald’s and Glimmering Yellow’s expressions, finding both of them radiating welcome and gratitude.
Grey Moon’s heart fluttered. Uncertainly, cautiously, she savored this new bond, this nascent ‘Magical Girl friendship.’ It was as if her inner vision had suddenly broadened and sharpened. Maintaining a joyful smile, she watched Scarlet begin to speak.
“I apologize, this might come as a sudden shock to everyone, but I know Banjao and his group are preparing a trap specifically for little Grey Moon.”
Scarlet, her composure fully restored, covertly thanked Grey Moon for holding her earlier, then turned to face the people she trusted.
“Though I have committed many wrongs, I will atone for them in the future. But our immediate priority is to thwart Banjao’s plot as quickly as possible. A new Magma Demon has arrived in this city.”
“A new Magma Demon!?” Emerald exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency. Magma Demons rarely stirred; when an ordinary city encountered one, the Magical Girls typically resisted with all their might, striving to minimize casualties. Their utmost effort would be to delay until the Absolute Power Magical Girls from City S or the Five Knights Magical Girls from City B arrived as reinforcements. Failing that, they could only pray for intervention from international Magical Girls. Originally, City C’s Magical Girl team, Century Gold, also possessed the strength to confront a Magma Demon. Alas, Century Gold had been annihilated by the Three Apocalypse Demons several years ago.
Emerald didn’t believe they alone possessed the means to fight a Magma Demon. While Grey Moon had a record of defeating one, such an outcome was far too uncertain.
“I must immediately call Absolute Power for backup.”
As the captain, she swept her arm, and from the long sleeves of her miko attire, several elemental paper figures flew out, transforming into white doves carrying letters. They swiftly soared into the distance.
“Um…”
Grey Moon raised her hand to ask, “Wouldn’t it be faster to just use a phone?”
“Ah, about that, meow.” Glimmering Yellow explained to Grey Moon, “Emerald is still a high school student. Her family has a rule: no phone until she goes to university.”
Grey Moon then gave them a look that clearly asked, ‘Don’t either of you have a phone?’
Glimmering Yellow continued with a sigh, “Well, I don’t know any of the Absolute Power Magical Girls myself, and the Five Knights are truly too far from City C. As for Scarlet…”
Glimmering Yellow paused, then continued.
“She, for some reason, has been blacklisted by Absolute Power.”
“Oh, I see…”
Grey Moon nodded in understanding. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this ‘no phone’ detail sounded oddly familiar, as if she’d heard it somewhere before. A flicker of unease stirred within her, but with the situation so urgent, Grey Moon had no time to ponder it further.
“Before reinforcements arrive, let’s go destroy Banjao’s magic array!”
Scarlet interjected once more, “It’s an incredibly precious and powerful magic array. We absolutely cannot allow it to be completed. Banjao is currently setting up that array at the TV station. He intends to broadcast damaging footage to lure little Grey Moon!”
Scarlet anxiously explained the magic array’s effects. Upon hearing it, Emerald and Glimmering Yellow’s expressions darkened. Emerald felt that if the magic array was truly so dangerous, then it was imperative to destroy it first.
“This might be a trap, but I still agree with the preemptive strike plan.”
Emerald finished speaking, then looked at Glimmering Yellow and Grey Moon.
Grey Moon, for her part, felt no hesitation. Knowing Banjao’s wicked plan, especially since it targeted her, there was no reason not to destroy it first. Glimmering Yellow, however, was silent for a moment. She looked at Grey Moon, who seemed unconcerned, and muttered an ‘oomph’ with her cat-like pout.
“Alright then, I’ll scout ahead. If I’m in danger, rely on Emerald’s judgment. You can abandon me if necessary, but make sure little Grey Moon remains safe.”
“Understood.” Emerald replied to Glimmering Yellow, turning to look this way, her eyes reflecting deep trust.
“Grey Moon, I’ve actually always wanted to properly meet you, but you always leave right after providing support, so I’ve never had a chance to speak with you. Thank you, truly!”
Emerald bowed ninety degrees to Grey Moon, then straightened up, revealing a steady, warm smile. Her figure, unlike Grey Moon’s and Scarlet’s more slender frames, was quite… striking, even in her conservative miko attire.
Grey Moon averted her gaze, silently chanting to herself. ‘See no evil, see no evil!’
“Thank you for helping us protect City C’s skies from monster destruction. And thank you for being about to fight alongside us.”
“Oh.”
Grey Moon uttered a small, somewhat flustered sound. Upon seeing Grey Moon’s reaction, the Magical Girl Tri-color exchanged silent, knowing smiles.
Then, Emerald cleared her throat, adopting a serious, leader-like demeanor. Her eyes sharpened, commanding attention for her next words.
“Very well, if there are no objections, I will assign positions. Glimmering Yellow, as we discussed, will take the vanguard for reconnaissance. I will command the center, providing support to everyone, while Scarlet will remain by my side, ready to coordinate. Grey Moon, you will be responsible for the rear guard. Should a crisis arise, use your own judgment to decide whether to intervene. Any issues?”
Emerald’s gaze was fixed on Grey Moon as she spoke.
Grey Moon nodded. Essentially, this arrangement meant that once they landed, she was free to act or retreat as she saw fit; Emerald had given her complete autonomy.
Having finalized their tactics, the four maintained their formation, descending to Emerald’s pace as they headed towards the TV station. Emerald, truly living up to her moniker as the ‘slowest Magical Girl in history,’ made Grey Moon feel as if she were leisurely gliding.
“My apologies.”
Emerald, perhaps sensing Grey Moon’s thoughts, turned and said this.
Meanwhile, Glimmering Yellow, scouting ahead, reported sighting monsters emerging from the TV tower to meet them. Grey Moon, positioned at the very rear and at the highest altitude, watched as Glimmering Yellow, upon detecting the monsters, began luring them towards Emerald and Scarlet’s location. Emerald, with a wave of the gohei in her hand, sent several paper figures swiftly flying towards Grey Moon and the other Magical Girls. These paper figures could absorb a percentage of attack damage on behalf of the Magical Girls.
Fortified by the protection, Scarlet showed no fear facing such a multitude of monsters. She attacked without a shred of defense, treating it as her final dance, brilliantly unleashing flames to incinerate the petty demons. Glimmering Yellow, having retreated to the rear, pulled out her signature flintlock pistol. From a distance, she slowly sniped the monsters, using her speed advantage to kite them. If she encountered a dangerous monster she couldn’t handle quickly, she would cripple it with her shots, then fall back towards the defensive line formed by Emerald and Scarlet. She would then allow Scarlet, with her superior attack power and burst damage, to deal with the tougher foes. Throughout the skirmish, should anyone sustain an injury, Emerald would promptly provide healing.
Witnessing the trio’s coordination from afar, Grey Moon couldn’t help but marvel. They truly were the Magical Girls who had protected City C for years; they certainly knew their craft. Their seamless teamwork meant there was no need for her to intervene. However, all three lacked wide-area destructive abilities. While they could certainly defeat such a ‘sea of fodder’ without pressure, dealing with them was somewhat time-consuming.
Consequently, Grey Moon spoke up, instructing them to retreat. Emerald and Scarlet immediately, understandingly, cleared a space for her. Grey Moon, now at the very front, stood a certain distance from the other Magical Girls. Her small hand, encased in a white silk glove, rose and gently swept downwards.
The monsters, sprawling across the entire sky and land, vanished into grey ash, without even a whimper. Scattered by the wind into the distance.