Ruby and Grace were dueling against Connor. He had the advantage in sword play as he had practiced longer than Ruby. It was only the fact that he had two opponents and one of them had a longer reach that caused him to be on the backfoot at times. “Connor, what, exactly, is your endgame?” asked Ruby.
“Is now really the time for a dialogue?!” protested Grace.
“Lord Typhoon shall-!”
“I’m not talking about Lord Typhoon, I know HIS endgame,” interrupted Ruby. “I’m talking about yours, Spangly’s, and Wreker’s. What do you three get out of Lord Typhoon turning Earth into a planet of eternal storms?”
“A place at Emperor Entropy’s table!” replied Connor. “With that place secured, I can finally become who I was meant to be!”
“…And what’s that?” asked Grace, now intrigued.
“…I don’t know yet,” said Connor. “…Wait, why am I talking to you?! I’m supposed to KILL you!”
“I dunno, I like talking right now,” replied Ruby. Connor resumed swinging his sword, but Ruby blocked the blows and parried when needed. She then blocked so that their swords formed an X and they spoke across the weapons. “I understand the need for clarity. Really, I do. I’m a teenage girl and the world doesn’t make sense. But death won’t bring that clarity to you.”
“What would YOU know?!” snarled Connor. “You look like you had no struggle whatsoever!”
“Okay, I’ll admit, I’m a very lucky girl to have a stable life, but-!”
“I don’t want to hear it! I’ve heard enough of it on my home planet! Let me tell you, you’d sacrifice anything and anyone to survive!”
“If that’s what the current system of power tells you is working,” remarked Ruby.
“Oh, what, yours doesn’t?!” scoffed Connor.
“It used to. I was a baby when it was replaced.”
“Pah!” Connor pushed Ruby back. “You’re the one with the fire sword! You know what fire needs to do!”
“I also know how much control fire needs to simply warm a home, not set an entire city on fire!” Connor went mad, swinging his sword like an animal! Ruby actually feared for her life.
“Back up there, boy!” called Grace as she pulled Connor off. “Connor, I used to be beaten down by the system, but simply going along with it is giving into despair and-!”
“ENOUGH!” Connor then slashed the air and projected an energy wave from his sword that knocked Ruby and Grace down.
“This is getting out of hand!” grumbled Ruby. “He’s just that desperate. What’s going on with his planet?! I have to find out-! …Something in my pocket feels warm.” She felt around…and realized the warmth was coming from her Transformation Seed! She pulled it out and it was glowing bright red!
“Stars and Petals!” swore Grace. “Ruby, now’s your chance! Call out ‘Red Lady Rose of fire, I desire to bloom!’”
“What, just like that?” asked Ruby.
“You won’t get that chance!” called Connor as he rushed at Ruby. Grace blocked with her spear.
“NOW, RUBY!” insisted Grace.
“Right then,” muttered Ruby. She then held out her Transformation Seed. “Red Lady Rose of fire, I desire to bloom!” The Seed then expanded and enveloped Ruby!
“NO!” called Connor as he tossed Grace aside and swung his sword. The Seed then turned into a giant rosebud and blocked his blow. Grace then pulled Connor back as the rosebud opened into a giant red rose and out jumped Ruby in a new outfit! It was a similar outfit to Grace’s but not as elaborate. She wore a simple red knee-high skirt, white tights and a white leotard, red opera gloves, red flats, a Comms Compact on her waist, and a red rose with a single green leaf in the right of her hair. Ruby looked herself over in surprise.
“I…I’m a…I’m a…!” she couldn’t say it; she was so surprised and happy.
“…That won’t save you!” snarled Connor, snapping Ruby back to reality.
“No, but the training Grace and her friends gave me will help!” declared Ruby. “Round two, pretty boy! Let’s go!” The two then clashed and Ruby felt herself pushing back harder! She then punched Connor in the face…and realized spikes formed at her knuckles. “Wha-?”
“They’re Thorn Attackers,” explained Grace’s voice. “They pop up when we need to give our punches and kicks just a little more oomph!” Ruby goggled when she realized Grace didn’t open her mouth.
“H-How are you-?!” she spluttered. Connor then tripped Ruby up, but Grace slammed the end of her spear into his back.
“Team Telepathy,” replied Grace’s voice. “One of the five basic powers of a Cosmic Rose. We also have flight, enhanced strength, enhanced speed, and enhanced durability.”
“…Flight, huh?” asked Ruby, exercising her new telepathic abilities. “I think I’ve got an idea.”
“RARGH!” Connor swung his sword and Ruby decided to test her flight out. She jumped up and found herself flying over Connor. “COME BACK DOWN HERE AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN!” shouted Connor.
“I never was a man,” chuckled Ruby. Grace tripped Connor up and Ruby flew down (fist first) and hitting Connor in the stomach. It didn’t kill Connor, but BOY, did it hurt! Connor laid there for a while, making Ruby wonder if he needed an ambulance. As her hand reached for her Comms Compact, Connor stood up slowly.
“You’ll…get yours!” he hissed through the pain. “When…Lord Typhoon…turns this…miserable rock…into a planet…of eternal storms…you’ll drown…along with the rest…of the unworthy!” He managed to escape.
“…Drown with the unworthy, huh?” remarked Ruby. “Who’s Lord Typhoon to decide who’s unworthy or not? …Anyways, I’m calling an-!” A bright flash appeared in the direction Connor took. “Wh-What-?!” stammered Ruby.
“Relax,” soothed Grace. “It’s just an emergency teleport. He’s not dead.”
“How do you know?” asked Ruby.
“The flash pattern is highly distinctive. I’ve seen it a thousand times. …In any event, Ruby, congratulations!” Grace hugged Ruby with pride.
“Heck of a way to become a Magical Girl, but I like the results so far!” replied Ruby as she looked herself over. “I wonder how the others are doing?”
“We’d better regroup with them and find out,” suggested Grace. “Come on!”