Daichi: I just own Margie, nothing else.

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"Are you sure you'll be alright, Margie?"

Marjorie grinned at her friend of ten years. "Rover, it'll be fine. I'm only moving to the other side of the country, not to another planet. Besides, you can always come visit. Lighton's only a train ride away, and you know the rails better than anyone."

"I know, but, in case you hadn't noticed, you're sort of a recluse." It was true. The cat was Margie's only friend, and Rover had been found when they were kids as the only survivor of a train crash. After he recovered, he'd stuck around, and even after getting up the courage to return to riding the rails, stopped by town often. Margie's family had helped him recover, and were trying to get their daughter into the family business at the time.

Of course, they eventually gave up, as Rover was the only patient the child even bothered to tend. She was far from good with medicine, and even worse with people. She'd always been a shy girl, and Rover's accident seemed to drive her over the edge into solitude. Now, they were nineteen and ready to take on the world.

Well, somewhat. Rover had been taking on the world for years, and Margie was still reclusive, but Margie was finally ready to live on her own. She had a train ticket for Lighton, on the other coast. Yes, it would be far, but it was said to be a great town for those looking to start a new life.

"Well, you're always telling me to come out of my shell."

"True. Tell you what, I'll go with you, at least as far as the station."

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It was a rainy week, but it was meant to clear up later. Either way, this ride was the last chance Margie and Rover had to spend time together for a while. A bit of rain couldn't make it any worse. All too soon, they pulled into the station.

"Bye, Rover! Try to visit soon!" They couldn't write to each other, as Rover was never in one spot for long enough. Still, he'd visit eventually. Shrugging, Margie turned and left the station, only to be greeted by a rather shocking sight.

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There had to be a mistake. Maybe the actual mayor had fallen asleep on the train or something. Either way, Margie was now stuck with their job. Her new secretary, Isabelle, was nice enough, but she had no clue how to identify with the people she was meant to be mayor to.

Her issues weren't helping anything, either.

"Great. Our new mayor is a recluse." That was her next door neighbor, Whitney. She ignored the wolf and went on. The day had to get better from there.

It didn't. Eventually, to calm herself down, she decided to get some food. As there was a notable lack of restaurants, and she was a horrible cook, and didn't much like the cherries growing in the orchards, she had to make do with a fortune cookie she bought from a place called Nookling Junction. After eating it, she got a ticket that the tanuki in charge took and replaced with a package, telling her not to open it until she got back to her tent (The house wasn't quite finished).

When returning, she had to face jeers from Whitney before reaching the safety of her tent. She couldn't do this. She couldn't govern a town, not even one as small as this. Not as herself, anyway.

She dropped her package, and saw the wrappings fall away. Maybe she didn't have to be herself. All she had to do was hide behind a mask, and it would all be fine.

Picking up the object from the package, she placed it on. She could hear murmurs of dark power, but she didn't need that. All she needed was something to hide behind. And it would serve this purpose well.

From that day froward, Lighton mayor Marjorie was almost never seen without her mask.